Out of Her League (Love & Other Disasters Book 2) Read online

  Again, her gaze flutters towards the closed door. “It’s silly.”

  “It’s not. I want to see you in it.”

  “I don’t want to.” Her arms cross and her expression becomes a full-blown pout.

  Good god she’s fucking adorable. I tilt my chin. “Do it. I’m not going to stop or let it rest until I see you in that dress.”

  She huffs and lets out a big sigh. “Fine.”

  “Good girl.”

  She scowls at me, flounces off the couch and stomps into the bedroom.

  It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

  It takes her fifteen minutes to emerge and when she does, I merely gape at her.

  It’s a complete departure from anything I’ve seen her in outside this apartment.

  One, it actually fits her.

  Two, it’s fun and flirty and sexy.

  Three, it accentuates the natural curve of her body, showing off her spectacular tits and small waist.

  And four, she looks incredible.

  Staring at her, I have a hard time remembering why I ever thought she was cute.

  When I remain silent she shifts on impossibly high heels, and her brow creases. “See, I told you it was silly.”

  That snaps me out of my stupor and I clear my throat. “It is not silly. You look gorgeous.”

  Her cheeks flush. “You don’t have to say that.”

  I shake my head. “I am not saying it. I mean it.”

  Her expression clears a little. “You like it?”

  I crook my finger. “I love it.”

  Slowly she walks until she’s standing in front of me.

  Not taking my eyes off her, I slide a finger up her leg, starting at her knee, and moving up to her thigh. “So fucking pretty.”

  “Thank you,” she says, her voice soft.

  “You should wear things like this every day.” At the statement, my hands still their crawl.

  Wait a minute.

  Why did she buy this? Did she buy it for someone? Is she going on…a date? It’s a date dress. But…would she?

  My throat goes dry, and my stomach tightens. Was it possible all this time she’s been going out with another guy? I hate the thought. Hate it more than I have any right to.

  She touches my cheek. “You’re scowling.”

  I gaze into her face and ask the question I’m dreading the answer to. A question I have no business caring about, but do. “Are you going somewhere special in it?”

  Before I can stew too much she shakes her head. “I saw it and thought it was pretty.”

  Relief loosens the strain in my shoulders. “It’s very pretty.”

  A small smile flits across her lips. “I want to wear it somewhere, so I bought it on faith.”

  “On faith?” My fingers squeeze her leg.

  She nods. “Yes, on faith that if I bought it, maybe I’d find myself going on an adventure that would call for it.”

  Right then and there my heart does a strange little thump against my ribs. Tessa likes adventures, and she’s had far too little of them. She deserves them, and here I am keeping her holed up in her apartment. In that instant, it becomes unacceptable to me.

  I make a split-second decision. “Finish doing whatever it is you need to do, we’re going out.”

  Surprise splashes across her features. “No, I wasn’t hinting. I just wanted to buy the dress.”

  That she doesn’t expect it from me irks me. Not that I blame her. “We’ll have to stop by my apartment so I can change, but, Tessa Jordan, we are going out.”

  “But…it’s a Thursday night at nine o’clock.”

  I smile. “Sounds like the perfect time for adventure to me.”

  Tessa

  My mom always told me that if I wished hard enough, it would come true. I wished for adventure, and hours later my wish had come true, so maybe she’d been right all along.

  At first, I’d wanted to protest, to insist he didn’t have to take me anywhere, but after my initial rebuke, I thought why not. I didn’t ask him, and why shouldn’t I trust that he wanted to.

  I was worth it and I deserved to have fun.

  So, after a mad dash around my bedroom to get ready, we were out the door and on the way to his apartment. He dressed in a pair of black pants and shirt that made him look dark and mysterious, and so delicious I wanted to attack him.

  Now we’re standing outside, waiting for an Uber. I look up at him. “Where are we going?”

  To my astonishment he slips his hand into mine. “It’s a surprise.”

