Chapter 5
XAVIER RIVERA STOOD IN the shadows observing Zane while he stared off at the ocean, or what he’d initially assumed was the sea. It wasn’t until he got closer to his friend that he saw what had caught the man’s eye instead. A beautiful brunette was enjoying some private time with the moonlight and a cocktail. Having known Zane as long as he had, Xavier knew exactly what the other man was thinking.
He hadn’t seen much of the woman outside of her lithe body and long dark hair. She was already halfway inside of her suite by the time he arrived. Judging by Zane’s body language, though, he had gotten quite a good look at her.
“Who is she?” he asked quietly so not to startle his friend.
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out soon.”
Grinning, Xavier shook his head at Zane’s response. When his friend managed to seduce the unsuspecting female, the odds of Xavier also getting to sample her body were good. Actually, they were better than good. It was almost a guarantee.
“What if she is married or here on holiday with another man?” Usually serving as the voice of reason for his hotheaded friend, Xavier waited for Zane’s jaw to unclench.
“I don’t fucking care. I want her and I’ll have her.” Zane was vehement in that, and Xavier knew there would be no talking him out of it.
With that final statement, Xavier watched his friend turn and brush right past him as he walked away. He had to admit that it was good to see Zane finally focusing on something other than his turmoil he had yet to fully deal with.
He was so consumed with guilt and rage over what had happened on the yacht that stormy night. After returning to Washington DC, the blond Dominant essentially closed himself off from almost everyone and everything. He’d tried with Xavier too, but he would have none of that. Having been friends for over a decade, there was no way he would let him slip into the darkness.
It was a miracle in itself that he had even convinced him to accompany him here. Xavier had wanted to escape the harsh winter in DC and figured that spending some time at one of the resorts he owned would be the perfect thing for the two of them. Zane was not the only one who needed to escape the normal chaos of their lives.
All the holiday cheer… All the family togetherness…Xavier shook those thoughts away, personally knowing how much of a fraud the holidays had always been. He hated the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas for so many reasons. The fighting…the competition…It was all enough to make him sick and usually did. It was only when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve that his life would go back to some sort of normalcy, not that that was actually too much better.
Growing up the only heir in a fractured family had its definite drawbacks and this time of year only made them more intolerable. The holidays brought out the worst in everyone he knew and he for one was glad to only have to deal with Zane on this particular one. Last year’s gathering still left a sour taste in his mouth. He had no idea what made his father and stepmother think he was ready to settle down. Maybe they’d wanted something to brag about to the various country clubs they belonged to.
Or maybe they genuinely wanted him to be happy. Xavier was all for that if it had been the case, except the way they intended to do it. He had no plans on getting married and having children. After the hellacious childhood he’d had, creating a family of his own was something he would never allow to happen.
Xavier had an abundance of women ready to kneel at his feet, submitting to his every desire. His life was full of all the material things that mattered to him. He was essentially married to his work and his ambition and drive recently landed him on the Forbes Top 50 Young Entrepreneurs list. His half dozen luxury resorts were spread out all over the globe with plans for another three in the next couple of years.
If something isn’t broke, then don’t fix it.That quote resonated with him and it was how he lived his life. While things in his life were great, there was still the matter of his best friend. Zane was currently hanging on by the thinnest of threads and from the time he’d landed here in Virgin Gorda, Xavier had tried to help him clear his mind.
His thoughts returned to the beautiful woman that both had just seen on the balcony. From what he had seen of her, she didn’t fit the normal mold of women they usually pursued. Variety was the spice of life, though, and maybe something less familiar was what both needed to get through the next week.
“Are you coming back inside?”
Surprised, Xavier spun around at the sound of Zane’s voice. He thought his friend had already gone back to the villa.
Shaking his head, he replied to Zane, “I’m going to stay out here for a few minutes longer.”
“Have it your way then,” came the brusque response.
Heavy footsteps retreated and he knew Zane was truly gone this time. Xavier stood there for a few more minutes, wishing he could have gotten a better look at the woman who had put his friend in hunter mode. The willowy brunette would soon know what it felt like to be prey, but she would ultimately be glad to have been captured. Her time in their captivity would involve more pleasure than she had ever known in her lifetime. The two men would see to that.
She didn’t stand a chance against them. They were not only friends, but Dominants as well. When it came to their personal lives, their focus was even more intense.
Chuckling, Xavier looked over at the French doors, hoping she’d step back outside, but the balcony was empty and the room light had since been turned off. She might run now, but she wouldn’t get very far. In fact, he was positive that Zane was already planning the many things he wanted to do to her.
Making a mental count of the room number, he would help his friend out. Xavier would uncover exactly who she was, if she was there in the room with anyone, and once she was within their grasp, the two men would find out what things would make her scream in ecstasy.
“We’re coming for you, belleza.”
Mentally devising what he’d do, Xavier walked toward his room, now having plans for the rest of the evening that would hopefully lead to even better ones the next day.
When Xavier reached his place, he found Zane already there, his fingers flying over his laptop keyboard. It seemed his friend was indeed conducting his own research. His suspicions turned out to be correct as the blond turned and smirked before uttering two words. “Calista Grant.”