“We should continue our talk later, no?” he asked. He’d moved back into his seat. When he’d first kissed her, he’d practically crawled on top of her, touching and kissing her like a man possessed. His dominant advance overwhelmed her, but she loved it. Craved it. She could still feel the presence of his palm pressing against her pussy, and she wanted him to touch her like that again. When he stopped, she’d only felt disappointment.
“We were just starting to open up. That’s a good thing. I have so many questions,” she said.
“Like what? More family bullshit?”
“Not really. I was thinking about your wild nights. Am I just another conquest to you?”
He narrowed his eyes, but she saw the corners of his lips twitch. “There aren’t any other women, Alesha.”
“But you said—”
“Lies. I’m good at lying. I can hide from the world, put on the mask I want people to see.”
“Is this another mask?” She reached her hand out to touch his face, but pulled back before making contact. His dark eyes, straight nose, rough stubble, and thick lips … every detail of his face was perfect to her.
“I don’t know what this is,” he said. “But it feels real.”
She adjusted the top of her dress, and his eyes went to her cleavage. He made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the world. There was no denying the hunger in his eyes. “I can’t handle being my boss’s fling. If that’s what this is, please find another woman to be your date tomorrow.”
“I said there are no other women. Since you moved into my house, I haven’t fucked around. And stop calling me your boss. I have a name.”
“Xavier.” She pronounced it slowly. He leaned closer.
“You’re worried about women, nothing else? You’re a fearless little thing, aren’t you?” He touched her jaw, dragging one finger along the edge of her face until he reached her chin. He tilted her face up. “And fucking gorgeous.”
“Xavier…”
“There it is again. Hearing you say my name, it makes my cock hard.”
Holy shit. She loved his no holds barred way of talking. It turned her on, made her desperate for more. When had this happened? What was she becoming?
“You confuse me,” she said. Alesha reached out, slipping her hand into his jacket. There it was, his gun. “Do you always carry a weapon?”
“Always.”
“Why? Is your life really so dangerous?”
“You have no idea. And now I have to protect you, too,” he said.
She pulled her hand back. “Why would I need protecting? I don’t understand why anyone would want me dead. I’m a cleaner, nothing more.”
“It’s my fault. I fucked up.” He lost the flirty quality and turned around, squeezing the steering wheel. “I’m supposed to use you as bait during Dixon’s lunch tomorrow, and I will if that means closing this contract for my boss.”
“Great. I’m just bait to you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, facing forward, wondering why she ever thought there could be something between her and some hired gun. She’d be lucky if she got out of this nightmare in one piece.
“Alesha, look at me,” he said. Why did his voice have to be so deep and rough, sex for her ears? She wanted to ignore him, but peeked to her side.
“What?” she snapped.
“Dixon isn’t a good man. He’s into a lot of bad shit, and doesn’t deserve to be breathing. I only agreed to my boss’s request to use you tomorrow because I’ll be there by your side the entire time.” He forced her to look at him, holding the side of her face. “I’ll never let anyone hurt you. No matter what. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’ve already told me you’re the best liar. Why should I believe you?”
“If you were anyone else, I’d already have killed you. Witnesses have a very short shelf life in this game, and my Boss hates loose ends like little girls who know too much.”
She swallowed hard, feeling a mix of emotions from being flattered, deeply aroused, to insulted. Something was wrong with her head.
“I’m not a little girl,” she whispered.