“Trust me. The last place Kendrick wants to go is a courtroom,” Xavier said, and then turned his attention back toward Cheryl. “What did he say to you?”
Cheryl blinked. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t think that I believe he just came here to apologize, do you?” He gave a half laugh. “One thing I do know about Kendrick is that he never apologizes for anything. So what did he want?”
Cheryl’s mouth flapped, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. “Nothing much. He was just…saying that he wanted to talk.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know,” she shot back defensively. “I wasn’t all that interested in what he had to say.”
“It’s okay.” Xavier pulled her to him. “Calm down. He’s not going to bother you as long as I’m around. Okay?” Cheryl exhaled.
“Okay?” he asked again, cupping her chin and lifting it up so that she would meet his gaze. “I promise.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“So you keep saying.” He chuckled.
Quentin tapped Xavier on the shoulder. “I hate to interrupt this beautiful scene, but do you mind if I holler at you for a few minutes?”
Xavier rolled his eyes and loosened his grip. “I’ll be right back.” He kissed the tip of her nose and then released her.
Cheryl went back behind the bar to a slew of new drinks being yelled at her.
Quentin shook his head as he led the way to the back of the club. Once he entered Xavier’s office, he took it upon himself to take the big leather chair behind the desk. “Come in and sit down.”
Xavier’s brows shot up, but he did as his cousin asked and took the empty chair in front of the desk. “Yeah. What’s up, cuz?”
“I was hoping that you could tell me that. What’s going on with you and Cheryl out there?”
Xavier opened his mouth, but Q cut him off.
“The truth.”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“Well, I didn’t want you to start any new bad habits.”
“Ha. Ha.” Xavier eased back in his chair. “There’s nothing really to tell. I’m really feeling her right now. She’s cool.”
“Feeling her how? I mean, I know that you two have been, you know…”
“It’s more than that, man. I can’t explain it, but there’s something more there, something deeper.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” Q said, opening Xavier’s top drawer. “You have some Rolaids or some Pepto-Bismol around here? You got my stomach upset.”
“Why? Because I’ve fallen in love?”
“Oh, God. Not the L-word. I can handle anything but the L-word.”
Xavier laughed. “It was bound to happen sooner or later.”
“Okay.” Q shot up his hand. “I vote for later.”
“C’mon, man. Be serious.”
“I am being serious.” Quentin leaned back in the chair. “What the hell am I going to do if you fall in love? I mean. What’s going to be left between us?”
Xavier’s eyes narrowed. “Uh, you do know that I’m completely straight, right? I don’t feel that way about you. I mean. You’re cool and all.”
“Will you get serious,” Q retaliated. “And for the record, if we were gay, you’d be damn lucky to have me. Believe that.”
“Yeah. It would be a lot of fun, watching you flirt and sleep around with other dudes. No, thank you.”
The absurdity of their conversation hit them at the same time and they busted out laughing. After a minute, Q exhaled and shook his head. “So you really think that you’re in love?”
“I think so. I’ve never been in love before, so it’s all pretty new to me.”
Quentin held his gaze for a long time before he nodded. “Then, I guess congratulations are in order. Any idea whether she feels the same about you?”
“Honestly? I have no clue. She’s a complicated woman.”
“All the good ones are,” Quentin said, but he still didn’t look too happy about it. “You know, I was thinking about heading out to Los Angeles.”
Xavier frowned. “What? Why?”
“Well, I’ve been here for a little while and—” he heaved a long sigh “—you know I get a little antsy when I’ve been in one place for too long.”
“I don’t believe it,” Xavier said, shaking his head. “You’re leaving just because I’ve fallen in love? Are you afraid that we won’t be able to hang out anymore or something?”
“No. No. C’mon. It’s not all about you, you know?” Quentin probably would’ve been more convincing if he’d at least been able to meet Xavier’s gaze.
“You’re going to have to stop running one of these days.”
