“Get down here. I want to feel your mouth on me, doing what you just did to my finger.” She dropped down to kneel beside me, but before she could touch me I sat up and grabbed her. “No. Not like that. I need to taste you.” I patted my chest. “Climb on.”
Faith blushed brighter than her hair. She dropped her gaze, but dutifully did what I ordered. As her leg passed over me, I could see her perfect cunt, the folds already opening to me. Fuck me. She was already dripping wet, her pussy lips swollen with need. I reached up and lifted her back onto my face, hooking my arms around her legs, anxious to bury my tongue inside her.
Her long fingers wrapped around my cock and squeezed. I felt her hot breath on me. Her tongue flicked out to lick just the tip as her other hand toyed with my balls. It almost tickled.
Leaning forward, I licked from her cunt up to her clit. I swirled my tongue around it, then licked back to her pussy and inside her.
She groaned and swallowed me, allowing my cock to hit the back of her throat.
“Holy shit.” My head fell back against the plush carpeting as I absorbed the unexpected sensation. She hadn’t warmed up to that at all, just shoved her tonsils right onto my dick. “Jesus, Faith.”
I went back to devouring her pussy. I moaned as her sweet juices filled my mouth. Pulling back and gripping her thighs tighter, I plunged my fingers deep inside and finger fucked her.
She let out a garbled cry as she sucked me. Her head bobbed up and down while one hand massaged my balls. Her hand rubbed and stroked lower, then pressed firmly underneath them at the same moment she deep-throated me again.
I couldn’t help myself. I thrust my hips upward to meet her, barely able to concentrate enough to continue pleasuring her.
Pressing my thumb against her clit, I massaged in gentle circles while I licked and sucked at her entrance. My tongue lapped at her, reveled in her. I had always loved eating pussy, but hers was something special. Everything about her—the way she tasted, the way she felt and sounded, even her scent—drove me wild. I flicked my tongue rapidly, increasing the speed of my thumb on her clit to match.
Her breathing increased; I both felt and heard her gasping. She took her mouth off me and jerked me off. My concern for her mounted, even as I was growing closer and closer to orgasm. She’d promised… and I had to trust her to tell me if she needed to stop.
With a shudder, her legs tightened around my head and she ground her hips against my face. She groaned loudly as she gave in to the sensations. Her pussy contracted and tightened around my tongue, and I licked her with ever faster and firmer strokes, lengthening her pleasure as more of her juices leaked into my mouth.
Then her mouth was on me again, her fist still tight around my base. She was lost in her own orgasm but continued to work me with abandon. I was so close, and seeing her lose control from this angle while being surprised by her mouth on me was almost enough to push me over the edge. Her teeth scratched lightly over my shaft as she bobbed up and down, then she let go and plunged down, taking in as much of me as she could.
“Oh, fuck! Faith!” I breathed as I let go and found my own release. My hips involuntarily thrust forward with each pulse, and she swallowed every drop until I had nothing left.
She laid her head down on my leg and relaxed, still breathing heavily.
“Are you okay?” I panted.
She nodded and kissed the crease of my thigh, but otherwise didn’t move.
“Hey…” I slid her leg over and off my chest and pulled her backwards until we were lying down together on the floor. “Are you sure you’re okay? How’s your chest?”
“I’m fine, Xander. I promise. Stop worrying.”
I smoothed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “Do you know how beautiful you are? I am one lucky bastard.”
Faith giggled and stroked her fingers over my chest and around my nipples. I grabbed her hand and brought it to my mouth for a kiss. “Better stop that.”
“I like touching you.”
“Mmm… and I like you touching me, but I shouldn’t push my luck. I need to get you settled, then I have to run a couple of errands. If you keep doing that, we’ll never get anywhere.”
“What kind of errands?”
