Entangled: Sequel to Awakened (6 page)

“But, letting him fuck me? I just don’t know if I can. I wanted the first time to be with a man I love, not with one I hate.”

“I know, honey. Think about it though. He might not be so bad. He’ll be able to introduce you to the cream of Dalton society. So many opportunities could come your way. I wish I was in your shoes, I wouldn’t hesitate. Play his game, Aline. Trust me, you’ll come out on top.”

“Maybe. I guess I’m scared. What if he gets sick of me before I’m ready to leave? Before I’m fully trained?”

“Make him put something in writing that you won’t be dismissed until you have the training.”

“I could do that, I suppose. He’s so big. Will it, you know…hurt?”

“The first time it will hurt for a few seconds as he breaks through but after that it can be wonderful. Xavier cares about you, I see it in his eyes. Regardless of the fact he is acting like a complete bastard, he won’t hurt you.”

“I need some sleep. I’m too tired to do this.”

“Think about it. Don’t let your pride throw your future away.”

***

Xavier turned up in the foyer of their building a little before seven. He heard the bell on the lift ding as it arrived. The doors slid open to reveal Aline and Callie.

Callie pushed the wheelchair toward him. His eyes perused Aline. She was wearing a pale lemon sundress which revealed the swell of her milky white breasts. A delicate white shawl covered her shoulders and a white rug was draped over her knees. Her glossy black hair was a mass of soft waves and was pinned up by her ears. Her only makeup was a light smear of lipstick and black mascara. She was a stunningly natural beauty and the slight touch of makeup enhanced it.

Callie wore a blue sundress, her hair was also down and she wore white sandals.

“You both look beautiful,” he said as he moved to the back of the wheelchair and took control.

“Thank you,” the girls answered in unison.

He led them to his car which was parked at the front of their building. A Bentley, no less.

“I’ll lift Aline into the back seat. You can take the passenger seat, Callie.”

Callie opened the car door and slipped inside while Xavier opened the back door and lifted Aline effortlessly from her chair. He positioned her on the back seat and ensured she was comfortable. After closing the door, he folded the chair and placed it into the trunk.

Aline watched as Xavier moved to the driver’s side of the car. He looked like he’d stepped off the page of a fashion magazine. He wore camel colored drill pants that hugged the muscles of his thighs, the outline of his large cock, clearly visible. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the throat and over it he wore a navy blue sports jacket.

He’s such a hunk. Could I become his lover? Could I spend every night in his bed and not live to regret it? No woman would regret sharing his bed, regrets would come when he banished them, and moved on to his next conquest.

Aline had thought about what Callie had said and after much toing and froing her decision was made. She would make time after they returned to the University to speak with him privately.

Chapter Six

Linc and Alistair were seated and waiting when Xavier wheeled Aline into the restaurant. Callie followed close behind.

When the threesome approached the table, Linc and Alistair stood, hugged and kissed the girls and shook hands with Xavier. The wheelchair was maneuvered into the space where a chair had been removed. The others sat.

A waitress approached the table and handed them menus. Aline felt a spark of jealousy as the girl ogled Xavier while taking their drink orders. The bitch practically undressed him with her eyes.

Jealous, Aline. Seriously?

“How was your first day back in class, sweetheart?” Linc asked Aline.

“It was good, dad. I haven’t missed anything thanks to Xavier so I had no problems.”

“Thank you for helping our daughter, Xavier. I trust we can depend on you to help Callie to look out for her when we leave?” Alistair said.

“Right, look out for me like a bloody wolf looks out for a lamb.”

“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t quite hear that,” Linc said.

Shit, I must have spoken out loud.
Her eyes darted to Xavier. The smirk on his face revealed she had indeed said it aloud. She groaned. “Nothing, dad. Xavier said you had something to discuss with him.”

Nice save princess. Wolf indeed.
“Yes, what was it you wanted to speak with me about?” Xavier asked, his tone friendly and amenable.

The conversation paused while the waitress placed their drinks on the table. Once again she rolled her eyes over Xavier.

Find your own man, bitch. Whoa! Where the fuck did that come from?

Aline lifted her glass to her lips and took a large gulp of her soda wishing it was something much stronger. She had a feeling she would need it before the evening was over. “Damn pain meds,” she muttered.

“Would you like me to go to the bar while you discuss business?” Callie asked.

“No, of course not. We have nothing to say that you shouldn’t hear and we consider you family,” Alistair said.

Callie relaxed back in her seat.

