Page 21

Chapter 21

Unwind

Blake

Xavier was making me feel all kinds of things.

Shyness, happiness, an electric thrill, a delicious buzz. He also gave me a confidence I didn’t quite have before I met him. I wasn’t second-guessing everything I said or did. I didn’t replay conversations over and over again in my head, wondering if I was too awkward or said something odd. With Xavier, it just was . I could be myself around him.

That was really refreshing.

Plus, it didn’t hurt that the man was off-the-charts hot. Normally, that would have had me fumbling for words, but not with Xavier. I thought back to our kiss. How natural it had felt. I wanted more. I had felt the kind of butterflies in my stomach that I presumed were very much extinct. Maybe it was because I’d closed myself off after my stalker, or maybe it was just because no one like Xavier had crossed paths with me yet.

“What do you want to drink?” Xavier asked. He stepped around the bar. He looked casual in a dark gray V-neck shirt and black shorts. A thin golden necklace caught the light of the flickering gas lamps.

“I’ll have a tequila sunrise, please.”

“You got it.” He grabbed a jet-black bottle off the shelf behind him. He took off the metallic red cap. His fingers, for being so large, moved quite nimbly.

I watched him mix the drink with practiced ease, mesmerized by the way he moved. There was something incredibly captivating about Xavier, a blend of raw strength and gentle care that made me feel safe and excited all at once.

As he mixed the tequila sunrise, the room around us seemed to blur into the background, leaving just the two of us in a bubble of shared energy. His movements were precise and smooth, each action deliberate. He poured the tequila, added the orange juice, and finished with a splash of grenadine, the colors blending beautifully in the clear glass.

“What about you?” I asked, genuinely curious. “What’s your drink of choice?”

Xavier smiled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I’m a simple guy. Whiskey, neat.”

He poured himself a glass of rich amber liquid and lifted it in a silent toast. I raised my tequila sunrise in response, the clink of our glasses sounding loud in the intimate setting of the speakeasy.

“To new experiences,” he said, his voice low and warm.

“To new experiences,” I echoed.

We sipped our drinks in comfortable silence, the flickering gas lamps casting dancing shadows on the walls. He came around the bar and took a seat on the purple velvet stool next to me .

“So,” I said, breaking the silence, “I’ve been thinking… if you had a choice to use the dagger, what would you use it for?”

He paused, considering the question. “I don’t quite know,” he admitted. “I think about it too sometimes, but I’m not sure.”

I watched him carefully, sensing there was more beneath the surface. His gaze was distant, as if he was lost in thought. I wondered what went on in that head of his.

“You must have some idea,” I pressed gently, hoping to draw him out.

Xavier sighed, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “There are moments, things in the past that I wish I could change. But I know that tampering too much with time is dangerous. Especially with your own timeline. It’s tempting, sure, but it comes with too many risks.”

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. The idea of changing the past was a seductive one, but I could see how the consequences could be catastrophic. “I get that. It’s a slippery slope.”

He looked at me. Something swirled in his gaze, but I couldn’t quite place it. His eyes flicked down to my mouth. Back up to my eyes. “Exactly. Something my mother always taught me was that the number one rule to using my time powers: never mess with your own path. It creates an infinite amount of paradoxes. A hundred thousand tangles of possibilities and consequences. I hear it all the time. ‘Oh, I wish I could go back and change this.’ No, you absolutely don’t.”

I took another sip of my drink, intrigued by his perspective. There weren’t many chances to get to talk to a time-manipulating dragon. “Why not?”

“One trickle creates an entire cascade,” he explained. “And then, when you actually open your eyes, you see that the one thing you wanted to change was the one pivotal moment that made you who you are. Next thing you know, you’re aimless and surrounded by a world of consequences you don’t know how to deal with.”

“You’ve thought about this a lot,” I observed.

He nodded. “Yeah, I have. It’s something that comes with the territory, I guess.”

The conversation shifted to lighter topics, and I found myself relaxing even more. We laughed, shared stories, and enjoyed the easy camaraderie that had developed between us. But the underlying tension, the chemistry, was always there, simmering just below the surface.

“You know,” I said, swirling the last of my drink in the glass, “this place is pretty amazing. I’ve never been somewhere that felt so… timeless.”

Xavier chuckled, his eyes twinkling. “It’s one of the perks of living in a castle. You get to create spaces that are both ancient and modern, like the Dragon’s Den.”

“I could get used to this,” I admitted, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the alcohol.

“Good,” he said with a smile. “Because I think you belong here.”

There was a softness in his voice, a sincerity that made my heart skip a beat. The way he looked at me, with a mix of admiration and something deeper, something more raw, made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t in a long time.

He covered my hand with his, his touch sending a shiver down my spine. “Blake, there’s something about you. Something that makes me want to open up, to be myself. ”

“I feel the same. I’ve never felt this comfortable around someone. Especially someone like you.”

“Like me?”

“Yeah. An extremely handsome and charismatic man that makes my knees weak and my heart all fluttery and my—whoop. Almost went too far there.”

Xavier grinned. “You can’t go too far with me. Say it.”

“I was gonna say that you make my dick rock hard.”

“Really?” He asked. A smolder entered his gaze. I could feel my cheeks heat up. “Good. Because you do the same to mine.”

His words ignited a fire within me, a burning desire that I could no longer contain. Xavier leaned in first. He didn’t hesitate, and neither did I. He pressed his lips against mine, and I immediately melted into the seat. His hand rose to grip the back of my neck. My body reacted by lighting itself on fire, warmth spreading through every muscle. This kiss was different from the last—it was urgent, demanding, filled with a hunger that had been building between us.

His hands roamed my body, exploring, claiming. The speakeasy around us disappeared, leaving just the two of us, lost in a whirlwind of desire.

