Continental Life (10 page)

He would just have to settle for watching her via mobile uplink somewhere private where he could at least indulge in a nice glass of liquor to wash his woes away. Only one place came to mind.
The Effervesce Lounge.
Climbing back into his car, he texted Bella his plans and drove quickly to downtown San Francisco.

Seated in a secluded area, he waited until exactly ten o’clock to log onto his mobile security. Flipping through the different cameras, he was dismayed to see that Bella wasn’t in the suite.

XP: I need to see you. Wher
e are you? It’s 10:33.

MsDarcy
: There’s been a change of plans. Talk later. I love you.

Bella’s cold response bothered him. What the hell could have come up that was so important that the one thing he looked forward to everyday could be pushed aside so easily? Rising, he walked to the bar and ordered a glass of Dom Perignon.

Maybe what she saw him engage in with Lauren was just too much for her.
Of course it was.
Just like it was too much for him to see her with Hutchens. Barely resisting the urge to drive to her, he instead tracked her phone only to find it turned off. Deciding to give her a bit of time and the benefit of the doubt, he sulked to a busier area of the bar and downed his champagne far too quickly. He knew her way of dealing with things was the same as him - to seek solitude for a short period of time to think things over. He had taught her well.

Disheartened, he swirled the
few remaining drops of his drink around his glass as the sound of
Wait for Me
by Kings of Leon played in the background and light din and clink of glasses filled the air. It was unusually busy for a Monday night… It would’ve been a perfect opportunity to bring Bella out for a glass of bubbly and a dance.
A real dance.
One where he could actually hold her and not merely watch her…

“Your next glass of Dom is on the lady at the end of the bar,” the lanky bartender stated, pushing another glass across the
ornate wooden bar.

Xander pushed it away without looking up. “Tell her thanks, but no thanks. I’m not interested.”

“She insists.”

Xander chuckled sarcastically. He wasn’t into women who
insisted
on anything. He liked his women submissive and obedient. Just like Bella. And occasionally sassy, he smirked; still astounded she had dared to give old Dalberg the
Walla Walla
comeback and the confused look on his face.

Xander glanced up at the bartender “I’ll tell her myself.”

“Tell me what?” he heard a feminine voice over his shoulder to his right.

“That I
’m not interested,” he said firmly, still not looking in her direction.

“That’s too bad. I was hoping it could lead to something more.”

Unbelievable
. This woman clearly couldn’t take a hint. Spinning on his stool, he faced her and his jaw nearly hit the floor. It was Bella.
Sort of
.

***

Xander’s mouth parted in surprise as his eyes roamed over her body, starting at the blonde bobbed wig on her head to the penciled in Monroe mole on her upper lip and moving downward. She was wearing far more make-up than he normally preferred or even allowed, nevertheless, the most stunning and nefarious smile graced his five o’clock shadowed face, and his tongue poked out to moisten his firm lips.

Things couldn’t have worked out more perfect
ly. She rushed home with plans to show up at his doorstep dressed like this, but instead he had been running late and decided to stop off at the lounge. The wig had been purchased just up the street at a local sex store and looked cheap and terrible, but it got the job done. Her classy attire was meant to take away attention from the hooker hair in hopes that people wouldn’t mistake her for a call girl. Surprisingly no one had given her a second glance. Well, no one of importance anyway.

Xander’s bright eyes final
ly met hers. “I prefer dark-haired women.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.
Which dark-haired women exactly did he prefer?

“Let me
elaborate…” he gave her a brief lopsided grin. “I prefer one specific woman and my heart belongs to that particular raven-haired beauty.”

Bella’s heart thudded against her ribcage. He was such a smooth talker.

Lifting his left eyebrow infinitesimally, he waited for her response, obviously captivated by their role-playing game. Flashing her teeth, a provocative smile curved her lush lips as she let her eyes travel over his toned physique.
She liked this little game, too.

“That’s fine. I’m
not interested in your heart; just what’s between your legs.”

Several people sitting near
to them looked over, seemingly amused with their conversation and even the bartender chuckled under his breath.

Xander’s eyes widened and he sputtered momentarily
at her lewdness.
Yes, she liked this game very much.

Pulling himself together, he
reached for his champagne. With his impervious mask restored, he sipped on his drink casually but gazed longingly into her eyes. “I’m not into anonymous sex, but…” his head cocked to one side and his gaze smoldered as he stared at her. “I’ll make an exception for you, and
only you
, just this once. Tell me your name.”

Batting her eyes playfully
and readjusting herself on the stool, the silky, eggplant colored fabric of her Dolce and Gabbana floral print, shift dress tightened over her backside, reminding her of that God-awful paddle. Never taking her eyes off of Xander, she dipped her finger in her Devaux D Rosé and sucked it off her digit. As the song
Sky Full of Stars
by Coldplay began to play, she concentrated on the notes to take her mind off the dull throbbing in her backside.

“It’s w
hatever you want it to be.”

Xander threw his head back and bellowed the most genuine laugh she had heard in months. “
Okay. How about Bella? I like that name.”

Hiking her skirt up ever so slightly to reveal her thigh-high stockings held up by garters, she leaned forward
to take some of the weight off her sore bottom and licked her lips purposefully. “That’s a nice name, but I prefer something more exotic like Monique or Evangeline…” she lifted her glass and looked into the mirror across from them. Her own image was unfamiliar but all-in-all, she didn’t look half bad.

