Chapter 22
Quinn
CREEPS AND GUILT
I don’t even have to open my eyes to know Xander is gone. His cologne still lingers, but it’s too faint. He left a while ago, if I were to guess.
Glancing at the clock, I yawn and stretch.
My body protests, and my pussy and ass ache with every tiny move I make.
It’s a good feeling, though. The best, actually.
Xander literally wore me out until I was a glob of blissed-out goo on the bed.
And then, instead of passing out right away, helped me in the bathroom.
I could have died of embarrassment. But he was so sweet and gentle with me.
I’ve never been taken care of by someone like that in my life.
It made my brain all fuzzy and my heart swell.
Then I had to remind myself this was a one-time thing. A hookup. I needed him last night more than I could breathe, and I would have agreed to just about anything in that moment. And realistically, what we decided on is for the best. It doesn’t matter how much I like Xander Savage.
Technically, he’s my boss. I shouldn’t have fucked him in the first place, but after that creep manhandled me and told me he was going to have sex with me whether I wanted it or not, I needed Xander.
Until he kissed me last night, I couldn’t take a full breath.
But once his hands and lips were on me, praising me like I was someone special, the world felt right for the first time in my life.
Xander is a confusing man, but the one thing I can say for certain is that I know I’m physically safe with him.
I’m just not so sure about my heart, though.
Getting connected to any man is a bad idea.
Especially a man like him. The Savage family is dangerous.
They are the royal family of Las Vegas. I’m pretty sure they are involved with the mafia, too.
Those things alone should be enough red flags to make me run.
I’ve been through enough shit in my life; I don’t need the many problems Xander has to add to it.
And it’s obvious that the man has some deep wounds that he hasn’t given time to heal properly.
With as often as I smell alcohol on him every time I see him, I’m pretty sure he finds his relief in a bottle.
Something I want no part in. I’ve been around enough addicts in my life.
That thought makes me snap out of the fantasy land I’m letting myself float in.
Xander Savage is hot. He’s rich and has a big dick that he clearly knows how to use.
But he’s not in a good place. Hell, ever since my mom was brought back into my life, I haven’t been in the best headspace, either.
Between that and Jason doing what he did, my life is a mess.
Neither of us is ready for anything more than what happened last night.
Letting out a sigh, which feels a lot like disappointment, I roll over and wince when my entire body screams in protest. Should sex make me feel like I did a full-body workout in the gym? I guess good sex should. And it was damn good.
A shiver runs through me at the memory of last night.
How natural it felt. How my body reacted to Xander.
The way I cried out as he made me come over and over until I was breathless and panting.
Then he held me like I was a fragile doll.
And he watched me. The same way he’s been doing for the past week or so.
I haven’t said anything or asked why he comes into my apartment after I go to bed to keep watch over me all night.
Any normal person would be freaked out by it.
Or at least ask questions. Like, how is he getting into my apartment so easily?
Why does he sit in the chair at the foot of the bed instead of sliding in and wrapping me in his arms?
I haven’t asked any of that because I’m not sure I want the answers. I’ve slept better than I have in years, and I have no doubt it’s because of the huge, terrifying man who protects me while I sleep. The same man who told me he’s going to kill the guy who attacked me.
So many red flags.
And they are neon and flashing.
There might even be sirens and horns that go along with them.
But right now, I don’t care. Because Xander Savage worshipped me last night, and then he held me and took care of me like I was a princess. And somehow, that makes all the red flags seem a little less scary.
Just as I stretch my arm down my front, my fingers sliding against my naked skin, my phone rings. As if I’ve been caught doing something I shouldn’t, I snatch my hand away from my body and lunge for my phone.
“Hello?” I answer the unknown number breathlessly.
“Quinn?” A familiar female voice sounds hopeful.
Before I can ask who’s calling, she laughs and speaks again. “This is Jordyn Savage. We met last night. I was so worried about you. I hope it’s okay that I called.”
Furrowing my brows, I bite the inside of my lip and stare at the textured ceiling.
Is it okay that Jordyn Savage called me?
