Chapter 25: Xavier


    Xavier bided his time. Laurel had been polite but distant over dinner and drinks and then all through the


    drive home. He had a hunch about the reason too. She’d gone white as a sheet at the sight of the kid in


    the sses at Mack’s. She’d torn out in a panic, and he’d almost followed, but he knew her better than


    to barge into her problems. It would have only backfired on him. So he’d stayed behind and turned his


    animal hearing up to full volume, listening in from a safe distance instead.


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    Her co-worker hadn’t been overly friendly or epting of herpany, and Laurel was worried. He


    hadn’t been surprised at that. Or the way she’d tried going all alpha to cover up her fear. He knew now


    that was what she did.


    At the table on the deck, none of the crew said a word about it which let him know they’d heard it too.


    Fuck, his woman wasplicated. And bossy. And too damn proud to admit when she wasing at


    a problem wrong.


    At the Lodge, he let her go up to her room without a fight. He went to his, just down the hall, and waited


    for her toe to him, but she never did. The evening turned to midnight and still, Laurel didn’te


    to him. He should have guessed she wouldn’t, but it still stung after everything they’d shared.


    By one in the morning, he’d tossed and turned enough. He couldn’t take this shit anymore. He threw


    the covers back and padded to her room, flinging the door open without bothering to knock or tread


    softly. He stood over her sleeping form, his anger dissipating at the sight of her all tucked into the


    downyforter, hands curled under her chin.


    God, she looked so helpless.


    His bear took one look at her and wanted only to protect.


    He hesitated in waking her, warring with himself over why he was pushing her so hard in the first ce.


    He was just as scared as she was about what it would mean to im each other. A mate. He’d been


    running from that idea for ten years now. He couldn’t be that guy again. The one who shrugged off his


    duties for sex or love or whatever the fuck.


    Laurel stirred, and Xavier felt all of his reservations crumble. He eased in beside her, careful to not


    jostle her too much and wake her. She sighed as he pulled her gently against him, tucking her close.


    “Mmm,” she mumbled, cuddling against his bare chest. The ends of her hair tickled but he didn’t mind.


    He ran his hands over her hip, relishing the silky fabric of her nightie against his fingers. Of course, she


    had sexy pajamas. All the best things about her were hidden away from everyone else, and for the first


    time, he wasn’t going toin about that.


    He ran his hand along her hipbone and down her thigh, and Laurel sighed. “This is either the best


    dream I’ve ever had, or the creepiest cop-a-feel anyone’s ever given me,” she saidzily. There was


    teasing in her words, and again, Xavier shoved his earlier temper aside in favor of yfulness.


    “How about we call it something in between,” he said, nipping her earlobe.


    Laurel squeaked, and heughed until she moved against him, rolling her hips forward. Hisughter


    died, and he tightened his grip on her, dragging her in and pressing them together.


    “You want the sex of your dreams,e and get it, Mrs. Alpha,” he said.