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“Why did you ask me to lunch? There were hundreds of beautiful women at the concert last night you could’ve chosen.”
Xander’s eyes narrow. “And you don’t think you’re one of them?”
My laugh is hollow. “I’m not ashamed of how I look. Maybe a little self-conscious sometimes, but I’ve learned to accept who I am. I’m overweight. Always have been and probably always will be. Most men don’t look twice at bigger women.”
“I’m not most men,” Xander states, his jaw twitching.
His words hang in the air, and the vulnerability in his gaze catches me off-guard. A soft center lurks beneath his big, tough exterior, one I’m sure he doesn’t allow many people to see.
He lowers his pizza to his plate and pins me with an intense look. "I don’t give a fuck what other men find attractive. I'm not interested in societal norms or expectations. I see you, the person you are, and I like what I see. A whole fucking lot."
“Oh,” I breathe, more than a little turned on by his words. I lower my gaze to my plate. "Our worlds are so different."
Xander grasps my chin and tips my head back, his thumb smoothing my jaw. "Worlds may be different, but people are people. I've had my fill of superficial connections. I haven’t been with anyone since Karla left.”
“But… that was seven years ago,” I murmur, shocked.
“Didn’t want to be vulnerable to a woman again. But you, Firecracker”—his gaze wanders over my face as if committing it to memory—“you intrigue me."
I meet his gaze with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. "Why?" I ask again, my voice barely a whisper.
He leans back, studying me for a moment before speaking. "You're genuine. You don't put on airs or pretend to be someone you're not. There's strength in being comfortable with who you are. You have a way of looking at the world that's refreshing."
A genuine smile tugs at my lips. "Wow. I appreciate the honesty.”
"Life's too short for anything less, don't you think?"
I nod. “I do.”
We fall into easy conversations as we finish our meal. As each slice of pizza disappears, our connection seems to deepen.
As I sit back in my chair, my stomach pleasantly full, a chill oozes down my spine, and the hairs on my neck stand on end. It’s that feeling. Someone is watching me.
I look over my shoulder at the other diners, but no one is paying attention to us. No one seems threatening.
My attention is drawn through the window as a car pulls away from the curbside with a squeal of tires. I can’t see who’s driving.
“Everything okay?” Xander asks with a frown, following my worried gaze.
I briefly contemplate telling him about my “admirer.” He’s an ex-cop. Maybe he can help me, although the cops in my area have told me they can’t do anything unless I’m physically harmed. That mentality seems like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted to me, but what do I know? I quickly dismiss the idea, not wanting to ruin our date.
“All good. I thought I saw someone I knew,” I reply, summoning a smile.
Before he can reply, the server brings the bill. Xander pays, his attention never leaving me. As we leave the pizza joint and head back to the car, the air between us is charged with energy. The drive back to the hotel is quick and punctuated with stolen glances.
“I’ll see you up to your room,” Xander says as we exit the car and head for the elevator.
As we step into the car, I wonder where this unexpected connection might lead.
I don’t have to wonder long. The second the doors swish closed, Xander is on me, backing me against the wall as his mouth crashes down on mine.
Chapter 5
Chastity
My heart stumbles, each beat colliding into another and bouncing off my ribs. Xander’s lips are hot, full, and utterly sensual. He skims the seam of my lips with his tongue in a warm caress as his hand cups my jaw. I release the breath I’ve been holding, and he inhales it, taking it deep into himself. The vibration of his moan against my lips demands entry, and I open them with a sigh.
My submission seems to drive Xander crazy, and I find myself pressed against the elevator wall, held captive by a mountain of muscle. Sliding his hands along my arms, he lifts them above my head as his tongue delves into my mouth in silken slides.
