Xavier FINAL (Men of Steel #4) (7 page)

“Not sweet. She’s cock blocking me. Telling me to be careful. I swear to you I can’t
do the shit I used to and that kills me. I just wanna go out and drink and dance and
fuck you know?” He turned around and handed me a plate of lasagna.

I took the plate. “Thanks. Xavier that’s not what you want. You said the other day
that you wanted to find the people who use those escapes and help them achieve their
dreams and goals.”

He laughed. “Yeah, if their life sucks but mine doesn’t.” He sat down and took a
bite. “Fuck me. This shit almost gets me hard. Stop pushing it around and take a bite.
I swear you’ll be sneaking in here to raid the freezer too.”

The door opened. “What the hell man did you forget me?”

“Ricco stop being a bitch, your plate’s on the counter.”

They talked shop and ate like, well, like my brothers.

Ricco looked over at me, “You have any ink?”

“No none.”

“A virgin man, we should do her together.” He laughed.

I looked at Xavier. His expression was blank and then he looked at me and laughed.
“You want that?”

“No, I’m good.”

“Come on girl. How about a piercing? We could do that too.”

“No honest to God I’m all…”

“She said no man, back off.” Xavier looked at Ricco and Ricco looked back at him.
Both staring each other down.

Then Ricco laughed. “Dude, you drank the water in Italy.”

“Fuck off Ricco.” Xavier laughed and stood up.

“No you seriously drank it didn’t you?”

“Don’t you have a tit to pierce or something?” Xavier shoved him and took his plate.

“Yeah I’m sure I do man. Nice to meet you Taelyn. I’m sure I’ll see you around.” Ricco
waved over his shoulder as he walked out.

Xavier took my plate. “You want more?”

“No. Thanks though, that was amazing.” I stood and walked to the sink and grabbed
some cleanup wipes and then wiped down the table. “Thanks for bringing me here. I
have a totally different perspective on you now.”

“Enlightening huh?” He threw the left over pieces on a plate and covered them and
put them back in the refrigerator.

“Yeah.”

He rolled his neck stretching it and the muscles in it bulged a little. He opened
his eyes and looked at me. I smiled at him. He didn’t return the smile and looked
away.

“I didn’t bring you here for all that shit. I forgot to bring in the real reason I
came. I’ll be right back.”

He walked outside and was gone for just a minute, when he returned he smiled briefly.
“Come on out front. I’ll show you around.”

We walked down a hallway with three doors on each side. He opened the one with an
X on it.

“This is my space. Where I ink and pierce people.”

“You miss it?”

“Yeah I do. There’s a lot of cool people who come in and out of these doors. I’ve
met a lot of chicks here.”

“Hook up central?” I laughed.

“It happens you know. Some broad walks in and pulls up her shirt, the next thing you
know you’re helping her tits get hard so you can pierce them. Then the next thing
you know they’re bent over your table taking your cock in their wet…”

“Alright I’ve heard enough,” I laughed.

“No you haven’t. I fuck a lot of women Taelyn. A lot of women.”

I patted his back, “Good job. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

He glared at me and then, “They want it just as bad, sometimes more than I do.”

I was confused as to why he was being so, crude. It was like he was trying to make
me angry. The thing is it wasn’t.

“Okay.” I looked at him and he was still holding a box. “What’s in the box?”

He looked down. “The reason for this trip. Cards, flyers, things for Ricco to hand
out to some of the clients here that may be interested in working with me.”

“Great idea.” I smiled and reached for the box. “Can I see?”

He set it on the table and opened it.

“I’ll be back, I’m gonna give Ricco the list of people I want him to share this with.”

He walked out and I looked at the cards. The design was amazing. The logo was beautiful.
The “O” in forever looked like a clover, but not really.

I walked down the hall and I heard Xavier’s growl. “Back off. None of your fucking
business Ricco.”

“Nothing wrong with it.” Ricco laughed. “Your brothers acted the same...”

“I’m not a fucking sell out. I know who I am. I’m Xavier fucking Steel. No different
than I was before the hurricane man. Stop your shit talk or you can walk.”

“You fucking kidding me man?” Ricco laughed.

I cleared my throat and held up the card. “Maybe the Irish in me but this O almost
looks like a clover.”

