16. Xyla

16

Xyla

E dward sat up on the couch and pushed the hair out of his face. "Xyla, I'm fine. I feel great. Sawyer said that I was fine. I can't rest anymore. I'm rested. I'm fine. I need to get up and do things."

"You almost died."

"But I didn't. I will die, though, if you keep forcing me to lie down all the time. It's driving me nuts. I'm fine. Okay. Just fine." The frustration was evident in his voice.

Xyla sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Alright, you can get up, but you aren't allowed to go outside without someone else with you."

Edward frowned. "You're being too paranoid. I learned my lesson. I'm not going out of sight of the building."

"You'd better not. Sean risked his life to save your bacon. He could have easily fallen through the ice and died."

"He's saved my life twice. I guess that means I owe him a life debt. He'll probably have to wait for me to get big to pay him back, though."

Xyla giggled. "That's just a thing on television."

"No, it's not. There are a lot of cultures that believe in life debts. Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Hindus, Buddhists, and many other cultures believe in life debts," Edward said, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"How do you know all this stuff?"

Edward rolled his eyes. "I know how to read. What do you think I do when Dad is in one of his moods? I hang out in my room, at the library, or someplace like that and read." He looked around the room, making sure that they were alone. "Sean was a wolf. I saw him turn into a wolf twice."

"Yes. He turned into a wolf to get across the icy lake more easily so he could get to you and then drag you back. Then, when we were in the cave and you were so cold, he turned into a wolf so he could warm you up easier."

"If Sean was going to kill us just because he was a shifter, he would have done it. He could have easily said that I drowned in the lake and that you got hurt and couldn't make it back."

Xyla shook her head. "You think about things way too much. But you are right. If he was a killer, he would have killed us out there."

"I don't care what you or Dad says. I really like Sean, and I trust him more than most people. He's showed us that he's a good guy."

"I agree. I was wrong and Dad is wrong." She sighed. "However, we shouldn't really talk about that in front of him, just because I don't want to hear it."

"You're lucky because you don't have to live with him. When we get back, you get to go to your apartment, but I have to stay with him. He's gotten worse lately and it's hard living with him."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that things were so rough. Why didn't you tell me?"

Edward shrugged. "You don't come around very often, and you were too busy to talk to me on the phone."

"Baby Brother, I'm so sorry."

"It's alright. I can handle it."

"That's not fair to you. When we get back, we'll figure out a solution. I'm out of school, but I have to get a job. Maybe you can stay with me and Abigail. She would spoil you rotten."

"Dad would never let me live with you guys."

Xyla said, "We'll see."

Edward stood up. "Okay. I'm going outside. I won't walk away, and I'll make sure that I can always see the building so I won't get lost."

Fear gripped Xyla's heart, although she knew that she was being unreasonable. He had learned his lesson and Sawyer had given him a clean bill of health.

She went into the dining room and saw Sean, Sawyer, Marcie, and Ellie playing spades. A flash of jealousy slammed into her.

I have no claim on Sean. He's been a good friend and we've had sex. That's it. There were no promises of anything. I'm the one who initiated the sex. She smiled. I'll never regret it, either.

Xyla walked over to the four of them, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "I'll be your scorekeeper."

"Sounds good," Ellie said, pushing the paper and pen over to her.

Sean and Marcie were partners, who were playing against Sawyer and Ellie, the latter ahead.

Sawyer and Ellie won. Sean stood up and stretched. "Good game, guys. I think I'm going outside for a walk."

"Do you feel like company?" Xyla asked.

"Sure."

Edward waved at them as they walked outside. He was busy making a snowman family with Tristan and Darren.

"I'm glad to see that he recovered."

"Thanks to you. You saved his life. He says he owes you a life debt."

Sean groaned. "I've seen the television shows. That always ends up being more of a headache than anything else. Maybe I'll fake an injury or something so he has to save me and we'll call it even."

"He's one sharp kid. I don't think you'll be able to fool him."

"You are really good with him. He loves you to death."

"I helped raise him after mom died. Dad is not exactly the nurturing kind. I feel bad because I haven't been around as much lately as I should."

"It's hard to do when you're going to school."

Xyla nodded. She inhaled the fresh air and looked around at the winter wonderland around her. It was beautiful.

They somehow found themselves back at her cabin and went in. He looked down into her eyes and pulled her close to him. His lips pressed to hers in a hot, wet, amazing kiss that made her insides melt.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair. He moaned deep in his throat and unzipped her coat. Their outerwear seemed to magically end up scattered around the room.

"Let's get some warmth in here." Sean found some matches and put some kindling in the fireplace. Half burned logs from their last visit were still in the fireplace. He touched the match to the kindling and the fire took right away.

"I can never do that. It takes me a million tries."

Sean tossed the match into the fireplace. "I've got talent."

Sean's mouth found hers again. She untucked his shirts and her hands slipped under them, spreading them out over his pecs, lightly kneading his chest with her fingertips.

