Chapter 47: Chapter 47

XAVIER

“Fuck!” I adjusted myself again as I leaned my head back against the headboard. My dick was throbbing in my pants, and my balls were aching from being so full.

I could feel the wetness in my boxer briefs from all the pre-cum that had been leaking out. It was aching for relief.

I was still stunned that she’d actually written a book about our night, every glorious and filthiest detail about the night we’d spent together.

I lost count of how many times I’d read this book. She’d written about everything, from her thoughts to the filthiest way we’d explored each other’s bodies.

I was amazed, yet a little pissed, knowing how many perverts were going to read it and get themselves off. Because I had been doing the same thing since I’d seen this book on Carter’s desk.

The moment I’d seen the book with the title ~The Stranger~ and the name of the author, Sara H. Adam.

I didn’t know why the first thing that came into my mind had been Melody.

She used to talk about how she’d wanted to be a published author. She’d always liked to capture her moments in words.

I’d seen a few projects she’d worked on during college and the two completed projects she’d planned to send to a publisher.

I’d never been into books, but when I’d read the books she’d shown me in New York, I’d been very impressed. The romance was sizzling, the emotions were raw, everything was fucking perfect.

It didn’t surprise me she’d written about our story, because I’d known she’d been writing about it, but I’d never thought she would publish it after everything.

I’d immediately bought her every book from a website and had tried to read them but stopped at the thought of who could have inspired her writing for those sex scenes.

Had Matt, or someone else? While I’d read, I’d imagined her with Matt. So I’d quickly put all the other books aside, and picked up ~The Stranger~.

It was short, but there was everything a story needed, raw passion, the chemistry between the characters, and most important, ~undying love hidden under the layer of lust~.

Very few people would notice the emotions and feelings encircling under the sheet of passion and desire between two characters.

For some, it would be a bedtime story, and for some, it would be the story of two strangers who fucked and parted ways.

Yes, that was how the story ended in the book, but this was not the end of our story. It was the beginning, and it would only end happily ever after.

I read the last few pages, and my cock was throbbing in my pants. I wished I could have her right this second. But there was nothing I could do right now other than sit in the hotel room. Alone.

I’d arrived in the morning and hadn’t left the room since. I didn’t want to get spotted now. I would wait for the right moment, because I still wasn’t sure about her relationship status.

Were they together, or had they broken up? I fucking didn’t know, and it was eating me alive.

My phone rang, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Hello?”

“Xavier,” I heard Mom’s voice.

“Is Mila okay?” I asked, immediately sitting up straight.

“She’s fine,” she sighed. “Where are you?” she asked. I could hear the distrust in her voice.

“Vegas,” I replied shortly.

“What’s going on, son? I talked to Asher, and he said you’re not with them.”

“Did you tell him?” I asked.

“No,” she replied.

I sighed in relief.

“Now tell me what’s going on. I’m worried.” I could clearly hear the concern in her voice.

“Nothing is going on, Ma. I’m just trying to win back something I lost,” I replied.

“Is the something a girl? The same girl who was at Asher’s engagement party?”

I wouldn’t lie to her, so I just kept my answer short. “Yes.”

“Xavier, I hope you know what you’re doing.” She hesitated. “You have to think about Mila too.”

“I know, Ma. I know,” I replied.

I didn’t know how to tell her I’d stayed away from Melody because I’d been thinking only about Mila.

I could try to blame all things on that videotape, but Mila was the reason I’d given up on her. I hadn’t tried to fight harder once I’d gotten the paternity test result.

Lisa had threatened me that she would abort the baby if I’d tried to contact Melody. I’d had to choose, and I’d chosen my daughter and had given up on Melody for good.

I’d never tried to look for her, but that didn’t mean I’d stopped loving her. I’d loved her then, and I loved her now.

~I can just only hope she will understand me and my reason.~

~

Aside from the other thing, one question was still swirling inside my head.

Would she accept me with Mila? Because whatever happened, one thing I was sure as fuck about was that I wouldn’t abandon my daughter.

But at the same time, was I ready to lose Melody again?

Fuck. No. I wouldn’t lose her again. If I had to beg on my knees, I would fucking beg her to take me back, to give me another chance to prove it had been her. Only her. Always her.

I hung up the phone and headed to the shower. I stood under the hot water, trying not to think about anything, just her.

I wrapped my hand around my already aroused cock and started stroking. I closed my eyes, imagining her gorgeous body naked and her pink lips wrapped around my thick cock.

My dick was rock hard in my hand, and I stroked it up and down as I breathed in again and again.

I jerked off, thinking about our first night together. I had known she wasn’t a virgin, but thinking of her with other men made my blood boil.

