Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Xander’s sudden arrival caught her off guard. As she opened the door, he immediately pulled her into a warm embrace, his fingers gently combing through her hair. When she tried to pull away, he tightened his grip, not ready to let her go.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice muffled against his shoulder.

He couldn’t bring himself to tell her about his conversation with Kurt. Instead, he released her and tenderly brushed his fingers against her cheek. “Nothing.”

She noticed his slightly swollen lip, a clear sign of a recent altercation. “What happened to your lip? Did my brother do this to you? He told me he was going straight home.”

“Yes, but it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay.”

“Sweetheart, we talked, and now he understands me and my intentions. So he’s all right with us being together.”

“He still didn’t have the right to hit you. You didn’t hurt him, did you?”

“No.”

He yearned to tell her about Kurt’s words, to reassure her that he would always be there to protect her. “I can tell that something is on your mind.”

“There is.”

“Are you going to tell me or not?”

“I want you to move in with me. Now, before you say anything, think about it.”

“Xander, we haven’t known each other that long. Don’t you think it’s too early for that kind of commitment?”

“I feel we belong together, so I don’t think it’s too soon. But I won’t rush you; give it some thought. Will you do that for me?”

She nodded her head. “Good. What say you return to my place and stay for a few days. That might help convince you to move in.”

“Don’t you have to work?”

“Nope, I have people to do the work. Remember I have a pool and still haven’t seen you in your bikini.”

She figured it wouldn’t hurt to stay with him. It wasn’t like it would be the first time she had been with him for days at a time.

She gave him the tiniest smile. “I have some work to do for Mr. West, which I haven’t finished yet.”

A smirk appeared on his face. “I know your boss quite well, and I’m sure he’ll give you a few days off.”

“In that case, sure, why not?”

He felt like a teenager when she smiled at him and agreed to stay at his home. No one had ever had such power over him the way she did. He would do what he could to get her to move in without being pushy. He was going to prove to her that she could be happy with him and that he wouldn’t do anything to harm her.

“You have made me so happy. Now go get your things, and we’ll go home.”

Once they got to his place, she put her clothes away and went to the kitchen to make dinner. He decided to help but kept getting in her way, so she told him to leave.

“I just wanted to help.”

“I know, but since you can’t keep your hand off me, you must go. I’m sure you have some work you can do in your office.”

“I can’t keep my hands off you because you look so damn sexy. You also smell amazing,” he said as he kissed her neck.

“Go,” she said in a firm voice.

“All right, let me know when the food is ready.”

She smiled and shook her head when he left, stomping out like a child who had just been scolded.

She loved his house; it was what she had pictured as her dream home when she was younger. When the food was ready, she went to his office and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Walking in, she found him deep in some paperwork. He looked so serious, making him look so sexy in her eyes.

“Hum…Dinner’s ready.”

He smiled up at her, closed the file he had sitting out and placed it in the drawer. He didn’t want her to see it because it had information on her ex.

“Good, I’m starving.”

After eating, he helped her clean up, and then they changed into their swimsuits and went to the pool. Even though she didn’t know how to swim, she felt safe being with him. In Florida, when they went to the beach, he got her to go in but held on to her the whole time. And he was not complaining.

“I love your bikini; it shows off your body, which I adore.”

He leaned her up against the wall and started kissing her, his one hand going inside the bottoms and feeling her skin.

“What are you doing?” she asked, pulling away.

“I’m going to make love to you.”

“Here?”

“Yes, here,” he said, sliding the bikini bottoms down.

She was going to protest, but then his lips came crashing down on hers. A moan escaped from her lips when she felt his hard manhood push inside her. Her arms were around his neck, and her legs wrapped around his waist as he began thrusting, causing her to moan louder.

When they were done, he kissed her with so much passion she could see stars behind her closed eyelids.

He broke the kiss and grinned at her.

“I will teach you to swim, but not right now.”

He removed the top of her bathing suit and wrapped his mouth around one of her nipples. He felt her arousal and his when her hand touched his cock.

They made love in the pool a second time before getting out and entering the bedroom. It was a night of passion, binding them closer in every way a man and woman could be.

***

In the morning, he suggested they have Kurt and Clara over for dinner. He wanted to get to know the wife of the man in charge of his company.

“That would be a nice idea, but what should I make? You see, Clara is a fussy eater and one time when I cooked for her and Kurt, she didn’t like it.”

