Chapter 35 - Xavier

Xavier

Two Weeks Later

C ade and Noah held up their respective jerseys and smiled for the camera. I looked down at mine, and then over at Tre Gideon.

As part of the international series being played here in London, the teams thought a jersey swap would be a fun little promotional stunt. Since Cade and Noah both wear the number nine, they were up first.

“You’re officially invited to the number nines dinner,” Cade proclaimed, slinging an arm around Noah’s shoulders. “Only the best are allowed at the table.”

The Legends quarterback laughed and glanced down at his newly acquired Royal City jersey, emblazoned with the name Tate on the back.

“Looks like we’re next,” Tre said, shaking out his Royal City jersey. “Do number ones have a dinner, too?”

“Not quite. Our egos haven’t reached the same stratosphere as strikers.”

“I heard that, Maddox,” Cade shouted.

“Or quarterbacks,” Tre joked.

“What was that, Gideon?” Noah lifted an eyebrow. “Did a wide receiver just claim to be less of a prima donna than the guy under center?”

The New York Legends arrived in London this morning and were already in the middle of a full day. After this photo session, they’ll use our training facility for their normal practice. And then tonight, we’re all getting together for a team dinner.

“Your place at five?” Cade asked on his way to the weight room.

“Sure.”

He regarded me curiously. “Is Victoria meeting you at the venue?”

“That’s the plan.”

His brows furrowed. “Don’t be nervous, mate. She probably can’t wait to see you.”

“I’m not nervous,” I lied.

“Right. And I’m not better looking than you.” A hard swat hit my arm. “See you after training.”

I shook my head, shoving the Legends jersey in my bag.

Victoria and I had been texting all morning. She was setting up media availabilities for the players and coaches, and finalizing a few last minute interviews, so we haven’t seen one another yet. To say I was growing impatient is an understatement.

I haven’t told her what I’d learned about Jordan, or what I’d decided to do. Figured we should be somewhere quiet and private for that conversation.

The backlash from discovering his plan will be harsh. Knowing Jordan the way I do, he’ll back Victoria into a corner and then come after me with everything he’s got. Stopping him before it reached that point was my only goal. And in order to do that, I had to sacrifice everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve. It was the only way.

I made peace with my decision.

Victoria was worth it. Her happiness was worth it. Our happiness was worth it.

According to Bennet’s daily updates, Jordan was still laying low in Alderley Green. Not driving out there myself was an exercise in self-control.

As the day dragged on and it became clear I wouldn’t see Victoria until later tonight, I went about my usual schedule. Today’s training consisted mostly of reaction timing.

I remained as focused as possible but kept one eye on the clock.

Tick, tick, tick.

The seconds and minutes taunted me.

“Set!” The goalkeeping coach shouted.

I turned to face the goal, showing my back to him.

“Strike.”

The ball was already sailing toward my left shoulder when I spun around. I somehow managed to catch it.

“Good reaction, Maddox. Let’s go again. Set.”

We ran this drill for the rest of our session. I never knew which direction the ball would come from when he shouted strike . Once we finished, I hit the showers and went home.

Prowling around my flat did nothing to calm me. Dinner wasn’t for another two hours but Cade should be here any minute.

Not sure how much longer I could take all the waiting.

Just when I thought I’d crawl out of my fucking skin, a knock sounded at the door. My pulse ratcheted up several notches.

I flung it open and nearly had a heart attack.

Victoria.

She was right there in living color. Right in front of me.

Red hair fell in loose waves across her shoulders. Bright emerald eyes widened when she smiled. My smile. The one that brings me to my knees.

“Hi.” Her greeting was breathy and sexy as hell. “I hope you don’t mind me showing up unannounced. I had some extra time and thought maybe we could hang out for a little while and go to the event together.”

My stomach clenched.

“I don’t mind at all. Come inside.”

Her musky, vanilla scent swirled around me when she walked by. The room vibrated with anticipation and unspoken words. Caressing her with my eyes, I dragged my gaze over her lush curves. The blue dress she wore fluttered around her thighs with every graceful step.

All the distance I’d felt the last few weeks evaporated. Victoria’s presence consumed me, filling my soul and saturating the very air I breathe.

“I saw Cade outside just now.” Victoria tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I noticed a small tremble in her hand. “He looked totally surprised to see me and said he’d meet you at the restaurant instead. I didn’t interfere with your plans, did I?”

“No, love.” I reached for her. “Come to me.”

A dusting of pink stained her cheeks at my low command. For a second, I feared she didn’t want me to touch her.

