Breathe for Me

chapter Ten





Chelsea rode the lift down aiming to hit the local deli and grab an instant meal. She was too tired to face the stairs even though she knew it would be good for her leg. Three days had passed since That Afternoon and she still thought of it whenever she let her brain off the leash. Tragic, right? She wasn’t some thirteen year old in the throes of her first ever crush. She was twenty-four, a post-grad student with brilliant grades—sure, she’d had some time out while she recovered from the accident, but now, just when she should be getting back on top, all her mushy brain could think about was Xander.

What he’d done to her. How he’d made her feel. And how much she wanted it again.

The moment she’d woken later that evening, she’d known he’d gone. That had been the rule in what had only been a game. But in that game he’d kissed every inch of her and buried deep, his size and power claiming entire possession. Then he’d pushed deeper still. And at these mere memories her body softened again, heated, hungered.

Superman?

Oh yes.

He hadn’t left a note—nothing on her pillow, her desk, her phone, her bench. No message anywhere. In fact there was no sign he’d even been there. It really was like it had been nothing but a dream. Fantasy.

Except now moving around her apartment block was an exercise in nerves. She wanted to see him and didn’t want to see him. Daily she resolved not to think about him. Then failed. But there’d been no sign of him so far. He hadn’t been running with his buddies—she’d seen just two of them the other day. Hunter and Rocco. The level of her disappointment was pathetic. The only way to deal with it was to exit and enter the building as fast as possible. So the elevator it was.

Chelsea stepped forward, ready to exit as the compartment did that slight bump as it reached the ground floor. She stared straight ahead as the doors slid open.

He stood there—blocking her way, waiting to take the ride up. Dressed head to toe in black—boots, jeans, tee—unshaven, unsmiling, intense.

Chelsea froze. Her gaze locked with his in a timeless moment of memory and heat. As she watched, his dark pupils swallowed the light blue of his eyes. The sultry depths drew her in again and sweeping desire back through to her bones—more powerfully than before because now she knew. And to her amazement, she saw the heat beating its way up to her face reflected in his—smudges of color slashing across his cheekbones.

Oh no. She wasn’t going to do this. She wasn’t going to fall so easily. She forced herself to turn her head and step to the side so she could exit the elevator. Aiming to give him a wide berth. Literally.

But before she could take the next step forward, a broad palm pushed on her belly. Startled, she looked up, but couldn’t prevent him propelling her back into the lift with that simple, but firm, action. He kept walking. Kept pushing her to retreat until her back hit the wall of the lift. She didn’t break eye contact again. The doors slid shut behind him, but the lift went nowhere.

“Hello to you too, Xander,” she said, faking a cool reaction. Fingers crossed he couldn’t tell her pulse was galloping spooked horse crazy.

Amusement flickered in his face, along with something else.

Really? Chelsea’s narrowed her eyes. He was going to give her the lover-look now? When he’d walked out while she was asleep and not made any kind of contact since?

Well she was so not letting him know she’d been thinking of him and nothing but for the last eighty hours. She had pride. She’d play it cool. Well, as cool as possible given the oxygen in the elevator seemed to have been sucked out, leaving a smokin’ atmosphere.

“You mad with me?”

Oh he was that arrogant. “Why would I be mad?” She quickly touched her tongue to her lips. It really was because her mouth was parched, not a come-on move.

“For leaving like that.”

She blinked as the elevator began to ascend. Someone on another floor must have summoned it.

“Not at all.” She eased her stiff lips into a smile. “I didn’t mind missing the awkward goodbye.”

“No?” His eyes widened slightly, so did his smile. “Maybe it wouldn’t have been that awkward.”

She laughed lightly—irresistibly—at the wry humor that always warmed his words. “You were worried it would be.” It was so obvious he’d not wanted some clingy scene.

“Maybe.” Now his eyes narrowed. “But you know, I’ve been trying to be a hero.”

“Again?” Her brows arched. “How so?”

“I’ve been trying to be good and stay away from you.”

“How is that being good?”

“I didn’t think it would be in yo—our—best interests to…” he trailed off.

Now why wouldn’t it be in her best interests? That was what he’d meant despite that last second correction. What did he think might happen to her?

She couldn’t help a small chuckle of amusement. Definitely arrogant. But the expression in his eyes gave her ego a boost—he still wanted her. He absolutely still wanted her. Well he’d probably get what he wanted. But she kind of liked the idea of taking him down a peg while she could.

