Chapter Thirty One - Pepper Spray

I shut my eyes tightly to somehow stop the sun rays from hitting my face. Finally giving up on sleep, I opened my eyes and almost groaned in frustration but stopped at the sight of Alec.

He was sleeping like a baby, lying on his stomach, face buried into the pillows with his one arm wrapped around my waist while the other in a random direction.

It took me a while to register what was going on as I looked down at my naked self.

All that wasn't a dream. Alec really said he loves me.

I lifted my finger and traced his shoulders, stopping at the bandage carefully before I could hurt him.

I leaned over him and pressed my lips against his neck.

He shuffled in his sleep and muttered something incoherent. I watched as his eyelids moved and he stared at me through half open eyes.

"Good morning," I whispered with a bright smile.

The corners of his lips pulled up into a heart warming half smile. "Morning."

I lifted my hand to his face and rubbed circles against his stubbled jaw, causing him to let out a sexy groan as he opened his eyes fully.

"Last night was....," I trailed off.

"Real," He completed for me.

I licked my lips. "Did you mean what you said?"

I had to know if he didn't just say that because I was out with Ben. Either way, he must feel something really strong for me to say those words even if that was the case.

"Yes. With all my heart," He spoke while tossing on the bed to face me completely and pull me into his chest. I placed my palms flat on his torso.

"I love you," He whispered in my ear.

I smiled against his chest as my cheeks flushed.

"I love you too," I whispered under my breath and was quite sure that he didn't hear it.

"You ears are turning red," His warm breath fanned my cheeks as he spoke huskily.

I kept my face ducked down so he wouldn't see the smile that refused to leave my lips. Shutting my eyes, I ravished in his alluring scent.

"Scarlet?" He called after a few minutes and I realized that I was sleepy as his voice seemed distant.

"Scarlet?" He called again after a few seconds but I was too sleepy to answer him.

"You did not just go back to sleep after waking me up," He groaned.

I think I just did.

When I woke up next, his side of the bed was empty.

I looked at the night stand watch and gasped. I was going to be very late for my classes.

I took a quick shower, brushed my teeth, picked out a random outfit and rushed downstairs for breakfast.

Alec wasn't at the dining table, in the living room or in his study. I didn't hear him in his room either.

He didn't go to work, did he?

I went inside the kitchen and a smile formed on my lips at the sight of him sitting at the island stool, shirtless. His broad shoulders were on display and I found myself relishing the sight.

And it's not even the first time I've seen him like that.

"Are you done ogling me?" His voice snapped me out of my trance.

I blinked and walked up to him. "I was looking for-" The pages lying infront of him stopped me.

He was looking at some old pictures from his college and high school. He didn't look much different in them from now.

Of course, it's not like they were 10 year old pictures or something.

"I searched everything. There's no red head I knew," He spoke.

"Not even just as a classmate?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" He raised a brow.

"I mean she doesn't necessarily have to be someone you slept with and didn't call back later," I rolled my eyes. "She could be a secret admirer too."

He seemed thoughtful for a moment and then, shook his head. "Red heads are beautiful. I would have remembered her."

I deadpanned.

He blinked at me.

"But not as beautiful as brunettes-"

"Save it," I muttered while grabbing a mug and pouring some coffee into it.

I sat down next to him and sipped on the coffee. Why the hell was my head throbbing like that? Am I going to have a fever again?

I frowned at the thought.

Alec placed his hand on my thigh and gave it a squeeze. The mug almost slipped out of my hands as I turned to him with wide eyes.

"Don't be jealous of a red head. You know you're my favourite woman," He gave me a lopsided smile, causing my heart to flutter.

I released a breath. "Out of all the men I am dating right now, you're my favourite too."

He chuckled lowly but I could see the frown behind that facade.

I smirked. "Don't say I didn't warn you when you finally find out."

He pressed his lips into a thin line and narrowed his eyes for a moment.

"You've showered," He pointed out.

"Yeah. I'm about to leave for college."

He sighed. "I'm staying right here at the apartment so I thought why not shower after breakfast."

"Um okay," Why was he telling me that?

"You wanna take a second shower?"

"A second shower? And me?" I let out a laugh. "One shower is a win-win for a lazy ass like-"

I stopped abruptly at the suggestive smirk playing on his lips.

Then my lips formed an o-shape as I slowly came to realization.

I looked down at my watch. I was going to be late for the first class anyway. Might as well miss it.

I gave him a sly smile. "If you insist."

"Oh yes. I do insist."

With a smirk, I took his hand and watched as he got up, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on me as I directed him out of the kitchen.

We went up to his room.

****

I tucked a strand of my wet hair behind my ear. There was no time to blow dry if I had to get to my second class.

Walking up to the kitchen counter, I was searching for my car keys when I saw some movement out of my peripheral vision.

Alec was halfway down the stairs as he put the tshirt on, his hair dripping wet from the shower.

Focus, Scarlet.

I went back to the living room and cleared my throat before speaking. "Have you seen my car keys?"

"Yes."

"Where are they?" I stopped searching and looked up at him.

"I gave them to Jeremy."

I frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"You won't be going anywhere without him or the other guards anyway. So just text him wherever you wanna go."

My mouth opened slightly. "But why can't I keep my keys?"

"Because you're stupid," He shrugged.

"What-"

"And you proved that last night," His lips displayed a frown.

