Morgan
Talk about whiplash. I was lying on a kitchen table, a table that, I might add, I shared with my best friend. A table I don’t actually own but where I eat dinner with, again, my best friend, almost nightly. Only now that kitchen table had been converted to a place where my boyfriend decided to rock my world.
As in, bang my brain loose. Oh my god, I was losing my shit. Who was this girl I had become?
I looked up and found a pair of knowing eyes watching me closely. A smirk covering those delectable lips of his. Yep, that was what happened to me.
Xavier.
He had knocked down my walls, swept me off my feet, and turned me into one of those girls I’d always wrinkled my nose up at. Those girls who got all gooey-eyed in the presence of a man. Yes, I challenged him, but I think we both knew in the end I would cave. He was addictive.
“See what happens when you wear my clothes?” he finally spoke, only making me laugh.
“Should I be concerned that men’s clothing turns you on?” I asked, giving him some of that sass I knew he loved.
He stepped back, and I immediately felt the loss of his body from mine. Reaching out, he took my hand and tugged me up from the table. The moment my chest was pressed to his, he kissed me softly and pressed his forehead to mine. “It is the girl, not the clothes,” he confessed and that familiar flutter returned to my chest.
It didn’t matter how hard I tried not to be the girl falling for the boy, it was inevitable. Xavier wasn’t even close to the guy I thought he was in the beginning. He was adorable, sweet, and kind. He was good to me, great with Marcus, and adored Toby. He was a keeper, the guy to break away my restraints and show me what I’d been missing out on.
I leaned back, looking up at him, again his swollen, blackened eye coming into view. “Are you gonna to tell me what happened to your face?” I asked.
“Red dropped me,” he said as he removed the condom and walked toward the kitchen, grabbing a paper towel. I watched as he hid it in the towel before tossing it into the garbage can.
“Why did he drop you?” I asked, completely engrossed in his manhood that was still fully exposed.
“Because Isaac yanked down his pants,” he added just as he tucked himself back into his own pants and began buckling his jeans. “Boxers and all, straight down around his ankles.”
I shook my head as if to clear my thoughts. Apparently he’d turned me into a sex fiend because I couldn't keep my mind straight.
“Okay…” still confused but feeling it too dangerous to ask, I skipped on to the next question. “Then why was Red holding you to begin with?”
“He missed me,” Xavier said with a shrug, leaning back against the counter.
I stared at him, completely dumbfounded. Never would I understand Xavier and his friends. They were wild and constantly pulled the craziest shit off on one another. It was part of the reason I feared staying at his house. Waking up with chicken feathers glued to my body didn’t sound like anything I wanted to experience.
“Forget I asked,” I said. Stepping closer to him, I opened the freezer and pulled out a bag of stir fry mix. I held it out to Xavier and he gave me a confused look in return. “You need to hold this against your face. Your face looks like someone knocked the shit out of you.”
He took the mixture, held it to his face, and smiled back at me.
It amazed me how he found no wrong in being battered and abused by his roommates.
“So,” he said, averting his eyes. I knew whatever it was he was about to say he was worried about saying it. “You wanna take a ride with me?”
“A ride?” I asked and he nodded. “Where would this ride take us?”
With a shrug, he shot me that dangerously sexy smile of his. “Kissimmee.”
I knew what was in Kissimmee—his family. He’d talked about them enough during our nights of lying awake in bed. It was those times I truly got to witness his love for his family. When he talked about his brother and sister it reminded me of my love for Toby. He’d laugh and share stories of when they were younger, the protective nature coming out with every word he spoke.
When he shared stories about his mother, it made my feelings for him only that much harder to ignore. He adored his mother, and a man who loved his mother that fiercely was a good man.
The pride in his explanation of his father made me smile. The man sounded like a mirror image of Xavier, though I don’t think he realized just how much he resembled the description he gave of his dad.
So why the hell was the idea of meeting them freaking me out a bit?
“Cassie called and she gave me a guilt trip about not coming home enough.” He was still holding the frozen bag of vegetables to his face. “She wants to meet you.”
Again, panic.