“I need to head to the pharmacy for your prescriptions, and I need to talk to Sam.” I also wanted to run out to the jewelry store, but I didn’t want to mention that. I still had Lily’s ring upstairs in my medicine cabinet, but the thought of giving it to Faith made my skin crawl. I thought I had seen that the store would do exchanges or store credit, so I was going to check it out.
“I can come with you to the pharmacy. We can stop and pick up my car.”
“We’ll get it later, okay? I promise. You should rest for now.”
“I’m fine. I’ve done nothing but rest for the last week. I want to get my car.”
It was all I could do not to laugh at her pouty tone. I kissed the top of her head. “I said no. I’ll take you tonight if you still feel up to it. I insist you rest now.”
I stood and helped her to her feet, and we both put our clothes back on. “Do you think you’ll be okay with the stairs? We can move into the guest bedroom for a few days if you think it would be easier.”
She shot me an exasperated look. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m fine? Upstairs will be perfect. You know, it really would make much more sense to take me to get my car on the way back. You aren’t supposed to leave me on my own, remember? What if something happens?”
“Thought you were fine.”
“Oh, I am. You just don’t seem to believe me. Makes sense to continue to err on the side of caution, don’t you think?”
“Nice try. If I shouldn’t leave you home alone, what makes you think you should be driving? I’ll ask Sam to help me pick up your car.” I gestured for Faith to proceed me up the stairs. I noticed my bedroom door was closed as soon as we hit the landing.
I always kept it open, whether I was in there or downstairs or out of the house. It helped with air circulation, because my room was always the warmest.
Well… Sam did come in to find some clothes for me. He probably shut it.
“Faith, hold up. Let me grab that door for you.”
She sighed. “I’ve got it.”
“Wait, but–”
Faith flung open the door and barged in. I followed quickly behind her, frowning.
“What happened in here?” she demanded.
The bedsheets were torn off the mattress and lay in a messy pile. All the drawers were open, including my bedside table. The floor was littered with wadded up clothes, with more bunched up haphazardly inside the open drawers.
Someone had been searching for something.
Sam wouldn’t have done this. My hands clenched into fists as my mind raced to every possible conclusion, dismissing them all. I whipped my phone out of my pocket and tapped the screen.
“Hello?”
“Sam, the fuck you do to my room?”
“What?” My heart sank at the confusion in his voice.
“The entire bedroom’s been tossed. Someone stripped the bed, went through the drawers. There’s shit everywhere.”
“Well, it wasn’t me, Xander. Was your door broken? Any sign of forced entry? Any idea what they were after?”
“Nothing looked out of place downstairs. Door was locked. Didn’t check the door to the gym. What the hell, man?”
“Should I come down there?”
“No. I’ll call you later. We have something else we need to discuss, anyway. But not now.” Without waiting for his answer, I terminated the call.
I looked in my bedside table. The box of condoms had been ripped apart as if an animal had gotten to them. The foil packages had been ripped open, and the rubbers were scattered everywhere. Strange. Even stranger, the living room had shown no sign of trespass. Nothing had been touched. The television, stereo, and other electronics had all been exactly where I’d left them.
“Should we call t
he police?” Faith sounded as nervous and confused as I felt.
“I don’t want them in my house. The ambulance chasers always follow.”
“What?”
I chuckled darkly. “The press. Haven’t you heard that term? You almost were one.”
“Xander, focus. Someone broke into your house and went through your things. They could have taken God only knows what. You need to have them come investigate.”
Fuck it. I knew she was right, but I really didn’t want to make the call. I surveyed the disaster that was my bedroom. Someone had been in here. Someone had been looking for something. In my home. I felt exposed, violated. What had they wanted?
“What else do you have here? Electronics? Jewelry? Xander, where are your medals?”
“In my gym.” My blood ran cold as a thought occurred to me. “One second.”
I walked into my bathroom and yanked open the medicine cabinet. Nothing in here appeared to be messed with, but you never knew. I withdrew a small bag from the bottom shelf. Inside were a couple of tubes of liniment that I had brought home from the hospital following my back injury. At the very bottom was a small black box. I grabbed it, dropping the bag on the counter, and flicked it open.
