The Alpha One

by Samantha Drake

  It was dangerous, from an emotional point of view, of course. She was continuously growing feelings for him, and that would break her if things were to end badly between them. Yes, it was risky, but she refused to let those fears get in her way. She hadn’t felt so happy in her life, so for the sake of that happiness, she was eager to take a leap of faith when it came to her relationship with Sebastian.

  Sighing, she took a look at the bag she held once more, before she opened the front door. Just as she had expected, the house was empty. Everything was exactly how she had left it; at least that was how it appeared at first glance. After taking off her shoes and hanging her umbrella, Aline made her way into the living room. Or at least planned to.

  She came to an abrupt stop the moment she turned the corner around the stairs. Two rows of candles illuminated the way towards the living room. Their flames flickered into the dimness of the hallway, the rows of smoke evaporating into the atmosphere.

  Breathlessly, Aline followed the path. Her heart felt as if it were about to burst, it hammered against her ribcage, while a tingling sensation spread over her body. She had stopped breathing at some point; tears welled up in her eyes as she came to a stop.

  The living room resembled a picture torn out of a book. There were red petals scattered across the floor, and white roses decorating every corner of the room. The smell of vanilla wrapped around her, enveloping her.

  Sebastian was standing there, looking as handsome as ever. His eyes darker, a deep brown that made her body melt. He was wearing black pants and a white collar shirt, that accentuated every single muscle in his body.

  “Sebastian, what’s with all this?” She breathed out, her eyes still scanning the room.

  “Can’t you tell? I’m trying to be romantic.” He joked.

  “Well, you are almost there.” She chuckled, her voice low till filled with the surprise.

  He and Aline met halfway, their shadows casted onto the floor. For a moment, they looked at one another in silence, before their lips locked into a short kiss.

  “What’s that?” Sebastian asked as he pulled away, his forehead resting over hers.

  For a moment, Aline had forgotten about the bag she held in hand. Although she had put lots of thought into it, the gift seemed foolish in front of the surprise he had planned for her. Hesitatingly, she looked between him and the bag, before eventually raising her hand.

  “It’s for you.”

  Sebastian seemed as shocked as her. He raised a brow and reached for it.

  “What’s the occasion?” Aline decided that it was best to answer only after he had opened the bag.

  The box that now lay inside his grasp wasn’t anything too spectacular. She had bought it from an old lady from the streets, with a part of the money she had saved.

  “It’s a jewelry box.” Sebastian seemed to be talking more to himself than to anyone else. He looked at the wooden box, flipping it on both sides, before he raised his eyes to look at her, waiting for an explanation.

  “It’s for your mother’s necklace. When we met, the necklace was lying around, and it still is up until this moment. Maybe it’s time you put it away safely, along with those hurtful memories that you associate with it.”

  Sebastian seemed taken aback. He looked at the box with a look she had never seen before. He was quiet for a long time, and at some point, Aline even began to wonder if she had done something wrong. Maybe her idea wasn’t as bright and sentimental as she had hoped, maybe the wound he had was too dangerous for her to touch.

  Just when the panic had reached its peak, Sebastian took her by surprise once more. Suddenly, he pulled her closer to him, their bodies colliding just before he pressed his lips to hers. Unlike the earliest kiss, this one was deep. There was nothing tender about it, it was an expression of intense feelings and emotions, that she barely understood herself.

  Aline returned the kiss eagerly. Suddenly, Sebastian pulled away, a loud groan vibrating through his chest.

  “You know, I had a nice evening planned out. But you make it hard to follow it.” He whispered. His eyes set on her eyes, while his thumb brushed over her lips.

  “Then don’t.” Aline breathlessly said, her arms already wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer.

  Just like that, the romantic evening that Sebastian had planned simply went down the drain, as they both succumbed to their sinful desires. Their bodies pressed against one another, as their lips swiftly moved in sync. Sebastian had somehow managed to place the box on the table. His hands were now free, roaming down her waist, sliding low enough so that they could clutch onto her thighs and help her wrap her legs around his torso.

