Without Exception (The Without Series Book 1)

by K E Osborn

  After a few minutes, he pulls up the bike. At the tip of the island, I notice there’s a small museum and lighthouse. The buildings are all white, appearing in need of work, but they’re kinda cool. I didn’t even know they were here. I slide off the bike, yanking off the helmet as Xander stands and takes the helmet, placing it on the seat, then looks at me. A gentle breeze moves through the air, my hair dancing in its wake as I look out to see the edge of the island and the view of the bridge. It’s an absolutely stunning afternoon and a breathtaking sight.

  I glance at Xander, his lips slowly turn up like he knows he’s done well. “Wow,” is all I can manage as he tilts his head toward the lighthouse, so we start walking in that direction.

  My heels make it slightly more difficult to traverse the pebbled ground, but I’m a pro at this while Xander walks right next to me like he understands my plight. Our bodies are so close I can smell his woodsy aftershave. The fragrance smells expensive and has my senses working overtime.

  It’s so delicious.

  We make our way as close to the edge as possible, without being dangerous, and we just stand. Bodies aligned, almost touching, with this pulse, this electro-charge surging through the air.

  Xander has gone out of his way to make me feel special today.

  I don’t know why, though.

  Why now? After two years of periodically coming into the shop, does he decide to take this up a notch? But I’m glad he has. I’ve felt this pull, this buzz, this chemistry we have from the first time I saw him, but I’ve tried to ignore it.

  I’m not ignoring it now.

  His arm touches mine, and it sends a wave of goosebumps along my skin then down my spine. He does something to my body I can’t even comprehend. If I don’t do something to break this intense feeling I’m having right now, I’m going to end up ripping his clothes off right here, and I don’t think that’s entirely appropriate.

  I turn to face him with a genuine smile. “How the hell do you know about this place?”

  He glances at me sideways. “I found it one day when I took the off-ramp by mistake. It’s off-limits to the public, but I like to take the risk every now and then. The view’s worth it.” He turns, bringing his arm up and wraps it around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. I welcome the move, cuddling into him. Feeling our bodies together in an embrace is doing all sorts of things to me. My breath quickens, the warmth radiating from him is like an inferno setting me on fire. My hand slides to his chest, and I can’t help but let out a small laugh as I remember our food fight at the Mexican restaurant, making him look down at me.

  He slowly shakes his head, like he’s in awe of me or something. As his eyes meet mine, his piercing orbs stare right into my damn soul, like he knows everything about me, like he’s known me my entire life.

  My heart leaps into my throat as my breaths come hard and frantic. His chest heaves as if this moment is affecting him too. As we stare into each other’s depths, the air fills with intense energy, surging, pulsing around us, drawing us together like a powerful magnet. His hand moves up gently caressing my cheek. The warmth of his smooth fingers on my skin makes me gasp, my lips parting as I let out a staggered breath. His eyes shift down, focusing on my lips as he moves in closer. My toes lift up on their own as we angle toward each other, my arms instantly wrapping around his waist while his hand slides into the back of my hair pulling me closer to him. His breath tickles my lips, my breathing’s rushed as our lips graze the edges of each other’s.

  “Hey!” Someone yells loudly and in a thoroughly annoying voice, making me pull back from Xander’s almost kiss.

  My eyes widen as I turn to see a security guard holding a baton walking toward us. “Oh shit,” I murmur.

  Xander reaches out, grabbing my hand. It tingles immediately, but I don’t have time to dwell on that fact as he yanks me with him, and we start running. The crunch of the pebbles echo through the air as I let out a small squeal, teamed with a giggle, as we rush toward his bike. The guard takes charge after us, but thankfully, he’s a fair distance behind as we scurry to Xander’s bike chuckling like damn fools.

  We slide onto the bike, a cloud of dust swirling around us as Xander quickly hands me the helmet. Jumping on the bike while I shove it on without doing it up, he starts the engine. With a quick glance back, I see the slightly chubby guard stop to take a rest break as he throws his hand in the air waving the baton at us.

