I shook my head. “Um, I’m with—”
“Me.”
Xavier had reappeared. I was immediately comforted by this hand on the small of my back.
“Xavier Grant, what a pleasure. This is one nice setup you’ve got here,” Walter Miller commented.
Xavier inclined his head. “Walter, it’s been a while. How do you two know each other?”
Walter raised an eyebrow, and the pit in my stomach grew. “Chanel and I were almost family.” He seemed a little too happy to spring that information on Xavier, who I now felt looking down at me. “She was supposed to marry my son.”
“Ethan?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, she’s the one that got away, or so I hear.”
I wondered what that was supposed to mean.
“When’s the last time you spoke with Ethan, anyway? You know, he wasn’t doing so well after you left him.”
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, growing more uncomfortable by the second. “Uh, well, it’s been years since I’ve spoken with Ethan,” I lied. I looked back up at Xavier and gave him a half-hearted smile. There was no need to go into any detail about Ethan’s and my past. Walter’s relationship with his son was of his making, and if he wanted more details on his son, he’d have to ask him. “We haven’t been in contact since we broke up.”
Walter nodded, seemingly convinced. “Well, you know how that boy of mine is.”
I did know. I also knew the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, but again, that was no longer my business.
“Well, Mr. Miller, it was nice catching up with you.” I could barely get that lie out, but it was clear that I was dismissing him.
“Same here. Xavier, I’d love to catch up with you about some business when you have time.”
Xavier’s lips tightened in a contemplative manner. “You know my assistant’s number. Give him a call, and maybe we can set something up. If you’ll excuse us, I need to do some more rounds before I take my lady home.” Without waiting for a response from Walter, Xavier pulled me in close to him and guided me to the other side of the room.
“I’m sorry about that,” I began once we were alone. “I haven’t seen him in years and didn’t know he’d be here.”
Xavier looked back over his shoulder at Walter, who was now engaged in a conversation with someone else. “I should be apologizing to you. I’ve known Walter for years. I know how he can get. I never made the connection that he was your ex’s father, though. He wasn’t at the engagement party those years ago. Are you okay?”
I nodded. “He couldn’t make it back then. I’m okay. I just didn’t want it to be awkward, in case you do business with him in the future.”
“I usually don’t work with him. He was invited by one of the other owners.”
“Okay, I just didn’t want there to be a misconception. That’s all.” I ran my hand up his stomach, feeling the ripples of his muscles underneath my palm.
“I’m not sweating Walter Miller, your ex, or anyone else in here tonight except you. As long as you’re upfront with me, I’m good.” He leaned down, brushing his lips over mine and I shuddered. Staring up into his face the color of chestnut, any thoughts of my ex-fiancé and his father ceased to exist. The way Xavier’s smile grew led me to believe he saw the look of need growing in my own eyes.
“Give me about thirty more minutes, then we’re out of here. Cool?”
I nodded. “I’m going to go find Genie and let her know we’re leaving soon.”
“Don’t keep me waiting,” he teased.
“Never, baby,” I purred.
****
“I’m about to wear that ass out.”
That whispered promise in my ear sent an electric current straight to my pussy. Before I could turn my head to face him, he was sliding out the car door, waving the driver off, and holding out a hand to help me out. Pulling me into his embrace, he pressed his lips to the mine before giving a few parting words to the driver. As we strolled through the hotel lobby to the elevator doors, I could feel Xavier’s eyes on my backside. The thrill of knowing he watched me so intently sent goosebumps rising all over my skin.
As soon as we stepped inside the room, my back was pushed against the closed door. His lips covered mine in a hungry kiss. I moaned into his mouth, savoring the flavor of the scotch he’d drank that night and the taste that was all him. I reached up to grasp his shoulders and pull him in even closer. His mouth trailed down my jawline as he peppered kisses down my neck, letting his teeth scrape the sensitive skin beneath my ear. I felt his hand at my back, lowering the zipper of my dress. Seconds later, it was a pool at my feet, as Xavier pulled my arm for me to step out of it.