When he straightened up, the muscles in his wide shoulders flexed with each movement
and his biceps bulged through his suit jacket, making Bella do a double take.
She was weary of all this talking, she wanted those beefy arms pinning her down, damn it.

His
carefree grin disappeared and he shook his head. “Those are stripper names.
I
insist on Bella.”

“
You’re so bossy,” she sighed, tiring of the game.

“
Indeed, I am,” he ghosted his hand up the inside of her thigh.

Swallowing loudly and suddenly aware of all the eyes on the
m, her confidence began to wane and the heat of embarrassment crawled up her neck and settled in her cheeks. “And what should I call you?” she stuttered.

Standing, he
pushed her legs apart. All of a sudden the game took on a whole new voyeuristic twist, and the excitement was back in an instant. When her eyes darted around the room anxiously, he fingered her chin and tipped her head back, bringing her attention back onto him. As she stared into his eyes, she felt his hand skim further between her legs and a finger dipped into her pussy.

“
Call me Mr. X,” he purred into her ear.

“
Ooh, I like that, but how about Mr.
Extra
Naughty?” she softly panted.

Again, Xander’s laughter filled the room. “
Fine, whatever you want so long as you let me taste you.”

Yes, she wanted him to taste her. And to fuck her. And to tear her
clothes viciously from her body and to force his dominance on her.
All of it
… She wanted all of it and all of him…
now.
Most of all, she wanted him
to make her forget all about the wretched night that was already fading from her memory.

Pushing back against his chest to get a better look at the desirous look on his face, she asked,
“So does this mean you’re
up
for a good time?”

Gl
ancing down, he gripped her wrist and pressed her palm over the erection in his slacks. “It certainly feels like it, doesn’t it?”

Bella’s pulse skittered
and her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
It most certainly did.

One
of his hands rested on her ribcage while the other clutched at the nape of her neck, drawing her close to him. A low rumbling growl emitted from his throat and the rasp of his stubble against her cheek heightened her arousal.

“Just because you’re my Princess doesn’t mean
I won’t fuck you like a slut,” he whispered into her ear.

Her whole body pulsated with
excitement and need from his hot breath and scorching words, and she began to tremble uncontrollably. “Please do, Mr. X.
Please. Do.
”

***

With Xander’s tongue buried deep inside of her, Bella’s despair seemed to melt away. She never wanted to think about his hands or mouth on another woman again.
Not ever.

The crack of lightening pierced her ears and drowned out the suckin
g sounds from between her legs as Xander’s tongue circled her clit causing an excited moan to slip past her lips. A muggy breeze drifted in from the open balcony door, the hot night air leaving a sheen of perspiration on his back and forehead as his tongue flicked and slicked the length of her slit. When the damp air whipped past her, his male scent along with her own sex surrounded her. Fisting the fake hair on her head, the feeling of sexual intoxication began to erase all logical thoughts from her mind. He kissed and licked a path up to her mouth, briefly stopping on his way up to dip his tongue into her navel and swirl it around. When he reached his destination, she wrapped her arms around his neck. His lips covered hers and she savored the salty-sweet taste of champagne, Xander and her own pussy.

“Oh, Mr. X,” s
he breathed into his open mouth as his tongue invaded her mouth once more.

As a storm raged outside, so did their passion inside the dimly lit Presidential Suite of the Hotel Vitale. Sprawled on top of her, Xander slid a hand between them and stroked the smooth
, damp flesh of her labia with his warm palm. His lips caressed the curve of her shoulder, the hollow of her throat and, finally, the tender area behind her ear. The weight of his body shifted and when she opened her eyes, he was straddling her shoulders and pushing his cock downward to meet her lips.

The edge of his mouth crooked into a knowing grin. “
Get it wet, Princess. I want your ass and my cock needs to be nice and lubed.”

The impact of his blood-heating smile
and statement sent shivers down her spine. Pushing his shaft past her lips, he thrust deeply, making her gag and coating his erection with a thick layer of spit. When he felt it was sufficiently drenched, he flipped her over onto her belly and brought her ass front and center as she lay prone beneath him. Completely exposed to him, she peeked over her shoulder. His look of distress was hard to miss as he eyed the damage done by the paddle.

“Does it hurt?” he asked as he bent
down to kiss her bright pink cheeks.

“I’d rather not talk
about that,” she pursed her lips.

He reached up and touched her cheek.
“That’s not how this relationship works. You know that.”

Yes, she knew that, but
sometimes she’d rather leave some things unsaid. She gave him a smile to put his mind at ease. “Only a little,” she white-lied.

“I won’t ever use that horrible thing
on you, Bella. I promise you that.”

A ragged, lust-filled groan rose in her throat from the flame burning in his eyes
and sincerity of his words. Reaching behind her, she gripped her tender ass cheeks and spread them, surrendering that part of herself that he had been the first and only to partake of.

“Take what’s
rightfully yours, Xander.
Please… fuck me.
”

***

The galvanizing look in Bella’s deep-blue eyes branded his heart. He knew without a doubt that he would be with this woman until he took his last breath and that nothing would ever change that.

He soundlessly mouthed
I love you
to her like he had the day of the interview at the DDTC, causing a sensuous and teasing smile to play around the corners of her full mouth.