Chapter 28
When Selena saw Xavier go through her gate, his strong, graceful form stepping into her solitaire world, she felt a fervent impulse to run to him and throw her arms around him. She had to forcefully remind herself how upset she was with him and instead of reaching for him, she stepped out to her porch and waited with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Selena,” he announced, his dark eyes with a shine.
“Xavier,” she returned, her voice devoid of warmth.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned and about to put his arms around her but she put her hands up as if telling him to stop “What’s wrong?” he repeated, his fluid eyes struggling to get inside of her.
“First things first. How was Socorro?”
“No clues,” he said quietly, his liquid gaze firmly on her.
“No clues?”
“Selena, are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked, a demanding tone to his voice.
“But the Key of Hearts—“
“I really don’t care about that right now. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Selena’s arms crossed in front of her and her heavy eyes shot into Xavier. “Okay, let’s talk . . . Who did you have dinner with Friday night?”
“Friday night?” he said, taking a big gulp.
“Don’t play games with me, Xavier. Who ate at your house?”
“Xavier frowned deeply. “How did you find out?”
“Your girlfriend came to speak to me.”
“My girlfriend?”
“Cherise.”
“Cherise came to your house?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes.”
“What’s wrong with her?!” he snapped. “And you, don’t ever call her my girlfriend. You’re my girlfriend.”
“I am?”
“Selena, that’s a stupid question and you know it.”
“It’s not so stupid when you consider that my boyfriend lied to me,” Selena retorted.
“I didn’t lie to you.”
“Yes, you did,” Selena insisted.
“No, I didn’t.”
"Yes. You. Did."
“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you that Cherise had eaten at the house. I thought it would upset you.”
“And you also didn’t tell me that you were alone together,” Selena declared.
“The only reason we were alone was because she said she had something important to tell me. I thought I’d be able to get information about Sebastian.”
“She doesn’t want Sebastian,” Selena grumbled. “She wants you.”
“She’s a spoiled brat who doesn’t know what she wants.”
Selena put her hands on her hips. “She may be what she is but she does know what she wants—you.”
“After all our talks about her,” Xavier said gently, his dark eyes sweeping over her face with familiarity that demanded her attention. “Do you think that I want her?”
Selena met his penetrating gaze full of expectation and after a few seconds, she answered. “No,” she uttered quietly.
Xavier rewarded her with a smile. “That’s a big fat no! I—“
“So the kiss was a lie?”
“The kiss?”
“She said you kissed her,” informed Selena.
“She said that I kissed her?!” Xavier snapped incredulously.
“Yes.”
“She’s the one who kissed me,” Xavier blurted, his face in disgust.
“She kissed you?”
“Selena, don’t get upset. She tried to but I got her off of me right away.”
“You did?”
“Yes! You’re the only one for me," Xavier stated firmly. "You know that, don’t you?” he murmured.
“Am I?”
Xavier let out a prolonged breath. “Selena, you know how I feel about you. There’s no one else . . . and even if you weren’t around, I wouldn’t be with Cherise.”
Selena smiled. “Yes, I know. You didn’t even go to the movies with her afterward.”
“There’s no way I would go with her.”
“You called me instead.”
“If you knew all that, why did you put me through this? Through an inquisition?” he asked, annoyed.
“You should’ve told me that she had dinner at your house.”
“For what? The less we talk about that ugly, hideous person, the better. Selena, we can’t be letting others come between us.”
Selena nodded subconsciously. “Yes, there’s been a lot of that.”
“Come here,” he demanded, putting his strong hands around her waist and firmly pulling her towards him. “I’ve been punished long enough.”
His light musk aroma clouded her fragile senses and his nearness melted whatever tight knots of anger were still left. She sighed deeply as his inviting lips reached for her but as soon as they touched, a painful spark erupted, tearing them apart.
“Ow!” Selena cried, rubbing her mouth. It had been excruciating.
The Key of Hearts Page 28