Chapter 4
By the time his words faded into silence, Elise didn't say a single word. The gentle smile that had been resting on her lips slowly disappeared, and something inside her seemed to crumble. Her lashes lowered as though she were trying to hide it, but she couldn't.
The disappointment was there for him to see, etched across every delicate feature.
Her eyes lost their light, replaced by quiet devastation, and the corners of her lips trembled almost imperceptibly before pressing together as if she were fighting to keep herself composed.
She looked so heartbreakingly dejected that it was as though every ounce of hope she'd been clinging to had been ripped away from her in a single breath.
The sight struck Xavier with brutal force.
A sharp pain lanced through the center of his chest so suddenly that it stole his breath.
His brows drew together instinctively as his hand lifted from where it rested against her arm and pressed hard against his own chest, his fingers curling into the expensive fabric of his shirt.
It felt real—terrifyingly real—as though someone had reached inside him and squeezed his heart with merciless strength.
His jaw tightened until it ached, every muscle in his body locking as he stared at her, unable to tear his eyes away from the sadness clouding her face.
He couldn't understand it. He couldn't explain why seeing her look so devastated hurt him this much, yet every passing second only made the crushing pressure inside his chest worse.
None of this made sense.
He didn't care about her. Then why did it feel like he was the one breaking apart?
His breathing grew uneven as he fought to suppress whatever this unbearable feeling was, but it refused to loosen its grip.
The ache only deepened the longer he looked at her, until it became impossible to ignore.
Before he even realized what he was doing, his hand slipped away from his chest and slowly rose to the back of her head, his fingers threading through the softness of her hair with surprising gentleness.
Elise barely had time to react.
A quiet gasp escaped her lips, her eyes widening in surprise, but it was swallowed the instant Xavier closed the distance between them.
His mouth crashed against hers.
He kissed her as though she were the only thing capable of easing the unbearable agony clawing at his chest, his hand tightening protectively in her hair while his other arm circled her waist and pulled her flush against him.
Every ounce of frustration, confusion, and pain he couldn't put into words poured into the kiss instead.
His lips moved hungrily against hers, refusing to let her go, refusing to give either of them a chance to breathe, as though the moment he stopped, the crushing pain inside him would return twice as strong.
By the time he finally broke the kiss, both of them were breathing hard. His forehead nearly brushed hers for the briefest moment before his gaze swept across the dimly lit club, scanning for hidden cameras and eavesdroppers.
Satisfied they were alone, he seized the back of her head, pulling her close.
His mouth traced a path from her throat down to her shoulder, his tongue gliding from her lips to the side of her neck and then lower, savoring the taste of her skin.
With a rough, impatient motion, he pushed the robe aside, letting it slip off her shoulder, exposing her to him.
His mouth devoured every inch of her, hungry and insatiable.
His tongue danced over her skin, both tender and demanding, before biting down with a fervor that drew a gasp from her lips.
“Xavier,” she whimpered, her voice trembling as she struggled to stifle her reactions.
But each bite followed by his teasing lick made it increasingly difficult.
“We should go home,” she gasped, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly.
Her knees weakened, her body clinging to him as she fought to suppress her moans.
“If you keep your voice down,” he murmured, his mouth trailing from her throat to her shoulder, then shifting to the other side as he pushed the robe fully down. “I can fuck you anywhere I want.”
His voice was rough and heavy, charged with desire. He pulled back slightly, grabbing a handful of her hair and tilting her head back, locking his gaze onto hers.
“Didn’t you say you’d do anything for me? This is the first lesson you need to learn,” he growled, his eyes burning with intensity. She could see the strain in his pants, showing his barely contained desire.
“Didn’t you say you’d do anything for me? Then this is the first thing I need.”
He stared hungrily at her flushed cheeks, her eyes burning with need.
“I want the right to fuck you whenever… wherever I please.”
Elise swallowed hard, her body trembling in his hold, caught between longing and fear. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, clinging tightly.
A flicker of bravado flashed across her features as she tilted her head back.
