“You sure?”
I chuckled. “Okay, so now you’re scaring me.”
He reached out and stroked the edge of my jaw. It was so brief it was like it never happened. Not brief enough though that it had no effect. The contact tingled every nerve in my body. Every nerve just came alive, heating me right up as I remembered my night with him. Desire pooling between my thighs.
“Don’t be scared. I just came to check on you.”
That made me smile again and filled me with awe when I noticed the concern filling his blue gaze.
“I’m okay today. Nothing’s happened.”
“Who’s staying with you tonight?”
God, it was like the bubble just popped. “Frankie.” I sighed.
I couldn’t stand Frankie, even though I knew Xander had taken a shine to him. Honestly, Frankie was perhaps the only knight who talked to Xander. The others to me were just as prickish as Armand. Although nobody got under my skin more than Armand. Speaking of whom, I remembered Dad shuffling things around so Armand could come tomorrow. I would have preferred none of them
“Frankie tonight… Armand tomorrow.”
Armand in my house for a whole night. It hadn’t happened yet because Pa had him busy checking things out on the streets trying to find intel on the guys from the shootout. Tomorrow I’d have him to deal with though. There was no way that I would be able to sleep.
“Nah,” he stated, standing a little straighter. “I’m coming by tonight.”
Hope sparked within me. “Really?” I was going for subtle but I think that sounded more desperate than I wanted it to.
“Yes. I’ll make the arrangements. Maybe tomorrow too, although Armand may be a little bit more difficult to work around.”
“Xander, I don’t want Armand at my house.” I shook my head. “I don’t feel comfortable with him there. I just …” My shoulders slumped and I decided to say what I wanted to say. “I wish it was just you.”
“Don’t worry, I have various powers of persuasion.” He smirked.
“I noticed.” Yeah I’d call it powers of persuasion too in the sense that he basically got what he wanted.
I hoped he could do that with Pa for me.
“How about I cook you dinner tonight?” I bubbled. I would love to cook for him.
“You’re going to cook for me?” He seemed to like the idea.
“Hmmm, hmmm. Is there anything special you want?”
“Yeah, but it’s best I don’t say it.” Another touch to my cheek told me he was talking about me. “Cook whatever you think I’ll like. I’m sure it will be perfect.”
“Thank you. Now that means I have to make sure it’s perfect. It will be nice to see you properly.”
“You too.” The jovial flame that lit up his eyes dimmed and that concern came back, along with desire.
My heartbeat slowed in anticipation as he smoothed his hand across my jaw and lowered to press his lips to mine.
It was an unexpected kiss. One I never thought I’d get, or that he’d give me right out in the open for anyone to see.
Where we stood was off in the distance from everyone, but people could still see us. It wasn’t like we were hiding or he’d been discreet.
But, the kiss was just like him. I realized in my summary of Xander Cage as I tried to figure him out that he didn’t do anything he didn’t want to do, and he didn’t care what people thought either. He didn’t allow anyone, not even Pa to tell him what to do. He followed his own orders and he followed his own rules.
That was also the summary of this kiss now.
He was kissing me because he wanted to, and because he wanted me, and he didn’t care who saw.
It was in his eyes as he stepped away from me and pressed his lips together.
“Later,” he said and it sounded like a promise.
A promise my heart wanted.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Xander
What could I say?
No to dinner?
No to her?
I couldn’t do it although I knew it was the logical thing to do if I were to focus on my actual job.
I was worried about her though.
Fucking worried and I hadn’t stopped thinking about her last night.
I was trying to balance out things in my mind and came to the conclusion that I couldn’t just sit back and wait for something to happen to her. I couldn’t just push her out of my mind while I focused on locating the blueprints.
I couldn’t do it. It was against what I morally stood for and against me.
So here I was attempting to do both.
I was going to see Ethan in an hour to talk with him, but I needed to clear my head first. That was why I went to see Jia.
Attempting to split my responsibilities meant I couldn’t worry over her the way I was, and it didn’t mean me pussyfooting around following Giovanni’s orders to stay away from her. Me trying to look in on her without him noticing or bitching at me, reminding me she belonged to fucking Armand. As if it was really his choice who she belonged to.
Bottom line was I couldn’t worry and wonder if the Ra might step up their game by taking her to make him give them the prints. Not when I could do something about it to try and protect her.
So, my first port of call when I knew my dear boss was in his office saw me barging into the said office while he was on a phone call.
Giovanni’s nostrils flared and he glowered at me with fire in his eyes, like he wished he could incinerate me with one look.
He hung up and stood, squaring off with me.
“What the fuck is this?” he barked.
“I’m going to Jia’s tonight,” I informed him.
His brows shot up and his glare intensified. That was clearly the wrong thing to say to him. Not asking, not even offering any kind of negotiation.
I’d just informed.
“Excuse me? Who the fuck do you think you are giving me orders?”
“I’m not giving you orders. I’m just telling you what I’m doing so you know that’s where I’ll be.” He’d wanted me here for the nightshift coverage. I wasn’t doing that.
