Xavier FINAL (Men of Steel #4) (10 page)

~

I woke up in the morning and she wasn’t in my bed. I was exhausted. Every time she
woke up, she’d ask questions. Normally drunk chicks bugged the hell out of me but
not her. I will admit I’m a prick to most people’s standards but I don’t fuck girls
who aren’t begging for it and I don’t take advantage of weakness.

I sat up willing myself to get out of bed. I walked around and when I looked everywhere
and realized she had left I was pissed. I went to grab my phone and saw a note.

-Thanks for last night? Not sure what all went on but I woke up clothed and so were
you. I will see you Monday. Thank you for all the help. TP

I grabbed my phone anxious to see if she had seen him, to see if she was alright,
and to make sure she told the fucker she was done.

“Hello.” It was him.

“Let me talk to Taelyn.”

“She’s in the bathroom.”

“I don’t give a fuck. Let me talk to her.”

And he hung up the phone. Mother fucker!

I called back and my call went immediately to voice mail.

I jumped in the shower and washed up quickly. I jumped out and messaged her.

-You need to call me. Work emergency. X

Then I sent a message to our resident snoop at Steel.

-Address for Taelyn Patrick ASAP, like right fucking now. X

I threw my clothes on and grabbed the keys and out the door I went.

I knew she was in the city so I headed towards the tunnel and my phone rang.

“What’s up?”

“Xavier, we have a problem.”

“She okay Abe?”

“Who?”

“Taelyn.” I felt my heart beating so fast against my chest, anticipating the worst.
I was sure she had quit, had decided she wasn’t gonna stay on because I fucking over
stepped.

“Your picture’s online. Well one of you with some chick in an ally and another or
what I assume is your dick in a girl’s mouth. Apparently Xavier Steel, our hot bachelor
of Forever Steel, has been discovered.”

“Oh fucking well I don’t give a shit.”

“And they connected Steel Incorporated. You were supposed to stay the fuck away from
the shop. Away from gold digging--.”

“So fucking what? I don’t give two hoots about that shit. Have you heard from Taelyn?”

“Of course I haven’t but--.”

“Fuck!”

“What did you do now?” Abe’s tone rubbed me the wrong way.

“That’s really none of you God damn--.”

“It is. Have you ever considered--.” He stopped talking. “And there is now a picture
of you in bed with a redhead that just popped up.
Xavier Steel doesn’t seem to have a type. Looks like we all have a shot
--.”

“Great. Turn that shit off and get me her address.”

“Yeah let’s see how that turns out. She’s gonna love that in a two weeks’ time you
fucked two other girls. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. Damn it Xavier!”

I was getting a text from George. “Yell at me later, I have more important shit to
deal with.”

I hung up and tapped the address to get directions. Twenty minutes. Twenty fucking
minutes away.

I pulled up in front of what appeared to be a student housing apartment building and
thank fuck I found a spot right in front. I fed the meter and crossed the street.
I stopped when I saw the intercom and wondered if she’d let me in. Nothing felt right
at this moment, it was like the world had turned sideways.

Lucky for me two chicks slid their key cards through the lock and giggled as they
were looking at me. I gave them a wink, just to ensure I could throw them off for
a moment to sneak inside.

I ran up three flights and looked for apartment 332. I found it and stood for a moment
taking in a few breaths before I knocked on the door.

I waited for just a moment and then knocked again. The door cracked open. “Go away
or so help me God I’ll spray you.”

I was looking at a can of pepper spray. “Taelyn?”

She pulled it away and looked through the crack.

Her lip quivered and tears fell hard.

“I want to be alone.”

“Okay. Can I use the bathroom before I drive back?”

She nodded and wiped her face.

“Can you unlock the chain?”

She closed the door and I heard the chain clanking against the door. “It’s open.”

I walked in to a very bare apartment. A small table was on its side and she picked
it up. Her back was to me and she pointed. “Over there.”

I went to the bathroom, I didn’t really have to but there was no way I’d be leaving
so damn soon.

When I walked out she was sweeping up what appeared to be her smashed cell phone.

I grabbed the dustpan and squatted down.

“Please don’t.” Her voice broke.

