Phenomenal X (4 page)

I close my eyes. Even though his dark promises of passion are tempting, I can’t give in to him. I don’t willingly give my body over to complete strangers.

“No,” I say again, so faintly that I barely hear it myself.

His tongue teases the bare flesh on my neck. “I don’t typically beg, beautiful, but if begging gets me access between those creamy thighs, I will. Just give in to your desires.”

He’s right.

And, damn it, I hate that he’s right. I do want him, more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my entire life. He pulls back and stares into my eyes, searching my face for permission to pleasure me.

Electricity zings between us, and every nerve ending in my body comes alive. My willpower falters a bit. How many times can I turn down something I really want? If I’m being honest, right now, my body craves nothing more than to experience sex with this powerful man, even though my logical mind knows it’s wrong, and I’ve always been more of a “follow your head, not your heart” kind of girl. I stare into his eyes, willing the word “no” to tumble from my lips again, but no sound comes out.

The landing gear unlocking from the underside of the plane causes my pulse to race under my skin. I need to make a decision because I know the moment I step off this plane I’ll never see Xavier again.

The plane jolts, and the tires screech against the runway, but Xavier’s eyes never stray from mine as he awaits my answer. While we wait to exit the plane our eyes remain locked, and a thousand scenarios run through my head. I don’t even realize that we haven’t said a word to one another for several moments. No words are needed to know what we are both thinking. It’s impossible for me not to sit here and stare at him, and not imagine his mouth on mine.

The flight crew opens the door, and all the passengers around us stand and begin exiting the aircraft. I swallow hard as his eyes drop down to my lips and then back up to my eyes.

“What’ll it be, Anna Cortez? Are you in, or are you out?”

My heart bangs in my chest, but as much as I would like to experience what he’s offering, I have to stick to my guns.

“I’m out.”

I stand and turn to exit, but freeze when Xavier grabs my wrist, my skin igniting from his mere touch. My eyes snap down to my hand as he stuffs a paper into it. I flick my gaze back up to his and a grin plays along his lips. “Let me know when you change your mind.”

He releases me and immediately my skin craves his warmth again. I consider tossing his autograph back down at him, but for some reason a part of me wants to keep it so I can be sure this time spent with him wasn’t just a dream. It’ll be a nice memory to hang on to. That Phenomenal X is real and, at one time, was very attracted to me. I tighten my fingers around the paper and take a deep breath.

“Goodbye, Xavier.”

Before he has an opportunity to make any more sexy promises, I turn and flee the plane, stuffing the paper into my back pocket. My heart still beats a million miles a minute. I need to find a place I can calm down and regain my composure.

Once I’m safely in the terminal, I dash into the first ladies’ room I find. The urge to splash cold water on my face surges through me. I definitely need to cool off, but I don’t want to totally ruin my makeup, so I resist. I pull my long brown hair back and then pull it to one side as I rest my hands against the counter and stare at myself in the mirror.

I’m searching hard to find what someone like Xavier would find so appealing about me. My button nose and dark hair don’t exactly stand out against my tan skin. My green eyes are only thing I’ve always been complimented on. The light color against everything else dark really seems to
pop
.

I sigh and reach into my back pocket for my phone. I need to call Aunt Dee, and I need to get out of this place and as far away from Xavier as possible. A growl escapes my lips as I frantically begin patting the empty pockets of my jeans. “Shit,” I mutter to myself.

The last time I had my phone was on the plane when I shut it off after checking my father’s messages. I didn’t bother grabbing it from the seat-back pocket when I moved. My shoulders sag when I realize I didn’t grab my bag from under the seat either. I’m going to have to go back and hope I can sneak on the plane and get it.

I make my way down through the terminal back to the gate I just came from. It’s completely empty and I’m afraid to try and get back on the plane. The last thing I need is TSA all over me. I lay my head on the gate counter, trying to not lose my mind, but my stomach clenches and I’m about two seconds from having a nervous breakdown.

It’s gone. My phone is gone.

Deflated, I flop down on the nearest seat. Great. Just great. I move out to a new city and before I even set foot onto its soil, I lose my belongings. Numbers for everyone back home are programmed into that phone.

I shake my head in disgust. I’ll never hear the end of it when Father finds out about this. I rub my forehead and fight back the building tears.

“Excuse me, miss? Can I be of some assistance?” a somewhat familiar voice questions. I glance up as the same flight attendant who helped me when I had tomato juice incident approach me from the gate. She offers up the same sweet smile she gave me when she spoke with me before. “Are you all right?”

I sniff, fighting back the tears. “I’m missing my phone and my bag. The last place I had them was on the plane—before I changed seats.”

She nods in agreement. “Mr. Cold asked me to let you know that he has your belongings.”

My eyes widen. “He does?”

Relief washes through me, only to be flushed away when I realize I have no way of getting in touch with him again. “I have no way of reaching him.”

