Page 25 of Devil on Skates

IRINA

MY HEART POUNDS HARD in my chest, every beat full of mixed feelings. I’m worried for Xavier now that he’s going against the Costellos and about what might happen to us, but I’m also relieved that I’m finally free and Xavier knows the truth.

When Xavier walks straight toward me as Keith glares at us, all I want is to throw myself into his arms and kiss him, but I don’t move.

“It’s over,” he says when he reaches me, his voice calm. “Keith won’t bother you again, and neither will his dad.”

Keith and his guards walk away toward the parking lot, but it all seems a little too good to be true that I’m still on edge. What if this is a dream and I wake up? What if Keith only left because he knows how dangerous Xavier is, so he’ll go to his dad and do something worse to us?

“They’ll want to make us pay,” I say. “These people have power and reach. They’ll make things hard for us.”

“So what?” Xavier shrugs. “We’ll handle it together.” His gaze searches mine. “If you’re willing to give us a chance.”

I hate that Costello and his stupid deal have made Xavier doubt what we have. None of it should’ve happened, and maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to anything, but I thought I was doing the right thing.

Tonight, when I heard Xavier telling Keith that I was worth it.

.. I realized that, yeah, I actually believed I wasn’t worth anyone’s trouble, and that was what made me sign the deal.

But I was wrong. I’m not worthless like Keith and his dad wanted me to think.

I’m a person, and not anyone’s accessory or a pawn.

And even though I’m going to mess up sometimes.

.. or a lot, that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve good things to happen to me.

As I look deep into Xavier’s eyes, there’s nothing more I want than to give our relationship another shot.

“I’ve never felt this way with anyone else,” I say. “So yeah, I hope you’ll give me a second chance.”

I’ve spent so long fitting roles, meeting expectations, and pretending that being honest feels freeing and terrifying all at once.

“No one’s ever protected me like you do,” I add, my voice softening. “And no one’s ever made me feel this way.”

“I feel the same way about you.” A slow smile spreads across his face, and he pulls me into a tight embrace.

“Let’s get out of here,” he says, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles as he takes my hand.

“Your dorm?” I ask, the place carrying memories of what we almost had before Costello ruined everything.

He nods, and my lips pull up into a smile. As we make our way to his dorm, there’s a comfortable silence between us. Just being near each other after all this time feels enough.

Once we’re in his room, he closes the door, and it feels like a sanctuary, not a cage. No one here’s watching my every move and making sure I don’t do or say anything wrong. I can finally be myself, without having to make any excuses.

Xavier closes the space between us in two steps. He wraps his arms around me, holding me gently. I lean in, finally letting go of all the tension inside my body.

Our lips meet softly, not with a desperate hunger but something deeper and more real.

“I’ve missed you,” he breathes against my lips.

“I’ve missed you too,” I say, the familiar heat spreading through my body.

He cups my face, his soft lips moving against mine. Our kiss is slow and deep, our mouths moving together as if we’re relearning each other.

I gently push him back until his legs collide with the bed, and he lets himself fall down on it. His hungry gaze lands on me as I climb onto his lap, straddling him and feeling his erection through his pants.

I grab the hem of his shirt and tug it up over his head, revealing the hard planes of his chest. As I slowly run my hands over his skin, he groans under my touch.

I yank my blouse over my head, throwing it on the floor.

After I unclasp my bra, exposing my breasts, Xavier sits up.

His fingers carefully make their way over my bruises, and then his mouth finds my chest, closing around my nipple.

A gasp escapes my throat, and I run my fingers through his hair as he licks, sucks, and circles my hard bud.

His warm mouth moves to my other nipple, and my moans become more frequent and louder.

I missed him so damn much. He just knows exactly what I need and want, and he’s not fighting me for control.

When I place my hands on his chest, I push him back down, pinning him there. His eyes lock on mine, and they’re full of desire and heat and something softer.

I slide down his body, tugging off his pants and boxers.

As his thick length springs out, I wrap my hand around him, stroking him before leaning down and flicking my tongue over his tip.

Something between a moan and a groan steals its way out of his throat as I take him into my mouth, slowly sliding my tongue over him at first, and then swirling it faster.

His hips jerk, his breath coming out in sharp gasps. I glance up at him. His head is tipped back, his eyes closed.

“Irina, fuck,” he chokes out.

I pull away, letting go of him, and get on top of him again. As I brace one hand against his chest, I guide him inside me. Inch by inch, I slowly lower myself onto him as he fills and stretches me. Our groans fill the air, and for a moment, I don’t move.

I catch his gaze, just letting myself feel our bodies connected like this. His lips part as he grips my hips, holding on to me. I slowly start rolling my hips, finding a nice and slow rhythm that feels just right.

When I move faster, grinding my hips against him, he meets me thrust for thrust. I tip my head back as pressure builds inside me, and it feels so damn good I could cry from happiness. We savor every moment, every touch, and every look.

Xavier’s hands slide up to my back, and he pulls himself up so our chests are pressed together.

His mouth finds mine just as my release rushes through me, swallowing my moans.

My body shudders as pleasure spreads through me like a wave.

As I cry out, Xavier joins me, his hips jerking as he holds me tightly against him.

As we pant for breath, his gaze meets mine, his fingers gently stroking my back. My heart is still racing, and my body vibrating.

“I love you,” he says, and my mouth parts in surprise.

Him saying it out loud should scare me, since there are so many things that we still have to deal with. But I don’t want to think about the Costellos, our parents’ expectations, or anything else. Actually, those words bring peace and clarity into all this chaos.

“I love you too,” I say,

We stay wrapped up together, neither of us wanting to let go. My phone buzzes somewhere on the floor. It’s probably my dad, Costello, or maybe even my mom, but I don’t want to deal with any of that right now.

Tonight is all about Xavier and me. Everything else can wait.