“Come on let me help.”

“Xavier. I really don’t want anyone here right now. I want to be alone.”

I took the broom from her and swept up the mess and emptied it in the garbage.

“You left.”

“I think I embarrassed myself enough last night.”

I watched as she looked at the air mattress and then wiped her face and walked to
the one window in the small studio apartment.

“I didn’t think so. I thought we had--.”

“What? We had what?”

I walked over and placed my hands on her shoulders and she jumped. I didn’t move my
hands. I held a bit firmer. “I don’t know why, but I’m not embarrassed.”

I turned her to me and then tried to push some of her hair away from her face. “Don’t.”
She pulled it back.

I held her chin and pushed her hair back. “Look at me.”

She dropped her hands hiding her face and sobbed. “Please don’t. Please don’t say
anything.”

I pulled her tightly against me and her body shook as she sobbed. Thankfully, because
seeing her lips had been bloodied and the bruised cheek that had been hidden by her
hair made my body tremble in anger.

I don’t know how the fuck I missed it. The way I felt, the unease that I had felt
from the moment I woke up alone. I’d never felt like that. The turned over table,
the shattered phone, her hair was a mess, and the fact that she didn’t come to the
phone when I called should have been all I needed.

But no. I was fighting the fact that I may have feelings for her. What a fuck up I
was. Well it wouldn’t happen again.

“He--.”

“I hit him first. I--.”

“It doesn’t matter. Not one fucking bit Taelyn. Jesus Fucking Christ. Did you call
the cops?”

“No! No, I hit him first.”

I picked her up and went to sit on the mattress to hold her, to calm her while I tried
to calm myself.

“No, not there. Xavier--.”

“Did he touch you? Did he--.”

“No, no please--.”

I sat her on the counter and kissed her head. “Stay.”

I opened her closet and grabbed a suitcase and filled them with her clothes, everything
I could get my hands on. She didn’t stop me either. When I had shoved every article
of clothing of hers in a suitcase I walked into the bathroom and threw all her toiletries
in a duffel.

I walked out and noticed for the first time she was in a bath robe. I grabbed a sweatshirt
and a pair of leggings out of her bag and she looked at me.

The sadness in her face, the way her normally squared shoulders and proper composure
had turned into what reminded me of an abused animal. Her eyes lacked the normal shine
and she looked hollow.

I untied her robe and pulled it off her shoulders and quickly noticed the hand marks
on her biceps. I closed my eyes and pulled her against me. “He will pay for what he
did to you.”

“I broke his nose.”

I pulled away and looked at her, “You what?”

“I told you I have a temper.”

“Good. I’m gonna break his face. Did he rape you?”

“No. He held me down. I couldn’t get up,” She sobbed. “I tried so hard and I wasn’t
strong enough. He held me down and it was forever. Hours? I was so afraid. The look
in his eyes was terrifying. I was so afraid.”

“You don’t have to be ever again. He won’t be hurting you, not ever again.”

“Xavier?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m cold.”

“Sorry, Jesus Christ,” I pulled the sweatshirt over her head. “What the hell are you
doing to me? You’re fucking naked and I don’t even notice.”

“Sorry.”

“Jesus I need to shut my damn mouth.”

I pulled her off the counter and held out her pants.

“I just got out of the shower. I don’t have -- I can do it.”

“Right. Of course you can. Sorry Taelyn. I am so sorry.”

~

We drove down the street to Cyrus’s place. It was covered with photographers.

“What’s going on?” Taelyn asked.

“Oh you know.” I laughed. “You sleep well?”

“Yes, but what’s all this?”

“Photographers. Apparently I’m big news. We’ll be staying elsewhere.”

She had my phone when I looked over.

“You calling home?”

“No I’m googling your--. Oh my God.” She gasped.

“That bad? Fuck. I should’ve been more careful. I really don’t give a shit. I mean--.”

“Your penis is on google and you’re not worried about that?” She gasped.

“Why? Does it look small?”

She laughed. For the first time in two hours she laughed.

“Okay Babe, I’m glad your laughing but answer the damn question would ya?”

“Bigger than Daniel.”

“Good fucking answer.” I laughed.

