The Alpha One

by Samantha Drake

  He had spent days with her, two weeks to be exact. They hadn’t been a lot, but it had been enough to understand that Aline had a kind and pure heart. He hated knowing that he was the reason why that would change. He wondered if there was anything he could do, maybe buy more time? Or just risk handing in the proposal without even knowing what Marie had prepared. They were all possibilities. However, the sales report, lying beside the invitation, was proof that he couldn’t take such a risk.

  The sales had been tricky for the last couple of months. Marie’s and his company were side by side, and one small mistake on his part would mean a disaster. As much as he wanted to, he doubted he would be able to go back on his plan.

  A knock on the door interrupted his train of thoughts. Immediately, he cleared his throat and invited the person in. At first, he expected it to be his secretary; he had been waiting for some documents. However, instead, a familiar pair of hazel eyes peaked from behind the door.

  His body seemed to react to her presence on its own. He stood up within a second, a smile playing on his lips. Aline had only been there once before, and of course, it had been a part of their plan to spread the news of their relationship.

  “Aline, what are you doing here?”

  “Hey. Sorry I came unannounced. I was just in the area, so I thought maybe I could drop by.” She said, as she took a seat I front of the mahogany desk.

  Sebastian had noticed the simplicity of Aline’s style. Even on that day, she was still wearing a cotton dress and a pair of sneakers, nothing too flashy or fancy. Simple as it was, he couldn’t help but acknowledge how beautiful she looked. With those stunning locks framing her face and the long lashes casting shadows against the brown-green of her eyes.

  “So, what’s up?” He asked, as he sat in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes searching through hers.

  “I found a job!” She exclaimed.

  “A job?”

  “Yes. Well, you know, our agreement ends in ten days. So, I started looking for a job. I have this friend that lives in Queens, we talked the other day and she said she’ll help me find a job there. And she did.” She proudly announced, clapping her hands in excitement. “I will start as soon as I get there.”

  Sebastian felt as if something had slapped him across the face. All this time, he had acknowledged that their relationship had been strict business, and that one day, they would part ways. However, he had grown accustomed to her presence. Hearing what she had to say made him realize that she was actually going to leave. And it bothered him, more than he liked to admit.

  “Really? I am so glad!” He was happy for her. He wanted her to live the life she always wanted, to experience the dreams he had come to learn along the way. Yet, his heart still stopped, and his stomach churned at the thought of her leaving.

  “Thanks!” She was about to say something else, but she didn’t get to. The door opened before her lips managed to part fully, and she swallowed her words.

  His secretary stood in the doorway, with the files in hand. She apologized, and made a move to exit, but Aline stood up, and said:

  “It’s okay. I was leaving.” She told her, before turning back to Sebastian. “I’ll leave. I see you’re busy. See you tonight.”

  Sebastian was still in a daze, but he still nodded and waved a hand. The rest of the day was a blur to him. He didn’t work, nor think of anything else. He was left alone in his office, trying to make sense of all those feelings and emotions that taunted him. And even though he spent hours thinking about them, he still didn’t manage to make sense of them.

  Chapter 9

  The shadow of the bending branches outside her window kept Aline company. They fought their way into her room, casting themselves onto the creamy walls around her. The screaming sound of thunder was a whisper beneath the howling wind that knocked at her windowpane. The room itself was a ball of darkness, only a faint light coming from the lamp on the bedside. Aline’s figure was covered in shadows; a mere outline sprawled across the bed.

  The book she had found earlier that day was opened, resting over her chest, but barely touched. She had only managed to read a couple of pages; her mind had been too full and distracted. It hadn’t been the sound of the storm that troubled her, nor the monotonic ticking of the clock that was close to stroking midnight. It was rather worry.

  Sighing, she picked up her phone again, the light blinding her for a second. She wondered if she could call him again, would it be weird? She had tried reaching him hours before, but his phone was off. She had been living there for weeks now, but Sebastian had never been that late. Even if he worked late, he would bring his stuff home, and continue working from his home office.

  There was a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. It was grim, like a bad omen. She wondered if it was just overreacting. Her feelings had been all over the place since she had met Sebastian.

  Aline knew for a fact that she would have been able to stand there and argue with herself for hours. She wouldn’t have called Sebastian again, but she would have worn herself out with worry. Thankfully, her internal debate had been interrupted by the loud sound of the door being shut. Aline jumped to her feet, her heart pounding hard against her ribcage. She sat still for a couple of seconds, trying to listen, although she knew she didn’t stand a chance to hear anything beyond those walls.

  Taking in a deep breath, she marched towards the door, opening it in one swift move. She meant to walk towards the staircase, but she didn’t get too far; Sebastian was already there, climbing the last step. He looked disheveled, with his tie loosely hanging from his neck, and his collar shirt wrinkled and tucked out of place. The locks on top of his head chaotically pointed in all directions, some falling over his eyes.

  Aline was shook. She looked at him in confusion at first, her nose adjusting to the smell of liquor that dripped off of him. Sebastian eventually acknowledged her presence, too. He looked at her from beneath his lashes, his hand resting on the bannister. She could see something between his fingers, a thin necklace chain dangling from his hand. It was hard to see exactly what it was, but after trying hard enough, Aline came to the realization that he was clutching to the very same necklace that she had tried to steal weeks before.

