by Sam Crescent
Xavier had given her a bullshit story about women and partying hard. The truth was much darker than she could ever imagine. Not to mention he hadn’t fucked around with another woman since hiring Alesha. She confused him. And because of his drinking binge, he’d fucked everything up.
“You only said I had to come along to this event.”
“Well, things just changed,” he said.
She held onto the lapels of his suit jacket, looking up at him with those big blue eyes. He’d done a lot of bad shit in his life, but right now, he wished he’d never hired her. Never introduced her into his wicked world.
“If you expect me to keep playing along, you have to be honest with me. I don’t know what the hell’s going on, and it scares me. You scare me.”
He shook his head. “I’d never hurt you, Alesha.” The sincerity in his own voice surprised him.
“Will you talk to me? Really talk to me? No lies.”
“Not here.”
“Fine. What about the little girl?” she asked.
“Gone.” The truth was there was no little girl. Xavier swore he’d seen his baby sister, wearing the same filthy dress she’d worn the day he’d lost her, but it was only another figment of his imagination. He was fucking losing it.
“Okay. How much longer are we staying?” she asked.
He wasn’t about to tell her he was stalling. Xavier enjoyed having his hands on her much more than he should. He’d fucked everything—young, old, rich, poor. Not a single woman he’d slept with over the years had meant a thing to him. All disposable. His little cleaner with the heart of gold awoke something dormant inside him. He was still deciding if that was a good or bad thing.
“We have to make this convincing first.”
“How?”
“I should probably kiss you. Show everyone here how in love we are—including Dixon.”
Where was this jealousy coming from? It began eating away at him from the inside out the moment he saw that fucker’s hands on her. He wasn’t a jealous man.
She swallowed hard. “Okay, if you say so.”
“Brace yourself, sweetheart. I’ll have to do this my way.” He reached down and grabbed one of her ass cheeks, bringing her tight to his body. With his free hand, he cupped behind her head and kissed her hard on the mouth. He expected her to go stiff, to fight him every step of the way. But she melted against him, reaching her arms around his neck as she kissed him back.
The entire world went away. The darkness. The fucked-up memories that kept him up at night.
It was just her.
And the kiss.
When he pulled away, sounds were muted, his vision tunneled. If he didn’t know better, he’d swear he was drugged. How else could he explain his deep-seated claim over Alesha? He’d always been attracted to her, but finding out she’d dragged him to bed, taken care of him, and sat with him all night long, changed everything. No one had ever given a shit about him, not even his own family. He’d been disposable, unwanted, garbage. Being of any importance to another human being … it was addictive.
“I think that worked,” she whispered, touching her mouth.
“Yeah, I think it did.” Was he fucking speechless? What was he doing?
He’d been trying his best to keep aloof since revealing his secrets. He hoped to push her away, make her hate him so they could keep a distant work relationship—one where he didn’t have to kill her. He knew he was pulling at straws. Alesha hadn’t exactly acted how he imagined she would. He didn’t know what the hell she’d do.
Now what?
Could he keep her? He wanted her, wanted to own her. He’d been denied everything in his life until he learned to take what he wanted, regardless of the cost. But it had always been about things—money, power, guns, property. Personal relationships were where he drew the line. He’d been burned too many times, enough to stop caring, to stop feeling.
Alesha would turn out like all the others, like his mother, like the gangbangers who’d taken his innocence. He couldn’t risk being vulnerable, giving his heart to a woman.
But there had been something there, some spark between them when they kissed.
He pulled himself together, taking Alesha’s hand and leading her to the main entrance. Like every other day of his life, he was on guard, taking in his surroundings as they walked through the mingling guests. He trusted no one, and was never naïve enough to think he was safe.
“Are we going home?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I haven’t prepared dinner, and we didn’t stay to eat,” she said.
He waved his hand once outside, requesting his car from one of the valets. “Then I’ll take you out to eat. It’s too late to start cooking, and it would be a shame not to see you in that dress for a couple more hours.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. It looked good on her. He imagined she’d look just like that after fucking her for half the night. Xavier pushed his thoughts away, blaming his raging hard-on on going too long without sex.
They drove toward the city center. He kept replaying the events over in his head, trying to remember all the details for their upcoming lunch. He hoped Boss gave him the all clear to put a bullet in Dixon’s brain. Xavier was already imagining it with vivid detail.
By now, Boss would already have figured out Alesha was his housekeeper. Had he gotten Maurice to hack his surveillance at home? Did he know Xavier got wasted and spilled his guts to a civilian? He hoped that gem was off the radar. When Boss told him to use Alesha to his advantage, he didn’t see a problem using her as bait. He’d be there the whole time and trusted his own abilities. But what if Boss wanted her exterminated after the mission? He wouldn’t be able to follow that order.
“…your family.”
He snapped back into reality, checking the street signs to ground himself. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
“You said you don’t have a sister, but what about your parents? Do they live near you?”
He ground his teeth together. Why was he humoring her? Because she meant something to him—even though he wished he could wipe her from memory at this point. Women always complicated shit.