  I stare down at our laced fingers, liking the look of his darker skin contrasting my paleness. I smile at him. “Thank you.”

  An expression I can’t decipher flashes across his features and he turns toward me, brushing a finger across my cheek. “You kill me sometimes, Tessa.”

  Before I can ask what he means, he sweeps in and kisses me, leaving me breathless.

  Our driver pulls up and we get into the car. Xavier’s body is close to mine as we drive through the city, heading toward the heart of downtown. Fifteen minutes later we pull up to an office building and get out.

  As we walk into the complex, I question again. “What is this?”

  His fingers squeeze mine. “It’s your adventure.”

  On our way to the top floor we ride in a silent elevator. I have no idea what we could possibly be doing here. But since he’s not going to tell me, I keep quiet and wait for whatever he has in store for me.

  We exit the car, and walk down a hall toward glass doors. I squint, wait, is that a helicopter?

  When we don’t deviate into an office, my heart starts to beat fast. We walk through the doors into the cold night air and a man steps out of the machine.

  He’s big, at least as big as Xavier, and handsome with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He strolls over to us and when Xavier shakes his hand, he grins. “You owe me one.”

  “Big time. Thanks.” Xavier turns to me. “Tessa, this is Grant, a friend of mine from way back.”

  Grant holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Tessa. You ready?”

  A bit stunned, I shake his strong hand and ask, “Ready for what?”

  Xavier chuckles. “Grant owns a tour company that does helicopter rides over the city.”

  “But, how? We didn’t have plans.” I have no idea how this has happened.

  “X fill your girl in while I get the copter ready.” Grant points to a waiting area inside. “You can keep warm in there.”

  His…girl? My chest squeezes at the suggestion. Of course, I’m not his girl, but at the pilot’s words, I’m confronted with the truth that somewhere during the last couple of weeks, I’d developed a secret hope.

  A hope I’ll be forced to look at.

  Xavier tugs me over and as soon as we’re in the small room, I ask, “How did you arrange this?”

  As though it’s not a big deal, he shrugs. “He’s a friend of mine, and when you were getting ready, I took a chance he’d be available since it’s not a weekend. I asked him for a favor and it paid off.”

  I blink up at Xavier, my eyes tearing a little. It’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. It’s a grand gesture. I say softly, “You did this…for me?”

  “Yes, for you.” He wraps an arm around my waist and our bodies press flush together. “I wanted to give you a night you deserve.”

  “I can’t believe you did this.”

  He brushes his mouth over mine. “It’s only the beginning.”

  I’ll think about that hope…later. Much, much later.

  After we’d flown over the city, fully ablaze with lights—which was as thrilling as it sounds—Xavier took me to a club called The Violet Hour. There we drank champagne and laughed until we were tipsy. I’d thought we’d call it a night after that, but he still wasn’t done. We stopped off and got Chicago hot dogs and fries before he dragged me into Millennium Park where we sit on a bench looking at the bean sculpture.

  I’ve seen it
, of course, but never during the night when it’s empty and quiet, the skyline shining in its reflection.

  Xavier takes a bite of hot dog before smiling at me. “Did you have fun?”

  I answer honestly. “I think this is the most fun I’ve ever had.”

  “Me too.” He smiles at me. Then leans over and licks the corner of my mouth. “Mustard.”

  I laugh, using a napkin to wipe my face. Without thinking too much about it, I admit, “I’m surprised you’d say that.”

  “Why?” He crumples up the waxy paper and tosses it into the bag at our feet.

  I shrug one shoulder. “I’d think your life would be full of adventure.”

  He puts his elbows on his knees and glances at me. “My life is full of work and long hours and bone-deep tiredness.”

  I study the rows of high-rise buildings in the metal sculpture. “That’s a point.” I clear my throat. “So this is a first for both of us.”

  “Yeah, it is.” He seems quiet now, not pensive exactly, but thoughtful.

  I tilt my head. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, everything is perfect.” He straightens and stretches his arm in back of me.

