Christopher added, “He won’t let it continue. His patience with you is waning.”
Bryan studied Xander’s expression. “You’re deliberately breaking the rules, aren’t you? Why?”
Christopher made a sound of disgust. “Xander has always considered himself above the rules. Which makes his adherence to this one that much more interesting. You talk about defending us, Xander, but wouldn’t it be better for all of us if we knew what we were facing?”
Xander clenched his fists at his side. “Not yet, Christopher. Be patient. Trust me when I say not knowing has been and is your best protection.”
Christopher turned to Bryan in frustration. “Are you willing to accept that answer?”
Bryan held Xander’s eyes for a long moment. “More than title, more than country, we are brothers. Regardless of law, you are not alone. If you need us, we are here.” He elbowed his younger brother.
Christopher said, “Seriously, I don’t like secrets, but you’ve never been anything but a good brother to me, Xander. I would give my life to protect you if you needed me to. You don’t have to face whatever this is alone.”
Xander let out a long sigh. “Keep those who are most loyal to you close and trust no one with why. I may need you and if I do, it could be for an ugly reason. One I cannot explain to you yet.”
Bryan put a hand on Xander’s shoulder. He said the two words Xander had said to him the day he’d pulled Bryan back from the edge of the cliff — an act that had saved Bryan but not their mother. “Brothers first.”
Christopher did the same with his opposite hand. “Brothers first.”
Xander laid his hand over both of theirs on his shoulders and said, “And in the name of Rubare Collina it shall always be.” He lowered his hands and stepped back. “I’ve been avoiding introducing Father to Reanna, but you’ve just changed my mind. Tell Father I’ll bring her by tomorrow night for dinner.”
Chapter Ten
Reanna was lying beside Xander, listening to him breathe, and having her usual silent morning pep talk. Her life until now had centered on her academic success. Taking a vacation, not only from her work, but also from the expectations of people who knew her, was freeing.
In Rubare Collina she felt free.
And in that unobstructed place, Reanna was able to ask herself some tough questions. She had been asked in the past to take the lead on projects, but she’d always chosen supportive positions. It wasn’t that she was intimidated by the task, but confrontation of any kind had always made her nervous. She would get physically sick just thinking about speaking up for herself.
She’d learned in foster homes it didn’t take much to lose everything she cared about. She hadn’t realized how much fear had defined her until she’d stepped outside of her life and looked at it from a distance.
Reanna rubbed a hand absently over Xander’s broad chest. He’d told her to never look down, and being with him had given her the courage not to. When they were alone, he encouraged her to speak her mind. When they were in public he modeled how a strong person stands up for what they believe in. She wished she could go back in time and tell herself to take chances and be bolder. Perhaps then she would have done something important with her life.
He stilled her hand with his own, holding it against his chest and murmuring, “Why are you awake?”
“I was thinking,” Reanna said. “I wish I had met you earlier. I wasted so much time being afraid.”
He kissed the top of her head. “You never need to be afraid again, Reanna. Not as long as I have a breath left in me.”
Reanna laced her fingers with his. “I’m grateful for that, but that’s not what I meant. I’m not talking about a physical fear. You’ve given me confidence in myself. I feel like I could go back and tell off those idiots at my old job.”
With his free hand, Xander rubbed her back. “You don’t have to, I already did.”
Reanna met his eyes. “Are you serious?”
He kept caressing her back gently. “Absolutely. They needed to know they couldn’t treat women that way. I enjoyed making that point clear to them.”
Reanna smiled. “I should probably tell you that you shouldn’t have done that, or that I could handle my own battles, but I’ve never had anyone fight for me before.”
“Let the past go, Reanna. That doesn’t have to be your life anymore.”
Reanna felt comfortable being herself in front of Xander. “I’m not really good at letting go. Did I ever tell you about my sundress?” He shook his head and Reanna continued, “It’s not a sundress. It’s a little black dress with a sun embroidered on its jacket. It might sound ridiculous, but I consider it my compass. I keep it in the back of my closet and take it with me whenever I move. I kind of wish it were here.” Reanna studied Xander’s face and said, “You probably don’t want to hear about an old dress.”
