Xeni Read online

  “What are you doing?” Xeni laughed even harder. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes.

  “Not all of us have your confidence.”

  “Here.” Xeni closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. “This is your apartment. You shouldn’t have to hide your shame.”

  “Thank you, but this is for the best. Trust me.”

  She could hear him moving around and then, finally, the right side of the bed dipped under his weight. Xeni was instantly surrounded by the warmth of him. Their legs brushed together under the sheets and another zing of excitement hit her right at the height of her slit. She moved her hands, then rolled over to face him.

  “Sorry, I’m shy,” he said.

  “You’re a lying ass liar, but that’s okay. I thrust my nakedness on you. You didn’t deserve that.”

  “Did you have a nice time?” he asked. The kindness that Xeni didn’t want to get used to returned to his voice.

  “I did. I had a great time. This is going to sound horrible, but I really want you to kiss me again. I have so much shit on my mind and I don’t want to think about any of it right now.”

  “I think we might have to discuss your sense of bad and good.” Mason moved closer, rolling Xeni on to her back with ease. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and just as their lips met, she felt it. His massive cock pressed against her hip. She pulled back, her eyes springing wide.

  “Mason,” she gasped.

  “What?” he said, pretending to be confused.

  She reached under the covers and wrapped her fingers around his sizable length. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. She fondled him, her hand stroking up and down, realizing there was no way in science or in fiction that she was going to be able to wrap her hand around the thick girth. He laughed as her expression pinched further.

  “You were ashamed of this.”

  “I never said I was ashamed. I was hard as a rock and trying not to scare the shit out of you.”

  “Clearly you’ve underestimated your wife.”

  9

  “I don’t have any condoms. I should have asked Silas if he had any stashed around.”

  Disappointment poked at Xeni’s stomach. She realized then, as his hand engulfed her large breast, that she subconsciously had put sex on the table.

  “It’s okay. We can do other things.”

  “Other things like what?”

  Xeni released his erection, reaching up to take the hand that covered her breast. She watched his face closely, noting the few freckles across his nose and the scar in his right eyebrow as she moved his hand down between her legs. She hadn’t touched herself, but she knew she was shamelessly wet, her arousal already creeping toward her thighs.

  She pressed his fingers over her core, parting the short soaked hairs that covered her slit.

  Xeni knew how she liked it, knew how to make herself come in seconds and she could show him, but she wanted it to last. Pressing even harder, she rolled her hips and started moving their hands together in a torturously slow circle.

  “Make me work for it,” she said, trying to be a little bold and mysterious.

  Mason shook his head a bit, his lips curving down in the universal expression of nah. “Maybe next time, love.”

  “Is that right?” Xeni groaned as his fingers moved closer to her slick entrance.

  “It is.” Mason let out a little grunt of his own as he shifted on the bed. “You see, you didn’t ask me what kind of husband I really am.”

  Xeni almost fainted as he leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing hers. “What kind of husband are you?”

  “Cruel. Impatient. Very demanding. If I want you to come, darling, you’re gonna come.”

  “Oh my god, please stop talking. That accent is killing me.”

  He flashed a devilish smile as he slipped one finger inside her cunt.

  “You don’t like it when I talk dirty to you? You’re lucky I can’t remember a lick of Gaelic. You might not survive ’til morning.”

  She tilted her head back into the pillows, but Mason moved before their lips could touch. His eyes traveled over her face and she wondered if he could tell how desperate she was, if the way she was panting or the way her pussy was clenching on his finger was giving her away.

  “Pull back the sheets,” he said before he kissed her. Xeni heard him loud and clear, but she didn’t move except to kiss him back. And she may have squirmed a bit, rolling her hips as his middle finger slowly pumped in and out of her. Her eyes blinked open when he pulled back. She looked at his lips as his tongue crept out like he was still trying to taste her.

  He leaned down and pressed his lips to her ear. A pathetic shiver rippled over every inch of her skin.

  “Move the sheets, love. I don’t want to have to ask you again.”

  “I don’t know who you’re getting all buck with. I’ll move the sheets when I’m good and ready,” Xeni said as she pulled the covers off them both, exposing them to the cool air.

  “Thank you. I didn’t want to suffocate down there.”

  His gaze held hers as he slid to the floor and pulled her down the bed with a firm grip on her hips.

  “I’m a bit out of practice, but if I’m remembering correctly, it should go a little something like this.” Mason leaned down, broad shoulders pushing her thighs farther apart as he licked the length of her pussy. She watched as he turned his head a bit to the side and licked his way slowly back to her clit. A weak moan slipped from Xeni’s mouth. Her eyes wanted to close, but needed to watch. She needed the sight of her juices all in his beard burned into her memory.

  He pushed two fingers back into her cunt and set about gently sucking and licking her clit. She hadn’t had her pussy ate in fourteen election cycles or so, and it had never been this good. As a matter of fact, her ex had been so bad at it she’d asked him to skip the act all together. Of course, his selfish ass didn’t mind because it just meant more time with Xeni bouncing on his dick. But now Xeni couldn’t even remember that bum’s name. Mason McInroy knew exactly what he was doing. Xeni eased up on her elbow so she could get a better view of his fingers covered in her juices and the way his tongue was working overtime to lap them up. She realized then that his left hand was busy between his own legs.

