Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2) (2 page)

The boss presses a small red button on the console next to him. “Back to the hotel to drop Xavier and Anna off, please.”

“Right away, sir,” the driver replies. The car begins to move.

He adjusts the gray tie he’s wearing and then locks eyes with me. “A couple of shows ago, I seem to recall having a discussion with you about following the script to a T and reminding you that I don’t like lawsuits. It appears, that discussion fell upon deaf ears, seeing as how I just came down to bail you out of jail because you’d beaten one of my other employees unconscious during a live show.”

There’s no denying what he’s saying.

I square my shoulders and lift my chin, ready to face the consequences of my actions head-on. “Yes, I did all those things, and while I’m sorry that it’s landed me in some deep shit, I’m not sorry that I did it. Rex had it coming. He got personal and took it to a level that it should never have gone to.”

“While I don’t doubt that Rex was a son of a bitch to you, the cold, hard truth here is that we have rules in place for a reason. No matter what he said or did, you should’ve kept your cool.”

“I know. I’ve been trying hard to work on my temper.”

“You’ve put me in a predicament here, X. Both you and Rex are the future of my company—you, in particular. You’ve been the topic of a lot of marketing strategies now that Brian wants to step back and spend more time with his wife and little girl. We need someone who can takeover his role, someone the crowd will really get behind. I’m struggling with going against my company policy and trying to make all of this go away for you. I need to work it so that the company can still benefit from you.”

My mouth drops open a bit. “Are you saying that I’m not fired?”

Anna bites her bottom lip, trying not to smile, like she doesn’t want to show any excitement until it’s confirmed that my dream hasn’t been crushed.

“I’m saying that you are too valuable to fire. Your popularity means money for Tension, and that’s good for business, which is why I bailed you out. I’ve got a meeting with some local connections tomorrow. I have to put a spin on this situation, saying that it was a match that got out of hand, that everything was actually a part of the show, and that the cops intervened when they weren’t needed.”

I roll my eyes. “Rex will never go along with that. He’ll press charges just to see me suffer. That motherfucker hates me.”

“I’ve already worked things out with Rex. He’ll agree to save your ass, if I make him the next champion.”

I should be grateful for this easy out, but I can’t stop myself from being pissed.

The muscle in my jaw flexes beneath my skin. Rex getting the belt this way is soul-crushing. That championship should’ve been mine, and had I not lost my fucking head, I would be on my way to wrapping that gold around my waist. Instead, I practically handed Rex the belt on a silver fucking platter.

I always fuck up everything good in my life, which is why I’m holding on to Anna with both hands and doing my best to do right by her. If that means allowing Rex this short-lived victory to keep me from being behind bars, then that’s the way it has to be. I need this job more than anything to support Anna and to prove to her that I can take care of her every need.

“The problem is”—He rubs his chin—“it doesn’t seem like the mandatory vacation I sent you on was enough distance between you and Rex, so I’m suspending you, X. I have to make an example out of you, so the other employees see that, no matter who you are, they cannot pull stunts like this and walk away from this matter scot-free.”

I hate the idea of not being able to work, but it’s a hell of a lot better than rotting in jail or spending all my time on probation. My boss will get no argument out of me on this one.

I sigh. “For how long?”

“Three months,” he answers matter-of-factly. “And during that time period, you will not be permitted in any arena where we hold shows. Hell, I don’t even want to hear about you being in the same city as Tension while you’re suspended.”

I nod. “Fine. Stay the hell away—I got it. Anna and I will head back to Detroit until this is finished.”

“No, only you. This suspension doesn’t apply to Anna. She’ll still be required to show up to every show as scheduled.”

The thought of Anna being alone where Rex and Deena can get to her while I’m not there to protect her is more than I can fucking handle. I can’t allow that to happen. I’m supposed to watch over her. How am I supposed to do that if I’m hundreds of miles away in another state?

“That’s not going to happen,” I retort. “If I’m not there, Anna isn’t going. You don’t need her.”

