Lizzy Ford (22 page)

She nodded, too torn to trust herself to talk.

Xander’s thumb brushed her lips, sending warm bursts through her. His other arm went around her to hold her against him. He held her gaze while the warmth of his skin seeped into her. She felt a hint of the trance she’d fallen into when he bit her, the coursing of desire and pooling of heat in her lower belly. Her remaining tension eased. The intimate moment almost made her want to cry in frustration. Stuck between two supernatural creatures, she couldn’t help feeling there was no way she’d win this round.

Life is about choice. You always have one. When you think you don’t, you’re overlooking something.

She wished it was the case.

Xander dipped his head. His lips brushed hers. She sensed he was giving her the chance to reject him. She knew she
should
reject him, and couldn’t help her curiosity. Some tiny part of her wanted to know how good he was that every woman who left his bed didn’t know which way was up. And didn’t she owe him a kiss for saving her, especially since she planned on stealing from him?

He held her against his hard, thick frame, his gentle kiss a question she didn’t want to answer truthfully. But she had to. She owed him that, if nothing else.

“Xander …” she whispered against his warm lips. “I can’t.”

He lifted his head. Disappointed but knowing she needed to walk away, she resisted the urge to pull his face down to hers for a kiss. Her body was tingling from his tease.

“I like this,” he replied softly.

“What?”

“You thinking you’re gonna win this game.”

“You are making my life hell.”

“You’re welcome for saving your ass,” he said, the tension easing from his body. “You decide if what you want is worth a night in my bed?”

She flushed and tugged her chin away from his grip.

“It’s an easy out,” he said. “You get what you want. I get you. We both win.”

“You want any woman breathing,” she pointed out. “Once you have her, you have your personal assistant toss her out the next morning.” The reminder of what he was made her angry and bolstered her resistance. “I’m not disposable, Xander. Do what you want with those girls, but you won’t do it to me.”

The familiar half-smile crossed his features. This time, she had no idea what it meant, until he dipped his head again.

He captured her mouth with his, giving her no choice. Xander tasted exotic like he smelled: dark, rich and sweet. His full lips were warm, the tongue that flickered into her mouth hot. He teased and nipped, his kiss deep enough to rob her of any resistance yet light enough that she raised onto her tiptoes to taste more of him. He savored and toyed with her simultaneously, daring her to unleash the desire burning through her body.

A honk interrupted the kiss. He pulled away and tossed his head back with a satisfied sigh. Rendered breathless, Jessi wasn’t certain she’d be able to stand on her own, if he walked away too fast. She was hot from the inside out, stunned by the kiss in a way that reminded her of how she barely walked away from his bite.

“That’s what I like to see on your face,” he said with a wink.

“You are such a jackass!” She pushed away from him, stumbled and then swatted his hand away as he steadied her. “I am so quitting. For real this time!” She strode towards the car.

“I’m driving.”

She didn’t think she could, not with her senses scrambled. Ashley got out, staring at her quizzically.

“It’s not what it looks like,” Jessi said.

“It’s exactly what it looks like,” Xander countered.

“I quit, remember?” Jessi retorted. “And now I’m suing you for harassment.”

Ashley was trying not to smile. She climbed into the back seat. Jessi settled into the passenger seat, her seatbelt barely on when Xander throttled the car out of the parking lot.

“Are you …dating?” Ashley ventured.

“Xander doesn’t date,” Jessi replied promptly. “He uses women then discards them. He’s the kind of person you need to run from, if you ever meet anyone like him.”

“We’re not fucking, but we will be soon,” Xander added.

Jessi stared at him. Ashley giggled in half-alarm, half-embarrassment.

“Check this out.” Xander passed his phone back to Ashley.

Jessi twisted, unable to see the picture.

“Omigod, that’s so hot!” Ashley exclaimed. “Jessi, you look so pretty!”

Xander ignored Jessi’s glare. “It’ll be the front cover of Gents Only next month.”

“Jessi, you’ll be famous!”

If we survive the week.

Jessi stared out the window. She’d managed to avoid the sense of urgency and pressure Jonny no doubt wanted her to experience. Tonight, however, the two worlds she wanted to keep apart smashed together. Xander’s introduction to her cousin made the reality of her situation starker. What if he took revenge on her for what she planned to do? What if he tried to hurt her sweet cousin, like Jonny promised to do?

What happened tomorrow, if she failed to do what Jonny wanted? The penalty for failure was escalating. What would Jonny do to her, once he found his goons dead? She touched her cheek, beyond baffled by the confrontation. Disturbed, she ignored the chatter between Ashley and Xander as they drove back to his place. He parked under the building.

Jessi said nothing as they entered the elevator. The silence was tense, but she didn’t care. She was debating if she had the money to take the kids and just leave, flee Jonny and Xander. They emerged onto the ground level. She pulled her keys free from her purse and walked out.

“C’mon, Ashley,” she ordered, avoiding Xander.

Ashley hesitated then softly told the vampire goodnight before trailing.

Jessi wanted to cry. Distressed by her night and overwhelmed by the idea Xander had a softer side, she thought of nothing more than getting home and crawling into bed. Hopefully, she made it before the tears started.

She didn’t want to, but Jessi showed up precisely at eight the next morning. She hadn’t slept well and hoped Xander decided to go out this morning and leave the house to her to search. She let herself in and ascended the stairs.

Shirtless, he was on the porch with his legs propped up, no doubt waiting for his coffee. Her gaze lingered. She’d spent the night tossing and turning, trying to figure out what to do. He breached her comfort zone in a way that left her shaken, scared.

He saved her life, and she was going to repay him by robbing him blind, because she had no other choice.

