Page 171 of The Keeper

“Tori,” he rumbled, pulling me flush to his body, so my soft curves pressed into his hard muscles. “I’m sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing.” His fingers dug into the small of my back. “I won’t blame you if you want to dump my arse.”

I slid my hands under his jacket, circling his waist. “Nobody’s breaking up with anyone.” Even though I legit had this thought a mere ten seconds ago.

Some of the tension melted from his body. Some. I could tell he was guarded.

“However,” I continued, pulling his shirt out so I could put my hands on his skin. God, I missed touching him. Feeling how his body reacts to me. “You have three weeks worth of apologizing waiting for you.”

“I know. I’ll do anything.” He tilted his head so our lips almost touched. “Anything you want.”

Explanations. I want explanations and reasons and assurances this won’t happen again. And then I want to make Jordan McKennie’s life a living hell.

“Did Bennet tell you?” I asked.

“Yes.” His grip on me tightened. “What did Jordan say to you?”

“A lot of really shitty things,” I seethed. “He must think I’m a complete moron to believe the story he spun.”

“Tell me.”

I recounted the conversation I had with fake-Wes-from-Missouri who wound up being real-Jordan-from-England. Xavier’s expression soured. Unbridled rage flashed behind his eyes.

“What a narcissist,” I groused.

“I vote we don’t talk about him anymore tonight.”

Great idea but I had so many questions. And avoiding what happened really won’t help the situation.

I sighed, pulling out of his embrace. “We have to talk about him.”

“Why?”

“Well, for one thing, you fucking ghosted me because of this guy,” I blurted out.

“I didn’t ghost you.”

“Semantics, Maddox. Anyway. We have to talk about this because…” I blew out a breath, sending a few strands of my hair up into the air. “We just have to.”

“Okay.”

I grabbed his hand and put it over my heart. “Will you be one hundred percent honest with me?”

“Always.”

“Even if you don’t like what I’m asking?”

He closed his eyes and inhaled slow. When his eyes met mine again he said, “Even if I don’t like what you’re asking.”

“Why would he say you stole his fiancée?”

“Shit,” he grumbled, scrubbing his face with his hands. “She was cheating on him with me.”

“Xavier,” I exclaimed. “What the hell?”

“Not that this will make it sound any better,” he continued, “but she was also shagging the striker on United at the same time.”

I just stared at him in shock. I mean, I figured he got around but wow. The Jordan thing was becoming an actual thing.

“Okay that’s…a lot.” I suppressed an urge to pace around the table. “But you didn’t actually steal her from him, right?”

---