If you need me….
I really wished he hadn’t said those words, because the mental images that sprang to life had nothing to do with flying and everything to do with sex. I was not a virgin; the surfer community was free and easy with more than just riding the waves, but I did tend to be on the more conservative side. I’d had a few casual relationships. One semiserious one. But nothing for the last six months. Just surviving had been hard enough.
But right now, in this very moment, all I could picture was climbing into Xander’s lap. Pressing my lips to the bronze, hard muscles lining his chest. Running my fingers through his perfect strands of blond hair. He turned me on in ways that should be illegal. Especially when he wanted nothing to do with me.
Gold flared in his eyes, and the blue went dark enough to almost be black. “You need to stop looking at me like that,” he warned, leaning in close. “You and I might not be the soul mate types, but I am attracted to you. You’re extremely beautiful, and right now I can think of nothing except stripping your clothes off and tasting every inch of that stunning body. But that’s where it would end, and something tells me that wouldn’t be enough for you.”
Irritation pricked at me. “You don’t know me,” I returned, keeping my voice as low as he had. “I’m perfectly capable of handling a casual affair.” Despite my calm word, my mind and body were on fire. I couldn’t get the visual he’d painted out of my head … or the fact that he was feeling the same level of attraction as me.
What the hell is happening?
His jaw tightened. “Something you’re familiar with?” he asked.
“Isn’t it the Royale way?” I shot back. “Not settling into long-term relationships.”
He shook his head. “It’s more complicated than that. For starters, overlords are together long-term. The energy of an overlord facilitates a proper bond. And more of our people are starting to build long-term family units. We’re changing.”
Except Xander clearly wasn’t.
“Maybe I would be the one who could walk away and you’d be the one wanting more,” I suggested casually. “Maybe that is what has you worried.”
He laughed, the sound loud and jolting after our intimate whispering.
“Is that a challenge, Avalon? Because I have to tell you, I never refuse a challenge.”
Was it a challenge? Did I want to explore this sexual need I felt for Xander? Would there be a possibility I would fall for him though? I didn’t want to get my feeling hurt and somehow destroy the group dynamic…
“Who’s scared now?” he taunted, and my spine went straight.
“You’re on,” I blurted out. “I’m game for a sexual relationship, no strings attached. If you think you can handle it with no hard feelings, then I’m in.”
He leaned in closer. “Oh, there is going to be a lot of hard. But it won’t be my feelings.”
I tried not to laugh. His arrogance was almost endearing.
“We need some ground rules though,” he continued.
I agreed with that, so I nodded. “Okay, let’s think on the rules and then we can discuss them later.”
Somewhere a little more private.
He nodded as well. “Agreed. Although, I can tell you my first one right now. No mentioning this to anyone else. I do not need our friends trying to matchmake us. I had enough of that before we even found you.”
I could see why they would. The six of them were so happily teamed up, they would have expected the same from Xander and me. But Royales were different. This sort of deal would suit both of us better.
My pulse was racing as we settled back together, energy dancing along my skin even though I wasn’t actually touching Xander. But he was close. And all I could think about was sex.
The cabin dropped a little and I realized Xander had distracted me so well that we were almost landed. Looking around, I noticed that Callie and Daniel were absent, which meant Callie hadn’t left the bedroom. Worry replaced the sex thoughts. I mentally started urging the plane on.
She had to be okay. There was no other option. I would not find this new family only to have one of them stolen away from me.
“She’s going to be fine,” Xander reassured me, facing the same direction I was, staring at the bedroom doors.
“I know,” I returned shortly. “She’s too tough to give up.”
I might not have known her long, but I already knew that about her.
She was a fighter.
