Chapter 40
Quinn
I’M YOURS
“I have a feeling he’s going to be here a lot, yeah?” Josh asks with a smirk, eyeing the spot at the bar where Xander just sat down.
Warmth fills my stomach. I don’t even have to look in that direction to know he’s watching me. I feel it. Him. His protection.
He texted me to tell me he missed me.
We had only been apart for a few hours.
But I missed him, too.
God.
Am I really in love with him?
I thought I knew what love was when I was with Jason. What I feel for Xander is ten times that. When he’s not around, I can’t take a full breath. Even with Roman following me around like The Terminator, I don’t feel as safe as I do with Xander.
It’s terrifying.
What if…
There are so many questions floating in my mind.
I’m not even sure if Xander is emotionally available.
He’s obsessed with me. That much I know. But obsession doesn’t always equal love.
“What did he say to you?” I ask.
We’ve been too busy to chat, so I haven’t had the chance to ask. All I knew was that Xander looked like he was ready to kill Josh, but then Josh said something that made him relax. Just slightly.
Josh raises an eyebrow at me and smiles. His signature golden retriever, surfer boy look he gives to all the older, attractive women so they fall in love with him. The guy is adorable. A serious cougar hunter.
“He just introduced himself. Nice guy, nice guy,” he says, nodding, then winks at me and strolls away toward a waiting customer.
Fucking hell. I don’t believe for a second that’s all Xander said. I’m pretty sure he threatened Josh with bodily harm. That seems more likely.
My panties are drenched. They have been ever since that little show he put on. What does it say about me that I love all the unhinged, possessive stuff that Xander does? I find it so sweet.
I need therapy.
Lots of it.
Gobs.
That is a tomorrow problem, though. Maybe a next year problem, depending on when I can figure out what to do about my mom. That is my tomorrow’s problem. As soon as the sun comes up, I need to tour some other facilities.
After striding down the bar, I smile at Xander. “What would you like?”
His eyes zero in on my face, watching for a long moment before he lets his gaze fall to my cleavage.
Licking his lips, he glances up at me again. I frown at his gray shirt. It was a lighter shade earlier. This one is more of a gun-metal color. His hair is wet, too.
“Where did you go?” A tightness pulls at my chest.
Xander shrugs. “I had some business to take care of.”
He showered at my apartment earlier, after we had sex again. Why would he take another one, unless…
“What did you have to take care of?” My gaze moves to one of the couches, where a gorgeous woman in a sparkly dress isn’t hiding her interest in Xander.
Las Vegas attracts some of the most beautiful people in the world. Xander is gorgeous and rich. He could have any of them. At any time, he has unlimited access to hotel rooms.
“Look at me, baby.” His tone is deep and harsh, leaving absolutely no room to disobey. It catches me off guard. He’s never spoken to me like this.
I meet his dark, stormy gaze and suck in a breath. I shouldn’t have pried. We aren’t together. At least, I don’t think we are. I don’t know what the hell is happening between us.
“I’m going to make one thing perfectly fucking clear, right here and now.
” He glares at me, and suddenly I feel like I’m in trouble.
It sends a slight thrill through me when he looks at me so sternly.
“The only woman I’m fucking is you. You’re the only woman I’m spending time with.
No one else exists in my world, sunshine.
Only you. You live there. Run fucking marathons through my brain all goddamn day and night.
When I’m not with you, I’m anxious and pissed off.
When I’m with you, I feel whole. I haven’t been with anyone in over a year.
And I’m not going to be with anyone other than you going forward.
So, if you’re worried that I was out doing anything remotely sexual with anyone else, you need to get that shit out of your mind. You’re mine.”
I stare up into his eyes and know with my entire heart that he means every word he just said. Xander isn’t the kind of man to play games. Sex means something to him, too. Whatever we are means something to him.
Reaching up, I slide a hand around the back of his neck. “Does that mean you’re mine?”
He studies my face and wraps his arm around me, gently pulling me into his hard chest. God, he smells so good. Woods and spice and whiskey.
“Yeah, baby girl. I’m yours.”
“I want to meet your mom.” He walks toward me in just a pair of black boxer briefs. His hair is still damp and tousled from his shower. He looks like a freaking underwear model. The outline of his dick teases me as he moves. God, the man is hot and hung. And he’s obsessed… with me.
“Why?”
“Because I want to know what kind of condition she’s in. I have a doctor who wants to examine her and go over her records to see if there are any better medications or options for her.”
My throat starts to close up, and I have to put my makeup palette down before I drop it. Tears immediately fill my eyes.
“Baby, hey,” he murmurs, pulling me over to the bed where he sits down and brings me onto his lap. “What’s going on?”
Shaking my head, I close my eyes and sniffle. “I know I should care more about her. I should take care of her better. But a part of me…”
A sob breaks free and then another one. Xander tightens his hold on me and silently waits for me to continue.
I’m a terrible person.
“A part of me hates her.”