Ricco started rolling and Xavier stormed over to me and took the card. “You’re fucking
crazy. Ricco I’m out, meet me at the bar when you lock up. I need to get fucking laid
tonight.”

I felt my purse vibrate and pulled my phone out.

“Daniel.” I whispered.

“Dr. …”

“Yes.” I nudged him. “He said he’d see me tomorrow.” I held up the phone so he could
see the picture of Daniel.

“Jewish?” Xavier asked as he rushed me out the door.

“Yes why?”

“You Catholic?”

“I’m Irish, of course I’m catholic.” He opened the SUV door for me and I got in.

“It’ll never work out.” He slammed the door and I laughed.

He walked back in the building and was gone for a couple minutes before he returned.

“I’ll take you home.”

“Two and a half more hours of work Mr. Steel.” I reminded him.

“I’m going to the bar. I’m gonna get loaded and I’m gonna go home and fuck the luckiest
girl in that place until she can’t speak. Then I’m gonna fuck her again.”

I laughed. “Good, I wanna go so I can tell you why she’d be all wrong for you.”

“Why would you want to do that? You’re going to get laid tomorrow. We’ve been working
late every night this week and I need to get laid. You’re killing my game Taelyn.”

“Oh come on, it’ll be fun. I go out with my brothers sometimes. I’ve even given them
thumbs up and thumbs down signals based on the vibe I’m getting. I can help you out.”

He laughed a dark malicious laugh.

“Your Mom did hire me to keep you …”

“Fine. Fine. I can have James come get you at midnight.”

“Perfect.”

~

We walked into a packed club and he grabbed my hand, “Stay close. Its ladies night,
all the freaks are out.”

“I’ve never been here before. The music’s good.”

“Average,” He leaned in and yelled over the crowd. “Just a DJ. There are cooler places
to go. Next week we’ll check some out.”

“Sounds good. You feeling alright? You seem tense.”

“Just ready for the weekend that’s all.”

“Am I that hard to deal with?” I joked.

“Huge pain in the ass.” He squeezed my hand and only then did I realize he was still
holding it. I gave it a tug. “Um Xavier?”

“Just till we get through the crowd to the bar. Wouldn’t want you to get lost or hurt
while you’re still on the clock.”

He pulled me behind him and grabbed my other hand and pulled me tight against him
as he plowed through the people. Once at the bar he turned around, letting go of one
hand. Someone bumped into me and pushed me into him.

“Watch it asshole!” He said as he pulled me against him and looked down as I was looking
up. “You alright?”

I nodded. We were crammed against each other and it seemed a little weird. A little,
but not completely.

He turned us and pushed me back. “Have a seat.”

I turned towards the bar and he set both hands on opposite sides of me caging me as
he leaned over. “Two shots of tequila, a Johnny Walker on the rocks, double and?”
He looked at me waiting for my reply.

“Vodka and cranberry please.” I yelled to the bartender.

“Keep a tab Tom?”

“Sure thing.” The bartender walked away.

“I don’t like tequila.” I yelled back to him.

“You’ll need it.”

“Why?” I laughed.

“’Cause I’m gonna make you dance in about ten minutes.”

~

Three shots and two drinks later and he was dragging me onto the dance floor and I
was laughing.

“I have pumps on!”

“Say it again.” He bit his lower lip.

“Pumps?”

“Yeah say it.” He chuckled as he pulled me against him.

“Pumps.” I laughed.

“You’re fucking loaded Patrick.”

“I’m Irish. I can handle my alcohol.” I put my hands on his shoulders.

“Irish, you better move your hands a little lower or you’re gonna be in trouble.”
He smirked.

“Why?”

“Hold, fast remember? I’m buzzing hard and my hands normally would’ve been hoisting
your ass up by now. Fair warning.”

I laughed and moved them down.

“Much better. You were about to be impaled on the dance floor.”

“You wouldn’t dare do that in public.”

“I could carry your ass out of here so fast your head would spin.”

“You are so cute Xavier.” I poked his chest.

“Cute?”

“Uh huh, like a little puppy dog.”

“‘Irish’ you wouldn’t say things like that.”

“‘Irish’ you’d take it as a compliment. I like you Xavier Steel.”

