Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(4)

The car pulls up at the hotel and parks in front of the entrance as I mull over his stipulation. Staying away from Anna is the last thing I want to do. Not a day has gone by since I met her that we haven’t been together, and as much as I don’t like it, I know I have to allow this to happen. But I swear to God, if Rex f*cks with her in any way, no one will be able to pull me off of him the next time.

“Understood,” is all I say before I open the car door and let myself out. I stretch my hand to help Anna out of the car. “Come on, beautiful.”

Anna clings to me as we head back to our hotel room. I kiss the top of her head as we wait on the elevator. As f*cked up as this situation is, it could’ve been a hell of a lot worse.





Chapter 2


Anna


Locked away in our hotel room, there are no prying eyes.

I finally have Xavier all to myself.

I wrap my arms around him, needing to feel his skin against me.

When I saw the cops carting Xavier out of that fight in handcuffs, my entire world crumbled before my eyes. We’d finally been getting to a good place, and then all hell broke loose and shook up our world.

Kneeling down in front of Xavier on that mat earlier tonight was the worst moment of my life. I hated seeing him lose control, jeopardizing everything he’d worked for. That cut me to the core. It should’ve never gotten to that point, but Rex wouldn’t back off, and Xavier isn’t the type to back down.

The thing I hadn’t expected was for Xavier to say he loved me. It crushed me—that the second he’d admitted how he felt about me, he was being hauled off to jail.

“You don’t know how scared I was that I was going to lose this,” I whisper as Xavier holds me tight and the events from the match feel like a distant memory.

He rests his chin on top of my head. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll find my way back to you . . . always.”

His words make me melt right on the spot. If someone would have told me that the overly sexual beast of a man that I met on the plane would say words that make me swoon—obliterate my panties sure, but promising to always be in my life?—well, I never would’ve seen it coming.

It’s like what had happened to him in the ring somehow changed his perspective on everything. He was always so reluctant to make any type of promises or commitments before, even once telling me that he wasn’t the marrying type. This feels like a good step in the right direction for us, regardless of all the craziness surrounding us tonight.

Xavier rubs small circles on my back, and it causes me to sigh before I snuggle into his chest.

“You tired?” he asks.

It doesn’t hit me until then how exhausted I actually am. Tonight’s been stressful, and I’m sure, if I allow myself to close my eyes for even the briefest time, I’d fall asleep on the spot.

But I refuse to let go of Xavier. When I thought they would lock him up and throw away the key, the opportunity to hold him against me anytime I wanted felt like it was quickly being ripped away. So, for now, I choose to stay here, in his presence, breathing him in as much as I possibly can.

I tilt my head up and stare into his light-blue eyes. “I’m ready for bed, but I don’t want to sleep just yet.”

For the first time since the chaos of the day began, Xavier smiles, but it’s not just any smile. It’s the heart-stopping one-sided smirk that drives me out of my ever-loving mind.

“Have I turned my good girl naughty?”

I give him my best wicked grin. “Afraid so. I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

His large hands cradle my face. “Glad to hear it because I’m f*cking addicted to you.”

His lips press on mine, and I’m immediately lost in his kiss. The stubble on his face scratches my fingertips as I trace his jawline.

“I need you.”

A wicked gleam is in his eyes. “Is that so?”

Xavier bends down and nips my lower lip. “You don’t know how much it turns me on when you ask for it. It takes every ounce of willpower in my body to stop myself from throwing you down on that bed and ravaging every inch of your body for my pleasure.”

At the very thought of what that would be like, my pulse races under my skin. “What’s stopping you?”

“You’re too sweet for that.” He leans in and runs his nose along my cheek, causing my entire body to quiver with anticipation. “And because you’re not ready to go there—to allow me to have full control—yet.”

“How do you know?” I take a deep breath as my chest heaves. “You don’t always have to be gentle with me, Xavier. If you want me, then take me. I want to please you.”

Heat from his parted lips brushes against the sensitive skin on my neck, causing my toes curl. It’s amazing how turned on this man can make me with a few simple touches and naughty promises of pleasure. No one else has ever made me feel this way.

“You sure about that, beautiful?” His eyes are hooded with desire.

“Yes.” I slide my hand under his shirt, allowing my fingertips to dance across the toned muscles in his abdomen. “Don’t hold back.”

That seems to be all the permission he needs because his touch shifts from gentle to demanding in a flash.

His fingers thread in my hair as he pins my head in place so that he can crush his lips to mine. His slick tongue glides over my lips, begging for entrance. I open my mouth, and he thrusts his tongue inside, a low growl emitting from his throat.