Page 59 of Xavier

“I can’t imagine being so unhappy that I’d willingly join the military.” Her eyes widen before she yells, “Oh my God, I didn’t mean it the way it sounded coming out. Not that joining the military is a bad thing. I mean, look at you, you made an entire career out of it.”

My smile grows the more she rambles. It’s cute.

Her cheeks blush a deep red as her gaze moves down to her hands. She mumbles, “I’m going to shut up now. Wow, that’s embarrassing.”

I glance at the timer on the stove. Two minutes. “We have time for one more hand, if you are interested.”

“There’s nothing else to occupy our time, so deal away.”

My insides are being torn in opposite directions. I know being here in a safe house is the smart thing to do for the time being, but I don’t enjoy seeing her miserable.

We are only on the first day, and there’s no telling how long we will have to be here. I’m hoping for only a week or two, but I won’t make promises to her I can’t keep.

I shuffle the cards and deal out our last hand, not bothering to place the first two cards face down.

Brianna raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything.

After the last card is placed down on the table, I gather them up and look at her, waiting for her question.

Brianna thinks for a moment before standing up. Just as I think she’s not going to ask me a question, she says, “I want you to kiss me.”

Without thinking, I blurt out, “Why?”

She takes a few steps until she is standing next to my chair.

After throwing her long hair over her shoulder, she crosses her arms and says, “Because I’m tired of being cooped up inside. I’m tired of playing cards. I’m tired of being single. And because I’ve wondered what it would be like since the night of the bonfire.”

My dick bounces in my pants, but I swallow my needs and wants and say, “I can’t.”

She doesn’t like that answer. She purses her lips and juts out a hip and demands an explanation. “Why?”

I stand and say the only thing that will keep me from giving her what she wants. What I want. “You’re off limits.”

She steps closer to me until her body is pushed up against mine. “Says who?”

“Says me.”

She presses her perfectly manicured finger into my chest. “Bullshit. I’m not an idiot. I’m more observant than you think I am. Did my dad tell you I’m off limits?”

Her feisty attitude makes me want to haul her ass in the bedroom and show her exactly what her dad warned me not to do.

I don’t answer her question. I try to push past her, but she plants her feet and refuses to move.

“Brianna, move.”

“Make me.”

I let out a deep growl and try to step to the side, but she moves with me, once again blocking my way.

My heart races in my chest and before I can register what I’m doing, my hands wrap around her waist and pull her to me until there’s not even a breath of air between us.

Our lips crash in a frenzy as hands explore places we’ve only dreamt of touching.

Her hands work their way under my shirt before moving up my muscles. She digs her nails into my flesh, causing my hips to press my cock against her stomach.

I trail my hand up her back, tangling it in her long locks, before giving it a tug.

Her head tilts back, breaking the kiss.

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