by MJ Masucci
“Do we still have a date for dinner?”
“Absolutely. I think I’m going to go down to the pool for the afternoon. Would you like to join me?”
He chose to because he was afraid that Christos was going to try to finish what he started. Xander wanted to make sure he kept his hands to himself. As it happened, Christos was suffering from a stomach ache. He wasn’t at the pool, and neither were half the group who were nursing hangovers.
Jacob, Sandra, Robert and Dani were sitting on loungers when they came down. Ava laid her towel on the chair next to Xander and sat at the edge of the pool with her feet dangling in the water. Dani, Robert, and Sandra joined her and eventually they all dove in. Jacob took the opportunity to speak with Xander.
“You want to explain to me what happened last night?”
“Nothing other than I got her away from that predator, Christos.”
“And what, into your bed instead?”
“Jacob, is there something you want to say to me?”
“Why are you doing this to Ava? She’s still in love with you.”
“It’s mutual. I love her, too. I want the Z. I want her to be my wife.”
“Did you say Z?”
“Yes.”
“What the hell is that?”
“Nothing. It’s a private joke between Ava and me.”
They stopped talking as Ava came back to dry herself. Jacob was talking to Sandra and didn’t notice Xander stroking Ava's leg. She glared at him and gestured to her family, so he stopped. The others came out of the pool and rested on their loungers for awhile. By mid-afternoon, Ava was starting to burn, and they all decided to go upstairs and rest for the upcoming evening.
Sam was lying on the couch with a cold compress on her head.
“Why did you let me drink so much last night?”
“I think I drank just as much as you.”
“What happened with Xander? Did you sleep with him this morning?”
“No. He let me sleep off a hangover then we went to the pool. You were still sleeping when I came in to change.”
“So?”
“We are going out on a date tonight. He’s going to take me to dinner.”
Sam groaned, “I wish you two would just get it over with. He loves you; you love him; go happily ever after.”
“I wish it was that simple. I need time to know him again.”
Sam removed the compress from over her eyes.
“Cut the crap, Keene. You might be older, but you’re not different people.”
She replaced the compress over her eyes, and Ava went to take a shower. She thought about what Sam said and what’s more, she thought about what Xander said when he thought she was asleep. He still wanted her to be his wife.
She was going through her suitcase to find clothing for that evening when she realized that Xander never told her where they were going. She didn’t want to be overdressed or underdressed. She texted him.
Where are we going? Should I wear a dress or something casual? What time are you coming to get me?
Please wear a dress, preferably one that hugs that sweet ass of yours. I will be there by 6:00 PM.
She blushed at his reference to her butt and told him that she would surprise him. If he was going to collect her at six, then that gave her an hour to finish dressing. She pulled a dress that she knew he would love, out of her suitcase. It was a bit wrinkled, but she found an iron in the closet. By the time she dressed and gave herself a once over in the mirror, it was a few minutes before six. She paced the floor waiting for him until Sam yelled that she was making her more nauseous than she already was.
When she heard the knock on the door, her stomach started to tighten. She was nervous for her date with him. He was wearing gray dress slacks with matching sports jacket, white shirt with a lavender-colored tie. It was the exact color of the dress that she was wearing, and he whistled at when she opened the door. Her black Louboutin pumps gave her several inches of height and elongated her legs. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Sam called from her residence on the couch.
Ava snorted as she grabbed her purse and closed the door. Xander took her hand as they walked to the elevator. It was empty when it arrived, and as soon as the door closed, he caged her between his arms and kissed her passionately. The elevator pinged, and he moved away as other hotel guests joined them in transit. She reached up and ran her fingers over his lips to remove the gloss that had transferred from hers.
Touching Xander, smelling his cologne and just being near him was having an effect on her. Her body felt like it was on fire and her core clenched tight. She looked at him and saw he was loosening his tie. His face and neck were red. She reached up and touched his face, and he kissed the palm of her hand. He leaned over, whispering in her ear.
“Are you hungry?”
“Not for food. I want you.”
The elevator pinged on the main floor, and they stayed in, pressing the button for the twenty-ninth floor. Xander wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. Her sweet perfume was in his nostrils, and it was intoxicating. He couldn’t wait to strip her naked. As the elevator doors opened, they hurried down the hall to his room, and he fumbled with the key card dropping it to the floor. She picked it up and slid it into the lock. As soon as the green light came on they pushed through so hard, they almost ended up on the floor together.
The door closed behind them. Xander pushed her against it and slammed his mouth down on hers. She dropped her purse to the floor and grabbed a handful of his hair then began working at his belt, zipper and button of his pants to free him. She stroked him as he cupped her breasts and thumbed her already hard nipples. His fingers slipped under her dress, and he stroked her sex through the lace panel of her panties. She moaned in his mouth.
She went to kick off her shoes, but he told her to leave them on as he reached back to unzip her dress, pulling it over her head. He buried his head in her breasts as she worked on removing his jacket, tie, and shirt. The clothing pile was accumulating next to the door as they discarded piece after piece. The room was full of the sound of their heavy breathing.
