Xander King BoxSet

by Bradley Wright

  Kate said what everyone was thinking.

  “Girl, you are sexy!”

  “Well, thanks,” Sarah blushed. “This bikini is a little much, but I hadn’t been planning on a pool day. Can’t remember the last time I had one, actually.”

  “Can I ask a personal question?” said Kate.

  “Sure.”

  “Are those real?”

  “You don’t have to answer that, Sarah,” Xander interjected.

  “Oh, it’s fine. I get that question a lot. They are real. Mom’s great gift or burden, depending on which way you look at it.”

  “Burden? I’d kill for a set of those.”

  “So would I!” Kyle joked. That warranted a punch in the shoulder from Kate.

  Sarah just looked at Xander and smiled. He didn’t say a word. She really wished he had.

  The afternoon grew toward evening, and the cicadas began their southern serenade from the tops of the live oaks that surrounded the property. The warm air carried the scent of honeysuckle. Every once in a while a horse whinny could be heard, possibly from the great King’s Ransom himself. The group made their way to separate quarters to get cleaned up for the evening. They had reservations at Bella Notte, Xander’s favorite Italian restaurant in town. On his way to the shower, Xander noticed a light coming from the bottom of Sam’s room. He knocked on the door.

  “Hey Sam, can I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  Xander walked in, and Sam was sitting up against the bed’s purple quilted headboard, her computer in her lap and hair in a ponytail. Xander didn’t often see her so dressed down. It looked good on her. She was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt and a pair of black yoga pants. The same pants that seemingly every other woman on earth had decided necessary to wear all the time, regardless of their plans to actually do yoga or not. Xander didn’t mind. Even a mediocre body looked great in them. Not that Sam needed help in that department.

  “What can I do for you, Xander?”

  “Come to dinner with us.”

  The soft yellow light of the lamp gave Sam’s otherwise pale skin a nice warm glow.

  “Oh no, no, no. I know better than that. Dinner with you and Kyle means coming home at three in the morning, snockered, the entire next morning lost.”

  “Come on, Sam.” Xander turned on his best smile. “We haven’t just hung out in forever.”

  “You know that smile doesn’t work on me, so you can just go ahead and wipe it right off. I’ll just order some takeout or something. I am eyeball deep in preparing a plan for us, and it is really starting to come together.”

  “You know that I appreciate, so much, everything you do for me, right?”

  “I know.”

  “But just tonight, knock it off? All you do is work. You make me look bad, and all I do is work.” Xander turned on the puppy-dog eyes.

  “There you go, letting Kyle plant seeds in your head again. If it were up to him, you’d never do another thing but indulge his childish whims.”

  “Kyle’s not so bad, you know. He loves you too, Sam. And ever since you dropped down to your underwear on the plane a couple of weeks ago, he hasn’t stopped talking about you either.”

  “I would eat that poor boy alive.”

  Xander had a feeling that was absolutely true. “I don’t doubt that, Sammy. Now come on, for me. Come with us?”

  “I don’t do fifth wheel.”

  “You don’t have to. Kate can’t make it. Help me get to know Sarah better. I need you to get a feel for her anyway.”

  “Get a feel for her? That what you’re trying to do, Romeo?”

  Xander laughed. Julia Sanders—she helped around the house when Xander was in town—came in with an ice-cold gin and tonic perched on an old-fashioned, round, silver serving tray.

  “You’re behind. I had Julia here whip you up a G and T. What do you say?”

  Sam sat there for a moment eyeballing Xander, then the drink, then back to Xander. Just then Kyle poked his head inside the bedroom.

  “Where’s my date?” His goofy smile turned something in Sam’s hardened heart.

  “Sam?” Xander smiled and held his arms out to his sides.

  She paused a moment longer and then a smile finally made its way to the surface. “Oh, all right. But just dinner!” she said as she slammed her laptop shut.

  “Yes!” Kyle and Xander rejoiced collectively.

  “I’ll just call Melanie and have her work on a few things while we eat.”