He led me through the suite into the bedroom that was, to my surprise, lit with candles. Stunned, I looked up at Xavier, who wore an ardent expression. His greedy eyes continued to survey my body as I was dressed in only a pair of lace panties and matching demi-bra.
“This is beautiful.”
He pulled me into him by the waist. “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?”
“I was with you. How could I not enjoy myself?” I questioned honestly, stroking the side of his face. I sighed when his head turned, and he kissed my palm. His lips were on mine again as he led us both to the bed.
I stepped back just before he tried to lower me to the bed, wanting to undress him. I reached up and licked his lips, then push off the suit jacket he wore. I let it fall to the floor, followed by his white button-up shirt. I stepped in closer, pressing kisses to his hard chest and licking his nipples, allowing my knees to sink to the floor as I kissed lower and lower on his body. With his crotch at eye level, I worked to undo his belt and pants button, my mouth watering to taste him. I glanced up to see his eyelids halfway lowered, but eyes staring directly at me. I gave him the sauciest grin I could, right before pushing his pants and boxer briefs down to his ankles. His thick erection sprang out, nearly slapping me in the face. I eagerly pulled him into my mouth and began working my jaw to fit as much of him in as I could.
“Ahhh, shit!” The words ripped from his throat. His voice sounded as if he was being tortured in the sweetest way possible. His hand came around to cup the back of my head. I continued to bob my head up and down on his stiffness, getting lost in the scent and taste of him.
This man could become my addiction, and at that moment, I wouldn’t have minded one bit. I pulled back, looking up at him. Once again, his eyes were right on me. Maintaining eye contact, I used my left hand to hold the base of his dick while I swirled my tongue around the tip to spread the precum that began dripping. I watched Xavier’s chest expand as he watched me, his eyes narrowing, mouth tightening in a look that said he was more than enjoying what I was doing to him. He was committing this moment, this view of me, to memory.
Opening my mouth, I swallowed him whole again. I continued to watch him until he busted in my mouth. I swallowed every drop he gave me, not wanting to waste any of it. I moaned with his cock still in my mouth as he emptied himself.
Feeling satisfied when he finished, I finally pulled back, letting him slip out. I barely had time to wipe my mouth. I felt myself being picked up and tossed onto the bed. I giggled as his heavy weight came down on top of me. My poor bra and panties never had a chance as he ripped them from my body with strong chestnut hands.
“Those were my second favorite pair of panties!” I hissed playfully.
“Shouldn’t have worn them tonight then,” he grunted, unbothered as he kissed his way down to my breasts, cupping and squeezing them. “Let me make it up to you,” he told me, using his shoulders to spread my thighs even farther apart and easing down until he was face-to-face with my pussy. I covered his hands that were still on my breasts with my own and threw my head against the pillow, back arching as he began lapping at my clit. This man was so obviously not playing games that night as he licked and sucked at the most sensitive spot on my body.
“Mmm, Xavier!” I moaned and grunted his name over and over
until I released a shrill scream as I came. Panting as I came back to myself from my orgasm, I looked up to see a pair of darkened coffee brown eyes observing me. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact look he was giving me. I’d never seen it before. He lowered himself so that his forehead rested against mine. I reached up to cup his face, to bring him down to my lips but I was stopped by his hand.
“I’m falling in love with you.” His confession was hoarse.
I lay there, stunned, at a complete loss for words. His confession was like music to my ears and an ice grip to my emotions, all at the same time. Luckily, I didn’t need to respond when Xavier leaned into me, taking my lips with his own, pouring all his emotion into me at the same time he sank himself in between my thighs.
He was relentless as he pumped into my pussy, peppering kisses to my mouth, neck and face, all while telling me how much he was falling for me. I felt tears form behind my eyes, but refused to let them fall. I grasped his shoulders, needing something to anchor myself to the moment. I could feel my body and emotions soaring to heights I’d never experienced before, and my body began to shake with my impending orgasm…and fear. So many emotions coursed through me all at once, all I could do was scream and moan as my orgasm ripped through my body.
