by Leila James
With a sigh, Terry shakes his head. “I understand some people can be hard to deal with. You still can’t treat our customers like that. It’s bad for business.”
I bite my lip. Hard. This is going to be the shortest employment in history if I get fired. Between what he just heard and the day I was thirty minutes late last week because I had to go home and change, I wouldn’t even blame him if he let me go. I murmur, “It won’t happen again. I promise.”
He nods. “I like you, my wife likes you, and you’re a hard worker. Those things are all in your favor.” He glances out the window. “But we can’t afford to have people going elsewhere if you give those girls reason to steer people away.”
“I get it. I’m sorry it happened.”
The bell above the door jingles as it opens.
“Can you handle the counter right now, or do you need to take your break?”
A quarter of the football team comes through the door. Fuck me.
“Scar-lett!”
“What’s up, Scar?”
“Hey, Scarlett!”
And from Beau, “Yo, pretty girl! How’s it going?”
Always the ladies’ man, that one.
Micah just nods from beside his buddy, eyeing me like he always does.
I take a deep breath. Weird of them to greet me like this. Almost as if they’re trying to make nice. I don’t buy it for a split second, but I will get through this. “I’m fine, Terry. Thank you.”
He pats my shoulder on his way out. “You’re one of the good ones, Scarlett. Just remember that.”
The sea of broad chests and shoulders parts to reveal Xander behind them. He tilts his head toward me in lazy acknowledgment. His cocksure attitude is infuriating. His eyes wander over me, and although I’m wearing jeans, an ice cream shop T-shirt, and this damn apron—I feel distinctly naked. “Hey, Red.”
Suddenly, it feels very hot in here, even though Terry keeps the air conditioning running at a low temp year-round and I’m standing right in front of a partially open ice cream freezer.
“Xander.” I give him a cautious smile before my eyes shift to the first person in line.
I serve each as quickly as possible with a grin plastered on my face. I can’t imagine I will get through this unscathed, but we’ll see what Xander has up his sleeve for me tonight. I dread finding out—but at the same time, a tiny part of me can’t wait to see what he does next.
Apparently, I’m a glutton for his brand of punishment.
When Beau and Micah approach, though they joke around with me, I’m hesitant to accept their good-natured teasing at face value, especially after everything that’s transpired this week.
Micah leans across the counter, catching my eye.
“What can I get for you, Micah?”
He visibly swallows and a sigh leaves his big body. “I didn’t have anything to do with your homework going missing. And just so you know, that thing that happened? It really was an accident.” He glances down at his hands where they rest on the top of the ice cream case.
“Just so we’re clear … what are you saying was an accident?”
Frustrated, he blows out a heavy sigh. “You know—I had my legs in the aisle and moved just as you went to step over them, and I tripped you. I didn’t mean—”
I hold my hand up. “It’s fine. Everything’s fine. I don’t want to talk about it.” Heat floods my cheeks as the memories of landing facedown in Xander’s crotch flare to life.
Beau’s shoulders sag. “You’re totally not fine. Ah, Scarlett, I’m sorry. We’ve just been messing around.” He turns and punches Xander in the shoulder with a blow that would have made most people wince in pain, but he doesn’t even flinch. “I thought you said you apologized, man?” Beau returns his gaze to mine as he steps closer. “I’ll take the mint chip in a waffle cone.”
My gaze flicks to the window where Aria and her friends are staring into the shop.
I wet my lip before I look back at the three of them for a brief moment before silently scooping out the ice cream for Beau’s cone. I hand it to him, and he takes a big lick, winks at me, and hands me a five. “Keep the change.”
Xander clears his throat. “I tried to apologize. She doesn’t believe me.” His gaze follows the path mine just took out the window, then ever so slowly fixes on mine again.
