Page 27 of Enjoying the Band in Lockdown

“No. No. No.” Xavier lifted my chin until our foreheads lightly touched. “I don’t want you to go. But I don’t know how to get you to stay.”

“I’m here.”

“But for how long?”

“Until you ask me to leave.”

“But the other guys?”

“They’ve been fun, and at least you haven’t killed each other out of boredom.”

“Chase is in love with you.”

“He’s a sweetheart.”

“Devon counts the minutes in between fucking you.”

“He makes waking up fun, wish you could join us more often.”

“Jax.”

“Yes, Jax,” I sighed. “Harmless kisses can’t break us unless you let them.”

“Are they harmless? He calls you his little Lolita. I’ve never seen him like this over a woman.”

“They all say the same about you. Apparently, Xavier Galis doesn’t exceed a one-night limit.”

“Fuck, Sydney. You exceeded my limit the first night. We’ve done things—”

“I know,” I interrupted. “You’ve been my first in a lot of ways, too.”

“When are you gonna tell me about the texts?”

“How much do you know?”

“Only that someone’s found you.” He looked for my reaction, “And if I knew you any better, I’d say you’re scared.”

“Oh.”

“Sydney, I can’t protect you if I don’t know what I’m protecting you from.”

“Oh, Xavier, if it comes to that, you won’t be able to protect me.”

“Will you run, again? Change your name, move towns and run?”

“Xavier, please hold me.” I clung to his chest like a starving woman. Wanting to give him the answers but knowing the volcano of hell it’d unleash. Distraction was my only hope. “Xavier, tell me what you want.”

“I want to fuck you in every position known to man, and woman,” he forced a laugh. “I want to watch your eyes as you are fucked by Devon. I want to watch your body fold around mine after Chase has had his way. I want Trent to fall in love with you and stop being the gloomy bastard we know and love.”

“Xav?”

“Yes.”

“I promise to tell you everything after the concert, if you still want me.”

“Not enough.”

“Why?” I’d just given Xavier a timetable, a deadline to tell him everything he’d been wanting to know. What else could he want?

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