  “Whatever gets your ass down to the driveway in thirty is what I want you to do.”

  Sam hopped up, grabbed the gin and tonic, and walked toward the bathroom.

  “All right, go on then.” She waved behind her.

  Kyle and Xander both couldn’t help but notice how great Sam looked in those ever flattering black yoga pants. Again, not that she needed the help.

  11

  Dean Martin, Bottles of Wine, and Cold Showers

  The buttery voice of Dean Martin melting over sweeping violins and the thrumming beat of a bellowing upright bass filtered through the speakers of Bella Notte Italian Trattoria. Happy chatter and the clink-clank of busy silverware were the music being made inside. It was rare to see unsmiling faces gathered around a gluttonous meal. The inside of the restaurant vaguely reminded Xander of his villa in Tuscany, a place he hadn’t visited in far too long. The restaurant floor, an antiqued cobblestone, and the walls, made up of broken stucco, were illuminated by the soft yellow light emanating from the outstretched branches of an olive tree that took up real estate in the middle of the indoor courtyard.

  It was difficult for Xander to pass up pizza whenever he saw it on a menu, but tonight he opted for the lasagna. There was just something about layer upon layer of meat sauce, cheese, and noodles that could transform any mood to a great one. The Chianti they passed around the table certainly didn’t hurt, but tonight no one needed the boost in morale. All of them had silently decided to save the darkness of life for the dealings of tomorrow.

  Sarah finished the last bite of her pasta—Penne Gorgonzola—with a satisfied sigh.

  “So, Sam, how did you get involved with the military in London?”

  Sam pushed her plate forward and took up her glass of wine, gave it a swirl, then a sip.

  “Honestly, it’s entirely cliché.”

  “You know, I haven’t heard this either.” Kyle sat back in his chair and admired the bulge the overload of meatballs had created in his stomach. “You know everything about me and Xander, but you never share anything about you.”

  “It’s really not very captivating.”

  Xander wiped his mouth and gave Sam a wry smile.

  “Bullshit. That’s precisely what it is. Don’t let her fool you.”

  Sam returned his smile in kind.

  “So, what is the worst thing that has happened to you while you’ve been on a mission?” said Sarah.

  A chill fell across the table and there was an undeniable shift in mood. The question made Kyle instantly uncomfortable as his memory blasted him back to the bottom of Khatib’s compound where he was forced to relive the answer to the question. It was also the worst thing he had ever seen himself. It was something that he still thought about every day. Sarah sensed the awkward silence and made everyone feel better by retracting the question.

  “Sorry, that was horrible dinner table manners,” she said with a bit of a slur. “Must be the wine. I don’t normally drink more than a glass. I think this might be my . . . third?”

  “Well, this was delicious, but we have a big day tomorrow. Maybe we should get home?” Sam suggested.

  “What?” Not surprisingly, Kyle was near outrage at the thought. “It’s only ten!”

  “I agree with Sam, we can open another bottle on the patio, it’s a beautiful evening,” said Xander.

  “Not you too! Sarah?”

  “I could do a little more wine. The patio sounds lovely.”

  “Jesus Christ. What are we, ninety?”
>
  “No, Kyle, we are not ninety,” Sam said. “But we aren’t nineteen either. We aren’t trying to find ourselves and the three of us don’t need our egos stroked by a drunken slut to make us feel like we’ve achieved something.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Xander laughed. Sarah giggled tipsily as she smiled at him.

  “Well, Sam, maybe I wouldn’t have to chase after drunken sluts if you’d give me the time of day.”

  “Well, Kyle, I don’t recall you ever having the balls to approach a real woman like myself.”

  That shut him up. He took an unnaturally hard swallow at the thought. Was that an invitation? Surely not, Sam had only ever held Kyle in contempt. Sarah and Xander got a kick out of seeing Kyle’s normally cocky exterior get a jolt from the almighty Samantha Harrison. Xander paid the bill, making the waitress’s day with his usual 100 percent tip, and they made their way back to the house.