“I’m not…”
Xavier held up his hand. “Please. Don’t insult my intelligence. I’ve known you for far too long. Besides, my falling in love doesn’t mean that I’m going to run off and get married tomorrow. Love takes time, right?”
Quentin nodded. “Right.”
“Sooo…stick around. Who knows? I might miss you.”
Q’s lips curled. “Really?”
“Don’t get a big head about it.”
“No. No. Of course not.”
Xavier stood up from his chair. “Besides, any woman who marries me is going to have to accept you, as well. We’re a package deal.”
Quentin stood, too, as his smile stretched across his face. “You mean it?”
“Of course I mean it.” Xavier swung his arm around his cousin’s neck. “You’re my best friend. And whether you know it or not, I love you, too.” He pulled Q into a headlock and rubbed the top of his head. “Just don’t tell anyone.”
Chapter 21
“I want that bitch dead,” Kendrick barked, spitting blood from his busted lip.
“Calm down, Ken man,” Dog Pound said, easily toting his cousin from the back door over to his black BMW. “I told you not to come here and just let me handle it.”
“You’re taking too goddamn long. With that bitch here, we’re never going to get more product in other than what you’re able to move at the front door. And that ain’t much. I got the Gutierrez brothers breathing down my throat. We owe them some serious-ass money and they ain’t running the kind of bank where we can renege on the loan. You feel me?”
“I feel you, but damn. Ain’t we moving some serious weight through Cougars and the Big Forty Club?”
“It’s not enough,” Kendrick barked. “We could double, if not triple, our money if we can just infiltrate this place. Look at it. Hell, I didn’t know that asshole was going to reopen a Disneyland for adults or I would have taken him up on getting my job back.”
“I don’t know,” Dog Pound said, opening the front door for his cousin. “I feel bad just moving what little I can at the door. I mean, Xavier is cool.”
“You’re kidding me, right? Look at my damn lip. Not to mention that Mr. Cool damn near choked me to death at that gig I got him.”
“Yeah, but you only did it so you could get close to the dancers and find a hookup in the club.”
Kendrick popped his cousin on the back of the head. “I know that. But he doesn’t know that. And that’s not the point. Xavier has been a pain in my ass since I was a kid when he would take up all of Ricky’s time. He got him believing that he was actually going to make it all the way to the top and bring Ricky’s starry-eyed ass with him. And what did he do? Just dump Ricky without any explanation so he could go back to running that raggedy gym that’s draining his bank account dry. Meanwhile, he’s living high off the hog in his second career.”
Dog Pound glanced back at the club while he processed his cousin’s words.
“But you want to side against family for Mr. Cool. Do I have that right?”
“I didn’t say all of that,” Dog Pound said guiltily. “It’s just that, it doesn’t seem like Ricky is holding any grudges.”
“That’s because he’s too damn soft.
Besides, what is he going to say? Anyone can just look at him and see that he’s a broken man. Xavier used him and he doesn’t show the slightest remorse for having done so.”
Dog Pound nodded. “So what do you want me to do?”
“Do what you promised—and get rid of Detective Grier.”
An hour after closing, Xavier rushed to check that everyone had left the club. Lexus lingered by the front door, suddenly wanting to turn small talk into a full-blown conversation. If he didn’t know any better, he would’ve thought that she was delaying him on purpose.
“Is something wrong? I’m not keeping you from anything, am I?” she asked, her lips splitting into a wide smile.
Xavier’s eyes narrowed. “I do have something…that needs my attention,” he admitted.
“Ah.” Her eyes lit up. “That’s an interesting way of putting it.”
“Good night, Lexus.” He held open the front door.
“Night. Tell Cheryl I’ll see her tomorrow.” She winked.
“I’ll make sure to do that.”
Laughing, Lexus strolled out of the club. Since she’d parked up front, Xavier stood there and watched until she’d safely made it to her car and pulled off. After that, he turned all the locks and then raced back through the club.
“Looking for me?”