I breathed a sigh of relief as the sparkling diamond caught the fluorescent lighting. This was the only jewelry of any real value in my house. Lily’s engagement ring. I had all but forgotten about it after she… wait…
Did I get the key back from Lily?
Chapter Nineteen
What the actual fuck?
I thought back to that night before the fire. I had been so sure someone had been in my house, but I hadn’t been able to find anyone. Was it possible Lily could have been coming in here? What did she want?
“What are you doing?” Faith asked.
I snapped the box closed and slipped it into my pocket. “Nothing. Let’s go check downstairs.”
Nothing in the guest room looked out of place, which puzzled me. If it was Lily, why would she rifle through my stuff? This had been her room. It would make sense that if she were looking for something, this is where she’d look.
I threw open the doors to my gym and did an extensive search, Faith close behind. My medals were all where I’d left them, all my equipment looked untouched, and the back door was bolted shut.
I checked the time on my phone. Only a little after three. With a frustrated groan, I pulled up my internet browser and searched for Celebrities and Sinners’ phone number.
“Are you calling the police now?”
I shook my head and held a finger up to my lips. The line clicked open.
“Celebrities and Sinner’s office, Brittany speaking. How may I direct your call?”
I cleared my throat. “Lily Campbell, please.”
“I’m sorry, but Ms. Campbell has been out sick on medical leave. I’m not sure when she’ll return.”
Your reappearance at the office messed her up all over again, just like when you two broke up months ago. That’s what Amara had said. Seemed Lily was even more fucked up than I’d thought. “Fine. Let me speak to Amara, then. I can’t remember her last name, but she’s an editor.”
“I’m sorry, but she’s away from her desk. Would you like me to put you through to her voicemail?”
“You don’t happen to have her cell number, do you? It’s urgent.”
Brittany paused. “And you are…?”
“My name is Alexander Phoenix. She was working on an article and had some questions for me.”
“Oh! Yes, Mr. Phoenix. Let me get that for you.”
Brittany gave me the number, and I ended the call.
“What does your ex have to do with anything?” Faith asked.
“I’m not sure she does, but I’m going to find out. Why don’t you go sit on the couch? I’ll come with you.”
I punched in the number and waited while it rang.
“Hello?”
“Amara?”
“Yes…?”
“It’s Xander.”
“Mr. Phoenix, is that really you?” I could practically hear her self-satisfied grin. “I’m honored.”
“Cut the crap, Amara.”
“What can I do for you?”
“Where’s Lily?” Faith’s head snapped around to stare at me, but I pretended not to notice.
“She’s been, um, sick lately, so I expect she’s at home. Why do you ask?”
“I need her number.”
“Do you now?” purred Amara.
“Don’t make me ask twice.”
“Well, isn’t this an interesting situation? I have something you want, and you… ahh… you always have something I want.”
“What’s that?”
“I want an interview with you and Ms. Richardson.”
“Not a chance. You stay away from Faith. She has nothing to do with you. I mean it, Amara.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t help you. I seem to have lost Lily’s number.”
“Fuck this shit. Just tell her to stay the hell out of my home. Let her know I’m changing the locks. She can keep that key as a memento.” I disconnected the call, beyond furious and wishing I had the option to slam the phone down. Hitting “end call” was nowhere near as satisfying.
“Xander…”
“Don’t.” I struggled to keep myself in control. The last thing I wanted was to freak out on Faith.
“You think Lily’s behind this?”
“She changed her number the very day she left me. I never got the key back, never thought of it. Lily, Sam, and I are the only ones with keys, and I see no sign of forced entry. I just don’t understand why.”
“I still think you should call the cops. Even with a key, she doesn’t have the right to just enter your house.”
“I gave her a key willingly, and she didn’t steal anything that I can tell. I don’t think they would call it a crime.”
