“Going to change and rinse off the cat dander, be back in a few.”
“Meet you downstairs,” she said.
When the popcorn finished popping, she shook it into a bowl. The melted butter sizzled as she poured it over top. She grabbed a few chocolate bars from the freezer and made her way down the back staircase to the basement level. Walkout patio doors led to the pool, and light from the lanterns reflected off the glass, though vast, it was the most relaxed part of the house. Passing the laundry room and the workout room, the door to the wine cellar and the dungeon door, Harper walked into the rec room with the bar that hugged the wall, a large sectional, a huge TV, and then turned left, opened a pair of French doors into the movie room.
Leather reclining couches and the screen filled the room. She set the snacks down on the table and filled water glasses at the bar at the back of the room.
“Here, love,” Ares said, breezing into the room in a white T-shirt that showed off his ripped muscles and black shorts with the Axis Management logo on the side.
“Thanks,” Harper said, taking the clothes from him. Disappearing into the bathroom of the hallways, she changed out of her dress, folding it up on the shelf, and threw on a black rock band T-shirt and a thin pair of track pants; she had to roll over the waist twice.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she frowned. Her make-up was smeared, and the skin around her eyes looked tight. Time for a spa day with Gardenia, she thought, splashing water on her face. She reached up and undid her hair, releasing the tension as she shook it loose.
“Really?” Harper asked, smiling as the brightly coloured characters flashed on the screen.
“What’s better than some comedy?” Ares asked.
“Good choice,” She snuggled against him in the love seat. If only my heart wanted Ares, it would be less complicated. But Ares was like a big brother to her, and she couldn’t imagine desiring him.
Ares grinned, threw his arm around her, and she snuggled next to him, trying to forget about Xander’s rejection.
CHAPTER TWELVE - HARPER
Halfwaythroughthemovie,Harper gently untangled herself from Ares’s weight, tossed the throw blanket over him, and stopped the movie.
The smart thing would be for her to go to her apartment. Logan’s words rang in her mind as she carried the popcorn bowl upstairs. “He notices you, Kitten,” and she recalled the look in Xander’s eyes. Maybe she had to prove to him she was serious about being his submissive. Maybe she could show him she wasn’t the scared girl he’d rescued all those years ago.
At the main level, Harper threw her shoulders back, pretended she was on stage and marched up the curving staircase to Xander’s side of the house. Her heart thundered, but she had to take a chance and show him how much she wanted him.
Her fingers trembled as she stepped out of her clothes, leaving them beside the door. She pushed open the door and sucked in her breath. God, he was so beautiful. In the moonlight, his creamy skin glowed and his long black hair caught in the light. He was sleeping on his back, his chest rising and falling gently, with one forearm flung across his face.
The soft black sheets were cool on her skin as she gently perched beside him. Harper ran her fingers down his hard chest. He didn’t stir. She stretched out next to him. Her throat dry, she, nudged her foot against his leg. Her hands flowed down the plane of his muscles, almost on their own. Before she could stop herself, her fingers lightly reached around his thick cock. It was so thick she could barely get her fingers around it and long against her palm. Harper’s fingers skirted down the length of his cock, to the head and back again, cupping his balls in her hand.
“Xander,” she said. “I want you.”
Her hand massaged his balls, and gathering her courage, she kissed his lips. His hand came down in a nanosecond, strong fingers gripping her neck.
“It’s me,” Harper said, trembling a little.
From the moonlight streaming into the room from the vast windows, Harper could make out his stony expression as his eyes flew open and he realized who was in his room.
“Harper, what the hell are you doing here?”
“I came to tell you, to show you… I want you.”
“Angel, you’re playing with fire. Go now.”
His tone was thunderous, a higher note than his usual smooth speech.
“Iwantto play.”
She kissed him. Xander shook his head. “This is a bad idea.”
But he didn’t push her off or tell her to go again. Instead, he cupped the back of her neck and crushed her lips to his, kissing her with such strong fervour, that her head spun. His lips blistered hers.
“I want you,” Harper said.
“Angel, I want you every hour of the day, but you aren’t for me. I would destroy you,” Xander said, his voice thick.
