I wrap my arms around my torso, suddenly super aware of how overly curvy my body is next to someone like Deena. My breasts aren’t fake like hers either. Mine are small, but perky.
Xavier notices my shift in body language and touches the back of my arm. “You okay?”
“Fine,” I answer instantly in a clipped tone.
“I told you, you don’t have to be worried about sharing a room with me. I’ll even sleep on the floor if it makes you more comfortable.”
“Don’t be silly. You need to rest up for the match.”
The elevator stops, and the door opens on our floor. We both exit, and I follow Xavier to our room. After swiping the key card, he flips on the lights and motions for me to go first.
The massive king-size bed occupies most of the space, and while sleeping in the same bed with Xavier scares me, it won’t be like we’re shoulder to shoulder.
The mattress gives a little under the weight of my backpack as he sets it down. “You still want to go eat?”
I shove my hands in my back pockets. “Yeah.”
“Let’s go then. There should be a restaurant downstairs.”
Xavier closes the door behind us, and I follow him down the hall. The second I come to a stop next to him in front of the elevators, he reaches down and curls his fingers around mine.
A tingle rushes up my arm from the point where our skin touches. I should pull away and set boundaries, letting him know right off the bat that this is a business relationship only, but I can’t do it. I like it when he touches me. My body craves more.
We’re playing with fire, and one of us is bound to get burned.
At the soft ding of the elevator, we step inside the awaiting car. Xavier tugs me inside with him, and we ride down to the lobby.
The buzz from the crowd of people assaults my ears as the doors open, and there’s a shriek and a bunch of camera flashes in my face as Xavier pulls us through the throng of people.
The chants of his name echo throughout the lobby, but he keeps walking, tucking me close to his side. The crowd is excited to get a glimpse of him, but he doesn’t stop. He’s like a man on a mission, determined to get us to the restaurant in one piece.
A boy around the age of ten, wearing a shirt with Xavier’s face on it, waves his hands wildly, and it reminds me of the two boys in front of me on the plane.
Xavier spots the kid too and glances back at me. “Do you mind?”
“Of course not.”
He smiles and then kneels down in front of the child, taking the poster and sharpie from his small hands. I smile as Xavier signs the poster and says a few words of encouragement about staying in school and going to college, the child nodding enthusiastically while hanging on his every word.
After the boy’s mother snaps a picture of the two of them, Xavier ruffles the kid’s hair and tells him goodbye.
My heart instantly melts at his interaction with his miniature fan.
Xavier notices the sappy expression on my face and takes my hand. “Come on, beautiful.”
I wave goodbye to the little boy as we pass by and cut down a hallway. Thankfully security halts the rabid fans from following us, informing them that the restaurant is reserved for a private party, and that was as far as they were allowed.
I sigh, relieved to be away from all that madness. “Is it always like that for you?”
He shakes his head. “No. We try to keep where we are staying secret, but sometimes it slips out and fans get a little overzealous.”
“That was sweet, what you did back there.”
He glances down at me. “I always take time out for the kids. It’s crazy to me that, to some of them, I’m their hero.”
I squeeze his fingers between mine. “No, it’s not. You’re a great role model. Look at how much you’ve had to overcome to get where you are.”
He swallows hard. “I’ve done a lot of bad shit too, Anna. I don’t think I’m exactly role model material.”
“Let’s agree to disagree. I’m not saying you’re perfect, but professionally you’ve done amazing. You should be proud of that.”
He smiles and squeezes my hand back. “Thank you.”
We round the corner and my eyes widen. Sitting in the hotel restaurant are some of the largest men and women I’ve ever seen—all of them buff, tall, and tanned. Xavier doesn’t stand out as much in this crowd, but he certainly doesn’t go unnoticed because the moment we walk in, most of the eyes in the place zero in on us.
I try to pull my hand out of from his grasp—I’m not sure how to explain our relationship to his coworkers just yet—but he only tightens his grip, refusing to allow me to pull away.
“Relax,” he says in my ear, and I take a deep breath. “It’s going to be okay. You’re just a new face.”
“Okay.”
Curiosity. I can handle that.
Xavier leads me to a table in the back corner, where another muscle-bound man sits. His long, dark hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, and his dark eyes twinkle with intrigue the moment our gazes lock.
The man’s eyes flit from me to Xavier, and he grins as one of his thick eyebrows quirk. “Fresh meat?”
Xavier laughs and bumps fists with the man before pulling out a chair for me to sit in. “Brian “Razor” Rollins, this is Anna, my new assistant.”
Brian stretches his arm across the table. “Nice to meet you.”
I shake his hand. “Likewise.”
Brian turns his attention from me back to Xavier. “Deena’s history then?”
“Ancient,” Xavier replies while taking the menu from the server who approached our table the moment we sat down.
Brian clears his throat and tilts his head to the left. “And she knows that, right?”
Both Xavier and I glance to the other side of the restaurant.
Oh, crap.
Deena glares back at us from where she sits, which is next to a rather built female who I can only assume is Star—the friend Xavier warned me about.
