Time For Love Box Set

by Karen Deen

  “Ooh, that you can bet on. Did you miss me?”

  “I saw you yesterday. Do you think I have nothing better to think about than you when you aren’t here?” I giggle at his dramatic actions of pretending to be shocked.

  “Of course, I should be all you are thinking about. I’m that impressive.”

  “Wow, cocky much? Hey, I’ve got a weird thing to tell you.” His playful demeanour becomes more serious.

  “What’s that? You look a little worried. You can tell me anything, Ally.” His hand reaches for mine, wrapping his fingers through mine and laying them on his leg. How the hell am I supposed to concentrate now? I’m not one to keep things to myself when I am worried. I need to sort it out, otherwise my head just goes onto overload.

  “That woman from the gym, Dana, she sent me a friend request on Facebook overnight.” I hear him groan. “I didn’t know who it was at first. I always check profiles before I accept or deny any requests. As soon as I saw her profile picture and wall, I was shocked.”

  “Should I be worried?” he asks, trying to laugh it off.

  “More than you realize. Her wall is full of pictures of you and her in the gym together or ones of you working out. It looks like you’re a very close couple in some of the shots.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me!” Xavier lets out, swerving to the side of the road and frightening me as he screeches to a halt. “Show me.” He’s angry, though not at me, I’m certain of that.

  Watching his body tense as he scrolls down the page, I see the anger turn into shock.

  “Why would she do that? I just train her, I don’t even like her. I’m just nice to her because I have to be. What. The. Actual. Fuck.” I can see by the way he’s grabbing the steering wheel, he is confused and unsure how to handle this. He runs his hands up his face and through his hair, resting them behind his head while he takes it all in.

  “Xavier. Are you okay? I didn’t want to upset you, but I thought you needed to know.” My voice is a little timid as I don’t know what he’s thinking.

  “Sorry, Ally, I didn’t mean to go off like that. You just floored me. That is just too crazy for words. I don’t even know what to think.” Pulling himself together he gets the jeep moving again and we are almost to the gym parking lot.

  “You don’t need to apologize. I totally understand the shock and weirdness. It made me feel a bit creeped out when I saw it. When do you have to train her again?”

  Parking and pulling the brake on, he sighs. “Shit, I’ve got her this morning after you. Not sure I can face her until I get my mind around this.” Dropping his head back onto the head rest, he closes his eyes for a minute. I can almost hear his brain processing his options. We sit there for a few minutes and then he sits upright.

  “Stay here, beautiful. I’m just going to run inside and tell Nat what’s going on. She can tell my clients this morning I’m sick and she will train them all. She can train Lilly this morning and I will take you back home. Don’t move, okay?” I grab his arm as he’s about to jump out of the car.

  “Wait, why are you taking me home?”

  “Because I want to keep her away from you. I don’t trust her. Just let me do this. Please.” A look of desperation fills his face.

  “Okay.” I let out with a worried breath. I hear the doors lock as he runs into the gym. He can’t have been gone longer than five minutes and he was back in the driver’s seat and we are pulling away from the parking lot.

  “I know it’s weird, but you need to try to calm down, Xavier. It’s just a Facebook page. Maybe she is just using you to make it look like she has a life. It’s probably nothing to do with you. You were just convenient for her to use. I’m sure there’s a good explanation.” He just keeps driving and doesn’t speak a word. Why is it every time I see Xavier my world seems to be turned upside down? I never know what my day is going to bring with him around.

  The first words he mutters are, “Where can I park?”

  I point him in the direction of the visitor parking spots.

  “Let me walk you up to your apartment. We can talk up there.” I don’t want to upset him, so I just nod.

  We walk in silence. As we approach my apartment door, I turn to see him still looking a little rocked.

  “Would you like a coffee while we talk? I think we can both use one.” Placing my hand on the doorknob to put my key in, the door slips open. I freeze. “Shit.”

  “What’s wrong?” Xavier is so close behind me I don’t think there is any space between our bodies.

  “My door. It’s open. Not locked.” Before I know what is happening, Xavier has pulled me behind him and is standing in my doorway, blocking me from seeing anything. He has his phone to his ear. I have no idea what’s going on.

