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She's out the door before Xavier jumps to his feet and starts after her. "Wait! Don't forget your puppy."
She turns in the doorway. "Not my puppy. It's yours. The shelter doesn't have room for him and no one wants to see him euthanized, so Sally Jenkins brought him to the mayor's office. You weren't there or at the candy store or at home, so she brought him to me. He's yours now."
With that, she leaves.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Cherry
Xavier stares at the door for a long moment before turning to me slowly, the puppy in his arms. He's looking down at the small dog, his brow furrowed, his mouth tight. The puppy's eyes are closed and its chest is rising and falling in an even rhythm.
Never in my life have I seen anything sexier.
I'm on my feet and across the room like I'm iron filings and Xavier's the magnet. Gently, I take the puppy from his arms, the warmth and the softness and the doggy smell making me smile, even as I can't take my eyes off Xavier.
The puppy barely moves when I set it down on the couch. I step back slowly, but the puppy is fast asleep.
When I turn back to Xavier, I find his gaze on me, curious, but patient. So, so patient. "For a grump, you're shockingly Zen."
His brow wrinkles and I leap.
I wrap my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his waist and hold on tight. He lets out an "oomph," but he doesn't let go or topple over. He barely moves, taking my weight like it's nothing, like I belong attached to him like a barnacle.
Since I attacked him, I manage to fight the urge to kiss him by tilting my head back. He's smiling, his eyes heavy-lidded. "Hey, there," he says. "Need a hug?"
"I want more than a hug. I know I said we shouldn't have sex, but Alice already thinks we are and—"
He snorts.
I smile. "Okay, so she clearly doesn't believe we're having sex, but RJ doesn't want me and I…" I swallow hard. Why is it so fucking hard to admit what I want when I also really like the man I want? "We're friends, right?"
He smiles like he finds me amusing. "We are. Are you saying you want to be friends with benefits?"
Relief washes through me. He gets it. He gets it and he doesn't seem to hate the idea. "Exactly. What do you think?"
Instead of answering, he kisses me.
He kisses like he's been starving for me and I'm his favorite candy. He kisses me and all the lust I've been feeling for him multiplies by a million. I want this man inside me immediately, if not sooner.
My core is throbbing and — Oh, god, his grip on me loosens and my body slides against his and slips lower until I can feel his hard length pressing against my center. He growls against my lips and thrusts his tongue into my mouth like he knows exactly how to own my body.
He's gentle and firm, confident yet waiting for me to respond. When I buck against him, he carries me to the bed and lays me down on it, still kissing me, his body deliciously heavy on mine.
When he pulls away and stands, I miss his weight and his warmth. He smiles down at me, a sensual, knowing smile as he takes in the sight of me spread out on the bed, thrumming with want, my hair probably a mess, my lips well kissed.
He pulls off my leggings and panties with one hard yank. I don't even have to lift my hips and he's got them to my ankles, a magician of getting me naked.
He pulls them the rest of the way off, but he doesn't lay his body over mine again. He kneels between my legs, taking in the sight. I may not have much money, but I make sure to stay well-groomed down there. I like to be hairless or as near to it as possible, and I love to have little designs in the hair that's left. This month, it's a tiny Christmas tree.
"Merry Christmas to me," Xavier mutters, staring at my pussy like it's his favorite present.
"Don't you want to get the rest of me naked?" I ask, propping myself up on my elbows. "Play with my boobs?"
"You work on that," he says. "I'm busy."
He dives in, licking me with the flat of his tongue and I fall back, sensation overwhelming me. It's like sinking into the most luxurious bath, all warm and tingling and smelling so good, like sex and man and home. I moan as he licks and tastes, suckles and kisses.
I'm so close when he stops and looks up at me. "You aren't following instructions."
