“It’s fine,” he said, setting aside his plate. “I mean, I guess I shouldn’t complain about women coming on to me.”
“I guess women can be shitty too,” she said. She sighed. “Tina is kind of proof.”
“Right,” he said. “What made you hate men so much anyway?”
“I don’t hate them,” she said. “I just see them for who they are.”
“You were never rude to Tristan.”
“That’s because he was already dating my friend. And he’s the exception.”
Xander looked slightly hurt as he glanced over at her. “Why can’t I be the exception?”
“Why do you want to be?” Janet asked, exasperated. “Honestly, Xander, I’ve been asking myself from the moment you showed up to find me after I left you at that club. We barely know each other.”
“Well, I’m not a player,” he said. He was quiet, running both hands through his hair, one after the other, as if soothing himself over something stressful. He let his hands drop with a huff. “I don’t know how to answer your other question. I just like you a lot.”
She let her eyes wander down his bulging chest, over rippling abs that showed through his thin, light-blue tee shirt. It was rumpled up, showing just a hint of tanned, taut skin and a trail of hair that led to—
He cleared his throat as he stood up to go over to the counter.
She watched his butt, unable to stop herself.
Dammit, this happened anytime she got even a little bit of wine.
Maybe she should just ditch him, go read a book and get out her—
“Can I get you anything while I’m up?” he asked helpfully, standing in the kitchen and looking like some form of domestic lady porn.
A part of her was pleased that he’d turned down Tina. That he hadn’t messed with the bartender.
She had no specific reason to feel that way, but she did.
As he turned his back, humming and opening a cupboard to pull out salt and pepper, she felt her legs clench, warmth building between them.
Just from looking at that wide, strong back too long.
She set aside her wine, and he looked over at her curiously.
“Something wrong?”
She shook her head quickly. “Let’s watch a movie.” She grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, quickly looking for something like a horror movie, which would chill her out.
“Sounds good to me,” he said, plopping down on the couch next to her again, all big, warm muscle and the smell of clean forest rain.
She was definitely in trouble.
Chapter 8
A few hours later, Janet was drunker than she meant to be, but not as drunk as she wanted to be.
Stupid movie they’d picked had to have an unexpected sex scene.
They’d watched it together awkwardly, tension hovering in the room like heavy smoke.
Xander had cleared his throat and gotten up to go to the bathroom, and Janet couldn’t resist reaching over to her side table and opening the drawer to pull out a book.
She’d just opened it to one of the sexy parts when Xander came back in the room, startling her.
She dropped the book to the side, heart racing wildly.
But was it because he was looking down at her, so tall and handsome he shouldn’t exist? Or because she was buzzed and just got caught trying to get sexy.
He seemed completely unaffected by the rather large amount of wine he’d drunk and plopped down on the couch next to her with a smile, in that maddeningly sexy position with his hands behind his head so his biceps were displayed too perfectly.
Damn him for making her want him so much.
Her heart was racing. Yesterday, everything had been normal. Her life had felt complete.
But every hour spent with Xander made her feel off-kilter. Made her want things she couldn’t usually admit to wanting. Made her… want him.
She knew men like him weren’t really as good as he was pretending to be. But a part of her did want to believe.
Especially since he’d been so fun during the movie, and she loved his playful personality once her guard came down.
She thought about her dream that morning, and her whole body began to melt.
Xander slanted his head to give her a curious look, and Janet’s entire body felt full of tiny magnets, all pulling her toward him.
She looked away, trying to collect her thoughts. Of course she felt that way about Xander. Everyone probably felt that way about Xander. Probably even guys.
But there was something between her and him that she didn’t think existed elsewhere, at least right now.
He was in her house. On her couch. That had to mean something, she thought, as a wave of oddly triumphant possessiveness surged through her.
“What’re you thinking about over there?” Xander asked, folding his arms over his chest as he sat up slightly. God, the way his muscles bunched there, the dark lines of his tattoos crossing over taut forearms and humongous biceps. Lines that disappeared beneath the dark, fitted tee that only made her want him shirtless.
“Just… thinking,” she said, only barely keeping herself from openly drooling.
Get it together, Janet.
She’d never felt this way before.
Xander stood slowly and then moved over to sit next to her, putting his arm behind her on the couch but not touching her at all.
She wished he was touching her as she looked up at him with glazed eyes.
She wanted to be touching him.
“About?” Xander’s blue eyes were full of curiosity. But the smile pulling the corner of his lips slightly upward gave her the impression that he probably had at least some idea of what was on her mind.
After all, she was a fairly transparent person.
Except maybe when it came to a certain impossible, sexy, gorgeous, playful man sitting next to her on the couch.
Janet twisted her fingers together in her lap in an attempt to distract herself from the heated tension of his sheer proximity.
“I—” She bit her lower lip.
Don’t say it, Janet. Don’t say anything. This is a mistake. This is something you definitely should not be doing.
“I want to try that… stuff.”