I had been getting jealous and possessive over her after spending a few moments with her.

I would never forget the day I’d made love to her, and I never wanted to forget how she’d screamed my name, how her moaning had been music to my ears.

I’d never felt a deep connection with anyone. Sure, I had taken hundreds of women in my bed, but with her, everything was different and deep.

I thought back on our first night together. She had been sexy and had had the most gorgeous body I’d ever seen.

I remembered clearly how we’d made love, how hard I’d fucked her, how hard she’d come, clenching my cock with her pussy walls.

“Fuuuccckk,” I gritted my teeth, stroking hard and fast. The thought of that made me erupt and I came hard all over my hand.

When I was through with my shower, I turned off the water, wrapped a towel around my hips, and walked out.

I spent most of my time replying to emails. A soft knock made me alert. I hadn’t ordered any room service. ~Who could it be?~

I sprang up from my bed and looked through the peephole. I opened the door when I saw the only person I’d been waiting for.

~Oliver.~

~

He was our first cousin. He stepped in and scowled at me. “What the fuck is this? You’re here, hiding from your own brother.”

I closed the door and locked it. “Did you meet all of Dan’s friends?” I asked, ignoring his glare.

“Yeah, I did.”

“Was Melody with them?”

He narrowed his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Just answer me,” I growled.

“I won’t until you tell me what the fuck is going on,” he growled back. “She’s so much younger than you.”

I grinned. I’d gotten the answer I’d been looking for.

“Now, listen. I want you to get close to her—”

“Oh, that I can do.” His eyes gleamed with interest, which I didn’t like a bit.

My hands squeezed into fists as my whole body hardened with rage. “Close enough to talk only,” I hissed. “I want to know if she is still dating that quarterback or not.”

“They’re engaged,” he informed me.

I was breathing heavily as I tried to keep my voice steady and under control. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.

“I fucking know that. I want to know if they’re together or not,” I hissed through clenched teeth.

“I won’t do your dirty work for you, and you shouldn’t be chasing a girl so much younger than you.” He looked disgusted.

I raked my hands through my hair, frustrated. “You know me, Oli. I don’t hound over girls. Ever.” I stopped, letting what I’d just said sink in, because that was the truth.

After Carter’s sister had died, I hadn’t been in a relationship with anyone else. But I would follow Melody to heaven or hell if I had to.

Before I could do anything, my phone buzzed. It was Gunner. I glanced at the time. I made Oliver sit in the room, and I walked out onto the balcony for the conference call.

It took more than half an hour. I stepped back into the room, and Oliver was sitting on the couch with the book I’d been reading this morning.

He looked up and changed position so he could get comfortable with his hard-on.

“When did you start reading this kind of book? Fuck! How do women read this? This is like reading fucking porn!” He stood and adjusted his dick, which was clearly straining against his zipper.

I didn’t reply. Taking the book from his hand, I placed it back on the bedside table. I swiveled and crossed my arms, asking if he would help me or not.

We talked and argued for more than fifteen minutes. We circled the same topic again and again.

I rubbed the back of my neck and decided to tell him why I was desperate to know her relationship status.

So I told him the only thing that was important enough to convince him to help me.

He was tight-lipped for a few minutes, then cleared his throat. “We’re going to a club tonight,” he informed me.

“Thank you,” I said as the sweet sense of relief filled every inch of my body. I knew he was with me.

“If she’s single and doesn’t want to forgive you, I’m going to ask her for a date.” He crossed his arms.

My whole body tensed. “Not happening,” I growled.

“Why?”

“Because you don’t date; you just fuck them,” I hissed. He didn’t say much because he knew I was speaking the truth.

***

As the evening rolled on, I found myself sitting on a bar stool, watching the love of my life.

She was sitting at the bar in my favorite Vegas nightclub, wearing a little red dress and sipping a gin and tonic.

My heart was aching in my chest as I watched her. I let my eyes travel from her head to her toes. I only wanted to say, ~Fuck. My. Life~.~

She was wearing a short, tight-fitting red dress that hugged every insanely sexy curve she had, and the neckline plunged so low that anyone could get a glimpse of her perfect tits.

It was backless and showed the perfect twin dimples above her hips. I remembered kissing those dimples as she moaned my name. ~Fuck me sideways.~

~

My dick instantly started hardening at the sight of her. Her red lips were practically calling me to walk over and plant mine on them.

I felt some wetness leaking down my shaft just from looking at her. It had been too long since I’d had sex. I’d known coming here was a bad idea, and she’d just proven me right.

How the fuck was I going to control myself around her when she was wearing those fuck-me heels, and her long and lean legs were calling me to taste them?

~Fuck!~ I shifted again in my chair.