Linc began. “As you know, Alistair and I own a string of gyms around the Dalton area. Eight in total. We have managers in place at each establishment and we visit each one about once a month. The rest of the time we spend in the city where we work with some of our oldest and most loyal clients as their Personal Trainers.”

“I remember hearing they were all owned by you. They aren’t franchised. Must keep you busy,” Xavier said.

“They do. The city gym has more clients than we can comfortably provide for and more sign up every day. We have to do something. Fortunately, at the moment, they all come in at different times but if they decided to descend on us all at once we’d be fucked,” Linc explained.

“What does this have to do with me? Is there some way you think I can help?” Xavier was puzzled.

“We own the property on the corner of Finnegan and Arnold Streets downtown,” Alistair said.

“The old Friendly Society Building. Smack bang in the center of the business district.” Xavier was impressed and wondered how they had managed to obtain such a prime piece of real estate. A lot of businessmen, him included, had been after it for a very long time. When he had enquired, he’d been told the owners had no interest in selling at any price. “If you don’t mind my asking, how did you manage to buy it? I was told the owners wouldn’t sell.”

“Oh, we didn’t buy it. The property was my Grandfather’s and he left it to me in his will. As Linc and I are legally partners, it belongs to both of us now.”

“Very fortunate,” Xavier admitted. “I don’t suppose you would change your mind about selling?”

Linc and Alistair laughed at the sheepish expression on Xavier’s face. “Definitely not but, we have a proposal you may be interested in,” Linc said.

The conversation continued between Linc and Xavier while the others listened.

“We would like you to partner us in a new venture,” Linc started.

Aline sucked in her breath.
Fan fuckin’ ‘tastic. Now my parents are going to get tangled up with the man.

“What sort of venture do you have in mind?” Xavier asked.

“We want the old building demolished and a three storey building constructed on the lot. We would like your company to build it. We envisage a couple of levels of car parking below street level, two levels of retail and the entire top floor would be occupied by our gym. You can lease the retail space to whoever you like. We trust your company has a management department for that sort of thing?”

Xavier nodded. “Continue.”

“The retail area would benefit from the gym members having to pass through on their way to and from the gym. Being in the business district, our members will be able to take advantage of the location to drop in before or after work or during their lunch break.”

“I think it sounds like an excellent proposal.”

Fuck, he’s actually considering going into business with my parents.

“Our legal people have worked out the finer details as we originally spoke with Bradley and his father.”

“Why didn’t you go ahead with them, dad?” Aline asked.

“Yes, I’d like to know the answer to that question too,” Xavier added.

“Wright Constructions admitted they didn’t have the ability to give us what we want in the time frame we wanted. They don’t have a management department for the retail businesses and didn’t think they would have one in the foreseeable future. Now you’re going to work for Xavier and have a relationship with him, we would like to join forces with his company instead of searching out someone else.”

Soda soaked the front of Xavier’s shirt as Aline almost choked in shock.

Callie handed her a napkin and while Xavier dabbed at his shirt with his napkin, Aline swiped at the soda around her mouth. The minute she was done her temper exploded.

“You told my parents we were moving in together and having a relationship?”

Xavier noted the fire in Aline’s eyes.
Oh, princess. You have just put your pretty little foot straight in it.

“You manipulative, underhanded, smug sonofabitch. I haven’t agreed to anything. You really are an arrogant, self-centered pig.”

She realized her mistake the minute Xavier’s eyes, and the tilt of his head, urged her to turn to her fathers. The expression on their faces were of total disbelief.

Shit, shit, shit. They didn’t know
.

Alistair was the first to speak. “We thought you had agreed to a working relationship with Xavier? You’re having a sexual relationship? You’re going to live with him? I thought you had only just met?”

Xavier grinned. “Go ahead and get yourself out of this one, darling.”

“Shut the fuck up, Xavier.” She faced her fathers. “Yes, No, I don’t know. Xavier has offered me a position with his company and he has also asked me to move in with him.”

“You only met him a couple of days ago,” Linc restated. “We thought you were going into a relationship with his company, not the man.”

“Dad, you and daddy only knew mother for a very short time before you asked her to move in with you.”

“Touché,” Alistair said.

“I have made my decision regarding the position, and our living together, which I was going to explain to Xavier later tonight.” She glared at Xavier as she turned to him and spoke. “I will not move in with you but, as you have been so persistent, I will date you while I am here at University. If it works out, I will reconsider your job offer and moving in with you. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll walk away. Although you have offered me my dream job, I couldn’t possibly work for you if we cannot get along.  Up to this point we appear to be poles apart. You think you have feelings for me and I can barely stand the sight of you.”