  “Sebastian! Are you drunk?”

  He shook his head.

  “I wish. Unfortunately, it takes a lot to numb me.” He chuckled, without a trace of humor in his voice.

  There was something terribly wrong with him; his eyes were filled with emotions, a storm greater than the one outside. Indeed, he wasn’t drunk. Aline could tell as much by the way he walked past her, and towards his room. But that didn’t mean he was okay.

  Half of her urged her to return to her room. Sebastian had a temper, and she risked activating it if she was around him when he was in such a fragile state. It would have been probably wise to listen to that half of herself, but instead, she listened to her heart. She followed Sebastian into his room.

  Inside, Sebastian was sitting on the floor, with his back leaning against the bed. His head was in his hands, the necklace on his knee. Slowly, he lifted his gaze and looked at her. She expected him to usher her away, to tell her to get out and let him live whatever misery he was feeling. However, instead, he remained silent.

  “What happened?” She kneeled beside him, one hand resting on his.

  She didn’t want to get too close to him; she let him have his space. However, she needed him to know she was there. There was some kind of déjà vu, she remembered a time when the roles had been reversed and he had been the one trying to comfort her.

  “Today is my mom’s birthday.” He said, “It’s also the day she died.”

  Aline was shocked. She hadn’t expected him to answer so fast; in fact, she had expected him not to tell her at all. In her head, she had made a few scenarios, but none of them matched his words. She tried not to look too shocked; instead, she searched for something to say.

  “Then you should honor her. Buy som
e flowers, visit her. Show her what a strong son she has.”

  From all the reactions she had envisioned, a laugh was not one of them. Sebastian laughed in her face, shaking his head, although tears were staining his brown orbs.

  “Make her proud? Did you know my mom killed herself? She grew tired of being a mom. Apparently I was too overwhelming.”

  It was hard to see such a strong man crumble to pieces. The sorrow in his eyes, and the sadness staining his features made her heart melt. She imagined Sebastian as a young boy, with the weight of his mom’s death on his shoulder. How hard it must have been. She knew it, because she felt a similar pain too. Her mother had left her, she ran away.

  Slowly, she got closer to him. Her arms snaked around him, taking him by surprise. She felt him stiffen beneath his touch, his whole body freezing. His breath caught in his throat the same way hers had. She felt his heartbeat as her chest pressed against his, the warmth of their bodies mixing.

  “I know its guilt that you are feeling. I felt it too, for a long while.” She whispered, “Our moms are…special. They weren’t strong enough to handle the love between them and their children. It’s best we think of it like that. Just learn to let go of these negative feelings. Forgive her, and yourself. You deserve that kind of peace.”

  Aline hoped her words made sense. She hadn’t had the time to formulate them properly, but the message had been loud and clear. His body relaxed, and his arms moved to hold onto her sides. However, they didn’t pull her into a hug, the way she had, they rather pushed her away. Sebastian didn’t let go of her once the distance was set between them.

  He looked her straight in the eyes, the sadness that gloomed his gaze before, was now replaced by awe. He looked at her, as if he was discovering something. He searched her eyes for a few moments, his lips parted. And she stood still, allowing herself to melt under his eyes.

  “What do you do to me?” He groaned, before he pulled her in.

  Aline had had no time to process the words, the lips that were now pressing against hers had captured all her attention. Unconsciously, she responded to them, following their lead into a soft kiss. Unlike their previous kiss, this one had been tender. It was filled with emotions. It was a description of the questions they held, and the confusion that hovered over their hearts.

  Sebastian’s fingers pressed against her waist, as if trying to mold her body into his. Swiftly, he guided her into his lap, managing not to break the kiss as they did so. What was funny was that they had spent the last weeks fighting the growing feelings they held for one another, however, as soon as they touched, there wasn’t even a trace of hesitation.

  Aline gasped as he bit her lip, the feeling of his tongue as it brushed against her own made the hairs on her body start to raise. The feeling of his chest pressing against her body was like being close to a flame. It burnt her; it left a trail of scorching want that made her insides churn.

  This time, Aline had not been shy. Her body seemed to have shushed her mind and taken over, seeking what it had secretly wanted. Her hands roamed over his body, taking off his clothes piece by piece. She doubted he noticed when his tie and blazer had vanished. But she made sure he noticed her get rid of his shirt.

  With every button that she undid, she left a kiss behind. She trailed down his torso, up until the very last button - which was, in fact, dangerously low. Sebastian shook his shoulders, so that the shirt fell off, landing in a pool of material around him.

  As she kissed his shoulders, Sebastian slowly dragged the strap of her dress downwards, making it slide off her body. She wished she would have worn something more appealing, like satin, instead of the cotton dress she had owned for years.

  Beneath her dress, there wasn’t much to cover her. Nothing but the lacy red panties, in fact. For a second, Aline felt self-conscious, the intensity of Sebastian’s gaze overwhelming her. But that feeling was short lived, vanishing as soon as he came to cup both her breasts, squeezing them gently.

