Page 52 of Not All Himbos Wear Capes
To my surprise, he didn’t immediately leave. “Go on without me,” he murmured, turning to the closest filing cabinet. “I have some research of my own to conduct.”
CHAPTER24
BUTCH
It happened again.
I’d been ordered to fly inland and eliminate the West Coast Strickland clan. This would normally be child’s play for a supe as powerful as me—especially since I’d already killed two of their most dangerous family members—but I collapsed almost as soon as I was done.
Luckily, Biggs had sent a SWAT team in after me to collect evidence of the Stricklands’ plot to destroy Big City. It was those officers who found me groaning on the blood-covered floor. Word couldn’t get out that Captain Masculine was showing any sign of weakness, so—yet again—I was sent to my parents’ estate to recover.
I really need to update my emergency contact with HR.
To my surprise, my phone was waiting for me on the bedside table when I woke up, so I immediately called the only person who could make me feel better.
“Hey, baby.” Simply hearing Xander’s voice magically fixed everything that was broken. “I was just thinking about how perfect you are.”
“Oh, yeah?” I squirmed happily, even though he couldn’t see how his praise affected me. In only a short time, this man had made me feel more worthy than anyone else had in my entire life—including those who worshipped me as Captain Masculine.
Because that’s not really who I am.
“Yeah,” he chuckled low—the only warning that trouble was imminent. “Like howperfectlyyou took my cock all weekend and how I can’t wait to fuck you again.”
“Xan!” I hissed, willing myself to not get an erection in my parents’ guest bedroom. “I can’t… not right now.”
He laughed in that unapologetic way of his, making meacheto be with him. “What’s the matter? Doesn’t Biggs put you up at a nice hotel when he ships you out of town?”
“I ended up back at my parents’ house…” I sighed. Xander already knew this aspect of my life, so there was no point in keeping it a secret.
Although it’s not the entire story.
The truth was, after spending all of Monday in the Biggs Enterprises situation room, I’d called Xan en route, then snuck in some sleep before spending Tuesday night through Wednesday morning wiping an entire villain clan from existence.
“Way to kill my boner, sweetheart,” he teased before clearing his throat. “You didn’t have to sit through another one of those…betrothaldinners, did you?”
“No,” I cautiously replied, since my parents could be planning a dinner as we spoke.
My powers roiled at the thought of being taken away from Xander—of being forced to be with someone else. As far as I knew, no papers had been signed between the Lincoln and the Holt families, but I knew how quickly these business deals went down.
I don’t want to be a bargaining chip.
“Did I lose you, sweetheart?” The line crackled with static from my flare up.
You’ll never lose me.
“I’m here.” I forced some cheer, quickly regaining control of my powers so he could hear me. “But I think I need to grow a pair and go talk to my parents about this.”
Xander’s tone was soothingly bossy. “Just use your words, baby. No one should make you do anything you don't want to.”
We said our goodbyes, and I took a few deep breaths, like I’d seen Xander do when he got upset. I needed to approach this conversation clearheaded—otherwise they wouldn’t listen, and my mother might fry my veins again.
While my father would do worse.
After getting dressed in the preppy clothes left out for me, I stuffed my phone in my pocket and went searching for a—hopefully—fair fight. My tension lessened exponentially when I passed the dining room on my way and saw our housekeeper setting the table for three. With a smile, I realized Xander probably only ordered takeout because he’d also been raised in a house full of staff.
Maybe I’ll learn how to cook for us...
Arriving at my father’s home office, I froze with my hand on the doorknob. My parents were loudly arguing on the other side of the door, which was highly unusual. I wouldn’t claim Smoldering Siren and Vortexio were inlove,but their strategic union had always been a friendly match, and I’d never heard them outrightyellat each other.
