Chapter 352: They Shouldn’t Explode

April tilted her head back slightly, a faint, amused smirk touching her lips despite the intense heat radiating from him. She wasn’t about to give him a name—letting his imagination run wild only made the moment sweeter.

"If you’re jealous, then why don’t you devise your own plan?" April said softly. "The knight steals the queen... and then what?"

"What?" Alexander repeated, letting out a low, breathy laugh that rumbled against her skin. His sharp eyes met hers in the reflection of the glass. "What do you think they would do? How do you think they would react if they found us in the judging suite right now, going at it?"

He leaned in, his voice dropping into a dirty, low whisper against her ear. "Your legs wrapped around my waist, myself buried deep inside you, your moans echoing all over the suite where only those inside can hear... Even those downstairs won’t see because of the one-way panel. What do you think, April? How do you think they would react? Would they explode?"

April let out a light, breathless huff, her dark eyes glittering. "They would. But they shouldn’t explode. Everyone has their turn. I’m not biased." She looked straight into his burning gaze. "Though... if that’s what you want..."

The words made him pause instantly.

Alexander went rigid for a fraction of a second, his breath hitching in his chest. Of course that was what he wanted. He wanted to claim her so badly he was practically losing his mind, his body aching with a furious, pent-up demand. But not like this. Not in a rush, in a glass box, looking like animals in heat.

He softened his hold, pressing a series of gentle, lingering kisses into the side of her neck, trailing back up to her lips to leave a slow, deep kiss before finally pulling back.

"I’ll take my time, April," Alexander murmured softly, his thumb gently smoothing over her swollen bottom lip. "I’ll definitely do it right."

April blinked, not entirely sure what he meant by that, but before she could question him, the elevator chimed and the doors slid open.

They stepped out into the quiet hallway leading to the judging suite. Before he fully let her go, Alexander cupped her chin and planted a few more firm, possessive kisses onto her lips, making sure his scent lingered on her skin.

Slowly releasing her, he adjusted his collar, straightened his tie with effortless grace, and tucked his hands smoothly into his trousers pockets.

A cool, arrogant smirk spread across his handsome face as he glanced toward the double doors down the corridor.

"They’ll be here in five... four... three... two... one."

Right on cue, the double doors slammed open with a deafening CRACK.

"Greel, say your last prayer!" Nat’s furious roar echoed down the hallway, his eyes blazing with pure, lethal rage as Xavier stepped up right beside him.

Alexander put a folded hand over his mouth, muffling a quiet cough that barely hid his arrogant laugh.

"Look at you," Alexander drawled, his eyes sweeping over their flushed faces and heaving chests with insufferable mockery. "It looks like you ran the whole way here. How was the flight of stairs?"

Because Alexander and April had taken the VIP elevator, both men had literally sprinted up four flights of emergency stairs at breakneck speed just to catch up in time—and they were undeniably out of breath.

Nat’s eyes flared with pure, murderous fury. He didn’t even bother answering the provocation. With a heavy, violent stride, Nat started charging straight toward Alexander, his fists clenched tight enough to break bones.

Yet Alexander remained completely unfazed, standing tall with his hands tucked loosely in his trousers pockets, a dark, knowing smirk resting on his lips. Because he knew...

"Nat," April called out.

...That she would intervene.

April’s voice was small, but carried a firm, authoritative edge that cut through the suite like a command.

Nat froze dead in his tracks, his broad shoulders tensing as his eyes snapped from Alexander straight to her. He panted slightly, his chest heaving under his shirt as he stared at her flushed lips and emerald dress.

"When did you leave last night?" April asked smoothly, her eyes looking straight at him over her shoulder.

It was a deliberate, subtle strike—a clear, undeniable way to throw all the spotlight straight onto Nat, instantly revealing to all of them that he and April had definitely spent last night together.

Alexander’s blue eyes darkened into a dangerous, icy storm in a split second. The arrogant smirk vanished from his face as he stared at the back of Nat’s head, his jaw clenching violently.

So, it was you.

Nat didn’t look ashamed in the slightest. If anything, the realization only fueled his dark, possessive pride.

A villainous, wicked grin spread across Nat’s face, his eyes gleaming with dark triumph as he cocked his head toward April.

"Right after tucking you in, sweetheart," Nat drawled out, his voice a low, heavy rumble that echoed down the quiet hallway.

He wiped a streak of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his grin widening until it looked downright lethal. "If I didn’t leave when I did, I would’ve kept going and broken your pretty waist. Only those who run get to come back and fight another day... or rather, feast another day."

Xavier’s dark eyes narrowed beside him, the temperature in the suite plummeting instantly as his gaze flicked between Nat’s arrogant smirk and the soft, fresh marks peeking beneath April’s emerald collar.

"Then I suggest you sit down and refrain from causing any more trouble," April said smoothly, her voice cool and completely unbothered as she ignored the thick, suffocating wave of male aggression filling the room.

Without waiting for a response, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, dialing Samuel directly. She brought the phone to her ear, her eyes darting slightly away from the three men glaring daggers at one another.

The line connected on the second ring, Samuel’s crisp, perfectly composed voice ringing out clear and calm through the speaker.

"I apologize that I could not be there to escort you into the suite, Miss April," Samuel said, his tone carrying its usual immaculate efficiency. "I had to ensure Miss Emily was safely transported as well. We are entering the lower concourse now and will arrive shortly."

"It’s fine, Samuel. Thank you for remembering Emily," April replied, a subtle, genuine warmth softening her voice. "I’m sure she wouldn’t want to miss Philippe’s final presentation."

"Of course, Miss April. I shall see you in a moment," Samuel murmured before the line went quiet.