Chapter 703

“Don’t move,” he rasped, his voice dropping all the fake softness he’d been using. It came out raw, almost jagged. So, the voice was an act, too. Smirking, I leaned in closer. “You’re so cool to the touch… feels amazing…”

Before he could respond, someone stepped out of the restaurant, their gaze flicking toward us. Without a second thought, Xander scooped me up and made a beeline for his car.

Even as he carried me, I kept up my game. I nuzzled against his chest like a needy kitten, going so far as to tug at the buttons on his shirt with my teeth. His whole body went rigid, his heartbeat hammering under my cheek. Heat radiated off him like his self-control was barely holding together—if it even existed in the first place. So much for all that composed, cool-guy energy. Total myth.

Finally, Xander carried me to his car. As he leaned down to set me in the passenger seat, I looped my arms around his neck, leaning forward to press a kiss against his throat.

Okay, yeah—I’ll admit it. I wasn’t just messing with him. I was messing with myself, too. It had been months since Hayden and I broke up. Months. And during this little back-and-forth, something deep inside me stirred, my own buried desires clawing their way to the surface. It felt like I had been drugged.

Xander’s grip tightened, halting me mid-move. His eyes locked on mine. “Take a good look. I’m Xander, not Hayden. Are you sure this is what you want?”

Not Hayden? What a load of crap.

Annoyance flared, and I leaned in again, this time determined. My lips found his Adam’s apple, and I didn’t stop at just a kiss. I sucked hard, leaving a deep, angry mark on his skin—a bright-red rose blooming against the tension in his neck. This wasn’t the first time I’d done something like this, but this time? I didn’t hold back.

A low, muffled groan rumbled from him. He didn’t pull me closer, but he didn’t shove me away either. Only when my body gave out and I sank back into the seat, breathless and trembling, did I finally release him.

I lay there, staring up at him. His gaze met mine. But in that moment, he wasn’t “Xander.” I saw him. The quiet yearning. The suppressed turmoil. The hesitation. He’s torn, isn’t he? Fighting himself, struggling with whatever reason he has to keep pretending.

And I get it. If he’s still wearing the Xander mask, there’s a reason. A plan. Something he can’t risk blowing. Pushing him to admit the truth now would only make things worse—for both of us.

When I finally decided to put an end to this little game, Xander leaned down. “Are you sure you want this?” His gaze flickered, and he murmured softly, “If you want it, I can give it to you…”

Did he actually think I was drugged? Was he offering himself to make sure I didn’t suffer? To be honest, the idea of being with him—right here, right now—was beyond tempting. My pulse quickened at the thought. But the reality of his double life, of pretending he wasn’t Hayden, kept me from giving in.

Tilting my chin, I threw cold water on the moment. “Didn’t you say you don’t offer that kind of service?”

Yeah, buzzkill for sure.

Xander’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the mark I’d left on him a vivid red against his skin. He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, “If I don’t charge you, it doesn’t count as service.”

What the hell? Was he really offering himself for free? He wanted it too, didn’t he?

I shoved him lightly. “Free stuff’s never good quality. I’ll pass—plenty of better options out there.”

His hand shot out, grabbing mine—the one with the little bell bracelet—and his gaze pinned me down. “Whether you want it or not isn’t up to you anymore.”

Before I could react, he released my hand, unceremoniously tossed me into the back seat, and started the engine. With a flick of his wrist, he rolled down all the windows. The icy night air rushed in, cutting through me and whipping my hair into a tangled mess. But my hair wasn’t the only thing in shambles. My mind was a whirlwind. Tonight… was there any chance I’d escape him?

Chapter 704