Entangled: Sequel to Awakened (8 page)

“There’s no more to be said then. Leave.”

“Listen to me,” Xavier roared causing Aline to jump. “Janet has been a friend for many years. She asked if I would partner her for the gala and kiss her in public while the press were around.”

Aline drew her eyebrows together.

“Janet is in love.”

“With you. I hope you’ll both be very happy. Now, will you leave?” Tears pricked at her eyes.

Xavier growled. “Janet is very much in love with Samantha. Janet hasn’t come out publically yet and they are worried about the scrutiny of the press. Her being the only child of one of the world’s richest men. You know how bigoted some people are. Imagine the mileage the press would get out of that? They have been making arrangements to announce their engagement and disappear for a while but they’re not quite ready. Some prick in the media got wind of it all and has been sniffing around. Janet asked me to help her and throw him off the scent. By pretending we are an item, it gives her and Samantha the time to finish their arrangements.”

“Oh, but the media will hound you now though and won’t they show more interest in both of you if they think you’re in a relationship?”

“Probably but it’s only a few days before the news breaks.” Xavier wore a guilty expression. “The media knows I never stay with one girl for more than one date so they probably won’t bother with me. The fact Janet and I kissed will help keep the other prick from announcing she’s gay before she has a chance to do it herself. “

“Where does that leave me if the press does decide you’re worth following? Won’t I be seen as the other woman?”

Xavier chuckled. “Sweetheart, you will never be the other woman. You’re the only woman. I will take you to where I know the people can be trusted until Janet makes her announcement. I promise, I will protect you. I’m sorry I hadn’t discussed it with you before I left and that you had to find out on the news. I never intended to hurt you.”

“Yes, you should have told me. I would have understood and I wouldn’t have been so upset.”

“You were upset?”

“Of course I was. I was starting to like you a little. I was looking forward to dating you and then that report turned my world on its head. I felt betrayed. It took a great deal of soul searching for me to agree to your proposal. I thought you genuinely cared about me and I was prepared to give us a try. Finding out about Janet destroyed that belief.”

Xavier gathered her to him. “I’m so sorry, princess. I want you as much as ever. There will be no other woman on my arm, in my bed or kissing me from now on. I promise.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“And, for the record, you haven’t agreed to my proposal which I believe included your living with me and being in my bed. You have agreed to date me, which is nowhere near enough, but will suffice. For now.”

Xavier lowered his lips over hers and they kissed passionately.

Chapter Eight

The restaurant was dark and surprisingly quiet. Aline assumed because it was a Sunday night, most people would be at home preparing for the working week ahead.

A tall, handsome man with shimmering black hair and a thick moustache, rushed toward them. Aline watched with interest as he dragged Xavier into a bear hug. They were around the same height but the stranger was more solidly built, not as muscular as Xavier.

“Xavier, it is good to see you,
mio fratello
. It has been far too long.” The man spoke with a distinct accent, Italian, Aline thought but wasn’t sure.

When the men stepped apart they spoke rapidly in a foreign language before laughing.

“Sorry,” Xavier apologized to Aline. “This is my good friend, Giovanni Lupi. His family own this restaurant.” He turned to his friend. “This is my girlfriend, Aline.”

Giovanni raised her hand to his lips and smiled as he feathered her knuckles with kisses. His eyes locked on her face as he studied her. “Such magnificent bone structure, such beauty. I must paint you. Your body, naked. All of you must be painted and then you shall come to my bed, no?”

Aline’s eyes widened, she was temporarily speechless. Two men in less than a week had invited her into their beds.
What the fuck is going on?

“Giovanni, no. She is mine.” Xavier growled.

“Surely you will tire of her after one night, well maybe two, knowing you as I do, and she will then be mine. I will appreciate her body. I will worship her beauty far more than you would,” Giovanni gesticulated to Xavier.

“Giovanni. I said,
she is mine
,” Xavier said through gritted teeth.

“Very well. It is a pity. I could worship such beauty for many an hour. Come, sit. I will appreciate from afar.”

He led Xavier and Aline to a table in an area which was subtly lit. A chair was moved from the table which allowed the wheelchair to be pushed in. Giovanni and Xavier sat.

Giovanni lifted his hand and a waiter appeared with a bottle of wine, three glasses and menus. After placing it all on the table, he retreated to a suitable distance away.

“Tell me, Aline. Do you live locally?” Giovanni asked.

“No. I’ve been here for the past three years at St. Thomas University. After I graduate in six months’ time, I’ll go home to Dalton.”