How pretentious of me to assume we’d just fall back into our same pattern. So much has come to light since Paris. Who am I to think she’d even feel the same way?

But then she rushed toward me. The moment she melted into my embrace, any lingering doubts faded.

Neither of us spoke for the longest stretch of time. We simply stood wrapped in each other’s arms. Burying my face in her neck, I whispered, “I’m never letting you go.”

“Same,” she murmured, her grasp tightening.

Skimming my palm down her back, I wanted nothing more than to pin her to the wall, and fuck her senseless. Feeling her body pressed to mine after weeks of separation fueled the pent-up fire burning through me. Reigning in my urges proved difficult.

Be a gentleman .

A noticeable chill settled between us when she pulled away.

“I have an ulterior motive for coming over.” Victoria’s melodic voice stilled my heart. “There’s something I have to tell you. Several things, in fact.”

Wariness edged out any overt lust at her serious tone. “Okay.” My hand lingered on her back. “I have a few things to tell you, too.”

She looked up at me through her lashes, a shrewd smile slanting her mouth. “You first.”

“Me?” Incredulity strangled the laugh bubbling in my throat. “Don’t you think I’ve said enough?”

“No.” The tenderness in her eyes sank into my soul, filling cracks I didn’t know existed. “I never want you to stop telling me things. The hard stuff, the easy stuff, all of it.” She traced her thumb along my jaw, pausing when she reached my neck. Silence filled the room for a beat while she stared at the skin beneath my left ear. “You have a new tattoo?”

I nodded. “I got it two weeks ago.”

“A rose on fire,” she whispered, hovering her fingers over the ink. “Is that my name where the stem should be?”

“Yes, love.” I reached for her hand and placed it over my heart. “It’s for you. Every time you kiss me there, you leave a permanent mark. A beautiful, burning mark. I’m yours, Tori. And now everyone can see it.”

A teasing sparkle illuminated her eyes. “Xavier Maddox, are you a secret romantic?”

I lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. “Maybe.”

“I won’t tell anyone.”

Victoria’s smile spread warmth through me. She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the chair next to the fireplace. The bossy chair , as she calls it. After I sat, she positioned herself on my lap.

“Told you we’d fix this the next time I was here.” Her lips brushed against my scar. “So what is it you have to tell me?”

Going over this conversation in my mind had been simple. But now that she’s here, in my lap, wearing this dress, and looking so beautiful, I couldn’t figure out how to say it.

She kissed my forehead again, letting her lips linger. I wrapped one arm around her, and rested the other on her legs.

“Remember when you told me these hands don’t miss?” she asked, tangling her fingers through mine.

“I do.” I searched her expression. “And they don’t.”

Victoria rolled her eyes, and I had to stifle a laugh at the familiar sight of her amused exasperation.

“Not that I want to inflate your ego any more than it already is—” she squealed when I squeezed her waist “—but I’d like to add something to your humble declaration.”

“Please do.”

Running a finger over my palm, she looked at me. “They don’t miss. That is true. But they’re also safe. I always feel safe in your hands.” A thousand emotions passed over her face. “I hope you—”

I fisted her hair and pulled her close, my mouth pressing hot and insistent to hers. She kissed me back just as fierce, our breaths and heartbeats melding into one.

“You are my absolute fucking world,” I said after breaking our mouths apart. “My safe haven when I feel alone. I never knew loving someone could be like this.”

“Me either,” Victoria whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I wish I’d stayed with you that night.”

I swept my thumb along her lower lip. “You’re here now just like you said you’d be. That’s all that matters.”

A small shiver rippled through Victoria’s body when she pulled me into a tight hug. Her fingers slid into my hair, tugging gently. I nuzzled into her neck, stroking her back slowly. Victoria’s quiet, content moan was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.

Our time apart had been absolute hell. But now she’s here, in my arms.

Safe hands .

The ferocious need to protect her consumed me. “Jordan is planning to blackmail you. He’s been looking into your family’s finances for over a year.”

Victoria leaned back to look at me, but didn’t appear overly surprised. “Have you been talking to Bennet?”

My brows pulled together in confusion. “Bennet? No. My stepbrother came over with some shit for brains friend and told me all about it.”

“He wants Briarcliff Cottage. I knew that already.”

“He wants more than that, love. He wants to publicly embarrass you and won’t stop until you pay him.”

A bitter laugh spilled from her. “Now it all makes sense.”

“What does?”

“Finish telling me and then I’ll fill in the blanks.”

“Brace yourself,” I grumbled before relaying what happened when Adam and Philip came over unannounced. I told her about the hacking, the guy at the restaurant, and her car. The hardest part was telling her about the photos and what Jordan planned to do with them.