“Let’s not talk about family.”
“Xavier, you promised.” Her voice sounded young, but then again, she was a lot younger than he was. More than a fucking decade. The pleading tone made him feel compelled to obey her.
He shifted in his seat, his cock uncomfortably heavy. Even her scent had filled the inside of his car, distracting him.
The restaurant was only five minutes up the highway, so he pulled over to the side of the road and put the car into park. “Alesha, why do you have to ask all the difficult questions?”
She tilted her head. “I thought it was a simple question. I’m just trying to start a dialogue.”
He unbuckled and turned to face her. Her tits were spilling out the top of her dress, and he had to remind himself to behave and keep his damn hands to himself. Such a sinful body with those innocent doe eyes. He clenched his fist, resting it on the headrest behind her.
“Family is a tough one.”
“We’re supposed to be honest. No lies, remember?”
He took a deep breath, not used to keeping a promise. “I never knew my father, but that wasn’t uncommon in our village. My mother, well, that bitch sold us off to pay her debts. Just handed over her son and daughter, turned the other way, and started fresh. Do you realize what they do to little girls who’re taken? You think I’d sell my fucking kids to a gang, to anyone? I’d die first.” He realized he was shouting, his face only inches from hers.
Xavier pulled back, running a hand through his hair. His heart was racing.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. He looked down, and her hand was on his thigh.
“Why are you sorry? It’s my shit life. It’s not your fault.”
“I like the real you, even if it’s dark and dirty. My mother wasn’t a prize either. Once she got remarried, she wished I never existed. I haven’
t spoken to her since. It’s why I’ve been struggling for so long.”
He’d add killing Alesha’s bitch mother to his to-do list.
“What about you, Alesha? Would you sell off your kids for the right price? Put yourself before them?”
“I never thought much about being a mother. I mean, I’m twenty-seven and still a virgin.” She gasped, slapping her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry, I—”
He bolted forward and kissed her on the mouth, rough and demanding. Thoroughly. So much volatile energy was already rushing through his veins, and it easily morphed into a passion he’d never known. He wanted to possess her, body and soul. To become one with her. Xavier moved closer in the cramped space, running his free hand up her thigh, pushing her dress up to her hip. He spread her legs open, reaching between them to cup her pussy mound. He could feel the moisture even through her panties. She jolted, gripping his shoulders.
A fucking virgin? He wanted her even more. His claim grew tenfold.
Not once did he stop kissing her, nipping her lips, playing with her tongue. She mewled, holding onto him, letting him take control. He moved down her neck, trailing hot kisses as he went. Her cleavage was luscious. He ran his cheeks against the pillowy softness, his eyes rolling back in his head. When he pulled back, his stubble had left her pale skin reddened.
“Xavier…”
He counted to ten in his head, taming the beast. Alesha wasn’t a whore. He wouldn’t fuck her in his car, no matter how desperate he was to be inside her. This was all getting way too complicated, and fast.
“Let’s rethink this.”
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked. Her lips were swollen, her dress still riding high. He adjusted the hem so it covered her thighs again.
“We were talking,” he said. “I got distracted. By you.”
She licked her lips. “And I never got to answer your question,” she said. “No, Xavier, I’d never give up my child, no matter the cost.”
Alesha knew exactly what to say to get under his skin.
****
Xavier was her boss, but she was also hopelessly falling for him. The vulnerability he’d shown her last night when he was drunk was the real him, the broken side of the man. If she hadn’t come downstairs to catch him in his stupor, she’d still think he was a cold, heartless businessman. After last night, she’d become intrigued.
Now she knew there was so much more to Xavier Moreno than money and impossibly good looks. Once again, he’d shown her a glimpse of his pain, a traumatic childhood she couldn’t begin to imagine. And there had been a sister. The one he’d denied having.
She wouldn’t push him, not after humiliating herself and revealing she was still a virgin. That wasn’t information she eagerly shared with anyone.
He didn’t seem to care, and the passion they shared couldn’t have been one-sided. She just hoped to God she wasn’t just another number to him. Alesha wanted to heal him, to show him not all women were heartless.
“We should continue our talk later, no?” he asked. He’d moved back into his seat. When he’d first kissed her, he’d practically crawled on top of her, touching and kissing her like a man possessed. His dominant advance overwhelmed her, but she loved it. Craved it. She could still feel the presence of his palm pressing against her pussy, and she wanted him to touch her like that again. When he stopped, she’d only felt disappointment.
“We were just starting to open up. That’s a good thing. I have so many questions,” she said.
“Like what? More family bullshit?”
“Not really. I was thinking about your wild nights. Am I just another conquest to you?”
He narrowed his eyes, but she saw the corners of his lips twitch. “There aren’t any other women, Alesha.”
“But you said—”
“Lies. I’m good at lying. I can hide from the world, put on the mask I want people to see.”
“Is this another mask?” She reached her hand out to touch his face, but pulled back before making contact. His dark eyes, straight nose, rough stubble, and thick lips … every detail of his face was perfect to her.