  “Are you stroking your dick?”

  A wink was his only reply.

  “Don’t. Don’t do that either. Don’t you dare wink at me,” she groaned. “Shit.” Her eyes slammed closed again as a tiny orgasm rushed through her. She wanted more. So much more. She wanted him inside of her. She wanted to feel that thick cock punishing her pussy from the inside. She flopped back onto the bed, pinching her own nipples as her hips arched against the sheets.

  “Fuck, Mason. Oh my—fuck.” She came, harder, feeling herself squirt a little even though her body was fighting against it. She was done, completely wrecked. She scrambled to get away from him, trying to move up the bed, but he wouldn’t let go. He gripped her thigh with his whole ass arm and kept up the punishing strokes with the two fingers buried deep inside her. She came again, so hard she was sure she blacked out for just a second.

  “Have you had enough?” he grunted, making her pussy clench all over again.

  “Yes,” she whined. “Yes. I’m done.”

  She looked down as he dragged a trail of her wetness over her thighs with his fingers, then followed the damp streaks with open mouthed kisses and swipes of his tongue. Yeah, this asshole knew exactly what he was doing. Xeni was aching all over again by the time his lips hit her hips.

  Finally he sat back, wiping his mouth with his forearm.

  “I hate to end this perfect wedding night,” he said. “But I have to be up at four-thirty.”

  “Wait. You didn’t come,” Xeni said. She usually made guys work for head, but she was ready to get to sucking.

  “Yes, I did.” Mason did something around his groin area, then held up what had been a fresh tube sock.

  “You’re nasty. Talented, but nasty.”


  “You have no idea.” She watched him as he stood and walked into the bathroom, where he most likely tossed the sock into the hamper she’d seen in there. When he came back, he was walking upright and she got a glimpse of his semi-erect cock. Before she went back to L.A., she might have to take on the challenge of maximum-length Mason.

  “It’s a shame I have to leave soon,” she said as he pulled the covers back over them.

  “We better ask how soon you can divorce me, ’cause as long as you’re my wife, I’ll always come after you.”

  “Oh, is that right?”

  “I licked it, so it’s mine,” he whispered in her ear right before he slapped her ass.

  “Jesus,” Xeni actually squealed. Before she could recover, he used his grip on her butt to pull her closer.

  He kissed her on the mouth once more, then pressed his lips softly to her forehead. “Goodnight.” He turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness.

  “Well, goodnight then,” Xeni chuckled a little bit, but she didn’t stop herself from settling into his arms. Fuck, he was warm. Mason fell asleep almost immediately. Xeni lay awake, listening to his low rhythmic breathing.

  She knew he was just teasing about coming after her when she left town, but part of her almost wished it was true. For once in her life, it would be nice to be pursued. Even if she was already married to the guy.

  “Dude. Did you get married last night?” Ernesto came back to the kitchen, tying his apron around his waist.

  “That is correct. It was a beautiful evening.” Mason shot his fry cook a smile, but didn’t take his eyes off the griddle top. He had four breakfast combos in the works for table two.

  “Congrats, man!”

  “Thank you.”

  Mason figured he had twelve hours before news of his marriage to Xeni spread around the farm. Reggie and Tina, their orchard managers, had shown up to the wedding and Mason hadn’t had time to swear them to secrecy before Deborah was rushing them through their vows. He was sure they’d tell a few people here and there, but they weren’t the problem. The problem was Maya and Ginny.

  They knew when to keep deadly secrets to themselves, but he knew a quickie wedding, even if just to keep himself out from under the financial thumb of his father, didn’t fall under the criteria of top secret. As soon as the cannery opened, the news would spread across the farm, into town and probably throughout the county. They might even drop mention of it into the Farm newsletter.

  “Really? That’s awesome, but last I knew, you were on some quest for monkhood. Like, single as fuck. Who the fuck did you marry?”

  Ernesto knew the handful of women who’d come knocking on Mason’s door. He’d even tried to set Mason up with his step-sister after her divorce. But he also knew Mason’s take on the whole idea of relationships. He had no room in his life for romantic attachments at the moment. He had no direction, no future, and if his father had been right about one thing, Mason needed to figure all that out before he dragged some poor woman along for the ride. He’d taken what some viewed to be a vow of celibacy and, no thanks to Maya and Ginny, rumors spread. Mason had taken himself off the market, but now he had a wife.

  “Ms. Everly’s niece,” he said.

  “Really? The chick who came in here the other day with Maya’s mom?”

  “Very same.” He plated the sides and eggs, and slid them under the warmer just as the timers on the waffle irons went off. Shelby, one of their two first-shift servers, swung by the counter just as they were ready. She grabbed the plates, but didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get them to their intended destinations.

  “So, you really are married?” she said. “This is wild. Do we get to meet her?”

  “You already met her on Tuesday. She had lunch with Bess.”

  “Oh, I remember her. Gosh, she’s seemed so cool, and her hair? I know, I’m White, but I wish I had hair like that.”

