Xavier (Vigilance 4)

Have you taken even one day to just relax in years? Giorgio’s question echoed in my head.

I hadn’t. I couldn’t. People needed me, and I’d failed enough people in the past. I wasn’t going to fail anyone else.

Once we were on the island, my housekeeper, Henrietta, let me know she had breakfast ready for us. I asked her to serve it on the patio by the pool. While Emilio showered and changed in his room, I did the same. The clothing and other things Dalton had picked out for him would arrive in the morning. Until then, he said he’d be fine with his single change of clothes. I would have been fine with him naked, but I still had the presence of mind not to say that to him.

As I rinsed soap off my body and enjoyed the hot water pelting down on me, I couldn’t help but think about Emilio in his shower rubbing soap over his lean, pale body. I imagined his cock and balls as he fondled them, washing them clean.

I waited to be turned off by that image, but no, thinking of his cock only made my need for him worse. There was no doubt, even after a few hours’ sleep and breathing in the clean, refreshing island air, I wanted Emilio, and his gender didn’t matter at all.

I dressed quickly in lightweight blue shorts and a white button-down. I frowned as I looked at my suitcase, realizing I’d had my assistant pack like I was Thomas on vacation, not X on a mission. What the fuck was I thinking?

That you wanted to impress Emilio.

At least I’d had the sense to request black pants, a black t-shirt, and one set of Camo gear. I could have someone pick up other items on St. Croix if I needed them.

Emilio wasn’t there when I got to the seating area near the pool deck. After several minutes, I began to worry I shouldn’t have let him out of my sight. I knew there was no one in the house besides my well-vetted servants, but I still didn’t like it.

Something felt wrong. I looked out into the surrounding trees. I didn’t see anything unusual or have a sense of being watched, but I planned to stay on high alert.

Henrietta came out and asked if we were ready for breakfast. I told her it would be a few more minutes and went to check on Emilio.

I was relieved when he answered right away, even though he only opened the door a crack. “I’m fine up here. Go ahead without me.”

“Emilio, you need something to eat, and I don’t want to leave you on your own.”

“I’m used to being on my own.”

“You’re used to being safe behind a screen. Now you’re not, and it’s my job to look after you.”

He scowled at me. “I’m not a fucking kid.”

I was very clear on that. “Protecting people is what I do.”

“Do you follow your sister around all the time? Surely she has enemies.”

Pushing for the progressive policies she supported had earned my sister plenty of threats, many of which were serious. I hated knowing she was always in danger. “The only reason I don’t is because she’s scary as fuck and would probably shoot me.”

He laughed at that.

“Come on. Let’s go have breakfast.”

“Fine, but I don’t have clean clothes.” Emilio opened the door wider revealing that he was only wearing a fluffy white robe that fell to his knees. Henrietta must have place them in all the rooms.

I couldn’t stop myself from giving him a thorough once-over. I stared at his calves, which were sprinkled with dark hair, and his slender, pale feet. What the hell? I’d never been interested in feet before.

I forced myself to look back up, but my gaze landed on the droplets of water running down his chest where the robe was parted. I wanted to push the robe aside and dry him with my tongue.

Get ahold of yourself. “If you needed to dress, you could have just told me. We’re not in any rush.”

“No. It’s… um… I thought I’d packed a change of clothes, but all I have are t-shirts. I was a little bit flustered when I was trying to get out of my apartment.”

“I would expect so. I’ll have Henrietta wash the clothes you wore on the plane, and you can just wear your robe to breakfast.”

He took a step back and held the robe closed. “I don’t think—”

“We’re sitting by a pool. Most of the time guests would be wearing less.” I gestured to the fluffy garment.

“It’s not that. It’s… I’ll burn easily.”

“I have plenty of sunscreen. In fact, there’s probably some in your bathroom. I think Henrietta keeps all the rooms stocked with it. We’ll be sitting under an umbrella, so you won’t be in the direct sun. Just put some lotion on and come join me.”