Chapter 16 - Xavier

Xavier

“ I s she alright?”

My pulse spiked, eradicating any remnants of sleep. I couldn’t get these fucking jeans on fast enough.

“She’s upset.” Bennet’s reassuring tone didn’t help. I grabbed my keys and a shirt, and ran down to my car. The alarm beeped when I unlocked it.

“Xavier, it’s four in the morning. What are you—”

“Not now, mate.” I ended the call and dialed Victoria’s number.

“I’m fine,” she answered.

“You don’t sound fine.” I clipped my phone to the holder, put her on speaker, and sped toward the motorway. Not quite sure where I’d end up yet.

That’s a fucking lie. Jordan won’t know what hit him .

“I’m not hurt or anything. Just shaken up a bit.”

“Tell me everything.”

An aggravated sigh preceded her description of events. “I was out with Hannah. We had dinner. She took me back to the stadium and that’s when I found my car smashed up.”

So much for the state of the art security systems at the New York Legends facility. How the fuck did they not see a random person roaming through the car park?

I get it. It’s a stadium and there’s a shop for fans to buy jerseys and other team shit but that doesn’t mean anyone gets to walk over to where the executives park. Especially since that lot is gated.

“I want you to come directly here tomorrow. Fuck Miami.”

“You’re being ridiculous. And where are you going? I know you’re driving.”

“I have to take care of something.” I’m going to kill him .

“In the middle of the night? That’s crazy. Go home.”

“No.” I pressed down on the accelerator. The streets were empty. Nobody will care if I run a few red lights.

Reality narrowed into a razor thin focus. Someone threatened her. They won’t get away with it. I refuse to let anyone hurt her.

The muscles in my arms ached from pushing against the steering wheel, willing the car to move faster. Lights and buildings flew by in a blur. I swerved around one car, pushing the accelerator down as far as it would go.

Squealing tires screeched just as a horn blew. I barely made it through the intersection without being hit.

“Xavier, please stop.” Victoria’s panicked plea arrowed straight into my heart.

Listen to her , my brain screamed.

Sucking in a breath brought clarity back to the world.

Too fast. I’m going too fast .

I yanked my foot off the accelerator and felt the car slow down. When I found a safe place to pull over and park, I cut the engine.

“Tori? Are you still there?” My heart thundered, slipping into an erratic rhythm. Oxygen . I needed more oxygen. “Answer me.”

“I’m here,” she responded in a dull tone. “Go home before you get hurt.”

“I need to see you. I’ll start a video call.” I hung up, not waiting for her to say anything. My finger shook trying to touch the little fucking camera icon.

Victoria appeared. My anxiety level lowered immediately. She looked aggravated but okay.

“Where are you?”

“Parking lot.” She reversed the camera so I could see Hannah and her bodyguard, Alex. Bodyguard. That happens now whether she wants one or not . Her face reappeared. “The night security guard said he’d wait for the tow truck. Hannah’s giving me a ride home.”

Night security. Where was this guy when it happened?

Her astute emerald eyes studied me through the screen. I swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of her stare. “Why are you out driving like a maniac?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I felt—” I can’t lose you “—I had to do something.”

“There’s nothing you can do from London.” Exhaustion lined her eyes and mouth. “We don’t even know who did—”

“It was him ,” I seethed. “He won’t get away with it.”

“Xavier.” Her voice trembled. “You don’t know that. Please stop making reckless decisions. I can’t handle the thought of you getting hurt or—” a pained expression passed over her face “—please go home. I’ll stay on the call with you. That way you’ll know I’m home safe, too.”

Fury darkened the edges of my vision hearing her this upset. But then it hit me like a fucking brick.

I made her this upset. I added to her stress by acting like a lunatic. Tearing through the streets of London to exact revenge on…on what? A gut feeling? An instinctual assumption based on past events? I had zero proof Jordan had a hand in this. Zero. Yet here I was, ready to burn down the world.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“I’m sorry, Tori.” I barely managed to get the words out. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m just…sometimes I can’t control my impulses.”

Her head rested against the window of Hannah’s car. Even through the lights and shadows of the interior, I could see a small smile. “I’ve heard that about you.”