Micah grunts. “You must not have been very convincing. You did help her get her homework back, though. That should count for something.” He looks directly at me. “Can I get the chocolate cherry swirl in a sugar cone?” He slaps his money on the counter as I scoop his ice cream. When I go to make change, he waves me off. “Thanks. And I really am sorry I tripped you.”
I give him a nod of understanding. “I didn’t mean to imply you were stupid—with the homework thing, I mean.”
He grins at me. “I know. No big deal. You should forgive Xander. He feels bad about everything.”
“Maybe he should explain himself better, then.”
Micah shrugs and walks away, Beau at his side.
Beau shouts over his shoulder. “We’ll wait for you outside, Xan.”
Xander steps up to the counter, resting his hands on it. “It really was an accident. Micah and his long fucking legs.”
“That doesn’t make what you said that day disappear, Xander. And your apologies don’t make anything you’ve done go away.”
He looks down. “I know. But I regret saying what I did. I was just—”
“Being an enormous dick?” I look over my shoulder to make sure Terry is still in the back before I continue. “And why should I believe your apology? Between you and your bitchy girlfriend, I just can’t anymore. I get it. You don’t want me here for some fucking crazy reason. And Aria doesn’t want me here because—” I stop, unable to say it. She doesn’t want me here because she’s possessive and jealous of how you look at me, you asshole. And I don’t know what tricks you’re trying to pull, but you run hot as hell one minute and cold as ice the next.
His gaze bores right into me, something I can’t understand flickering in his eyes as he asks, “You know I’m not with Aria, right?”
I scoff, “You could have fooled me. Do you invite all the cheerleaders to a very special seat on your lap at lunch?”
He stares at me. Ha! No answer to that one, huh? Well, how about this? “What is she then, if not your girlfriend? Your convenient fuck buddy?”
He shrugs. “We have an understanding of sorts.”
“You’re such a dick.”
“It’s not like that. She’s been jealous of you since the first time I mentioned I’d run into you. That’s the answer to the question you keep tiptoeing around. You want to know why I’ve been an asshole? That’s why. Aria is sensitive to me being interested in anyone.”
“Seriously? You’re telling me that’s what started all of this fuckery? Your non-girlfriend is jealous?” My brows pinch together, disbelieving.
He leans closer to me, eyeing me carefully. “The question I have for you is this—after all the stuff I’ve done, or all the stuff you think I’ve done, why do you still want me? Because I can see in your eyes that you do.”
Good. Fucking. Question.
“Scarlett? Go ahead and take your ten-minute break.” Terry interrupts any answer I might have given. Not that I have one for Xander.
Not that I have one for myself.
With a sigh, I untie my apron, pull it over my head and walk down the back hallway. I’m in the habit of sitting on a bench behind the shop and looking at the stars during my break times. I never really need the break but Terry says it’s required, so I may as well take it. My mind is a jumbled mess, anyway. Maybe some fresh air will help. I push through the door and it bangs loudly behind me.
Chapter 25
Just as I sit down, Xander appears from around the corner of the building.
I roll my eyes and huff out my exasperation. “What are you doing, Xander?”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and comes to s
tand in front of me. “I don’t quite feel like our conversation is over.”
“Trust me. It is.”
His lips press together, perturbed by my quick response, and he points to the bench. “May I?”
I glance down at the empty space next to me. What am I supposed to do? Say no? I gesture towards the bench as sarcastically as I can. “Sure. Knock yourself out.”
He nods and sits down, just a smidge too close for comfort. “You like working here?” He glances over at my profile before leaning back and putting his arm along the back of the bench behind me.
My shoulders lift, then drop. “It’s a job.”
“Not many people at Rosehaven Academy would bother.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not ‘many people,’ I guess. Just a Thorn, remember?”
He angles his body toward mine, ignoring my question. “I remember the first day we met you told me you were living with your aunt and uncle. Did they say you had to work? To stay with them, I mean?”
My brows go up. “No, just the opposite. They’d rather I didn’t. But it’s funny you can recall the part of the conversation about living with my aunt and uncle, but magically forgot all about what happened to my mother in front of other people.” I shake my head. “You did it just to hurt me.”
