by Malone, Nana
Imani blew apart, her body convulsing as the orgasm hit her hard. Yes. Fuck yes. He loved nothing more than watching her come.
As her body convulsed, he drew back with a growl and flipped her over onto her stomach. Her limbs moved easily as he positioned her. He slipped on a condom quickly, then, in one swift stroke, he slid into her to the hilt. “Fuck. That’s good.”
#
Xander shook behind her and Imani panted as the aftershocks from her orgasm pulsed around his hard length. He was so big. But felt so good in this position as he rubbed against her G-spot.
He kissed her neck and nipped it gently as he reached under her and cupped her breast. With the slightest movement of his hips, he sent shockwaves through her body.
"I love you in this position, that perfect ass of yours offered to me as if on a platter."
"Xander." Deep down, Imani had sensed this part of him. The darker him. The unrestrained him. She’d seen flashes of him before, but he'd tempered it for her. Like he didn’t want to hurt her. She didn’t want it tempered. She’d been holding back her whole life. Now was not the time to do that. She wanted to feel alive. She liked how she felt in his arms. Possessed. Like this was where she belonged. "More."
His hips picked up speed and the edges of her vision grayed. “Yes. God. Like that,” she moaned.
"You like it when I fuck you deep?” His whispers were harsh against her ear. His breath hot. "You’re so fucking beautiful. So perfect."
She was close again. His grasp on her breast tightened and she knew oblivion was seconds away. He dug his free hand into her hair and tugged until she turned her head, exposing the skin just behind her ear. His favorite part to kiss.
"God, your pussy is so fucking tight."
Imani cried out when he started to pull out of her body. When only the tip of him remained inside, he stroked back in. Their gazes locked.
His gaze held her captive and she didn't dare let go. Through clenched teeth, he whispered, “You fucking own me. Body and soul.”
Sliding a hand down her belly, all it took was the mere brush of his finger and she flew apart again, clamping down around his driving cock.
Four more pumps and Xander shouted his release, his cock kicking deep inside her.
Twenty-Five
"Bitch, start talking."
Fe sat back on his couch with arms crossed and a scowl on his face.
Imani sat across from him and sipped her tea. "I know you're ticked off."
"You don't even know the definition of ticked off. Do you understand that I had to find out about my bestie's relationship with royalty from OK-freaking-Magazine? I mean, without so much as a heads-up from my best girl. What the fuck, Imani?”
"Fe, I'm so sorry. You have every right to be upset. I should have told you. Or at least warned you about what was going on."
He sat forward. "Okay, so what exactly is going on? I turn my back for two seconds and fuck off to Ireland for work, next thing I know you’re jetting off to Paris and dating the hottest photographer London has ever seen."
She smirked. "Okay, yeah, he's pretty hot."
"I am pea-green with envy. I swear you are such a cunt. This calls for alcohol."
She sighed. Where the hell did she even begin? "Okay, you have to promise me you're not going to freak out."
His brows snapped down. "When do I freak out?"
"Excuse me, do you remember the time the dry cleaner ruined your Prada sweater? You went insane. Or that time we were on Oxford Street and you swore up and down you saw Beyoncé in a car. We chased that car for ages, Fe."
His eyes bugged. "That was different. First of all, that was Queen Bey! And secondly, that was my favorite Prada. I can keep my cool."
"No judgment?"
Stretching out his arms, he laughed. "Honey, look at me. Besides, you’ve met my two boyfriends before Adam, right? I think I officially live in a glass house."
"Good point." She dragged in a breath, then exhaled and told him everything starting from when she called Miriam. Through it all, Fe sat and stared at her, nodding and wincing where appropriate.
When she finally finished, he sat back. For several long moments, he said nothing. Just stared at her. “So you mean to tell me he hadn't had an orgasm in years? Is he for real?”
She winced. That part she hadn't exactly meant to blurt out, but she needed to know how she should handle it from a guy’s perspective. “Yes, he’s for real.”
