XanderEvie held up her hands. “What the hell is going on? You were in his class?”The question was directed at me. “I was. It was the worst four months of my life. I hated the class, and I found every reason to avoid going.”“Yes, because you were a spoiled, entitled brat who thought you knew better than anyone else,” he snapped.I sneered at him. “My billions of dollars sitting in my bank account would say I did know better than anyone else, most especially you.”“Bullshit,” he seethed, spittle forming in the corners of his mouth.I slowly shook my head. “It isn’t bullshit. I made it, despite your attempts to hold me back. You did everything in your power to hold me down. I rose anyway. The cream always rises.”He smirked, shaking his head and looking at Evie. “See? Arrogant. This kid thinks he is the smartest person in the room. He thinks he knows so much more than the guy with the PhD.”“I do,” I quipped.He looked at me with pure disgust. “You aren’t good enough to know my daught
EvieI was stunned—speechless. I didn’t know what to say or think. I turned my head, half-expecting Xander to come back to the table. He was joking, right?My dad and him had gotten together beforehand and came up with a practical joke. That was the only explanation my brain could come up with. I looked around the restaurant, wondering if Nelle had a hand in this. She knew how stressed out I was about introducing Xander to my dad. This was something she would do.I didn’t see Nelle, though. My father looked like he had just dined on glass. Xander wasn’t coming back. It wasn’t a joke. No one was going to jump out and laugh at the fact I had been pranked. This was my real life. All my fears about introducing a man to my father had just come to life.I turned back to look at my father. His cheeks were red, and his eyes were flashing with anger. His hands were clenched in tight fists resting on the table. For a brief millisecond, I stopped to notice I had never seen him so angry. No one w
EvieThe gate to his driveway was open. I hoped that meant he was home. I parked my car and got out, suddenly feeling a little nervous. I pushed aside the nerves. I wanted the matter settled.I rang the doorbell and waited.Xander pulled open the door. His suit jacket was already off and his tie was hanging loose around his neck. He looked at me with irritation. “What?”His greeting told me all I needed to know. He was going to stay mad. Well, guess what? I was mad too.I put a hand on my hip and glared at him. “Don’t what me,” I snapped.“You set me up,” he barked.“How could I set you up? I didn’t know you knew each other!”“I don’t know that man. I don’t want to know that man.”My temper was thoroughly piqued. “That man is my father. Have a little decency.”“He wasn’t decent. He was an asshole and you sat there and let him talk to me like that!”“What exactly did you expect me to do? Was I supposed to stuff my napkin in his mouth to make him shut up?”He smirked. “I certainly consi
XanderWhen she pulled into a parking lot that was half gravel, half blacktop, with weeds growing through the endless cracks, I wondered if she had lost her mind. There were some rather unsavory characters sitting at one of the outdoor tables. They were looking at us like we were the enemy.We were invading their territory. I wasn’t really up on the gangs in the area, but I didn’t want to step onto anyone’s turf. Could she be setting me up? Was she pissed at me and thinking to drop me off in a bad part of the city and hope I would get my ass kicked?“Um, is this some kind of payback?” I asked. “Are you planning on ditching me?”She smiled and shut off the car, indicating we were staying. “No, this is dinner. I’m not paying you back for anything, nor do I need to.”I looked around the area once again. I looked at the building with the flat roof and rather unappealing appearance. The bars on the windows really gave it that ghetto-chic look. “Is it safe? I mean to get out?”“If you mean,
Xander“No. I went to a different school.”“He’s smart, really smart, and he knows his shit, but he’s dated.”She laughed. “Dated?”“He can’t see the future. He doesn’t want to see the future. We clashed. I came up with the idea for the design for my ships while I was in school. He failed my paper because he didn’t like it. We got into a rather heated discussion that last day, with him saying some pretty fucked-up things. I was a student. I was a good student and he hated me.”She was shaking her head. “It’s hard for me to think of him like that. I suppose it shouldn’t be that difficult. He can be kind of abrupt and abrasive.”I scoffed. “Yeah, you think?”“He is very smart and tends to kind of speak before he runs his thoughts through a filter.”“Unlike you,” I commented. “You are always so kind when you speak. I think I’m still grappling with the idea you two are related.”She grinned before taking another bite. “I get that a lot.”“Your dad pretty much hated me from the moment I wa
EvieI did not feel like myself. I felt crazed. Wild. Unhinged.I needed him, and I had never needed anything so desperately in all my life. I couldn’t get him naked fast enough. My hands were furiously pushing down his pants, freeing his erection that was slightly hidden by his shirttails. His shoes were in the way, keeping me from getting the pants all the way off.I dropped to my knees and helped him. While he kicked off the shoes, I yanked the pants off. When I looked up at him, there was a shift deep inside me. He was staring down at me with those golden eyes, his need matching my own. My eyes dropped and I found myself face to face with what I craved most. I immediately reached for his dick, engorged and straining under the shirt.My hand wrapped around him, pulling a sharp inhale of breath from him. I looked up and saw the hunger in his eyes. His jaw was clenched, and his nostrils flared. He was just as desperate for me as I was for him. My tongue lashed out, lapping over the r
