Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(68)

My entire body shutters and I slip into sweet ecstasy and fill her full. This woman is my destiny and I will never allow anything else to ever come between us.





Chapter 33


Anna


It’s odd sitting in the back of Mother and Father’s minivan with Xavier. It shocked the hell out of me when Father sent a text this morning asking if they could drive us to the airport.

The clicking sound is the only thing to be heard inside the cab. None of us have made the first move to say anything and the ride is the most awkward experience of my life.

Father pulls up to the passenger loading area. “I’ll get the bags.”

“I’ll help him,” Xavier says before jumping out to assist.

Mother turns around in her seat. “Anna, I know this is hard for you. It’s hard for your father too. But give him a chance. You might be surprised by what you hear.”

I nod and take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my pounding heart.

I make it to the back of the vehicle and my eyes land on Father shaking Xavier’s hand. “You take care of my little girl. I’m trusting you to protect her with your life.”

Xavier gives him a half smile. “She’s in good hands, sir. Nothing will happen to her on my watch.”

He seems to accept that because he nods curtly and as he releases Xavier’s hand, his eyes fall on me. “I’ve missed you.”

My lips twist as I stare at the man who I believed hates me. “You have?”

“Of course I have. You’re my daughter. I care deeply about you and your future, which is why I got so crazy before you left home. I thought you were heading down the wrong path because it wasn’t one I laid out for you, but I’ve done a lot of praying and talking with my pastor since the day you left.” He bats away a tear from the corner of his eye. “I’ve come to see that what I was doing was wrong—that I shouldn’t try to control you. No one should. You should always be your own person and find your own happiness, even if I don’t like how you find it. I’m sorry, Anna. Can you ever forgive me?”

Tears roll down my cheeks and I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Aunt Dee told me that this may happen, but I never expected an actual apology from my father. He’s not the type of man who usually admits when he’s wrong, so I know this is very hard for him to do and he wouldn’t do it unless he means it.

I rush over to Father and he wraps his arms around me. “I forgive you.”

We stay wrapped up like that, crying together for a long time, and finally everything feels complete again.

Flying back to Detroit in first class, sitting next to Xavier, I’m on cloud nine. There’s no doubt we went through some hell to get here, but we made it—together.

It’s like we’ve been given a second chance—one in which both Xavier and I are honest with one another—no more secrets.

Quinn was right about one thing without trust, a relationship will never survive.

Xavier threads his fingers through mine as the plane lands on the runway. “Do you feel up to apartment hunting as soon as we get off the plane?”

I nod. “Of course. We can have Quinn drive us to your grandmother’s house so we can get your stuff first and get a hotel and then we can head out.”

I leans his head back against the headrest and sighs. “We need to borrow a car.”

I tilt my head. “Something wrong with the bike?”

He rolls his head against the seat and gazes down at me. “No. I just don’t want you on the back of it. I’ve got to keep you and my baby safe.”

I bite my bottom lip, and have to keep myself from jumping his bones. When he gets all protective like this, it’s sexy, but it’s even more attractive now because he’s worried about more than just me. I like that he’s fully vested in this pregnancy with me.

I lean and kiss his lips. “Okay, daddy.”

He gives me one of his best panty-soaking grins. “Keep it up, and I’ll have you calling me that when we’re alone and your legs are over my shoulders.”

I giggle. “I wouldn’t exactly call that a threat.”

He leans in and nips my earlobe and growls. “God, I want to f*ck you so bad right now.” He takes my hand and lays it over the crotch of his jeans. There’s no mistaking the hard cock that’s standing up, waiting on my attention.

I bite my lower lip. “Maybe we should skip the apartment shopping and spend the rest of the day in bed.”

Heat from where his lips kiss the soft skin beneath my ear causes a tingle to rip through my body. “Sounds like a plan to me. I’ll take a day buried inside that sweet * of yours anytime.” I squirm in my seat trying to ease the ache between my legs and Xavier chuckles. “Patience, baby. Save it all for later and I promise I’ll give you the best toe-curling sex you’ve ever had.”

“Promise?” I whisper, loving it when he makes promises of pleasure.

“Yes.”

It feels like it takes forever to get off the plane, gather our bags, and then make it outside where Quinn is waiting next to her Honda for us. “There’s the champ!”

Xavier grins and it’s easy to see the pride on his face. Winning the belt has been a dream for him and it was an amazing experience to be by his side while it happened.