It’s so sweet of her to have been worried. Did Xander give her my number? He must have because I didn’t give it to her.
Why does she care so much? Does she actually want to be my friend? My last so-called friend slept with Jason… on our couch.
I should have burned it when I found out.
Before he took that and everything else.
There was no way I was going to ever sit on that thing after what they did to me.
That was when I decided I would never have anything in my life unless I truly wanted it.
And until last night, I didn’t think I cared about having friends anymore.
Then Jordyn called me her new bestie, and it tugged at my heart.
I don’t know anything about this woman, but something tells me she’s the type of person I want in my corner.
“Quinn?” she prompts. “Should I not have called?”
Shaking my head, I run a hand over my face, then sit against the headboard. “No, sorry. I just woke up, so I’m a little out of it. I’m so glad you called.”
“What the hell happened last night? Daddy said that a customer followed you down an employee hallway and then attacked you. Do you need anything?”
I smile and flop back down. There are so many things I need, but none that I can ask Jordyn for.
“No. I’m really okay… Do you always call him Daddy?”
“Oh, shit. Sorry. I’m so used to calling him that.” She lets out a nervous giggle. “I forget that not everyone knows us like that.”
Is that something Cash and Jordyn are into, just like Xander? They must be.
Huh.
Maybe I could ask Jordyn some questions about it… Like, why the hell does it feel so kinky when I call Xander Daddy, but also it feels extremely intimate at the same time? And why do I feel like weeping when he takes care of me intimately? Something I’ve never had. Am I fucked up in the head?
“It’s okay,” I rush out, hoping I didn’t upset or offend her. “It just caught me off guard because…”
Shiiiit.
I almost said too much.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a steadying breath, but then what she says next makes me gasp.
“Because you call Xander Daddy, too?” she asks so nonchalantly you’d think she was asking me to pass the butter. Then she laughs. “Yeah, I pegged all of them to be Daddies.”
All of them? Like Kian and Beckett, too? How is that even possible? Xander is the first man I’ve known who actually told me to call him that because he likes it.
I called Jason Daddy once. He snapped at me, saying to never call him that again because he wasn’t and never would be my father.
I’d been so hurt and startled by his response that I cried in the privacy of the bathroom for days.
I know for a fact he heard me at least twice and never bothered to comfort me or talk about it further.
Not like Xander did when he found me on the floor outside my apartment, sobbing about having my electricity cut off.
Not like Xander did last night when I burst into tears after my last orgasm.
Jason was friendly with everyone, but he became so cold to me. Yet Xander is the complete opposite. He’s kind of an ass to everyone except me. He’s also a bit bossy and possessive. But I like that. A lot. Way more than I should.
“Uh…”
What does someone say to that?
Jordyn giggles and then lets out a dramatic sigh. “I knew Xander was seeing someone. He’s been different the past couple of weeks.”
My brows shoot up. “Different how?”
“I’m not sure. Just… lighter, maybe? Anyway, you never answered me. Are you okay? I was so worried last night.”
Lighter?
How?
I want to ask so many more questions.
I don’t want to be a bother, though.
“I’m good.” I think.
Honestly, I haven’t had time to process what that asshole did to me last night in the employee hallway.
I don’t even want to think about it. The only thing I want is for that piece of shit to get what he deserves.
And he will, eventually. The universe has a way of making people pay for their sins.
I was about to make him a sorry motherfucker by pulling out the knife I always carry with me.
But Xander got there first. Because of course he did.
“Are you sure? I’m here to listen if you need to talk.”
I smile to myself and snuggle under the blankets that now smell like sex and Xander and make me never want to wash them again. “You’re so sweet. Thank you. I really think I’m okay. He’s not the first customer to get grabby with me, although he was definitely the first to go that far.”
“Well, I can guarantee you that bastard will never touch another person again.”
Hopefully. After the beating he got, and then Xander’s promise to kill him, I’m not sure what the future holds for the bastard.
“What are you doing tonight? Come over and have dinner with me. It will be fun. We can sit out by the fire pit and drink cherry mojitos after eating. Do you like cherry mojitos? They’re my favorite, but I can make you something else.”