Chapter Ten
Xander
After Letty left, I spent at least an hour just lying in bed thinking about her. I didn’t stop while I showered and got dressed or as I ate breakfast. Every time I tried to focus elsewhere, she would creep into the back of my mind like a vine.
I decided to talk to Bethany before going to my day job at the strip club, just so I could stop worrying about Letty.
Bethany was already scrubbing down the bar when I came into the room. “Did she get home okay?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said slowly, clearly surprised by my question.
“How did things go at the pharmacy?”
“Pharmacy? We didn’t go to the pharmacy.” Bethany eyes narrowed. “Did she need to go?”
I looked down, not sure what to say.
“You hound,” Ajax laughed as he sat next to me at the bar. “Did the condom break or did you decide not to bother since she was a virgin?”
Without a thought, I punched my friend across the jaw and sent him falling off his stool.
“What the fuck, man?” he said as he stood up.
“Don’t fucking talk about her,” I snapped. “Now get the fuck out.”
With a sullen look, he left the room.
“Xander,” Bethany said with a scolding tone. “Sit down.” I sat down on a stool with a huff while she grabbed a bottle of Jack and poured me a drink.
I downed the whiskey in one gulp and glared at her.
“Letty is going to be married in a few days,” she said.
Married? That’s not possible. “What?”
Bethany nodded gently. “That is why she came here. She wanted to be with you before the wedding.”
Letty was marrying another man, but she wanted to fuck me first?
I shoved away from the bar and headed out to my bike. I was so angry that I wanted to spill blood. Letty gave herself to me knowing she would belong to another man. Another man. Another man touching her, holding her, coming inside her. I couldn’t stand it. I had half a mind to ride into Grady and wring her neck.
I was still fuming that night when I left work. I spent the whole day taking out my anger on anyone who dared to speak to me. As manager and part-time bouncer, no one really noticed, but I decided to leave early anyway.
The sun was setting as I left the strip club with a deposit and drove down the street to the bank. I was dropping the money bag into the after-hours slot when I noticed a man helping a woman from a car at the restaurant next door.
It was Letty. She was being escorted by a man a few inches taller than her and a little overweight. So, this was her fiancé? It had to be with the way he placed his hand on her lower back as they walked inside. He had to be around her same age, probably six or seven years younger than me. He was practically a kid.
I didn’t know what possessed me, but I got off my bike and headed toward the back of the restaurant. No one stopped me as I walked into the kitchen and out to the bar area. I spotted Letty at a table toward the front.
I sat at the edge of the bar and simply watched them. They ate and I observed Letty giving her fiancé forced smiles as he spoke. She would stiffen every time he would reach across the table to caress her hand and I had to hold myself in my chair to keep from pummeling the douchebag every time he did it.
She wore a flowered dress that was pretty, but had a high neckline and the skirt went all the way down to the floor. She also wore a cardigan that covered her arms. The outfit was designed to be demure, but damn, did it turn me on. All I could think about was tearing it off her to reveal all the beautiful skin that only I had kissed and licked.
After the meal, she finally stood up and went to the bathroom. I followed her after a few minutes, making sure the douche didn’t see me. I went into the ladies’ room and locked the door behind me just as Letty came out of the first stall.
She froze the moment our eyes met. “Xander, what are you doing here?” she whispered.
“Is he your fiancé?” I asked.
She looked away. “Did Bethany tell you?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I said, taking a step closer.
She looked back at me and shrugged. “I was scared you wouldn’t have made love to me if you knew about Sebastian.”
“Do you love him?” I wasn’t sure where the question came from, but I suddenly needed to know.
“No, but our families arranged the match. Hopefully with time…” she trailed off.
“You don’t have to. You could leave.”
“And go where?” Her eyes narrowed and her voice dripped with anger. “I have no education or job skills. Are you suggesting I become a whore like Bethany?”
“Of course not.” It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her to leave with me. But my conscience stopped me. California was going to be dangerous, too dangerous for a girl like her.
She sighed as she dried her hands with the paper towels. She turned to face me, looking sad. “Please leave me alone, Xander. You’re only making this harder.”
I gritted my teeth.
“Fine. I’ll leave you alone.” She moved past me, but I slammed my hand on the door above her head. “But you have to answer one question first.”
She turned around, but didn’t look at me. “What?”
“Did you take the morning-after pill?”
She looked down at her hands and swallowed.
“Bethany said she didn’t take you to the pharmacy and I’m sure they don’t sell it in Grady,” I said.
When she wouldn’t answer, I stepped closer and cupped her face. “Tell me, Letty.”
I watched a blush come into her cheeks as she met my eyes. “No. I didn’t,” she said, her voice breathy.
Unexpected relief flooded my chest. “Why not?”
She bit her lip and her eyes heated. “I wanted there to be a chance.”
“Chance for what?”
“That I would be pregnant with your baby instead of his.” She shrugged.
“Why would you want my baby instead of your husband’s?”
She shook her head and looked away. “I don’t know. I just wanted a part of you.”
Her words struck me like a bolt of pure lust making me hard as a rock in seconds flat. I brought my lips to hers, letting her feel how much I wanted her in this moment.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
“Bettering the odds,” I said and took her mouth again.