He smiled at me. “How much do you like me?”

“Right now a lot. But I’m a little tipsy. ‘Irish’ this room would stop spinning and
‘Irish’ that guy didn’t look so much like Daniel.”

He looked over.

“I think that is Harvey. We should go say hello.”

“He’s not here! Not until tomorrow.”

“Let’s go find out. You won’t try to take advantage of the guy if he’s not just because
you’re drunk and he looks like your guy would you?”

“You never know. I don’t drink a lot because I tend to get…”

“‘Irish’ you wouldn’t finish that sentence Taelyn or I may not be able to control
what I do to you.”

We danced closer to the Daniel look alike. “It’s Daniel. It’s really him Xavier.

“Go get your guy.”

I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and nearly choked on
his drink.

“What are you doing here?” We both asked at the same time.

“Are you drunk?” He gasped.

“Maybe a wee bit.” I leaned in and kissed him.

“Taelyn, public display?”

“So?” I laughed and wrapped my arms around him tight. “I missed you.”

He patted my back. “I missed you too. That’s why I came. I was waiting until after
you were out of work. I hoped to surprise you.”

“You did Daniel. You really did?” I felt like I was going to cry.

He pulled me away from him. “Now would you care to share with me what you’re doing
at a bar without me?”

“I’m working. My boss Xavier,” I turned and saw Xavier dancing with a brunette. He
was looking at me and I waved. He didn’t wave back. What he did was kiss the girl
he was dancing with. His eyes were wide open watching me and Daniel as his hands moved
down her body. I watched her put her hands on his obliques and he pulled away from
her kiss. He smiled and waved. I looked at Daniel and he waved back.

He finally closed his eyes and kissed the girl hard on the mouth. Her hands moved
up to that spot that he warned me about and I watched as his hands traveled down to
her ass. He lifted her up and I watched him walk out the emergency exit to what I
assume was an alley.

I looked at Daniel. “You wanna get out of here?”

He was staring at the door Xavier had just exited. “No. I think I’d like to meet your
boss first.”

Chapter 7

Hung over- X

I went into the office to meet Gabe, and I was hung over as fuck.

“Late night?” He laughed.

“No, but scotch and tequila don’t mix well.”

“No really?”

“Nope. So walls go up next week?”

“They do. You have any equipment yet?”

“Nah, I’m waiting on a guy. He says he can get me some decent boards and recording
equipment for a good price. I just need to give him a week or so. It’s all moving
along though.”

“Second hand equipment? Not the newest on the market?”

“No. I have a budget man. I wanna be smart about this. No money coming in yet so I
sure as hell don’t want to spend any more than I have to.”

“X, look around, you have money now. Why not use it?”

“That’s Steel money, not Xavier money.”

“You’re a Steel man,” he patted my shoulder and laughed.

“I am. I know where I came from too. I’ll make my own way.”

“You think your brothers didn’t?”

“I didn’t say that. Jase went to school for business. Cyrus did the Navy thing. Zandor,
well he found his way. I’m finding mine. It’s hard enough letting them pick up the
tab here. Doesn’t seem right.”

“Life is good man, enjoy it.” Gabe nodded and walked away.

The elevator doors opened from behind me and Abe walked out as he was sending a text.

“Welcome to the real world. What brings you down to hell man?”

“Just checking in and bringing you Miss Patrick’s pay check.” He handed me an envelope.

“Cool. I want receipts for all the money Steel puts into this so that when we fly
I can pay it back.”

“Unnecessary but that’s fine.” Abe looked around. “You’re sure about this? You want
to be down here X, it’s dark and damp and…”

There was a loud crashing sound and then a gust of cold air blew from the new hole
in the building.

I laughed, “Not dark anymore.”

“And then there was light.” Abe chuckled.

“It’s gonna be cool. You wait.”

“I don’t doubt it. It’s also gonna be cold as hell down here.”

“I think I’ll live. You go back up to your nice cushy office and I will call you when
it’s warm enough for you to come back.”

“Will Miss Patrick be too cold?”

I huffed, “I doubt it. She’s with the Harvard boy. Apparently he decided to surprise
her by coming into town last night instead of tonight. Saw him at a bar last night.”

“You and she were at a bar?”