  Aline hadn’t been aware of them moving, but they must’ve, because she was now pressed against a wall. She felt the cool surface through the thin material of her dress, but she was too caught up in the moment to notice anything else past the way her body felt against Sebastian’s.

  He didn’t need his hands to keep her pinned in place; their bodies were close enough to help with that matter. So, his arms were free to roam over her, his thumb brushed around her belly button. The touch was intense, even with the layer of material standing between them.

  Meanwhile, his lips had abandoned her mouth, and they were trailing down her neck, stopping to suck at a weak spot, just above the clavicle. Aline moaned, her body involuntary shaking beneath him. He liked her reaction; the bulge pressing against her was proof of that.

  His name brushed off of her lips the second his hands started playing with the hem of her dress. Effortlessly, he slid it past her shoulders, leaving her with nothing but her lacy underwear and bra. His thumbs swept over each nipple, tenderly drawing circles over their tips. As he played with her breasts, he made sure to look at her, to watch the pleasure that washed over her features.

  Aline’s hands were having a party of their own. They had managed to take off his shirt in a couple of moments, and they were now passing down his back, her fingers hooked in his belt, and she teasingly tugged the pants slightly up. She knew it would drive him crazy; he was already far too aroused.

  Aline took that as an opportunity to escape his grasp, landing onto her weak feet. Swiftly, she pushed him against the wall. One hand pinned him in place, while the other worked hastily to remove the pants. Sebastian could have helped her, but he seemed far more eager to watch her instead.

  His eyes were dark, coated with lust, with a thirst that made him go crazy. Aline knew the feeling too, it made her insides beg for more of the same fire that slowly killed her.

  His hands were now in her hair, tugging at her hair following her lead as her lips moved over his length. Aline was glad he managed to make him as crazy as her. She wanted her to feel the pain of wanting someone so much.

  Gladly, Aline could admit she managed to achieve that goal. Because eventually, Sebastian pulled her off of her knees, his mouth attacking hers hastily. Eventually, she felt the edge of the couch pushing against her calf, and she fell over it, her back colliding with the cushions. The couch wasn’t that big, but it was large enough for her to sprawl over, and for Sebastian to hover over her.

  Aline was unsure when her bra and panties vanished. She just knew that at some point, she felt him touching her center, the tip of his manhood thrusting fast. Aline’s back arched at the contact, her lips parting to allow a gasp to escape. It took her a second to adjust to him, but after she did, only pleasure and ecstasy followed.

  The sound of their irregular breaths and moans echoed in the air, their bodies lit by the shadows the candles casted upon them. Sebastian’s plans may have been ruined, but they eventually spent the night together, just as they had both wished.

  *****

  Two days stood between them and the party, and the pressure of the event sat on top of Aline’s chest. She knew that despite their relationship, her main purpose was still to steal the documents. She had gotten to know Sebastian well enough by now, to know that his job and success were always on the first place. The
anxiousness and adrenaline were like a tingle of déjà vu. It hadn’t been long since she had first felt them.

  Aline remembered the moment with regret. It was a stain in her life she could never get rid of. She wondered if she should ask Sebastian to reconsider, for his sake if not for hers. It would have been wise to do so, but Aline was afraid. She feared he would think she was emotionally using him to get out of the deal; that was not what she wanted.

  Sighing, Aline just decided to let things in the hand of fate. Maybe stealing was a sacrifice she had to do for the sake of the one she cared about.

  “How about this one?”

  Aline had been totally out, she had sank in her thoughts long enough to forget where she was and what she was doing. Lola was standing in front of her, with a dress in hand. Her bright blue eyes stared at her, waiting for a reaction.

  Aline shook her head, and looked at Sebastian’s sister, and then at the dress. The dress was beautiful, a hot pink, with crystals all over the bust. Breathtaking as it was, it wasn’t her style at all.

