Chapter 5 - Victoria

Victoria

“ T his way.” Xavier’s insistent tone brought me back to the present. We walked toward a parking garage but all I could think about was the weird interaction.

That guy looked at me like he knew me. But it’s not possible. I’d never seen him before in my—

Charlotte.

A cold sense of dread gripped me, taking hold of my body. Memories from the summer when we were sixteen bubbled up no matter how hard I tried to keep them locked away.

A humid August night.

Our final weekend in England before school started.

A bonfire.

Me, insisting Charlotte come to the party.

Her, adamant she’d rather stay at home.

“It’s not a good idea, Tori. Mom and Dad already said no. We’re too young.”

“Honestly Charlie, you’re never going to actually experience life if you only play by the rules. It’ll be fun. We won’t stay late. I promise to be by your side the whole time.”

Guilt consumed me. I didn’t mean to break my promise. I’d meant what I’d said. But I was young and stupid and reckless and…

“Victoria, are you alright?” The deep, soft timbre of Xavier’s voice broke through my unpleasant trip down memory lane.

My present day surroundings came into sharp focus. A black Land Rover. A concrete floor. The smell of gasoline and rubber and exhaust.

“I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” I avoided looking at him because I knew he’d see right through my weak response. He’d had that effect on me from the start.

“Are you expecting me to believe that?”

The sobering nature of his question snapped me out of my haze.

“I’m just,” I scrambled to come up with words. “Tired. It’s been a long week. I have a lot on my plate for Monday. You know, just work stuff.”

“You’re good at deflecting. Try again.”

“Says the well-rehearsed pro-athlete who knows the right things to say in any situation,” I snapped.

“I could talk in circles with you like this for hours. But I’d rather you be honest with me.”

His hands glided up and down my arms. An unrelenting pull consumed me. I knew what the risks were. I knew what would happen if I let him in. But I didn’t have to let him in. I could do what I always did. Give him my body, take from his, and enjoy the pleasure.

Having a one night stand wouldn’t be that bad, would it? I mean, look at this guy.

He kept touching me. Stroking my arms. My shoulders. It felt so good. Soothing. I wondered what his hands would feel like on my… No. Nope. Not going there.

I looked up. His fingers sifted through my hair, gently scratching along my scalp. Slow, sensual movements. My eyelids fluttered.

The smart, responsible thing to do would be to go back to the rental house. The boys were staying the night in Scotland, so I’d be alone.

Alone with my thoughts.

Alone with my guilt.

Fuck that.

“This feels good. What you’re doing with my hair. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. You’re still not going to tell me are you?”

I sighed, frustrated. “It’s a family thing. That’s all you’re getting.”

A smile pulled at his lips. “Wasn’t so difficult now was it?” he teased.

“Don’t be cute.”

“Is it against your policy to come back to my flat so we’re not inhaling fumes while I do this?” He gently fisted my hair.

“I’ve never encountered this scenario before. I suppose I’ll allow it.”

Ten minutes later, we walked through the front door of his townhouse. It was quiet. Dimly lit. My heart pounded watching him. The way he moved with such fluidity hypnotized me as I followed him.

“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, heading toward a sideboard covered in bottles and glasses.

“Sure. Whatever you’re having is fine with me.”

I glanced around his living room. One hundred percent bachelor pad but stylish. Large windows framed breathtaking views of London. Two large couches sat in the middle of the room. A chair and ottoman were positioned near the fireplace. I smiled to myself, picturing him sitting there at night. A huge bifold door led out to what I assumed was a patio.

I turned in a slow circle and faced a bookshelf where several medals and awards were displayed. I stood closer to admire them.

League Champions.

Man of the Match .

Player of the Month.

“Obnoxious, isn’t it. All those medals.”

I turned to see him grinning and offering me a glass. I smiled and thanked him.

“Not too obnoxious,” I said, taking a sip. “You should see all the rings I have thanks to my team’s championships.”

“Those big, gaudy things?” He wrinkled his nose in mock disgust. “Wouldn’t even wear them.”

I swallowed the rest of the bourbon, put the glass down, and glanced at his hand. “Yours are nice.”

“Just decoration.” He smiled. “Would you like another?”

Yes .