“Stuff?” Xander pretended to not know what she was talking about. Of course he would make her say it loud.
“The stuff you talked about. This morning. The book stuff.” It was all she could muster to just stare at her fingers for fear of losing herself completely in those endless sky-blue sapphires, which were most certainly watching her very closely.
“Hmm,” Xander said, sounding hesitant, to her surprise. Given his constant pursuit, she’d thought he would instantly take her up on it.
Outside her building, the quiet sounds of cars passing down the street sounded like far-off metallic rivers.
She finally looked up at him, and his face was just as sculpted and perfect as she’d remembered from the last thousand times she’d looked. But there was uncertainty in his expression.
“Probably not a good idea.”
“What?” Her heart felt about ready to drop into her stomach.
“You know, we’ve both had a few drinks. Don’t want to make any decisions we’ll regret later.”
Was he joking?
He didn’t look like he was joking right now.
But Xander pulling back only made her want him more. Dammit, she’d finally decided to take a piece of the sweet, sweet man-cake that had been practically thrown at her from the start, and now the baker was taking it off the table.
“I’m not that drunk,” she said, pushing herself up with her hands off the couch. But when she did, her vision blurred slightly, her legs quivering from sheer unmet want that only Xander could fill right now.
Immediately, Xander was up, catching her in his arms, steadying her again.
How was she supposed to not be attracted to him when he kept doing nice things like that?
She was surrounded by him, thick a
rms trapping her against his chest. Her breasts pressed into his pecs, teasing her nipples and making her entire body go warm.
“You’re only proving my point right now,” he said with a rakish grin.
She stared up at him, dazed with need. “I’m not too drunk to know I want this.”
Unable to hold back any longer, she leaned up to kiss him before she either went crazy or lost her nerve.
Xander’s eyes went wide as her lips pressed into his, eager and wanting. And for a second, he groaned, relaxing into it, arms tightening slightly around as he did.
This is it… This is happening…
Suddenly, Xander pulled back, letting her go and taking a step rearward. The taste of his lips was still on her mouth, the scent of his body like musk and rain, arousing her senses. But he just stood there, hands on his hips, looking conflicted.
“It’s not… Janet, I just don’t think we should. Not right now. Not like this. Besides, is your foot okay?”
“It’s fine,” she said because it really had been getting better all day.
She stood up and turned away from him, hurt and pissed and sexually frustrated as she moved to the other side of the room to clear her head.
Perhaps he didn’t want her like that anymore now that they were only friends. Perhaps he was only teasing her when he’d been flirting with her.
“So you’re just a tease, then?” She needed to understand why he was turning her down.
Xander’s expression was serious now, watching her every movement like a hawk.
“No. I just don’t think drunk decisions always pan out right. And as much fun as we’re having, you are a bit drunk, my friend.”
She wasn’t drunk.
Except on wanting Xander so badly she ached everywhere.
Okay, and on wine… a bit. But it didn’t change her feelings. It only amplified them. Gave her an excuse to be that much bolder in what she’d been wanting all along.
She took a deep breath in, feeling hurt cut through the alcohol. “I guess you don’t actually want me…”
Suddenly, Xander was in front of her, backing her up. And even though Janet was sizable enough to not be intimidated by most average people, she felt like a cat being cornered by a much larger, much more intimidating dog. Or wolf. Or something predatory.
She bumped into the wall, but he didn’t stop, pressing both hands forcefully onto the wall on her left and right with a heavy thud, surrounding her completely.
“I never said that.” He lowered slightly so they were face to face, only a couple inches away. The tension in his expression, the way his gaze roved quickly down her, made her feel naked before him, and she cursed her body’s instant response to him.
“Then what are you saying?” She stared up at him in frustration. “Because yes, I’ve had wine, but I’m not too drunk to proposition you, clearly. And I’m not too drunk to not know what I’m doing. So it just sounds like an excuse, Xander.”
“It’s not an excuse—”
“Then give me one reason why I should believe all the things you keep telling me about wanting me, about—”
All at once, Xander’s lips crashed over hers, melding them together with electric heat. She moaned against his lips, parting them, and his tongue dove inside her mouth, tangling with hers and stroking her with expert attention.
Instant wetness built at the apex of her thighs, and Janet’s whole body tightened with uncomfortable tension, tension that only Xander held the key to release her from right now.
He pulled away for a moment, lips so close she could kiss him again with the subtlest of movement.
Xander was looking at her hungrily, straight at her as the moment hung heavily between them. Like he could see into her soul.
“That thing in the book you were reading. There’s a scene…”
His voice was gruff. “I know the one.”
“Can you really do that?” Her lips burned where he’d touched, desperate for more.
“Easy,” he said simply in that gruff, hoarse voice that said he was having trouble holding back. That he felt at least a bit of her desperation. “I can do anything for you.”
“Then show me.” She challenged and saw the fire light in his blue eyes, telling her she was finally going to get what she wanted.
