“That still goes in the murder column, which I really think we should try to avoid because it’s… I mean, that’s not normal. You can’t just go around killing people.” Matthew taps his fingers on his mug and pushes harder against my leg as if taking strength from it. “Couldn’t you just arrest him or something? Let the law handle it. That’s what they’re there for.”
“You don’t understand what men like him are capable of,” Xavier says. “He doesn’t play by the rules, and he wouldn’t stay locked up for very long. Men that think they’re powerful, even when they’re not, can be difficult to control.”
“You mean men like you,” Hunter says, smiling over the rim of his mug. “You’re in the same category as him. Not everything that you have your hands in is listed as part of your official businesses.”
“Don’t insult me, I’m above men like him. I’d never be so vulgar as to send a person a severed body part or attempt to use a loved one against them. I prefer to be straightforward and go directly for the source.”
Matthew chokes on his coffee, spraying over the table. Hunter moves closer and pats him on the back as he coughs and attempts to suck in a breath. The pats turn into rubbing circles,more of a caress than anything else. Their eyes meet, and the temperature rises a few degrees. Matthew’s cheeks get even redder, resembling a fresh tomato.
“Did you just say body part?” he asks weakly. “I could have sworn—that’s what you said, right?”
“Roger has been trying to get Xavier’s attention,” Hunter says. His hand slides from Matthew’s back up to his shoulder, thumb rubbing at his neck. “Since Xavier and I are still married, he seems to think that targeting me will accomplish something.”
“It’s certainly gotten my attention,” Xavier says quietly. “Involving you in this is why I won’t allow him to face anything but a one-way trip to Hell.”
Matthew doesn’t respond to that, staring down at his mug as if it could give him a different answer. “What does, um, how does this involve me?”
“We aren’t sure whether they were targeting you or following Hunter.” Xavier glances to where Hunter is still holding Matthew. “Either way, they now think you’re closely associated. Your date raised their suspicion; finding you together solidified it.”
“That isn’t—that’s not—” Matthew clams up. He shifts his leg, hooking his foot around my ankle. “I don’t understand any of this. How is any of this real?”
“You’re holding up surprisingly well, all things considered. However, it’s best not to overthink it,” Xavier says. He stands up to his full height. “We know who’s responsible, and we’ll take care of it.” He rounds the table, standing directly beside Matthew. He leans down, the tips of his fingers almost touching Matthew’s, and their faces hovering close together. “Until then, you’re under our up-close personal protection. I’m sure you won’t mind that.”
“Xavier,” Hunter warns.
“Matthew has a tell, Hunter. Do you know what it is?”
“Of course, I know what it is.”
“I have a what?”
“It’s all over your face. From the red tinge in your cheeks, to the way your eyes linger on us.” Xavier draws his nose over Matthew’s temple. “You want to be close to us. You like the attention.” Up and over his hair, breathing deeply. “The danger.” Tracing his ear and below it. “Our touch.” He lifts his head and raises an eyebrow at Hunter. “We have all night together; how should we make the most of it?”
Hunter
MyresponsetoXavier’swords is visceral, heat bursting across my skin, my fingers tingling and aching to give into exactly what Xavier is suggesting. He’s not wrong about Matthew and just how easy it would be to get him naked and under us. It’s not as though I haven’t thought about it, when the man gives me those doe eyes every time he looks at me.
I also know it’s the worst idea in the world, and I’ve already had more than my fair share of them when it comes to the man I call my husband. To allow him to lead me down this path would be folly. Not just for me but for all of us. Xavier left me broken the last time I let him close, and I can’t imagine what he might do to someone like Matthew. The circumstances might be different now, but he isn’t.
“There’s no need for you to stay the night,” I say as firmly as I can manage. It’s difficult to concentrate when Xavier is wearing his seductive face. When all of me already knows how good the results of that face feel. He knows me, inside and out, knows how to turn everything into so much more than just the physical.He breaks me every time, and I go back again, a sucker for punishment in too many ways.
Xavier raises a single eyebrow at me, a knowing smirk gracing his lips. “No?” he enquires lightly. “I admire your security, Hunter, but nowhere is infallible. There’s strength in numbers, etcetera, etcetera.”
“I can call my team if that’s what you’re worried about. Six loves a good sleepover.”
Miles shifts in his seat, dragging my attention away from the other two men. There’s something in his gaze that fuels the flames steadily growing inside me. He doesn’t even have to try to be appealing to entice others to want to risk getting burned by him. He remains in the shadows, never one to draw attention to himself. Does he know how impossible he is to ignore?
“We’re not leaving,” Miles says smoothly before taking a sip of his drink.
“I don’t believe that I gave you a choice.” I didn’t invite them here, and they have no right to dictate the terms. Everything gets too muddled when Xavier is around. I forget all the reasons why I keep my distance, all the reasons why he’s dangerous. Maybe not physically, but there are worse dangers in the world than that. Bones can mend, and scars can heal. What he does to me? I’ll never escape from it, and time won’t ever make it easier to deal with.
“We aren’t asking for permission.” Miles leans back, completely relaxed. “Until this is resolved, we’re staying. If they’re bold enough to open fire on you in public like that, then they’re capable of worse.”
“I’m well aware.” Does he think I haven’t dealt with people like that? “I can handle him and anything he wants to try.”
“I played chauffeur for a lizard.” His tone is flat, with a tinge of disbelief in it as well.
I don’t understand what that has to do with them staying or not. “Do you think that gives you the right to make yourself comfortable here?”