He finally picked her up and carried her to the bed. He had planned on making love to her slowly, but he was so excited by her that it wasn’t to be. He had removed his boxers before he lay upon her, kissing, sucking and licking. He pushed the panel of her panties to the side and thrust into her with a loud groan. She cried out as he pumped into her.
“Wrap your legs around me,” he panted.
He felt the heels of her shoes dig into his back as she did. He grabbed her hands and pushed them above her head, holding them in one hand. She closed her eyes.
“Ava, open your eyes. I want to look into them when I make you come.”
She whimpered as he continued to piston in and out of her; she clenched and shattered as her orgasm tore through her body. He clamped his mouth down onto hers, and he kissed her until she stopped moaning. He continued pumping in her until he finished his release, then collapsed onto her. He let go of her arms, and she folded them over his back. She could feel his heart beating hard in his chest.
Then she started to cry. All the emotions that she had been suppressing for weeks had finally come to a head. She sobbed into his chest, and he held her.
“Please don’t cry. I’m so sorry.”
“I am, too.” She sobbed against him. “I want to try again. I want the Z.”
He rolled onto his side and wiped at her tears with his thumb.
She made it clear. “I want to marry you.”
He got off the bed and went to his suitcase, taking out a black velvet box. He sat on the bed and opened the box.
“Will you marry me, Ava Keene? I love you.”
She nodded, and he removed the ring from the box. He took her hand and slid the ring on her finger.
“I don’t ever want to disappoint you again.”
“You’ve never disappointed me.
”
He stared at her. “You know what I mean.”
And she did. She knew he was referring to what had happened at Cameron.
“It’s in the past. I’m over it, and we don’t need ever to talk about it again.”
She sat up. “Xander, why did you have the ring with you?”
He grinned at her, “Because I knew I was going to ask you to marry me. I can’t be without you. No matter what has happened between us, we are meant to be together. I want you from A to Z.”
A serious look came over her face.
“What?”
“We have to tell my family and our friends. I think my father still hasn’t gotten over the accident. I can’t have him hating my husband.”
“We will figure it out.”
She held the ring up and gazed at it, not believing she was engaged. She got out of bed and started pulling on her clothes.
“Where are you going? I thought we would spend the rest of the night in bed.”
“We have plenty of time to do that.”
“Oh, so now that I put a ring on your finger you’re going to freeze me out?”
She threw a pillow at him.
She sat on the bed, “Do you honestly think that is going to be the case? I had such a hard time without you in my bed. Now that I have you back you better get used to not sleeping that much.”
“I haven’t slept in weeks,” he mumbled.
She ignored answering him because she had dealt with the same thing. When she was dressed, she went to the door telling him she would be right back. She walked down the hall to the suite she had shared with Sam and her cousins. She wanted to show her ring, and she hoped that Sam was still there.
She opened the door, and Sam was sleeping on the couch still with the compress on her head. Sandra and Dani were napping in their room. She gently shook Sam.
“For fuck’s sake, what?” She felt like she was yelling with her headache, but it was barely normal tone. She removed the compress and looked at her friend.
“You’re back pretty quick. What happened? I thought you were going to dinner.”
Ava grinned widely at her
Sam sat all the way up, “You fucked? I knew it.”
“We did more than that.” Ava held up her left hand.
Sam’s mouth dropped open. She grabbed her hand and pulled it close to her face.
“You two finally got with the program. I can’t believe you’re engaged. Let’s tell everyone, and we can go celebrate.”
Ava sat down on the couch and told her no. She couldn’t bear to be separated from him at work. If any of the Keenes knew, they would spread the news to the firm.
“So I have to keep this a secret? I’m marrying your cousin, and I have to lie to him?”
“You don’t have to lie to him unless he asks, do you? Please, Sam, don’t tell anyone until we do. I need to let my father know, and I’m sure he is not going to be too happy. I’m also not quite sure what Brooke’s reaction will be. I need to break the ice.”
“So you aren’t going to wear that beautiful ring?”
“As soon as we tell everyone I will. It won’t be long. Now I need to get back to Xander.”
“I bet you do. You have some time to make up.”
She swatted at Sam and went to their room to get some clothes. She would probably not need them for a few days. She would more than likely be naked for the rest of the trip in Xander’s arms.
Back in Xander’s room she excitedly discussed what type of wedding they should have. He suggested going to one of the quickie chapels in Las Vegas. They could arrive home as Mr. and Mrs. Wilder.
“No, we cannot do that!”
“Why, Ava?”
“Because you promised me.”
“But do you want all that? You see what Sam is going through.”
“I didn’t before but I do now. As much as I hate being the center of attention, I want that.”
“Okay, then a big wedding it is. It would have been fun to tell our kids about our quickie wedding in Vegas.”
She started to wring her hands. Then Xander realized what he had said.