“I shouldn’t. I had a few too many at the event and I don’t want you to think I can’t hold my liquor. Plus, I should, you know, keep my wits about me while I’m here with you.” My voice trailed off at the end while I studied every inch of him. I noticed the subtle way he positioned his body to fill my entire line of sight. Not that I wanted to look at anything else.

“I am a gentleman, you know.” His low, sexy tone returned.

Something in his expression dared me to fire off a sarcastic response. I had a better idea.

“And what if I’m not a refined lady? What if, underneath my fancy Ivy League education, designer clothes, and successful career is just some horny girl who wants to know if the gentleman you described earlier actually exists.”

The change in his demeanor was immediate, like I’d flipped a forbidden switch in him. His warm, casual smile dissolved into a curve of hungry desire. I put my hands on his chest and looked up into his eyes. A burst of icy sapphire surrounded the dark pools of his pupils.

“I thought you said—“

“I know what I said.”

Screw my policy. Screw the rules. I wanted him. I wanted to stop denying myself something that would bring me pleasure beyond my imagination. And it would make me forget the real reason I had to come to England.

There’s little hesitation when his mouth brushed over mine. His determined lips knew what they wanted. He flicked his tongue along the top of my lower lip, no doubt tasting the bourbon and recalling the quick bite he’d left there. A small, ragged sigh shuddered through him.

Then he fisted his hand into my hair, pulling it almost to the point of pain. He angled my head where he wanted it, his tongue invading my mouth fully. This is what I craved. This is what I needed. Aggressive. Rough. Untamed.

My back hit a wall within seconds. He pulled my skirt up and lifted me so I could wrap my legs around his waist.

I wanted to drown forever in this kiss. Taking his wild passion, giving him what he needs, losing myself in the sensation of his muscular body pressed to mine.

He broke his mouth away, slipped his hand between us and pulled my panties aside. “I’ve pictured this moment since running into you the other night.”

“Was this the outcome you hoped for?” I arched against the wall, anticipating his touch.

That damn dimple appeared when a salacious grin curled his mouth. “One of them.”

My body shook when he spread my folds open and dipped his fingers inside me, curling them to hit just the right spot. I sighed as he steadily plunged them in and out. My hips moved subtly to match his rhythm. A look of absolute ecstasy washed across his face.

“I can’t wait to taste you.” He withdrew his fingers and painted my lips with my own desire for him. Then he licked across them slowly and deliberately. On a groan, he molded his mouth to mine, kissing me like he’d been waiting for this moment for a long time. Like it was meant for him. Fated .

Returning his hand between my legs, he pulled his mouth away and whispered, “I won’t be able to deny you anything.”

The way he looked at me made my heart pound.

Xavier lowered my legs so I could stand. “Don’t move.” His eyes trailed up and down my body while he unbuttoned his shirt. I let out an audible gasp when he dropped it to the floor.

Yes, he was muscular. But not in the bulky way some pro-athletes are. He was lean, sculpted, powerful.

I simply stared at him. At the corrugated lines of his stomach. The expanse of his chest. How his throat worked when he swallowed. Every tendon and muscle in him braced for what was surely to come next.

And his tattoos. I sucked in a breath. They covered his upper torso from shoulder to shoulder. Some even snaked down his arms.

I placed both hands on his chest, my fingers following every curve, every detail.

He shivered at my touch. “Victoria. Are you sure you want this?”

I nodded.

“I need to hear you say it.” The blue in his eyes burned like flames. Complete combustion.

“I want this.” I scratched my nails down his chest. “I want you.”

His mouth devoured mine again. This kiss was filled with an urgent, raw passion I’d never felt before. I matched his intensity, willing to give as much as I’d take.

We tore the rest of our clothes off without much ceremony. There was no time for sensual and slow. This was hot and greedy and breathless, almost desperate.

Xavier paused, his hand gripping my upper thigh. I felt his hard length pressed against me. I weaved my fingers through his hair, noting how soft and thick it was.

Then I heard foil tearing and looked down. He rolled the condom on with skilled quickness and lifted me so I could wrap my legs around him again .

“One more thing,” I purred. “I like it rough.”

His eyes shot to mine. I nodded.

“How rough?” he inquired in a forbidden tone.

“I’ll tell you if it’s not enough.”

“You are so much more than I expected,” he growled, pushing himself into me without warning.