“Our alumni. What are you studying?”

“Law. I want to go into the corporate field.”

“Ah, like my friend. Why are you here, Xavier?”

“I’m lecturing in contract law for six months as a favor to Doug Franklin. He was in a bind,” Xavier explained.

“The teacher and the student.” Giovanni’s face lit up with an expression of mischief. “So, this relationship is only new. There is hope for me yet. Come to me, Aline. I will love you as a beautiful girl should be loved.”

Aline giggled.

Xavier was becoming angry. Jealousy reared its head. “Giovanni, I am not amused.”

“I’m sorry, Giovanni but I’m happy with Xavier,” Aline added. She chuckled when he pouted.

“Then, my darling, I will let you go but you take my wounded heart with you. I will leave you to enjoy your dinner.” Giovanni stood, swept Aline’s hand up to his mouth and again kissed her knuckles. “You take good care of this one, my friend. I think she is not like the others.”

Xavier and Aline watched quietly as Giovanni walked away.

Aline sipped at the wine Xavier had poured. Now that she no longer required medication, she was able to drink. Although she rarely consumed alcohol, she wasn’t averse to the odd glass of wine with her dinner.

“I like him. Was he in the same classes as you at University? What does
mio fratello
mean?” she asked.

“
Mio fratello
is Italian for my brother. He’s an artist and studied Fine Art. We met by chance at a campus party. We clicked and have been friends ever since. He likes ladies. Especially beautiful, unavailable ones.”

“I noticed. Does his continental approach usually work?”

Xavier laughed. “I have no idea. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him. He was abroad until a few weeks ago. He always had a different girl in his bed when we were in University. He’s the classic Italian Casanova. He’s broken many a heart.”

“And, you? Have you broken many a heart?”

“I doubt it. The women I have been with know it’s only a one-time thing. Until you.”

“Why change for me?”

“You’re different. I want to possess you. Let the whole world know you’re mine.”

What if I don’t want to be possessed, owned?”

The waiter interrupted and Xavier gave him their orders. As soon as he left, the conversation resumed.

“Possessed is probably not the correct word. I want you for myself. I want to fuck you until you scream my name. Until you can’t stand up straight. I want to take you to first night openings, galas, balls and, introduce you to the world as mine.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, except to say I believe in fate. I believe there is a special person for each of us. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to find them. It’s the one person who completes us. I think you’re that person for me.”

“How can you possibly know that when we have only known each other for such a short amount of time?”

“I don’t know why I know. I just know I do. Tell me about you.”

“Not much to tell. Dad and daddy met my mother when dad saved her from falling from the top of the courthouse steps. Dad felt an instant connection with her…”

“Dad is?”

“Linc. Mother was coming out of a bad relationship and she relocated closer to her work in the city. When she joined the gym near her apartment building, dad and daddy got to know her better. They became her personal trainers and image consultants.”

“They all fell in love?”

“Yes. Mother moved in to their penthouse apartment a few weeks later. They had been together a little over a year when mother died giving birth to me.”

Xavier heard the sadness in her voice. He clasped her hand in his.

The waiter appeared with their entrees, refilled their wine glasses and again disappeared.

Aline sipped her wine. In between mouthfuls, she continued. “Dad and daddy were devastated when mother died but they didn’t have a chance to curl up in balls and wallow in grief. They had a baby to take care of. They have given me everything. Not only material goods but more importantly, their love, guidance and understanding.”

“You love them deeply. Were there ever problems at school because of your situation?”

“I love them with my whole heart. I probably seem like a spoilt sook missing home at my age but, they’re my life and I need to be near them. I have to be able to reach them when I need a hug, a word of encouragement, a boost of confidence. I didn’t have many problems growing up. Most kids thought it was cool that I had two fathers.”

“I can understand your closeness but I’m here for you now. Who is actually your father?”

“I don’t know.” Aline noted the puzzled expression crossing Xavier’s face. “When mother found out she was pregnant she told my fathers, she didn’t want to know who actually ‘made’ me. Both men are exceptionally healthy with no disease in their genetic history. Mother said because of that there was no reason to need to know. She said if they knew, the one who wasn’t my father would never know how to act – should he discipline, guide me? After all, he wasn’t my real father so what rights did he have? To avoid this conflict, it was decided they would never know unless, as an adult, I insisted on finding out.”

“And do you want to find out?”