“Ava, no matter if we have our own or adopt, they will be OUR children.”
She knew he was right, but she still wanted the experience of having a baby inside her. Feeling it kick and move around. She smiled at him because she knew he was watching her. But deep down she wanted her own baby.
Chapter 33
“Would you open that email already. Aren’t you curious if you passed or not?”
“I’m afraid to look. Suppose I failed?”
“You know you passed. So just do it already.”
She clicked on the email from the New York State Board of Law Examiners. She closed her eyes tight as the email opened. Then opened one eye to look at her laptop screen.
“I passed! I can’t believe it!”
She put the laptop on the table and threw her arms around Xander. They had just gotten back from Vegas that afternoon. Now she had two reasons to be overjoyed: her engagement and having passed the bar exam.
“I knew you could pass on the first try. You have a few other things to do, and then you will be a full practicing attorney.” But then Xander scowled.
“What’s that look?”
“Soon you aren’t going to be my assistant any longer. You will have your own assistant to work for you.”
“I guess I won’t see you that much during the day especially if they move me to an office on sixteen or seventeen. I don’t think there are any empty offices on eighteen. I think I should call my father. He has been badgering me to let him know when I get my grade.”
“Are you going to tell him we’re engaged?”
Ava started to chew her cheek. “I prefer to do that when we see him at the wedding in a few weeks. I want to tell everyone in person. Are you going to tell anyone?”
“I was thinking about telling Suzanne. She told me I was a fool to let you go, and I know she will be ecstatic that we are engaged. I can trust her; she won’t reveal it to anyone until we tell others.”
Ava picked up her cell and went into the bedroom to speak to her father. He told her how proud he was of her. When she got off and came out the door, Xander had just hung up with his sister.
“Suzanne wants us to come to lunch tomorrow. Do you want to go to Stamford?”
“Yes. I want to be able to wear my ring.”
She absentmindedly twirled it around her finger. While they were out of the office and not around friends or family, she would wear the ring. She would have to make sure she took it off before she left for work each day.
He swept her up in his arms and kissed her. He felt so giddy that she was finally going to become his wife after all they had been through. They spent a good part of the week making up for lost time. Vegas had so much to offer for entertainment but all they wanted to do most of the time was make love. Sam was the only person that knew that they were engaged and together. They had a hard time keeping up appearances as if they were not a couple.
Twice Xander had wanted to punch Christos when he got too touchy with Ava on the dance floor. Sam intervened and danced with him instead while Ava went to sit with Xander. Before the night was over, she was in his bed after they sneaked away. They needed to be careful as long as Jacob was there. He and Sandra had left on Monday, leaving Xander and Ava four days to spend time together without him around.
On Wednesday, they were able to steal an entire day alone together. They went to Fremont Street for part of the day then came back to the hotel to have some lunch. Ava wore her engagement ring until they got back to the Bellagio. She was bursting to show it off to everyone, but she knew she would have to wait. They ended up spending two hours in Xander’s room and then found the group at the casino in the hotel.
Ava won forty-four hundred dollars playing slots and took everyone out to dinner and clubbing that night. She and Xander were almost found out by Robert when they sneaked away to the lounge. They
separated just before he came to use the bathroom. He raised his eyebrow when he saw them together, and Ava wondered if Sam had told him anything. But Robert said nothing, so she assumed Sam hadn’t said a word.
On the plane home, Ava and Xander sat together in first class. He kept trying to convince her to try the mile high club, but she told him he was crazy. There was no way she was going to have sex in a bathroom on a plane.
The next morning they quickly got dressed. They had spent too much time the night before making love and woke up late. Then Ava chose to seduce Xander in the shower causing them to be even later. He had told Suzanne they would be at her house by noon, but as it was, they were lucky if they arrived by one. They headed to the River Garage to Xander’s new car. He had leased an Infiniti Q50 in black with black leather interior. As he drove out of the city, he pressed the accelerator, and she was pushed back in her seat.
“Slow down. You are almost doing eighty.”
“Man, this car is awesome.”
“Boys and their toys,” Ava mumbled.
They arrived at his sister’s house shortly before one. They hit traffic on I-95, or they would have arrived earlier with the way he had been driving. He drove around to a large subdivision and pulled up to a huge brick colonial home in a cul-de-sac. The driveway had two stone pillars on either side. Xander drove up the winding drive and parked in front of the three-car garage.
This house rivals the one of my childhood. Xander got out and went around to her door to open it for her. They walked hand in hand up the stairs and were just about to knock when Steven, Xander’s brother-in-law, opened it. He shook hands with Xander and hugged Ava with congratulations.
Suzanne was busy in the kitchen preparing some snacks for everyone. She wiped her hands on her apron to hug them hello and shooed Xander out of the room so she could talk to Ava. Xander turned and mouthed, “Don’t interrogate her.”
“Ava, make yourself comfortable. Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Please. White, if you have it.” She sat at the counter watching Suzanne prepare some crudite.