Chapter 26
Rosalee
I was happy again, and it felt so incredibly good that I was almost giddy with it.
Some might say it was all of the incredible sex I was having, and sure, that was part of it.
The orgasms were incredible, so good, in fact, that I was walking around the cabin on unsteady legs.
Who knew that body-quaking orgasms were more than a romance novel fantasy?
Certainly not me. I never imagined that being with someone, not just physically, could be so incredibly amazing, so all-consuming.
I'd never smiled so much that my cheeks hurt.
About halfway through my last relationship, I was sure that I would never smile again, but here I was, smiling bigger than ever. Feeling lighter and freer than ever.
Happier than ever.
Even when Jason called, I ignored him without a single hitch in my breathing. He was squarely in my past, and I didn't have to waste another moment worrying about him or his feelings.
Famous last words, right? Because moments after that thought, I received a text message.
Stop avoiding me. I need your help, and if I don't get it, I will ruin you.
Okay, those words instilled a bone-deep level of fear within me.
What in the hell kind of threat was that, anyway?
"He'll ruin me. Who talks like that?" A self-important jerk like my ex.
He can't ruin you, I reminded myself. There was nothing other than what he'd already done that he could do to me, and that was why he was angry: because he no longer held any sway over me.
Xavier and I were solid. Serenity had done an extensive background check before accepting me into ENS, so no one would ever believe whatever lies he came up with. He couldn't ruin me, but he could become a nuisance that upended the happiness I'd only so recently found.
Yes, he could, but only if I let him, and I wouldn't. Instead, I shoved away thoughts of him and went about my day with Violet, and when she was in bed, I set about making a special dinner for me and Xavier, who would be home tonight after his shift ended.
It was nice, being with a man who was appreciative of the things I did, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.
And it was really nice to have a man look at me and see someone worthy, someone attractive and desirable.
Someone who deserved love and affection, not that I thought Xavier loved me, because I didn't. I hoped and I wished he would, but he made me feel as if I were, and that was a big step up from my last relationship.
The back door smacked open, and he appeared in the doorway like a big, sexy man of the mountain.
His thick coat hugged his broad shoulders, and his jeans were slightly dirty, just like his work boots.
He scowled as he scanned the kitchen, and when those gray eyes settled on me, it shifted into a slow smile full of heat and want. "Honey, I'm home."
His words were sweet, but they sounded too gruff and grumpy, so I tossed my head back and laughed. "Welcome," I replied when I had my laughter under control. "Rough day?"
"Fucking tourists," he growled as he removed his boots and then his coat. "Everybody's a pro until they're in a bind." He was in a bad mood, and even though I couldn't stop smiling at how sexy he was when he was grumpy, I went to him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
"Sorry you had a rough shift."
"Better now," he groaned and pulled me back for another, deeper kiss that set my whole body on fire. "Much better."
His kiss stole my breath, and I gripped his steely biceps for a second until my legs were sturdy enough to stand on their own. "Definitely." My voice was shaky and breathy. "Go have a long, hot shower while I finish up dinner."
He hooked an arm around me. "Or you could join me."
It was tempting. So very tempting, but I gathered all of my willpower, which was very little, and pulled back. "I made this dinner just for you. After we eat, I'm all yours."
Heat flared in his gaze. "I can't wait."
"Me neither," I mumbled under my breath and turned my focus back to the potatoes that were boiling on the stove.
"Good to know," Xavier whispered in my ear, startling a gasp out of me.
"Sneaky fucker," I whispered.
He laughed, and the sound was so deep and rich it sent a shiver down my spine. "I love it when you use that mouth for dirty words."
A moan flew from my mouth at both his nearness and the deep timbre of his voice, the way his breath danced across my skin.
He smacked my ass and gripped it roughly. "Missed you," he growled, then kissed my neck and rushed from the kitchen.
I smiled to myself and finished off dinner while Xavier showered. Xavier was a grouch—that was his default setting—but he was also incredibly sweet. I wished he let more of the world see that side of him, and I often wondered why he didn't, but we hadn't talked about that.
Not yet.
By the time Xavier finished his shower, the braised beef in wine sauce was on the table along with a bottle of wine. "Wow."
I looked up from setting the table and smiled at the sight of him in nothing but a pair of black cotton pants that left very little to the imagination. His muscles were mouthwatering, and my belly clenched at the picture he made. "Wow, indeed."
His lips curled into a sexy, flirty grin. "Smells incredible. What's for dinner?"
"Beef braised in wine sauce, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable medley. Wine is on the table, but there's beer in the fridge."
"You made this for me?"
I nodded. "Figured you deserved a proper meal after two days in the wilderness."
He laughed. "It's hardly the wilderness, but I appreciate this. All of it." He pulled me close and hugged me. He just hugged me, and I buried my face in his warm chest, inhaling his masculine scent until it was a part of me. "You're amazing."
"You make me feel amazing, Xavier. Let's eat." We sat together at the table, so close our knees touched as we ate and talked. It was so domestic and so perfect that my smile refused to leave my face.
"So good," he grunted with a wink.
We ate in silence for the first few minutes, both of us simply enjoying the meal. But I wanted to know more about Xavier without overstepping. "When was the last time you saw your brother?"
He shrugged. "It's been too long, but he's coming to visit sometime soon."
"Are you close?"
"We are now," he nodded and took a sip of wine before he frowned.
I went to grab him a beer from the fridge while he finished his answer.
"We've been a lot closer the past few years."
"Yeah? Any particular reason?"
Xavier opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. "We both went through some changes that forced us to rely on each other more." It was an answer, but I had a feeling it was only a partial one.
He still didn't trust me enough. I told myself it wasn't about me, that he needed more time, but it still hurt.
"Okay." I wanted to ask more questions, but what was the point if he didn't trust me enough to share the details of his life?
You have to try, I reminded myself. I wanted Xavier, which meant I had to get him to trust me, to open up.
"Do you miss your old life when you were in the corporate world? "
"Not even a little bit. You?"
"No. There are parts of the job I really enjoyed, but the bosses kind of ruined it for me."
Xavier laughed. "The executives made your job as an executive assistant terrible?"
I laughed in return. "The same way customers ruin being a chef and patients ruin being a doctor."
"Would you go back?"
I shrugged. "If the nanny business doesn't work out, I might have to, but I like working with kids better.
You expect them to be immature and childlike.
" The idea of going back to that life and that world left me cold, but if push came to shove, it was a career I could fall back on. I just hoped it didn't come to that.
Xavier emptied his plate and pushed back from the table. "Come on. Let's go cuddle in front of the fire, and by cuddle, I mean fool around."
I laughed and accepted his outstretched hand. "Sounds good."
Tomorrow, I told myself. I'll try again tomorrow.