“And you have the magic touch?”
“Apparently.”
“So you apparently have magic snatch. Because we need to bottle it and sell it by the millions.”
“Fe, be serious. It’s hot, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to help him. I mean what if my magic snatch, as you put it, stops working? Does that mean that we stop working?”
He laughed as he dodged her poorly aimed pillow. "This shit would only happen to you."
Laughing so hard she snorted tea up her nose, she threw a pillow at him. "Oh, come on, no other wise words? Nothing to say? I could seriously use some advice here."
"Well, the first question is how do you feel?"
She pursed her lips. "I was afraid you'd ask something like that."
"Well, it's a valid question. I know your history, so I have to ask how you’re feeling. I know your no-relationship stance."
"It's not like it's a life choice, Fe. I’ve just been disappointed enough to know better."
“Well, from the sounds of it, he isn’t Ryan. So maybe that’s not a fair comparison."
She ducked her head. "I’m terrified, Fe. I don’t believe in that one perfect person for everyone. How many times do I have to tell you, ‘The One’ is a mythical construct we've been taught to believe thanks to fairytales...and Hallmark. He's not real. And Xander certainly isn’t him. But I feel so good when I’m with him."
"I get it. You’re a cynic. And in your position I would be, too. You had a dud right out of the box. And he was rotten and rancid to the core. Xander might actually be that rare breed of reformed bad boy. And maybe you’re reforming him."
"I promise you I'm not. Look, he's so secretive about his past, about what he’s doing. I'm following someone blindly and you know that’s killing me."
"Well, everyone has a few secrets. It's not like you told him all about your sociopathic, whiny bitch of an ex…"
"Well, it’s none of his business. And not his problem. I'm dealing with Ryan."
"And by dealing with, you mean going to rehearsals and trying to avoid him?"
She slumped. "Pretty much."
"Not going to fly. You have to report him. He's a twat. And I promise you were not the first one he hurt."
"What do you suggest I do? It's my word against his. And he's already worked an angle with Charles. I swear, I had one move and he beat me to it."
"You can’t be alone with him, Imani."
"And I'm not. I’ve managed it so far. But I have no other choice. This is my dream and I’m not letting him take it away from me. I make sure all conversations are public." At least since the incident in the courtyard she'd done that.
"That’s not enough. I know I can’t make you, and this has to be your choice. But he's taken too much of your life already. He can’t take the joy out of your rehearsals too."
"I just want to forget him and move on. I have enough to deal with for the show, and my family, and now Xander. Ryan is the last person I have energy for."
"I just hate the way it affects you. You’re so closed off to things that can make you happy and you’re solitary. You need to date and have fun. I just want you rid of this arsehole forever. You need to enjoy Xander Chase. Just do us a favor and tell me he's fantastic in the sack."
Imani shook her head. "Fe!"
“Oh, come on, give a boy a thrill.”
“Fine, he’s very good at dirty talk.”
"Mmm, I do love a dirty talker. Lucky girl."
"Don't you go getting all attached. Sooner or later something will
go wrong."
He nodded at her the same way he always did when he wanted to say, If you say so. I don’t believe you.
"I'm serious, Fe."
"Have you stopped to consider if it's like that for him?"
"This is Xander Chase, he doesn’t want me long term. He's not that kind of guy."
Her friend shrugged. "All I'm saying is people can surprise you for the better sometimes. Especially when you have a magic snatch."
“Fe!”
He laughed and still dodged her much better aimed pillow. As she filled him in on home and school, she realized how much she’d missed him. He’d been gone the total of a week. But it felt like a life span had gone by already. “God, I missed you."
"I missed you too. Now, next time, don’t let me find out something in a gossip rag. Call me."
"I will, I promise."
"And for the record, darling, even though I prefer this outcome with the fabulous new man and the fantastic show, the other version would have been good too. You know, where I help you, and for once your stupid pride doesn’t get in the way, and you say thank you."
