Chapter 22
Cora
Istand there, my arousal dripping down my thighs. What the hell has just happened? Where the fuck did he go?
I lean against the mirror, the coolness sobering my lust-drunk brain. The bastard. Fuck him. I lock the door.
But now I’m trapped in here, stewing. I should try the dress, but fuck it, I’m so wound up. Minutes tick as I stand there, undecided and pissed.
When I finally pick up my jeans to get dressed and storm out of there, the door handle clicks.
“Coraline.” Xander’s voice carries a hint of warning.
“Go away,” I hiss.
“Let me in.”
“Go away.”
He raps on the door. “Don’t you want me to finish what we started?” he drawls.
Jesus, other customers must hear him. “I finished myself,” I lie. I should have.
Xander raises his voice, the undercurrent of warning even darker. “Coraline, open the fucking door, or I will break it.”
Jesus, is he for real? I unlock the door. “Are you insane?” I whisper-yell. “You told me to be quiet, and then you yell for everyone to hear.”
Instead of answering, he pushes inside, unbuckling his belt.
“What are you doing?” I step back.
He looks around the room. “Do they fit well?” He nods his head toward the clothes I brought in here and unzips his pants, stepping out of them as they fall to the ground.
“I haven’t tried them.” I put my hands on my hips. “What are you doing?”
He casually takes off his jacket and hangs it on the door with care. The man is impossible.
“You don’t need to try them. We’re getting all of them anyway.” He pulls me to him, completely ignoring my mood.
“We’re not.” I fail to sound stern because he takes my nipple into his mouth, biting gently through the lace of my bra. “I don’t need all the clothes. And where the fuck did you go?”
Goddammit, it’s frustrating to argue with someone when I have to control the volume. And when, with his first touch, my body completely forgets I’m mad at him. Treacherous body.
“Hush, I’m back now,” he says nonchalantly. “Where were we?” He probes my entrance again, and my knees buckle.
If I wasn’t so turned on from before, I would send him away.
Who am I kidding? It took two short weeks, and I’m completely addicted to his touch, his expertise, and his uncanny knowledge of my body.
“You just left me here,” I quip, though it comes out whiny thanks to his ministration. God, he is fucking infuriating.
“Let me lick you better,” he mumbles and drops to his knees, hoisting my leg over his shoulder.
“Asshole.”
“At your service.” He winks, that boyish grin of his calling to the deepest parts of my body. And perhaps my heart, which I’m not willing to contemplate.
Xander nips at my clit, and then shoves his tongue inside me. I have to cover my mouth to keep quiet. Or as quiet as possible, because there is no way I can stay mute when his—
“Oh my God,” I whimper. “Yes, yes, yes,” I whisper-chant.
My orgasm hits me so quickly, it’s embarrassing. I put my hands on the mirror, trying to stay upright.
“Tongue done.” Xander grins from between my legs, his face glistening with my juices.
I slide my leg off his shoulder and stumble like a newborn lamb. “I don’t think I can do more.”
He takes me in his arms and kisses my forehead. “That’s where you’re wrong, wife.”
Whipping me around, he sits on a bench across from the mirror and lowers me into his lap, my legs astride. With my back to his chest, the picture in front of me is… fucking hot.
Xander kisses my neck, kneading my breasts, and I watch in fascination at the mess between my legs.
“My wife is the hottest woman in the world. Look at yourself, Coraline.”
I’m speechless—and completely spellbound—but I believe his words. For a moment I see myself through his eyes, and I love what I see.
He produces a condom from somewhere, sheathes himself, and lifts me. He maneuvers me with ease and eases me down his length.
I can’t take my eyes away from where we are connected. His cock disappears inside me and hits a spot that blurs my vision.
“Jesus,” I gasp.
“Just me.” Xander grips my hips, lifts me, and impales me again. The sensation is overwhelming. I close my eyes and tilt my head back onto his shoulder.
My entire body trembles with pleasure I don’t think I’ve ever experienced. It’s like I floated to a different dimension where the physical body is just a vessel for immense decadence.
I’m completely pliable in his hands, and for once I let everything else fade and let the ecstasy carry me high. Higher. The highest.
“Eyes on me,” Xander commands, his voice strained.
I open my eyes, and our gazes lock in the reflection. It’s unnerving and elating at the same time.
The man is bouncing me on his lap. His cock is bringing me to the edge. His muscles are bulging. A sheen of sweat covers our skin.
The picture is carnal. Primal. Salacious.
But it’s his eyes that hold me prisoner with the reverence of his gaze. We may be fucking, but what I see in his eyes is beyond that. The intimacy in the way he looks at me pulls at the strings of my heart.
