“Not even close.”
He leaned against me, and I could smell his warm, spicy smell. It enveloped me. He smelled like a man.
Not that I was thinking about Royce all the time, but as I noticed and appreciated more about Xavier, I saw how much I hadn’t been able to enjoy with Royce.
Xavier had problems like everyone else, although his problems were not mine, I thought, but he enjoyed life so much more.
“So what do you want to do this weekend? I’m yours to command, for the most part,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean? What are the limits?”
“I need to go out to a party tomorrow night, and I was really hoping you’d come with me.”
“You have to?”
“Sometimes you have things you gotta do,” Xavier shrugged. “This is business, and I can’t weasel out, as much as I’d like to. So I might as well enjoy it and bring you with me,” he ended with his wide smile.
Those lips. He had like, the best lips, ever.
“Sure, although you’ve put me in a clothing frenzy.”
“Don’t stress. We can shop tomorrow morning. As long as I can be your personal shopper.” He leered at me.
I laughed. “I don’t want to be arrested if we go shopping. We’ll see. Are you obligated tonight, oh mighty one?”
“Only to you, Ms. Livvie.”
“Well, good. We’re going to stay and in catch up.” I shot him a flirtatious look.
“Oh, I like the cut of your jib, Ms. Livvie.”
“I thought you would.”
I couldn’t wait to get back to his place. I wanted to be next to him sans clothes and spend the whole night in bed with him.
We could deal with tomorrow, tomorrow.
Xavier
I stretched carefully. Livvie was still sleeping. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that I was awake at all. I wasn’t usually a morning person, but having her here made me not want to miss a second with her, even if I woke up first and lay here watching her.
She was so gorgeous, so strong. We’d watched a movie last night, and ordered in, and it had been fantastic. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d enjoyed hanging out with a woman with no destination.
Which was kind of a sorry comment on my own life.
But no matter. Olivia was here now, and if I had my way, she wouldn’t be leaving.
She stirred. “Hey,” she looked over her shoulder at me. “What’s up?”
“Both of us, now apparently,” I said, sliding my arm around her waist and pulling her close to me.
“Oh,” she said. Then, “Ohhh.”
I kissed her neck, loving the warm smell of her hair. I loved how it looked on my pillows, in my bed.
She made to turn to me, and I stopped her. “No.” I ran my hand down her body, taking the time to squeeze her ass.
It was close to noon when we finally got out of my apartment.
Not that I was complaining.
* * *
I pulled my hoodie up over my hat. Olivia looked up at me, a faint smile curving her lips.
“Worried about being seen?”
“I want to spend the day with you, Liv. This helps. New York is better than most places, too. There’s a lot of big fish here, so I’m a lot less special. I have a shot at having a relatively uninterrupted day with you.”
“Relatively?” Her eyebrows rose.
I shrugged. “I am never totally optimistic about these sorts of things.”
“Don’t you have to shop for clothes?”
“I usually get them delivered. I’m not exactly high fashion,” I said with a laugh.
“So what kind of party is this? What will other women be wearing?”
That made me nearly choke. “Well, uh…as little as possible, probably.”
“That is a big ol’ no, Xavier.”
“I don’t want you to look like that!” I held up the hand not holding hers. “I don’t want other guys looking at you. So the less skin you’re showing, the better.”
She gave me a look but didn’t say anything.
After we stopped for a sandwich in my favorite deli, I got us a cab down to some of the places I thought might suit her.
I was prepared, even with Olivia, to be bored out of my mind but having her try things on made me think about taking them off, or dancing with her, or just being the lucky bastard who got to be with her.
It was sexy as hell. Olivia had good taste, and with a little encouragement, chose a dress that made her look like a mermaid. I didn’t say that out loud, though. It sounded so cheesy. But it was that sea-green you see in the ocean sometimes, and it made her skin look like it had a glow. The dress was high necked and sleeveless and almost form fitting. There were also little sparkles or some shit that I didn’t really get, but in the light, she shimmered.
I couldn’t believe this woman was with me.
Please don’t let me fuck this up. It all felt fantastic, but there was a piece of me that felt it was almost too good to be true. Maybe I was cynical, but things were going too well.
Even in spite of the fact we’d fought. It had been resolved like grownups, and that was something I wasn’t used to.
Said more about me, though, didn’t it?
When we got back to my place, Olivia went to take a shower. I could tell that she was nervous about stepping into my world. Until now, we’d been pretty low key. Even though the charity event had been a big deal, it wasn’t part of my professional world like this thing tonight.
If I’d had my way, I would have skipped it. But back when I had a manager—Tibby really needed to get on that for me—he’d set this up, and all the people I worked with would be there, as well as some of the studio heads.
Even though I ran my own show, I had to make nice with the other people in my business. That was just how it was. It wasn’t what you knew, but who you knew. Even for me.
I made a few calls making sure she was on the list with me, and checking in. I’d been a bit of slacker since I’d met her, and this made the nagging business side of me calm down a little.