  “Need you at my girlfriend’s now. Fill you in when you get here. Apartment 7B at 156 Grid Road. Thanks.” Slowly, he pulls the door closed and pushes me to the side so I am standing with my back to the wall. “I want you to go downstairs to the foyer. In about five minutes there will be a Black SUV pull up out front. There will be a guy about the same height as me, come to the door. Check his name is Kane Boston. He is my best mate and he is a detective. Let him in and bring him up. I’m waiting here. Do not talk to anyone else. Okay?” He is totally freaking me out now, but I know he’s serious. Still stunned, my body just moves in robot fashion doing what he told me. What the hell is going on?

  Coming out of the elevator, I stand nervously just inside the main door that’s locked. Just like he said, the Black SUV comes screaming down the road and parks on the street. A man built like an ox comes sprinting towards me. Although I think he’s Xavier’s friend, there is no way I’m letting him in until he gives me the magic words.

  “Alesha, I’m Kane Boston, Xavier’s friend. Here is my badge. Open the door, honey.” My hands are shaking as I twist the lock and stand back. He doesn’t waste time coming through the door. “Take me to him.” It’s like I’m working on auto pilot. We reach my floor and he is out of the elevator and striding down the hall.

  “Talk to me,” Kane blurts out at Xavier bluntly.

  “Short version. I just discovered this morning that Dana, that crazy chick from the gym, has pictures of me plastered all over her Facebook profile. Then we come home to the door being unlocked and not closed properly. Stopped Ally from going in and called you.” The speed in which he said it all made the words run into each other, but Kane looked like he got it. Not missing a word.

  “Stay with her.” With Kane’s words, Xavier has hold of me and drags me down the hall slightly.

  Kane draws a gun from under his jacket and very slowly pushes open my door. My heart is beating so hard I feel like it will jump out of my chest. I have never been so scared in my life. What if there is someone in my apartment? What if something happens to Kane? I’ll never forgive myself.

  I am trembling. Xavier wraps his arms around me and draws me to his chest. I can feel his heart beating fast. Almost as fast as mine. All is quiet in there. I can’t stand not knowing.

  “I’m scared,” I whisper.

  “I’ve got you. I’ll protect you. Nobody will hurt you.” Xavier’s voice vibrates through my body. I feel his warmth and it feels like a blanket wrapping me up safely in a cocoon. No one will get me here. That’s what he told me, I have to believe him.

  I jump at the sound of Kane’s voice coming through the open door.

  “It’s all clear, you can come in. Doesn’t look like anything has been touched. Alesha will need to confirm that.” As Xavier leads me inside, I let out a big breath of relief. The thought of someone in my home sends chills running through me that I can’t seem to control. Xavier still has me pulled close to him as we wander from room to room. Kane is right, nothing seems to have been touched. Everything is just how I left it. I’m so particular I would know if anything has been touched.

  “Are you okay, Ally? You’re still shivering.” His hand is rubbing up and down on my back trying to calm me.

&nbs
p; “I think so. Nothing has been touched. I don’t think anyone has been here. I’m sorry, maybe I didn’t lock the door properly. I don’t know, I’m confused.”

  Kane stands in front of me and speaks softly this time. “Alesha, it’s okay. It’s better to be safe than sorry. I’d rather have one thousand of these calls rather than the bad ones I get on a daily basis. Besides, I needed a reason to get this guy to let me meet you. Today he had no choice.” He holds out his hand for me. “Please to meet you, Alesha. I’m Kane Boston, the better half of this friendship.”

  Kane’s joke broke the tension of the moment. I can feel both Xavier and my bodies start to relax a little.

  “Hi,” I timidly answer. “I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time.”

  “Not at all. There was obviously a reason this guy here thought he should call me. He doesn’t usually go off half-cocked, well, that I’m witness to anyway.” He chuckles a little. “Let’s sit down for a minute and have a chat.” Xavier is leading me to the couch with my legs still a little shaky

  “Thanks. I’m not sure if it was just bad timing or something we need to be concerned about. I wasn’t taking any chances with Ally’s safety, that’s why I called. Thanks for coming so quick.” Xavier still has his arm around my shoulders, rubbing up and down for comfort. I can feel my heart slowing and my breathing is settling.

