Page 22

Xavier

Fuck she's pretty when she's nervous. I've never seen her this unsure before and it only makes me want to take care of her more. But I also don't want to push her if she's not comfortable.

I'm about to tell her as much when she adds, "I need this, Xavier. Tell me what to do." She shifts against the pillows, bringing more of her upper body into the frame. There's still a pink tint to her cheeks, but the waver in voice is gone.

"That fucking tank top is going to kill me, Vi." The material is molded to the tempting swell of her breasts and her peaked nipples, making my mouth water. I can't wait to spend hours exploring her body. "Do you even know what you do to me?" I run my hand up my shaft once, to ease the ache--it's all I'll allow myself until for now.

Vivi's lashes flutter against the apples of her cheeks, my praise making her blossom.

"I'm already so damn hard for you. It's going to be a miracle if I make it out of this without cum covering my stomach."

Her chest rises with a shaky inhale. "I'm not opposed to that." She shifts, setting the phone against something so I can see more of her.

"Nah. Tonight is about you, not me. Stick your fingers in your mouth for me and get them nice and wet."

I'm captivated as she lifts two fingers, watching them disappear between her parted lips. "I'd do almost anything to fuck that perfect mouth. Make it my warm, wet home until I'm coming down your throat. You didn't have to put that on the list, but I can't say I'm sad to see it there."

She moans around her fingers and my dick twitches against my stomach.

"You're doing so good. When they're nice and soaked, slip them between your legs for me and play with yourself."

She releases her fingers with a wet plop, saliva gleaming in the dim light of the lamp. And does as I say, her mouth falling open on a silent exhale. All I can do is watch for a minute as she gets more comfortable finding what feels good.

"That's it, now tell me what you need."

"I need more . . . It's so good--too good. Having you talk me through it . . . I can feel it right there." The words fade a bit when she throws her head back and presses the back of her free hand to her cheek. "God, I'm overheated. I should have done this days ago."

Fuck if I'd have known, I'd have called her the day after we made our deal. "I wish you would have called. Next time, let me help you. Don't put it off this long. But it's okay, Vi, we're just going to have to take our time and make sure you get what you need."

"Take my time? Why on earth would I do that? I'm already so damn close." White blooms across her plump bottom lip where her teeth drag across it.

"I can think of a few reasons. If you go slow I can learn what works for you." I'll learn by exploring on my own too, but this will help her learn to speak up. "Plus, drawing it out a little is only going to make you come that much harder and I want you shaking when you finally let go."

She huffs out a frustrated breath. "I know how to edge myself, Xavier."

"That's right, you're a pro at this." I laugh.

Her eyes narrow. "I can hang up this phone and do this without you."

"But you don't want to. Keep your touches light and tell me what gets you there."

"Circles work best." Her breath catches in her throat. "I usually can't finish without them."

"That's it, sweetheart, keep talking."

She's being so honest and open, pride swells in my chest because she's trusting me with her intimate secrets.

"What about your nipples? Do you like having your breasts played with? Because they're fucking perfect and I'm dying to get my mouth on them."

Her unfocused gaze finds me and there's sadness there that breaks my heart. "I've always been self-conscious about their size."

Anger burns through me on her behalf, knowing at some point, someone made her feel that way. "I won't do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Ever. But there is nothing about you that doesn't do it for me. Head to toe, every fucking curve is a masterpiece." I pan my phone down letting her see my erection straining against my gray sweatpants and dark stain where it's already leaking.

When I lift the phone back to my face, she's blinking back awe. "Has anyone ever told you that you're unfairly hot?"

"Never anyone that mattered."

"I don't believe that for a second." Her laugh is warm and content, mirroring the lazy smile she wears.

"It's true. I don't let many people get that close." Except for Kristy. She wore me down, always hanging around and fawning over me. Looking back, it probably should have been a red flag--it was toxic as hell.

Something flashes in her features, sadness or pity, and I don't like it--not when I'm supposed to be focused on her. And not when it skims topics that are too serious for what we're doing.

This agreement with Vivi is perfect because I get someone good like Vivi in my life without the risk of getting hurt again, or losing focus on my priorities. Which are giving Holland a better life than I had, and baseball. It's a reminder I need right now because losing track of why we are doing this would be so easy. But as long as Vivi is on the same page, we both get what we need and no one gets hurt.

"Ready for more?" I ask, refocused on the moment.

"Please." It's a broken plea, falling off her parted lips.

"I bet you're soaked for me. Slip a finger inside and test that cunt for me." Her pupils flare, like she didn't expect that from me, and damn, I like taking her by surprise.