  “How about something simpler?” Aline was glad his sister was easygoing. That way, she didn’t have to agree on stuff out of fear of rejection.

  The two had met twice before, once over dinner, and another time at Naomi’s birthday party. They had both gotten along extremely well. In fact, they had so much in common, Sebastian was almost always left out.

  “Something simpler?” Lola tapped against her chin.

  Aline wasn’t exactly sure what she was searching for. Up until that moment, she had allowed Marcus to pick things out for her whenever she had to go to an event. Not that there had been many. However, this time around, Lola had insisted they have a little shopping spree for the party.

  “How about that?” Aline pointed to the dress behind Lola. She loved the dress; she had had her eyes on it ever since they entered the shop, but Aline hadn’t said a word until then, a bit self-conscious to when it came to her taste for fancy dresses.

  Lola studied the dress carefully, looking between Aline and it.

  “What do you think?” she asked the saleswoman that had been shadowing them ever since they entered the shop.

  “I think it would suit her. The color matches the tones of her skin.”

  Now that she was more confident with her choice, Aline approached the dress, her fingers grazing over the soft satin fabric. Usually, whenever she picked out a piece of clothing, her main purpose would be to feel comfortable. She had never had anyone in her life whose opinion mattered.

  Things had changed, of course. Looking at the dress, she didn’t ask herself whether or not she would be comfortable with the high split across the leg and the low cleavage. Instead, she wondered if Sebastian would love it. She imagined his expression once he saw her in that dress.

  “Well, come on, try it on!” Lola’s voice interrupted Aline’s continuous train of thoughts. Her hands were already pushing her from behind, ushering her into one of the fitting cabins.

  Needless to say, after a full day of trying on dresses, and walking from shop to shop, Aline seemed to have finally found what she had been looking for. The dress fit her like a glove, and brought out the color of her eyes the way nothing else did.

  Proudly, she exited the shop with the bag dangling from her hand. The two girls walked out laughing, stepping out into the busy halls of the mall.

  “You know, my brother never introduced me to any of his other girls before. Not that either of them lasted as long as you have.” Aline took the words in. She was glad the words came after she and Sebastian decided to make things real. Otherwise, the words would have simply tasted bitter. “You know, ever since he met you, my brother has changed. He’s not the dominant, self-centered business man we knew before. His heart is softer; he now sees the world in other colors, not just black and white.”

  Aline sensed the sincerity in Lola’s words. They warmed her heart in a way it was hard to explain. Truth be told, Sebastian had changed her too. She now had new forces, she felt like she could take over the world. He had inspired her to seek more from life. She had made some plans that she never thought of before, and hopefully, they were bound to help her cut out a new path for her.

  “I hope so. He has helped me in more ways than you can imagine. Helping him evolve is the least I could do for him.”

  Lola smiled, things were getting really serious, and she must’ve noticed it. She quickly got a hold of herself and said:

  “Now, let’s find some shoes for the dress.”

  Chapter 12

  Aline looked herself in the mirror, the reflection of Marcus behind her. He was still tugging at some locks, trying to set them in place with the hairspray in hand. Aline wanted to tell him to stop, he had already done a miracle to her appearance, but she didn’t want to spoil the man’s fun. She knew how much he enjoyed touching up his final looks.

  As he moved, the shimmering applications on Marcus’s suit reflected the light, blinding her. The man looked impeccable, as always. He had fresh platinum hair styled back and blue eyeliner to contour his eyes. Unlike her, the guy radiated with haut couture; it flowed in his blood. She wondered what he had been like as a kid. He had mentioned once how he used to hide and try on his mother’s clothes. Could he have been so talented, even then? Aline wouldn’t be too surprised if that was the case. There was no doubt Marcus had inborn talent.

  “There! All done!” Aline felt like crying. She had never felt so beautiful in her life.