Ah, progress. I can live with dating. For now. Even if she isn’t living with me, I can still get her into my bed. By the time we leave here, she’ll be begging to move in with me.
Xavier was confident in his ability to win Aline over. After all, he always got what he wanted.

“Wait.” Linc narrowed his eyes at Xavier. “Have you offered our daughter the position on condition she move in with you?”

Xavier groaned, and his cheeks reddened.

“No,” Aline shouted.

At the exact same time Xavier said, “yes.”

Fuck, has this man got a death wish? Has he not noticed how big my fathers are? He’s either exceptionally honest or exceptionally stupid.

“Which is it, Aline?” Linc asked angrily.

Aline lowered her head. “Yes, dad.”

“Xavier, you had better have a very good explanation as to why you appear to think our daughter is some sort of whore. If not, the University is going to hear about how one of their lecturer’s is blackmailing one of their students for sex,” Alistair growled.

It was Xavier’s turn to become angry. Everyone had the wrong idea.
Explain it to them you fuckin’ idiot.
“Please, hear me out. The University doesn’t encourage relationships between Teachers and Students but they accept, if it’s between two consenting adults, there’s not much they can do about it. As examinations are conducted and scored by outside third parties, there is no suspicion that favoritism has been given to any student in question. I did offer Aline the position on condition she move in with me and become my lover.”

Linc shot out of his chair. He was red faced with anger. “You bastard. I should cut off your balls and stuff ‘em in your mouth. How dare you treat our daughter like some two bit pick up.”

Alistair calmed his lover with a touch to his arm. “Darling, sit down and hear the man out. I think there is more to this and he’s been nothing but honest so far.”

Linc glared at Xavier as he sat.

Xavier glanced at Aline. There would be no support from that quarter. Her arms were crossed over her chest and the expression on her face said, “this had better be good if you value your balls.”

“Aline has a brilliant mind and my law department would benefit immensely by having her on the team. I desperately want her working for me.”

“She said it’s her dream job so she’d be thrilled. Why the need for blackmail?” Alistair asked calmly.

“I didn’t intend for it to be blackmail. I have strong feelings for your daughter. I have no idea why but since she bumped into me the other day I’ve been turned inside out. I’m constantly aroused and I can’t concentrate because she fills my thoughts.”

“Sound familiar?” Alistair asked Linc. “Go on Xavier.”

“I can’t possibly have her working at my company, seeing her every day, if I can’t have her in the rest of my life. I know how much she wants the position and I want her to have it but, it’s all or nothing. I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” Alistair said.

“Daddy, you’re not angry?”

“Sorry darling, but no, I’m not. What Xavier is describing is exactly how dad and I felt about your mother. We were every bit as confused but we knew how we felt. If it’s any consolation, Xavier, Phoebe turned us inside out and upside down too.”

“The main difference was, Phoebe liked us.” Linc added.

“So much for allies,” Aline grumbled.

Xavier lifted Aline’s hand and placed it in his. “I will accept your offer for us to date. I’m sorry, I should have suggested it myself being as we have six months before we return home.”

“Thank you. Maybe if I get to know you better, I may like you. Or, you might decide you don’t like me after all.”

Xavier lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her gently. “Princess, there is no chance of that happening.”

The tension eased. Meals were ordered and the men discussed the development proposal further.

Callie brought Aline up to date on the latest University gossip while they ate.

The evening passed quickly. The food was excellent and before long they were gathered outside where Aline had to say goodbye to her parents.

Linc hugged her first and peppered her cheeks with kisses. “I love you so much, sweetheart. Please take care of yourself and be careful.”

“I promise, I will, dad.” Tears pricked her eyes.

Alistair leaned over and gathered her into his chest as he kissed her forehead and cheeks. “Love you to the moon and back, darling girl.”

“Moon and back, daddy.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

Alistair hugged her again. “Not long baby girl. Give him a chance. I think he’s a good man and I think he could give you a powerful love.”

The two men hugged and kissed Callie and shook hands with Xavier. They had arranged to meet him at his office when he next was in Dalton.

After the men walked away, Xavier turned to the girls. The upset on Aline’s face as she watched her father’s disappear into the dark, broke his heart. “I’ll go and get the car,” he said softly before striding away.

Aline swiped at her tears. “I hate saying goodbye to them. I wish they would let me fly home when I don’t have classes for a few days.”

“They’ve told you, it would be too tiring. You would wear yourself out.” Callie reminded her.