Chapter 22 - Victoria

Victoria

A soccer field.

Not sure what I’d expected but an empty soccer field wasn’t anywhere on my list.

The scent of fresh cut grass saturated the air as he guided me toward one of the goals. From the size of it, it was meant for children.

My heart stuttered.

Was this…?

“We aren’t too far from where I grew up,” he said, seemingly able to read my thoughts. “Which means we also aren’t far from Briarcliff Village. I know you said you didn’t want to spend the day in a car but now that your flight is much later, we have time.”

“I’ll remember to thank you for this when I’m half asleep at work tomorrow,” I teased.

“As you may have guessed, this is the pitch I used when I was a kid.”

“When you dreamed of being a striker?”

“You remembered. Impressive, Chase.”

“I pay attention to everything you say, Maddox.”

His throaty laugh slid across the humid, August air. I soaked in every part of him. He stood casually in the goal with his arms up, hands grasping the crossbar. Pieces of the detached, frayed net swayed in the soft breeze.

No designer clothes for him today. Just jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. Tousled hair and bright eyes.

“You look cute. I’m going to put you all over social media.”

“Cute?” An eyebrow went up.

I pointed my phone at him. “Hot. Sexy. Insufferably snobbish. Is that better?” I snapped a few photos when he laughed.

“Did you get what you wanted?”

“Yeah.” He’s perfect. “I did.”

The world saw him as an arrogant, talented athlete. The charmer. The unattainable object of so many desires. And he absolutely was all of those things.

But I got to see him like this.

Unguarded, relaxed, not craving the attention of millions.

Here, he was just Xavier. I could almost see the little boy who wanted to be a striker, and longed to impress his dad.

The air shifted when I looked at him. Playful flirting morphed into something more insistent.

“Come over here, city princess. I have to tell you something.”

“Bossing me around?” I approached him, resting my hand on his chest. “What do you have to tell me that’s so important I needed to be right here.”

“I just like having you close to me.”

“Sneaky flirt.”

“You know you like it.” He studied me for a few seconds. “Enjoying your day so far?”

“I am. Although I’m not entirely sure why you brought me to a soccer field.”

“Football pitch.” Xavier’s devilish smile unfurled a forbidden puff of smoke in my stomach. “Stand against the post and see if you can reach the crossbar, like I’m doing.”

My pulse fluttered. He wouldn’t . “We both know I can’t reach that. What is it? Almost seven feet high?”

“Probably.” He backed me up against it anyway. “Arms up. Hold on where you can.”

I reached over my head, gripping the post. The way he looked at me stole my breath.

“What do you have in mind?”

Xavier leaned close, rasping his fingers down the front of my strapless maxi dress. “I want to tie you to this post. And then I want to see how far I can push your limits.” He watched me carefully, his dark eyes reflecting the sunlight. “Do you want that?”

I nodded without hesitation while trying to control the insistent throbbing between my thighs.

“I can’t hear you.”

“How much longer do I have to keep saying this?”

“Until I say otherwise.” His heated gaze tore through me. “Do you want me to push your limits?”

“Green.”

“Good,” he whispered, kissing me softly. “Don’t move.”

A few thoughts ran through my mind while he went off to do whatever it was he was doing. The most obvious being someone could show up at any time. Not sure how it would play out in the media if England’s number one was caught fucking a girl tied to a soccer goal.

I mean, it turned me on but…

Crawl to me .

What we’d done last night at the chateau sizzled through my veins. His visceral reaction to seeing me crawl across the room burned itself onto the deepest, darkest parts of my soul. I’d do it again in a heartbeat if he wanted.

“I told you not to move.” Xavier’s warning tone made me jump.

“I...oh.” Dammit. My arms were down. “Sorry.”

“You will be.” He lifted a torn piece of netting. “Arms up.”

I did as he ordered, keeping my eyes locked on his. The intensity of his stare complimented the silky darkness in his tone.

“Put your hands through here and then hold onto the post again.”

I tucked my hands into the mesh squares and clenched my thighs together when I felt the first bite of material wrap tight around my wrists. Then I reached up and grabbed the post. Xavier grinned, binding my wrists together with the netting and securing them to the goal.