“No, I don’t. They are both my father in every sense of the word. Even though they say they would support my decision to find out, I know one of them would be deeply hurt. Bottom line, I don’t want, or need, to know.”

“That seems fair. Boyfriends, lovers in your past?” There was a sharp edge to his voice.

“Nothing serious. I’ve been too busy with my studies. I didn’t want the distraction and when I have a relationship, I want to commit to it fully without having to worry about grades. Now, you. Did you grow up in Dalton?”

“Yes, I did. I have two older sisters. One, Martha, lives in Japan with her husband and two children. The other, Linda, is a doctor. She volunteers with Doctors Without Borders and is in some obscure country at the moment. Mother and Dad have a small ranch about fifteen minutes from Dalton. When I made good with my company, I bought it for them. It had always been dad’s dream to have a ranch but he never managed to get around to it. He was always too busy helping us kids. He has a couple of men who help him with day to day running and mother has her chickens – the ‘girls’ as she calls them. I’ve never seen them so relaxed and happy. I visit them whenever I go back.”

“How did you get into construction?”

“I worked for a friend of dads during breaks from school. He taught me about residential construction but said the money was in commercial. He introduced me to a few people and I began investing in commercial ventures using money I had saved. The second venture paid off. We made a killing. After that, I borrowed, built and invested until I got to where I am now.”

“Impressive considering how young you are. It hasn’t taken you long.”

“I’m twenty nine and it’s taken me eight years. It is a short amount of time. I’ve had a lot of luck and excellent guidance. A lot of people put their faith in me for which I will always be grateful.”

“You have probably worked damn hard too.”

“Very. It’s why I’ve had no interest in a relationship. Until now. With you.”

The conversation flowed as they ate and they both learned things about each other which were surprising. The meal was excellent and they made a point of saying goodnight to Giovanni before leaving.

***

It was late the following week when Aline began hobbling around on crutches.

She was so unsteady, Xavier feared she would end up falling and breaking her neck. He announced he wouldn’t be returning to Dalton on his days off between classes. He said the office was running like clockwork, her fathers’ development plans had been submitted and he’d taken care of an important meeting the previous night via teleconferencing. He had pestered Aline into taking a trip to the ocean for a few days between classes and she had eventually caved.

As Aline packed, feelings of excitement and nervousness coursed through her. She zippered her small bag and placed it on the floor beside her laptop case.

“Are you ready?” Callie asked.

“Yes, I have everything. Please tell me I’m not making a mistake being alone with him for a few days.”

“You’re not making a mistake. You deserve some time together. Explore your feelings. Get to
really
know him.”

“What do you mean? I have a broken leg or have you forgotten?”

“It wouldn’t stop me. Come on, I’ll help you down to the lobby.”

“It’s nice to see you are both getting along. You’re happy and it’s good to see you interested in something other than study.”

“I am happy, Callie. I really, really like him. I only hope it lasts.”

“Don’t overthink it, hun.”

The girls headed for the lift.

Xavier watched as the lift doors slid open. His cock danced in his pants the minute he spotted Aline. She was wearing a crop top and shorts – very short, shorts. The leg he could see was shapely and toned and, he could see plenty of it. His mouth watered. He licked his lips as she hobbled toward him.

He hurried to her and brushed his lips over hers. “I wish you would use the wheelchair. You terrify me with how you use those crutches. Don’t you realize how unsteady you are?”

“I hate that damn chair. I hate having to be dependent on someone to push me around. I’m happier getting around on my own. I’m fine, honestly.”

As if on cue, Aline stumbled. One of the crutches crashed to the floor but before she could follow it down, Xavier scooped her into his arms.

“For heaven’s sake, woman. Are you trying to give me a heart attack or break the other leg?”

Callie giggled at Xavier’s frustration. She knew how he was feeling. Aline was the most stubborn person she knew and definitely the clumsiest.

Aline nestled her head into his chest. His heart beat was rapid and loud in her ear. She was starting to enjoy being in his arms.
I’m falling for this man, hard and fast. Please don’t let me get hurt.

Xavier carried her out to his car. He was using his Mercedes, he had told Aline he preferred it to his Bentley and; when there was only the two of them, it was perfect. While Callie placed her belongings into the trunk, Xavier eased Aline into the passenger seat.

Callie leaned in and kissed her friend’s cheek. “Let yourself go. Have a good time. He won’t hurt you,” she whispered before closing the door.

“We’ll be back on Sunday night,” Xavier said. He slipped behind the wheel, fired up the engine and eased into the traffic.