“Fine.” He shrugs. “That’s on you, but I will fire her if she doesn’t show up, and when your suspension is lifted, I will not allow her back into the building during any of our shows.”

I narrow my eyes. “You can’t do that. That’s blackmail.”

He releases a bitter laugh from the back of his throat. “Have you forgotten who you’re talking to? I own Tension. I can do whatever I please.”

I drag my fingers through my hair.

Fuck.

What in the hell am I supposed to do here? I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t. There’s only one real option left.

My eyes lock with his. “Maybe I should quit then.”

“To do what? A man with a temper like yours needs this job, so don’t be ridiculous. Anna is imperative to the storylines. That’s it. Play along and do as I ask for the next three months, and all will be forgiven. Then, you can get back in the ring and go after that championship spot.”

I shake my head. I won’t sacrifice being with Anna for the sake of my job.

I open my mouth to tell my boss this very thing when Anna leans forward and quickly glances at me before turning her attention to our boss.

“That’s a generous offer, sir. We’ll figure out a way to make it work. I will be at the shows. I don’t want to jeopardize my privileges to be backstage with Xavier when his suspension is lifted. Being with him is all that matters to me.”

“Anna . . .” I say her name like a warning.

She stares at me. “I know what you’re thinking, but I’ll be fine. I can handle things while you’re gone. Besides, it won’t be forever. We’ll be apart for only a few days out of the month. We’ll get through it.”

“Listen to her, X. She’s smart, and she has your best interest in mind.”

I know she does.

Anna has been nothing but good for me. I trust her. I absolutely loathe the idea of her being at Tension without me, but what other choice do I have than to agree right now? Being hotheaded has done nothing but fuck things up for me, so I need to learn to be sensible. So, I’ll put on a front that I support this until I can talk some sense into her.

“Fine. But after my three-month suspension is over, you have to give me a chance to win the belt.”

I know it’s ballsy for a man in my position to make any demands, but being the champion is something I still really want.

“Of course. The fans would expect nothing less. I’ll see to it that whoever possesses the belt—”

“I don’t want just anyone. I want Rex in the ring.” That’s one part of my deal that has to be crystal clear. There’s only one person I want to see in that ring when I return, only one person I want to inflict some pain on while I strip him of the thing he values most in this world.

He nods. “That would make an epic showdown. I’ll grant that request—as long as you heed my warning and stay away from the show until your suspension is over, and I’ve had time to promote the buildup of your return.”

The car pulls up at the hotel and parks in front of the entrance as I mull over his stipulation. Staying away from Anna is the last thing I want to do. Not a day has gone by since I met her that we haven’t been together, and as much as I don’t like it, I know I have to allow this to happen. But I swear to God, if Rex fucks with her in any way, no one will be able to pull me off of him the next time.

“Understood,” is all I say before I open the car door and let myself out. I stretch my hand to help Anna out of the car. “Come on, beautiful.”

Anna clings to me as we head back to our hotel room. I kiss the top of her head as we wait on the elevator. As fucked up as this situation is, it could’ve been a hell of a lot worse.

L
ocked away in our hotel room, there are no prying eyes.

I finally have Xavier all to myself.

I wrap my arms around him, needing to feel his skin against me.

When I saw the cops carting Xavier out of that fight in handcuffs, my entire world crumbled before my eyes. We’d finally been getting to a good place, and then all hell broke loose and shook up our world.

Kneeling down in front of Xavier on that mat earlier tonight was the worst moment of my life. I hated seeing him lose control, jeopardizing everything he’d worked for. That cut me to the core. It should’ve never gotten to that point, but Rex wouldn’t back off, and Xavier isn’t the type to back down.

The thing I hadn’t expected was for Xavier to say he loved me. It crushed me—that the second he’d admitted how he felt about me, he was being hauled off to jail.

“You don’t know how scared I was that I was going to lose this,” I whisper as Xavier holds me tight and the events from the match feel like a distant memory.

He rests his chin on top of my head. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll find my way back to you . . . always.”

His words make me melt right on the spot. If someone would have told me that the overly sexual beast of a man that I met on the plane would say words that make me swoon—obliterate my panties sure, but promising to always be in my life?—well, I never would’ve seen it coming.