My heart races in my chest. For some reason I believed that night in the hotel would be the last time I ever had to lay eyes on this woman. I certainly didn’t expect her to be here.
The muscle under Xavier’s jaw works beneath his skin. “What the fuck is she doing here?”
“She came in here with Rex. We all were wondering what was going on when you weren’t with her. Is she working for him now?” Brian asks as he cuts into the huge steak on the plate in front of him.
The name Rex instantly rings a bell. That’s the guy who is Xavier’s rival for the championship belt. Why would she do that to Xavier, especially if she had a relationship with him?
Xavier sighs. “That bitch is vindictive as fuck.”
Brian chuckles. “I warned you, brother. That woman has evil written all over her. I just hope she doesn’t come after your new tail here.”
My eyes widen. “Whoa. We’re just—”
“Friends?” Brian cuts me off and winks with an ornery smile. “I know.”
I’m not sure I like his implied tone, and the concern I had once before resurfaces. Exactly how many other women have been in my position? That unnerves me. I’m not used to being just another woman in an absurdly long line.
After Xavier orders the biggest steak they have, I give my order and glance around the restaurant. All the muscle-type men in here seem to be eating like Xavier. It must be part of their training to get all those muscles.
“So, you good now? Ready for tomorrow?” Brian asks Xavier.
“Yeah. I’m good.”
Brian nods. “Good. You know it’s important to have your head on straight. No more fucking around. Rex means business and he’s going to do his best to make you eat mat to prove he’s the ultimate contender for the belt. He’s been gathering backing while you’ve been gone. He’s got one of the writers in his pocket now.”
Xavier leans back in the chair and rolls his ripped shoulders. “Let him try. I’ve been dying to really put a whipping on that f
ucker. He runs his mouth far too much for my taste. Someone needs to shut him the fuck up.”
“While I’d love nothing more than to witness you doing that very thing, you have to be smart about it. He’s going to try and antagonize you.”
Xavier sighs. “I don’t understand why he can’t do his job like the rest of us. He takes things too far, makes shit personal, and that really pisses me off. I’ll hit him harder than called for, every chance I get.”
“He’s got a death wish, X. He’s going to fight dirty.”
“I thought everything was choreographed? Why does he have to get personal?” I ask.
Brian turns his attention to me. “The man is afraid of X. We all know it, but he’s hell bent on getting that belt, so he’s going to try to exploit and pick at every weakness he can find so he doesn’t have to fight him directly to get it.”
“Deena,” Without meaning to say her name out loud, it slips from my lips.
“Exactly,” Brian agrees. “And you, now that you’re in the mix.”
Xavier rubs his face. “Shit.”
Brian nods. “You walking in here hand in hand…my guess is he’ll try to get to Anna just to press your buttons.”
His brow flinches for a brief second. “She’s too smart for that. She won’t fall for his shit.”
“She might not, but it won’t stop him from trying.”
Brian glances down at his phone. “Got to run, brother. Time to check in with the wifey.” He stands and smiles at me. “Anna, good luck keeping my man on track. You’ve got your work cut out for you. This stubborn ass is pretty set in his ways.”
I laugh as Xavier rolls his eyes. “Thanks.”
The moment Brian walks away, I say, “I like him. He seems fun.”
The waiter sets our food down in front of us, and Xavier cuts into his steak. “Brian is a good guy, and the only real friend I’ve got in this business.”
“That’s hard to believe, what with that charming, outgoing personality you have.” I bump my shoulder into his and Xavier chuckles.
“Keep it up, beautiful. Insubordination will get you punished.”
The water glass pressed to my lips, I stare at him over it and raise my eyebrow. “You don’t scare me.”
He licks his lips slowly as he glances down at my mouth for a brief second. “I should, but I’m glad I don’t.”
The tension between us is driving me crazy. While I know what he’s saying isn’t sexual in any way, my mind instantly takes it to the gutter. It’s the main complication I’ll face, working for a man I find insanely attractive.
I need to refocus and remember the reason I’m here. Maybe that’ll occupy my brain and make me stop thinking of my new boss as an object of desire.
“So when are you going to tell me what my duties are?”
His jaw works around as he chews while considering my question.
After a moment he swallows and asks, “What would you like them to be?”
I shake my head. “That’s not how this works. You’re supposed to give me direction.”
“Direction…” he mumbles. “Okay, the first thing you need to do is stay away from Rex. He bothers you, talks to you—whatever—you let me know.”
“After the conversation I just heard, that goes without saying. What else?”
“Deena used to keep my schedule in order. She’d tell me where I had to be and when. That actually really helped. With everything I have going on, I lose track of interviews and promo shoots.”
“I can do that. Do you have your calendar?”
“It’s on my phone. Text me your email, and I’ll send it over to you.”
Now we’re getting somewhere, and this feels more like a real job. “Anything else?”
“No,” he says flatly. “I prefer to take care of everything else myself. Jimmy deals with all my business affairs, so things are pretty well-handled.”
