“I bet you wish you had that golf cart right about now,” I say.
“If I did, I’d run you over with it.”
I grin. “Violence is the sincerest form of flattery.”
“That’s not how the saying goes.”
“According to me, it does.”
“The world doesn’t operate by your rules, Xavier.”
I wink at her. “Not yet.”
Chapter 34
DELILAH
“Where do you want to go now?”
I look up at Xavier and shrug. “Could we walk a little more? I’m not ready to go back to your dorm room just yet.”
He nods. “As long as I’m with you, I don’t care what we’re doing or where we are.”
I duck my head as a blush heats my face. “Thanks.”
After grabbing something to eat, Xavier and I have been wandering the campus grounds, enjoying the night air. The soft lighting from the lampposts casts gentle shadows, and the trees whisper above us in a gentle breeze.
It’s peaceful here, away from the dangers and the scrutiny of the Order. My tension from earlier melts away with each step I take. Xavier’s presence beside me is comforting, solid, and it gives me space to think about everything that’s happened today. Especially about how he intervened to save Ben’s life.
That act alone shifts something within me. Xavier, with all his complexities and irrational behavior, chose to protect Ben even when it could have compromised his Trial. And his life.
It’s not just Xavier’s strength or his intelligence that defines him. It’s his capacity for morality, for making tough choices for the sake of others. It’s this blend of danger and decency that makes my chest ache when I look at him.
The change in scenery snaps me out of my reverie. The secluded garden located behind the library is dimly lit, with large bushes and benches hidden in dark corners, creating a private and intimate atmosphere.
Xavier stops, looking around before his gaze settles back on me.
“Why are we here?” I lift a brow. “Are you trying to give me a hint?”
He captures my chin and tilts my head back until all I can see is him. “If my goal was to have sex with you, I wouldn’t hint about it. I’d simply take it.”
I shift my stance, squeezing my thighs together. It’s been too long since we’ve had sex, and I miss it. My injury isn’t completely healed, but I’m perfectly fine to engage in some vigorous activity. Honestly, at this point it’d be worth an injury.
“Then why are we here?” I ask.
“This is for you. Because you deserve a peaceful moment away from the insanity of the Order.” He slides his hand from my chin to follow the curve of my throat and the cleft between my breasts. “Tonight is about you getting what you need. What you want.”
“And if I want you?”
His eyes flash with hunger, and a low rumble vibrates through his chest. I lift my hand and place it over his heart. It beats fasters as Xavier leans down and presses his forehead against mine, breathing me in.
I close my eyes and savor the contact. The intimacy. It’s so rare that he’s affectionate and unguarded.
“I want you too,” he murmurs. “So fucking much. But we can’t do this. Not yet. Your injury isn’t healed, and I’m not risking another one.”
I frown. “It’s a flesh wound, Xavier.”
He grips my waist and a muscle flickers in his jaw, evidence of his restraint. “Doesn’t matter.”