“Is this us? Is this last night?”

“Taelyn. I haven’t seen them and I’m driving girl. But if it looks like a duck, and
quacks like a duck--.”

“Ha ha, very funny. Oh, oh wow.”

“Do I need to pullover? This is fucked up. You’re checking out my goods--.”

“You saw my boobs today.”

“I wasn’t trying.”

She set the phone down and leaned back and closed her eyes.

“Tired?”

“Exhausted. I could sleep for a week.”

“I bet.”

“Where are we going?”

“My sister-in-laws old pad. They won’t make the connection.”

Chapter 10

Irish

We pulled into a gated apartment complex. It was pretty upscale. When we got to the
gate Xavier leaned out the window and bumped fists with the guard.

“Sam, I’m staying here for a while. Don’t let anyone in that you don’t know.”

“She staying too?” Sam smirked.

“She is. Key please.”

He handed Xavier the key. “There’s a code you know.”

“Well aware of it. Thanks bro.”

He looked over at me and handed me the key. “That’s all you.”

“I can’t stay here.” I looked around.

“Why not?” He drove through the parking lots avoiding the speed bumps.

“School?”

“Tuesday’s and Thursday’s right?”

“Yes. I--.”

“James will get you there. No worries.”

“I’m so tired.”

“Your face hurt Irish?”

“Irish?”

“It’s either that or Lucky.”

“I don’t feel very lucky right now.”

“Alright, we can stick with Babe?”

“No way,” I tried not to smile.

“Irish. That’s it. Irish.”

“What’s wrong with my given name?”

“Too many syllables.”

He pulled up into the driveway and jumped out. I opened the door and got out.

He punched in the code. “Welcome home Irish.”

“Irish has two syllables.”

He laughed. “I like it though, it’s you.” He opened the door.

I took a deep breath and tried to straighten myself, to act appreciative, to be normal
but instead I felt my body slouch.

“You want me to carry you in?”

“No. I just want to sleep.”

“Stairs are straight ahead and then turn left. I’m gonna grab your bags. Head up,
I’ll meet you in the master bedroom. We didn’t sleep till noon Irish.”

“Irish is two syllables.”

He stopped and turned around and looked at me. He smiled like my Dad did when I cried
because I scraped my knee.

“We’ll discuss some other time.”

He turned and was out the door.

I walked up the stairs and found the room,

I heard him on his phone whispering to James, I assume.

I pulled down the covers and laid down.

I could hear Xavier bounding up the stairs and I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to
talk anymore I wanted to sleep, to cry…

“You asleep?”

“Yes.” I answered dryly.

“Okay.”

I heard him set the bags down and then heard him walk towards the bed.

He let out a loud breath.

I opened one eye and he looked around anxiously.

“It’s okay that I sleep right?”

“Of course.”

“Are you gonna stand there hovering over me?”

“Maybe.” He shrugged and gave me those concerned eyes again.

“Are you waiting for an invitation?”

“Probably.”

I pulled the covers back, “Come on.”

He pulled his shirt over his head, walked to the other side of the bed, and laid down.
He huffed out another breath and I rolled to my back and looked at him.

“I am so sorry. I wish there was something I could do. No one’s lived here for a while
so there’s no ice or pain meds or…”

I leaned up and kissed him as a thank you. Just a thank you.

A sound escaped from his chest against my lips that made me not want to move away.
He didn’t pull away either. His lips slowly moved across mine and lightly pressed
on the spot that hurt the most. I felt his breath against my lips and then the tip
of his tongue lightly caressing that same spot.

He leaned over me and ran his hand up my neck until his fingers were threaded through
my hair. He kissed me harder as he lowered my head to the pillow. Again his chest
vibrated and I, not only heard it, but felt it.

This wasn’t intended, but it was, God it was nice. The pressure of his lips lightened
and I raised my hand to his shoulder. The connection between our lips was broken but
his lips continued to give me feather light kisses across my sore cheek bone and then
continued to my ear and down my neck.

He moved back to my lips and gave me one last kiss before the connection was gone.
I didn’t dare open my eyes. I wouldn’t know what to say. His hands caressed my cheek
and face as he kissed my forehead.