I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’m going to anyway. “I know this puts my job in jeopardy, but I really don’t think you need me if that’s all the work you’re going to give me. I at least want to feel useful.”
“Just you being here helps more than you’ll ever know. It’s nice to have someone around to talk to who’s not cutthroat like the rest of these motherfuckers around here.”
“So what you’re saying is that you basically hired me as your companion?” I freak a little inside, suddenly needing to clear up exactly what this job doesn’t entail. “I’m not a paid escort, Xavier, if that’s why you brought me along.”
He furrows his brow. “I know that.”
“Do you? I’m just making it clear that I’m not like Deena.”
“Beautiful, you couldn’t be any more different if you tried.” He takes my hand into his on the top of the table. “You’re more woman than she can ever dream of being.”
“I…” I swallow hard, completely lost for words.
It’s moments like this that make me forget all the rough patches we’ve been through since I’ve known him. With just a few simple words, he has the power to make me believe that I’m the most special person in the world.
“I like you, Anna. I know I’ve got a fucked up way of showing it sometimes, but I do.”
“I like you too,” I whisper.
Xavier lips pull into a huge smile. “Good. Then try to look past all the bullshit and be my friend.”
There’s that pesky ‘F’ word again—the word that’s going to drive me straight out of my mind one of these days. My hormones can only take rejection so many times before they shut down from disappointment.
But if a friend is what he wants from me, then a friend is what he shall have.
“I’m here for you. Always. You would never have had to pay me for that.”
He brings my hand up to his mouth and presses his lips to my knuckles. My toes instantly curl and I chew on the corner of my lip. Heat rises up my neck and I know my cheeks are flushed.
I glance around the room, not many people are paying any attention to our little interaction. Only one person is watching us intently.
Deena glares at me from across the room, her slender arms crossed over her chest. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s plotting how to kill me this very second in order to get me out of the picture.
I’ve made more enemies since leaving home a little over a week ago than I’ve had in my entire life. I guess this is all a part of living free and breaking rules.
I just hope I can make it through this unscathed.
Chapter 14
The show travels from town to town so often, I don’t ever bother to unpack. I just live out of my suitcase, so to speak. It makes things so much easier.
I dig through my bag looking for a pair of clean underwear to sleep in when I notice Anna out of the corner of my eye. “Do you want to shower first, or is it okay if I do?”
She sits on the bed next to my suitcase. “I prefer to take mine in the morning.”
The thought of her naked and wet, only a room away from me, causes my cock to jerk in my jeans. I’ll have to make damn sure I’m out the door before that happens in the morning. God knows I’ll never be able to resist her if I’m here for all that.
Fuck me.
I need a distraction before I go to the shower to jerk off while thinking about her.
I force my mind to think about my upcoming match, and after a couple of seconds my dick calms down and I’m able to function like a normal human being again.
“I won’t be long. You can take the bed. I’ll make a spot on the floor.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. You have a match tomorrow, you need your rest. I’ll take the floor.”
“Anna,” I warn. “There’s no way in hell I’ll allow you to sleep on the floor.”
She sighs, knowing I won’t give in on this. “Fine. We’re both adults—we can share the bed.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You’re okay with that?”
“Of course I am, silly. We’re friends, and
I trust you.” She tries to play it off as a joke to make it seem like sleeping in the same bed with me isn’t a big deal, but I know her better than that.
I want her to know she can trust me. “You don’t have to—”
“No arguing. It’s a king-size bed, so it won’t be an issue.”
“You sure?” I quiz her.
“I trust you. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“Okay then.”
I’m pretty sure I break the record for the fastest shower known to man. The idea of lying inches away from her all night sends a thrill through me. I roll my eyes at myself as I realize that I’m thinking like a fucking teenage girl excited about the possibility of touching someone I have a crush on. I scrub my hands down my face and attempt to convince myself to chill the fuck out.
I’ve got to get a handle on this thing because if this keeps up, I’m going to scare her off with my psycho obsession.
If she could ever see inside my head, she’d surely run away screaming.
Chapter 15
As quickly as I can, I strip out of my clothes and climb into the thin nightgown I wear for bed. The sheets are cool as I slide between them, but they do nothing to calm my flushed body down. I close my eyes and quietly tell myself, “Quit being a scaredy-cat. You can do this.”
Xavier’s deep laugh reverberates on the other side of the bathroom door. “Psyching yourself up again?”
Shit. How the hell did he hear me?
“N—no. That had nothing to do with you,” I say trying to muster some confidence.
The door opens and he steps out wearing nothing but a towel and a smile.
Water drips from his hair onto his broad shoulders as he approaches the bed. I glance over to his side of the bed, and I notice his underwear is laying there.
He’s going to change right in front of me?
My heart thunders in my chest. I should look away, but I can’t help myself. I want to look at him.
Sins of the flesh really do carry some meaning. Father would be proud that I actually still remember some of the scripture.
I take a deep breath and search for a distraction. I grab the one paperback novel I brought with me off the nightstand and open it in front of my face.