“Well,” she slowly mused. “You said it yourself. Superheroes aren’t perfect. They usually have some kind of fatal flaw.”

“Fatal flaw?” He looked both unbelieving and unimpressed.

She nodded, refusing to laugh again. “Usually something’s happened in their past—something that then drives them on to try to help others. To defeat the bad guys, to protect the innocent or something. But back in that past, they got damaged somehow. Or maybe they did some kind of damage. There’s always a weakness.” She angled her head and watched him closely but his eyes gave nothing away. “So I’m wondering what it is that’s happened in your past, Superman? What are you running from? What is it that drives you to play the one who saves?”

His expression remained blank but he stepped nearer, bracing his hands on the wall either side of her so he hemmed her in. “I’m not sure. I must have repressed the bad memories.”

She lifted her brows at his attempt to distract her and deflect the query. Although admittedly his efforts were working. His smile turned wicked as he caught her taking a split-second to reacquaint her mind with the breadth of his shoulders.

“So, you’re not mad at me.” He was all confidence.

“Nope.” She was all bravado.

“Yet you’re looking flushed. Why would that be?”

“It’s a hot evening.” Her voice petered out as he leaned in even closer.

“We’re in an air-conditioned elevator,” he whispered.

Oh there was no air in here at all. “And we can’t go up and down in it all night.”

“Why not?” He glanced down at her breasts.

Yeah, they were there and obvious in her thin button-through blouse and at just that look her sensitive nipples tightened.

His confident smile widened as she breathed faster, shorter.

She fought to retain control of the situation. “Xander—”

“Code for yes.”

She didn’t answer as the lift doors opened and another resident got in the lift. Xander didn’t move, didn’t say anything. Just kept watching her reaction. She got hotter, restless, breathless—fully embarrassed, yet wickedly excited at being held in such an intimate pose in the presence of someone else.

She didn’t breathe until the doors slid open again.

“What are you thinking about, Chelsea?” he murmured the second that resident exited the lift and the doors closed.

He was teasing. He knew exactly what was going on in her mind.

“You wouldn’t be thinking about sex, would you?” he added. “Because I sure as hell am.”

She swallowed. He leaned closer.

“But we have a problem,” he whispered.

“Oh?” She finally found the ability to make a noise.

“I don’t want anything more than what we shared the other day,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “Just sex. Lots and lots. Fantasy sex. But that’s all.”

“What makes you think I’d want anything more than that either?” she asked blandly.

He frowned. “Can you really handle it?” He clenched his jaw and slowly shook his head. “Come on Chelsea, you’re too ‘buttoned up good girl’ to even say yes. You’re repressed.”

Was she? What she was, was recovering. She’d been hurt and was a bit scared but wanted some kind of normal fun—twenty-something, city girl normal fun.

“Just because I find it difficult to express what I want, d-doesn’t mean I don’t want.” She stumbled through the sentence.

He stared at her—his eyes promising so much heat, yet coolly appraising too.

“Don’t be afraid you’re going to hurt me.” She pulled away from the wall, taking her weight on her own feet, bringing herself within a millimeter of him. “I’m a big girl. I can handle much more than you could ever imagine.”

“I hate to break it to you but you’re really not that big,” he said, still thoughtful. Still assessing, as if he wasn’t sure she was truly up to it. “What is it you want from me?”

Wasn’t it obvious? She cleared her throat. “You already know.”

“So say it.” He frowned. “You need to learn to communicate your needs better. I can take a good guess but I’m not a mind reader.” He wrapped his hands around her wrists. “What do you want from me?”

Her chutzpah had got her only so far and now it deserted her. He was right—she had been ‘good’—not that experienced. Not in the art of the casual fling. She swallowed. She couldn’t say it. Yet she knew he wasn’t going to stand for silence. He’d walk and she’d lose her opportunity to progress on her new path—no to serious relationships, but yes to occasional sex, to lightness. “More of the same. But nothing more.”

“Act out a few fantasies?” He watched. Waited.

She said nothing, but she knew he could feel her pulse speeding.

“You want me to call the shots,” he said.

She nodded, though again they both knew it hadn’t really been a question.

His hands tightened. “There’s only so far I’ll go. If you want pain you’ve come to the wrong guy.”

“I don’t want pain,” she said quickly, frowning. She’d had enough real pain in her life. “Just fun. Play.” Just sex. Pleasure in passion.

