He’s wearing his customary black t-shirt, black cargo pants, and boots. I scan his body for signs of injury or illness but find nothing to indicate he’s unwell. It only makes this conversation more bizarre.

“Your behavior is a problem, Delilah.”

I purse my lips. “You’re going to have to be more specific.”

“You’ve been fraternizing with crows.”

His eyes flicker to the door and then my throat. Or maybe I’m just paranoid. In the dim lighting, I could’ve imagined the way he pointedly looked at my neck like he knows what Eric did to me. If Xavier does know, it’s not because I told him.

“And if I was?” I ask, my irritation rising to the surface.

He rises from the chair like a wraith from the mist. I wait for his reprimand, but he suddenly pivots and throws the knife. It slices through the air and finds its mark in the crest above the fireplace. The blade is buried deep inside the crow’s head, embedded into the wood, the handle quivering from the force of the impact.

The skill and control is impressive, but it’s also a warning, a silent message of what he’s capable of.

I jump at the display of violence, my eyes widening and darting between Xavier and the knife. He turns back around to face me, his expression blank, but his eyes gleam with rage.

“You deliberately went to Benjamin after I told you not to,” he says.

I lift my chin. “He’s family. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Do you know what crows do, little raptor? They lie, steal, and kill.”

“Well, maybe you should convince me that you want me as a bride instead of letting someone else do it.”

Without a word, Xavier stalks toward the bed and reaches out to snatch the blanket. He rips it from my body, leaving me exposed in nothing except his t-shirt and my panties. After gripping the headboard, he straddles my hips, his chest brushing mine.

My breathing halts when he snatches my jaw and lifts my head, forcing my gaze to his. “Who’s doing the convincing, Delilah?”

“Ben.”

His expression darkens. “Don’t lie.”

“I’m not. He’s the one who said you wouldn’t trade me for another bride.”

His gaze narrows. “Why would you think that?”

I bite my lip as my jealousy bleeds all over my heart, painting it green. Xavier’s silver eyes glint with something carnal before he uses his thumb to pull my bottom lip from between my teeth.

“Stop fucking distracting me,” he says. “Why would you think I’d want to trade you?”

“Brenda.” Although his body is pressed to mine and his fingers are on my skin, her name is a wedge between us.

“What did she tell you?” he asks.

“That you two have history.”

“And you believed her? She’s an addict.”

I shrug. “I saw you guys leave the garden library together. I saw the way she looked at you and heard the way she said your name. She wants to be your bride.”

He scoffs and shakes his head. “If I wanted her, she’d be mine.”

Profound relief sweeps through me like a cool breeze. I hate myself for it. I could lie to myself and say it’s because I’m scared to be Eric’s bride, but I know it’s more than that.

I don’t want Xavier to give me up.

He makes me feel things I’ve never experienced. He is like a drug, making me high on his touch and addicted to his praise. I don’t know how to stop myself from wanting him.

“Well, Brenda didn’t get the message,” I say.

“I don’t give a fuck what she wants. And you shouldn’t either. Right now, you need to be concerned with what I want.”

“What’s that?”

“So many things… but you can start by telling me what happened last night.” He tightens his hold on me. It’s not enough to hurt me, but it gets my attention. “If you’re planning on lying to me, don’t.”

“If you already know, then why the hell are you asking me?”

“Because I want to hear it from you.”

My heart pounds furiously in my chest, drowning out my shallow breaths. I’m not sure if Xavier wants me to tell him about Eric assaulting me or that I hung out with Ben and got drunk. Both things are sure to piss him off. Well, more than he already is.

“I got drunk,” I say, choosing the lesser of the two evils. “Is that what you want to hear?”

Xavier doesn’t move. His breathing remains even and his gaze steady. If it weren’t for the slight clenching of his jaw, I wouldn’t know he’s affected by what I said.

“You put yourself at risk,” he says. “If anything were to happen to you…”

He slides his fingers from my jaw, across my cheek, and weaves them through my hair. He grips the strands until I gasp from discomfort. And arousal.

With his free hand, he traces my lips, one then the other. “What to do about your disobedience…”

I glare up at him. “If you want an apology, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Oh, I’ll be coming, all right.” He abruptly releases me and slides from the bed. Standing with his legs shoulder-width apart and his arms crossed, he watches me. “Get up.”

The look is a silent warning that has a shiver running through me. Xavier watches the tremor, and a slow smile spreads across his face. My throat goes dry.

“Now, Delilah.”

His firm tone has heat pooling in my lower belly. I climb out of the bed, careful not to touch him. Because the minute I do, my body will take over, and it’ll surrender to him.

“On your knees, bride.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “What are you going to do?”

“Fuck your mouth. Unless you prefer I take that tight pussy of yours? Given the mood I’m in, I’ll wreck it.”

“Xavier, wait.” I fist my hands by my sides, my body trembling. I can’t discern if it’s from anticipation or unease. “Why are you doing this?”

“I warned you that you’d learn exactly what happens when you don’t listen to me. And you said, ‘can’t fucking wait.’”

He takes a step forward, backing me up against the edge of the bed. His body crowds mine, and his scent wraps around me, overwhelming my senses. He lowers his head until his mouth is next to my ear.

“You still looking forward to getting fucked, Delilah?”

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Chapter 47DELILAH

Idig my nails into my palms, indecision warring within me. Xavier can overpower me in an instant, but does that mean I shouldn’t fight him? The truth is I don’t want to.

Xavier wanting me is something I can’t walk away from.

When I sink to my knees, his gaze flares with lust. “That’s my good girl,” he says, his voice rough.

Now my eyes widen. His praise is a reward, a small dose of his affection, and the way it affects me is a weakness. It makes me crave his approval.

I swallow the nerves gathering in my throat and stare up at him, unsure what he expects of me. Embarrassment, along with excitement, heats my face. He’s aware of my innocence, but I have no idea if he knows about my inexperience when it comes to this type of thing.

He unbuckles his belt, and my eyes track the movement. After pushing his pants and briefs down, his cock juts forward. It’s long, thick, and hard. The tip glistens, and my eyes widen further.

Xavier’s gaze drops to my mouth. “You’re going to learn to obey me.”

“Or what?”

He wraps a hand around his cock and strokes the length of it from base to tip, ever so slowly. I stop breathing at the erotic sight. It makes me want to touch him, to be the one gripping him.

He smirks. “Or I'm going to fuck this mouth of yours until it says what I want to hear.”

Xavier steps forward and brushes the tip of his cock against my mouth. He paints my lips with his pre-cum and then traces my cheek with his fingers.

“You’re mine, Delilah. Mine to take. Mine to keep. Now, open, pretty girl.”

When I open my mouth, he slides inside, a groan escaping him.

“Fuck.”

Xavier thrusts slowly, going deeper each time, until I gag. His hand goes to my hair, and he grips the strands to the point of pain. It only intensifies the sensations coursing through me. My pussy flutters the second I imagine his cock inside me instead of in my mouth.