Chapter 32 Heated Conversations and Sizzling Bodies
Vanessa
He doesn't say anything after those four words, and I continue to hold my breath as his dark eyes bore into me, tracing the outline of my soul and I shiver slightly.
The side of his lips lift up in a smirk and I want to punch it off his face. I shouldn't allow him to affect me this much. I hate him.
The rest of the car ride is silence except for the soft humming of the engines. Even Max doesn't try to stir up humor like he loves to. The atmosphere feels tense and it doesn't help that the snow seems to be falling heavily, bringing down the temperature with it.
It's only when we're packed just outside of the mansion does Xander remove his hands from my neck. I almost whine in protest.
Max parks the car, handing over the keys to Xander before whispering to me, "Good luck, Nessa." Then he's gone, leaving me with the walking cloud of storm in front of me.
"My private office. Now," he orders and marches off without looking back.
Like a possessed woman, I drift after him, almost colliding into his muscled back when he stops abruptly just a few feet after the threshold of his office.
He steps aside to let me through and turns to lock the door. The click of the lock makes me break into a cold sweat, feeling a sense of deja vu but with our roles reversed.
Then he advances, one foot in front of the other, like a predator to it's prey - taunting, teasing and savage.
His dark eyes capture mine, and there's something about his look that makes it hard for me to divert my gaze elsewhere.
I continue to shuffle backwards until the back of my legs hit the side of his desk and he grips both sides of it, trapping me in between. I swallow.
"Firecracker, I'll ask you this once and I expect a good response from you. Alright?"
I nod once.
"Why did you run?"
I don't speak, only staring at him as my pulse quickens, but I don't cower from his hot gaze at the memory of our last conversation. "I definitely felt unneeded in this space so I decided to give you room," I finally mutter.
His face darkens at my words but I raise my chin higher, refusing to back down. "With whose permission?" he asks, a note of anger echoes beneath his words.
My own anger surges at his audacity and I slam my fists into his chest and shove him back. The force of it isn't enough to make him stumble but it makes his hands drop from the desk and he backs away a little. Better.
"What the fuck does that mean? You definitely said you didn't want to see me. You've made it very clear many times how much of a burden or problem my presence brings to you. But now, I'm supposed to take permission before I leave?"
The heaviness of my words seems to have struck him because his eyes flicker with shadows of guilt, anger, shame and something else I can't quite put my finger on. He clenches his hands into fists, and his jaw tightens so hard I think he might break it.
"I only said that to protect you, Vanessa," he grits out.
A mock laughter escapes me. "Protect me? From who? Your father?"
He doesn't respond, but I notice the way his body tenses up at the question. I must be right then.
"Well, news flash, I don't need protecting from anyone even from the king himself," I snark.
"It's just not him," he says quietly and I stiffen.
What does that mean?
"I don't care," I lie.
"But I do." My heart skips a beat and I almost curse at the damn thing.
"I still don't care," my lie now wavering a little.
I do know I've become the target of a crazed man but I won't be treated like a broken glass.
Xander lifts his hand slowly, waiting for me to push him away before he rests it on my hair. "It's my responsibility to protect you, and for as long as this contract between us remains vaild, that won't change," his eyes hold a strong fierceness that doesn't make me doubt him...even when I should.
I've been here for months and derailed from my initial plan. My only mission was to destroy his family for ruining mine, and that resolve solidified when I started having dreams of my mother's death. But something about it all felt off, it felt... faltering. And now, with the changes occuring within me, I'm not so sure what's even real anymore.
I'm not stupid; golden eyes with slitted pupils are not normal for a human, especially if they're interchanging with my blue eyes constantly.
"Then I need you to believe I'm also capable of protecting myself. I'm a hunter," I remind him.
A ghost of a smile appears on his lips. "Yes, I know, Firecracker." I watch as his pupils dilate at the last word, his hand in my hair turns to gather it into a fist, then yanks hard. My center clenches involuntarily, and I know we're done with that conversation...for now.
My body shivers at the desire swirling in his gaze, a trail of pleasure licks down my spine. My tongue darts out to wet my lips and his eyes follow the movement.
His hold tightens on my hair as he leans forward to lick the column of my throat, and I whimper, fisting the front of his shirt.
"Kneel," he orders, but I don't move, the muscle of his jaw ticks at my insolence and his hand moves from my hair to my throat.
"Firecracker," he whispers my name like a prayer, settling one hand on my hip, while the other closes dangerously around my throat.
"I'm your master, for as long as this goes on. You'll obey me, anytime, any day. Understand?"
I bite my tongue, and raise my chin higher in defiance, but it only makes his hand tighten on my throat. I won't lie and say I don't crave the punishment that'll come with it.
"Answer me," he snarks.
"Yes," I breathe.
"Kneel," he commands and this time, I drop to the floor, my face level with the prominent bulge in his pants. I lick my lips expectantly and look up at him, asking for permission. He nods, nudging his erection against my mouth.
I suck the outline of his cock and he hisses, yanking on my hair once more.
Sinking my teeth into my lower lip, a cocky smile dances on my lips, a little satisfaction filling me at the knowledge of the reaction I can pull from him.
And this is only the beginning.
Then I dive in.