Page 26 of Xander

Silence engulfed us for several moments before he finally spoke. “I hated you before meeting you,” he repeated. “But you were nothing like I envisioned. I wasn’t expecting you to be warm or to take the time to learn everything about me. I’d always been the one to take care of everyone else. I knew what Jasper liked to eat and drink. After Mom’s accident, I made myself familiar with her preferences. I had to keep my asshole father away from them by finding the things he liked, too.”

He stood there, his chest rising and falling rapidly beneath the crisp white fabric of his shirt. The confident smirk that usually graced his features was nowhere to be found.

“But no one ever asked me what I liked,” he said quietly. “Before you, no one had made me feel special,” he said like it was an accusation.

I glanced at the beautiful estate garden in front of us, overwhelmed. Why was he telling me all this?

“You were funny, original, your own boss,” he continued. “I’d never met anyone like you. And you have more in common with me than you do with him. Why do you keep holding on to him?” he asked bitterly. “He treats you like shit.”

My temper threatened to break loose. “Are you serious?” I yelled. “You don’t get to leave for years, then come back to judge me for my marriage.”

“I left because you chose to marry him,” he shouted. “I couldn’t stand the idea of seeing you two together, and you refused to leave with me. I thought things would be different after some time apart. Or maybe you would feel differently.”

“Why would you think that?” I asked, upset.

“Because I thought you’d see what I’d built for myself and finally want me, too.”

If possible, the temperature dropped several more degrees between us. I pressed my hand against my chest, where my heart pounded with a deep ache. It was true then—my worst fear—where Xander was concerned.

I scoffed. “Oh. I see. You thought I was a gold digger and had sold myself off to the biggest bidder.”

He frowned. “That’s not what I meant.”

“You sure did imply it. What did you think would happen? Now that you have money and fame, I’d come running to fulfill your stepmother fetish.”

“Shut. Up,” he chewed out.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You thought I’d hop from your father’s bed to yours and open my legs to fulfill your dirty fantasies⁠—”

Xander moved faster than I expected. With a tight grip on my shoulders, he shoved me against the front door.

“What the hell?” I cried out.

I didn’t anticipate his fingers to wrap around my neck. He squeezed my throat, the warning clear. He’d tighten his hold if I made another sound. He stepped forward, his hip bones pressing into me and effectively trapping me.

I stared into his stormy eyes as I tried to peel off his thick fingers.

My stomach lurched. I searched for the staff members so someone could save me. Anyone. I exhaled in relief when he finally loosened his grip, thinking this madness was about to end.

Before I could relish it, his hand moved to my cheek, gripping me in a biting hold.

And then his lips were on mine.

A wave of heat swept through my body at a kiss that wasn’t gentle or sweet but forceful and commanding. The numerous drinks at lunch, combined with my shock, kept me rooted to the spot.

Electricity crackled in the air, pulsing with danger as his tongue probed for entrance. It jolted me out of the murky fog.

I clawed at his large hand, but he didn’t let up. I tried to protest, but speaking against his all-consuming lips was impossible. When I didn’t open my mouth, he growled in frustration and squeezed my cheeks. Tears stung my eyes from the pain, and my mouth instantaneously opened wide for him.

Xander didn’t miss a beat, plunging his tongue deep inside my mouth. One hand sifted through my hair while the other wrapped around my waist to keep me in place. He groaned, his touch rough and impatient.

“Why are you doing this with me?” I finally gasped against his mouth. “You can have anyone you want.”

“I only want you.” I felt his hot breath against my lips.

“I’m your stepmother.”

“I don’t care.”