The pleasure was so sharp I strained against him as he held me firm to the wall. He was not gentle. He was also not small. I didn’t have much time to adjust to his size and quite frankly, I did not care. My entire body smacked hard against the wall every time he thrust into me. The pleasure and pain ignited a desire that dwelled deep inside me.

I tightened my legs around his waist, digging my nails into his shoulders. He was holding back for some reason. I could feel it.

“Harder,” I whispered into his ear. “I need more.”

Xavier groaned, gripping my backside with such force I yelped. His fingers dug into my flesh, holding me immobile while he speared his cock deep inside me without mercy, filling me deeper and faster.

Hot desire prickled over my skin. This was perfect, perfect, perfect. The beginnings of my climax twisted and knotted in my belly. My eyelids fluttered as the growing sensation spread.

“Look at me.” He grit out the command.

The second I obliged, an animalistic groan rumbled through his chest. I’d never seen or felt anything so masculine . My body became a live wire, consumed by energy and vibration.

A faint moan escaped my lips while I watched him. What looked like a type of carnal need etched into his face. A longing that couldn’t be sated no matter how hard he tried.

My orgasm hit me hard, scrambling my thoughts and seizing my body in a series of pulsing waves. He rode through it, feverishly taking every last ounce of my pleasure. A desperate sound escaped his lips, fierce and possessive. His entire body tensed. With a shudder and several final deep, hard strokes, Xavier tumbled over the edge with me .

Even though he’d finished, he was still hard inside me, his body still taut with lust. Hot, open-mouthed kisses covered my shoulders and neck. When he found my mouth, he plunged his tongue in.

Claiming. Tasting. Owning.

I shoved my hands in his hair and pulled his head back. His lips remained parted. His eyes wild with hunger.

“Again, Xavier.” My voice was low and husky, almost unfamiliar to me. “Fuck me again. This is all I could think about after seeing you the other night.”

The slow, deliberate way he dragged his tongue over his lower lip restarted my waning orgasm. Whatever secret he kept that thrilled him to no end reflected in his eyes. He pulled out slowly, teasing my sensitive flesh.

“Don’t move.” His gaze fell to my lips and his eyelids hooded when he stepped away.

I closed my eyes. My head thudded against the wall. I could hear him moving through the room. When I felt him in front of me again I opened my eyes to see him rolling on another condom.

“Tell me what you couldn’t stop thinking about.” He hooked my legs around his waist and pushed himself inside me.

“You,” I breathed. “What you said about fucking me in public. How your…when your hand was on me. Your voice. Your face. Your eyes. They were so dark, like you wanted to take me right then and there.”

He pulled out almost all the way, then rocked his hips forward, slowly filling me to the hilt. The sensation was killing me. The slow torture of pleasure. The measured control. On a moan, I clenched around his length.

“Are you leaving something out?”

I nodded.

“Tell me,” he ordered.

“That…that night was the first time I got myself off thinking about you. ”

A dangerous, filthy smile tugged at his mouth. “You touched yourself thinking about me?”

“More than once. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. But I just…you’re…”

“Did you touch yourself today? Before coming to London?”

I only nodded. I couldn’t speak. His slow, torturous movements were too much.

“How many times did you make yourself come today?”

“Two.”

“That’s not enough,” he murmured, grinding his hips into me. “Did you fantasize about seeing me again?”

“Yes.”

He licked along my bottom lip before biting down on it. I went slack in his arms from the pleasure.

“Were you wet when you saw me at the event? Did you want my cock inside you in front of all those people?”

My lips parted on a silent moan.

“I’ve been thinking about you since I saw you on the side of the road,” he rasped. “Do you have any idea how hard I was at Black Rose? I had to take the edge off as soon as I got home. Fuck. I wanted to be inside you that night.”

The slow, methodical thrusts created a friction on my clit so consuming I nearly saw stars.

“Xavier.” I could barely speak.

“Do you want more?” he asked.

“Yes.”

His eyes flashed. “Should I go easier on you this time, dirty princess?” His voice was deeper and rougher. The sound made my arousal pool at my core.

“No,” I barely whispered. “I like you untamed.”

Bending his head to my ear, he growled, “You haven’t seen me untamed yet.” Then he thrust into me so hard and fast and deep I yelled .

“Fuck,” he hissed. “This will be quick, Victoria.”

