Page 81 of Love You Like This

A woman gets to Xander and pulls her shirt down until her nipple is almost exposed. He winks at her and signs his name over her skin. Her cheeks are flushed pink as she walks away, giggling with her friend.

The next woman in line gushes when she gets to him and must ask for a photo because he stands and takes her phone. She curls into his side, eyes glazed with awe and lust as she looks up at him. His hand placement on her is just barely appropriate, fingers wrapped around her ribcage.

The next few people in line are men, thankfully. I know I said last night should be a one-time thing, but seeing him flirt with fans is pissing me off. Twenty-four hours ago he was naked between my legs, and now he’s just lavishing attention on any woman, and some men, who gushes over him.

What really pisses me off, though, is when the last woman in line lingers near him. Instead of moving her along, he leans back in his chair as she twirls a finger in her hair. She’s actually stunning; I’d probably be interested in her myself, if I wasn’t so annoyed. My eyes narrow as she lifts her skirt and points to something on her upper thigh. I’m guessing it’s a tattoo related to the band. Xander’s eyes drag from the tattoo up her body in a slow caress, and then he smiles at her.

He smiles at her with my dimple showing.

Irrational anger pulses through me. Stone and Tobias have already left the room; there are just a few people left from the radio station taking down their backdrop and decor. The woman slides a piece of paper over the table to him. He locks eyes with me when he takes it.

I have to walk out of the room. A red haze darkens the edge of my vision, and my skin feels like it’s on fire. I skip the elevator and opt for the stairs, my heels clicking on the polished cement with purpose. I hear Xander call my name and speed up. His heavy footsteps follow me.

My hand brushes the handle of the door just as Xander catches up to me. He hooks his arm around my waist and pulls me back against his chest. I try to push his arm off, but he spins me against the cinderblock wall.

“What’s your problem?” he asks, caging me in between his arms. “You told me to be nice.”

“Let me go.”

“No,” his eyes are pinched in anger. “Not until you tell me why you’re so mad.”

I press my lips into a firm line and look away from him. He doesn’t move an inch when I press my hands to his chest to try to create some distance between our bodies.

“It isn’t because you’re jealous, right?” He leans down, his lips inches from my neck. “That couldn’t be it when earlier you acted like last night shouldn’t have happened.” His lips trace my jaw. “Especially when you spent most of the past hour flirting with that douche bag DJ.”

My head snaps in his direction. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re too smart to play dumb.”

“Do you mean the guy with the top-rated morning radio show in the entire state of Texas? The one I was being professionally kind to, so he’d keep playing your songs on the air? Doing, you know, my fucking job?”

“The way he was looking at you had nothing to do with our music.”

“I can’t believe you.” I look up into his eyes. “So you decide to flirt with every single fan that fawns over you to what? Make a point to me?”

“Yeah, it was. Look at you, enraged to see me doing my job. But you can’t admit why you’re angry.”

“Really?” I sneer up at him. “And why is that?”

“Because you’re scared. You’re terrified that what happened between us last night was real, that it was right. You can’t admit to yourself that I’m the one you want, the one you have always wanted. Even though we laid everything bare between us. All the misunderstandings, the mistakes, and hurt and secrets. The only thing standing between us is your fear.”

My fingers claw into his shirt; I don’t know if it’s to push him away or pull him to me. He looks down at my lips and runs his tongue along his own.

“Until you realize that I’m not going anywhere and get over your daddy issues, we’re at an impasse.”

“Fuck you,” I growl at him.

Instead of pushing him away like I mean to, I pull him against me, my mouth finding his instantly. He groans, and his hands move from the wall to dive into my hair. This kiss isn’t sweet supplication, it’s a battle for dominance. As our tongues and lips duel, one of his hands runs down the length of my body and slides under my dress.

I gasp against his lips as his fingers dip under my thong and find my slit. He runs his finger up and down the length of me, gathering my wetness before circling my clit. My legs spread wider of their own volition, making room for more of him.

“You’re so fucking wet for me,” he says against my lips. “Was it fighting or just my proximity that made this greedy pussy drip for me?”

I whimper as he thrusts a finger inside me. “Xander.” His name is a plea on my lips.

“Want more than my finger?”

I nod.