  Her hair was shiny, flowing in perfect curls down her back, the thin golden applications Marcus had added showed with every move she made. The applications were the only accessory she was wearing, aside from the diamond earrings Marcus had lent for the night.

  “God, I love the dress.” He said from behind her as he admired the look.

  Indeed, the dress was beautiful. It was long; the hem swept the ground. However, the high slit on one side showed enough skin to compensate. The dress resembled the one she had worn when she first met Marcus, only this time, the color was far more vibrant, bringing out the golden shades within her hazel eyes.

  “Maybe we should have gone with the golden eyeliner after all.” He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. Aline knew that if she agreed, he would make her sit again, and he would do everything in his powers to redo the makeup the way he wanted to.

  “Marcus, you did a great job. Thank you!” Aline smiled, looking at the two girls too.

  “You are welcome darling! I would hug you, but we don’t want to ruin the dress, now do we?”

  Aline shook her head.

  “Good, now, I’ll go tell Sebastian we’re done. He swore he won’t pay me if we’ll be late.”

  Aline could imagine Sebastian saying something like that. And judging by the expression playing on Marcus’s face, he had been pretty serious too. Meanwhile, Aline had been left alone in the room. The girls had retreated too, after taking all of their stuff.

  She wondered if she should wait for Sebastian there, or if she should just go after him herself. Just when she had made up her mind, the door to her previous room opened, and Sebastian allowed himself in. He looked handsome too, with the blue navy suit he was wearing and the blue tie. His hair was styled, but judging by his tendency of running his hands through his hair, she doubted it would last very long.

  In his hand, Sebastian held the box she had given him a few days before; Aline couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing with it. She would have asked right away, had she not been paralyzed by his intensive gaze.

  His brown eyes looked her up and down; they took her in, exploring her body. She felt a shiver run up her spine, as a tingling feeling spread through her. It was Sebastian’s effect on her.

  “You look amazing.” He breathed out, as he closed the distance between them, lowering himself so that he could peck her lips.

  “You don’t look too bad yourself.” Indeed, she could have come up with a more original retort, but that was all she had in mind for the moment.
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  Sebastian smiled and took a step back, he looked between her and the box he had in hand, before he said:

  “I want you to wear this tonight.”

  “Your mother’s necklace?” Aline asked, a deep frown resting upon her face.

  “Yes. This necklace brought us together. I want it to hold a new meaning in my life. So, it’s yours now.”

  Aline was speechless, she had no idea what to say or do. She felt honored, happy beyond imagination. But at the same time, she wasn’t sure if he was truly thinking it through. They had only known each other for a short while, was he truly sure he wanted her to have his mother’s heirloom?

  “Are you sure?” She asked, her eyes settled on the open box.

  Sebastian nodded.

  “You helped me see things through. I now think of my mother from a different perspective. So, I doubt there is anyone else that deserves this more than you.”

  Aline felt like crying. She was happy beyond imagination, her entire body trembling with excitement. Being given the necklace felt like she was now part of a family, no longer alone in the world. For that feeling alone, she doubted she would ever be able to repay Sebastian, but she promised herself she would try.

  Slowly, Sebastian placed the box on the parlor, the necklace dangling from his hand. The rocks shimmered beneath the light. The piece of jewelry fit her dress perfectly. It had the same tone of classiness and simplicity as her.

  “Beautiful.” He whispered, before kissing her shoulder.

  “Come on, we don’t want to be late, do we?” Aline mimicked his voice, making them both laugh.

  *****

  Aline held tightly onto Sebastian’s hand, as she followed his lead onto the dance floor. She felt blood rush to her cheeks, and for the hundredth time, she thanked the heavens for her darker skin. Her eyes roamed the perimeter around her, hoping that no one was paying them too much attention. Of course, she wouldn’t be that lucky. Not when she was on Sebastian Hunter’s arm. Aline wondered if she should tell him again that she couldn’t dance. She doubted he would listen; he was quite stubborn when he made up his mind.