Chapter 351: The Knight Steals The Queen

Down in the driveway, Nat’s booming roar echoed from the opposite side of the estate. "I know she’s in the west wing! Samuel, you bastard, where is she?!"

"Too late, Collins," Alexander murmured under his breath, a cold, dark smirk touching his handsome face.

He opened the passenger door of his sleek, midnight-blue sports car, tossed April seamlessly onto the leather seat, and slammed the door shut before sliding into the driver’s side. The engine roared to life with a powerful, hungry growl.

"Alexander, what is the meaning of this?" April demanded, a little breathless from the heist—well, from being the heist—and he snickered. "You said you were going out to clear your head!"

"That was yesterday. And matter of fact, I did," Alexander replied smoothly, shifting into gear and tearing down the estate driveway, sending gravel flying. He glanced over at her with sharp, burning blue eyes, his gaze tracking down her bare legs to the acrylic heels. "Clearing my head involved realizing I’ve been far too generous sharing your time with the rest of those hounds. A Knight is loyal, but a knight is also an expert at capturing the Queen."

In his rearview mirror, the grand wrought-iron gates opened, but right behind them, Nat came sprinting out into the driveway in pure rage, shouting curses as Xavier’s black SUV pulled up from the main road, completely blocking Nat’s path.

April leaned back against the plush headrest, a light, breathless laugh escaping her lips as she watched the chaos erupt in the mirror.

"So, my knight has resorted to kidnapping?" April purred, her lips curving into a lazy, seductive smirk. "I didn’t think you had it in you."

Alexander reached over, his long, elegant fingers clamping around her knee, his thumb tracing a slow, possessive circle against her warm skin.

"I have quite a few things in me you’ve yet to discover, April," Alexander rasped out, his blue eyes flashing with unyielding devotion and absolute control as he accelerated down the highway. "But in all, I am no Idiot. I, too, know what I want, and I too am moved by desire. So I will not be tossed aside."

"I would never toss you aside, Alexander," April murmured smoothly as she placed her hand over his, feeling the steady, unyielding pulse beneath his skin. "You’re far too valuable for that."

"Valuable," he repeated softly, the word tasting heavy on his tongue. A low, breathy sigh escaped his lips, though his grip on her knee remained firm and unyielding. "I guess so. But I guess with so many valuable men around you, we can only but fight for your attention. April... this time, it’s going to be me."

"Alex..." she whispered. It wasn’t meant to be a full call, but rather a lingering hum—a soft, almost involuntary acknowledgment of his effort, of the quiet, burning intensity driving him right now.

Alexander’s eyes flicked over to her for a brief second, catching the delicate curve of her mouth and the way her voice had softened around his name. The muscle in his jaw twitched, a subtle satisfaction replacing the heavy tension on his brow.

"I like the sound of that," Alexander murmured, his voice dropping into a smooth, low rumble that vibrated through the quiet cabin of the car.

He didn’t slow down.

In the rearview mirror, the roar of Nat’s motorcycle and the Xavier’s SUV were visible in the distance, tearing through the highway traffic in hot pursuit. But Alexander merely shifted gears, sending the sports car surging forward with effortless power, leaving the competition behind in his dust.

"Alexander, we still need to get to the venue," April said, tilting her head toward the dashboard clock as the cliffside road wound higher into the mist.

"I know," he replied, his voice a smooth, unwavering murmur.

Without breaking his gaze on the road, Alexander slid his hand up from her knee, his long fingers weaving through hers and locking them firmly together. The warmth of his palm radiated into hers, solid and grounding.

"But I want us to get there first," he said, shifting into a higher gear as the sports car cut seamlessly through a sharp turn, widening the distance between them and the pursuers behind them. "And then, even for a moment... I’ll have you to myself."

He brought her captured hand up to his mouth, pressing a lingering, feverish kiss right against the back of her knuckles. His sharp blue eyes flicked to her, dark with an unspoken, possessive vow that proved the quietest hound in the pack was often the most dangerous.

April pursed her lips, watching the blurred landscape zip past the window. Even though these men were completely, dangerously devoted to her, they couldn’t go a single day without trying to tear each other apart.

That was the one big hiccup to this whole grand design—their unyielding, aggressive rivalry—but she kept her complaints to herself. No need to point out the obvious when they were already on the edge.

Alexander pulled the sports car into the private underground structure beneath the venue, smooth and silent. They were roughly five minutes ahead of schedule, but it didn’t matter.

"I think we have five minutes max before they manage to catch up," Alexander murmured, killing the engine.

He took her hand, leading her toward the private VIP elevator. April followed seamlessly, her emerald dress rustling soft against her skin, her clear heels clicking against the concrete floor.

The moment they stepped inside and the elevator doors began to slide shut, Alexander didn’t waste a second. He turned and suddenly captured her lips, pressing her gently against the mirrored wall.

"And I think five minutes will be more than enough for this," he rasped against her mouth.

April didn’t push him away. Instead, she brought her hands up, her fingers lightly resting against his wrists, holding him close as he kissed her with a slow, desperate hunger.

"April..." Alexander murmured between deep, breathless kisses, his hands framing her jaw. "You are so far out of my reach that I just can’t help but crave you more."

"Alexander..." she breathed out, her voice soft through their shared lips.

Hearing his name on her tongue turned him on even more, sending a sharp wave of heat straight to his groin.

"After that day..." Alexander groaned softly, his lips trailing down her jawline, his breath burning against her sensitive skin. "After that day I finally held you... I spiralled into endless thinking, wishing, dreaming... God, April, I’m losing my mind over you."

He leaned down further, his lips brushing the delicate dip of her neck where the collar of her dress shifted. Through the thin fabric and soft skin, he could see the new, subtle, faint traces left behind—dark, fresh marks from last night that hadn’t had time to clear.

His eyes darkened into a storm of icy blue as he stared at the evidence of a man’s indulgence, his jaw clenching so hard a muscle jumped.

"Who was it? Who got to you last night?" Alexander rasped out, his voice thick with a dark, bitter edge as his thumb caressed her throat. "Who got to spread your legs and listen to you moan their name? I am so fucking jealous, April."