He broke the kiss, his breath hot against my ear. “Blake, do you have any idea what you do to me?”

“Show me,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He didn’t need any further encouragement. He grabbed my hand and pulled it down between his legs, where his stiff erection strained against his shorts. A soft moan escaped my lips as he guided my hand up and down his length.

“You like that? ”

I could only nod. Words wouldn’t form.

We stood, kissing, the muscular dragon pushing me back up against the bar. Xavier’s hands were everywhere, caressing my neck, sliding down my back, and gripping my hips. He pulled me closer, our bodies pressed tightly together, and I could feel his throbbing arousal, hard and insistent against my thigh.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, trailing kisses along my jawline.

“Xavier,” I breathed, my hands tangling in the soft black curls of his hair. “I want you.”

His response was a low growl that sent a thrill through me. He leaned down, capturing my lips in another searing kiss as his hands worked to remove my shirt. The fabric was discarded carelessly, and his lips moved to my chest, sucking and nibbling at my skin.

I gasped, arching into his touch, my body on fire. I could feel the tension coiling tighter with each seductive flick of his tongue.

Xavier’s hands traveled lower, undoing my belt and sliding my pants down. I felt exposed, vulnerable, but there was no fear—only a desperate need for him. He looked up at me, his eyes smoldering with lust, and I knew I was lost.

“Are you okay with this?” He asked.

“I am,” I answered, never having been more okay with something in my life.

“Good. Let me take you to my bedroom, then. We can be more comfortable there.” He reached behind me and squeezed my ass through my pants. “Don’t worry, it’s the room right down the hall. No one will see us. ”

With a growl of satisfaction, Xavier lifted me effortlessly, cradling me against his chest as he carried me to his bedroom. The room was a blend of his personality—strong, protective, and undeniably inviting. It had a huge bed pushed against the stone wall, with two beautiful stained glass windows overlooking it. Soft, ambient light bathed the space in a warm glow, highlighting the rich dark blue textures of his bedsheets and muted colors that made the room feel both luxurious and intimate.

He set me down gently on the bed, his eyes never leaving mine. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” he asked, his voice rough with desire.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “Yes,” I whispered. “But… Xavier… I’m a virgin. And not experienced. Like, at all.”

Xavier didn’t hesitate or pause. “That’s completely okay. You tell me whatever you’re comfortable with and what you aren’t comfortable with. I’ll stop whatever it is I’m doing.”

Xavier smiled, his hands moving to remove his own shirt, revealing the sculpted muscles beneath. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him, and I reached out, my fingers tracing the lines of his chest.

“Damn, I think you have muscles I didn’t even know existed.”

“You like it?”

“I lo—like it, a lot.”

Shit. Was I about to say love? I was about to say love.

His hands were on me then, removing the rest of my clothes. Every inch of skin he exposed felt like it was on fire, the sensation almost overwhelming in its intensity. I was already close to coming, and he hadn’t even pulled my briefs off yet.

Xavier leaned in, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. His hands roamed my body, exploring, caressing, making me feel things I had never felt before. I responded eagerly, my own hands tracing the hard lines of his muscles. I looked down, seeing my white boxer briefs already stained dark with precum. He noticed it too. He smiled as he lowered himself and kissed my bulge. My eyes rolled back with pleasure.

He grabbed the waistband of my briefs and tugged them off, exposing me. Nothing but air separated Xavier from my naked body. I felt a sudden stab of self-consciousness. Would he like it? Was I big enough? Should I have shaved? What if he didn’t like that I was circumcised? So many random and dumb thoughts slammed into me at once.

He paused to look at me, his eyes dark with desire as he took me in. “You’re so beautiful, Blake,” he said in a low growl.

I blushed under his intense gaze. The anxious thoughts disappeared. “Xavier,” I breathed out. “I need you.”

His response was another low growl that sent a thrill coursing through me. He knelt between my legs, his hands gently parting my thighs. His eyes never left mine as he lowered his head, his lips brushing against my inner thigh. I gasped at the contact, my body arching off the bed.

“Relax,” Xavier said, his breath hot against my skin. “I want this to be good for you.”

I nodded, trying to calm my racing heart. His mouth moved higher, his tongue flicking out to taste my skin. The sensation was electric, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core. When his lips finally closed around my cock for the first time, I cried out, my hands tangling in the sheets.

Xavier’s tongue moved with expert precision, teasing and tasting, his hands holding me firmly in place. I could feel the heat building between my legs, the tension coiling tighter and tighter with each passing moment. His tongue slid along the length of my cock, teasing the sensitive head and lapping up the precum.

I gasped, my body trembling with need. “Xavier, please,” I begged, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He responded by taking me deeper into his mouth, his movements slow and deliberate. The sensation was almost too much as he pushed me closer and closer to the edge.

“Xavier,” I gasped, my hands gripping the sheets. “I’m so close.”

He hummed around my cock, the vibration sending shivers through my body. His hand moved lower, his fingers gently teasing my entrance. The dual sensation was overwhelming, and I could feel myself spiraling out of control.

With a final, desperate cry, I came, the release shattering through me in waves of pure ecstasy. Xavier held me through the aftershocks, swallowing every last drop until I was a trembling, boneless mess.

He kissed his way back up my body, his lips finding mine in a tender, lingering kiss that left me breathless. I could taste my salty release on his tongue. “You okay?” he asked softly, his hand brushing a strand of hair from my forehead.

“Better than okay,” I replied, my voice shaky but filled with a deep and unwavering happiness. “That was… am azing.”

He smiled, his eyes filled with warmth and satisfaction. “You’re amazing, Blake.”

But I was still hard. Still needy. And I wanted to return the favor.

“Let me show you just how amazing I can be.”