“Is it important to you?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re wrong; I do want to hear about it. Tell me about this dress.”
Reanna pictured the dress in her mind. “Remember I told you I was very young when I started college? Well, I was desperate to fit in. There was a formal dance and I, of course, didn’t have a dress. I was living in a group home at the time. I had enough food and clothing, but nothing special. Nothing I could wear to something like that. One of my classmates took me shopping at Macy’s. She convinced me to try on dresses. That black dress, with the big gold sun was the most beautiful piece of clothing I’d ever touched, not to mention worn. She offered to put it on her credit card if I returned it after the dance. The dress was three hundred dollars. For someone like me, that just as easily could have been a million. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I let her buy it for me. Then she showed me how to cover the tags with plastic so I could return it, claiming I hadn’t worn it. I wore it to the dance, and it worked. I danced with boys who had never noticed me. I spoke to girls who normally ignored me. It was the perfect night. But when it came time to return the dress, I couldn’t. It felt wrong. I made myself sick worrying about who I would become if I started stealing, even on that level. I was stuck with the dress. The girl who had put it on her charge card was furious. I couldn’t blame her; I had broken our deal. It took me a long time to pay her back. I kept that dress to remind me not to make that kind of mistake again. I always considered my mistake had been not being strong enough to return it, but I’m beginning to think that keeping that dress was one of the few things I’ve done right. I may not always stand up and fight for what I want, but I don’t run from my responsibilities either. Thank you for telling me I’m stronger than I think I am — I’m finally beginning to believe you.”
In the silence that followed Reanna’s reminiscing monologue, she cursed herself for not being more flirtatious or witty. What do I do when I wake next to the world’s sexiest man? I talk and talk until his morning boner is probably more limp than overdone pasta. Way to go, Reanna.
“I’ve changed my mind about how we’ll spend today . . .” he sai
d.
Reanna groaned inwardly. Of course you have. Why can’t I be cool — just once in my life?
He brushed some hair out of her eyes. “We’ll dine with my father tonight.”
Naked, Reanna shot straight up to a seated position and turned to look down at Xander in shock. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
Xander smiled and ran a hand up her arm then across her chest to cup one of her breasts, tracing her nipple leisurely with one thumb. “It’s time you meet my family.”
Reanna grabbed his hand to still it. She could barely breathe. “You said a meeting wouldn’t be just a meeting. You said it would be a . . . it would be a . . .”
He gave her arm a tug, and she toppled down onto him, her bare chest on his. He whispered in her ear, “A declaration. And it will be.” With hands on her hips, he lifted her so she was intimately pressed against his hard shaft. He moved her up and down against him, and Reanna’s body responded even as her mind raced. She placed her hands on the pillow beside his head and arched herself back enough so she could see his face.
“Of what? What are you ready to declare?” She could barely think when he looked at her with eyes burning with desire, but she also couldn’t give herself over to the pleasure of his touch when so many questions were going off like fireworks in her head.
Her position exposed her breasts to him in a way he didn’t hesitate to take advantage of. He laved the nipples that bounced in front of his face, then nipped them gently. “We’re good together, aren’t we, Reanna?”
Reanna closed her eyes as desire shot through her. She whispered, “Yes.”
He ran a hand down her stomach and began to caress her clit while he rocked his hips in a way that slid his cock up and down her even wetter slit. “You’re happy here.” He kissed his way to her other breast. “Aren’t you?” When he took her into his mouth and suckled her gently, Reanna began to drown in the sensations rushing through her.
When she didn’t answer he rolled over so he was above her and raised both of her hands above her head, securing them with one of his hands. He ran his other hand over her body with slow, strong moves. Everywhere he touched sent flicks of heat down to her already swollen and ready sex. He kissed her deeply, his tongue thrusting into her mouth as if laying claim to it. She kissed him back eagerly and attempted to pull her hands free so she could bury them in his hair or in the luscious mountain of muscles on his shoulders. He easily restrained her hands.
