Deep in You (Phoenix #1) (10 page)

The valet brought my car around. I opened up the passenger door, then walked around to the driver side. “Come on, Lily. Hear me out. I promise I’ll take you home if that’s what you want. Please.”

She stood there and stared at me. I sighed, preparing to go grab the door and leave without her.

“Get in the car, Lily. Unless you’d rather be part of the circus that may or may not be happening in there now.”

She hesitated a moment more, chewing on her lower lip. Then, finally, she lowered herself into the car and buckled up.

Without another word, I took off, heading northeast on Interstate-4.

“Where are we going?” We had made it several miles up the road and would soon be outside the main part of Orlando.

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. I knew we needed to talk, but I had no idea what I wanted to say. “I’m just driving. Where would you like to go?”

“Take me home, then,” she mumbled.

I nodded, but made no move to change course. “Lily?”

“What?”

“What the hell was that back there?”

“You’re one to talk.”

I ran my left hand through my light brown hair and counted to ten. This chick would be the death of me. Was sex with her really that good to warrant me dealing with this? “What are you talking about?”

“I saw you with Amara, practically letting her eat out of the palm of your hand. You’re just like Michael.”

I put on my hazards and pulled over to the shoulder. I continued to stare straight ahead. “First of all, I’m not convinced that girl is your friend. What you saw was me having words with her for the way she was disrespecting you. Second of all, what the hell is with all these people? Between one hooking up with your ex and Amara throwing herself at me when she
knew
we were together, I’m at a loss for words. With friends like them, you don’t need enemies.”

She leaned her arm against the window and cupped her forehead in her hand. “Were we, though?”

“Were we what?”

“Together?”

I resisted the urge to rub my temples. “Lily, we had
just
fucked in a filthy back alley. Not sure how much more together we could have been tonight!”

Maybe this was all a mistake. No matter what chemistry I felt with her, it didn’t change the fact that she had some serious baggage. Her display at the club proved that she was bad for me, bad for my public image. I gave into the urge and rubbed my temples, pressing my head back into the headrest as I realized that there had been at least
two
tabloid reporters in that club tonight, and both of them knew who I was.

“I’m sorry, Xander,” she said in a small voice. “I screwed up. I guess I just don’t understand how someone like you could possibly want anything to do with me.”

“
I
don’t understand why you’re confused by that. Look at you. Wearing that cock-teasing mini skirt and tank top. Those heels that make your legs look like they go on for days. Your deep brown eyes that can make a man want to be a better person, make
me
think about changing for you…” I stopped short as I realized I’d overshared. “… I wasn’t the only one staring at you in there, you know.”

“I just didn’t expect any of this. Michael and I just broken up, and now here you are, and you’re so intense I got sucked in. I’ve a weird feeling I haven’t even touched the tip of the iceberg on how intense being with you is. If we were to even
try
being a couple, I’m sure I’d have to deal with competitions, and practices, and–”

“Image.”

“Yes. Wait, image?”

“Yes. Every single thing I do has to have my image in mind. You know how it is. You’re in this business. The world is just waiting for me to fuck up so they can all point and laugh. I may not be a huge movie star, but I’m still in the public eye, and my little stunt tonight was bad. I’m going to be eaten alive.” I looked at my hand. The skin was split on two of my knuckles, and dried blood caked the back of my hand. I flexed my fingers and winced.

“I won’t let that happen.”

“You can’t stop it. Even though I don’t believe you’d write the story, nothing is stopping Amara. We didn’t exactly part on the best terms tonight. Besides, I saw flashes going off. It’s only a matter of time before I’m recognized and someone sells their picture to the highest bidder. Only a matter of time before that guy realizes he can sue me. Do you even know who he was?”

Lily shook her head. “No. Just some guy who hit on me. Probably the one who almost caught us in the alley.”

“Awesome.”

“I’ll talk to Amara. I don’t doubt she’ll bring his friend home with her, so I’ll catch her for breakfast around the crack of noon.”

“Just leave it. Fat chance of her not wanting to bring in that story. She’ll be all over it. Don’t add fuel to the fire.”

“But–”

“I said leave it, Lily.” My Mustang shook as cars flew past on my side. I knew we should get a move on soon, but the tension between us was still so thick it was almost palpable.

“Fine.” Her voice was barely above a whisper again. “What was it you wanted to say earlier, anyway? You were so adamant we needed to talk.”

I shrugged. “I wanted to talk about you coming back to my place.”

“And then what?”

“What kind of a question is that? We unwind. Have some fun together.”

“Until when?”

“What?”

“So I come over tonight and go home when? Later tonight? Tomorrow? Then what? Is that it?”

“Like I told you in the club, Lily, I can’t promise forever. I can’t even promise next week. Will you be able to live with that?”

“I don’t know.” She chewed her lip.

“But in a traditional relationship, isn’t that normal? A couple gets together and tries to make it work. Either it works out and they stay together, or it doesn’t and they break up. I can’t think of too many couples that just decide on forever the first time they meet.”

She paused. “True enough, I guess. But it just feels like we’re going into this expecting it to fail. What’s the point of even trying when you can’t even commit to the
possibility
of a relationship? It feels like a waste of time, no matter how incredible the sex is.”

I grinned. “It is pretty incredible, isn’t it?”

She smacked me on the upper arm and laughed. “Focus, Xander!”

“I am focused. Focused on how hot you are. Come on, Lily. We could be good together. Let’s just see how things go. Besides, that tiny little skirt and tank top would look stunning on the floor next to my bed.”

She giggled, a beautiful sound that sent my pulse racing. “You’re impossible.”