She surprises me in return when she asks, "Is that what I'm doing? Keeping this pussy warm for you until you get back?"

"Fuck yes," I grit out as I give my cock a squeeze. "Fuck, Vivi, you might not have known where to start but you sure as hell aren't having a hard time keeping up. That mouth is going to kill me."

"Just trying to keep up. Now, tell me I can have a second finger."

"Nice and slow--" The cutest little annoyed growl cuts me off.

"Xavier," she huffs out.

I don't dare laugh. "Take what you need, sweetheart. I won't hold you back." Vivi sinks into the pillow chasing her orgasm in earnest, leaving me enraptured. "That's it. So damn perfect. Fucking stunning with your fingers buried inside you."

"Xav." This time my name is drenched in desire, her release right at the tips of her finger.

"You're as sweet as honey when you say my name like that. Let me hear it again."

"I'm right there, so close." Her lip quivers with a shaky exhale before my name spills out of her again.

"Good girl. Let me see you come for me."

Head thrown back and her tits pressed toward the ceiling, she loses herself to her pleasure.

"Jesus, Vivi. You're even more beautiful when you're coming."

My first thought as I watch her come down from her release is that we need to add more to our list. She's got me hooked and I want to watch her fall apart for me in every way possible.

"That was . . ." She shivers. "I thought last time might have been a fluke. Is this what it's supposed to be like? Because it's never been this good, not even on my own."

"Not that I particularly want to hear about your past experiences, but no, it's not always this good. Chemistry makes it better and we have that in spades." There's something in the back of my brain that tells me I'm giving away too much, but Vivienne deserves to know how she affects me. "I haven't stopped thinking about you for weeks."

Her lips rub together like she's thinking about how much to give in return. "Same. I thought after the hallway it would fade, but it only made it worse. I can't get you out of my head."

"If this gets to be too much or if that changes, you need to tell me. I can't stand the thought of hurting you. When you meet someone else or you don't want to do this anymore, you need to be honest with me."

" If that happens, I promise to tell you. But we have a lot of things to cross off our list, unless you've changed your mind."

"Not a chance. I'll be home in three days. When I get back to Denver, you better be ready, because that list doesn't stand a chance. I'm coming for everything on it and then some."

"Mhmmm, can't say I have a problem with that." Vivi's lids are heavy as she snuggles into the pile of pillows behind her. "I know it's not on the list, but there's something I wanted to ask you."

I'm still rock hard in my sweats and heavy with need from watching her come, but it can wait. She's relaxed in every sense of the word and I love that this formidable woman is letting her guard down for me, even if it's because she's lost in her post-orgasm delirium. "What's that, sleepy girl?"

"What's the deal with Holland's mom? Do you think she'll come back?"

That's not the direction I thought she was going to take, but I guess I should know better. Vivienne's in my life because of her connection to Tenley. We might be keeping this within the realm of a situationship, but there's a real friendship forming that I'm not willing to give up. "I wish I knew. It would make my life a lot easier if she would communicate . . . literally anything."

"So you haven't heard from her since . . ." Her voice fades away and I can see her doing the math.

I push my hand through my hair. "Since the day we left the hospital. I grew up with a dad who wasn't . . . fit to be a parent. Kristy wasn't thrilled about the pregnancy or being a mom. Maybe I should have encouraged her to sign away her rights in the hospital, but I wanted her to be sure, for Holland. I thought she'd stay close, let me know what she was thinking, but she just vanished."

She brings the phone closer. There's so much sincerity in her gaze that makes it hard for me to swallow around the lump in my throat.

"It's so unfair to put you and Holland through that. I understand if she's not sure about being a mom, but to drag you along without so much as a text . . ."

"All I can do is wait her out at this point." It's the grim truth of the situation. Until she makes a decision, or a suitable amount of time passes, my daughter is stuck in limbo.

"Holland is lucky to have you." She pauses thoughtfully and adds, "And that's not a dig at your ex but because you've put her above everything else. You have the money and connections to pass off her care and be hands off, but you don't."

Her praise softens the hardness that talking about Kristy brings with it. "I'm glad you think so, but you know what I think?"

"What's that?" She's losing the fight to keep the exhaustion out of her voice.

"That it's time for you to go to sleep." I'm not ready to hang up, but the yawn she covers with the back of her hand tells me she needs sleep more than she needs to hear about the drama in my life.

She stuffs her fist under the pillow and relents. "Have it your way. Inquisition over."

"For now," I add, because I'm not closing the door on getting to know each other. "I'll tell you anything you want to know when you're conscious, because we're friends. Remember?"

Hell, I think I might need her to be my friend.

"For now," she agrees.