I was sitting on the corner of the booth, where I could keep an eye on her. I stopped and took a deep breath as I looked her over. She was absolutely perfect.

I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful creature had ever existed in the history of the cosmos. My heart was fucking pounding in my chest. I could barely fucking breathe whenever I looked at her.

She was looking like a goddess who was meant to be worshipped. And only I could worship her, her body, and I was going to worship every fucking inch of her body with my lips, with my tongue.

Suddenly, my heart felt like it was being pulled out of my chest as I watched her talking to the stranger who was leaning too close for my comfort.

The thought of him touching her made me feel murderous, and my hold tightened around the glass.

I saw that fucker leaning closer to her, and he said something to her with a leering smile. She frowned, creating a little dip between her eyebrows, and I wanted to kiss it.

Thankfully, she hopped off the barstool and sat beside Jacob, who was glaring at his wife as she danced with someone else.

I glanced at my watch. Half an hour more, and she would celebrate her birthday with her friends. I bet Dan must have planned something for her.

That fucker was too protective of her, and I was glad she had him to look after her and protect her no matter what.

Dan led Melody with him, and I watched them helplessly, waiting for the right moment until Oliver did his work.

An hour later, I watched Oliver leading her to the dance floor, and my blood boiled. I’d asked him to get close enough to talk to her, not to put his hands on her bare back. I saw their lips moving.

My phone rang, and Oliver’s name was displayed on the screen. I accepted the call and heard their conversation.

I was shaking with wrath as I heard her saying how she and Matt used to hook up even after the breakup. But that would stop now. There would be no man in her life except me.

I stood on my feet and walked to the dance floor to win the love of my life back. We had missed so much, wasted so much time.

I knew how much we still had to work out, including the small detail of reminding her she was mine.

Oliver stepped aside after twirling her. With her back to me, I grabbed her hips and pulled her back to my chest. A groan rose to my lips as our bodies touched.

We’d done a lot more than touching, but every time I felt her skin, my body reacted in a strong way.

I leaned down and trailed the bridge of my nose to the soft curve of her neck. My head began to swirl as I breathed in her arousing perfume.

Her brown hair tickled my face as I leaned in and kissed the soft curve of her neck. She moaned and started grinding on my already hard cock. It felt like I would come any second, and I might.

My cock hardened to the point of pain. My balls ached with the need to release inside her, but I wasn’t here just to fuck. I was here to make her realize that we were destined to be together.

We were right where we belonged, with each other. It was time to make her see it too.

“Is that how you grind your ass against a stranger’s dick?” I growled, barely holding back the anger. She froze but didn’t turn right away.

I could tell she was debating, wondering if I was real or not. After what felt like an eternity, she turned and slowly looked up.

I sucked in a harsh breath when I saw her beautiful brown eyes and the pain hidden in their depths. I leaned forward and placed a kiss on her temple.

“Happy birthday, my love,” I whispered, my lips still on her temple, savoring the softness of her skin.

There was too much to say. Too much that had gone unsaid for far too long. Now, I could say all the things I hadn’t known how to say then.

She stepped back and rushed off the dance floor. My whole body was numb as I watched her go. I couldn’t move. A coldness gripped my core, and there was a heaviness in my stomach as I watched her.

I ran after her. She couldn’t run away like this. Not this time.

I stopped short as I saw her leaning against the bar. I sighed and sat on the stool next to her.

She turned and smirked. “My hips aren’t the only things I grind on a stranger,” she purred.

My hands automatically curled into fists.

She leaned closer. “And you aren’t the only stranger in my life, Xavier. There were so many I couldn’t even count if I wanted to.” She laughed. It was painful and bitter.

This wasn’t how Melody used to laugh.

I glanced at the looming figure standing in front of me. “I told you not to come. I told you before I won’t let you anywhere near Melody if you hurt her,” Dan growled, grabbing me by my collar.

“Dan, leave him,” Melody hissed, pushing him away.

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me. “We are talking,” she slurred and slipped from my arms. I wrapped my arm around her waist before she fell.

“Babe, let’s go,” Dan said softly.

She shook her head and looked up. “Should I go?” she asked me.

I wanted to scream, ~No~, but she was drunk. So I nodded.

“Okay.” She pouted.

“But we will talk tomorrow. I don’t want to run anymore. I don’t want to hide anymore.

“We will talk and end this and us forever. I will be free from hurt and pain for good,” she said and placed a small kiss on my cheek.

Yes, we would talk, but it would never be the end. It was the beginning of us. We would move on with each other, leaving all the pain and hurt behind us.

It might take a little time, but I wasn’t giving up, not this time.

~Because we are both broken, and only we can heal each other.~

~