  “You seem thoughtful.”

  He twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. “Tessa?”

  “Yes?” My palms are suddenly sweating, even in the chilled air.

  He stares at me, and I have no idea what he’s thinking, but I’m afraid he’s going to tell me we have to end this. Whatever this is. The kernel of hope that has been swelling all night, threatens to dissolve into nothing.

  Nervous, I titter. “Do I still have something on my face?”

  He shakes his head. “No.”

  Even with the fear, I don’t let it stop me from the confrontation. “Tell me?”

  He sits there for several long seconds before he says, “There’s something I want.”

  “What’s that?” I smile, hoping to ease the tension that’s thickened the space between us.

  “I want to see your bedroom.”

  That off-limits space. The last boundary between us. The hope begins to pulse again, hot, almost throbbing. I gulp. “You do?”

  He nods. “I do. It’s become an obsession.”

  “It has?” He’s probably seen hundreds of female bedrooms, mine can’t be any different.

  “Yes.” He leans closer, and whispers in my ear, “I want to slide my cock inside you.”

  I flush, excitement spiking in my blood, mixing with the champagne we’d drunk, and the hope attempting to implant itself in my heart. I don’t deny the truth. “I want that too.”

  Had been dreaming about it. Some days I want it so badly I scare myself. I’m heading for a fall, I know that, but I don’t care. He’s an adventure I don’t want to pass up.

  “You do?” His voice is dark now, heavy and raspy like when we’re fooling around.

  “I do.” Smile at him. “Do you want to come home with me?”

  Our eyes meet, lock and hold together.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  “My bedroom is even more girly than the rest of my apartment.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me.” He kisses me, long and deep before pulling away. “I’d like nothing better than to do filthy things to you in your sweet, innocent bed.”

  “Will you corrupt me?” Not that he already hasn’t.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you promise?” It’s what I want, to surrender to him completely.

  His eyes search mine. “I promise.”

  I stand and hold out my hand. “Then come with me.”

  He rises, and does.

  Chapter Seven

  Xavier

  We are standing at the threshold of Tessa’s bedroom, and I’m tight with anticipation.

  She puts her hand on the door and glances back at me over her shoulder, flashing me the sweetest of all smiles.

  My heart melts a little more. I don’t know what she’s doing to me, or how she’s doing it, but right now I want her more than I’ve ever wanted another woman in my entire life.

  I look at her mouth and when I speak my voice is a harsh rasp. “Open the door, Tessa.”

  She twists and flings the door open and we step inside.

  Full of lavenders and whites, and flowers, her room is exactly as I pictured it. Her bed is so innocent it makes me rage with the things I want to do to her on it. Things I’ve been dreaming about. Lusting after. Things that will finally be a reality.

  With her leading the way, we walk to the edge of the bed. I put my hands on her hips, dipping my head low to lick my tongue along her neck. I whisper in her ear, “I want you so bad.”

  I feel her swallow against my lips. “You do?”

  “I do.” I want to say that this means something to me. That she means something to me, but I can’t. Because what she’s doing to me scares me. Destroys my false belief that I can walk away from her at anytime. The truth is, I no longer know if that’s possible.

  I skim my hands over her waist. “More than you can ever know.”

  “I want you too, Xavier.” She leans against my back. “Thank you so much for tonight. It’s perfect.”

  It had been. Although I’d spent more time watching her than the sites and places I’d taken her. The wonder on her face, the sheer joy, it did something to me. She should get joy like that every day. Because it was what she deserved. “You’re perfect.”

  She sighs, soft and content.

  I move my hands up the curves of her body, rubbing over her nipples. “Look at me.”

  She cranes her neck to do as I ask, and I sweep down and take her mouth.

  We’d barely touched all night, and we’re hungry. I sink into her lushness. The heat of her.

  Our tongues tangle as we become greedy.

  I cup her breasts, loving the heavy weight of them in my palm. She arches into my hands. I yank the top of her dress down, taking her strapless bra right along with it as I expose her fullness. I stroke over the soft skin, in the rhythm of our kiss, before squeezing the hard buds.