“Alright,” she breathed, the words barely escaping her lips, “it’s yours.”
Her heart thundered in her chest, each beat echoing the wild rhythm of desire as she stood before him, breath coming in quick, heated bursts.
Xavier’s features darkened, his eyes narrowing with a predatory focus that sent shivers down her spine, awakening something primal deep within her.
In a heartbeat, his mouth crashed against hers, the collision igniting a fire that left her gasping for air.
His lips danced hungrily over hers, capturing her lower lip, sucking and licking with an insatiable craving that made her entire body tremble.
She gasped, struggling to regain her breath, yet he was relentless, intent on consuming her, making her essence the only thing that mattered in that moment.
He burned for her, his mouth trailing down to her cheek and then to her neck.
One hand tightened possessively around her waist while the other gripped the side of her neck, anchoring her as he devoured her with fervor.
His mouth moved with a desperate hunger, licking and biting at her skin, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. Her hand flew to his waist, fingers clutching his belt as he peppered kisses along her neck, each touch igniting a wildfire of sensation within her.
“Ahh,” she breathed, her voice strained, each sound escaping her lips a testament to her struggle against the overwhelming pleasure.
It was impossible to contain; he was rough and wild, a creature starved for her touch.
As his impatience grew, desperation fueled his roughness. His hand slid to her thigh, pushing up her dress, fingers trailing the silk nightdress higher until they reached her center, rubbing her clit through dampened panties.
“Mhmmm…” Elise whimpered, her voice rising in pitch as her breath quickened and her legs trembled, struggling to maintain her balance.
In an instant, their mouths collided, the urgency of his fingers leaving her breathless while he continued to work against the fabric. Her knees buckled, barely able to support her weight, his touch making it impossible to stay upright.
She gripped his wrist tightly, gasping, “Xavier, I can’t stand anymore,” her head falling against his chest as quick, uneven breaths escaped her lips.
With a swift motion, he pushed her panties aside, two fingers plunging inside her at once.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Xavier!” she whimpered, nearly collapsing forward, but he caught her by the waist, holding her firmly against the wall. The pressure made her tremble and whimper, yet he only grew rougher with each passing moment.
Just as her trembling legs threatened to give out beneath her, he drew back. Before she could catch her breath, Xavier slowly lowered himself to his knees in front of her.
His heated gaze never left hers as his hands slid to the thin fabric of her panties. With unhurried precision, he lifted one of her feet, eased the fabric down, then did the same with the other before letting the garment fall carelessly to the floor.
Then, his mouth found her delicate flesh, his tongue sliding between her folds, licking over and over again.
“Oh... oh...” Elise gasped, her body trembling, her thighs quivering as Xavier held her firmly against the wall, leaving her unable to move while his mouth feasted on her heated skin.
Just then, the faint clatter of cutlery echoed in the distance, the sound drawing closer with each passing second.
Panic shot through Elise, making her body jolt.
“Xavier, someone’s coming,” she whispered urgently, her voice trembling on the verge of breaking.
But he didn't stop.
His tongue plunged deeper, lapping at her center, relentless against her skin. The wet sound of his tongue on her clit filled the air, quickening her heartbeat.
The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder as a waiter made his way down the corridor, each step sending another wave of panic through Elise.
“Xavier,” she pleaded, repeatedly pushing against his chest.
At first, he refused to move. Only when she continued to shove at him did he finally pull back enough to meet her gaze, a faint frown creasing his brow.
But instead of retreating, impatience flashed across his face.
His hands tightened as he shifted her slightly, parting her thighs wider, his tongue once again finding her delicate flesh, licking her over and over again.
The footsteps drew closer with every passing second, each echo in the corridor making the panic in Elise's chest climb higher.
Just when it sounded as though the waiter was only a few steps away from turning the corner, another voice suddenly called out.
“John, take these too and go to the manager. He wants to talk to you.”
The waiter came to an abrupt halt, startled by the interruption.
In the shadows, Elise trembled, whimpering softly.