“You got some balls kid,” he threw back.
“Yes. I do. She’ll be safe with me, and I’ll take care of her. Call your boy off for tonight and tomorrow.”
That would give me enough time to figure things out. That was what I needed. Time and the mental space to process.
He growled and I took that to mean surrender. However, as I looked at him I couldn’t help but feel disgusted. More disgusted. I’d always heard that mobsters were greedy bastards. He proved that to be true every step of the fucking way.
It was only yesterday that I’d seen him with two of the worst people imaginable. Him demanding his money.
How much was he getting?
I hoped it was worth it to him. Making deals with devils and not thinking about the consequences until it was too late.
I turned and left him there. On to see Ethan next.
The worry on Ethan’s face was evident.
His reaction made me wish I’d told him about the Ra from yesterday.
The three of us had met at my place again.
We sat around the table and I thought I should express my worry over Jia being taken.
“I feel like … we need to be careful,” Ethan stated after a few minutes of silence. “You know how easy it is to blow your cover. Especially around people who are always suspicious.”
“I know, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to be aware of the potential of something happening to her and not say or do something.”
“I get it. Of course I do. I’ll also step up our game from my end. I’ll request assistance from senior intelligence and see if they can look in on things we aren’t able to. I do feel though that if we get the prints the risk is eliminated.”
The risk would definitely be eliminated and switch the focus from Giovanni, or Jia.
I’d grab the prints, he’d lose his shit when
he discovered they were missing and his movements and rage would be enough to get the message out to the threat that he was no longer in possession of them.
“We need to work harder and smarter,” Ethan added.
I’d already decided that was exactly what I was doing. Working harder and smarter. “I agree. We totally need to do both.” I straightened up and pushed my shoulders back.
Ethan stood up. “I’ll go speak to headquarters and see what I can arrange. Try to focus Xander, I can see you’re quite worried about the girl. I know this isn’t ideal given Balthazar’s attachment to the Ra, but let’s all try to focus on the aspects we know we need to worry about. Get the prints and eliminate the threat.”
I nodded. “Yeah, get the prints and eliminate the threat.”
He rested a supportive hand on my shoulder, gave me a curt nod then left us.
I listened out for the door closing before I looked away and focused my attention on Wes. He hadn’t said much through the meeting.
Wes was already looking at me. Curiosity was all over his face.
“You’re really worried about her, aren’t you?” He inclined his head to the side.
I stared at him. “I think we should be.”
“It’s more than that though. You like her.” Wes smiled. “You have feelings for her.”
I opened my mouth to say something to side step the question but the words faded from my mind.
I wouldn’t even try to lie and say maybe I liked her. I knew myself and knew it was past that.
“Geez.” Wes chuckled. “No answer Xander?” He sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He looked intrigued.
“I care about her,” I confessed.
“Sounds a little more than care to me,” he pointed out. Only my best friend could guess that.
“Wes, please.”
“Don’t you Wes please me. Come on, if we can’t talk like this to each other who can we talk to. It’s okay if you like her.”
“How can that be okay?”
“Since when are people able to help who they have feelings for?” He chuckled. “Man I’ll admit I guessed right from we saw that picture of her. Can’t fool me, or hide. I knew you liked her.”
Right again. “Okay, so yes you’re right. You’re right…” My voice trailed off and that just seemed to pique his interest more.
“Did something happen between you two?” He narrowed his eyes.
My lack of answering however gave him the answer and his mouth fell open.
“Dayummm,” he gasped. “Why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?’
“It’s not something to talk about, especially…” I placed my hand at my head. “I don’t know what I’m doing Wes. Something about her… draws me in.”
“Haven’t heard you talk like that in a while, or… ever. She must have really done a number on you.”
Maybe she had. Maybe I was so sucked in by her that I couldn’t see for shit. I just knew how I felt. Worried yes, but I wouldn’t cast off the fact that there was more and I did like her.
I dropped my gaze to the concrete floor and stared down at the gray surface.
“I’m going to her tonight,” I told him. I’d wanted to leave for Jia’s soon, before it got late. It was nearly seven now, she would have left work around six.
He smiled when I looked back to him. “All night?”
I thought about it and nodded. There was no damn way I was going to Jia’s house to sit and watch her and not touch her the way I wanted.
Kudos to me for trying to resist for the last week and one day. And for keeping the focus on my job.
“Well this is certainly different from the last time.” He pointed out.
It wasn’t true though. He was talking about Elena. She was a woman I’d met at a resort in Ecuador. I liked her but I never experienced the same thing I’d experienced with Jia.
I hated to admit this but I’d never experienced that with anyone. Not even with Claire and she was the first person to make me open my heart.
Jia was the next.
Both in different ways. Claire opened it and guided me to who I was supposed to be. She’d helped me find the direction I wanted my life to go in. Set me on the path of good from a very bad life style.
Jia, however, felt like… redemption.
