Page 75 of Chasing Xander
As soon as he was parked in the hotel lot, she got out of the car and went inside. Sighing, he jogged to catch up and pulled open the door for her. She stabbed the elevator button much harder than necessary, and he knew he was in a shit-ton of trouble. Like usual, even when he tried to be good, he still fucked things up.
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside. He followed. “Are you going to talk to me?”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
He chuckled, which earned him a dirty look. Biting back his smile, he pressed the button for the fifth floor.
She turned on him, her brows furrowed. “Do you know how incredibly frustrating you are?”
“Excuse me?”
“You keep telling me we have to take things slow, but then you look at me and touch me in these ways that make it seem like you want more. And the things you say…” She shook her head, the corners of her mouth turning down. “You talk like I’m your girlfriend, yet you won’t get close to me. I just don’t understand.”
He hung his head. Before he could explain, the elevator doors opened. Like the total jackass he was, he stepped out, racking his brain for a way to make things better. She’d lost the most important person in the world to her, and now here he was, toying with her emotions because he couldn’t make up his damn mind what he wanted. But he did know. He wanted her.
He glanced over his shoulder, then stopped. Where the hell was Kylie? She was behind him a second ago. He stalked back to the elevator and pushed the down arrow. A moment later, the doors slid open, and he came face-to-face with her. He tilted his head.
“What’re you doing? The elevator’s not a damn carnival ride.”
“Apparently, neither are you, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying, now has it?”
He stared at her, and she stared back, a faint spark flashing in her eyes. He laughed. She cracked a smile and then hid it just as quickly, but it was enough for him to know she wasn’t angry.
At this rate, there was no way he’d make it through the next few days without slipping up, especially considering he was having a hell of a time not kissing her right now.
Xander led the way toward their rooms. She stopped by her door. “Just tell me why.” Her voice was low, tinged with pain and sorrow.
“Why what?”
“Why don’t you want me? Am I not good enough for you? I mean, I’ve seen the girls you’ve been with, and granted, I’m not anywhere near as pretty as they are, but—”
“Stop it,” he warned.
“That’s it, isn’t it? I’m not up to your standards? I’m too fat? My boobs aren’t big enough?” Her tone remained level, as if she were talking about something as simple as the weather. “Maybe I’m not dumb enough or my hair isn’t the right color. My ass is too flabby.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” The muscle in his neck ticked, and his jaw clenched. If she seriously thought all of those things about him, about herself, then he really fucked up worse than he imagined.
“Well, it’s gotta be something about me because, from what you’ve said, you don’t turn women down.” She stepped up to him, her face inches from his.
He held her gaze, his heart in his throat as he searched her face. She was hands down the sexiest, smartest, funniest woman he’d ever met. Hell, if he could’ve built his dream woman, she wouldn’t stand a chance against Kylie. She was the entire package. How could she not see that?
“Forget I said anything.” She turned her back to him and slipped her key card into the lock, but before she could open the door, he grabbed her and spun her around.
He threaded his fingers into her hair, holding the back of her head, and then his mouth was on hers. She stood frozen, her eyes going wide, and then she relaxed. He parted her lips with his tongue, and her eyes fluttered closed as she leaned into him. Soft, supple lips worked against his, her warm breath mingling with his. She tasted like beer and strawberries. It was the most delicious flavor in the world, and he needed more. Moving his hands to her neck, he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.
Kylie wrapped her arms around his neck and arched into him. Her soft moan was the only permission he needed to keep going, to give her what she’d wanted and to take the same in return. And God, her kiss was pure perfection. His mind raced as he backed her up against the door, pinning her between it and him.
He plunged deeper, harder, devouring her mouth, swallowing her soft moans and gasps for breath. Her tongue sliced over and around his, the motions slightly hesitant as if she were unsure of what she was doing, and that only spurred him on. Her innocence was precious, something to be cherished. And there wasn’t another man on the face of the earth who would cherish her like he did. He wanted to fall to his knees and worship her.
She dragged her booted foot up his leg and hooked it under his ass, jerking him closer as she pushed her hips forward. He dropped his hand to her waist, flexing his fingers on her hip before clutching her thigh and grinding against her. He was so damn hard he couldn’t see straight.
“Kylie.” He groaned. “Fuck.” He slammed his palm on the door right above her head, hoping the sting would ease the war raging inside him.
Dropping her foot back to the floor, she sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and looked up at him under her long lashes. That look… His cock thickened even more. She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt, and all he could think about was how it would feel to have her plump lips on his bare chest.
He rested his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. She was destroying him, shredding every last ounce of willpower he had left, which wasn’t much to begin with. Xander took her hand and slid it down his stomach until her palm was firmly on his crotch. His dick was hard enough to pound nails. Because of her. Because of that kiss.
“Now tell me you’re not good enough, Ky.” He nipped at her bottom lip. “Or whatever other ridiculous bullshit you just spewed from this sexy-ass mouth.” He rubbed his thumb across her lips. “I dare you.”