“Hot, hard fun?”

Wild, energetic, frenetic. She wanted it all. But she remained wordless, just looking at him. Desire ran like quicksilver in her veins as she watched that assessing look fade under the edgier, heated flare in his expression.

Excitement, anticipation put her senses on high alert. She wanted him to take what he wanted.

He swore under his breath and lifted a hand to her chin, tilting her face up to his—bringing her close enough to kiss. She couldn’t help licking her lips at the thoughts running through her head—at the excitement of what he might be thinking of.

“F*ck yeah,” he muttered, bringing his mouth down on hers.

The desire that had been building in her belly burst out in an unstoppable flood. Heat and need overtook as she opened and tasted. She drank him in, relishing the forcefulness with which he kissed her. He pulled her closer, slamming her body against his, as if he too felt desperate to be in complete contact. She rocked to meet him and pleasure tremored through her as his hand clamped to her butt to hold her close. Mentally she screamed.

Now. Now. Now.

“Alright,” he tore his mouth free and spoke in a low, laughing growl. “I’m Tarzan, you’re Jane and I’ve just rescued you from some wild beast. I’m wired and there’s only one thing to ease off the adrenalin. Not gentle. Not slow. Sure you can take it?” That hint of laughter disappeared as he asked the last—as if the edge really was cutting into him.

He really had a rescue thing going, didn’t he? But right now she didn’t care, she just wanted the fantasy. She wound her arms around his neck and lifted her chin for him to kiss her again. He barely broke the kiss to bash the elevator button to take them to the right floor. The doors opened but she didn’t want to step back from him. Fortunately he obviously felt the same because he picked her up, keeping her close and carrying her out—uncaring if anyone saw. She’d drowned so deep in lust already she didn’t care either.

He put her down the instant they were inside her apartment, pulled a condom from his pocket and undid his jeans only far enough to get the thing on, still kissing her haphazardly as he did. Excitement flooded her as she registered his desperation despite that fast, expert action. Hurriedly she undid the buttons on her blouse and the front clasp of her bra to bare her breasts. He took one wild look and with a growl turned her towards the wall, tilting her hips up towards him. He wedged a foot between hers and pushed so she spread her legs further apart. Taking her hands in his, he placed them on the wall, pushing hard on them so she knew to keep them there—bracing and waiting. He flipped her skirt up. Cooler air hit the backs of her thighs but was soon chased by the heat of him positioning right behind her.

Thank heavens she wore skirts.

“I need this,” he muttered, sounding almost angry. “I have to have this. You.”

He ran his hands over her, firmly tracing every curve again and again until he pressed both palms low on her belly. Then he slid one north, over her stomach to her ribs and then to her breast. Confident, merciless, he claimed possession, clasping her nipple, briefly pinching between his forefinger and thumb. Pleasure-pain shot to her womb, heating, slickening. She pushed her breasts towards the wall while her hips bucked back—arching, thrusting her butt towards him to let him do as he wanted.

So hurry up and take me.

But she couldn’t say it.

His other hand spread wide and moved south under her waistband to rub over her mound. His fingers teased, tested, tormented. Then he whipped that hand free only to return by going under the hem of her skirt to grab the crotch of her knickers. With a twist he tugged sharp enough to tear them.

“Sometimes Tarzan is more animal than man,” he growled in her ear.

Oh yes. Yes, yes, yes. She wanted him to be animal, wanted him to want her—take her uncontrollably. To sate himself. In doing that, he’d satisfy her. She wanted to make him collapse in ecstatic exhaustion, he did it for her so well. She ached for that mindless relief.

His fingers rubbed in circles, making her squirm and squeeze in anticipation. She needed him inside her now. His erection pressed against her butt, but frustratingly he didn’t push forward. Instead he kept teasing in the way he knew turned her on.

But she was already turned on. She’d been ‘on’ the last three days. She couldn’t be wetter or more ready or more desperate. She just wanted all of him. Wanted him to ride her as hard and as animal as he’d promised. Wanted him to lose control the way she was about to.

But still he teased, easily holding her restless hips still enough for him to stroke her with maddening fingertips—not penetrating, not giving her that full completion she was throbbing for.

And still she couldn’t speak. Her hands slid over the wall as she tried to support herself. Her mouth parted as she panted, she licked her lips as her temperature soared and her desire peaked. She wanted to scream at him to take her, but all that came out was a wordless cry as the orgasm hit and her muscles convulsed. She closed her eyes, loving the intense release and yet it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t filled. She needed him to release inside her.