  Xander revs his engine, then skids off away from the guard and the lighthouse. A plume of pebbles and dust radiates up in the air in our wake as I let out a cheer and raise my arm in the air.

  My entire body shudders as a giggling fit takes over. I love how we were caught doing something we shouldn’t have been. Being there without permission makes this all the more fun as Xander speeds back toward my shop.

  Unfortunately, I guess the date is now over. If that’s what this was.

  But I know one thing for sure—we almost kissed, and it was fucking magical.

  As we arrive at the shop, Xander pulls to a stop but doesn’t turn off his engine.

  I know it’s my cue to jump off.

  Our time together is over, and as much as I don’t want to, I have to get back to work.

  I’m guessing he does too.

  Regrettably, I let Xander go as I slide off from behind him, standing to the side while I pull off his helmet and hand it to him.

  Xander’s lips lift upward causing one dimple to dip in. His teeth are perfectly aligned and so white, the glow exudes his happiness like a ray of sunshine on this beautiful spring afternoon. He is the sun, and I’m burning in his blissful rays. How one man can be so utterly stunning and masculine at the same time, I have no idea as I stand on the sidewalk staring at him, him at me.

  I don’t know where we go from here.

  We almost kissed.

  I want to know what it would be like to kiss his delectable lips. But I also know that behind me, all my workmates are probably watching, staring at him, waiting for me to make a move.

  So, instead, I decide to play it cool.

  “Thanks for lunch. Tacos are my jam.”

  His eyes sparkle as he watches me. “Taco… jam… got it! I’ll make sure to remember that.”

  I snort out a laugh while shaking my head. “You’re so weird.”

  He raises his brow. “Says the girl downing margaritas at midday, throwing tomatoes, and kicking people for fun.”

  I exhale. “Point taken. So, Just Xander, am I going to see you again soon or will you vanish for months on end again?”

  “How about I text you?”

  I place my hand on my hip, tilting my head. “You don’t have my number.”

  He tilts his head. “That was me asking for it.”

  I roll my eyes, letting out a huff. “Then ask for it, Just Xander. I’m not the type of girl who goes for a guy who plays games.”

  He doesn’t seem fazed. “I’m not playing any games here, Tomi.” He looks into my eyes. “I like you. Have since the first time I came into your shop, but… my life’s complicated—”

  “Do you have a girlfriend?” I ask point-blank.

  His eyes widen. “What? No.”

  “Wife?”

  He smiles now. “No.”

  “Boy lover?” I tease.

  His smile falls as he stares at me, incredulously. “Now you’re just mocking me.”

  “Animal fetish?”

  He bursts out laughing as he reaches out to grab me around my waist, pulling me to him. I stumble forward, my arms wrapping around his neck as I stare at him. You’d think this would be awkward, him sitting on his bike, me standing, but somehow, it’s working as he holds me to him.

  And it’s just like we’re right back at the lighthouse staring into each other’s eyes. The whole world slows down around us, and it’s only Xander and me in our own safe little bubble. I’ve never felt any connection like this before where every part of my body comes alive by merely looking at him. His fingers slide unde
r my shirt at the lower part of my back, sending a wave of tingles bursting all over my flesh. His thumbs gently caress my skin as my arms loop around his neck, my fingers playing with his short, brown hair at the nape of his neck.

  My breathing hitches as his lips part, his tongue darting out licking his bottom lip slightly. The sight makes the anticipation that much more. I need to taste him, and I can’t wait as I tilt forward at the same time he leans up. One of his hands is moving onto the back of my head, and the other is holding tight on the small of my back as we inch closer.

  He smells so good.

  He looks so good.

  This can only be good.

  Fuck it! I lean in pressing my lips to his, and the instant I do, my lips crackle and burst like popping candy. Fireworks explode above my head while my heart races so fast I feel like it might detonate if I’m not careful.