He moved one hand between my legs, savagely rubbing my clit. It matched the wild intensity of his thrusts, bringing me within seconds of climaxing.

I never orgasm this fast. Never.

Not even when I’m using my own hand or toys. My second orgasm hit with the same ferocity as the first.

I cried out, scratching down his back, gasping for breath.

The involuntary grunt he expelled along with his rough breathing signaled we’d come at the same time. That’s a first for me.

His sides heaved like he’d just finished running a race. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back. His body shivered against mine on a shaky inhale as he pulled out.

“You’re bloody dangerous,” he declared.

“And you’re addictive,” I countered, looking at him.

“Perfect combination.” He carefully lowered my legs to the floor. To say they were wobbly would be a gross misrepresentation. I’d had decent lovers before. But this? Him? We’re talking next level.

“Feels like you marked up my back pretty good.”

“What?” I panted. “Oh. Well, I mean…you…did I hurt you?”

A low, satisfied chuckle spread through his chest. “No.”

His lips brushed over mine in a lush, soft kiss. When he pulled away, he held my arms, keeping me secured against the wall. My damn legs kept shaking.

“Can you walk?”

“The cheek on this one.”

His serious expression almost made me regret my flippant remark. “I’m not letting you go until I know you can stand and walk.”

“I can,” I responded, sounding a bit more breathless than I expected. “I’m good.”

Backing away as though to study his handiwork, he grinned. “Fucking gorgeous. ”

“Pretty sure my mascara is smudged to high hell but I’ll take the compliment.”

“It’s not.” He extended his hand. “Come with me. I need to get you cleaned up.”

I gladly placed my hand in his and followed him to the bedroom. No lights were on so I could only see his face in shadows. Somehow, it was even more stunning.

He got me settled on the bed and went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he rejoined me, he handed me a warm washcloth, waited for me to clean myself, and tossed it in the hamper.

Then he finally climbed in next to me. I nestled into him with my back against his chest, laying on my side. His legs tangled with mine, one arm draped over my hip. He nuzzled into my neck, nibbling at the skin. Nothing but comfort flowed through me. For at least this moment in time, I felt relaxed and whole.

His fingers traced down the side of my ribcage. I closed my eyes, hoping he wouldn’t ask about the tattoo he’d no doubt already seen. He kissed it softly and let his lips linger for longer than I would have expected.

“What does this mean?”

Shit.

This was neither the time nor place for oversharing.

I shrugged. “I just liked it.”

“I like mine, too, but I know what each of them means.”

I swallowed. “Twin phoenix feathers made of flames. I got it when I was eighteen. It’s…personal.”

That seemed to satisfy him for the time being. His fingers continued caressing my skin while his mouth left warm kisses along my shoulder.

“You broke your policy for me.”

I rolled over to face him, meeting his blue stare. “Looks like I did.”

“How long are you here for?”

“I told you already. I leave Wednesday. ”

He gave me a funny look. “I’d remember that piece of vital information. You didn’t say it to me.”

My post-sex brain went into overdrive. I told someone. I must have. I remembered saying it earlier tonight when…

“Oh. I mentioned it to Bennet.”

“Hmm.” He cupped his hand over my backside. It was still sore from all his grabbing. “Confusing me with my friends? I see how it is.”

“Honest mistake.”

He combed his fingers through my hair, gently scratching against the scalp.

I laughed softly. “This was supposed to be why you invited me here.”

“It still is.”

We remained silent for a long moment. At some point I knew I had to leave but I wanted to savor this just a bit longer.

“Xavier?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad I bumped into you tonight.” My eyelids became quite heavy. All the bourbon and sex finally caught up with me. “But I should probably go before I fall asleep,” I mumbled.

The massaging stopped for a second. But only a second. “You don’t have to go,” he said quietly.

I snuggled closer to him. Five more minutes and then I’ll leave. Just five minutes…

His fingers continued their slow massage through my hair.

“Feels so good.” I think I said that out loud.

I woke up wrapped in Xavier’s arms. The first slivers of daylight brightened the room. I squinted. He didn’t have any curtains or blinds on his windows. Not wanting to wake him, I carefully disentangled myself from his embrace and got out of bed. I took one last long look at him before hunting for my clothes and redressing.

Leaving without telling him felt wrong.

But this was only a one night stand.

One night to distract myself.

It had to be.