  Aline bit her lip, as she slowly gyrated onto him. A groan rumbled through his chest and he hastily removed his pants; but not completely, just enough so that there wasn’t as much material between them. As she slid her body over him, Sebastian took his time to ravish her.

  He kissed down her neck, his hands in her hair, trailing downwards. Eventually, his lips reached her breasts, and he kissed them, sucking onto her nipple. The feeling of his tongue around it made Aline call his name. The word curled on her tongue.

  At the sound of his name, Sebastian seemed to go wild. Swiftly, she stood up, taking her with him. He sat her on the bed gently, his lips still locked with hers. The second her back hit the sheets, his hands let go of her waist and traveled down south. His fingers hooked into the thin material of her panties, pulling them down with one move.

  Sebastian had taken a moment to take her body in, to trace her figure with his eyes. Aline used that opportunity to take him by surprise and tackle him beneath her. She looked him in the eyes as her hand moved past his boxers, grabbing him. The sound of a breath being sucked in filled the air the moment she squeezed him in his hand and the pleasure that passed his features was enough to give Aline the courage to go on.

  She took her time to tease him, to make him scream her name, to make him have enough memories of her that he wouldn’t be able to stay awake without thinking of her. She wasn’t only teasing him; her own insides were begging for him, she wanted him so badly that it hurt.

  Just when she felt neither of them could take it any longer, she allowed him to flip them over. Hastily, he positioned himself between her legs, their heavy breaths matching. The first thrust made Aline gasp, the moan escaping her lips was loud, a replica of the intensity of her own feelings.

  The minutes that were to come were bound to be filled by ecstasy. Their bodies molded into one, as the hours of the night passed them.

  *****

  The smell of soil and rain entered through the partially opened window. The white sheer curtains fluttered with the breeze. The bright rays of the morning sun washed into the room, reflecting against the dusty surface of the furniture.

  Across the room, Sebastian and Aline laid tangled up in the satin sheets. Their breaths were even, matching. Sebastian’s hand was draped around her waist, keeping her close. Her curves seemed to fit perfectly with his own body; they coordinated like two pieces of a puzzle. Sebastian was awake, he had been for some time now, but he wasn’t foolish enough to let her know, just yet.

  He knew that once they woke up, they would have to face each other. Unlike the previous time, he had no intention of running away; he knew they should sort their feelings once and for all. However, for the time being, he just wanted to be beside her, without worrying about what to do or say.

  Sebastian had to admit, he hadn’t felt so peaceful in forever. He always had the urge to run in the morning, to get up and hastily start getting things done. That had been the second time ever, when he wished to stay in bed, to take a break and enjoy the quietness. He might not have listened to his urges the first time, but he would be damned if he did the same mistake twice.

  Smiling, he buried his face into her hair, the smell of vanilla filling his nostrils. The smell had become so familiar, it kind of smelled like home. Home. The word made him snort internally. It was weird to call Aline that, a woman that he met under the oddest circumstances. Weird as it was, it was how he felt. And it scared him, even more if he were to remember the fact that she planned on leaving right after they stole the information.

  Sighing, he opened his eyes, no longer eager to lay beyond the darkness. Aline was with her back to him, her shoulders bare, the corner of the sheet barely covering her. Sebastian watched as her chocolate skin glistered beneath the sun, its softness lured him in, making him gulp.

  As if sensing him, she stirred in his arms, yawning before she turned to face him. Her hazel eyes were barely opened, sleepiness coating them. Sebastian’s heart stopped for a second as a response to the smile that illuminat
ed her features. Slowly, his hand trailed up her arms, his fingers reaching for the stubborn strands of hair that messily clung to her face.

  “Morning.” He whispered. He would have leaned in to kiss her cheeks, if he would have had the courage maybe he would have pecked her lips. But he knew it wasn’t the time. They first needed to sort their things.

  “Hey!” She didn’t say anything, but from the way she looked around, Sebastian could tell she was having an internal debate with herself. He could guess she was blaming herself, for falling into the sinful desire once again.

  “What time is it?”

  “Nearly noon.” He answered, looking past her shoulder at the clock.

  “Already?” He meant to make a joke about why they had slept for so long, but he thought it would be wiser not to open the subject of the night before, not yet. Instead, he nodded and chuckled, peeling himself from her side.

  “Come on. How about we have some coffee?”

  “And breakfast?” Sebastian chuckled and shook his head.

  “Only if you are fine with cereal. I’m way too tired to cook.”

  “Cereal is fine.”

  It was intoxicating to see her smile the way she was, with nothing but his sheets around her body. He swore his heart stopped whenever she saw those dimples, one on each side of her cheeks. Sebastian shook his head and tried to get a hold of himself. Biting his lip, Sebastian slipped into the pair of sweatpants he had thrown on the arm chair the day before. He didn’t bother to throw on a shirt; he saw little point to act that formal around Aline.

  “Can you pass me that shirt?” Sebastian followed the path of her pointing finger towards his shirt. It was a blue shirt, draping beside the spot where his sweatpants had been.