Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, Greer stood at the window with a cup of coffee in her hand, watching Xander try to teach Jill how to spar. It was Saturday and Greer didn’t have any jobs lined up that day. It was the nice thing about owning her own business. When her friend had an emergency, like being turned into a were-cougar and needed her emotional support, she could be there for her.
Xander had mentioned he had some friends driving up today to help ease Jill through her transition, but until they got there, Xander had insisted on showing Jill a few things. Greer would have been jealous of the attention he was giving Jill, if he didn’t continuously catch Greer’s eye and smile, his eyes electric with desire.
Greer had stayed with Jill until her friend had fallen back asleep and then snuck into the spare room to find Xander snoring. She crawled in next to him, dead tired, and laid onto her side with her back to him. As she was dozing off, she felt him turn and then his arm was wrapped around her waist, his erection poking into her butt.
“You’re right, you know,” he’d said.
“About what?”
He kissed the back of her ear, and whispered, “I was yours from the minute I saw you.”
Greer had started, shocked he’d heard her stake her claim to Jill. She didn’t say anything and he hadn’t tried for more than spooning her. Soon, his even breathing had fanned out across her skin. She’d fallen asleep smiling.
But when she’d woken up, he was gone. She’d come downstairs to find a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the two of them doing some kind of stretching exercises in the early morning light.
She’d yawned and gone for the nectar of life instead of the workout.
Finally, the two of them came inside, Jill dancing from foot to foot. “I gotta tell you, I feel completely energized. Is this how it is, you just feel like you’re on a five-hour energy high all the time.”
“Sometimes.” Xander came up alongside Greer and bent over to kiss her. She leaned into his mouth, tingles erupting everywhere. When he finally pulled back, he murmured, “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“Hey G,” Jill said, kissing her cheek next.
“Well, you seem better.”
“I really am. I just decided that I am going to embrace this as a new leg in my always exciting life.”
Greer grinned at Xander over her coffee mug. “That’s a good way to look at it.”
Xander poured a cup of coffee, and then turned back around to face them. “I was thinking I should escort you ladies home to pack a bag and then we can come back before everyone gets here.”
“Pack a bag?” Greer said.
Xander took a long draw of his coffee, quirking one eyebrow at her. “Yeah. I’m not leaving you alone with Pax and Dakota still out there.”
“How many people are coming?” she asked.
“If it’s Clyde and his sons, four. If his wife and daughters are coming, then it’s seven.”
Greer set her coffee cup down, waiting for him to catch up. “And where are we all going to sleep? There are only three rooms and a couch.”
Xander frowned at her. “You make a point there, but I’m still not having you stay alone.”
She shrugged. “Then come over to my place.”
Jill waved her hand at them. “Um, excuse me? I know you’re not planning on leaving me here with a house full of strangers.”
“Relax, the only danger you’ll get from Clyde and his wife, Norma, is that they might try to mate you with one of their sons,” Xander said.
“Mate me? Nobody is mating me!”
Greer covered her mouth to smother her giggle, and Xander winked at her. “Noted. I’ll let them know, but Jill, you can’t stay alone at your place in case Pax decides he made a mistake letting you live. So, unless you want to bring one of the Larson’s home for a sleepover, you’re bunking here.”
“Or I could bunk with you guys at Greer’s. She’s got an extra room.”
Xander’s expression when he met Greer’s gaze was filled with hunger and exasperation, so Greer decided to save him. “I think Xander wants to have me all to himself.”
Jill sighed. “Got it. All night sexcapades and I’d be a third wheel. Fine, I’ll pack a bag and stay here. But I am not sleeping on the couch. If I’m going to be in witness protection, I’m going to at least get a goodnight sleep.”
As Jill took her coffee and headed upstairs, Xander leaned against the kitchen counter with a groan. “Is she always that dramatic?”
Greer padded over to him and set her coffee down on the counter. Then, she wrapped her arms around his waist before kissing his chest. “Welcome to the wonderful world of Jill Meyers, former child star.”
“Joy.” Xander kissed her, lingering on her lips. “So, a sleepover at your place. Does that mean that I get to kiss you a whole lot more tonight?”
“Yep.”
His hands traveled over her back and squeezed her buttocks. “And touch.”
“Uh huh.” Her hand slipped around to the front of his jeans, cupping his erection. “And a whole, lot more.”
A deep sound vibrated in his chest. “I’ll be counting down the hours.”
Me too.