"But I just wanted to help, Alec."

"By putting your life at risk?" He snapped, taking a step in my direction. "If that's not stupid, Scarlet, you have a very poor judgement."

I bit my lip before nodding. "I'm sorry. It's just that I wanted that person caught. As long as he or she is out there, both of us are at risk."

"Which is why you shouldn't have gone out alone. And you were the first target, don't you remember that?"

I nodded. "But....why didn't she shoot me? And why you? I mean if she wants you so bad, I should've been the one she shot."

"I don't wanna think about that, Scarlet. Just don't ditch the guards, okay?"

"Even if I have to use the bathroom?" I tried to lighten the mood and let out a laugh.

But Alec didn't seem amused, instead he seemed to be thinking something again.

"Now that you've said it....," He muttered under his breath and dialled a number on his phone.

"Jeremy, I want you to check the bathrooms whenever she wants to use one. The suspect is a woman."

My jaw dropped.

He did not just.

"Alec, what the hell?" I shouted the moment he hung up.

"For the first time, Scarlet, you said something sensible. Should we celebrate?" He spoke nonchalantly while walking towards his study.

"Why would you do that?" I followed him.

"Like I said, the suspect is a woman. She could be waiting for you in the bathroom to attack you. She's followed you to your college once. What makes you think she won't do it again?"

"But if she wanted to kill me, she could have done that already. She had the gun pointed at me with no one stopping her."

"Just because she didn't do it back then, doesn't mean she will not try to do it again."

"But....but how can you do this to Jeremy?" I made an excuse.

He stopped in his tracks and turned to me. "Why are you so concerned about Jeremy?"

"How can I not be when you're making him do something embarrassing?"

"Being a bodyguard is a tough job. It's his duty, Scarlet," He shrugged.

"What? Are you serious right now?"

He crossed his arms over his chest. "I'd rather embarrass someone than let a crazy stalker attack you."

"Oh God," I pulled my hair in frustration. "You make sense but....ugh! Never mind."

I turned to walk towards the elevators and just then, they opened as someone walked into the living room.

My eyes grew wide.

"Jimmy?"

He was busy checking the place out but the moment he saw me, he ran up in my direction. "Scar."

I bent down to give him a hug.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

Instead of answering me, he walked past me and I saw him looking up at Alec.

"Hey, buddy," Alec greeted him with a smile while I just watched them in confusion.

"Hey, Alec. How are you?" Jimmy asked.

"I'm a lot better now, James."

"What are you doing here?" I asked again and he turned in my direction.

"I didn't have school today. Mrs. Byrne couldn't come to the house and dad had important stuff at work. He didn't want me to stay alone at home."

Alec looked up from Jimmy. "So I invited him over. We have a lot of new games we haven't played yet."

My jaw dropped open. He's working around me most of the time.

"When were you planning to tell me?" I asked Alec. "And how did you get here, Jimmy?"

"I sent Bruce," Alec spoke.

"When I saw him, I shoved these in my backpack," Jimmy shrugged and fished out a small pepper spray can from his backpack. "Just in case."

Alec and I exchanged looks.

I'm not the only one scared of those bodyguards.

"And," Jimmy fished out two more cans and handed one each to me and Alec. "I picked these up for both of you."

A smile formed on my lips but it soon turned into a laugh as I leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Jimmy."

"Yeah. That's very thoughtful of you," Alec eyed the can in a weird manner but when I cleared my throat, he ruffled Jimmy's hair.

"Are you leaving for college?" Jimmy asked me.

I looked down at my watch. Shoot.

"I was going to," I muttered.

"Jeremy, she's not going today," Alec spoke on the phone and I blinked at him.

Did I sleep for a minute or what?

"Great," James muttered in excitement. "Can you make pasta for me?"

I chuckled. "Don't you remember what Mrs. Byrne said? If you ever wanna eat something, never ask me to make it."

"Yeah but she is not around right now," James shrugged, making an innocent face.

"I'll end up lighting the kitchen on fire, James."

"I'll keep a fire extinguisher ready."

"I'll order something, smartasses," Alec already had the phone held up to his ear.

What is he, a machine?

"Language," I snapped.

"What did I say?" He spoke in confusion.

"Smartasses."

"Language, Scarlet. Jeez," Alec shook his head.

Before I could say anything, he had walked to the other end of the room while Jimmy was shaking his head at me too.

"If I told dad you said it infront of me, he would be very upset."

My jaw dropped. "But...Alec said it first."

"You said it last and it's still ringing in my ears. Asses."

"I said smartasses."

"There, again. You never learn, Scar," He shook his head again and went to sit on the couch.

Rolling my eyes, I went to get myself a glass of water.

"Scarlet?" Alec stepped inside the kitchen.

"Yeah?"

"Walter just called to say that their party is preponed to tomorrow night."

"Oh. Okay."

"Do you still wanna go?"

"Yeah why not?" I asked.

"I was thinking that the cops would have caught the attacker by next week before their party. I just don't think we should go to an event while she is still out there."

"With all those bodyguards you hired, I don't think there would be any problem," I chuckled.

He seemed hesitant.

"Come on, Alec. It's your brother's party. It would be weird to not go."

He let out a breath. "Right."

Hey guys!

I know it was short and just a filler chapter! But believe me, the real action is yet to come. Secrets are going to be revealed pretty soon! 😉

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Happy New Year, loves! ❤