Cheryl’s voice floated out to him and his legs stopped so fast that it was a wonder they didn’t just lock up on him. Pivoting around, his eyes bulged when he saw Cheryl behind the bar with no shirt, but just a pair of black suspenders positioned over her breasts and hooked to an itty-bitty red miniskirt.
“Wow.”
Cheryl smiled. “So what’s your pleasure, X-Man?”
His brows bounced up. “I’ll take whatever it is you’re serving, Ms. Shepherd.”
Her smile faded a bit, but then she curled her finger at him and he strolled over to the bar like a good little boy. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Have you ever had Sex with a Bartender?” she asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Are you kidding me? I try to every chance I get.” He reached across the counter to pull her close.
She sidestepped him and reached for the coconut rum and triple sec. “You know what I mean.”
“A drink?” He laughed. “Please. The last thing I want right now is a drink. I want to have the real thing.” Xavier’s gaze roamed over her body. “I think that is officially my favorite outfit.”
Cheryl stood back and worked her hips. “Really? You like this?” She turned and hiked her butt up just enough for him to see her black lace thong peeking from under the hem of her skirt.
Xavier reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. “That deserves a tip,” he said. This time when he reached over she leaned forward and allowed him to slip a hundred-dollar bill into one of her suspenders—right next to her puckered nipple. Liking the way that looked, he waved her over again and slid another hundred-dollar bill into the other suspender and broke the house rules by pinching her hard, puckered nipple.
Cheryl jumped back and then waved her finger at him. “Ah. Ah. Ah. You know the rules.”
“I guess that means you’ll have to report me to your boss.”
Her lips slid wider. “Funny.”
“But I got to tell you. Me and your boss are like this.” Xavier held up his two fingers pressed together.
Cheryl set his drink down in front of him. “Well, I hate to tell you, but me and my boss are pretty close, too.” She hopped up on the counter, kept her knees together as she struck a pose.
Xavier’s eyes darkened as they raced over her dangerous curves. “Is that right?”
“Uh-huh.” She reached over and stroked his face. “And he’s a little possessive when it comes to me.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. Like tonight, you should have seen him coldcock this one guy that was giving me a little trouble at the bar.”
“Well…” Xavier brought his gaze back up so that it would rest on her face. “Seeing what I see and knowing what I know, I can’t say that I can blame him. You look like the kind of woman that brings out the protective side in a man.”
Gently, Cheryl allowed her finger to drift across the lining of his bottom lip. “What if I don’t need protecting?”
“I’d want to protect you, anyway,” he said honestly.
Her eyes softened. “You’re…amazing,” she said. “I don’t think that I’ve ever met anyone quite like you.”
He leaned forward and brushed a kiss against her soft lips. “I can say the same about you and these naughty suspenders.” He pulled on one of them and then quickly released it so that it would snap back.
Cheryl gasped at the pleasant sting against her nipple, and before she could catch her breath, he pulled on the other one and let it go, as well.
The absolute pleasure that washed over her face made Xavier hard as a rock. He took the sweet drink that she’d made for him and, instead of tossing it back, held it over her and slowly drizzled it over her body.
After a quick gasp, Cheryl laughed. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like? I’m going to drink you.” With his free hand, he jerked up her short skirt and soaked her black thong through and through. Once that was done, he tossed the glass aside and didn’t even flinch when it exploded against the floor.
Their gazes locked as he planted his hands on the counter and, with one mighty jump, leaped up onto the counter and over to the other side.
“Let’s see what else we have over here.” He went to the minifridge and started pulling out a few items. “We have maraschino cherries, pineapple wedges—ooh, my favorite…chocolate syrup—and even some whipped cream.”
“Are you making a drink or a sundae?” she joked.
“Don’t tempt me, woman. We have bananas.”
“You really are a freak.”
“You have no idea.” He winked. “But let’s get this party started with a little chocolate?”