  “Okay, now what’s this about the weirdo from the gym and Facebook?”

  “This morning Ally got a friend request from Dana. She was checking her profile to see who she was. It is full of photos of her and me in the gym together. Or me on my own. She told me when I picked her up and I freaked a little. I mean, it’s just weird. The whole profile looks like we are together. Anyway, I pulled out of work this morning and was bringing Ally back home and then we found this. It just didn’t seem right. Like Ally said, maybe she was so shaken by the Facebook that she didn’t close the door properly. What do you think?”

  I pass my phone over to Kane to show him.

  “I’ll admit it’s a bit much. She is totally hooked on you. But I have a feeling it might just be a coincidence with the door. Ally doesn’t think anything has been touched so I think we are good here. This Dana, though, I think we need to keep an eye on her. You said the other night that she met Alesha at the gym. Did she know you were more than friends?”

  That reminds me of what Xavier said to Kane earlier.

  He called me his girlfriend.

  Is that what he thinks? Why do I like the sound of that? It doesn’t scare me like it should.

  “We’re more than friends,” Xavier states in a very low, forceful voice. Looking at me to see my reaction.

  “Okay, caveman, I get it,” Kane says, and I can’t help but giggle at him. “Does Dana know that, though?”

  “I doubt it,” I say. “She just saw me that morning, and I left straight away.” I hope I don’t run into her again, but I doubt that will be the case.

  “Then why would she send you a friend request and how does she know your name?” Now my mind is racing from Kane’s comment. I feel worried about someone that I don’t even know. This is so crazy.

  “That’s what worries me. What the fuck is going on with her, man?” So many thoughts are going through my head that I’m trying not to let Ally know how worried I am. I need to talk to Kane on his own.

  Kane passes my phone back after taking a couple of photos on his phone.

  “I’ll look into her today at work. See what I can find. I’ll also make a note on file about it, so if anything further develops, we have records. I’m sure it’s nothing and she is just one of those girls who likes to make believe and tell her friends she is better than she is. There will probably be some other sucker who she will be lusting over next week. I mean, I really have no idea what she thinks is worth looking at with you.” He smacks Xavier’s arm as he stands to leave.

  “Fuck off, dickhead, is that jealousy I hear?”

  “In your dreams. I need to get to work. I’ll be in touch. Nice to meet you, Alesha. Get my phone number off Xavier and put it in your phone. If you need anything or are worried at any time, call me straight away. Okay?”

  “Thank you. You are very kind. I’ll be alright. Mr Caveman here will make sure of it, I think.”

  “You better believe it.”

  Both the guys walk to the door chatting quietly. Embracing with a bro hug and then Kane is gone. Xavier locks the door, walking towards me with a serious look on his face. One I can’t read.

  Dropping to his knees in front of me, we are eye-level. His hands take my face softly.

  “I meant what I said. I will always protect you.” Closing the gap, he inches his lips closer to mine.

  “As your girlfriend?” I whisper.

  “Yes, be my girlfriend.” There’s no question.

  “Okay,” is the only word needed.

  “Thank God.” His lips softly land on mine, and everything else ceases to exist.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Xavier

  Just like I dreamed.

  Soft, tender and the taste of heaven.

  Her lips are drawing me in for more. I didn’t picture it happening this quick or that today would be the day. Now I just want to keep going. I’m all in. Grasping her face like she’s a china doll that might break if I push too hard, I gently tilt her head to take the kiss to the next level. I want her to know how much I want this with her. Slowly, I lick across her lips with my tongue. I want deeper. Pushing against her mouth, she moans. Opening for me to explore. She surprises me with wrapping her arms around my neck. It feels amazing to know she wants this too. I pull back for air and to check on Ally. I don’t want to push her further than she’s ready to go. Her eyes are closed, and her face tells me she is blissed out on the kiss. This is a vision I will remember forever.