I felt Xavier’s body quake as well as his orgasm shattered as well, and he emptied himself again, sheathed inside of me. We’d come at the same time plenty of times, but this was different. Everything was more profound, more intense, more...real.
Xavier had told me he loved me.
And I hadn’t said it back.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chanel
I woke up thinking things couldn’t have gotten any better. Since our trip to D.C. a few weeks prior, Xavier and I had grown closer. I’d finally finished Michele Wyatt’s case, and she was granted a generous alimony and child support. Jacob Wyatt was getting a lot of negative press for his confession of emotional and physical abuse of his wife, but that wasn’t my problem. I was on such a cloud nine, I’d even been considering taking my father up on his offer to work at his firm. In fact, I’d scheduled a meeting with my father and Jason for the next day to discuss the possibility. Yup, everything was going decidedly well.
So, I wondered what that dreaded pit in my stomach was all about. Murphy’s Law tells us that if something can go wrong, it certainly will. But I tried not to think too negatively as I felt the warm body next to me stir in his sleep.
I grinned as I looked over at Xavier in my bed. We’d both had to work late the night before, and he insisted on coming over once I got home instead of having me drive to his place. Since getting back from D.C., we barely slept apart.
I rose, feeling the throb between my legs from what we’d done the previous night. Glancing at the clock on my nightstand, I saw it was a little before seven. I needed to get up and start my day if I was going to make it to work on time. Pressing a kiss to Xavier’s shoulder, I rose out of bed and searched for my robe.
“You up already?” His deep voice was thickened by sleep.
“Already? It’s almost seven. I’m going to take a quick shower and get the coffee started. You sleep in a little while longer,” I instructed, bending to press another kiss to his shoulder. He grunted before turning back over and closing his eyes. My baby worked his ass off. He deserved to sleep in every now and again. I admired his big frame for a few more moments before I pushed myself to get moving.
I stepped into my closet, picking out a cream top and black skirt. Setting those on my chair, I headed to the bathroom, taking a quick shower and pinning my hair up in the back and using my curling iron to create a few curls to hang down, framing my face. I looked in the mirror and saw the new growth that had been coming in for some time now. I’d been contemplating growing my perm out and going back to my natural curls and kinks for some time now. Brushing those thoughts aside, I headed to the bedroom to get dressed. At that point, I saw Xavier was up, already scrolling through his phone, probably checking emails.
In the kitchen, I pulled out a dark roast for Xavier, set it in the Keurig, and chose a hazelnut flavor for myself. I searched my work bag for my phone to see if I had any urgent emails. I mentally went over my schedule for the day and remembered I had an important meeting later on. I inhaled, savoring the aroma of coffee as it filled the kitchen.
I heard footsteps coming from down the hall. I looked up to see Xavier wearing a stone-faced expression as he peered down at his phone. Something must’ve gone awry with one of his restaurants. I’d hate to be on the receiving end of that look.
“Everything all right?” I asked, pouring creamer into his coffee.
He looked up at me with the same hard expression, and my hand with the coffee mug shook a little bit. A tinge of dread ran through my belly.
“When’s the last time you said you spoke to your ex?”
My head jutted backward, completely thrown by the question. “What? Who?”
“Your ex. When’s the last time you spoke with him?”
I was completely confused. These questions were out of nowhere. “I told you, it’s been years since I spoke to him. Why?”
He nodded and peered down at his phone before turning his eyes on me again. “Right. That’s what you told me, all right. So why the fuck am I looking at a picture from a month ago, of you sitting across from your ex, eating with him?” He turned the face of his phone to me, and sure enough, there I was, sitting at the bistro by my job with Ethan. It had been taken the day we’d met up, when he’d apologized. The only time in the last five years I’d seen Ethan.
