Page 24

Xavier

Twice now I've stopped in her office and found out she hasn't eaten. It makes me wonder how often putting work above herself. Vivienne's stomach gives another echoing lurch and I realize I care more than I should about a grown woman feeding herself.

When Tenley let me know that there was no rush to get home, the pull to see Vivi was too strong to ignore. It just so happened my nanny also let slip that her aunt forgot her lunch. And when Cruz mentioned the brownies Lilah made, it added a pit stop to my agenda.

Stopping to grab her lunch was an easy decision. I get to do something for the woman who takes care of everyone else, and cross something off that wish list of hers at the same time. It's a win-win and I refuse to look deeper than that.

"Consider this a bribe. I thought if I showed up with an incentive, you might let me spend some time distracting you from your work this afternoon."

"Bribes are against the Double Play code of ethics, Mr. Kingsley." She's a brat and it's fucking cute.

I reach for the soft curve of her waist and pull her out of the chair. Damn, I like the press of her body against mine . . . too much. I spin us, making her squeak as I settle her in my lap and steal the chair right out from under her.

Now that I've got my hands on her, there's no way I'm letting her go. With that in mind, I keep one around her waist while the other smooths down her silky skirt. The rough calluses on my palm catch on the smooth material until it ends below her knee.

She's soft and warm under my fingers. I relish in the contrast as my hand slips under the hem of her skirt. Taking my time, I draw circles on her inner thigh until she relaxes into my chest, goosebumps rising on her soft skin. Having this kind of effect on her with such simple touches is powerful.

"I came to cross something off your list." With each word, my touch goes higher. "But now that I know you haven't eaten, I'm going to need you to do something for me first."

I almost feel bad when my hand stills and Vivi deflates, already so needy for me. She peers over her shoulder at me. "This feels a little like quid pro quo, and that goes against my morals."

Holding back my laughter I roll my tongue against my cheek, dropping my hand from her leg and reaching for the brown Buns I notice the way you shiver for me when you like something. All they had to do was pay attention."

Vivi rolls her lips together and opens her mouth. There's an argument building behind those pretty lips, but I won't hear her make excuses for them, so lift a finger to her lips, silencing her. "I'm done talking about how other men treated you and your body. From now on, the only thing I care about is how I treat this body, because until you tell me otherwise, this body is mine."

"And your body is . . ." Her voice fades off, her eyes trailing down me.

"No one has made me come in my pants since I was sixteen, so I think it's safe to say you own every inch of my body, sweetheart."

Pink stains her cheekbones when her gaze falls to my lap. "That kind of makes me a hypocrite for not noticing how much you were enjoying it."

"I prefer to think of it as the greatest compliment. You were focused on your own pleasure for once--just the way I wanted you to be."

She sighs and I know our time together this afternoon is coming to an end. It's for the best; I need to get home to my daughter and she needs to get back to work.

"I should . . ." I thumb over my shoulder.

"Yeah, I should . . ." She nods to her computer, but neither of us moves.

"This is weird, right?" I ask.

"Kind of." She bites her lip and I give her the time she needs to process what's on her mind. "I've only ever had casual sex before."

"Sweetheart, we agreed not to talk about other guys anymore."

"Calm down, caveman. My point is, this is different . . . we aren't that. Without this"--she waves a hand between us--"our paths still cross. There's no avoiding each other. It's not the same as a random hookup from a bar or a dating app. I can live the rest of my life without seeing them again."

"That's why we have rules. I don't want them to stop us from getting to know each other, and I like spending time with you, texting you, but I don't have a relationship in me--not now. Probably not any time soon."

"And I don't want that. My whole life I've been what everyone else needs me to be and I'm finally what I need. I won't give that up."

"For the right person, you won't have to."

She reels back like that truth slapped her. "Everyone takes, Xavier. Even when they aren't trying to."

I would take too--I know I would. My life is too chaotic not to. "Do you want to stop--" My voice is cut off by the shake of her head.

"No." The word rushes out of her. "That's not what I'm saying. I enjoy spending time with you, too. I needed to know we were on the same page."

"So it's cool if I keep texting and calling you, even if I'm not sure when I can see you again. Because it might be days or it might be weeks."

"Please," she says, sagging with relief. "And I get it. The season is crazy and you have a daughter."

It's the same way I feel. We might not know what the hell we're doing, but I know I don't want to act like she's nobody to me just because she can't be everything to me.

Holding her hips, I stand from the chair and straighten her skirt. It's a little wrinkled but the pleats hide most of it. Tugging her with me, I walk to her door, stopping with my hand on the knob.

I need one more kiss to hold me over. I pull her to me, spinning her against the door and kiss her goodbye the way I want to. I'm already taking from her and I like it, because kissing her brings me back to life. She makes me forget all the stress and pressure. For a while, I just get to be me.

Her lips are swollen and red, marked with my kiss when I pull back . . . and I like that too.

"I'll text you," I say, and unlike the boys that came before me, I mean it.