A tremor of anger passed through her. “Does he know where Jordan is?”

“Yes. He never left England. Bennet’s team has been tracking his every move since I found out.”

I could see the gears spinning in Victoria’s head as she processed the information. “How can you be sure this Philip guy won’t turn tail and tell Jordan you know everything?”

I smirked. “The little shit orchestrated an international hack on a professional sports franchise in the United States. To top it off, he targeted a highly respected executive in some twisted revenge porn scheme to extort money. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Silence is his only option.”

This whole scenario was fucked up. The only game I wanted to play was football, not petty one-upmanship with a spoiled twat whose only leverage in life was his fucking noble bloodline.

Victoria’s jaw set in determination. “Let Jordan go through with his plan. We’ll draw him out easier that way.”

“What do you mean let him ?”

“Do you still have the spreadsheet with the list of media contacts?”

I nodded.

“Give it to me. This is my wheelhouse. I can finesse any narrative. Besides, I always have an ace up my sleeve.” Her fiery stare burned through me. “I know this look, Maddox. Jordan’s an egotistical asshole who likes to have the upper hand. If he thinks shaming me in public for my sexual history is going to make me run scared, he doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.”

Despite her bravado, I picked up on a note of apprehension running beneath her words. The ever-present rage churned through my veins.

“I’m not letting him hurt you. Adam and I have already come up with a plan.”

“And I’m not letting him hurt you . I refuse to watch you destroy everything you worked so hard for to take the bait and go after him. This is ultimately what he wants. We are each other’s weakness. He’s counting on that but he won’t be expecting strength.” A sly grin pulled at her mouth. “Someone once told me not to step into an arena if I wasn’t prepared for the battle. Jordan won’t know what hit him.”

“Yes he will. Me.”

Victoria pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “You’re hot when get all growly and feral.”

“And you’re sexy as fuck when you’re being this stubborn.”

“Perfect match, don’t you think?”

Another dark flame ignited between us.

“More than perfect. So, what are the blanks you’re going to fill in?”

“I had Bennet do some digging for me so I could prove Jordan lied about investing with my dad’s firm. Let’s just say I learned more than I expected. Jordan is not as financially sound as he’d like everyone to believe.”

“Philip mentioned the same thing,” I murmured.

“What did he say?”

“Something about his family being worth almost a billion but not Jordan. Any idea what that means?”

Victoria examined me, an internal battle waging behind beautiful green eyes.

“Tori.” I spoke low and deliberate. “What is it?”

“I told you. I always have an ace up my sleeve.”

“Desperate people go to great lengths to get what they want, love.” My fingers caressed down her neck. The red marks were gone but I won’t ever forget seeing them. “If you know something, tell me. I don’t want you putting yourself in harm’s way alone.”

“I’m not alone. I have you by my side.” She slipped a hand under my shirt. “If I tell you, promise me you won’t go scorched earth on him. This has to be strategic. Calm. Sort of like how you are in goal.” She bit down on her lip and traced my body with a hungry stare. “Until you unleash your inner beast and get all ferocious.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Is this your idea of flattery?”

“Maybe.”

The dark flames intensified.

“It’s working.”

Rising from my lap with all the elegance of a queen, Victoria reached for me. “Come with me.”

Curious, I took her hand and followed her outside to the patio. We haven’t been out here in months. Actually, we were only here once. I can still picture her sitting naked on the table.

She hopped up on it now, fully clothed unfortunately. Pulling me close, she hooked her legs around my waist.

“Why are we out here?” I asked, sliding my hands over her hips.

“One of my favorite moments with you happened out here. I’ve had many more favorites since but...” She touched my scar and smiled. “This is where I started falling for you.”

Flattening my hands on the table to brace myself was the only way I remained standing. This woman will in fact be the death of me.

“We are connected in ways I never dreamed possible,” she continued. “The desire to find out what happened to Charlotte tortured me for years. And now I’m on the cusp of closing this chapter for good.”

She tilted her head, gazing at the tattoo on my neck.

“You’ve told me numerous times that you’d risk it all for me.” Heat bloomed on my skin at her touch. “I want you to know, I’d risk everything for you, too.”

A strangled noise emerged from my throat. Grabbing her hips, I lowered my head until our mouths brushed together. “What do you know?”

Lacing her fingers behind my head, she parted her lips and kissed me. “Jordan McKennie is as common as you and me.”