  His hand on my back moves a little lower to my ass as he pulls me closer to him while his tongue enters my mouth. My thighs clench at the dull ache instantly hitting my core. I moan with the move, feeling like I could easily get lost in him. He kisses me deeply, passionately—it’s intoxicating. His tongue dances with mine in a fevered tango, our teeth colliding in a frenzy. My fingers tangle in his hair, holding his face to mine, needing him, wanting him as he grasps onto me tight enough to show dominance but care at the same time. This is by far the best kiss I’ve ever had.

  Suddenly a loud roar of cheering erupts from behind us.

  I know it’s the guys in the shop, and hearing that they’re all there watching me make out with sexy-as-sin Xander is kind of killing my buzz. A small chuckle erupts from me as he slows the kiss, his hands moving toward my back again. I gradually pull away from him, standing upright a little more as I take a breath while gazing into his hooded eyes, completely breathless.

  There’s something about him, something I can’t quite put my finger on.

  I’m totally into him, but this mystery thing might just drive me nuts.

  He licks his lips, clears his throat, and looks past me to the shop. “Seems we have an audience.”

  I grimace. “Yeah… those fuckers need to go watch some porn or something.”

  He puts on a more serious face. “Tomi, can I have your phone?”

  My brows furrow, but I shrug pulling it out and unlocking it. Xander takes it, then starts programming his details. “There. Now you have my number.”

  The corners of my mouth turn up. “Leaving it to me to make the next move, huh?”

  Xander reaches out to grab my hand, his thumb caressing over the back of my skin. “I know you feel this. So call or text or GIF me. Whatever you want, just make contact.”

  I try to hold my smirk. “GIF you? You really just said that.”

  He rolls his eyes, his hand pulling back, then he whacks me hard on my ass. I jump slightly, letting out a small squeal.

  My eyes widen as I glare at him. “Oh, the nerve. You wait, Just Xander, I’m gonna blow your mind.”

  “I’m counting on it.” He winks at me as I turn and head toward the shop to notice everyone at the windows watching us.

  As I step to the door, I groan at them, then slowly turn back to Xander. As he revs his engine, I watch him pull on his helmet, dip his head, and then he takes off into the San Francisco traffic like some bad boy made especially for me in my dreams.

  Only this isn’t a dream, my bad boy is in real living Technicolor.

  Holy shit.

  Alex

  A Week Later

  I gave Tomi my personal phone number last week, since then we’ve been texting back and forth. There was no way I was putting her number anywhere near my business phone. I don’t need her number showing up on the records, or worse for her to dig and to find out where I work, or who I really am.

  But through our texts, I’ve been finding out more and more about her history and what she likes. We’ve even talked on the phone after work when I’ve gotten home at a reasonable hour.

  The thing is, though, she’s eager to learn about ‘Xander,’ but because it’s so hard to open up to her about me, I have to always turn the conversation around. I know she’s curious about who I am, about where I come from, about what I do, but if I give her any hints, she could run with it, and Tomi finding out now isn’t a possibility.

  She needs to find out the right way.

  But in saying that, how can we truly be anything?

  How can we go any further?

  When she finds out about the real me, she’s going to be devastated, and I don’t think I can handle the pain this is going to cause her. I want to see her again, but my father’s pushing deadlines. I need to get the designers to build mockups of how the new mega-complex will look when we start to build. The thing is, I don’t want any-fucking-thing to do with the design process. But my father’s adamant if I’m to head the company one day, something this huge on my resume will only be good for me.

  So, I have to be involved.

  Like I’m not already in deep enough with this fucking project.

  Right now, I’m stuck in a boring-ass meeting about zoning. I know I should be listening. I really need to be on the ball with all this shit, but my head just isn’t in the game. When it comes to this mega-complex, all I can think about is how it’s going to affect Tomi by forcing her out and the catastrophic effects it will have on her and Levi’s life. She thinks I don’t know about her family home still under mortgage, or that her income from Hope & Faith Ink pays for it. Without the steady income from her tattoo studio, the house and Levi’s schooling are going to have to change. She doesn’t realize how deep my knowledge about her situation goes. This is why I feel so damn torn about all this. I realize this mega-complex is a great thing for the area, but the rent on a new shop for her is too high, and it will cut into the funds she needs to repay the mortgage and pay for Levi’s school.