Redemption from wandering around in the dark for all these years. she was that breath of fresh air. Breath of new life breathed into me that made my heart start beating again. it felt like she’d set me on a path too, and it was something I couldn’t ignore. Nor resist.
Damn… I wanted her. I fucking wanted her in every essence of the word and I knew I was bat shit crazy for wanting a woman I wasn’t supposed to have.
The mafia princess.
Jesus…
I didn’t know what the fuck I was going to do to straighten myself out. all I knew was I was going to her place tonight.
“Xander…” Wes’ took me out of my thoughts. His voice held an edge of warning. “Be careful man. The woman is hot like sin but please don’t forget who she is. The mafia king’s daughter. It could get more messy in a way you don’t want. Remember she’s his price. She’s his weakness. They could come for her, or they could use her in some way to get to him. Or, she could be used for something else.. We don’ know.”
I nodded.
What Wes didn’t realize was, she’d become mine too.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jia
I made chicken cannelloni.
Ma taught me how to make it.
It was one of the first meals she ever taught me to make. She said it was simple, but sometimes the simplest of meals were the hardest because it’s hard to get the flavor right.
People expected it to be simple and totally missed out on the flavor.
She taught me how to think of each part, focus on each part and then you’d end up with a meal fit for God himself.
Or in my case, the guy I was trying to impress.
I thought Xander would indeed like my cooking and be impressed by it.
Damn Frankie had liked the smell, but that was all he was getting.
He brought me home from the casino and was hell bent on staying for dinner when he saw me making the meal.
He’d said Pa told him to wait with me until Xander got here.
I was hoping to have a little time to myself to get ready properly, but Frankie was like a shadow. Thank goodness he wasn’t as overbearing as he’d been the other day. Instead he seemed to guess something saucy was up and it was more like he was messing around by being here.
My heart lifted when the doorbell rang. It was Xander. Pa would have given him a key to my house. I liked it though that he still rang the bell.
I rushed to answer the door before Frankie could get it.
“Jesus woman, you gonna knock me over,” Frankie balked as I dashed ahead of him. Excitement taking me like a kid on Christmas morning eager to open all their gifts. Well tonight I really hoped I got to unwrap mine.
I didn’t answer him. No point, and it was a waste of my breath. I opened the door and there Xander stood. He’d bought a bottle of wine like it really was a dinner invite. A date.
Frankie scuffed when he looked at Xander and saw the wine.
“Okay, wine?” He raised his brows. “And dinner? What the fuck is going on between you two?” he asked playfully.
“Frankie I believe you have now been relieved of your duties,” I informed him, trying to bite back a smile and failing.
He frowned at me. “You Miss Lady, you thank your lucky stars I’m here.” He looked to Xander and smiled. “Although, I think it’s because it’s me why our new friend here risked bringing you wine.”
“Maybe,” Xander replied in that cool, casual way.
“Okay, goodnight Frankie,” I intoned.
He cut me a crude stare. “I can’t even have a bite of food and a glass of wine? He brought the good stuff.”
I laughed. “How about I make you Sunda
y roast next weekend? Ma’s special.” Anything to get rid of him.
He nodded firmly. “Oh yes. Anything that woman cooked was divine. Okay. I’m gone. Xander, you call me if there’s trouble.”
Xander nodded but his gaze was on me. His gaze never left me as Frankie walked past us and left, closing the door.
As the door clicked shut he set down the bottle of wine on the sideboard and shrugged out of his biker jacket.
The black fitted, long-sleeved t-shirt he wore gave a great show of his perfect frame. Like everything else he wore. Completely designed to show off the masterpiece he was.
That perfect V shape tapering down his washboard abs straight to his waistline, Levi’s hung low on his hips and desire filling his eyes. It was all perfection. Everything and all of him.
He stepped closer to me but I stayed where I was. Not because I didn’t want to go to him. It was that I wanted to savor the moment.
Sometimes you had to stop and watch. Watch it all unfold before you to see it and appreciate it. Like how he reached for me, and like how the world faded away again the minute he touched me.
The bubble from last week recreated itself and passion did the rest.
Passion, my old friend, came back in full force when Xander’s lips met mine.
Unlike the chaste kiss he’d given me earlier, this kiss blazed within seconds of contact.
It started with a spark of desire and ignited into a flame of wild reckless abandon that claimed me.
He rained hungry kisses on my lips and all thoughts of dinner and how the evening was going to play out faded from my mind. It shoved everything to the back of beyond when he picked me up and carried me upstairs to my bedroom.
With my legs wrapped around his waist I continued to kiss him, not holding back for this part.
I was done admiring.
Done savoring and ready to indulge in the man who touched me like he wanted every inch of me.
He kissed the clothes off me. Layer by layer they came off. His too.
That shirt of his was the first thing I dragged off. I wanted to touch the tight taut skin of his abs. I wanted to touch him and taste him everywhere, the same way he touched and tasted me.
Game of Love : A Mafia Romance Page 18