The heat and dampness of her mouth lingered near mine. I tasted her words as much as I heard them. When she slid her tongue between my lips, I allowed my instincts to take over. Pulling her flush against my chest, I kissed her hard, devouring her moans.

Fisting her hair, I yanked it until her head bent back.

“You’re distracting me, dirty princess.” I ran my tongue along the column of her neck. “Do I have to fuck this information out of you?”

A soft laugh preceded her answer. “You have to beg me, country prince.”

All the air whooshed out of my lungs. Dark flames exploded in a raging inferno.

Fuck. Me.

I’d never been so turned on in my life.

Keeping her hair in a firm grasp, I used my other hand to lift her dress.

Bloody hell. No panties.

“That’s not how this works, love.” I slid my fingers inside her.

“I thought you liked when I flipped the script on you,” she moaned, palming my erection through my clothes.

Feeling her hand on me was heaven. Any train of thought I had was now scrambled.

“I do. I love it.”

“Good boy,” she whispered, unzipping my pants. “Beg me.”

My knees buckled the second she wrapped her hand around my cock and started stroking. Good thing I never wanted to join MI-6. I’d give up every national security secret if Victoria kidnapped me and used these coercive methods.

But I didn’t beg her.

At least not yet.

I pulled on her hair, kissing her again. Harder, more possessive. When her stroking intensified, I roughly positioned her head so I could plunder the sweet softness of her mouth while I teased her clit.

Push and pull.

I will play this fucking game with her forever.

“Xavier,” she gasped, shuddering from my touch.

The second her grip loosened around my cock, I spread her legs wider and sank into her, pushing deeper until I was buried to the hilt.

“Tell me what you know, love.” I thrust in and out slowly, methodically.

“Harder, please .” Victoria arched into me, digging her nails into my shoulders.

Lust surged from head to toe. “Good girl,” I growled, turning her words back on her. “Beg me.”

Shoving her hands in my hair and pulling, she stared into my soul. “I missed this. I missed you. Fuck. Xavier. Please . I need you untamed.”

I stopped thrusting and framed her face gently with my hands. “I missed us .” A dark smile tugged at my lips. “Careful what you wish for.”

My blood flowed white hot when I slammed into her over and over. She was slick and tight and felt like heaven. I gave her what she wanted. What we both wanted. Hard and fast and uninhibited.

A groan ripped from my throat when she clenched and shattered around me, her cries echoing through the cool, evening air.

An orgasm raced through me, rendering me useless for longer than normal. Not that I mind. Staying wrapped in Victoria’s arms while our bodies remained tangled together was the only place I wanted to be.

My heart stuttered when she kissed the tattoo on my neck.

“Again,” she demanded, gazing up at me through her lashes.

I smoothed her hair out of her face and smiled. “Don’t we have somewhere to be?”

“We do.” A sexy glint illuminated her eyes. “Round two at the restaurant?”

“Naughty girl.”

“You love it.”

I curled my fingers under her chin. “I love you .”

Victoria’s face lit up with a smile that could topple kingdoms. “I love you, too.”

I kissed her again, softer and more passionate. “I have to get you cleaned up before we go.”

A tiny whine of displeasure escaped her. “On second thought, let’s stay here.”

“Yeah?” I kissed along her jaw. “Don’t tempt me.”

“I like tempting you.” She banded her arms around me. “Have you ever used this table for, like, lunch or dinner?”

I thought for a second. “Uh, no. I’ve only had you on this table.”

“Wow.” Her laugh vibrated through me. “I don’t know if this says something about me but I’m flattered.”

For the first time in weeks, I felt lighter, more centered. Having Victoria close always settled the chaos that dwelled within. Knowing that she still loved me despite all my shortcomings filled me with an unrecognizable emotion.

Staring at her now and seeing how content and happy she looked boggled my mind.

I made her feel this way.

Unreal.

As much as I wanted to stay in our blissful post-sex bubble, there was still one thing we had to resolve.

“Tori.” I held her tight. “Please tell me what you meant by Jordan is as common as you and me.”

“I meant exactly that.” She traced along my scar. “He’s not noble born or whatever you call it. He has zero ties to the McKennie bloodline.”

Well, this is a proper mind fuck. “What do you mean?”

“The man who raised him, Samuel McKennie, isn’t his biological father. Someone named Daniel Southgate is.”

I stared at her, slack-jawed. “How…how do you know this?”

“I saw his birth certificate.” She leveled a determined stare at me. “The person who has bullied and tortured you since you were teenagers is a nobody. A fraud. Everything about his life is a lie. That’s why he’s trying to blackmail me. He has no claim to the McKennie fortune.”