Chapter 51

I’ve never dated anyone in my life, and right now, I do not feel like I’m in the company of Alexi Carrero. I don’t know how to behave with this version of him, and I pick at my nails, fidgeting because I’m so out of my depth. This isn’t a controlled seduction to manipulate a man. This means something, and it has the power to wound me.

What if he finds me boring, and this ends up being strained and quiet, now we have all the heavy stuff out of the way? Nothing to say to each other beyond that.

“Why are you nervous? I won’t do anything to you.” He observes smoothly, sliding his bottle to one side, reaching across to catch my hand, and pulling it back to the centre of the table. I let him, watching the movement, relieved he is still a keen observer and can read me without verbalising. He turns it so my palm is upwards and runs his fingers gently across mine to flatten them out, using his other hand to draw small patterns across my palm. It tickles and has an immediate sooth