I reached forward and traced her lower lip with my thumb. “I already told you, for you, I am easy. So where are we going?”

She shook her head. “Not my place. Let’s go back to yours.”

“Your wish is my command.” I put the car in gear and merged into traffic.

Chapter Nine

“So what’s the plan?” Lily asked.

“Always looking for a plan. I have none, just winging it. Are you hungry?” I wandered into the kitchen and rifled through the fridge.

“Not really. We had dinner before heading to the club.”

I grabbed a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a can of cashews. “I don’t think you’ve seen my bedroom yet.”

“The room we slept in last night isn’t your bedroom?”

“Guest room. It almost never gets used. Come on up.” I gestured for her to precede me up the stairs.

She snickered. “You just want to stare at my ass while I can’t stop you.”

“It’s a fine ass, for sure. Regardless, it’s good manners to allow the lady to go up the stairs first.”

She paused, staring at me. “Are you for real?”

“What?”

“You claim you’ve never had a real, meaningful relationship, yet you always open doors, and now this stair thing. Something doesn’t add up.”

“My mother taught me how to behave. That’s all. Stop overthinking it.”

She hesitated a moment longer, then climbed the stairs. I followed, happily watching the swish of her short skirt as it swayed and getting a peek at what was hidden beneath. Acting like a gentleman did have its advantages.

Lily paused on the landing, hesitant to walk through the open door into my room first, I supposed. I pretended not to notice she had stopped walking so I could “accidentally” bump into her and wrap my arms around her stomach. Taking a deep, obvious breath, I reveled in her scent. Sex and lavender; it was a heady smell that brought me back to our alley tryst. With regret, I withdrew from around her, careful not to drop the wine or glasses.

“Sorry,” I murmured in her ear. “After you.”

My bedroom was the nicest room in the house, aside from my home gym. A large sleigh bed with a black leather headboard dominated the open space. A desk lined one wall, and a dresser sat against another. There was an oversized walk-in closet and, through the open door near the dresser, a private bathroom with an oversized shower and hot tub.

I set the glasses on the desk and flipped on the light. I watched Lily look around the room as I poured the wine and took a sip, letting the flavors roll over my tongue. Satisfied, I handed her the other glass, watching the way her throat moved when she swallowed.

I set the glass down with a
clink
. “Cards?”

“Excuse me?”

“Do you play cards?”

“Not often.” Lily looked completely bewildered. I popped the lid off the cashews and smirked. “Why are we playing cards?”

“I think strip poker sounds fun.”

“You
would
think that.”

“I’m usually right.”

“Okay, so if you win, you get to see me naked. If I win, what?”

“You mean you don’t want to see me naked?” Silence was my only answer. I chuckled. “All right, Lily, what do you want if you win?”

“Information.”

“You can ask me anything; you should know that.” I was genuinely confused at her request. It’s not like I was hiding things.

“Sure. I ask, and you always deflect or distract me. I want you to answer anything, and answer honestly.”

I hesitated. Something about her tone gave me pause. She was up to something… still, I was confident in my card playing ability.

“Agreed, but let’s sweeten it further. Whoever loses the round can choose their fate. She can remove any article of clothing, answer a question with absolute honesty,
or
must perform a task left to my imagination.”

“She? Your
imagination?
Kind of cocky, aren’t you?”

“Do we have a deal?”

She thought for a moment. “What kind of tasks? Cleaning? Sexual?”

“Anything.”

Lily narrowed her eyes. “Make it two things. And winner’s choice, not loser’s.”

“In a hurry to get naked for me? Or you want to see how devious I can be in regard to tasks?”

“Neither. I plan to win. I have a lot of questions.”

I considered. Two “prizes” would speed things to their inevitable conclusion,
but
this game was all about seduction. I wanted to drive her wild for me. Stalling for time, I popped more cashews in my mouth.

Perhaps this would work after all. I’d twist it so I could see what sort of things she wanted done to
herself,
as well. Plus that would limit the number of nosy questions. Even though I was pretty open about things, I shouldn’t lose sight of what she does for a living. “Done. Two things, but the winner chooses one, and the loser chooses one to have happen to her.”

“Do they teach this level of cockiness in some school somewhere? I mean, I’d bet you couldn’t lay it on any thicker if you tried. No deal. The point of two prizes was for me to ask you questions.”

“Then you’ll just need to win. What’s the matter? Afraid you won’t be able to?”

She gulped down the rest of her wine. “Oh, fine. Get the damned cards.”

“Wait here.” I left the room and walked down the stairs again, wincing at the ache in my ankle. I went into the closet of the guest room and pulled out a collapsible card table and a folding chair, then grabbed the cards. The nauseating smell from our disastrous night together still permeated the room. I should have cleaned it earlier. I firmly closed the door as if that would make it all go away and returned to Lily.

“Wow, a card table and everything? You do this often?”

“No, not often at all. I can’t remember the last time I played cards with anyone.” That wasn’t exactly the truth. I had played with my buddy John, Sam, and his wife Melissa quite a few times in the past. It had been a while, though, and I knew she was asking if I often played strip poker with other women.

I finished setting up the table and chair, then spun my padded desk chair over to the table as well. I refilled the wine glasses and shuffled. “Five card draw. No wild cards. That okay with you?”

“Umm… sure.”

Oh, this was going to be all too easy.

I dealt, leaving my hand on the table while I watched her. She picked them up and rearranged them in her hand, her delicate fingers awkwardly moving cards around as if she’d never seen them before. Her confident bravado she’d displayed during “negotiations” had completely vanished.

Her nostrils flared; it was adorable. The frown line on her forehead relaxed a little. She placed two cards on the table and tapped them with her nails.