Chapter 24 Sensual Tension
Anna’s POV
My first instinct was to grab my dress and cover myself.
But Xavier’s voice stopped me. “Stop right there.”
I froze. My fingers tightened around the fabric, but I obeyed.
Slowly, I lifted my eyes to him.
He stood up from the couch with deliberate calm, his gaze moving over my body without shame, without hesitation.
He walked around me once, slow, assessing, even turning slightly as though examining every angle.
Heat rushed to my face, but I refused to fold into myself.
When he came back to stand in front of me, that same sinister smile curved his lips.
“You look really hot,” he said casually. “Hot in clothes. But hotter without them.”
My throat went dry. “Thank you,” I managed evenly. “Can I wear my clothes now?”
He shook his head once. “Not a chance. Not yet.”
Something about his voice was different now.
There was a sensual undertone beneath the danger.
He stepped closer. “You have a way of always taking me by surprise, Anna.”
My pulse skipped. “And what did I do this time?”
His eyes sharpened. “Explain to me, how you were able to see and walk around in complete darkness.”
He tilted his head slightly. “No one adapts that quickly unless they’ve been trained. So where did you get your training from?"
My heart thudded hard against my ribs.
He noticed. Of course he noticed.
“With all due respect, I think you’re reading too much into it,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “It’s my room. It doesn’t take long to memorize where things are.”
He studied my face carefully. Then he asked softly, “What were you looking for in the dark?”
“Nothing.” The word came too quickly. "I was just seeing if I could exercise my eyes in the dark."
Before I could step back, his hand wrapped around my bare waist and pulled me closer.
The contact sent a jolt through my entire body, sharp, electric.
I was suddenly inches away from him. His warmth surrounded me.
“You may look innocent, maybe you're innocent," he murmured. “But there’s something about you I can’t quite place. Something dark."
I shook my head lightly. “I’m afraid you're wrong," I lied smoothly. "I am just an ordinary girl.”
His hand slid lower, firm at my hip, then to my ass.
I flinched involuntarily.
Instead of stepping back, he stepped forward. His chest pressed against my boobs, my body responding in excitement before my mind could catch up.
I hated that I reacted. Hated that the tension between us made my breath shallow.
He leaned in, inhaled softly near my neck. Then his lips hovered near my ear.
His finger lifted slightly and pointed toward the bed. “Where did you get all that money from?” he asked quietly. "Don't tell me, Sam gave it to you."
“I got it from a casino,” I answered sharply. “We needed to wait till nightfall to get Sam. So we went to a casino to while away time. I played a few games and won that money.”
He pulled back slightly, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Casino?"
I nodded. "Yes."
“Casinos,” he said calmly, “don’t let strangers walk away after winning large sums like that. Especially if that stranger is a woman.”
His eyes darkened. “So tell me… how did you leave without a scratch?”
I didn’t respond. I didn't even know if I should keep on with the truth.
He leaned in and brushed a slow peck against my lips. “You shouldn’t lie to me, Anna,” he said softly.
I stood frozen. “I didn’t exactly leave freely,” I admitted. “A gun was pointed at me. Lucas managed to calm the situation before it escalated.”
His expression changed instantly. The sensual warmth vanished. Something colder replaced it.
“Who,” he asked quietly, “pointed a gun at you?"
I swallowed. “Zack Arrow’s bodyguard. Marco.”
His jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitch. “Were you hurt?” he demanded.
“No,” I said quickly. “Lucas made sure of that.”
A flicker of something unreadable crossed his eyes. “What about Marco?” Xavier asked. “Is he still walking on two legs?”
“Yes,” I answered carefully. “Lucas couldn’t touch him. He was armed. So were his men.”
“Of course he was armed,” Xavier muttered.
He closed his eyes briefly, as if picturing something violent.
When he opened them again, they were darker. Colder.
“Get dressed,” he ordered. “You’re taking me to the exact casino where you met Marco.”
My breath caught. “It’s Zack’s territory,” I said before I could stop myself.
“I won’t repeat myself," he said, leaving no room for argument.
His voice had gone completely cold. There was no way I could negotiate.
I moved quickly, slipping back into my dress.
My fingers trembled slightly, but I kept watching him, trying to gauge if this was impulsive anger or calculated strategy.
He looked terrifyingly calm. “Should we get Lucas?” I asked carefully.
“No,” Xavier snapped sharply. “Just the two of us. He stepped closer. “Are you ready?”
My eyes widened. Just the two of us? Into Zack’s territory?
But I nodded anyway. “Yes.”
He gave one short nod and walked out of the room. I followed him downstairs.
His men immediately moved into formation, but Xavier raised a hand. “I’m going alone.”
They hesitated.
But he didn’t repeat himself. They stepped back.
He turned to me. “Can you drive?”
“Yes."
“Good. You’re driving."
We entered his car. I slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and pulled out of the gates.
The night air felt heavier than before.
After a few minutes of silence, I glanced at him.
“What are you going to do when we get there?” I asked. “The place is surrounded. It’s just the two of us.”
He lit a cigarette slowly, the flame illuminating his sharp features.
He leaned back in his seat, exhaled smoke lazily, and said, “You’ll see.”
The way he said it made my stomach tighten.
Because I wasn’t sure if he meant he had a plan.
Or if he simply was the plan.