My lips curved as I started the car. My pulse slowed back to its normal pattern.

“You shouldn’t believe everything you hear. Especially if it’s about me.”

We stared at one another quietly for a few minutes. Six weeks was too long to be without her.

“Did you have a good night out? Aside from this?”

Victoria’s eyes widened. “It was interesting.” She pointed the camera at Hannah. “Wasn’t it?”

Hannah’s eyebrows winged up. “Yeah. Definitely.”

“I’m about to drive. Is there something else you two want to tell me before I do?” I kept my tone light for the most part.

Victoria appeared. “Nope. I need you to get home safe. You have a soccer game to win in a few days.”

“Football match,” I muttered, grinning into the darkness.

“I heard that.”

“Did you really? I could swear the word soccer keeps coming out of your mouth.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

I heard Hannah laughing in the background.

“When do you have to be at the training facility tomorrow?”

“Early.” I glanced at the time. “Doubt I’ll be getting any more sleep when I get home.”

“Try to nap.”

Impossible. “I’ll be fine. Getting you home in one piece is all I’m worried about right now.”

“Mmhmm. Same.”

Stopping at the traffic light gave me an excuse to focus on her. She must have propped the phone on something. Her eyes were closed and I could see her arms folded up to cradle her head against the window.

“Tired from all the drinks or all the excitement?” I asked.

“Both.”

She must be exhausted. Not even an attempt at sarcasm.

“You should hang up if you want to rest,” I said gently. “I’m almost home anyway.”

“No. I like having you with me.”

The mood shifted to something softer, almost achingly vulnerable.

“And I like being with you. I’m not going anywhere.”

We fell into a comfortable silence for the remainder of our drive. The sky grew brighter as I walked into my flat. Definitely no more sleeping for me. I’ll probably go for a quick run before leaving.

I sat by the fireplace, putting my feet up on the ottoman.

“I know that chair.” Victoria watched me. “I like when you sit in it.”

“Yeah? Haven’t used it since you were here.”

“We’ll have to fix that next time I’m in London.” A bright light illuminated the interior of the car. “Home sweet home.” She blinked against the sudden light. “Thank you for staying on with me.”

“Will Alex be picking you up in the morning?”

A brief silence followed. Victoria glanced over at Hannah. “Eight? Okay.” Her eyes focused on me. “He’ll come get me at eight.”

“Good. Now go to bed.”

“Just because you’re sitting in the bossy chair doesn’t mean I want to be bossed around.” A tantalizing rasp edged her voice. “I’m about to get in the elevator. I might lose you.”

“You’ll never lose me, love.”

“Tell that to all the steel in this building. Good night, country prince.”

“Good night, city princess.”

Training was awful.

Let me correct that.

I was awful.

Lack of focus. Lack of conviction. Lack of any desire or drive that made me… me .

“Get your head straight, Maddox,” Ashton Clarke said, pulling me aside in the changing room. “Those should be routine saves for you.”

The manager was right. All of this should be routine. Fucking up on the national team didn’t sit well with me at all. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint him or the rest of the guys.

Ashton had been the biggest football star in England when he was the midfielder for West London. Even though that club was now my biggest rival, I idolized him growing up.

“Having a shitty morning I suppose.” I shrugged, unable to fully shake off what happened last night.

“Get some lunch. Regroup. Have a better afternoon, yeah?” He patted my shoulder and returned to his office.

After showering and changing, I met up with Cade and some other players in the dining hall. One of them was Zach Donovan. I’d sucker punched him a few months ago during a match, leading to my multi-game suspension. We’ve worked things out since, but he eyed my warily.

“Alright.” Cade rubbed his hands together. “I’ve finalized the chateau rental for after the match. Who’s in?”

“Another night of debauchery, Gallagher?” Liam Turner chided, sitting in the remaining empty chair.

“If that’s what you want to call it.”

“You’re more likely to score at the party than on the pitch.”

“Care to make it interesting, Turner?” Cade smirked.

I glanced around the table at my teammates. Well, at least for international matches. Liam excelled as a defender in Newcastle. Zach was a superstar at West London United. The other lads were called up from Liverpool, Chelsea, and Brighton.