“Beautiful.” He caressed my cheek. “Are you comfortable? Does anything hurt too much?”

He’d tied me up pretty tight but I liked how the mesh dug into my skin.

“I’m comfortable.”

“You say that now.” Dipping his head, he pressed his mouth to the base of my throat. My normal reflex is to sink my hands in his hair. I gasped from the inability to move and the sharp sting of the netting. His kisses branded a path from my neck to my mouth. “Still comfortable?”

Our lips hovered close. Dangerously close.

“Yes.”

“I love seeing you like this.” His eyes hooded. “Only you. And here’s how I’ll prove it.”

My muscles pulled taut when his fingers skimmed along my arms, down my sides to my hips, and back up. He did it again. And again. The feather-light touches scattered goosebumps on my skin. Getting tickled wasn’t one of my favorite things but every graze of his hands went straight to my clit.

“I’ve fantasized about doing this since you described your university experience.” Xavier’s warm breath caressed my lips. “I thought tying you to the goal would be more fun than kneeling on a floor.”

Another long, slow caress traced the length of my body from the swell of my breasts to the top of my thigh. A sound between a gasp and a yelp clawed its way out of my throat when he pulled down my dress and brushed his thumbs over my nipples, teasing them into hard peaks.

“You are so soft,” he whispered, cupping my breasts and tracing their curves. “Tell me, dirty princess, am I making you wet?”

Not breaking eye contact, I nodded.

The damp warmth of his breath tickled my ear when he said, “I know you are, love. Your scent is intoxicating.”

Desire pulsed through my veins. The urge to touch him overpowered me. He stood so close, yet I was powerless to reach for him.

Slanting his head, he licked his lips and smiled. “Do you want something?” The teasing and seductive edge to his voice slid over my skin, along with his hands. Those hands that don’t miss .

Velvet caresses outlined my jaw, neck, collarbone, and stomach. When I thought he was finished, he started again, stimulating different areas of my body.

“ Xavier . You feel… oh my god .”

My breathing turned ragged and my heart raced. His hands…his hands were everywhere. Touching. Exploring. Taking.

“Xavier, please .”

The heat from his body disappeared when he pulled away, leaving me shaky and craving more. I squirmed against the restraint.

“Looks like we still have a lot of work to do on your patience, Victoria.” Xavier yanked my dress all the way down, tapping my legs so I could step out of it. He slung it over the crossbar, then removed my panties and stuffed them in his pocket. A smile that screamed filthy fantasies curled his mouth when he stroked his jaw.

“You’re so gorgeous tied up.” He approached, clamping a hand around my neck. “What should I do with you now?” His other hand slid between my legs as his tone darkened. “I know. I’ll make you come as hard and as often as I want.”

A needy whimper escaped me.

“Oh, Victoria.” His voice poured out like molten lava. “I’ll make you beg for it first, love. You like that don’t you?” My mouth dropped open on a silent moan when his finger slipped inside me. “The idea of begging me while you’re helpless and bound turns you on, doesn’t it?” Another finger entered me. “My fiery, independent city princess. So willing to trust me with your pleasure.” A rough stroke on my clit nearly shredded me. “So willing to surrender everything to me.” Another rough stroke. And another. “So. Fucking. Willing.”

“ Please ,” I begged as hot desire prickled over my skin. It wasn’t simply the feel of him or the tight bindings or how he sounded that drove me closer to the edge. It was the feral play, the filthy ways he wanted me, and how he teased and tortured every inch of my body.

He withdrew his fingers and painted my lips with my own desire for him. Then he licked across them before kissing me hard and deep. I tugged against the mesh netting so ferociously I thought I might actually break free.

“You’re not getting out yet.” The damp heat of his lips brushed mine when he spoke. “I have something to give you first.”

Without breaking eye contact, he lowered himself to his knees. I was already a soaking wet mess but now? Seeing Xavier Maddox fall to his knees for me? The intensity snatched the breath right from my lungs.

“You have the prettiest cunt I’ve ever seen.” He leaned forward, tasting me with a lazy lick. “Fuck,” he moaned. “Spread your legs wider, love. I’m going to savor you.”