  On the way, Xander texted Julia to prepare the patio with wine and dessert. As they walked outside through the tall glass French doors, they were met with a gorgeous spread. Two bottles of port—Xander’s favorite—had been decanted and were situated on the table alongside two bouquets of white roses, a plate of assorted chocolates, and a chocolate soufflé with a side of vanilla ice cream. Strands of exposed yellow rope lights hung above them, and Sarah had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Her only hope at that point was that Kyle and Sam would somehow decide to forego this dream and leave her and Xander to it.

  That wasn’t the case.

  “My, this looks outstanding. Julia, is it?” Sarah asked the dark-haired, eager-to-please young lady who began pouring the port into each of the four snifters on the table.

  “Yes, my name is Julia. I’m happy you like it, Ms. . . . ?”

  “Sarah.”

  “Ms. Sarah. If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate. I’ll bring out a pitcher of ice water as well.”

  “Thank you so much,” said Sarah. Julia gave her a nod and went back inside. “She’s lovely, and she does a fantastic job. You’re lucky to have such great people,” she said to Xander.

  Sam took a seat and smiled.

  “I assure you, Sarah, it isn’t luck. Xander overpays everyone tremendously.”

  “I’m sure he does. That’s sweet.” Sarah smiled at him.

  “Sweet isn’t the half of it. Did you see that Porsche in the driveway?” Sam asked Sarah.

  “I did. Gorgeous car, yours?”

  “Julia’s.”

  “Wow, are you always so perfect?” Sarah sat down next to Xander and gave his hand a squeeze. Xander smiled. When Sarah noticed Sam noticing her hand on his, she pulled it away.

  The four of them continued to laugh and indulge in the warm summer evening. The humidity wrapped around them like a damp blanket, and the crickets sang them their very best lullaby. Everyone was getting well acquainted with the new girl, and they couldn’t for the life of them find one thing about Sarah that they didn’t like. Not for lack of trying on Sam’s part. As they finished the first bottle of port, Xander became more and more enamored by Sarah’s smile, and of course the plunging neckline of her blouse. His mind kept jumping back a couple of hours to her sun-kissed body in that baby-blue bikini.

  “Well, this has been a lovely evening, but I am going to head on up,” Sam announced.

  “Come on, Sam, have one more with me down by the pool?” Kyle practically begged.

  Sam didn’t answer. She just smiled, shook her head, and walked toward the house. “Goodnight everyone.” Just before she disappeared, she looked back over her shoulder and gave Kyle a wonderful tease of a smile.

  “Damn, she’s sexy. Why am I just now realizing this?”

  “Easy, cowboy. She would chew you up and spit you out.” Xander smiled.

  “Exactly.” Kyle smiled back. He let out a huff of sexual frustration, pushed his seat toward the table, and wished Sarah and Xander a good night. Even if he wasn’t going to get lucky, bro-code emphatically states that you don’t get in the way of your friend’s chances. And everyone had seen at one point or another the way Sarah got a twinkle in her eye anytime Xander King came around. It was so bright that it was distracting, maybe distracting everyone from noticing Xander shining a little twinkle of his own.

  “Thank you for a wonderful evening, Xander.” Sarah turned toward him, all the sincerity in the world in her eyes. “It’s been a while since I’ve had an evening of laughs.”

  “Well, you’re very welcome. Does that mean you are calling it an evening?”

  “I really better. Otherwise, I’m going to say something embarrassing that sober me will regret in the morning.”

  Xander wanted to invite her to his room. He really did. However, all he could hear was Sam’s voice in his head, nagging him to death about making things more complicated. Women.

  “I understand.”

  The two of them stood, and Xander leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She smelled wonderful. Like vanilla and flowers, chocolate and wine. For a moment they stood face to face. Her hand on his arm, her eyes lost in his. Their hot breath, sweet with wine, rapid between them as their hearts found a quickened pace. Sarah nervously dropped his stare with a giggle and grabbed her clutch from the table as she took a step back. The temperature seemed ten degrees cooler just outside of his aura. They both could feel the heat.