He reached for her suspenders and unhooked them. At the first sight of her marble-size nipples, he emitted a groan and then lowered his head for a quick taste.
Cheryl sucked in a long breath while dropping her head back and closing her eyes. But when he scraped his teeth along the tender flesh, she hissed while her clit started swelling with need and pulsing as hard as her heartbeat.
But Xavier didn’t spend a whole lot of time there. He started lapping up the coconut rum that ran down her body with his tongue. He took his time licking the small pool of rum that had collected in her belly button.
Toes curling, Cheryl reached out and ran her hand around his head and then down his smooth back. She could even make out the tiny scratches she had made the last time, which were still healing. As usual when their clothes were in the way, they went flying over Xavier’s shoulder and landing God knows where. Next thing she knew he was opening her up.
Everything that she was doing was wrong, Cheryl knew, but damn if she could stop it. These stolen moments had come to mean the world to her, despite the fact that they could very well cost her her job. In fact, it most likely would. But for now, she was ready for this man to take her to heaven.
Xavier flicked his tongue against her clit and then sucked it in between his teeth, beating it with his tongue until she moaned out his name. Her whining moans filled Xavier’s ears and prompted him to slide his tongue toward her pussy. There he licked and caressed her opening.
“Oooh.” Cheryl laid all the way back on the bar top and squeezed her breasts together while Xavier continued to feed himself.
She pinched and pulled her nipples just as a spasm jerked her body. She tried to close her legs, but Xavier easily kept them open. The next thing she knew, she was crying out and squirming restlessly. There was no time to rest before the second wave started building. This time, she was so much into the groove that she rotated her hips while his tongue went counterclockwise.
Cheryl was getting so overheated that Xavier reached over to the ice bucket a
nd slid two cubes inside her strawberry-colored pussy. Her hips came straight up into the air and Xavier laughed.
“Hold tight, baby. Let me get that for you.” His lips latched onto her clit again, and then slid downward so that he could suck on the honey-coated ice cube.
The sounds Cheryl made didn’t even resemble the English language, but it certainly sounded like she was having a damn good time. When the second orgasmic wave hit, her cries were accompanied with fat tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.
“Hmm.” Xavier peppered kisses across her firm thighs. “I didn’t even get a chance to use the chocolate.”
Panting, Cheryl smiled. “Then maybe I should use it.” She climbed off the counter with Xavier’s help and took the bottle of Hershey’s chocolate and simply said, “Strip.”
Xavier not only had a quick right hook, but he could get undressed like a rock star in between sets. Boy, did she have fun drizzling chocolate all over his rock-hard cock, even topping it with whipped cream. He snickered.
“You think this is funny?” she asked, glancing up at him.
“From this angle, I have a cock with a hat on it.”
“Mmm. I think it looks sexy.” She rolled out her tongue and then slowly slid it underneath his cock for one long lick. He shuddered.
“It tastes nice, too.” She slid her tongue up one side and then down the other.
Xavier sucked in a breath and shuddered. The vision of her tongue licking and then wrapping around his thick mushroom head had him leaning back and bracing his weight with his powerful arms.
“Mmm,” Cheryl kept moaning as her mouth bobbed up and down, occasionally squeezing him with the back of her throat. He could feel a few drops of pre-cum mix with the whipped cream, but she gobbled that up before it could fall. Cheryl was determined to put in work.
His eyes rolled to the top of his head while her hard suction took him to places in his mind that he’d never been before. His knees began to shake. “Damn, baby.” He moved one hand, supporting himself on one arm. He used his free hand to comb through her hair so that he could have a different view of how she looked servicing him. But soon his hand stopped and instead gripped the back of her head to hold her in place. In his mind, he could see himself just splashing hot cum over her face. He even envisioned her lapping up every drop. But he wasn’t ready for this to end just yet, so when the temptation started to overwhelm him, he reached down and jacked her up so high that she easily wrapped her legs around his waist so that he could slide straight into her warm heat.
King's Promise Page 18
