AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You are a fucking work of art."
I snort laugh, because I am no such thing. "I'll grant you hot, even gorgeous, but a work of art is pushing it even for me." And that's just the exterior. "I'm far from perfect. I often make bad choices, I prefer fashion to world news, and my favorite sport is shopping. I'm silly at the best of times and I don't feel bad about it. You don't have to butter me up to get me to have sex with you." I say it all in a teasing tone, but I need him to snap out of whatever delusion he's under. He needs to know all my faults before I start believing he really does think so highly of me.
Xavier doesn't laugh. He frowns all grumpy-like, and it does the weirdest thing to me, it shoots lust straight to my core and I have to grab the shampoo to keep from grabbing him and begging him to give me mind-blowing, grumpy sex.
"Don't laugh." He rests his hands on my hips, stroking my waist with his thumbs. "You're fucking perfect and anyone who can't see that is an idiot. Are you an idiot, Cherry Beckstone?"
I shrug. "It's been said."
The shampoo hits the tub floor with a clatter when Xavier pushes me against the wall. I wrap my legs around him instinctively and pet his head like he's a cute little doggie instead of a grumpy beast of a man. He can't fool me. I've seen his warm, gooey, marshmallowy core.
"Don't ever put yourself down again, Cherry. I won't have anyone saying bad things about you, especially not you."
My eyes sting, and my throat gets tight. Definitely feels like we're crossing a line here. "Okay, but—"
He presses a finger to my lips. "No buts. As long as I'm in your bed, no one says anything but kind, supportive things to or about you."
"I can't control the whole world." It's hard to speak with my lips mashed under his finger.
"But you can control what you allow into your brain and your heart. Anyone who can't see how amazing you are doesn't deserve a moment of your time. Understand?"
I nod.
His frown lightens the tiniest bit, and he produces a condom seemingly from thin air. "Okay if I fuck you now?"
I tilt my hips so I can feel his hardness right where I want it. He sucks in a sharp breath, then grins. "Hold on, sweetheart. This ride's about to get bumpy."
I laugh at his corny joke, but I stop laughing as he rips open the condom package with his teeth. Everything this man does is so damn sexy.
I pull the condom from the packet and we get it on him without speaking. He seems no more eager to put space between us than I am. When he drives into me, I can't look away from his face or the intensity with which he's staring into my eyes. We don't speak, don't joke or dirty talk, we just live in the moment together, both striving for release and connection.
We come at the same time and nothing about it feels the least bit casual.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Cherry
I'm stepping out of my jeans and into leggings when my phone rings. I answer on video with my screen face-up on my bed. Next to my phone is my laptop, where I've put all my brainstormed ideas for Josephine's farm into a spreadsheet so I can start investigating costs and liability.
I've barely gotten any sleep in the past few days, but it'll be totally worth it if I can make this happen for Josephine.
"Hey, Cherry's panties," my cousin Blue sings out. "It's good to see your pretty lace."
I laugh as I pull my leggings up over my ass and pick up the phone. Both Blue and Peach are there, on the couch in our Vegas condo. "Hello, ladies. How are you doing?"
"We're great." Peach twirls a long strand of hair between her fingers, her nails painted a sparkly red. "Blue picked our next book for book club."
"I got the email." I sit on the bed and cross my legs under me. "Another dark romance? Are you trying to tell us you're looking to make your own bad boy romance happen, Blue?"
Blue snorts. "Unlike you two, I'm not delusional enough to think a happily ever after is anything but a marketing ploy for the wedding industry."
"How's it going with RJ?" Peach asks. "You promised daily updates, and it's been three days."
I sink in on myself. "Yeah, he turned me down cold. If he could get a restraining order against me, I think he'd do it."
"Good." Blue's smile shows all her teeth. "He's an asshole. When are you coming home?"
The door to my condo creaks open and I look over my shoulder to see Xavier walk in. My smile is so big, my cheeks hurt. He drove me home from work, but left without coming in because he had some things to take care of, one of which was taking the puppy to the family he found for him. I wasn't expecting him to come back over, but I'm so glad he's here.