It’s like what had happened to him in the ring somehow changed his perspective on everything. He was always so reluctant to make any type of promises or commitments before, even once telling me that he wasn’t the marrying type. This feels like a good step in the right direction for us, regardless of all the craziness surrounding us tonight.

Xavier rubs small circles on my back, and it causes me to sigh before I snuggle into his chest.

“You tired?” he asks.

It doesn’t hit me until then how exhausted I actually am. Tonight’s been stressful, and I’m sure, if I allow myself to close my eyes for even the briefest time, I’d fall asleep on the spot.

But I refuse to let go of Xavier. When I thought they would lock him up and throw away the key, the opportunity to hold him against me anytime I wanted felt like it was quickly being ripped away. So, for now, I choose to stay here, in his presence, breathing him in as much as I possibly can.

I tilt my head up and stare into his light-blue eyes. “I’m ready for bed, but I don’t want to sleep just yet.”

For the first time since the chaos of the day began, Xavier smiles, but it’s not just any smile. It’s the heart-stopping one-sided smirk that drives me out of my ever-loving mind.

“Have I turned my good girl naughty?”

I give him my best wicked grin. “Afraid so. I can’t seem to get enough of you.”

His large hands cradle my face. “Glad to hear it because I’m fucking addicted to you.”

His lips press on mine, and I’m immediately lost in his kiss. The stubble on his face scratches my fingertips as I trace his jawline.

“I need you.”

A wicked gleam is in his eyes. “Is that so?”

Xavier bends down and nips my lower lip. “You don’t know how much it turns me on when you ask for it. It takes every ounce of willpower in my body to stop myself from throwing you down on that bed and ravaging every inch of your body for my pleasure.”

At the very thought of what that would be like, my pulse races under my skin. “What’s stopping you?”

“You’re too sweet for that.” He leans in and runs his nose along my cheek, causing my entire body to quiver with anticipation. “And because you’re not ready to go there—to allow me to have full control—yet.”

“How do you know?” I take a deep breath as my chest heaves. “You don’t always have to be gentle with me, Xavier. If you want me, then take me. I want to please you.”

Heat from his parted lips brushes against the sensitive skin on my neck, causing my toes curl. It’s amazing how turned on this man can make me with a few simple touches and naughty promises of pleasure. No one else has ever made me feel this way.

“You sure about that, beautiful?” His eyes are hooded with desire.

“Yes.” I slide my hand under his shirt, allowing my fingertips to dance across the toned muscles in his abdomen. “Don’t hold back.”

That seems to be all the permission he needs because his touch shifts from gentle to demanding in a flash.

His fingers thread in my hair as he pins my head in place so that he can crush his lips to mine. His slick tongue glides over my lips, begging for entrance. I open my mouth, and he thrusts his tongue inside, a low growl emitting from his throat.

To know he’s enjoying this kiss as much as I am makes my sex clench.

“I need you naked.” Xavier’s fingers find the hem of my shirt, his pinkie grazing the bare skin along my side, before he whips it over my head with more grace than should be allowed for such a big man. The pads of his fingers caress the mound of flesh spilling out of the cup of my bra before he reaches behind me and unhooks it with ease.

I expect him to work on removing the bra straps, but he instead grabs the backs of my thighs and picks me up. His long hair twists between my fingers as all the playfulness leaves his face, and things turn serious while his eyes search mine.

Xavier slowly rakes his teeth over his bottom lip in a deliberately sexy manner. “I love you so fucking much, Anna. Don’t ever leave me.”

“Never.”

He presses his lips to mine, so tender that it almost feels hesitant. “You can stop me at any time.”

Before I can question what he means, a shriek escapes me as he tosses me onto the edge of the bed. I bounce against the mattress, and Xavier immediately climbs on top of me. He kisses me fiercely, and it’s obvious that our talking session is now over. He removes the white lacy fabric from my chest and then wraps his mouth around the taut pink flesh standing at full attention before him.