“Well, ask your brother what she would like, or I could have a catered meal. I’ve done it before when I had clients over.”

“No, I’ll cook. You don’t have much in the freezer so we’ll have to go shopping. I think I’ll make a chicken with all the trimmings.”

“All right, you want to call Kurt, or should I?”

“I’ll let you do it, that way I can change into something else.”

“What’s wrong with what you got on?”

“I can’t go into the store wearing shorts and a tank top.”

After getting off the phone with Kurt, he was pleased he accept the invitation and waited for Kat to come down from upstairs.

At the grocery store, he stopped pushing the card and lifted her.

“What are you doing? Put me down.”

He laughed. “Just putting my dessert in the cart. I will want some cheesecake later when we’re alone.”

Her face turned red when she saw everyone staring at them. Some were shaking their heads; others were smiling.

He gently set her back on her feet, relieved to see she wasn’t upset with him. He even caught a glimpse of a smile she tried to hide. Once they had everything they needed, they headed back to their place.

***

Later, as she was putting the chicken in the oven and sipping on some water, he snuck up behind her, causing her to jump. The glass slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she apologized, bending down to gather the broken pieces.

He was taken aback by her trembling hands and the tears streaming down her face. When he reached out to her, she recoiled, as if expecting him to strike her.

“Kat, it’s okay.”

“Aren’t you mad at me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He took her hands in his, gently pulling her to her feet.

“No, why would I be mad? And why did you react like I was going to hit you? Oh, God, is that what your father did to you?”

She nodded, her eyes filled with pain.

“Yes, I was always breaking things, and he said I was so clumsy that I didn’t deserve to live.”

He cradled her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears.

“Your father was a sick man, a monster. You are not clumsy, and I would never be mad if you broke something. Hell, I do it myself all the time. You’ve got to know by now that I would never hurt you.”

“I do know; it’s just that I get flashbacks now and then.”

“Do you want me to call Kurt and cancel dinner?”

“No, I’ll be all right after I shower and change. Would you keep an eye on the chicken till I come back?”

“I will, but wouldn’t you rather I join you?”

She gave him a playful push and a small smile.

“No, stay here.”

“Can I set the table for you?”

“Already done,” she called over her shoulder as she left the kitchen.

When Kurt and Clara arrived and were served drinks before dinner, Clara complimented Xander on his home.

“You have a lovely home, but I’m curious about something.”

“And what would that be?”

“I would think that a man of your stature would be living in a huge mansion with lots of staff.”

“Mrs. Reynolds…”

“Please, call me Clara.”

“Clara, I’m a simple man who doesn’t like flaunting my wealth. The only thing I’ve indulged in is my jet because I travel a lot, and it’s more convenient.”

Kurt looked taken aback by her boldness, but she continued undeterred.

“Oh, you own a jet. Does that mean we’ll be able to use it when Kurt has to travel?”

“Clara,” Kurt interjected, but Xander held up his hand to stop him.

“Clara, there may be times when it will be available for him. But it will be rare since I travel a lot and need it.”

They all moved to the dining room and began their meal.

Kurt smiled at Kat as he took his first bite.

“This is delicious. The chicken is so tender, and I love what you did with the mashed potatoes.”

“Thank you. I added some spices to give it a different taste. I even made your favorite dessert.”

“No way, you made a pecan pie?”

She laughed at his childlike excitement over a pie. He had always loved that pie, even as a kid. As she grew older, she found a recipe and made it whenever she could.

“Yes, I did, and there’s ice cream to go with it.”

Clara patted Kurt’s hand and shook her head.

“Darling, you know how fattening that is. Let us skip it. After all, I want my man to stay trim.”

“Sweetheart, you can, but I intend to have a big piece and lots of ice cream to top it off.” He smiled at Kat. “My sister went to a lot of trouble making it, and I, for one, can’t wait.”

Xander sat back, observing the exchange between husband and wife. Clara seemed a bit high-maintenance, but it was clear Kurt loved her, and she loved him in return.

Clara smiled at him and then at Kat.

“My husband is right, and I would love to try a small piece. He’s also right about the meal you made; it’s delicious.”

Kurt tapped the table to get everyone’s attention.

“You all heard her; she said I was right, and I don’t often hear that.”

They all laughed at his joke, and Clara playfully punched him on the arm.

After dinner and dessert, they took a bottle of wine out to the patio. Clara kept the conversation flowing with her constant chatter.

Everything was going smoothly until she brought up a recent encounter.