She really did love him. "Yeah, I hear you."
#
It felt different than he thought it would. Xander twirled around in his chair and stared out his new window overlooking Westminster Abbey. He was exactly where he wanted to be. On the board of the Artistic Trust and owning enough shares to topple Trident Media. This was everything he’d wanted for years. Now all he had to do was find the proof he needed.
He cracked his neck, shutting out Lex's words. Revenge is empty, Xan. You’ll have to let it go at some point. Well he wasn’t letting it go. Step two was complete. Now on to step three. Which was isolate and terrify his opponent before completely destroying him.
"I see you've made yourself comfortable."
The sound of Alistair's voice from his door had adrenaline flowing through Xander's veins. He turned to face his opponent, but kicked his feet up on his desk. "I am comfortable, Alistair, thank you for asking after me."
"You won’t last six months in this job before you’re bored and off to your next distraction. All I have to do is wait you out."
Xander tipped his lips up into a smile. "You're amusing. Alistair. But I promise you I will be here. You see, I'm not easily run off. I told you I would make you pay and I will."
Alistair glared at him. "Wasn't fucking my wife enough?"
Xander puffed with a humorless laugh. "I promise you it was more a chore than anything else. You’re quite welcome to her." Alistair's face morphed into a red, angry mask, but he kept his hands in his pockets. Just as well, too, because Xander knew he could kill him easily. And explaining the blood stains in his new office would be difficult.
The other man did lean forward a little. "How is what's her name? Christie? Oh now wait, that was your other fiancée. What happened to that one? By all accounts she left you once she realized you were unstable and delusional and in need of psychiatric assistance. I mean, it must’ve been devastating to you. Is that why you're so hell-bent on destroying me, because I told your bird who you really are? She was bound to find out in the end, Xander."
Xander smiled, his teeth locked together. "You're a twat."
"And you’re a desperate wanker who has always wanted what I had. You were desperate for attention when we were kids and you’re still desperate. No one believed you then and no one will pay you any attention now with your temper tantrum. What is it exactly you think you’ll do here? It's not like you'll get rid of me. I'm a long-standing fixture."
Xander narrowed his eyes, fury pouring though his veins. Do not lose control. Do not let him control you. He wouldn't be here for long. He just needed to make sure he had enough shares, then he could implement the last part of his plan. Until that point he had to keep a level head.
"I’m here to do a job, Alistair. You’re the one who's making it personal." He finally sat up. “I am going to end you. Plain and simple. And you will remember the day you could have helped me and you chose not to.”
As Alistair strode out Xander’s office scowling, Xander’s phone rang.
"Garrett, mate, tell me you can get something." Xander pinched the bridge of his nose as he stared out the window.
His investigator cleared his throat. "I'm still working the flash drive. There’s a lot on there."
"Look the flash drive is secondary. What I want is any info you have on the trust."
"I'll need some time, but I'm digging. So far nothing like we were looking for. No history of complaints. From what I have so far, it looks like he left the hands-on stuff for photo ops and that’s it. But I’ll keep looking."
Xander's gut twisted. There had to be something he could use. There was no way Alistair was a boy scout. He was not wrong about this. "Have you found anything at all? We’re sort of running against a clock here."
"There is something, but give me a day to make the figures work. It looks like your boy has been cooking books for the trust."
"You're shitting me."
"No. I'm not. It's negligible and the money skimmed from accounts isn't enough that they would notice, but the only one looking at the accounts as a whole is Alistair, so he's probably been doing it for years."
"Any idea where the money is going?"
“That’s the thing. It matches some information I pulled off the flash drive. He owes money to Pushka, part of the Russian mob."
Xander whistled low. He'd only heard about them in terms of the news and maybe whispered gossip from Nick, Lex's friend. His father ran many of the seedier clubs in London, including strip clubs. No doubt he occasionally rubbed elbows with the Russian gang. "That's some fucked-up trouble to court."