“You little vixen,” he hissed.I felt naughty, daring. I crawled away from him before turning to look at him over my shoulder. He was on his knees, a shocked yet slightly angry expression on his face. I got to my feet and waggled my finger at him.He sprang to his feet, nearly knocking me on my ass with the force of him grabbing me.“I’m so not done with you yet,” he whispered before lifting me and carrying me out of the entryway and to one of the couches that faced the massive bank of windows. He dropped me to my feet in front of him before turning me around once again. “Bend. Now.”He was very bossy. I loved it.“Like this?” I asked as I put my hands on the back of the couch and bent forward. I gave my ass a little shake for good measure.He swatted my ass before soothing the spot with his fingertips. “Just like this,” he said in a husky voice.One knee nudged my legs open. I felt the back of his knuckles scrape over my flesh as he guided himself inside me once again. I dropped my h
XanderIt was beyond strange to wake up with a woman in my bed. I had lain awake for several minutes trying to process everything. Evie in my bed, in my arms. It was not how I’d expected things to happen yesterday when she asked me to go to dinner with her and her father.Her being in my arms was a little confusing. I wasn’t sure what to think of it. Or what to do about it. Did I have to do anything?For now, I was going to be cool and casual. Just play it off like I did this kind of thing all the time. Or maybe that was the wrong approach. I didn’t want her to think I did this all the time. I didn’t. Not even close.That was not the right approach. I would just go with whatever she did.She sighed and stirred against me. “Ugh, what time is it?” she asked in a sleepy voice.I looked over at the clock. “Just after eight.”She let out a long breath again. “I should get up.”I didn’t disagree. Lying in bed naked was only going to lead us to another sex marathon. “I’ll make some coffee.”
XanderLaughter floated out of the ballroom behind us. I was glad everyone was having a good time. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work over the year. Every person in there deserved to celebrate their success, including Charlie’s crew.“What kind of business?” she asked. “Are you guys cooking up another scheme to make ships even faster?”“No. I think I’m good for a while now. I have more important matters to focus on.”She touched my cheek. “I better be one of those matters.”“You are. You absolutely are.”“My dad is pretty excited to be a part of all of this,” she commented.“He should be. He made it possible, which is why I gave him a check for his cut of the profits.”Her mouth fell open. “You did what?”I shrugged. “Without him, I never would have gotten those first few ships to try out the new hardware. He offered suggestions that made it work even better. He deserved—no, he earned—that money.”“Wow. Did he accept it?”I laughed and nodded. “Oh yeah, he did. His name is a
XanderOne year laterPride. That was what I felt in that moment. My ships were heading out to sea. Everyone else was already making their way back away from the dock. I couldn’t leave just yet. I watched the ships navigate out to sea one at a time. I didn’t have children, but I imagined what I was feeling was similar to what a proud papa would feel.I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Charlie next to me.“This is a big day,” he said.“It is. You pulled it off.”“You pulled it off.”“What do you think?” I asked him. “Is it going to work? Do you foresee them falling apart halfway around the world?”He shook his head. “My guys did excellent work. That shit is solid.”“Good. Those test ships seem to be holding up.”“Of course, they will. My team is the best. Your idea wasn’t half-bad either.”“Thanks,” I said, watching as one of the ships cleared the harbor.“You know, you could have made a lot more money with that plan,” he lectured.“I could have but I already have a lot of
Evie“I’m going to make love to you all night,” he promised. “This is just the beginning. This is to tide me over until we get home. I want you in my bed. I want me inside you.”“Yes,” I gasped, my head dropping to my chest as he slid in and out of me. Every stroke touched new places. Every stroke sent my body into a wild tailspin of desire and need. “Please. Please. Don’t stop.”He didn’t speed up his pace. He kept moving in that slow steady rhythm, sliding in, grinding his hips, and then gliding out and leaving just the tip inside me. The spasms rocking through me made it difficult for me to remain standing. I wanted to crumble in a heap at his feet with him still inside me.“This is just the first,” he said, his voice strained. “I can’t hold back. Your body is milking me. You are too tight. Too hot. Too fucking wet.”“Don’t hold back,” I told him. I needed his release. I could feel mine hovering just out of reach as if my body refused to give in until it had his complete surrender.