His fingers were on her shirt, pulling upward as another hand teased the sensitive spot at the top of her hips. The roughness of his palm, his fingertips, only made the sensation more intense.
“I will,” he said, his voice like dark chocolate, sweet and sinful as he devoured her completely with his eyes. “Just know that I’ll be damned if you don’t come harder than you ever have in your lifetime.”
Well, that is certainly a bold claim, Janet thought to herself. But if he—
His lips crashed into hers again, tongue thrusting in and claiming her mouth completely, wiping all sensible thought from her mind. Her legs wobbled, and her hands clawed at his shirt, holding on desperately. But he was a whirlwind, moving in that moment from her mouth to her earlobe, taking it between his tongue and teeth and biting just hard enough that pleasure and pain were indiscernible for a second.
“I’m going to make you want only me, Janet.” His voice was rough, feral almost, as he kissed and sucked down her neck, probably leaving a hickey or two in his wake. “I’m going to ruin all other men for you. I’m going to make you mine so completely you won’t be able to want another for the rest of your life.”
What Xander didn’t know was that she’d never wanted someone like this before.
His hands were trailing beneath her shirt, up her sides, and to her back. The sensation of her bra falling loose underneath her shirt would have made Janet wonder how he’d undone the clasp so quickly, but her shirt and bra being pulled over her head all at once removed that thought completely.
He lowered himself, dropping to one knee as he took both her breasts in his hands and squeezed them, rubbing one hungry, peaked nipple with his thumb while he took the other into his mouth. The hot, wet sensation of his rough tongue on her sensitive skin was instantly erotic, and Janet tightened her legs together, urgent to receive everything he gave.
For several moments, he laved and suckled, making Janet melt with lightning-hot pleasure. She wasn’t sure if she could come this way, but damn if Xander wasn’t pushing her to the edge right now.
He kissed lower, coming to one knee and licking her belly button as he undid the tie of her pajama pants. The delicate, dominant motion made her body buzz with anticipation. Then he stopped, glancing up at her one more time, waiting for her approval, and she nodded eagerly.
Then with one motion, her pants and underwear came off together, dropped on the floor beneath her. In the same moment, he threw his shirt off and tossed it aside, giving her the ultimate view of his sculpted muscles and the intricate artistry of his tattoos across his chest and down his back.
Feeling slightly self-conscious, Janet moved her hands to cover herself. She was so wet he could definitely, definitely see right now.
But then forcefully, gently, Xander took her wrists in his hands, pressing them to her sides, pinning her completely to the wall as he took in the sight of her for several prolonged seconds.
“You’re beautiful, Janet.”
Just because she was confident around other women didn’t mean she’d ever felt super desired by men in general. Especially shorter guys, which was frankly most of them.
But right now, with Xander watching her like this, Janet could feel nothing else but want filling her every cell to nearly bursting.
Then, still trapping Janet’s hands at her sides, Xander moved down and licked her clit hungrily. He kissed her, laved her, swirled his tongue deftly around her…
And Janet came harder than she ever had.
Chapter 9
Release instantly overtook Janet just as Xander got his first taste of the woman who was most definitely his mate.
Her entire body shuddered, legs going weak, and he stood up,
wrapping his arms around her, holding her tight as the orgasm claimed her.
Fuck. She was gorgeous. Everything he’d imagined and more.
Janet moaned, hands free and wrapping around him while she continued to come. Then, as it abated, he leaned back down to place a gentle kiss on her ear, enjoying the way her body twitched with even the lightest touch.
“I don’t know how I’m going to stay standing for another one like that,” Janet said, chest heaving against his with deep, desperate breaths. “Maybe we should go to the bedroom.”
“Nope,” he replied, “There’s a certain something I promised. And I keep my promises.”
Her green eyes went wide as he came down onto one knee again. Only this time, he moved between her legs, lifting each of her thighs over one of his shoulders as though she weighed nothing as her back rested against the wall.
“I… Oh… that scene.” Her cheeks were bright red, her shock apparent, and Xander couldn’t help smiling to himself as he pushed up off the ground, keeping Janet trapped between himself and the wall behind her. “Wow, this is pretty high up.”
Thankfully, Janet had a pretty nice apartment with tall ceilings that gave them clearance so he could stand at his full height with her on top of him, hips pointed directly toward him.
Yum.
“Things are only going to get higher from here on out,” he said, mouth salivating at the scent of Janet, her pussy practically dripping at this point.
Xander hadn’t known how to start once they’d gotten back to the apartment. Janet was too important, too special to jump into things overeagerly. Especially when he’d suspected she was drunk and possibly making a decision out of pure horniness.
But then her expression, the way her happiness fell when he’d pulled back, had nearly broken him.
He could never say no to his mate.
Xander used his hands to help balance Janet for a second as she got used to riding astride him like this. Then, once she seemed comfortable, he took both her wrists again and pinned them to the wall, trapping her hips with his mouth and giving her nowhere to go but into pure pleasure.
Dragon Meets Girl: Forgotten Dragons Book 2 Page 5