As soon as her spasms stopped he turned her to face him, his hands firm on her waist to support her wobbly legs. She glanced down his perfect, fit body—feasting on the size of his straining cock. He didn’t give her long to enjoy looking. With a harsh word, he hooked his arms under her thighs, lifted her just enough for him to ram home.

Her back whacked against the wall with the force of his thrust. She was utterly within his hold. His control.

He had her.

Yes. She screamed as the second orgasm swiftly overtook her, sending her into a tumultuous storm of sensation—bliss so acute it was almost unbearable. And still he worked, relentlessly thrusting with unlimited stamina.

As the searing ecstasy eased and lax warmth flowed, she registered the hungry, avid way he watched her breasts bounce with each pound of his body, heard the rising sound of his pleasure-soaked growls as he fought to push her—and himself—harder. Her pleasure surged again, mixed with pride. She liked that he was taking raw, basic pleasure in her femininity the way she did his masculinity. She revelled in the fact he had strength enough to support her with such ease. Heat continued to rebuild within her. She clamped her legs tightly around his waist, used her inner muscles to clamp even tighter on his cock, wanting to take him deeper still. She cupped her breasts in her hands, pushing them together and up as an offering to him. At that he muttered something unintelligible, his feral gaze locked on her tight, red nipples. He shoved deep inside her one last time and groaned as orgasm overtook him. And at the sight and sound and feel of his straining ecstasy, she soared straight back into the fiery storm with him.

When she finally opened her eyes again, she found she was still in his hold—her legs still wound around him, her upper body slumped against the wall. He smiled and gently hoisted her so she was wholly in his embrace.

Slowly he shuffled to her bedroom. The buckle of his belt clanged on the floor with every half step, making her smile.

“What am I going to do with you now…” he looked at her thoughtfully as he placed her on her bed. “So many delicious options.” His lips curved in that naughty way as he stripped her free from her rumpled clothes with ease that spoke of much experience. “Very delicious. I’m thinking food—sauces in particular. And maybe some ice. What’s in your fridge?”

“My fridge?”

“I’m thinking of a banquet. Maybe I’m a battle worn warrior and my men have prepared a beautiful center-piece for my table—because I’m hungry. So they’ve prepared a woman for me—clad in nothing but delicious creams and sauces.”

She sent him a sideways look even as she tightened inside. She was so willing to be the plate for him to lick clean. “You have a fertile imagination.”

“You bet. Albeit somewhat lame.” He chuckled and stepped out of his jeans. He pulled off his tee and let her look.

She didn’t think his imagination was lame. She thought it was fun—carefree fantasy was perfect.

“You’re not shy either,” she noted, already distracted by the bronze skin and strong muscles on show. And that burgeoning hard-on.

“Life’s too short to be shy. Life’s too hard not to have some fun.” He headed out towards the kitchen.

Chelsea stretched out as he went in search of his sauces. In what way was his life hard? She so didn’t think it was. Not when he came across as this relaxed. He was the master at keeping things easy.

She felt physically sated, emotionally amused. It had been a wild but easy fun fulfilment. There was no emotional connection—while there was courtesy, there was no intense caring. There was no responsibility in that way. Which felt strangely good. She smiled. This was going to be just fine. Her libido had woken and needed attention. There was nothing wrong with that.

Xander was the perfect companion. He’d said he wasn’t a relationship guy and it was pretty clear why—he was that gorgeous, that playful, he wasn’t going to settle for just one woman. But she knew she could trust him. She just needed to make sure that despite that lack of depth, they maintained that respect and affection until they walked away.

“How is this going to end?” she asked when he reappeared. Because as sure as the sky was blue, this was going to end.

“When you tire of me. Or,” he hesitated and sat down on the edge of the bed, clutching a couple of bottles. “If boundaries get blurred. Sex can be more emotional for women.” He shrugged, a refusal to apologize. “It’s true.”

“So if I fall for you, that’s it?”

“It would end. That would be best. For you. No point in falling for me. You understand?”

Yeah she had that already. “What if you fall for me?” she asked.

He said nothing.

She sat bolt upright in bed. “You jerk, like that’s impossible?”

“It’s not impossible for someone to fall for you.” He laughed briefly—but rapidly sobered. “It’s impossible for me to fall for anyone. Even someone as amazing as you. Don’t try to change that, Chelsea.”

