Page 109 of Your Sharpest Edge
“And what’s surprise three?”
“Whether or not we went to the party, I got us a room. I thought it would be nice to spend time together somewhere other than my apartment.”
That was thoughtful, but I needed to stop being surprised by Alex’s gestures. “Thank you.”
“Shit.” He tugged my hand, stopping me and turning us to face each other. “I forgot to ask if you wanted to go home and check on Damien. I’m so sorry?—”
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I hoped he could see it in the dimly lit street. The hotel was only a few blocks from the studio, so we had opted to walk and enjoy the crisp air. “I texted Ledger when I was getting dressed. Damien was alreadypassed out. He also told me he’d been sending you text updates all night.”
Alex’s cheeks flushed, visible even in the low light. “He has been. I asked him to.”
“He said as much.” We started to walk again.
After being trapped in an abusive marriage, tonight felt like a gentle breeze that blew away the suffocating remnants of my past. If this was what dating felt like, then I should’ve done this forever ago.
A sharp pain hit my knees, a reminder of the trauma. Instinctively, not wanting to alarm Alex, I shifted my weight and looked up. This wasn’t what dating felt like; this was what dating Alex felt like. His kindness healed the scars left by years of pain and fear.
I had let fear dictate my actions, and in doing so, I had almost lost the one person who showed me what real love could be. The regret was a heavy burden, a constant reminder of my mistakes.
But I realized something important, too. If I hadn’t pushed Alex away, I would’ve never discovered my strength. I needed that time alone to learn that I could do it on my own.
I discovered a part of me that I didn’t know existed—a part that was capable, strong, and worthy of love. I learned to navigate life without leaning on anyone else, and that was an invaluable lesson. It gave me the confidence to face my fears, just as I was doing tonight.
Alex wasn’t a new chapter in my life; he was a whole new book, filled with promise and hope. His presence made me believe in love, in the possibility of happiness that wasn’t tainted by cruelty.
Alex’s love was freeing me, helping me rediscover who I was beyond the pain. As we neared the hotel, this was the beginning for both of us. It was the journey, the story, where we finallygot to be together. This party was the last hurdle I needed to do before I gave him everything.
“You haven’t said much,” he asked as we neared the entrance to the hotel. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, swallowed once, and then looked back at the exorbitant hotel. This had to be a movie. There was no way I was going to be whisked to this fancy hotel to attend a sex party where I could potentially explore my needs. I laughed to myself.
“More than okay.”
He tugged on my arm as he held the door open for me. “Are you ready?”
“With you?” I told him. “Always.”
39
stassi
We dropped off our things in the room Alex had booked for us, and to my surprise, it was a suite, one floor below the party. I didn’t bother changing since I had already dressed at the studio, and anything I needed to remove, I could do later.
“Tell me how it’ll go?” I asked Alex as we headed toward the private elevator bank when we got back to the ground floor.
The hotel lobby was stunning, with high ceilings, intricate chandeliers, and gleaming marble floors. Elegant seating areas and tasteful artwork added to its sophisticated charm.
As we approached the private elevator bank, discreetly separated by velvet ropes and guarded by a polite attendant, Alex turned to me. “This is a private elevator,” he explained. “It’ll take us straight up to the party without any stops.”
The elevator, sleek with polished brass accents, opened, and we stepped inside. As the doors closed behind us and the elevator ascended smoothly, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.
“And then what?”
“You’ll drop your phone off with an attendant. I’ve already informed them we have a child at home, so if your phone or mine rings, he’ll interrupt us.”
I didn’t miss that he saidwewhen describing Damien. My stomach was already roiling, but now my heart stuttered, too.
“You’ll hear some music.” He paused to look down at his phone. “By the time we get up there, the party should be in full swing. If you feel uncomfortable, use your safe word.”