I heard the shower end, and although it was tempting to go in and delay her further, I thought she might need the time.
Finally, she came out in a cloud of what I thought of as ‘How Olivia smells’ and she smiled hesitantly.
“How does it look?”
“How does it look? You mean, how hot do you look?”
She blushed. I loved that.
“You look fucking fantastic. Everyone there is going to be asking themselves what someone like you is doing with a bum like me.”
“Oh? Now you’re a bum?”
“In comparison, yes,” I grinned, getting up and putting my arms around her waist. I leaned down and kissed her. “You look good enough to eat, or drag to bed, or both. But instead of either of those delightful ideas, I’m going to grab a shower, and we’ll get out of here.”
Another kiss and I went to try and make sure I looked as good as she did.
* * *
We stopped and had some dinner before getting to the club. The booze would be on offer, and I wanted to eat. More importantly, I wanted her to eat.
After dinner, Olivia was fidgety.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Nervous,” she replied.
“You’re going to be great. Most of the people we’ll see are my friends. Those who aren’t…” I shrugged. “We’ll blow by.”
One side of her mouth lifted. “I’m not sure that’s helping, Xavier.”
I held her hand since I couldn’t pull her close to me from the other side of the car. “I’m not going to leave you. Okay?”
“Promise?”
“Totally.” The car slowed, and I could see a crowd waiting to get in and damn it, there were photographers. Paparazzi, actually.
Fuck.
They were often assholes.
But I smiled and gripped her hand a little tighter. “It’s going to be fine.”
This tim
e, I waited for the driver to open the door, and I leaned down and held my hand out to help her out of the car.
“Look ahead, look over everyone’s head, and smile,” I whispered.
As she got out, I saw her exhale, and then she put a smile on that made her look even more amazing than she normally did.
I’d forgotten that Olivia ran her own business, and handled her shit all the time without me.
“You are so fucking amazing,” I whispered as we walked to the door.
The doormen didn’t even hesitate, opening the door before we got close.
“The hostess will take you back,” one said to me over the noise coming from the club.
“X!” The calls came from the people outside the door. “How about—”
I held up my hand as I ushered Olivia in with the other hand. I didn’t want to expose her any more than she would be just by being with me.
The shouts of the paparazzi faded as the bass from the club enveloped us, and a small blond woman appeared with a huge smile. She said something, but I couldn’t understand her. She gestured for us to follow her, so it must not have mattered that I totally missed what she said.
I could hear shouts as I walked by, and I held Olivia a little closer to me. The hostess stopped when she reached a set of four stairs that went up to a raised area, cordoned off with a rope.
“Right up here,” she leaned in to say so I could hear her. “The hostess will get you whatever you need.” The big, toothy smile nearly blinded me.
“We’re here,” I said to Olivia as she walked up in front of me.
I bounded up the stairs and stood right next to her, holding her hand. I knew what it was like to face all these people, and I didn’t want anyone to give her any shit.
A few flashes from the back of the upper room made me blink.
“What the fuck?” I asked, looking around for someone I knew.
Marcus, of all people, came towards me, towing Kristine with him. “Hey, man, thanks for the invite!”
I’d invited my entire production crew to this. Although I really hoped that no one would be out to steal them from me. I thought I paid them well enough to work for me alone, but I never made my team promise to work for me only. That was a recipe for disaster.
“You’re welcome. How was the honeymoon?” I grinned.
He smiled, and Kristine echoed it. The happiness spilled off them both.
“It was wonderful. Thank you for setting up the cruise,” she said.
“Olivia, this is Marcus, who works with me, and his wife, Kristine. It’s their fault I had to cancel that weekend. They kidnapped me,” I said.
Olivia shook hands with both, offering her hand to Kristine first. I saw Kristine give her a fairly appraising look.
“It sounds like it was for a good cause,” Olivia said.
“It was incredible,” Kristine answered for the both of them. “I’m sorry if we messed up your plans,” she directed that at Olivia.
“I made it up to her,” I said, feeling smug.
Olivia hugged me with one arm around my waist. “He did, which was smart of him.”
Marcus laughed. “I’m glad.”
As we made small talk, a man approached me.
“X? How about a picture of the happy couples?”
“No, man, we’re on personal time, if you don’t mind,” I said, moving to shield Olivia. Fuck. Why couldn’t these assholes get it through their heads? We were in a private area—usually, these were off limits.
He opened his mouth to protest, but I turned further and led Olivia away from him. Kristine and Marcus followed. With one ear, I could hear the women talking, and it made me glad to know that Olivia could hold her own.
While I wasn’t close to Kristine, Marcus had been with me for a long time, and it made sense that his gir—wife—would know a bit about me and that Marcus felt protective of me.
Finally, a hostess approached, and I ordered champagne and a glass of whiskey for Marcus and me.
People came and went, many remarking on my continued lack of a manager. Olivia did well, in spite of the fact that she must have been bored out of her skull.