“I have no intention of trying to.” Wasn’t he just Mr. Mysterious? “I don’t want to fall in love with a guy who thinks he’s a superhero.” She sent him a pointed look. “A guy like that clearly hasn’t grown up.”

He put the bottles on the floor and turned, swiftly tugging her down the bed, spreading her legs. He picked up one of the bottles again. “Fortunately I have ‘grown up’ enough to take you again. And as we know, when it comes to this, what I want, happens.” His eyes were sharp. “And right now, I have a hankering for this raspberry sauce.”

He squirted a dollop of it onto her breast. She squeaked—it was cold.

“Be quiet, slave,” he said firmly. “Reach back and hold onto the headboard.”

She glared up at him but registered the heat in his eyes.

“Now,” he added.

She said nothing, but his instruction, his expression melted her. He wanted. Slowly she lifted her hands above her head to do as he’d bid, happy to sink into the game.

He looked at her exposed breasts. “Very nice.”

Slowly, torturously slowly he drizzled the sauce—circling it around her nipples. “And delicious.”

He worked the line of sauce lower, around her belly button. She watched his face as he concentrated—watched the desire in his expression grow.

Remaining both still and silent became harder.

He shot a line of raspberry down her lower belly, then pushed her legs a little further apart with a firm hand—adding sauce to her upper thighs.

“I’m very hungry,” he muttered. He picked up another bottle and shook it, then squirted dabs of fluffy cream directly onto her nipples and then onto her small strip of pubic hair. “Lie still,” he snapped as she twitched uncontrollably.

He put the bottle down and stood along side the bed, surveying his handywork. His cock jutted big and proud. He noticed her staring and raised a brow. “You’re hungry too.” He looked her over again and frowned. “And there is one thing missing.” He poured a little of the raspberry onto his finger and then carefully daubed it on her mouth—like edible lipstick.

“No licking it off,” he warned. He wiped his finger across his chest, leaving a smear of sauce. He smiled as he caught her eyeing the streak. “No licking that either. Not until I say.”

Silent, she tightened her grip on the headboard as he rolled on a condom. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him as he knelt onto the bed, taking up the space between her parted legs.

“But just so we know where we stand.” He bent and licked a break in the trail he’d poured down her lower belly. “I’m warning you that at some point it’s your fantasies we’ll be exploring. Not just mine.”

Heat surged in her cheeks—at both his action and his idea.

“You do have fantasies, right?” From between her legs, his expression gleamed. “I’m betting yes, given that you’re getting wetter with every word.” He bent and let his tongue investigate just how wet she’d gotten.

Her face grew hotter. Which was ridiculous given what he’d done—was doing—to her.

He lapped at the cream and sauce, his tongue rough—rapacious.

“I wonder what you fantasise about when you’re alone,” he mused, running his tongue around her *oris and back down to her entrance. “How do you touch yourself?”

Her legs shook. She didn’t speak. Couldn’t. Her mind was a blank. She needed him to take the lead. His fantasies. She didn’t really know why but she needed this to be good for him—it was already beyond good for her.

“You can tell me, I won’t judge. And you already know I’m better than a vibrator,” he chuckled and then plunged his tongue deep.

She clenched instinctively, almost coming. Her embarrassment curled like a cinder in the roar of desire.

He lifted his head, his eyes suddenly narrowed. “Right?”

She couldn’t resist one itty bitty tease. So she still said nothing.

But he’d registered her amusement. “Oh darling.” He chuckled. “You’re going to pay for that.”

She deliberately licked the raspberry from her lip.

“Get it for me.” He suddenly demanded.

“What?”

“Your vibe. I want it.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have one.”

“You don’t have one?” His expression was comically appalled—the fantasy scenario fully shattered. On all fours he braced above her, his fists pushing into the mattress either side of her shoulders. “Have you ever had one?”

She shook her head. “We’re not all raging nymphos like you, you know.”

He burst out laughing. “Hate to break it to you honey, but you’re the biggest nympho I’ve ever met.”

She stared at him. “Hardly.”

“I mean it.” Kneeling up fit and proud, he looked down the length of her body. “So let’s recap.” His eyes paused on her raspberry and cream covered breasts. “You’ve come how many times tonight already?”

Did she have to separate out the multiples? “I’m not sure exactly.” Her reply slowed when she saw his gaze narrow in on her nipples.