I trembled, doing as he requested.

Xavier took his time, using his tongue to seek out my clit. The steady licks buckled my knees. So did the long pulls and hard sucking.

Two fingers dipped inside me, plunging in and out. All my muscles pulled taut again when I felt his slick fingers slide back toward my ass.

“Wha-what are you…?” I’ve done quite a bit of experimenting but this wasn’t something I ever tried.

He gazed up at me with sinful eyes and stroked the opening, rubbing it and applying gentle pressure. I nearly saw stars. He felt and looked like temptation and darkness. Then his tongue circled my clit.

“That…that feels…oh my god.”

I fucking lost it. An orgasm exploded behind my eyes and shook me so violently I thought I’d pull the whole goal down.

All I felt was him.

His hands, his mouth, his tongue. All coaxing more.

I surrendered to the dark flames that burned between us, consumed by it.

This orgasm went on forever, sending electric shocks through me over and over. When it finally subsided, my senses rushed back in a deafening wave.

Xavier remained on his knees with his arms wrapped around my legs and his head pressed against my stomach. I don’t know how long we stayed like this. I was so dazed I didn’t even feel him stand up.

“Tori,” he said silkily, unzipping his jeans but not fully undressing. The tip of his cock slid along my swollen pussy.

“I…I need you, Xavier.” I almost didn’t recognize the throaty dip in my voice. “I need all of you. I want all of you. Every piece you hide, I want to see them all. Let yourself go with me.”

He let out a low groan. “I will. We’ll be broken and beautiful together.” Eyes wild with hunger flicked over me as he hooked my legs around him. “You’re so perfect for me…so perfect.”

His gentle praise ignited feelings I didn’t know existed. And then he slammed into me and fucked me the way I wanted. The way we both wanted.

Brutal. Untamed.

Not only did he fill me to the hilt, he also rubbed my clit without mercy. He was relentless. His fingers, his thrusts, his sharp panting.

My world narrowed and devolved into a carnal haze of rough sex, deep moans and grunts, and the delicious pain from being strung up.

I craved release but I never wanted this to stop.

Xavier’s grip on me tightened as he lifted my thighs higher. The angle let him slide in deeper.

“So fucking beautiful.” He pushed into me harder and faster. “You’re mine, Tori. Forever.”

The dark possessiveness in his voice ignited the ache in my core. It built to an excruciating level.

He stopped his frantic thrusts, staying buried inside me.

“Show me who I belong to.”

Reaching down between us, he pinched my clit.

“ Xavier ….I… Oh …” My screams echoed through the sultry summer air. I climaxed so hard tears streamed down my face.

His measured thrusts drew out my release while he rode through it, finally coming on a loud groan.

I collapsed, as much as I could, into a heap of liquid bones. Closing my eyes, I tried to catch my breath. Soft kisses covered my cheeks as even softer caresses wiped away my tears.

The haze of post-orgasmic sex settled over us in a thick cloud. If not for Xavier’s gentle rubbing on my wrists, I never would have realized he untied me.

“I’ll put something on these when I take you back to my flat,” he said, sounding a little concerned.

I looked at the red marks on my wrists.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

“No.”

Xavier cupped my face with both hands, searching me with uneasy eyes. “You would tell me if it did?”

“Of course I would. It doesn’t hurt. I promise.”

“Okay.” He reached for my clothes and helped me redress.

When we sat on the grass in the goal, the optics made me smile.

“What is it?”

“I think I just scored on you.”

His breathless laugh charmed me. So did his flushed skin, lust-drunk eyes, and wide, dimpled smile. Somehow, he looked even more gorgeous than ever.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

I reclined against him, resting a hand on his thigh. Closing my eyes, I imagined Xavier as a teenager, honing his skills on this field. I know he met Cade when they were kids, and then Bennet entered the picture a few years later.

It still floored me to know I’d vacation here every summer with my family and never once did I run into him. My heart fluttered. But Charlotte did.

After a few minutes I asked, “Did you ever go to the bonfires when you were a teenager?”

Birds chirped in the distance to fill the prolonged silence.