“I don’t know,” I said, doing what I do well. I was searching for an excuse as to why I couldn’t. The thing was—I had nothing. I didn’t have a job, and it was the weekend, so there were no classes to attend. I’d say I planned to visit Toby and my parents, but they were gone for the weekend to visit my grandparents, and Xavier was fully aware of this.
Before I could say more, Xavier stepped past me and slapped my ass, causing me to let out a yelp in surprise. “You got nothing, babe,” he said with a laugh. “Now get your ass moving and don’t forget your suit.”
I rubbed at the sting on my ass cheek. “Swimsuit?” I turned around to watch as he moved across my apartment. Once he reached the couch, he sat down and propped up his feet on the ottoman. He looked like he belonged here. He made himself at home, flipping through the channels on the television.
“Yeah,” he replied, not even looking at me. “Cassie likes to swim, so I figure you should probably be prepared.”
I stared at the side of his head, a little floored that I had somehow gotten myself in this situation. Why couldn't I tell this man no? I never had a problem with that before, but somehow Xavier was managing to melt away my outer bitch.
***
I was taken aback by what I saw. No, I was speechless as I looked through the windshield of Xavier’s car to the house before me. It was gorgeous, bigger and fancier than any house I had ever been in.
“Come on,” Xavier said as he climbed out of the car, quickly closing the door before moving around to my side. When he opened my door and held out his hand, I moved forward willingly.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, looking over the house once more.
“They moved here about eight months ago. My father owns a construction company, so building is his specialty.” He offered a wink as he led me toward the front door.
“Your dad built this house?” Again I was in awe. I couldn't imagine living in a home this amazing. It had three garages—three.
As he pushed open the front door and we stepped inside, the earlier feeling of awe was nothing compared to what I felt now. “Holy hell,” I said without being able to stop myself.
Xavier chuckled. “Yeah, he may have gone a little overboard. My mother had wanted a new house for years and when he was finally able to give her one, he made sure he gave her everything he could and more. Come on.” He tugged my arm.
“Cassie,” Xavier hollered, making me jump in surprise.
The level above us allowed me to hear the hammering sound of someone’s feet against the floor. In a blur, a flash of yellow and black ran past me and practically leaped into Xavier’s arms.
“You came!” A high-pitched squeal was followed by laughter, both Xavier’s and his little sister’s. It was sweet to know how much she obviously adored him.
“Yeah kid,” he said, hugging her tight, her feet dangling in the air, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. “And I brought someone I’d like you to meet.”
I swore my heart skipped a beat when he lowered her to the ground and she turned to face me. I don’t think I have ever seen a pair of eyes so vividly blue. The color stood out against her tanned skin and jet black hair. She was absolutely gorgeous and only twelve. In a few years they were so gonna have their hands full.
“Well, she is definitely prettier than what’s her name.” Cassie looked back at her brother and he reached out to ruffle up her hair. She giggled and tried to move away from him. “Okay, stop!” she screamed and he finally stepped back, letting her go.
When her eyes met mine once more she smiled. “Hi, I’m Cassie.”
“Morgan,” I said with a wave. I shouldn’t have been so nervous about meeting a twelve-year-old, but I was.
“We thought we’d hang out for the day,” Xavier told her. “Maybe swim.”
“So I take it you haven’t come to whisk me off to Gainesville.” Cassie cocked her hip outward and crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyebrow was arched, her lips pursed, and instantly I knew I’d love this girl. She was sassy and the way she challenged Xavier was hysterical. She said what was on her mind, without hesitation.
She was me in a twelve-year-old body.
“Hell no, I’m not taking you to the frat house,” Xavier laughed.
Cassie huffed in frustration and looked back at me. I shrugged and she hung her head. “Why do girls lose their ability to speak and have opinions once they fall for a guy?”
She turned around and started to walk toward the steps, leaving me with my mouth hanging open in surprise. Xavier chuckled and I shot him a glare. “I did not lose my ability to speak or have an opinion,” I stated.
He stepped forward and gripped my hip. “No,” he whispered, “but you did fall for the guy.” When his lips pressed to mine I knew he was right, I was falling for the guy. Each moment I spent with him, I fell a little more.