She started the coffee then went to his room to escort out whoever he found. His bed was empty. She frowned, seeking signs he’d had someone over. It didn’t look like it. No misplaced clothing, and only the blankets on one side of the bed were turned down. The other side was still made. Maybe he was serious about penciling her in for his Tuesday night entertainment.

The joke was on him, then.

With a shake of her head, she retreated to the kitchen to prep his coffee and feed the cat. Not wanting to deal with him at all, she took the coffee out to the porch and left, even more irritated to see he wore the necklace she desperately needed to steal.

Her phone vibrated, and she pulled it from her pocket.

Status?
It was Jonny.

She winced, unable to fathom what kind of penalty she’d face tonight. Xander killed Jonny’s three goons
and
she was still clueless how to get the necklace.

Super close – should have it soon,
she lied in response. Tears pricked her eyes, but she forced them back.

It was day three, and she was no closer to grabbing it. She needed a real plan. Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice Xander until he slid the iPad onto the counter she leaned against. She jumped and glanced down, spotting the picture Ashley had printed and posted all over the apartment.

“What’s on the schedule today?” she asked in the charged silence.

“We’ll see.”

“Okay. It’s your career.”

He set his mug on the counter.

She heard him messing with the coffee maker and turned. His back was to her, the large muscles moving effortlessly as he deftly prepped another pot.

“So you do know how to make coffee,” she said. “Can you cook?”

“Yeah.”

“Like, really cook? Not just microwave stuff?”

“Yeah.”

He started the coffeemaker and faced her, folding his arms across his thick chest. They gazed at each other.

“Rough night?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as the coffeemaker began percolating.

“Very.”

She eyed him. “You didn’t have a visitor last night.”

“No. I’m starving right now.”

“Why don’t you…” She paused, noticing his fangs were out. “You don’t exactly eat eggs and bacon for breakfast, do you?”

“No.”

“Those women are more than sex.”

“Dinner,” he supplied. “Sex is a bonus.”

She stared at him. “I’m talking to a real vampire.”

His gaze dropped to her neck, hunger flaring in his eyes. She covered her exposed skin with her hands. Amusement crossed his features.

“Boundary,” she said firmly.

“I pissed you off last night,” he observed.

She pursed her lips without responding.

“Hard to fuck someone over when there’s a personal connection.”

“You involved my family on purpose?” she asked, anger rising.

“You plan on stealing from me,” he reminded her. “I offered you a way out. You decided not to take it.”

“Sleeping with you is not a way out, and involving my seventeen-year-old cousin will not make me more likely to sleep with you!”

“She came to me, because
you
were in danger,” he snarled. “You’re welcome for not leaving you to face those three on your own.”

Jessi looked away, beyond confused about what to feel or do.

“You’re in over your head, Jessi,” he said.

“You don’t have the capacity to care.”

“Right. I could’ve let them carve you up.”

She winced at his tone. “I appreciate you helping me, Xander, and for being somewhat decent to my cousin. But I don’t want you ever talking to either of them again. I can’t handle it.”

“At least you’re honest about something,” he replied. “There will come a point when you’re going to have a really hard choice to make.”

“Don’t try to be decent now,” she murmured. Her face felt hot, and she refused to look at him. “I can’t handle that, either.”

“You wanna be my breakfast?”

She almost smiled, relieved he listened. “Absolutely not.”

“I’ll let you drive my car again.”

“Tempting but no.”

He chuckled. She rolled her eyes at him.

“Your cousin says you haven’t dated anyone in four years,” he said. “Long time not to get laid.”

“You did
not
just go there! Do you really think I’d tell them about my dates?” she retorted. “Xander, I’m serious. Don’t talk to my cousins.”

“Tell me why.”

She bit back her response, aware she was playing into his hands at every turn. She wasn’t sure why she was bothering with the tug-of-war battle with him, except that she hoped she was able to hide what she sought and make it easier for her to get.

He leaned across the kitchen, trapping her between his two arms. His scent and heat washed over her. His face inches away, the expanse of his chest so close …

“Boundary.” She refused to give into the sex appeal that made grown women faint in front of him.

“You owe me,” he replied in the same tone. “A small snack, as repayment for saving your life last night.”

She grated her teeth at the reminder. He waited for her response. Her heart slammed into her chest, her body warming.

“Fine. Then we’re even,” she said.

“Sure.” He searched her face with fascination. “Not sure why you’re fighting it so hard. You want me, and I’m offering.”

“I’m not going to swoon like every other woman who looks at you,” she said.

His lips brushed hers again, the light pressure nonetheless making her pulse fly faster.

“I don’t want you to swoon or to fear me,” he said and trailed kisses down her jaw.

“Xander,” she whispered. “No kissing.”

He nipped her hard enough to hurt. She pushed him away in response. He was grinning.

“Just do your thing and leave me alone,” she ordered. She turned her back to him, tugged her hair over one shoulder and crossed her arms.

Xander’s body moved behind hers, resting lightly against her in a way that ratcheted up her pulse. She managed not to start babbling nervously, even when his hands traced down her arms before settling on her hips. He took his time, his hot breath on her neck making her shiver. He paid her last warning no heed and kissed her neck from beneath her ear to her collarbone.

Jessi’s eyes closed at the sensation of his soft lips, hot mouth and the rough stubble that teased her sensitive skin. She found herself tilting her head to expose her neck. The kisses continued, and his tongue flickered out to taste her skin. Desire was mounting faster this time, as if her body anticipated what his bite would bring.

“If you turn me into a vampire, I swear to God, I’ll kill you,” she said, hating the breathless quality of her voice.