We don’t train together often but when we do, it sometimes turned into a good-natured battle of egos.

“How about you, Maddox?” Zach addressed me. “How many saves can you guarantee?”

I shot him a warning glance. I knew what he was up to and I didn’t want to take the bait.

“What? Nothing to say? You couldn’t stop mouthing off before our match against you lot. Guaranteed a clean sheet if I recall correctly. Too bad you didn’t last the whole game.”

A hush fell over the group. This was the last fucking thing I needed today.

“I guarantee I’ll make more saves than you,” I retorted, mentally kicking myself for even giving this guy the satisfaction of a lame answer.

“I’m a striker, asshole. I don’t need to save anything.”

Guess the amends we’d made were in name only. Prick .

“Tell that to your reputation,” I snapped. “Driving your fancy Porsche through a store window isn’t a good look.”

Zach stood up, leaned forward and pressed his hands on the table. “You’re one to talk about reputations.”

A sharp whistle cut through the mounting tension. “That’s enough, gents,” Cade said, looking from Zach to me. “We’re all here for the same reason. To get a win in Paris. Nothing else—” he looked pointedly at me “—matters.”

I scowled at my friend. He responded with a knowing head tilt.

Seriously?

Fine. FINE. I’ll be the bigger person.

“Sorry,” I grit out.

Zach’s satisfied smirk doused my annoyance with jet fuel. So much for regrouping and getting my head on straight at lunch. I rubbed a finger over my eyelid to stop it from twitching.

The remainder of our break passed without further incident, aside from Cade and Liam’s spirited jabs at one another. I’d tried not to let my sour mood from last night spill into today’s preparations. Guess I’m failing at that, too.

Once everyone stood up to get back to work, I approached Zach.

“Sorry. Again,” I said, actually meaning it this time. “The Porsche remark was a low blow.”

Zach stared at me with a glint of disbelief in his eyes. “Fair play. Apology accepted.”

“Yeah, well, figure United won’t win the league anytime soon so I’ll let you have this one.”

“Arrogant bastard. Just for that, I’m gunning for you this season. Mark my words. Back of the net every time.”

We started walking toward the strength and conditioning room.

“Back of the net. You know how often I hear that? More times than anyone’s actually scored on me.”

“I’ve scored on you,” he boasted. “Many times. You’re good, Maddox. But you’re not that good.” He paused. “You do have a killer left hook though.”

I laughed. “Been working on it since I was twelve.”

“Listen.” He stopped walking. “I shouldn’t have baited you like that, with the whole guaranteeing saves.” Zach studied me with caution. “We’re both hot-tempered assholes.”

Technically, he’s not wrong. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I say it to his face.

“Let’s leave it all on the pitch, yeah? Show me that so-called talent everyone keeps talking about.”

“I’ll do you one better,” he said with a smug smile. “I’ll show you what a great striker can do if you show me one decent save.”

We both laughed and went on our way.

The rest of the afternoon went much better than the morning. Even though most of us were rivals on the pitch, being around the guys and prepping for an international match together had a different energy.

After all the stress and anger and general unpleasantness from last night, this felt good. I felt more like myself. I loved this sport. Loved competing. Loved bonding with my teammates. Even the ones who got on my nerves.

This training facility was just as nice as our usual one near Birmingham. World-class, actually. The complex sat on nearly one hundred acres. It was lush and private and just what I needed to get focused. Ashton wanted us to stay closer to London for this trip. I wasn’t complaining. Plus, we all had rooms in the hotel on the private campus tonight.

My improved mood carried me through dinner. Cade invited a bunch of us to his room to watch a movie before curfew. I went for a little while and excused myself early to hopefully get some time with Victoria. We haven’t spoken since last night and I couldn’t stop thinking about her all day.

I sent her a text before walking into my room.

Me: How’s Miami?

I kicked off my trainers, grabbed some water and stood by the window.

Tori: Hot and humid. How’s training?

Me: I’ve had better

Tori: Give me a sec. I’ll call you

I sat on the couch, phone in hand.