“I don’t know what this is,” he said. “But it feels real.”
She adjusted the top of her dress, and his eyes went to her cleavage. He made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. There was no denying the hunger in his eyes. “I can’t handle being my boss’s fling. If that’s what this is, please find another woman to be your date tomorrow.”
“I said there are no other women. Since you moved into my house, I haven’t fucked around. And stop calling me your boss. I have a name.”
“Xavier.” She pronounced it slowly. He leaned closer.
“You’re worried about women, nothing else? You’re a fearless little thing, aren’t you?” He touched her jaw, dragging one finger along the edge of her face until he reached her chin. He tilted her face up. “And fucking gorgeous.”
“Xavier…”
“There it is again. Hearing you say my name, it makes my cock hard.”
Holy shit. She loved his no holds barred way of talking. It turned her on, made her desperate for more. When had this happened? What was she becoming?
“You confuse me,” she said. Alesha reached out, slipping her hand into his jacket. There it was, his gun. “Do you always carry a weapon?”
“Always.”
“Why? Is your life really so dangerous?”
“You have no idea. And now I have to protect you, too,” he said.
She pulled her hand back. “Why would I need protecting? I don’t understand why anyone would want me dead. I’m a cleaner, nothing more.”
“It’s my fault. I fucked up.” He lost the flirty quality and turned around, squeezing the steering wheel. “I’m supposed to use you as bait during Dixon’s lunch tomorrow, and I will if that means closing this contract for my boss.”
“Great. I’m just bait to you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, facing forward, wondering why she ever thought there could be something between her and some hired gun. She’d be lucky if she got out of this nightmare in one piece.
“Alesha, look at me,” he said. Why did his voice have to be so deep and rough, sex for her ears? She wanted to ignore him, but peeked to her side.
“What?” she snapped.
“Dixon isn’t a good man. He’s into a lot of bad shit, and doesn’t deserve to be breathing. I only agreed to my boss’s request to use you tomorrow because I’ll be there by your side the entire time.” He forced her to look at him, holding the side of her face. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you. No matter what. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’ve already told me you’re the best liar. Why should I believe you?”
“If you were anyone else, I’d already have killed you. Witnesses have a very short shelf life in this game, and my Boss hates loose ends like little girls who know too much.”
She swallowed hard, feeling a mix of emotions from being flattered, deeply aroused, to insulted. Something was wrong with her head.
“I’m not a little girl,” she whispered.
“You’re twenty-seven. I’m not old enough to be your father, but not by much. I’m still trying to understand what it is about you that has me second guessing everything.”
She had a laundry list of questions for Xavier. Was he a hired gun? How many people had he killed? Who did he work for? She wondered if a cold-blooded killer like him was even capable of love.
Instead of asking any of her questions, she only wanted to prove that she was woman enough for him. One moment he couldn’t keep his hands to himself, the next pushing her away. He confused her, but she couldn’t deny she was inexplicably drawn to him.
“Twenty-seven isn’t a child.”
“No, you’re very much a woman, aren’t you, Alesha? What do you think I should do? Do the right thing and cut you loose, or be a bastard and keep you for myself?”
Her heart pounded in her chest, her
womb coiling tight. “Like a toy?”
“No, just mine to keep.” She watched his lips as he spoke. His dark eyes gave nothing away. As much as she wanted him to tell her everything reassuring, everything she craved to hear, she wouldn’t beg.
She raised an eyebrow. “Do I have any say in this decision of yours?”
“You can’t force a person to love you, trust me, I know. Honestly, if I were you, I’d tell me to go fuck myself. Maybe you should.”
“Good thing for you, you’re not me.”
He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms behind his head. “Alesha, I’m not a good man. You’re looking for something in me you’ll never find. I’m a monster, and you deserve better.”
“Don’t say that. There’s good in everyone, and I’ve seen another side of you. Yesterday. Today. I can see under all your masks. You’re not fooling me.”
“So, tell me, what do you see? You’ve seen it all last night. My tattoos, my scars, my demons. That doesn’t scare you?”
She smiled, reaching out to grab his tie, pulling him closer. Alesha felt empowered, emboldened, and a little in love. “You don’t scare me, Xavier. I’ve seen the real you, and I like him. Maybe too much.”
“Be careful.” He combed his fingers into the hair and the base of her neck, then squeezed his fingers into a fist. She whined as he tightened his hold, her lips parting. God, she felt like she’d spontaneously orgasm at any second. He leaned close, so close she could feel the heat from his skin. His lips ever so lightly brushed hers, but he didn’t kiss her, leaving her yearning for more. “There are other sides of me you might not like so much.”
Chapter Six
“I hate restaurants,” Alesha said, taking Xavier by surprise.
Not that he’d consider this all day and night diner a restaurant but he didn’t mind it at all.
“You want to go somewhere else?” he asked.
“Oh, no, I’m just saying. I mean, I’m not big on the whole eating dinner while floating on the ocean deal.”