  It’s crazy I’ve fallen this hard this quick. All I know is in that moment, standing in front of her at the door, I would have taken a bullet for her. That’s enough for me to know. I don’t want to pussyfoot around anymore. I want Ally to know how I’m feeling. I want to find out if she is feeling the same. I want to get to know her in more ways than just talking. Tasting her in this kiss cements my urge to taste her everywhere. From the top of her head all the way to the tips of her toes and all the yummy spots in between. Believe it or not, I want to take my time with those kisses. Ally’s different. She deserves the full experience, not the wham, bam, thank you ma’am. That will never do.

  “Xavier,” she murmurs, opening her eyes slowly. My name coming from her lips in a state of pleasure, sets my body on fire.

  “I’m here, beautiful. I’ll always be here.” I draw her to me, laying her head on my chest. Wrapping her in my arms, tightly. I can’t believe I have her here in my little cocoon.

  “Are you okay?” This morning has been intense for several reasons and I want to make sure I haven’t overwhelmed her when she’s already struggling.

  “Mmhmm,” is all I get which makes me laugh from deep down in my belly.

  “I love the sound of that. If that’s what I do to you with a kiss, I can’t wait to see the reaction when I really start to show you how I feel.” Her head pops up, a little blush still across her cheeks.

  “I need to get to work.” Her body’s already fidgeting in my grasp trying to break free.

  “Ally, stop panicking. I’m not about to put you over my shoulder caveman-style and take you straight to the bedroom. I mean, I won’t complain if you are interested, but I know you need to still take this slow. We are still on your timeline, you get to say when, where and what.” The tension leaves her body, stopping the struggling against me. Leaning back in again for another cuddle. I pop a light kiss on the top of her head.

  “Thank you, Xavier.” Tilting her head up for another kiss, I press down softly for a gentle, sweet one. If I start another kiss like before, I’m not going to stop.

  “It kills me to say this, but you need to get ready for work.” I’d rather spend all day with her
wrapped up in my arms. I know with all that’s happened this morning, she needs normality, routine to forget the craziness. It will help her process her thoughts.

  “I’ll stay with you and then drive you to work if you like.” Her smile lights up her face. “I can even make a mean coffee this time in the morning. Do you want it here or in a mug to go?”

  “Maybe you are worth keeping. A man who makes good coffee is like gold.” She snickers. “Coffee here would be great. I don’t take long to get ready for work and it’s still early. I’ll put you out of your misery now. I’m low-maintenance. Getting ready, I can be out the door from start to finish in ten minutes.”

  “Not possible. That would be like solving the Rubik’s Cube on the first go. It just doesn’t happen. You forget I have a sister. I call bullshit on that.”

  “Is that a challenge?”

  “You bet it is. Coffee, then the timer starts.” In the back of my mind I’m still concerned about everything that’s happened this morning, but this is a great distraction. I need to talk to Nat after I get Ally to work, and call Kane to see if he has found anything out about Dana. “Point me in the direction of the coffee. This is going to be good.”

  “Before coffee, I think we should talk about what happened this morning.

  I’m surprised at how calm she seems about it all now. I was not expecting her to be the one to instigate this chat. Then again, part of me understands she’s likely trying to settle her mind down. To do that, she needs answers. At least for the things I’m able to give her one.

  “Where do you want to start?” I need to let her lead the way. She will feel better if she is driving the discussion

  “Dana. I don’t understand any of this. Do you really think she is dangerous? Should I be worried?” Her voice is a little shaky and unsure.

  “To be honest, I’m still getting my head around it all. You shocked me this morning with the Facebook page. Before that, I would have said she is just a pain, a bit of a troublemaker. A little clingy but harmless enough. Now, I just don’t know. Do I think she’s dangerous? My gut instinct tells me no but the open door this morning did freak me out. Looking at it now, it’s probably a coincidence but I feel better that Kane is checking it out anyway.” My answer isn’t really telling her much. It’s because I have no idea what is going on. I mean, Kane was just talking about that stalking case, but this is just Dana, she wouldn’t be like that. I don’t want to seem too concerned, though, because I don’t want to scare Ally more than she already is.