  She gasps, into me, sucking the air from my lungs.

  The leash I’d kept on my lust breaks free.

  I palm her roughly, abrading her peaked flesh, rubbing my knuckles over her until she’s panting.

  I love her abandon. The way she gives herself to me, with no reservation.

  She surrenders. Melts into me.

  And I’m addicted to it.

  I break the kiss and turn her to face me. When she blinks up at me with glassy eyes, I tell her the truth. “I want to go slow, but I don’t know if I can.”

  She licks her lips, and I think she’s going to speak, but instead, her hands flutter to my chest, then lower, until she reaches the hem of my shirt. She pulls up, and I help her, shrugging out of my civility right along with my clothes.

  She presses her chest to mine. When our bare skin rubs together, I curse. She rises to her tiptoes and I bend. Her nipples brush mine, and I feel like I’m going to lose my fucking mind.

  Our lips meet. Hungry and greedy.

  I want. Christ, how I want.

  My hands skim down her back, and I’m pushing fabric out of the way, desperate for the feel of her naked against me. She purrs, arching along my chest like a cat. I squeeze her hips and we tumble to the bed in a heap.

  I break the kiss.

  Scrape my teeth along her jaw before settling my lips on her neck. I suck, playing my tongue along the rapid beat of her pulse, and she moans, arching into me.

  I can’t explain it. The desperation I feel.

  I cup her breasts and pull at her nipples until she’s twisting under me.

  She gasps my name, and it’s so sweet on her tongue, I capture her mouth just to taste it.

  Her nails rake down my back, sharp and keen. Feeding my desire into a fevered pitch.

  “Naked, I want you naked,” I say between hot, biting kisses.

  “You too,” she whispers back.

  I rear up onto my haun
ches, and sweep her dress away, until she’s lying there in heels and a pair of black lacy panties. I gaze down at her, all full and lush.

  She blinks up at me, smiles. Then reaches for my belt and unbuckles it with shaking fingers.

  I shake my head. “So fucking pretty.”

  She flushes, as her fingers play along my stomach.

  I take a deep breath and lean down, brushing my lips along her nipples and stroking my tongue along the hardened peaks. Her breasts are so sensitive. I love it. And I get lost in her soft moans and needy sighs. Reveling in them until I move down her ribs, kiss her soft, rounded belly before licking her center through the fabric.

  She bows and I take advantage by skimming her panties down her legs and tossing them to the floor. I cover her pussy with my mouth. Lick deep into her, before nuzzling her clit and sucking gently.

  My tongue plays along her flesh, lapping up her wetness.

  Her fingers tangle in my hair. “Xavier. God, Xavier.”

  Her thighs tighten around my head, so I can hear nothing but the rush of blood in my ears, and I devour her with my mouth, the scent of her intoxicating.

  She keens under me, crying out.

  I lift my head and murmur, “Play with your nipples.”

  She doesn’t hesitate. She never hesitates with me. And I move, positioning myself down low so I can watch and lick her at the same time.

  Her pale fingers play over her skin, rubbing and teasing, inciting me to triple my efforts. I breathe against her skin. “I love watching you. So hot.”

  It spurs her on. She becomes more aggressive, rolling her reddened peaks between her thumb and forefingers. I dip deep, thrusting my tongue in and out before circling her clit.

  She jolts up and yells, “I’m going to come.”

  I pull away.

  She wails and tries to stop me but I shake my head. “No, not yet. I’m just getting started.”

  I veer back up and take her nipple in my mouth, laving the sensitive flesh, tangling our fingers and holding them above her head. She rocks into me. I can feel her heat through the cotton of my boxer briefs.

  I need to feel her, skin to skin.

  I shuck off my pants, taking my boxer briefs with them, and removing my shoes and socks with some Houdini-like movements, before pulling a condom out of my pocket and throwing it on the bed.