An aching need formed between her legs, and she wanted to feel Sean's body pressed against hers. He seemed to understand her need, and they slowly undressed each other, their hands and mouths touching, tasting, exploring the other's body.

The blanket in front of the fireplace was waiting for them. Their mouths locked together in a devouring kiss, and they sank to their knees. The heat from the fire competed with the raging fire that had exploded inside of her.

Slowly, they lay down together on the blanket, their arms and legs entangled. She straddled him and slowly lowered herself onto him until his massive shaft was completely sheathed inside of her.

"Oh, yes. You feel so good," Sean breathed.

He cupped her large breasts, rubbing her nipples with his thumbs, sending bolts of electricity exploding through her.

She lifted her hips up until just the large apple head was inside of her and then she slowly lowered herself back onto him.

Sean moaned. He ran his hands up and down her torso, electricity tingling where he touched.

She leaned down and kissed him. It was an all-consuming kiss that spoke of need, desire, passion, and so much more that she didn't dare think about.

The fire crackled and the pleasant smell of pine wafted around them. Light from the fire dimly lit the room. Everything in the world faded away, and there was only her and Sean, their bodies dancing together.

He gripped her hips and encouraged her to ride him faster. She lifted her hips all the way up and then impaled herself hard and fast on his thick shaft.

Sean moaned. "Yes, Baby. That's it. Don't stop."

Her nipples brushed against his chest causing tingling bolts of electricity to constantly move through her. The fire inside of her burned hotter and hotter, and Xyla was sure that she was about to burn up from the intensity of it.

She tilted her head back and closed her eyes as she slid down his cock, hard and fast, stretching her hot, wet, velvety walls.

"Sean. Oh, Lord, Sean," she whispered.

A small scream escaped as the inferno overtook her. The velvety walls pulsated around Sean's shaft and a river of hot, creamy liquid poured over him. He began to throb inside of her, sending a geyser of his hot seed deep inside of her.

After a moment, when she was spent, she collapsed next to him. He pulled her close and she rested her head on his chest. She could hear his heart beating. Xyla loved how the world just ceased to exist when they were together.

Sean squeezed her. "You did that rather well."

Xyla could hear the amusement and surprise in his voice.

"Thank you. I've read a few books and got a general idea on how to please a man."

After a pause, Sean asked, "Why don't you have a boyfriend?"

"To be honest, I've never dated anyone seriously. After I left Angel's Creek to go to school, I was so busy with that, my job, and Edward that there wasn't any time for a man. I barely had time to breathe."

"It does sound like you were busy."

"Yes. I envy you because you found true love – the kind that fills your heart and soul."

Sean was quiet for several minutes, and Xyla regretted her words.

"Ivy was an amazing woman, and I did love her with every fiber of my being. We were so happy when we found out she was pregnant. There were unforeseen complications, and my heart died when she and the baby did."

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

He rubbed her arm. "It's okay. At first, it hurt so bad that I couldn't breathe and I just wanted to die, too. Maybe that's why I volunteered every time a dangerous mission came up. After a while, though, I could think of them and smile. Sometimes, I still get sad and miss them, but I'm able to think about the good times she and I had, and I know that she and the baby are in heaven where they are happy."

They lay together in silence. Xyla loved the feeling of warmth from the fire. She knew she would forever associate the smell of pine with her time with Sean. It would always bring a smile to her face no matter where she was or what else happened between them.

A little part of her whispered that she was falling in love with him. She had always had a thing for him and now it was growing more intense.

Sean's voice broke the silence. "We should probably get back."

"Are you sure we can't just stay here until someone comes to dig the resort out?"

Sean laughed and gently pulled his arm out from under her. "I'm pretty sure that if you don't return to the resort soon, your father will send a search party out after you. He really was frightened when you and Edward didn't come back."

"I guess."

Xyla reluctantly got up and located her clothes that had been flung all over the room. Sean got dressed and doused the fire. She had to blink against the brilliant snow when they reached the surface.

As they approached the resort, Xyla put her hand on his arm. "Will you let me go in first and come in a few minutes after?"

"Are you ashamed to be seen with me and for people to think that we're together?"

Xyla shook her head. "No. I'm just in a really good place right now, and I don't want to deal with my father's crap."

"Fine."

Sean veered off toward the wood line to take a short walk. Xyla knew that he wasn't happy about her request.

She had just stepped inside when her father blindsided her.

"Where have you been?"

"I was outside taking a walk."

"Who were you with?"

Xyla stared at her father. "Look, I'm a grown woman, and I can do what I want and spend time with whomever I please. I don't have to answer to you."

"Where's Sean?"

"Do I look like his babysitter?"

She pushed past him and headed for the kitchen to see if Franny needed help. Guilt overwhelmed her for not being honest with her father and true to Sean. Xyla felt as though she was being physically and emotionally ripped apart. She didn't want to upset her father, but she was falling in love with Sean.