“Hey,” I answered after one ring. I heard muffled conversations in the background.

“Why have you had better?” This voice. It sounded even brighter and more soothing tonight. “Did someone score a little goal on you?”

“Maybe.”

“Poor boy. How will you survive the embarrassment?” I could hear her moving around, as though she were walking to a more private place to talk.

“Where are you?”

“Some fancy restaurant downtown.”

I heard heels clicking. She must be walking down a hallway. Then I heard a door shut. Was that a lock snapping into place?

“Did you just lock yourself in a vault?”

“Not quite. I’m in the bathroom. Actually the powder room area. It’s more private.”

Nothing sexy about that statement at all, yet my cock jumped with interest. “Why?”

“Because I miss you and I’ve had a few drinks and I’m really horny and feel like playing.” Her tone was laced with want and hunger. “Are you alone?”

“Yes.” I put her on speaker, unzipped my jeans and pushed them down. “Not like that would matter anyway.”

A silvery laugh pealed through the phone. “No, it wouldn’t. I can picture you sneaking off to another room. Would you put me on speaker so everyone could hear?”

This fucking woman. I fisted myself and slowly started stroking. “You know I would.”

“Good boy,” she purred. Somehow I could tell she was touching herself too. “Are you laying down? Sitting up?”

Her questions came out low and husky. It made me grip myself tighter. “Sitting up. Like I’m in my bossy chair.”

“Perfect. Are you stroking yourself rough and hard? I liked watching you do that.”

Fuck. “Yes. You were on your knees watching me. Are you kneeling now? Tell me what you’re doing.”

“I’ll do better than that.” A few seconds of silence followed. Then my phone vibrated. “You should really check your texts.”

When I did, I nearly passed out. A picture of her seated on a velvet couch stared back at me. The couch faced a full-length mirror.

Her reflection.

Fucking hell.

One leg was up on the couch, a black high heel braced against the cushion. The other leg spread wide. She had her dress hiked up with her fingers buried in her cunt. I couldn’t see her face because the goddam phone was in the way but her head was tilted back slightly.

Another text came through.

It was a selfie. Holy shit . She was licking her fingers.

“You are so fucking dirty,” I growled. “I love it.”

“How much do you love it, country prince?” She spoke in low, gentle tone. “Do you love it enough to make yourself come for me right now?”

I stroked myself harder.

“I can hear you. I can hear your hand moving over your cock. God…I wish I was there, kneeling in front of you. Sucking you—” her voice grew thicker with desire “—teasing you…swallowing you…I miss you… Xavier .”

My grip tightened hearing my name fall out of her mouth on a moan. An orgasm coiled at the base of my spine.

“I want you kneeling in front of me right now, taking every inch down your throat.” I let out a harsh grunt. “Do you know how fucking good your mouth feels on me? How much I love it?”

Sweat beaded over my skin as I stared at the picture she’d sent.

“ Xavier …”

The phantom scent of warm, musky vanilla invaded my senses.

I should be fucking her right now. Feeling her nails clawing at my back. Hearing her greedy demands for more and harder .

My breathing grew harsh, impatient.

I bit out a low curse. My cock was hard and swollen, begging for release. I edged myself closer.

“Say my name again, dirty princess,” I ordered. “Say my name until I come.”

A long pause and then…

“ Xavier Fucking Maddox …do you have any idea what you do to me…” Breathy little gasps punctuated her words.

Oh my fucking God. My orgasm tightened, threatening to explode. I slowed my movements.

Not yet. I needed to savor this.

“ Tori .” I thrust into my own fist.

“Come undone.” Her sultry command washed over me. “ Xavier …center of attention…everyone loves you…but you’re mine…all of you…come undone for me…only me… Xavier .”

“ Fuck .”

My climax burst in one blinding, deafening moment, drowning out any of Victoria’s sounds. The force of it left me breathless and shaking. I rested my head back against the cushion, waiting for my heartbeat to slow and the fog to clear from my brain.

Mine. All of you.

After a few seconds I heard, “Are you still there?”

“Yes, love.” Barely .

“I can’t wait to see you on Saturday.” The smile caressing her voice reached through the phone and punctured my soul.