Xavier (Vigilance 4)

“I found some information,” Emilio said, voice shaky.

“Tell me.”

“JW seems to be a serious asshole. He works with the lowest of the low. I’m surprised Swain would have anything to do with him.”

“Lucien said the same thing.”

“Do you want to look at the intel now or…” When he looked up at me, my gaze must have told him what he needed to know

He clicked a few keys on his laptop, closed it, and rose to set it on a chair.

When he turned back to me, his expression was serious. “If something happens to me, don’t let anyone get hold of my computer. Destroy it or use anything you can off it, but—”

I circled the bed and took hold of his shoulders.

“Nothing is going to happen to you.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can. They won’t get through me.”

He looked up, his eyes full of emotion. “Don’t sacrifice yourself for—”

I kissed him then. I didn’t know any other way to tell him how valuable he was. I could charm a crowd out of their money or inspire men to follow me into hell, but talking about my own feelings… fuck no. My father had made it very clear that wasn’t something a Carrington did. I’d managed to reject many of his other lessons, but somehow that one stuck with me.

The kisses Emilio and I had shared before had been amazing, but now that I’d decided not to fight my attraction, I let myself really truly feel everything, every place our bodies touched, his soft lips, the heat inside his mouth. I was fully in the moment and it was glorious.

18

Emilio

The second X’s lips touched mine, I forgot all about the secrets on my laptop and my chances of surviving the next week. There was something different about him. He was more ferocious, more all-consuming. I was ready to fall into him and let him have whatever he wanted. I didn’t care if it was only temporary. I had no more chance of resisting X than I did confronting JW or one of my many other enemies.

“Off,” X growled as he tugged on the hem of my t-shirt.

Heat rushed to my face at the prospect of stripping in front of him, but he’d seen me nearly naked by the pool, and he still wanted me.

“Now,” he demanded.

It was so damn hot for him to talk to me like that. He was acting just like he did in my fantasies.

I lifted my arms so he could pull my shirt off. He tossed it on the ground, then wrapped his hands around my upper arms, holding me in place as he took a step back and looked at me. He moved one hand up and over my shoulder to press at the base of my throat. Using firm pressure, he slid his hand down my chest and over my abdomen.

I shivered when the base of his palm grazed the head of my cock. He stopped there and moved his hand back up and flicked his thumb over one of my nipples, making me suck in my breath.

He smiled. “So you do like that?”

All I could do was nod. He brushed his thumb over the other hard bud, then pinched it. I let out a small, embarrassing sound.

“So fucking gorgeous,” he murmured.

“Have you ever… with a man?”

X shook his head.

“Is it… strange?”

“No. Different, not strange. I want this. I want you.”

“And you…” I paused to take a shaky breath. “Want to be in control.”

“Yes. I want you to do exactly what I say.”

“I don’t usually have anyone to obey. I rarely even talk to anyone.”

He smiled with arrogant certainty that made me weak in the knees. “You’ll obey me.”

“Will I?” Why was I teasing him? This was what I wanted, but I couldn’t give in without at least a little protest.

“You will because you want to. You want to please me. You always have.”

“Fuck. Did you… did you know that I… that I’ve wanted you since I first saw you on the screen?”

“No, at least not consciously, but I could tell how much you liked it when I praised you for your work.”

“I like… I like it when you’re pleased with me.”

“I’m very pleased with you right now.”

He let go of me, and I almost begged him not to. His hands felt so good on me.

“Take off your pants.”

I did as he said, but when I got them part way down my thighs, I couldn’t resist looking up at him.

He was staring at my cock. I hadn’t been wearing anything under the sweats, so I was fully exposed to him.

“Pants off,” he demanded. I lifted one foot at a time, removed them, and tossed them away.

“Better. I want to look at you.”

I wasn’t sure what he saw as he ran his eyes over my body, but he smiled appreciatively. I sucked in my breath when he suddenly knelt in front of me. He slid his hands over my hips and down my thighs. My knees felt too weak to hold me, so I braced myself on his shoulders. He glanced up.