“I went to all of them,” he finally answered.

“Isn’t it wild how we never crossed paths?” I looked up at him. “You probably wouldn’t have noticed me anyway. Not with your harem always surrounding you.”

His quiet laugh swathed my heart in warmth. “You make it sound like they covered the ground in rose petals everywhere I walked.”

“I bet they would have if you’d asked.”

“Probably.” He pulled me onto his lap and swept a thumb over my cheek. “The only reason I know we never crossed paths back then is because if I had seen you, I would have made you mine from the start.”

My pulse sped up. “You’re too charming for your own good. I realize I’m not a wallflower but I’d still be just another faceless girl clamoring for your attention.”

“You’re wrong, love.” He banded both arms around me. “You could no sooner blend into a crowd than a star could hide from the darkest night.”

The weight of his words rooted deep in my soul.

“When I, um,” I cleared my throat. “When I first started reading Charlotte’s diary and learned she was dating your stepbrother, I had this…thought.”

“Do I want to know?”

I smiled, pressing a hand to his cheek. “It’s nothing bad. I just…I’m not a big believer in fate but it almost felt like she’d tethered us with an invisible ribbon. It’s like she knew we’d eventually meet or—”

“The strength of your light would have led me to you.” The warmth of his hands burned through my dress when he slid them around my waist. “I felt it the moment I saw you.”

“Felt what?”

Eyes bluer than the summer sky latched onto mine. “That there’s nobody else for me. That it’s only…” He paused, inhaling a shaky breath. “Only you, Tori. For as long as I breathe, only you.”

The slow sweep of his thumb over my lips sent shivers rushing in waves along my skin. Never in my wildest, most uninhibited dreams did I imagine someone would say that to me.

“Xavier, I—”

His firm, passionate kiss finished what I was about to say. If the world ended right now, I wouldn’t have one regret because I was with the only man I could ever, and would ever, love.

“We should head out.” Xavier’s somber tone brought reality rushing back when he broke our kiss. “Unless you want to stay here with me.”

“Forever?”

His grin took on a wicked slant. “Careful what you wish for, love.”

“I told you already. You are what I wish for.”

“And you have me.” He squeezed my waist. “Up you go.”

He helped me stand, and then hooked his hands on the crossbar again.

The longer I stared at him, the more my heart ached for a reason I couldn’t name.

“Am I really not going to see you again until we come here for the game in October?”

A gentle smile pulled at his lips. “Miss me already?”

“Your arrogance is showing.”

“You love it.”

“Maybe.”

“Almost as much as you love me.”

“Wow. I’d almost forgotten about how highly you think of yourself.”

“Glad I could be here to remind you.” His smile grew wider. “To answer your question, I’m hoping to fly over to see you during my international break next month.”

“Next month ? How will I survive?”

“You’ll manage.”

I rested my hand on his chest, standing on my toes to kiss him. “Thank you for Paris. And for today.” I pressed another light kiss to his lips. “Thank you for opening up the way you did about your dad. I know it wasn’t easy.”

Xavier released the crossbar and wrapped his arms around me.

“Everything is easier with you.” The rawness in his voice twisted around my heart like a vine. Butterflies flitted through my stomach when he cupped his hand behind my neck, massaging it with his fingers. “The luckiest day of my life was seeing you on the side of that road. I feel like,” he swallowed hard. “I feel like I could tell you everything and you’d still love me. You’d let me stay in your light and stop me from spiraling.”

I hurt someone .

Tears burned my eyes recalling what he’d started to tell me all those weeks ago at the ring ceremony. “Everyone deals with trauma in their own time. When you’re ready to confront it, I’ll be here to listen.”

His heartbeat thundered beneath my hand. A tumultuous storm swirled in the depths of his sapphire eyes. Confessing the hurt over what happened with his dad was only a small piece of a much more textured past. I sensed it from the way he held me.

He confirmed it when he kissed me like he was drowning, and I was the only thing keeping him alive.

I melted into him, letting myself get swept away. The love we shared was so powerful it nearly extinguished the nagging, persistent voice in my mind always whispering you don’t deserve any of this .