  “All right then.” Xander broke the silence as he gathered the port and the stack of plates. “Sleep well, I’ll see you bright and early. Thank you again for being here.”

  “There is nowhere else I’d rather be,” she said. She took two slow steps backward, then turned to go inside. She hoped he hadn’t noticed the way she was biting her lip. Or maybe she hoped he had.

  Xander had noticed. He noticed everything. It’s what made him such a fantastic lover. It was the way she bit her lip that left him hollow. It reminded him of Natalie. He walked inside, into the kitchen, and set the decanted port wine down on the counter. Julia turned from the sink and gave him a smile.

  “Are you finished for the night, Xander?” Xander always insisted that everyone working for him called him by his first name. His pause before answering caused her smile to grow. “She’s a lovely woman.”

  Xander knew what Julia’s smile meant, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “Can you get me two more clean glasses?”

  * * *

  Sam had just finished washing her face when she heard a knock at her door. She knew it was Kyle, come to attempt one last tipsy advance. She couldn’t help but smile. He was going to absolutely love her negligee. She always wore some type of lingerie to bed. It made her feel sexy. She had never been happier about this little habit of hers than she was in that moment. She took a sexy stance, hand on her hip as she stood by the bed, ten feet from the door. Only the soft yellow light from a lamp in the corner helping her glow.

  “Who is it?” She smiled.

  “It’s Kyle. Can I come in?”

  “Of course.”

  Kyle slowly opened the door, and the look on his face made Sam warm in places that hadn’t been touched by anyone but her in quite some time. Kyle couldn’t have wiped the astonished look on his face off if he wanted to. Not even with bleach. There in front of him stood Sam in something Kyle had only dreamed of seeing. The tall, long-legged Brit had on a sheer black baby-doll negligee. The black bra was vaguely see-through and attached to the bottom was a sheer black veil hung down to the tops of her thighs. Behind that sheer he could see a flat stomach that met with perfect hips, covered only by a black thong. He could almost see her tenderness, if it wasn’t for that extra sheer veil clouding the way. He couldn’t help but swallow uncomfortably as a warmth of his own gathered below.

  “You like what you see?”

  Kyle stepped all the way inside the room. He couldn’t speak. He just gave a nod.

  “What? Have you nothing to say? The ladies’ man himself is speechless? I don’t know what to say myself.”

  “Y-you look am
azing, Sam.”

  “You’re sweet when you’re vulnerable.” She walked toward him, and she could see his body tense in nervousness. She was aware of the power she had over him. And she reveled in it. The closer she came to him the more he could see the outline of her nipples through the sheer bra.

  So sexy.

  Now she was standing right in front of him. “Whatever am I going to do with you?”

  Kyle answered without hesitation. “Whatever the hell you want.”

  To his surprise she took him in her hand, feeling that he had become aroused. She absolutely loved the deep breath he couldn’t help but take in his surprise. She moved closer, gently moving her hand back and forth.

  “You like the way I look, Kyle?”

  “I-I do.”

  He was a blubbering idiot. Putty in her hands. She leaned her head toward his, her luscious lips inching ever so close to his. She brushed up against them as she spoke. “Then I’m glad you got an eyeful, you pervert.” She gave his body a shove out the door and gave him a wink just before she shut it.

  * * *

  Kyle bent over and put his hands on his knees. His breath was hurried and his manhood throbbing. “Damn,” he said to the walls in a huff.

  “Everything okay there, buddy?”

  Kyle jumped, not expecting Xander to be there. He covered the bulge in his black cotton pajama pants and looked up at Xander. The smile on Xander’s face was priceless, and embarrassing.

  “Sam put the ole tease on you, huh?”

  “I think I’m in love.”

  The two of them shared a laugh, and Kyle gave Xander a wink as he looked at the wine and two glasses in his hands. “Looks like I’m not the only one? I’m assuming that’s not for me.”