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Chapter 17
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Counterbalance Chapter 18
Every atom in his body wanted to argue her point. But she was right. He'd stood in his apartment not five days ago and told her their attraction couldn't be acted upon. Yet, his damn protective beast couldn't be caged, not with her, and for months, he'd been rattling the chains of restraint, roaring to get free. He was this close to saying screw common sense.She chewed her lip. "Mrs. Atherton is coming our way. Widow, chairman of the garden society, and just had her first grandchild. A girl. I'm going to run to the restroom. Ask her to see pictures of the baby. It'll keep her occupied while I'm gone." She went to step around him. "And remember to smile, Mr. Gaines."Her barb at addressing him formally hit its mark. Napalm right to the chest. To avoid a nervous tick or fidget, he fisted the coin in his left pocket and rubbed his thumb over the engraving as a woman approached.Shit. What was her name? He couldn't recall, but he held out his hand. "You're looking beautiful this evenin
Counterbalance Chapter 19
Peyton shoved the dregs of unconsciousness aside and opened her eyes. Panic and confusion followed as her heartbeat tripped. Aside from Xavier kneeling in front of her, she didn't recognize a thing. Last she remembered, they were in the limo after the benefit."Where am I?"He rubbed his jaw as if suddenly nervous. "My house. I was going to let you sleep, but you have your contacts in and" He gestured toward her dress. Rising, he moved to a dresser.She glanced around. They weren't just at his house, but in his bedroom. Or a guestroom. Maroon and cream striped wallpaper. Four-poster king-size bed with an etched, inlaid design. Matching mahogany dressers. Thick beige carpet. Heavy burgundy drapes covered what looked to be a patio door. A stack of computer manuals and mysteries laid on the nightstand next to a lamp. The place was the size of her entire apartment."How did I get here?"His spine stiffened in the process of rooting through a drawer. "I carried you.""You" Of course,
Counterbalance Chapter 20
Her heart cracked right in two and her eyes filled. Just like that. "Yes."Concern wrinkled his brow. "Don't do that. Please." He brushed his thumb across her cheek as if to check for wetness, then her lower lip. "You are exhausted, aren't you?"She nodded, her chest aching. In all her years, no one but her brother Brian had ever been so unerringly protective, gentle, or charismatically honest with her. "I've never been carried to bed before." She grinned to free the lines of worry from his face. "That was pretty badass, X."He grunted, but a smile followed, melting everything but contentment from his face. "Never done it before, either." With an arm around her back, he slid her across the sheets and flush against him. "Listen to me this time, would you? Go to sleep."After a second, he tugged the blankets around them and resettled. Burying her face in his neck, she breathed him in and the last of her tension dissolved. He rubbed soothing circles over her back and rested his cheek
Counterbalance Chapter 21
By the time Friday rolled around, Xavier was jumping out of his skin. He and Peyton had discussed their...situation last Sunday, had sucked face like bandits to seal the deal, and then she'd gone home. He hadn't kissed her since.They'd agreed to keep the relationship from Gaines Industries and the public eye until they had a better grasp on what to do or in the event things became serious. Except, they were serious now because he hadn't kissed her since. Unsure of the boundaries or expectations, he didn't text or call her unless it was company related. The only time he'd seen her was at work. And damn if fantasy after fantasy about her and his desk didn't pummel him at the most inopportune times. Like the conference call he'd just finished. He shoved away from his computer and paced his office. They were set to head to Napa in two hours. His suitcase and hers were in his car in the parking garage because they'd be leaving right from work. And that was the other thing. Could the
Counterbalance Chapter 22
Dad frownedpart confusion, part irritationand the concern lines on his forehead deepened. Mom's expression seemed more like Xavier had clocked her upside the head with a blunt object. She stood stock still, completely motionless."Uh, as in, we're dating," he hedged.Not a sound. Not even a cricket.Peyton, head down, exuded the quietest ragged exhale in existence. "I told you," she whispered, setting her wounded gaze on him. Pressing a delicate hand to her midsection, she closed her eyes for a beat.His gut plummeted to his knees. "Peyton, honey""I'm going to take a walk." She offered fake smile number four in her arsenal, the one that said she was trying to be polite and not cry in the process, then turned for the door. "Discuss amongst yourselves. I'll be back in a few minutes." Unable to move, he watched her quietly walk out and stared at the wood like that would bring her back. After silence hung, he faced his parents again.Mom tilted her head. "I'm confused. Weren't you
Counterbalance Chapter 23
From first stepping foot inside the Gaines' Napa Valley home two years before, Peyton had loved the place, and her opinion hadn't wavered since then. Four-thousand square feet of rustic chic in rural Italian style. Scents of lavender from the field blended with lemon from the grove, and wafted in through the open window to put her in sensory heaven. Little touches added charm, like the terra cotta tiled roof or the way they'd used an old barn door to design the dining room table.They finished dinner and sipped wine around the table as Xavier's parents talked about their recent trip to Hawaii. With one hand cradling his glass, Xavier idly ran his fingers through the ends of Peyton's hair from the seat beside her, his attention focused on the discussion. He'd always been more comfortable in his parents' presence, but she'd never seen him this happy. No barriers. No hesitation. Just the real him, minus the strain.She suppressed a shiver of delight at the ministration and his relaxed,
Counterbalance Chapter 24
He grunted as he strode down the upstairs hall toward the guestroom. A sharp, quick slap smacked her butt, and he rested his hand over the spot as if to soothe the heat."Kinky."His laugh rumbled through her, and the rough, low sound had her panties damp. He smelled so yummy with his light cologne blending with the scent of outdoors. She wanted to breathe him in and never resurface. His hard muscles shifted against her and she was reminded all over again how mind-blowing it was to be in direct contact with him.He set her down inside the doorway and crowded her against the frame. The lowlight from the dark hallway and dim lamp inside the guestroom cast shadows across the harsh planes of his face. "I wish you'd sleep in my room with me." Leaning closer, he kissed his way across her cheek to her neck, his five o'clock shadow causing a delicious rasp.A tremble tore through her and her breath caught. Any time intimacy was involved, it was like he flipped a switch and Alpha X took o
Counterbalance Chapter 25
After his run, Xavier climbed the stairs and pulled out his earbuds, pausing outside Peyton's bedroom door. He was surprised she was still asleep and hesitated in waking her. She'd seemed exhausted lately and worn around the edges. But his mom was saddling the geldings and waiting for her. Plus, he really wanted to kiss her good morning without an audience.He knocked, but she didn't respond, so he opened the door and stepped inside the guestroom. The drapes were parted over the balcony doors and early morning sunlight fed in through the glass. Her blonde hair poked out from under a heap of blankets and a purple, grape-printed comforter.He walked closer and perched on the edge of the mattress by her hip, smiling. Curled on her side, she slept with one hand under her head and the other tucked to her chest. Her features relaxed, she looked like a sleeping angel with her round cheeks, long pale lashes, and hair light as a halo across the pillow. He fingered the quilt lower to expose mo
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