“Hey, I’ll be right back,” I said. I really had to hit the restroom, and I thought I could leave her safely for a little bit.
Still…I leaned down to Marcus as I left. “Keep close to her.”
I saw his nod, and I ran down the stairs to get to the restroom.
Heading down the hallway where they were, the smell of old beer and sweaty people increased. Along with some other shit I’d rather not think about.
“Oh, my God!” I heard a breathless feminine voice, and then I was knocked back into the wall by a very warm person. A woman, apparently, more than one.
The hallway was dark, and I put my hands out to steady myself.
“Sorry, ladies, but I need to—”
My words were cut off as someone kissed me.
Mother of holy hell. I pushed her away and didn’t even try to make an excuse. When I got to the men’s, I shut the door behind me and leaned against the wall, which probably wasn’t a good idea, but shit.
A guy washing his hands glanced over and saw my expression. Then I saw him recognize me. I smiled the XTC head/nod/smile move.
“Crazy night?” He asked.
“Yeah, be careful leaving. It’s wild out there,” I shook my head.
He laughed and left. I chose to go to a stall because being me and trying to use the urinals led to a lot of uncomfortable encounters. Much safer to just go to a stall. I’d actually seen pictures of me taking a leak at one point.
I peered out of the bathroom before I left, but the women who’d been there were gone, hopefully to drunkenly grope someone else.
We left a little later. Business social obligations met, and no real harm was done.
And I still got to unwrap Olivia in that mermaid dress. I wondered if she’d let me peel it off her in the shower.
‘Cause you know, mermaids.
16
Olivia
I woke up in the dark, not sure where I was for a moment.
Then it all came back to me. I was in New York, and in Xavier’s apartment. We’d been out tonight, and he’d bought me the most incredible dress to go out in.
I hoped it would be good for a second wearing. When we’d gotten home, he’d asked if he could take me in the shower as he undressed me.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because you always make love to mermaids in water,” he said.
Well.
When put like that, what woman would say no? I smiled to myself. I certainly couldn’t. I glanced at the clock. It was only about two hours after we’d gone to bed, and I knew I would be sore tomorrow morning. These sexual encounters were more like marathon gymnastic sessions.
Not that I was complaining. The sex was incredible.
But now, oddly, I was wide awake.
Moving slowly so as not to wake Xavier, whose steady breathing made me feel good for some reason, I slid out of bed and grabbed his shirt from the pile of clothing around the bedroom.
I loved that about him. He lived in the moment, and didn’t care about whether things were messy or involved at the time—he went with what was happening right now.
Feeling thirsty and restless, I headed for the kitchen. After getting a glass of water, I went for my messenger bag and pulled out my laptop.
While I didn’t like to admit it, I’d seen all the photographers. I wondered if they’d gotten any pictures of us—I wanted to see how we looked together, and if my dress looked as wonderful as it felt.
As Xavier said it did.
The thought of what the dress had inspired made my cheeks warm.
Best sex ever didn’t even cover it.
My eyes stopped as I scrolled through the Google headlines.
‘XTC Out With New Lady Love? So Why The Backroom Orgy?’
What?
What the hell?
I clicked.
Ther
e were pictures of us coming into the club, walking through. Seeing these brought back all the noise and the light show that had been going on.
Then there was a picture of the two of us as we came up the stairs into the private party area, and I noted how protective Xavier looked with me. He was really close.
In all of the pictures, he had a hand on me.
Then I saw what prompted the second half of the headline.
He was in a small hallway, and there were four women around him. One was practically glued to him, the tart, and he had his hands on her chest.
I looked at the caption. ‘Attentive lover in public, all hands on the decks in the dark halls’
What asshole had written such horrible copy?
I almost laughed at my business mind critiquing the presentation, and then I looked again.
His eyes were closed, and no one in that picture looked unhappy.
This was the club tonight.
When had he been away from me? He’d only left my side to—
The restroom.
To go to the restroom.
And, apparently, get his freak on.
Tears sprang to my eyes. We weren’t freaky enough? He had to kiss and grope multiple women on the way to the bathroom?
Just a few hours ago, he’d made me feel like a princess.
This picture, this garbage—this wasn’t him.
But this feeling, this sinking feeling, this nearly crippling insecurity—it was me.
This was his life. There would always be drunken women waiting for him in a dark hallway. He was too beautiful, too sexy, and to fabulous to always keep them at bay, even with trying.
There would always be some tart waiting to grab him and her fifteen minutes—and I would need to live with that.
Could I?
After the mess of the previous weekend, where I’d suspected the worst of him—I didn’t know.
But what I did know was seeing this was like a knife in my heart. Right in the middle of it, where it was so shocking, the hit so deep, that it took your breath away.
I looked at the picture again. The tears fell unchecked.
I couldn’t.
He deserved better. His world was so not my world, and if I wanted to be in his world, I had to live with the things that came with it.
Forgotten Wishes: Djinn Everlasting Book Two Page 20