Page 45 of Bad Boy for Hire
“What I wouldn’t give to know what went down between those two,” May muttered.
Xavier grabbed the back of her chair and scooted her until their knees bumped. “Who cares?” Hand on her jaw, he tipped her face up to his and lowered his mouth.
The kiss ignited every part of her, warming her body and peaking her nipples behind the lace corset. She opened her mouth for him, welcoming his tongue to come and play. The entire bar fell away, the other diners fading into the background while his lips moved on hers.
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked, pausing to give her bottom lip a gentle bite.
“When?” she whispered.
“How about now? I know you’re good to drive. You know the way to my place.” The rawness in his expression stole her breath away. “We need a do-over.”
“I thought we did great the first time,” she said as he traced her jawline with the tip of his index finger. “But I’m willing to bet we could do better.”
“Only one way to find out.” Xavier tossed a twenty-dollar bill on the table for the busboy and then offered his hand. “I’ve been wanting to get out of here for the last hour. If Griff and Lisa hadn’t left voluntarily, I would have pulled the fire alarm.”
Xavier took her hand and walked with her to the door. The evening air was cool and brisk, making May feel as light and effervescent as the bubbles in her drink.
“That outfit is killing me, by the way.”
“Jewell picked it out.”
“Remind me to buy her something nice to show my gratitude. Like a vacation home.”
Following the glow of Xavier’s taillights, she navigated down the tree-lined road toward his lakeside mansion. When she pulled into the driveway, she noticed the shake in her arms. Her nerves had finally gotten the best of her.
She checked her reflection in the rearview mirror, fluffing her spiral curls before smoothing one finger over the lip balm she’d applied while driving here. With her thumb, she adjusted the corset. It was beautiful, but the herringbone was digging into her skin. If Xavier didn’t take it off her within five minutes of entering his house, she would.
A shadow blocked the porch light outside her window. Xavier opened her driver’s side door and offered a hand. His gaze flickered to her lips. “Longest commute of my life.”
“We were on the road for three minutes.”
“Three minutes is a lifetime to wait between kisses with you.” On that excellent compliment, he leaned down to kiss her again. She gripped the back of his neck, closed her eyes, and dove in for another taste.
His tongue sweeping into her mouth reminded her of the way he’d explored between her legs. His soft beard and attentive stroking, his single-mindedness toward giving her exactly what she needed…
She moaned into his mouth.
He ended the kiss.
“You can open your eyes now,” he whispered.
She blinked them open and then glanced up at the sky. “No full moon tonight.”
“This is where I refrain from mentioning showing you my full moon.”
“That is very impressive. I didn’t know you were able to exercise such restraint.”
“When it comes to you, May Glenfield, I’ve had a lot of practice.” He glanced down at the bag in her other hand. “That’s not the purse you had in the bar.”
“I brought a few overnight things. Just in case.”
“In case I invited you over?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Your house is closer to Salty Dog than mine.”
His grin was feral, and when his top teeth scraped his bottom lip, she felt her knees go gooey.
Pull it together, girl.