“This picture is from a month-and-a-half ago. I remember that exact outfit you wore because it was the same day you came over in the middle of the day. You remember?” His voice was as hard as his expression. “You came by, saying you missed me because I’d been out of town on business for a few days. We fucked in my office at home. Right after you had lunch with your ex-fiancé.”
I swallowed remembering that day vividly. I had gone to see Xavier after leaving my lunch with Ethan. I’d felt relief that I hadn’t felt in a while after that lunch and Xavier’s face was the first one I wanted to see. We did have sex in his office. But it wasn’t like he was making it seem. I hadn’t gone on a date with Ethan.
“It wasn’t—”
“Right, and why did you break up with him in the first place?”
Another lump in my throat formed, and I couldn’t do anything but stand there. I didn’t want to answer. Shame was why. How could I explain to this man that I was too embarrassed and ashamed of my past? Too ashamed of the woman I’d become with Ethan. A woman who cowered in fear and covered bruises with makeup, plastering a fake smile on my face just to make it through the day. I hated that woman and never wanted Xavier, or anyone else in my life, to know anything about her.
“You told me it was because he wanted you to be a stay-at-home wife.” His grip tightened around his phone. “But this fucking article and picture say some other shit.”
I began shaking my head, already knowing without seeing what the article he was reading would say.
“Leaked police records show that one Chanel Combs filed charges against her fiancé, Ethan Miller, accusing him of assault and battery,” he read from the screen. “A forehead contusion, bloodied lip, bruised ribs and sprained wrist were amongst the injuries listed…” Each word he read twisted the knife deeper into my gut.
“Stop,” I whispered.
“Charges were eventually dropped, and the couple went on to reconcile, but less than a year later, Ms. Combs reportedly left Miller. However, these pictures don’t lie…” he pressed on.
“Stop!” I said more forcefully.
“Stop what? Reading the goddamn truth? A truth you lied to me about? Or what? Stop staring at this fucking picture of you looking like this?” He thrust his phone in my face, and I gasped. The screen was now a picture of me that had been taken at the hospital that horrible night. Ethan had gone on a rampage, accusing me of sleeping with one o
f his co-workers who’d gotten drunk and flirted a little too heavily at their work event. I’d been scared out of my mind and had called the police. The one and only time I’d gone that far.
I turned my head, unable to look at myself looking like that.
“You lied to me.” A thread of betrayal ran through Xavier’s voice, and it pierced my soul. “Numerous times. You lied about why you left him. You lied about seeing him. And you lied about how you know what domestic abuse is all about. And you knew about the danger you were putting yourself in...when you were going out to save your clients. You knew what that motherfucker was capable of because you experienced it. And you still did it,” he said, through gritted teeth, and I felt like the bottom of my world dropped out from underneath me.
“X…Xavier.” My voice trembled. I was at a loss for words as to how to salvage this. I had lied, but it wasn’t to be deceptive. It wasn’t because I wanted to protect Ethan or still had feelings for him.
“Where’re you going?” I questioned as he pushed past me. It was then that I’d finally realized he was fully dressed, down to his shoes. I tugged on the sleeve of his shirt, but he swatted my hand away like I was no more than a gnat.
“I’m out,” he answered with a finality in his tone that scared me more than anything.
“Wait,” I began, but stopped when he turned abruptly.
“Wait? For what? For you to explain why I had to see the woman I spend most of my days thinking about and nights next to is meeting up with a man who did this to her?” He tapped his cell phone with his other hand, indicating the image of my bruised face.
I couldn’t answer him. I was too ashamed of the woman in that photo. I didn’t know why I put myself in danger with my clients. I didn’t have the words to fix this. My gaze skirted around the room, avoiding his accusing stare. I wanted to apologize, but an I’m sorry didn’t seem to be enough. I knew those two words weren’t the balm this situation needed. I felt too vulnerable. My ugliest secret had just been exposed for the world to see, and the one man I wanted to hold me looked as if he couldn’t stand the sight of me.
Safe Space (Book 1) Page 26