“You might be right.” He tips my chin up to look at him. “Damn, I love that fire in your eyes.”
I blink, unsure what to make of his swift change. I’m still trying to figure it out when he drops his mouth to mine. His full lips are soft, coaxing me to respond. Heaven help me, I can’t tell if this is some sort of test, but the only answer I know is that I don’t want him to stop. As he deepens the kiss, he captures the sound of my moan and pushes me further, his tongue breaching my lips, exploring my mouth, bold and sure. Each swipe of his tongue and rub of his lips feels like a new attempt to devour me whole.
He better have been telling the truth about Aria. The fleeting thought that he’s like this with her is interrupted when he puts his hands on my waist.
Before I know it, he’s pulled me onto his lap, and I find myself straddling him. His hands work to pull my T-shirt from my jeans, and once he has it free, they run over the skin of my back. Up and down, up and down. It’s hypnotic.
“So fucking soft.” His tongue sinks deep into my mouth again for another heart-stopping kiss.
At the same time his hands are at work under my shirt, he hungrily nips at my lips, then skims his mouth across my jaw and down my neck, where he stops again, dropping open-mouthed kisses along the column of my throat. He makes my body vibrate with sensation. I feel alive under this touch, worshipped. Whole.
His hands move to my sides, and it’s not long before they slide up and his thumbs caress the sides of my breasts. I let him. In fact, the inexperienced girl inside of me begs him for more. I don’t know what that says about her. Or me. And right now, neither one of us cares.
One arm slips around my back, pulling my body snug against his, and I gasp. I’ve known for sure since the day he hauled me into the bathroom that Xander is packing some major heat. But now, with my pussy and his dick separated only by some fabric, I know he’s bigger than I ever imagined.
I’m unable to contain the little ragged sounds leaving my mouth as my arousal is heightened. His hand on my lower back encourages me to rock back and forth over his erection, and he palms one of my breasts. I groan as he gives it a firm squeeze. My head drops back. I can’t believe this is happening. The throbbing between my legs intensifies when he cups my neck and brings my head down to his for another scorching-hot kiss. Our tongues are wild, our lips fierce. And Xander? He tastes like the most decadent sin.
I want more.
I continue to ride the hard ridge of his cock and move my hips in patterns, nearly creating more friction than I can handle.
Before I recognize what he’s doing, his hands are unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans. I suck in a breath.
“You want me to touch you, Red?”
I visibly swallow as I look into his dark eyes. Those eyes can be so cruel, but right now … right now they burn. For me.
I nod.
“I need you to say yes, baby. I want to feel how wet you are for me. I want to slip my fingers inside you, feel you come all over them. Do you want that?”
Oh God, his dirty talk alone is about to send me right over the edge. “I—” My voice hitches.
He captures my lips, feasting on them, sucking on my tongue until I’m again out of control, rubbing against his hard-on. He chuckles. “You trying to get yourself off, Red, or you want some help?”
I gasp as his hand kneads my breast over my bra. “Help.”
No further encouragement is needed. He slips his hand into my jeans and teases the skin along the waistband of my panties before his fingers dip inside to touch me. He rubs my clit for a few seconds, then slides his hand down further. “Fuck, Scarlett. You’re so fucking wet for me, baby.” His fingers slip easily through my arousal, stroking my sensitive flesh.
I’m all but thrashing on his lap. One finger pushes inside me. “Oh, God. Xander …” His name falls from my lips. I’m a breathless, needy puddle of desire.
“Baby, your pussy … it’s so fucking tight.” He adds a second finger, and I still, panting.
“You’re not a virgin, are you?”