  “Your hair is plenty cool.” Shelby was currently rocking a style that was blue at the roots, then changed from purple to pink. The customers complimented her on it all the time.

  “I know, but my hair is so flat. I would kill for those curls. Plus, she was, like, super pretty. I can’t believe you married her. Did you know her? Like, before?”

  Mason nodded to the plates on her arm. “Those are looking for a home.”

  Shelby rolled her eyes, then effortlessly glided across the diner. She was back before Mason could get another batch of eggs going. “Well, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t, but Ms. Sable thought we’d be a good match and we decided why not.”

  “That’s so… romantic,” Shelby sighed and her whole body sagged. When she spoke again, a familiar wobble returned to her voice. “I miss her.”

  “I miss her too, Shelbs.”

  “We should do something. Maybe ask Silas if we can get a little plaque for her table. It’s so strange not seeing her every day.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “So, are you guys gonna have a party or anything to celebrate? This is a big deal. You’re married!” Shelby said.

  “Probably not. Just gonna enjoy married life,” he said with a smile. “You have some new friends at table four.”

  “Oh.” Shelby glanced over her shoulder at the couple that joined the elder man who was almost finished his breakfast. She shook her head. “He said they weren’t coming. Excuse me.”

  Mason laughed a bit, focusing back on his work. He knew he’d be explaining himself for months to come. He didn’t mind people knowing, but he wasn’t looking forward to the questions people were going to ask when she went back to California. A thirty-day marriage wasn’t the worst thing to happen in their small town and it wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen to Mason. So far, it was the opposite.

  He and Xeni has agreed on a cordial, honest partnership and while he’d been attracted to her from the moment they’d met, he had no idea the night would end with her naked in his bed.

  She wasn’t the only one who had been struggling with complex feelings of loss and loneliness. For as long as she was in town, Mason was willing to admit that he would take whatever comfort she could give him.

  “So, what’s she like?”

  “I’ll ask her to come by Cozy’s sometime if you guys stop asking me questions.” Mason usually met up with Ernesto and a few of the other guys in town at the bowling alley/bar now that Silas’s weekends were spent with his family. He knew Xeni would reply to that request with an enthusiastic no, but Ernesto didn’t need to know that.

  “Done. I can’t believe you’re married. It’s crazy.”

  The previous night and this morning flashed through his mind again.

  He’d expected a little pushback when he woke Xeni up at four-fifteen so he could ask her for her keys. He’d wanted to let her sleep in as long as she could, but he didn’t want her to have to walk clear across the farm by herself to get her car. She’d reached for her bag and dug for the keys while her eyes were still closed. Before Mason could leave, she’d called him back to the bed and pulled the covers down, exposing her breasts.

  “To remember me by,” she’d said, her voice raspy with sleep. Then she snuggled back into the covers like she hadn’t just flashed him. Mason didn’t know what to make of Xeni, but damn, he really liked the girl.

  He fed two dozen more people before Tamara came in to take over. He ran upstairs to change and grab the relevant paperwork he needed, then headed out back to his SUV. He checked his phone as the air conditioning cranked up. Liz and Ginny had sent over a bunch of pictures and videos from the wedding, but his pulse jumped at the text alert from Xeni.

  Hey hubby.

  We moved the meeting to my aunt’s house.

  Same time, but don’t rush.

  Get here when you can.

  “Shit,” Mason said, dropping his phone in the cup holder. He was definitely going to be late.

  When Mason arrived, he didn’t see any other cars in the driveway. He usually came in the si
de door that led into the kitchen, but this time he walked to the front and rang the bell. When Xeni opened the door, he was stunned by how good she looked, even better than the night before. Her thick hair was up, piled on top of her head. She was wearing loose, flowy pants and a skin-tight t-shirt. Her breasts looked amazing.

  “Hey, come on in. Ms. Jordan got stuck in traffic. You’re the first one here.”

  Mason’s eyebrow went up as he smirked. “So, we’re alone.”

  “We are, but I’m not blowing you on the porch, so please come inside. It’s hot as hell.”

  He laughed and followed her through the house to the large remodeled kitchen. Xeni had set out refreshments on the kitchen island. She turned toward him and leaned against the counter. He knew she could feel what he felt. Whatever had happened between them the night before, that energy, that pull, it was still there. Xeni cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders like she was trying not to notice it.

  “I asked Mr. Barber if we could move things here so you’d have somewhere to sit. I can’t believe he made you stand that whole time. That was so rude.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s nothing. Just basic home training. You don’t make your clients stand. Can I offer you something to drink? And I am offering as a hostess catering to guests, not as your wife.”

  Mason crossed the room and stopped just inside Xeni’s personal space. He didn’t know what it was about her, but now that he’d had a taste of the way things could be, a taste of her, he didn’t want to go back to being strangers.

  Xeni gazed up at him, puffing out her chest. Her confidence was sexy as hell and far from a turn-off.

  “Can I help you?” she rasped out.

  “Did you enjoy yourself last night?” Mason asked.

  Xeni scoffed, then walked backwards toward the fridge and grabbed the door handle like it would keep her from floating away. “No. No way. I’m not stroking your ego.”