EvieI was being terribly irresponsible. I was not the girl who got naked in the park and had sex. Unfortunately, when I was with Xander, all bets were off.And he loved me. The words echoed through my mind over and over. He loved me. I would follow him into the fires of hell knowing he loved me. I didn’t realize just how badly I needed to hear those words from him.He loved me. I loved him. I didn’t know what that meant for the two of us, but damn if I was going to pass up the chance to find out. The way he was kissing me was different. Maybe it was mind over matter, but I could practically taste the love on his tongue. It was in the way he touched me. The gentleness of his hand on my cheek, holding me steady while his tongue plundered inside my mouth.“Over here,” he said as he broke his mouth away from mine.I felt a little dazed. His kiss made me feel drunk on lust. Again, I was ready to follow him anywhere if it meant I got more kisses like that. He took my hand and led me away f
Xander“Xander, I want to believe you, but I’m hesitant.”“I know. I expect that. It isn’t just the memories of Kade that brought me back. You. Memories of being with you. Thinking about this place and our time together. Those are all really good memories. I want more memories like that.”“You are saying all the right things,” she said with a smile. “You know I can’t resist you.”“I’m counting on it.”“I’m glad you are back,” she said.“Me too. Does this mean you will entertain the idea of having a relationship with me?”“I could be convinced,” she said.“I am going to work very hard to convince you,” I vowed.She sipped her wine. “How are you doing? Like really doing?”“I’m doing a lot better thanks to you.”“Thanks to me?”“You are a sneaky little lady,” I told her.She raised her eyebrows. “Me? Sneaky?”“I got a call yesterday.”“Congratulations.”“Oh, you’re cheeky too.” I laughed. I opened the picnic basket and pulled out the small cheese tray and peeled back the plastic. “You ho
XanderI was so close to losing her. I sensed it in her voice. I wasn’t expecting her to jump at the chance to see me, but I wasn’t expecting such resistance either.The sense of urgency I felt was making me anxious. I couldn’t imagine my life without her. It had taken me way too long to realize how I felt about her. Anytime I thought about my life in a month or a year or in ten years, she was there. I wasn’t sure how it happened, but I knew she was a person I wanted in my life. It wasn’t even a want. It was a need. I needed the woman like I needed air.I was prepared to chase her down if I had to. I would do whatever it took to make her hear me out. I knew there was still a chance she would kick me to the curb. I wouldn’t blame her if she did. I had fucked up. A lot. I would spend the next year trying to convince her to give me a chance. I couldn’t explain when things clicked but they had.It was like the light went on. I hated that I was so ignorant for so damn long. I hated to thin
Evie“I don’t know,” I answered. “I didn’t take the call. I was in a meeting. And it wasn’t the kind of meeting that allowed me to answer my phone.”“Did he leave a voicemail?”“Nope.”“I hate that,” she groaned.“Me too. If it was important, he could leave a message. The guy has fallen off the face of the earth again. He hasn’t called or texted and now he blows up my phone? I’m not interested.”“Liar,” she shot back.“Okay, I am interested but I don’t want to make it too easy.”“You know you’re never going to be able to think of anything else if you don’t call him back and find out what he wants.”“Won’t that make me sound like I’m desperate for his attention?” I asked.“No. The man called you. Calling him back is just polite.”Truly, I was looking for her approval. She had given it to me and now I was anxious to call him and find out. “I’m going to do it.”“Let me know,” she said and hung up.I held the phone in my hand, tapping it against my forehead. I needed to mentally brace mys
EvieI pulled up the images from a sweet-sixteen party I had planned about six months ago before I turned my laptop for the new client to see.“Oh wow, that is stunning!” the mother exclaimed.“I don’t want pink,” the spoiled princess pouted.I smiled, remaining calm. “You don’t have to have pink. You can choose any color you want.”“No,” the mother quickly interjected. “We are not having black.”The girl scowled. “I wasn’t going to say black.”I kept my smile in place. The affluent family had reached out to me last week. Initially, I didn’t want to do it. I was in no mood to deal with a spoiled teenager.“What colors were you thinking about?” I asked.“Purple,” she answered. “I want several shades of purple.”“Oh, that’s very regal,” her mother said with a relieved smile. “I like it.”“I was at a party you planned for my friend like a year ago,” the young girl said. “She said you were really good. My party has to be better than her party.”Ah, teenage envy. “We will do our best.”“We
Xander“No, I don’t suppose it was. You did it for yourself. You made something of yourself. I’ve kept my head in the sand, trying to ignore what you’ve been doing. I did a little research. You have changed the world, just like you said you were going to. You really did something remarkable. Your mother used to show me newspaper clippings with your name. I know I didn’t say it, but I’m proud of you. I’ve always been proud of you.”I put the bottle of beer down. I could not continue to drink it if he was going to send me into coughing fits every time he dropped one of his little bombshells. “You are?”“I am. I should have told you before. You are my son. I’ve said some pretty shitty things. I don’t know how to make them go away but I was hoping we could try and start over.”I felt like I was being pranked. Maybe I was dreaming. In thirty-two years, my father had never believed I was worthy of his last name. “You want to start over? I’m sorry, Dad. This is all coming out of left field.