She gasped as he swiftly dropped to straddle her. Her lower half was pinned under his weight in less than a second—their hips slick and sliding with the sticky sweet sauce.

His hungry mouth lapped away the sauce encircling her breasts. Chelsea arched, abandoning herself to his attentions. He knew just how to play with already over sensitive breasts—not going straight to her over reddened, nerve-filled nipples but delaying, moving closer, then retreating. Tormenting. Turning up her tension. Making her want it, arch up to him, groan for him. So quickly she was aroused, as fresh, as fired as if it were their first time.

His touch was addictive.

She moaned, unrestrained. This was what she wanted. All she wanted. To explore, enjoy, just this—passion, with no time for unsettled feelings. No tender emotions to be hurt.

He smiled as he reared back to admire how her nipples had tightly budded under the slide of his tongue. A low rumble sounded in his throat when she restlessly rocked her hips hard into his. They both knew she wanted him to go lower.

“You can think you’re as lazy as you like, love, but fact is you can’t help but respond to me.” He nudged her legs apart with his knee and settled between them. He tilted his hips, letting the head of his cock slide over and miss her entrance a couple of times. She instantly arched, seizing up in hunger.

“See?” He changed angle and pushed home. “You tighten around me. You try to keep me in.”

Her hips lifted as he slid out, leaving only an inch inside. Not enough. She moaned again, wildly thrusting up to meet him.

“And you try to draw me back.” He relented and pushed back inside her. “You like me here.”

She couldn’t answer, she was coming again.



Xander didn’t want to leave her bed, but knew he’d better. Hell, he’d not intended to be here at all. Except the instant he’d seen her again in the elevator it was all over. His brainless inner caveman had won—and his inner caveman wanted yet more hot’n’heavy time. But it’d be best to just get here, have the fun, then be gone. Keep it just the fantasy stuff—some scenarios, some screwing, some seriously shattering orgasms.

Sharing a bed, sharing meals, sharing showers…that’d lead to sharing too much. That’d make this complicated. As it was he tensed a little at how she was going to react to his leaving now. Was she really going to handle this with the aplomb she’d summoned when he’d met her again this afternoon?

Only way to find out was to lay it on the line.

He pushed out of the bed. “I’ve got to get going.”

“Good idea.” She nodded, also sliding out of bed and going one better by pulling on a cotton robe. “I need to get a decent sleep. I’ve got so much to get through at work tomorrow.”

She did?

He glared at the robe that now covered too much of her pretty skin and contrarily had the urge to rip it off her and tumble her back onto the bed.

“I think it’s best if we meet up in the evening for a few hours and then you can go home,” she said. “Just for a few nights, right?”

Yeah. Right. He’d no need to worry for her then, huh?

“I sleep better alone,” she added. “Especially these hot nights.”

Well that was a lie. She didn’t sleep that well at all. He’d been here for the nightmare. No wonder she was keen for him to go—she didn’t want to have the nightmare thing happen again with him present. Crazily, remembering that made him itch to stay. She shouldn’t have to suffer through those alone.

Instead he picked up his jeans. His phone fell from the pocket to the floor. He grabbed it and quickly scanned the screen. He’d missed several texts. He opened them but before he’d skimmed the first, the phone vibrated in his hand—Rocco.

“I better get this.” He turned away and touched the screen to answer.

“Since when do you miss waterpolo?” Rocco demanded.

Typical emotional Italian, even though Rocco actually had more Irish in him than he did Italian.

“You’re back in town right?” he questioned.

Xander thought about lying but his friend would call him on it. “Yeah I’m here, but I had other things to attend to.”

“What kind of things?” Suspicious all the way.

Xander glanced at Chelsea. “Nothing much.”

“If it was nothing much, why’d you miss the game?”

“I won’t again.” Xander laughed. “You running tomorrow?”

“Absolutely. You know we got to sort Logan out.”

“Yeah. See you then.” He shut off the call and looked at Chelsea—knew damn well she’d heard the entire conversation. “You bothered that I said ‘nothing’?”

She shook her head, a smile curving her lips.

He still didn’t feel comfortable. “I said it to protect you. And me.”

“From?”

“Merciless ribbing from my so-called friends.”

“I’m not ever going to meet them,” She shrugged and walked out to her lounge. “I don’t care what they think.” She sat down on her sofa and smiled up at him as he followed her. “I’m in this for only one thing, remember?”

Xander took one look at that smile and dropped to his knees. “Then you’d better spread your legs wider.”