“You don’t know it was her.”
“Who else could it be?” I demanded.
“And what does Amara have to do with any of this?”
“She is apparently my only link to Lily.”
“I’ll talk to her, then.”
“Absolutely not.”
“We’ll meet in public and I’ll answer her questions. What could it possibly hurt? I don’t care if she writes horrible things about me in her stupid tabloid. No one reads those things anyway.”
“My answer is no, and that is final.” I looked up a locksmith and made an emergency service call, then called Sam. I didn’t want to leave Faith by herself.
But I needed to get out for a bit.
Chapter Twenty
Faith had been behaving strangely since last night.
Sam had come over and we discussed training again. Leaving him with Faith, I’d gone to the pharmacy and to the jewelry store to exchange the ring. Lily’s ring had been a gaudy princess cut design, while Faith’s was more of a classical solitaire look with an oval-shaped diamond. Baguettes sparkled on either side of the stone, and the moment I had seen it I knew it had been made for Faith.
The locks had been changed, and I gave a key to Sam and Faith, with a spare that I kept in the kitchen drawer. I’d confessed to Sam that I intended to propose to Faith. He shook his head but didn’t seem surprised. He didn’t complain, either.
After he left, Faith and I set out to get her car, but first we stopped at a phone store to buy her a replacement, as hers had been destroyed in the fire. New phone in hand, with orders to call me immediately if she felt unwell, we returned home and made dinner before cleaning up everything in the bedroom. She’d seemed distant, distracted. But I assumed it was because of all that had happened.
I had made long, slow love to her in my bed, and we fell asleep in each other’s arms. She’d seemed better then, so I felt reassured.
Faith was back to acting weird this morning over breakfast. Skittish or nervous, even. I had no idea why but had resolved to address it later today.
Sam had been pleased wit
h my performance during practice. Faith hadn’t come in to watch, and I wasn’t sure what she’d been up to, but I had devoted all my energy to my routines, to pushing my body to reach and exceed our goals.
“Great job today, hotshot. Keep it up.”
“See you tomorrow.” I shut the door behind Sam and hopped up the stairs to find Faith.
I strolled into the room, but instead of finding my beautiful soon-to-be fiancée, I found the bed made and a note on a bedside table.
Xander,
I’ll be out for the next couple of hours or so. Please don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. And don’t be angry, it’s for you.
Love,
Your Faith
What was that supposed to mean? I knew I shouldn’t have taken her to get her car. I turned on the shower and grabbed my phone to call her while it heated up.
“Xander?” Faith’s voice was breathy, as if she were trying to keep quiet.
“Where did you go?”
“Out to lunch with a friend. I’ll be back soon.”
“Wait, the X-Wing doesn’t know you’re here with me?” The deep, sultry voice in the background was annoyingly familiar. I fought down the rage.
“Tell Amara I said hello.” My voice was quiet. Much quieter than usual. It took all my restraint to not fly off the handle.
“Are you angry with me?”
Fuck yeah! “What do you think?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Why say it then?”
“Because I don’t want you to be angry. We’re almost done here, so I’ll talk to you soon. I love you.”
I hung up, unable to answer. I clenched my hands into fists to stop them from shaking. Shower. I needed to take a shower. Maybe that would calm me down. No, not enough. I shut off the water and stomped back down the stairs. I was going back to my gym. Maybe some free weights would do the trick.
I moved the weights into the center of the room so I could watch the front door and got started. Half an hour into my sets, I gave up and moved to the treadmill.
I lost all sense of time after I hit my stride. I ran and ran. Was I running from my problems or chasing them? Hard to say. Was it so unreasonable that I didn’t want Faith to have anything to do with my ex or anyone close to her? I didn’t think so. I knew she thought she was doing the right thing, but she needed to understand that she had crossed the line.
Deeper In You (The Phoenix Series Book 2) Page 14
