Page 170
“He’s just worried about you,” I start.
“I know. But he can’t keep me locked away forever.” He takes a deep breath, like he’s readying to tell me something. “This… business… has been the only thing that kept my… obsessions at bay,” he admits. “He can’t take that away from me. And I can’t let him do it on his own. Especially not with that deal with Nova. And now with you by my side, I can finally focus on it.”
I nod and crawl over to him, straddling him. I grab his face with both hands, guiding him to look up at me. “Hey,” I start, smoothing my thumb over his cheek. “I’m here for you.”
His lips curl into a smile, his hands roaming my bare back under my jumper. “I love you,” he whispers and presses his lips into mine, biting at my lower lip. Our tongues push against each other, hands roaming everywhere they can.
I pull away, giddy jitters settling in my stomach. “You best get ready, Mr Warren.”
Chapter 51
Camila
Xander knows I’m here. No doubt he’s probably going out of his mind. One, for my safety. And two, he knows I’m going to be going on stage. Jacques has been doing a very good job of keeping him away so far.
Tonight, I want to show Xander just how all in I actually am. Give him the consolation he seeks. I want to help him heal from the trauma he’s endured, just like he’s doing for me, whether he knows it or not.
While Xander was recovering from his injuries, I went on a little shopping trip. It was the first time in a long while that I spent money on something other than my apartment or Obsidian.
I brought a more modest stripper outfit for tonight and a surprise for Xander. Which I’m hoping I haven’t totally messed up. I’ve never really bought a gift for anyone before. Only my mum when I was little, so this is all new territory to me.
Corrine waltzes into the dressing room, her short, purple gown undone and floating behind her. She stops dead in her tracks when she spots me pulling my glittery, forest green corset over my chest. Folding her arms over her chest, she cocks her hip.
I smile, grabbing the matching green stockings from my chair and beginning to slide them over my legs.
“A little birdy told me it’s your last day,” she says.
“It is.”
I pull the other stocking over the scar on my leg, grazing it gently and smiling when I remember the way Xander kissed it soothingly, his warm lips like a remedy.
Corrine’s lips purse, her eyes scrunching in the corners as I clip the stocking to the garter.
She blows out a breath and mini-runs the last few steps to me, embracing me.
“I’m going to miss you,” she sighs, squeezing me harder.
“You’ll still see me,” I laugh, but then I realise that I might have no choice but to tell her about me and Xander.
“What do you mean?” She pulls away, resting her hands on my shoulders.
“Me and Xander… We’re—”
“I knew it,” she gasps.
“What?” I recoil.
She steps away, peeling off her cover-up. “Girl, everyone is whispering about you two. Have you not heard?”
I stare at her dumbfounded. “Considering I haven’t been around recently, no…”
She tsks. “There have been whispers for months. Xander never shows up, then bam, he’s here nearly every night and only watches your set.”
“And these rumours have been going on how long?”
She shrugs. “A few months.”
I groan as I slide on a short, leather skirt over the top of the bodysuit, along with a long-sleeve top to cover myself up.
