Chapter 26
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Iris
T he car moves through the traffic of people and vehicles as Xavier crosses the main street that runs like a vein through most of Sabine City.
We hit alleys and side streets until he’s skirting the edges of where the parks and boardwalk are and as we reach the starts of the Upper Side, the expensive boutiques, the museum and then the houses. I keep my eyes straight ahead.
The ball is a glow in the near distance from the edge of my eye.
I know I fucked up by running off with him and attending the meeting. I fucked up by not insisting I return the moment everyone agreed I’d try to talk to the Monarch.
I should be tied in knots.
But I’m not.
At least, not about that.
The scene in the alley unravels around me and the invasion of Killian’s fingers pushing into me, the cascade of sensations that unleashed…
Oh, wow.
If Xavier hadn’t turned up, would I still be a virgin?
Maybe, but only if Killian hadn’t stopped.
Maybe, if Xavier hadn’t stood there, not moving to take part.
If he had…I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.
Damn it, the wetness between my thighs grows as does the thick, growing urge for more. Is this what slick is? It must be.
I clench my hands as Xavier pulls up in a secluded spot.
Reality tumbles in with it.
If I’m seen with him, alone with him, then I won’t get to see the Monarch.
Everywhere, I remind myself, is secluded in this part of town after hours. But he chooses a spot between the streetlights. So we’re in darkness.
The silence almost rings in my ears.
“Are you mad?” I lick my lips because my brain and emotions don’t want to play by the rules. They want something different. Something more. “At me. At…at me and Killian?”
He doesn’t say anything. Well, of course he doesn’t, but when I look at him, through the swirling awareness that sings against my skin, I know the truth.
And I nod, suddenly anxious he understands what it is I need. What I’ll take.
“I want you, too,” I say. It’s probably the wrong thing to say. Just like not caring about my virginity is the wrong thing, too.
But I don’t.
My family does, and while there have been boys I’ve kissed, I’ve never met one that made my heart leap, or got juices flowing to want to do more.
Except now.
I swallow, unclench my hands. “I want you both. I don’t know how that really works. I’ve seen porn, some, anyway, and while I get it, I just don’t know if you two do it at the same time or if you take it one at a time?—”
Xavier holds up a hand. Though the blue eyes seem cool, calculating, they’re alive and fiery beneath that layer. The calculating… It’s real but in this case, it’s about my situation, not against me or how he can use me.
I think.
And fuck it.
Maybe I want to be used.
Have some fun if I have to mate with a rich Alpha not of my choosing.
Because I’m not stupid enough to think my plan and the rebellion of the Lower Side and the ones who hide their truth all over Sabine desires will work or come to fruition.
But I can hope.
Do my part.
Fight like hell.
Xavier leans over, mouth closer to mine as he takes his mini from the jacket’s pocket.
Disappointment floods as he sits up, and I dig out mine, as he types on his.
Xavier
We both want you, too. Killian’s right with what he said to you about having you. But right now, concentrate. We need our stories straight.
I narrow my eyes, set the mini on my lap, and struggle with his strange rejection that’s laced with affirmation. He does want me as much as Killian. I smile, take the sides of his lapels, and open them, flashing him.
Xavier groans.
“What?” I whisper, “you don’t want these?”
He holds my gaze as he slides warm fingers over the soft skin on my breasts, over my nipples that pucker hard under his touch. And I moan as he twists one, then the other, the sensation shooting through me, straight to my clit.
Xavier
Yes.
“So—”
He pushes a finger against my lips and moves in, pulling me to him and covering my mouth with his.
He kisses me softer than Killian, but the seduction is just as deadly. This one’s designed to stoke and unarm, to make me boneless, and it works. He’s divine, and I seek out his tongue, sliding mine along his, a slow dance one of need and sex.
He pulls back, then types on the mini.
Xavier
Fix your top before we do something I’ll regret. This isn’t the place. Or the time.
“But Killian?—”
Xavier
Lost his fucking mind. Now, before you let that go to your head, we need to get your story straight.
It dawns on me this is how he calms and pretends to placate Emmie which pisses me off. But…I get it. This isn’t the place.
“So what’s the story?” I pull out my phone and notice a slew of missed calls. Mari, and Violet, mostly. But one from Heath.
I clench my hand tight on the phone.
Xavier
How about…a bastardization of the truth? I was there, after a delivery, which can be true. Sometimes I am. I went out for a smoke, and I heard something. Saved you from those to fuckwits. You were upset, beyond upset. Because your dress was torn and from what they said. I helped you and took you?—
I grab his arm and the typing stops. “What do you mean what they said?”
A muscle tics in his jaw.
Xavier
In the Stiches.
I nod tightly. “And where did you take me?”
Xavier
Home?
“No. There are servants.” I pause, thinking.
And then, shaking, I call Violet.
“Iris! Thank god.” The phone muffles. “It’s Iris. She’s okay, Stephan. You are okay, aren’t you?”
I meet Xavier’s gaze. “Yes.”
“We’re halfway out the door. Mari’s running interference with Stephan, saying you’re on a walk. But…where are you? We’re coming to get you.”
“No. I’ll go, you’re pregnant, Princess,” her mate says, making me both happy and irritated.
“We’ll both go.” Then she says to me, “Where are you?”
I give her the details and she says, “We’ll be there in ten.”
They’re here in five, and whenever they’re together, I can see it, how they fit, how they complement each other.
I swear she’s even bigger now than the last time we spoke, and Stephan stands so close, protective of his family. Of her.
But his expression turns to sparking flint when he sees Xavier.
I’m still in his coat which swims on me, but thank goodness my modesty’s restored, the bra protecting me, the ripped ends tucked into the join of the cups and I can’t help think it no doubt improves the dress.
“Why are we meeting across from the school?” Violet asks after enveloping me in a big, warm hug.
“Heath.”
“He’s not on the warpath yet,” Violet says.
“He will be.” Stephan nods at Xavier. “He’s not going to be happy.”
There’s a tenseness in the air, and though Xavier hasn’t said a word, it’s clear he’s ready to defend me. So is Stephan.
I shift in between the men. “This is?—”
“I know who he is.” Stephan doesn’t lift his gaze from Xavier.
Violet crosses to me. “I don’t.”
It’s Vi, and she’s asking me silently for an explanation, so I tell her. The planned story anyway. She looks at her phone and goes pale, putting it away. “Two of them?”
Heat burns in my cheeks. “I didn’t—Xavier saved me from Donegal and Jerome?—”
“Jerks.” Violet steps up to Xavier and says thank you.
He signs, and to my shock, she signs back. But we have to go.
“We don’t have much time,” Violet says as their driver gets out and opens the door for us. Once we’re inside, heading home, she says, “We’ll say he took you to us and we met you, made sure you were okay. With Stephan backing me, Heath won’t have a reason to do anything drastic.”
Stephan starts to argue.
My sister smiles at him and puts her hand to his face. “You’ll do it, won’t you?”
In front of me, he crumbles. “For you, Princess, anything.”
“Thanks,” I say. “And Stephan, I have a favor.” This needs to be worded right. “After tonight, after the impression I’ve made, I need to set things right.”
“Why? Do I think I’ll regret this?” he mutters.
“I need you to get me an audience with your aunt. The Monarch.”