I desperately want to look away, because I will not be able to forget this moment. But perhaps I don’t have to, because the mirror doesn’t lie. And I’m looking at him—at us—the same way.
“Xander,” I cry.
The release hits us both at the same time, and I bend forward, almost falling to the ground if it weren’t for the firm arms holding me tight around my waist.
His eyes seemed to promise me he would be there when I fell.
Xander peppers my skin with kisses as we both try to come down from that devastating orgasm.
But as if the newly found and entirely unexpected closeness wasn’t scary enough, Xander pulls me to him, wraps his arms around me, and shifts me around.
I sit on his lap sideways while he holds me in his arms like I’m precious. Like I’m worthy. Like I’m truly his.
“What have you done to me, Coraline?” he whispers into the crook of my neck.
It’s such a soft sigh, I’m not even sure if he really uttered the words. But he looks up, and I see the same question in his expression.
His beautiful face carries tortured stillness, and the depth in his gaze makes my chest tighten.
It’s like he’s memorizing me. Like he’s seeing a miracle, or possibly his demise.
The moment grows thick with things we don’t say, because they are too raw and too fragile for what this is.
And perhaps we are not ready to contemplate what this could be.
“I had them ring all the things you selected and a few more, and I’m pretty sure you’re still under budget.” Xander tuts, shaking his head.
His words break the moment, and I’m grateful for that. Yet again, he reached for playfulness at the right time. Is it to protect me? To protect himself? Or to save us both?
His comment penetrates my daze and snaps me back to reality.
“Oh my God, I screamed your name.” I cover my mouth with my hand.
“Who else’s name would you bring into this?” Xander slaps me gently.
I stand up, grabbing my clothes like I can salvage anything. “Everyone heard us.”
“The walk of shame is going to be epic.” He smirks.
“I hate you,” I grumble, getting dressed hastily.
“Now you’re just lying, Coraline.” Xander doesn’t show any urgency or care.
Jesus. I completely lost myself in him. He’s right; this is going to be some walk of shame. At least I never have to come here again.
“And I’m not getting all those clothes; it’s ridiculous.”
“Cora,” he warns.
When I don’t respond, he snatches my T-shirt from me and cups my chin. “You’re getting all those clothes. You’re taking everything I ever give you, and I will keep giving until you learn to reward yourself. To put yourself first. Understood?”
I glare, but I have nothing to say to that. This infuriating man not only takes care of me, he’s determined to teach me to do the same. For me.
“Understood?” He glares at me.
I nod.
“Good girl.” He kisses me. “Why don’t you wear one of these dresses, since your shirt is ruined?”
The dress is simple, but the fabric is so soft I almost mew when I put it on. This is the most luxurious thing I have ever worn.
I love it. It fits me perfectly. Not only does it fit, it makes me look so much better than in any of my clothes. Goddammit.
“Beautiful.” Xander, dressed, with his jacket hooked on his finger, casually over his shoulder, leans against the wall.
“Thank you. Sometimes it scares me how carefree I am when I’m with you.”
He doesn’t move, just watches me for a beat. “Coraline, you deserve more than you’ve ever reached for. There is a difference between existing and living. Life is to be enjoyed. Lean into it.”
Enjoyed? I guess I can let him put me first while I learn to do it myself.
“Ready?” He reaches for the handle.
I groan, but I guess I can’t hide here forever.
He opens the door and picks up my bag from the floor. “Jesus, I forgot how heavy this thing is. What do you carry in here?”
“Notebooks,” I reply before I can stop myself. Shit, am I ready to share that with him?
“Are you a professional note taker?” He swings my large bag over his shoulder.
I snort. “No, I’m not. I scribble stories.” I look away, suddenly self-conscious about my hobby.
Besides my father, nobody knows I enjoy writing for children. I guess mostly for me, since I’ve never shown or read my stories to anyone.
“Stories? What kind of stories?” He doesn’t mock me, just asks with a genuine interest.
“Children’s stories. I started when I was a teenager, and it’s been an outlet for me.” I shrug.
“That’s amazing.” He smiles at me, pulling me closer.
We turn the corner, and I stop in my tracks. The store is deserted.
“Where is everyone?” I look around, bewildered.
“You really think I would let anyone hear you come undone? That privilege is mine, and mine only.” He leans in and kisses me.
“But how?”
“I paid them to close the shop.” He shrugs, takes my hand, and leads me to the exit.
“Are you… What… Xander!” I’m completely incoherent. “How much did that cost you?”
“You’re still under budget, Coraline; we need to work on that.” He winks.