Page 86 of Xander

It seemed we had just been bumped from a third-tier magazine to the headline of tomorrow’s major publication.

I backed into my seat as if it might protect me from what just happened. My lips felt scraped raw from the stubble around Xander’s mouth while purplish blotches danced before my eyes from the flash.

“Was that paparazzi?” I asked, shaking.

Xander opened the door and got out of the car tensely, his physique seeming impossibly broad from a seated position. I saw his eyes tracking the lot, but the car was long gone. He had taken us by surprise and fled the scene. There was no catching him now.

“Shit,” I said, shaking my head. “Shit. This is not good. If he publishes that photo⁠—”

“Don’t worry about it.” Xander returned to his seat and shut the door, finally shifting the gear to drive. “It’s dark, and it was just one photograph. He probably didn’t even get our faces.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He was tempting fate. “Plenty of people’s careers have been undone by just one photograph.” I folded my arms, painfully conscious of my erect nipples. “I work in this industry, Xander. Even if they don’t run an article, a photo like that is going to require an explanation that I’m not sure you’re ready to give.”

“You think I’m the one scared to tell the world about us?” His eyes flashed dangerously. “Really? Because you act like you’ll die of embarrassment if someone finds out about us.”

I slapped my thigh. “Christ. I’m not ashamed of you. I’m worried about your career. Every brand will drop you if they find out you’re sleeping with your stepmother.”

His eyes somewhat softened at my concern. Reaching over, he stroked my lip with his thumb. “I can take care of myself.”

That’s what I’m afraid of.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

JORDAN

By the time we returned to his opulent home, all the lights were turned off. Asking to sleep in separate rooms was a fight I didn’t have the energy to take on tonight. Not that it mattered. Xander would find a way inside any room I stayed in. Instead of fighting about it, I made him promise to use discretion for Jasper’s sake.

Someone had already organized my things in his room. It was a bold statement that we were to share this bedroom moving forward, even though this place seemed large enough to accommodate six.

As I headed toward the closet in my torn leggings and flannel shirt, he stepped forward to block my path.

“Take everything off and put this on,” he said, tossing his jersey at me before sitting on the bed.

I barely caught the fabric. My fingers burned against the soft material.

“I want to fuck you in my jersey at least once tonight.”

Having sex again seemed like the irresponsible thing to do based on the catastrophe from tonight. But if he were to go down in flames tomorrow for indiscretions with his stepmother, the least I owed him was a distraction. And I could no longer deny there was something magical between us. I lost my mind every damn time he touched me and was starting to crave him like an addict.

I took a step back, heart pounding. Turning my back to him, I stripped as fast as I could, yanking the jersey over my head before he could get a look. Not that it mattered—he’d already seen all of me.

With nimble feet, I moved toward the bed. His eyes flared when he took me in. Otherwise, he was quiet, observing me.

I wasn’t sure what made me do it, except that I wanted to take away all the stress he had experienced today. He sat at the foot of the bed, and I knelt between his legs. My trembling fingers moved to his sweatpants, grazing the bristly line of hair that arrowed from his navel. He didn’t help me as I dragged his sweatpants down slightly and pulled out his cock.

Curving toward the tight drum of his abdomen, his heavy cock twitched under my gaze. It was thick and roseate, and lightly veined, with a flushed crimson head already glistening with pre-cum. I had never been with someone so athletic, and the image of his prowess was mouthwatering. The sight made my heart race. Before I could talk myself out of doing what I was about to do, I leaned over and took him in my mouth.

Xander’s groan echoed through the room, and I hoped it didn’t travel any farther. His hands tangled in my hair as I worked him relentlessly with my mouth, intent on using my tongue to tease his sensitive head, tracing the frenulum until he lost all reason.

“Fuck, stop,” he cursed, pulling me off him. “I’m not coming in your mouth. Get up.”

I stood on shaky legs and straddled him, struggling a little with his size as usual. He had me ride him at the edge of the bed until my thighs burned with the effort, and my pussy felt stretched and full. “You’re so fucking amazing,” he told me, keeping one hand beneath my ass to control the pace. “Did I ever tell you that, jailbird?”

I shook my head, tightening my grip on his shoulders for balance.

“You could have everything handed to you on a silver platter.” He nudged me with his large hand, fingers brushing the sensitive skin where we were joined. “If you let me, I’ll take care of you.”