I shake my head no. But what I am is really inexperienced. I’ve had sex a grand total of one time. I don’t think the dick on the guy from my old school who I’d given my virginity to was as girthy as Xander’s two fingers because I feel myself stretching beyond anything I’ve felt before as he pushes them in and out of me. His thumb presses down on my clit and rubs little circles, throwing me over a cliff I hadn’t realized I’d been standing along the edge of. My entire body trembles and shakes, and I can actually feel my pussy clenching his fingers over and over again as I’m enveloped in pleasure and shimmering heat.
He continues to touch me as I come down from the first orgasm someone else has ever given me. His lips are soft on mine, gentle even.
Xander removes his hand from my panties and promptly puts both fingers in his mouth, sucking my juices from them. “You taste so fucking good.” He groans, then looks deeply into my eyes. “I knew you would. Forgive me now, Red?”
I raise my hands to either side of my head. “I’ll be honest. I have no idea what I’m doing. Or what the fuck just happened. But—” My face is hot. I don’t know if I believe his explanation about Aria’s jealousy, but it didn’t seem to matter at all the second he put his mouth and hands on me.
He chuckles and pulls my body to his, nuzzling against my neck. “You’ll figure it out soon.” He picks me up by the waist and sets me on my feet, zipping my pants and buttoning them. With a little smirk he stands up. Lowering his mouth to mine, he stamps a kiss to my lips. “Get back to work, slacker.” He walks back around the building, throwing a wink over his shoulder as he goes.
Like I said, What. The fuck. Just. Happened?
Chapter 26
Early Friday, an incoming text message makes my phone vibrate on my charging stand. Groaning, I roll over and blindly reach out for it.
Unknown Number: Coming to the away game tonight?
Me: Probably not. Who is this?
It’s not any of the dick pic senders or the person who has been sending me cryptic messages about my scholarship. I’ve got Daphne and Max’s numbers in my contacts, so I know it’s not them. Hm.
Unknown Number: Your favorite football player.
A slow smile spreads across my face, and my nipples tighten into little buds just at the thought. I had trouble falling asleep last night because our sexy encounter behind the ice cream shop had played on a continuous loop through my head for hours. I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to him. Every touch—every coax from his talented tongue, every stroke of his magical, orgasm-inducing fingers—had me seeing stars and forgetting everything that he’d done leading up to that very moment. Things he’d done because his fri
end, who is not his girlfriend, has a jealous streak? I’m so confused and I’m terrified that I was stupid to let him touch me, but … I can’t deny how incredibly good it had felt.
I nibble on my lip, trying to decide if I’m daring enough to mess with him a little bit. My thumbs race over the keyboard.
Me: Micah?
Unknown Number: Seriously?
Me: Beau?
Unknown Number: Stop fucking with me.
Me: Oh, the irony of you saying that …
Holy shit. I clap my hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh. I should not be taunting him like that. But … he makes it too easy.
Unknown Number: So, you do know who I am.
Me: Maybe.
Unknown Number: Listen, I want to get to know you better.
Unknown Number: There’s a party at Beau’s house tonight after we get back from the game.
Unknown Number: You should come.
Unknown Number: Wear a swimsuit. He has a pool and a fucking outstanding hot tub.
I roll over to my back. Is he serious? I can’t figure him out. Is everything suddenly fine with him taking an interest in me? Is Aria going to back off and stop freaking out? One thing’s for sure, I never thought I’d hear Xander say he was sorry. Never dreamed I’d let him put his hands and mouth on me. Yet, here we are. I catch my lip between my teeth and worry it for a few seconds before my thumbs fly over my phone’s keyboard in response.
Me: What’s the address?
I set my phone aside and, in a rush to get ready, fumble through my backpack looking for my charm bracelet. I remember tucking it into the little zippered pocket at the top of my bag to appease Micah yesterday. It’d slipped my mind to put it back on, then I’d had cross-country practice, followed directly by work. I know I never took it out.
So where the fuck is it?
My hands tremble as I pull everything out of the pocket. Pens. ChapStick. Hair ties. Mirror. Tampons. Gum.
