Page 9 of Xander (Soulless Outlaws Motorcycle Club #2)

“We called it Hamburger Surprise. I actually asked for it on every birthday. My dad tried to make it, but it wasn’t as good. So, it’s a layer of hamburger meat with seasonings and a can of tomato soup. Then it’s a layer of green beans, then a layer of instant mashed potatoes.”

His nose scrunched up, “Really?”

“See! I said it was silly, but I loved it. I still do. I make it on occasion.”

He nodded, then he sighed, “I’ll have to try it. Shouldn’t judge it.”

I winked.

Then our food was placed down.

He looked at it, then at me, then at the server, and nodded his thanks.

We both started eating, asking questions as we did so.

The food was really good.

So good in fact that I even went for another bite and realized it was empty.

The server walked by then and chuckled, “Happens all the time.”

Then she placed down two smaller bowls that contained a brownie with what looked to be vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel on top.

I lifted a brow, and Xander sighed. Then he pointed to a group of tables that had been pushed together.

I looked over and felt my mouth drop open.

“No way,” I said.

Then I looked back at Xander.

He nodded, then sighed, “They wanted to make sure I didn’t fuck this up.”

And that... well... that was when I felt my temper start to rise.

I narrowed my eyes at him, then said, “I’ll be right back.”

I stood up and stomped over to where they were sitting.

I locked eyes with Nuke, “You told me to respect the brothers. Well, right now, I don’t.

Because every single one of you is disrespecting him.

You thought he was going to fuck this up?

That would be impossible because all I want is for him to be himself.

Now... you have five minutes to pay your tab, leave one hell of a tip, get on your bikes, and get gone. ”

Nuke narrowed his eyes at me as he slowly stood, then he looked over my shoulder.

Then he looked at me and nodded, “You're right. We didn’t think. We’ll go.”

“I’ll cook dinner tomorrow night for y’all caring about him to say thank you,” I said.

Nuke winked, “Deal.”

I stood there as they all paid, then they walked by me one by one and said, “Good job”, or “Way to go”, or “You made my balls shrivel up.”

I made my way back to our table and retook my seat.

Xander’s brows were raised.

I shrugged, “They meant well, but it was a slap in the face to you.”

He nodded, “If you say so.”

“I do,” I said.

We ate our brownies, and then his shoulders started shaking, and then he started laughing.

Hard.

“You... just... told... our president... he could basically... go fuck himself.” He said between laughs.

I shrugged, “You mean something to me.”

He sobered, instantly.

And had I not been watching, I would have missed it.

His face went soft.

His eyes seemed to shine, then he whispered, “Same.”

After we paid, he took my hand and then led me out to his truck.

And then he backed me up to the side of it, put one hand on the side of my neck, and whispered, “Don’t want me to kiss you, say it now.”

I kept my mouth shut.

Tell this man, no?

Was he serious?

When I didn’t respond, just looked up into his eyes, his head started to lower.

I met him halfway, and the moment our lips fused together, I felt sparks igniting deep inside of me.

Sparks that I’ve never felt before.

His big body moved closer into mine, as I opened my lips and swiped my tongue along his bottom lip.

His moan fueled me even further, and then he, too, swiped his tongue out to tangle with mine.

I brought my hands up and clenched at his kutte, keeping our bodies locked together.

His other hand ran through my hair, and then it was my turn to moan.

I pressed my body deeper into his, loving the feel of him.

Strong. Built. Big.

We kissed for so long that I honestly couldn’t tell you what had taken place around us.

And I didn’t care.

Not one single bit.

Because as long as this man kept kissing me... the entire world could have gone up in flames.

And then, when he pulled his mouth away from mine moments later, he pressed his forehead against mine.

Then he whispered, “Fuck. Me.”

I giggled as I inhaled breath after breath, “You can say that again.”

He winked, “Time to get you home, baby.”

I melted, “Umm, Xander?”

He lifted a brow, “Yeah?”

“Can you not use sugar again, and just use baby?” I asked.

He winked, “You got it, baby.”

I melted.

He chuckled.

After we walked me up to my apartment, he bent his neck and pressed a soft kiss on my lips, which I returned, and then he lifted his head. “Do more than that, and I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

I lifted a brow, “Umm, what?”

He lifted a hand and ran his fingers through my locks, “Cause you need to know that you deserve better. You want that, I’ll give it to you. But not tonight.”

At his words, my core tightened, and then I nodded. I got that. I really did get that.

And then he winked, tapped on my door, and said, “Lock this. Can’t have something happen to you before I’ve gotten my fill of you.”

I narrowed my eyes up at him, and the big bastard chuckled, “Night, baby.”

I sighed, “Night, honey.”

He winked, “Like that.”

I nodded.

Then he turned on his boots and walked away.

And that night, I fell asleep with a smile on my face.

That was all due to the man who was Xander.

And it was also due to the text message that had just come through my phone.

Xander – Sweet dreams, baby.

***

Xander – Morning, baby. Have a good day.

Me – Morning, honey. You too.

***

“Nola, sweetheart, I’m worried about you,” I continued, kneading the dough that I was working on as I listened to my Aunt Tempie, confused about what she was talking about.

“Why are you worried about me?” I asked her with confusion lacing my tone.

“Sweetheart, Xander is, well, you see, honey, he’s dangerous. He’s got a lot of baggage that followed him into the MC. You need to stop spending so much time with him.” Every word that came from her mouth angered me.

“Do you know what kind of baggage he carries? Why do you think he’s so dangerous?” I asked her.

Then she said, “He doesn’t talk a lot. He never lets anyone touch him, those things alone. Those are not normal.”

I never thought I could ever be so ashamed of my aunt any more than I am right now.

“So, would you think someone who is mute, someone who can’t talk, is dangerous?

Would you think that a child who’s been raped and doesn’t want anyone to touch her is dangerous?

And how the hell would you know of the baggage he carries when he rarely speaks? ”

“It's all in his eyes, the way he carries himself, the way he metes out justice. It's vicious. All you have to do is look at one dangerous person and you will be able to recognize another, easily.”

With that, I stopped moving my hands, and then I said the words that I never thought I would ever say to my aunt. “I don’t know what's worse. Assuming things about a person or warning someone away when you have no clue what the hell you're talking about.”

I inhaled a breath and said, “How dare you basically condemn him for no reason at all? When I’m with Xander, he gives me everything in thirty seconds that I ever had with my parents.

He’ll never know that. I’ll not condemn him for the words coming out of your mouth when you think you know something about him that you have no clue about what you're talking about. I’ve never been ashamed to call you my aunt. But I am right now.”

My chest was huffing, my hands were shaking, and I couldn’t remember ever being this angry with someone.

I stepped to the sink, washed my hands, grabbed a hand towel, dried my hands, then started walking out of the kitchen, only to stop to see Xander standing there at the entryway.

“This is what you need to focus on. If she ever leaves, I’ll turn my kutte in, and I’ll go with her. If that isn’t enough for you then you need to look in the mirror and evaluate your own life.”