“I did not use real names. All identifying traits or mannerisms were changed or discarded,” he said.
“Thank you?”
“You’re welcome.”
“No, Xander,” I said with a laugh. “Not you’re welcome. This is not okay! Crocodile.”
“You feel this is a breech in contract?”
“I feel that this is a breech in our relationship!” I stood up. “I trusted you. I feel violated.”
“That was not my intention. I would understand if this ends our agreement.”
I paused. “I… don’t know.”
A silence fell over us both. I found myself lost in paradox. I was angry with him, appalled by his decision. But I did not want him out of my life.
“Did you read the ending?” he asked.
“No,” I said. For some reason, I had not thought to read the ending Xander wrote for us.
“Do it,” he said.
“I thought you didn’t want me to read this.”
“I’m hoping it will help you decide.” Xander took a few steps toward his office. “I’ll leave you be.”
I sat down on the couch again. My head was swimming, stuck somewhere between rage and confusion. But I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I swiped to the last chapter and started reading.
Xavier held my face in his hands. He wiped my tears away with his thumbs and stared into my eyes.
“Minerva, I love you,” he whispered. “I didn’t know it until it was too late. And I’m sorry.”
I shook with a small laugh, unable to contain my smile. “I don’t know what to say…”
“Say nothing. And stay with me tonight.”
I put the phone down. Just like my fictitious counterpart, I didn’t know what to say. If Xander had feelings for me, he was a master at hiding it. For most of our interaction, I was an object to him, ready and willing to be used. Or so I believed.
I stood up and walked down the hallway to his office. Without knocking, I opened the door and let it fall open. Xander sat at his desk in a familiar pose. His fingers flew across his keyboard. How he could concentrate enough to write at this time, I had no idea, but it was something I admired about him. If I could say anything about Xander, it was that he could get things done. He looked up at me and paused, waiting for my response to his literary admission.
“Is that true?”
Xander stood up from his chair and walked around his desk. “Every word,” he said.
“I had no idea,” I said.
“I’ve never been good at these things,” he said. “There’s a reason why I’ve spent most days of my adult life alone in a dark office.”
We chuckled and broke some of the tension. “I can see that,” I said.
“I am very sorry, Marnie,” he said. “The last thing I ever wanted to do was disappoint you.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled, a sense of calm returning to me. “I want you to be more open with me,” I said. “I’m not ready yet to say this is all okay.”
“I understand,” Xander said.
“But I do feel we can smooth this over.”
“Yeah?” Xander asked. He took a step closer to me.
“Yes,” I confirmed.
Xander smiled and leaned in closer, bringing his hands up to my face. He came in for a kiss, but I pulled back.
“But— I want more access to what you’re writing.”
“Okay.”
“And more creative involvement. If you’re basing characters off me, I want a say in what gets published. I’m not your assistant. I’m your partner.”
Xander hesitated. “… okay.”
I stood tall. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
He smiled and kissed me. It was a different kiss than any that came before it. We’ve always been passionate, but before it was calculated. For the job. This one was for us. We fell into it with our entire bodies. Our first real kiss.
“Wait—” he paused. “Does this mean I have to pay you more?”
I considered. “We can revisit that question at another time,” I said with a wink. “The current contract can stand as is.”
“Including the questionnaire?” he asked, one eyebrow raised. “You know, we haven’t really gotten into the nitty gritty of that list. I mean, I have a whole box full of toys to defile you with. And I still don’t know what happens at strike three…”
“Well,” I said with a grin. “There’s always the sequel.”
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Miranda is a dance instructor by day and, by night, a writer of all things naughty. A firm believer in writing what you know, she always does a fair amount of personal research before diving into a story. You can find all of Miranda’s romantic, dirty stories at most major online retailers!
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This sweet, steamy collection of erotic romance stories features
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Text and Story Copyright © 2014 Miranda Lawrence
Cover Art Copyright © Depositphotos.com/dpaint
All Rights Reserved.
This is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences only.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All characters detailed within are eighteen years of age or older.
No characters engaging in sexual acts are blood related.
The Writer's Assistant Page 5