  But what if there were some way to help her?

  I sit taller in my seat as some man called Greg stands with his shirt buttons done up on the wrong holes talking about inflation as he scribbles on the smartboard. My mind ticks over, the cogs working overtime as a thought clicks into place.

  What if, in the new mega-complex, I purposely built a tattoo studio?

  Thinking about what Tomi would want, I could design it all and then find a way to make it more affordable for her.

  Surely, I can work on that?

  Loving my idea, I sit forward resting my hands on the desk in front of me, then turn to look at my father. “The mega-complex is such a diverse area,” I call out grabbing the attention of everyone in the room as Greg, the speaker at the front, stops mid-speech. I feel bad for interrupting him, but honestly, no one’s listening to his bullshit anyway.

  Father raises his brow at me. “Say what you have to say.”

  I sit taller, stiffening my shoulders. “There’s going to be a cinema, shopping, food, a health spa… why not have a tattoo studio as well? Not a dive bar, a sleek modern one. I know the studio that’s going to be demolished runs a profitable business and has a good clientele base. It’s a great idea. I don’t know why we haven’t thought of this before?”

  Dad’s face scrunches. He’s going to say something, but before he can, Dave, the design engineer, steps forward rolling the plans out on the long wooden table in front of us. “We do have space for another medium shop right here.” He points to a spot on the plans close to where Hope & Faith Ink is already located. “We don’t have plans for it as yet, and I think something a little different like a tattoo studio could be quite the drawcard.”

  This could change everything for Tomi. I still have a few hurdles to jump through, but at least I’m nearly over step one. “It’s settled then. We’ll set this one up in the art area of the mega-complex along with the photography shop, art shop, day spa, and now a tattoo studio, then the design work can actually be put into the planning. The whole area should be done in art deco with its bold geometric forms and bright colors. It could look incredibly pleasi
ng to the eye and be a major drawcard to the mega-complex.”

  Dad sits forward, a stern look crossing his face, totally ignoring what I’ve just said. “We need to remove the tenants first and rapidly. We have a start demolition date and need to move forward as soon as possible so we can begin putting up the framework. The quicker this is built, Alex, the faster the jobs will be filled. Get it done! Then we will discuss how that part of the mega-complex should be built. I have to agree, though, it’s a damn good idea.”

  I can’t help feeling uncomfortable about having Tomi’s current shop with all her memories demolished, but at least I’m putting in a contingency plan for her and Levi.

  She will have a studio in the mega-complex. I will find a way.

  Somehow, I have to come up with a plan to make my father see the rent should be lower for her.

  It’s a work in progress, but at least it’s a start. For now, I’ll take the wins as I get them.

  “I know… I’m working on it, trust me.”

  He grits his teeth standing from his chair. “Well work damn harder. Faster. More assiduous. We need them gone. Yesterday!” He turns, storming out of the boardroom as the rest of the table stand from their seats. I let out a huff, slowly standing and wondering how the hell I’m going to wrangle all of this. I have to play it smart. I’m taking a lot on, but I need to do it for the sake of Tomi. I care about her, and I want to make sure she and Levi are taken care of.

  Grabbing my things, I walk toward the door, leaving my co-workers behind mulling over the mega-complex finite details. With Tomi deep on my mind, I make my way to my office, shutting the door behind me and stride over to my chair. Plonking down, I let out a loud exhale and pull out my personal phone. I shouldn’t make this call here, but right now I honestly don’t care as I swipe my cell and dial her number.

  I slouch back into my chair, spinning it round to take in the view over the city. It’s so calm and peaceful out there today, nothing like the thunder clouds rolling through my soul right now.