"Tell me about it. I'll have something definite to look at tomorrow."
"Thanks, mate."
"If there's something to find, I'll find it."
#
"Xander, were you ever planning on telling me?"
Shit. He knew he'd regret answering the phone when he had so much work to do. "Mum, hi. Care to tell me how I’ve disappointed you this time?"
There was a beat of silence. "I wish you wouldn't say it like that. You’re not a disappointment. I'm so proud of what you've accomplished."
Damn it. He rubbed his chest, hoping the feeling that lingered there would go away eventually. Ever since meeting Imani a whole host of feelings had worked their way into creases of his soul that he’d never thought about before. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Just a long day so far. What’s the problem?"
"Were you going to tell me about your girlfriend? A friend of mine mentioned it at a game of squash and I had no idea what to say to her."
Shit, fucker fuck. The goddamn OK Magazine photos. He'd meant to give her a call for a heads-up, then, as with everything else, like him being completely unable to keep his hands off of Imani, he forgot. "Listen, I'm sorry about that. But it's not like that."
He wasn’t sure how much he wanted to tell her. He wasn’t in the mood for lectures today and he sure as hell didn't have the time.
"Then what’s it like? The magazine said you'd been dating her secretly for months. If you have someone special, Xander, I just want to meet her, that's all. I want to know about your life. Meet who’s in your life."
He gritted his teeth. Up until Imani, there was no one in his life he'd ever take around his mother. Mostly because they were all throwaways. Every last one of them. And class wasn't exactly one of his usual requirements. Hell, a brain didn't usually factor high on his list either. Come to think of it, he'd never given any consideration to the kind of woman he'd bring around his mother, ever.
"She's a…friend. She went with me to the interview in Paris."
"Oh, so she's not your girlfriend."
Wasn’t that the million-dollar question. They slept in the same bed. A place he intended to keep Imani as long as possible. But he knew from what she said, she didn’t trust him to stick. Fuck, he didn't trust himself to stick. But he wanted to m
aybe be that guy. He just needed more time to convince her that he could be worth sticking for. If she were staying, she'd eventually meet his mother.
"It's complicated, Mum. She’s—" What? He was going to talk to her about women now? "Different."
"Well from those grainy photos, she's certainly beautiful."
"Yeah, she is. She's just a little hard to pin down sometimes." Before he knew it, the words flowed out easily. Who knew, maybe his mother could help him shed a little light. "She’s complicated and funny. But there's a part of her she guards like a feral animal. Every time I get near it, she stabs back with something pointy and deadly."
"Well, women are mysterious creatures. But sweetheart—and please don't take this the wrong way—but you have a bit of a reputation. She might be protecting herself so that you don't hurt her. Keeping you deliberately at arm’s length."
That sounded about right. "How do I get her to stop? I don’t like it."
Her laugh rang clear on the line. "You really don’t know anything about love do you?"
Lex had essentially said the same thing. "Apparently not."
"You can try being vulnerable and honest with her. Guard her feelings like you would guard your own. If something terrifies her, you make sure she never has to face that fear alone. Don’t do that thing where you swoop in and fix it or change it. She won’t thank you for it."
Hadn't he tried that very thing? It hadn’t earned him her favor. "And if she won’t share what her dark and scaries are?"
"Then, my beloved, you try patience."
Patience. Now where the hell could he go to buy some of that?
Twenty-Six
A slice of harsh light pierced the darkness of his bedroom and Xander cowered under the bed. He'd taken to sleeping there because it was safer. Sometimes Silas would think he was sleeping in his brother's room and would leave him be. Or he would tire of looking for him in all the rooms of the house. Or even better, he worried about Xander’s mother finding him so he would leave him alone.
But tonight wasn't one of those nights. "Where are you, boy? I know you're in here. I already checked the security footage. I know you haven’t left your room all night. Come on out. If you make me look for you, I'm going to hurt you." Silas had been drinking and his words slurred together as the smell of port drew closer and closer.
