The only tale-tell sign of my father’s annoyance was the crinkle stretching from the corners of his eyes. He regarded Xari for a few moments before pushing out a puff of breath from his nostrils. He stood to his feet and tipped his head down to look Xari in the eye. She was a brown-eyed spitfire that had no problem burning whoever got in her way. My father was included on that list of people.
“Who are you again, little girl?” He asked, keeping his tone dismissive. Xari’s espresso pools danced with a challenge. I saw the same look when I instructed her not to do something. It usually came before she did exactly what I told her not to.
“You know who I am.” Her tone was cool and unflappable.
“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.”
“You know who I am.” She said it again with just as much cool certainty as the first time and I saw the muscle in Dad’s jaw twitch.
“Son, you need an overhaul. The company you keep can get you dirty too. Remember that.”
“Oh? Like all the dirty lobbyists you rub palms and elbows with all the time? You can leave now, Dad. We’re done.”
“Go ahead and have your romp with the high-priced whore. Let me know when you have her out of your system.” My knuckles strained against my skin. White hot and dying to sink into my father’s face.
“You disrespect Xari again and you won’t have to worry about speaking to me as long as you live, Dad. I’m trying to be as patient about this but what you’re not going to do is come into my office, tell me how to do my fucking job, and talk down about my assistant and my woman.”
“Your woman? Is that what you’re calling her? Jesus, Van. You fell for the help?” He rolled his eyes and I dug my nails into the heel of my hand to stop myself from punching my father in my office.
“Apollo,” I called out of the open office door. He appeared in less than two seconds. “Escort this man out of my office, please. Thank you.” I smiled politely then sat behind my desk and pulled Xari down on my lap where she belonged. I pressed a kiss to her temple and watch my father silently implode.
Apollo gestured to the door and waited for Dad to walk through it. He did so with a stiff spine and robotic strides. It was taking everything in him to keep his composure. I didn’t care anymore. I wanted him out of my space so the energy could level out.
Once he was gone, I deflated a little and squeezed Xari tighter. “I’m glad you came by,” I told her. My fingers went to the nape of her neck, kneading and massaging her golden silk skin.
“I had to bring your computer,” she said with a bright smile. Her eyes were hiding something though. I cocked an eyebrow up and let a frown settle on my face. “What?” She squeaked with a shrug.
“What are you up to, Xari Lucas?”
“Why do you think I’m up to something?” She batted those long lashes at me and smiled, showing the dimples I was such a sucker for.
“Because you came here dressed like that, carrying my laptop and sounding like sugar on syrup.” I kissed a trail along the curve of her neck and she bit her ruby-red bottom lip.
“We can talk about it later.”
“Nah, we’re going to talk about it now. Go close the door and sit your pretty ass right back here.” I patted my lap and she suppressed a grin before moving to shut the office door. “Lock it.”
She looked over her shoulder at me before clicking the lock into place. “We better be fucking on your desk,” she said.
“It depends. Tell me what you did.”
“Who says I did anything, Evander? You’re so suspicious, goodness.” She pressed her hand to her chest like she was the epitome of innocence. I knew better.
“Do I need to put you on punishment?” I asked. My fingers slid beneath the hem of her dress, skimming her warm thighs. I watched her back arch gracefully in response.
“Are you threatening to put me on dick restriction?”
“Uh-huh,” I licked the shell of her ear and watch goosebumps spring up like flowers in a field.
“Don’t be mean, Evander.”
“I’m not being mean.” My fingertips brushed against her panties. I grazed her piercing and she gasped a little.
“Evander.” Her tone was a warning.
“What’s up, beautiful?”
“You’re not going to withhold sex from me. I will fuck you in your sleep.
“That’s a violation,” I chuckled. My other hand found her perfect tits and I squeezed.
“You’d like it,” she countered. Her hips started rocking and my dick thickened in response to her heat and movement.
“Maybe. Now tell me what you did, Miss Lucas.” My mind raced down a path where I called her Mrs. Freeman instead of Miss Lucas. The thought of her having my last name made my chest explode with warmth.
If I tell you, will you fuck me?” Her pouty whine made my dick grow even more.
“I’ll fuck the shit out of you.”
“Okay,” she sighed and eased off my lap. Her eyes fixed on my hard dick before she continued. “I did a thing and I don’t want you to think I was invading your personal space or…”
“Spit it out, baby.”
“Okay. I kinda submitted A Heart’s Song to a literary agent.”
My eyes went round and my heart stuttered in my chest. She did what? I couldn’t even ask any questions because my brain was consumed with the bomb Xari just dropped in the middle of my office.
“God…you’re upset.” Her dark brows knitted together, a frown puckering her pretty face. I didn’t know how I felt right then. I was still letting the information sink in.
I’d never submitted my writing anywhere because I didn’t feel like it was good enough. I looked at it as a hobby that made me feel alive. I never thought I could be an author. I just thought I was someone who liked to live in made-up worlds with powerful words.
To be honest, I never thought being an author was a real possibility. I was born and bred to be in politics and that had been the only choice for me since I was little.
Now, Xari was telling me she sent my rough, unrefined words to someone. Someone in the world who would read over my innermost feelings and creations and judge them.
My stomach flopped.
“Evander?” Xari blinked at me, nibbling on her ruby lips.
“I heard you, Xari.” I had to stand up because there was too much energy bouncing around inside of me.
“Can you say something?” She begged. “I know at first it seems fucked up, but I believe in you and your writing. I think you could be huge.” I saw the sincerity in her eyes and something deep inside of me wanted to believe she was telling the truth.
Maybe I could have the one thing I’d always wanted.
The thought nearly choked me.
“Xari, you went behind my back and did something I wasn’t ready for. That’s not okay.”
“I know. I know and I’m sorry for going behind your back but…isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? To be a published author?” I skimmed over my hopes and dreams. I waded through my passion and realized how many finished manuscripts I had sitting on my hard drive. How many untold stories swam in the still waters of my mind never to see the light of day.