She tilts her head and I hear the questioning tone in her voice when she says, “He said you have his number?”

I knit my eyebrows in confusion.
I have his number?
What’s he talking about? The only thing he gave me was…

Wait a minute.

I reach in my back pocket and pull out the paper containing his autograph, or at least I thought it was his autograph. I unfold it slowly and take in the thick, manly scroll.

I swallow hard as I stare at the number listed below his signature. Even in a simple note, his commanding tone makes my insides jitter.

A war rages within me. The exhilarated half of me is excited that I’ll likely see Xavier again, but the rational half knows that means I’m in for trouble. Trouble I’m not sure that I can resist.

However, one thing
is
clear, if I want my phone and other personal belongings back, I have no choice but to call him.

Heaven help where it may lead.

I head out into the warm Detroit summer and spot my family the moment I’m outside. Aunt Dee and my cousin Quinn wait in the loading zone for me as I wheel two large suitcases packed with all my clothes and shoes. I kept my eyes peeled at baggage claim, hoping to see Xavier and reclaim my items so I could be done with him for good, but there was no sign of him anywhere. The fact that I’m going to have to call that sexy beast of a man looms over me.

Aunt Dee greets me with a warm smile as I approach. “Anna, sweetheart, how are you? You look beautiful, darling, absolutely stunning, except for that hideous stain all over you. Looks like someone doused you with their drink.”

“It’s great to see you, Aunt Dee.”

I giggle at her words, laced with a thick Spanish accent, as I take in the multicolored bandana tied around her head in a chic, yet fashionable way that blends into her hairstyle. Like I said, Aunt Dee is a little eccentric. She’s an artist—a painter and a sculptor—and her creativity typically carries over into her wardrobe. Much like the tie-dyed maxi-dress she has on. “I hope this stain comes out. I didn’t bring a lot of clothes.”

“I know just the trick to get it out once we get home.” She pulls back and inspects me from head to toe. “You look so much like your mother. Doesn’t she, Quinn?”

I glance over at my cousin who is wearing a pair of cut-off shorts and a black tank top. Quinn has always been whom I would consider the most beautiful person in our family. We’re exactly the same age, but it’s hard to compete with her gorgeous brown hair and legs that go on for days. She’s drop-dead gorgeous, and every man around always notices her. She’s not stuck on herself though, which makes me love her even more. She’s about the most down-to-earth person I know.

Quinn smiles at me before wrapping me up in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re here, Anna. We are going to have so much fun this summer.”

“Aye, girls…but not too much fun,” Aunt Dee warns. “Your father would have my head on a stick. He is the last person on earth I want on my back.”

Quinn pulls back. “How did this morning go?”

Allowing my eyes to flit back and forth between my aunt and cousin, I frown. They know how bad it was for me back home. We talk all the time, and Quinn is like a sister to me. If it weren’t for their support, I wouldn’t have had the guts to walk away like I did. “It was bad. I’m sure he’s still blowing up my phone telling me that I’m making a huge mistake.”

Aunt Dee shakes her head. “That’s where your father and I differ in opinion, Anna. Marrying a man you don’t love to please your family is a much larger mistake. He should want happiness for you, not sorrow.”

I nod. “I can never thank you enough for giving me a place to escape to.”

She cups my face. “It’s no problem, sweet girl. I wouldn’t want my Quinn to be forced into something like that and, someday, I hope your father will change his mind and see that what he was trying to do was wrong.”

Emotions build inside my chest, making me nearly burst as I fight against them. I don’t want to have a breakdown right here on the curb at the airport. I swallow hard.

“Me too,” is all I can whisper.

My aunt’s face twists with pity. “Awww, come on. Let’s get you home, yeah?”

A single tear slips from my eye. It’s not until this very moment that I realize how serious all this is. For the first time in my life the unknown is staring me in the face and I’m scared shitless, yet exhilarated at the same time. I’ve never felt this free—this alive.

Quinn takes one of my suitcases and loads it into the trunk of her mom’s Prius. “I can’t believe you fit all your stuff in two bags. It would’ve taken at least ten for my shoes alone.”

I shake my head and smile. “You and your shoes. I’ve never known anyone more obsessed with them.”

She grins, and it lights up her gorgeous features. “I’d like to think only Imelda Marcos could rival me. I would love to peek in that lady’s closet.”

I roll my eyes as we shut the trunk. “I could think of so many better things to do with my time than explore an eighty-year-old woman’s shoe collection.”

Quinn’s eyes widen like I’ve just cursed her out. “Are you
kidding
me? The woman is famous for having over three thousand pairs of shoes. Aren’t you the least bit curious to see that?”

I laugh as I get in the backseat and Quinn slides in up front next to her mother. “Honestly, I find it a little disgusting and wasteful to have so much excess.”

She shakes her head as she fastens her seatbelt. “Always the realist, aren’t you, Anna? One of these days something is going to break you out of that conservative shell of yours.”