Snare (Falling Stars #3) (30 page)

Getting my shit together, I lift the strap of my messenger bag higher and grab the handle of the roller bag.

"Bye." I give the most awkward wave and turn.

"That's it?" His question stops me.

Looking over my shoulder, I ask, "What?"

"Fuck," he growls.

With two long strides, his hands are in my hair and his lips are on mine. His tongue invades my mouth, making sure it's forever embedded in my memory. He flexes his fingers into my scalp.

My heart races, a thin layer of sweat forms across my skin, and my bra becomes the bane of my nipples' existence.

This was such a bad idea. Starting anything with him was a bad idea. How is anyone else supposed to live up to this? There's no way the next guy will fuck like an animal, find my crazy enjoyable, and kiss me like my mouth is a place he wants to live.

Pulling away, I press a hand to his chest.

He licks his bottom lip and I almost cave, giving my mouth back to him.

"This is a bad idea," I voice my concern.

"What?" His face furrows in confusion.

"This arrangement," I motion between us, "it's a really bad idea."

Xavier's hands slide out of my hair and drop from my body.

Put them back. Please, put them back.

A hardness masks his face.

"You're really going to do this?" he asks, looking around at all the other drop offs. "Here?"

NO!

Emotion burns every one of my senses. Tears sting my eyes, his scent invades my nose, my skin tingles for his touch, and his voice makes my heart skip.

"Yes," I force out.

"This is what you really want?" He narrows his eyes, holding mine captive.

No, it's not what I want! Fuck, you make me want too much, things I just can't…

I open my mouth, but the words stick in my throat, so I nod.

His nostrils flare and he inhales deeply. Exhaling, the hardness disappears from his features.

Oh God, he's accepted it. It was no more than an arrangement. You can do this. It will be better this way.

Pursing his lips, he nods and scratches his beard.

In a movement so fast I don't even have time to flinch, he has the back of my head in his hand. He brings my chest to his body, fists my hair, and pulls my head back.

Looking down into my face, he leans in so close, I feel each of his breaths on my lips.

"You forget I see through you."

His words are hot against my skin and his eyes are too intrusive.

I look away, closing my lids.

"Open them," he requests.

I squeeze them shut.

"Running won't work," he says, taking my chin in the fingers of his free hand.

He runs the rough pad of his thumb across my bottom lip.

"I've lost so much, Sid."

My eyes open at his confession.

"Ethan was like my brother, then my band was a family, and I live every day wondering if I'll lose one of my best friends."

His mention of Maria, his ex-wife, causes a stab of irrational jealousy.

"It's all been out of my hands." His thumb swipes my lip once more.

Every muscle tenses, anticipating something,
anything
, he'll give me.

"You're in my grasp and I'm done losing," he swears.

"I don't know how to do this," I whisper.

"I've got you."

Then, he kisses me, and it's so good, I drop my bags to the ground.

Chapter Twenty-Five
Sidra

It takes two hours to miss Xavier. At my gate, I have to distract myself from thoughts of him and what he said.

I've got you.

My heart aches, giving me stupid chick-flick notions, like dropping everything and rushing back to him.

I snort out loud, drawing attention from a fellow passenger.

Like he stood on that curb for two hours waiting for me.

I roll my eyes.

Sure, in a sappy movie, he would—but this isn't a sappy movie.

The boarding announcement snaps me out of my ridiculous thoughts.

Frustrated for acting like this, I rub my face and quietly growl.

You aren't this stupid girl
, I mentally scold myself.
Quit being so pathetic.

Moments later, someone plops down in the seat next to me.

Ready to scowl, I jerk my head to my right and find Liza. Kel, Lucas, and Sean take seats across from me.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Flying commercial," Kel grumbles, making me grin.

"Aww…" I pout at him, "you too good to fly with us commoners?"

"Yep," he responds, smiling.

"Spoiled bastard," I tease.

"Where's Jackson? I know he isn't letting you fly alone."

"He doesn't
let
me do anything," Liza states. "I don't need permission to do things."

"He's on his phone," Kel says, thumbing over to a far corner.

"Does he really think the hat and sunglasses are working?" I level a look at Liza.

She sighs. "I told him it's pointless, but…" Raising an arm, she motions to the walking doodle and I glance back to him.

A group of people surround him, not carrying that he's on his phone.

Holding his cell between his ear and shoulder, he signs things and poses for pictures.

"I should probably help," Liza says, hesitating.

"Go rescue your man, guhrl," I drawl.

Her brow rises.

"No?" I shrug.

"I'm going," she grumbles. "I am not fond of running fan interference."

Liza walks through the seating area, every male staring at her perfect ass.

"Do you not see who she's going to?" I ask, loudly. "He's hot, a rock star, and makes the girl scream like a porn star."

Liza spins around, eyes wide and face red.

Jackson's laugh confirms how loud I said it.

"You're welcome." I give her a toothy grin.

My phone chimes and I grab it off my carry on, swiping the screen. It's Xavier.

Let me know when your home.

And the stupid I'm-such-a-girl tingles return with ideas of sending a fucking kissy face emoji.

I am NOT a kissy face emoji kind of girl. Unless it's following something like kiss my ass.

It's you're, not your. I can't be with someone who can't spell.

Hitting send, I grin.
There, that's more like me.

You don't want me for my spelling skills. ;)

Well, fuck! He has a point, but I shall not be defeated.

I never said I wanted your bossy ass.

Before I can declare victory, he responds.

Cunnilingus Olympics Gold Medalist = Me

Damn him using my outbursts against me.

My seating zone is called, so I get in line, all while trying my damnedest to think of a response.

"Ha, fucker, I've got you!" My shout makes the couple in front of me jump.

"Not you," I explain, "my fuck-buddy wanna-be boyfriend."

Their eyes widen and mouths drop open.

"We're going to get kicked off this plane because of her, aren't we?" Jack asks Liza from behind me.

Propping a hand on my hip, I raise one brow at the couple.

"Don't judge me. Get your ass on the plane." I motion for them to move up in line and go back to my phone.

"Probably," Liza breathes out.

The Olympics require more than one participant. I'll let you know your standings after other contenders have had a chance to compete.

The gate attendant takes my boarding pass and scans it.

"You were upgraded," she says with a smile.

"What?" I slide my phone into my back pocket.

She holds out a new ticket.

"You're in first class," she states, nodding me through the gate.

"But—?"

"Go with it," Jack orders, pushing me forward.

"Did you do this?" I turn, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Consider it a return favor," he states.

"What favor?" I cross my arms.

"Guarding Liza's ass when I'm not around," he offers with a smile.

"Oh my God," Liza huffs.

I laugh and nod.

"Okay."

We get past the attendant, standing on the ramp to the plane, when my phone vibrates against my ass.

Not funny at all.

That makes me laugh out loud.

Is for me.

Pissing him off is like the highlight of my life.

"It scares me when she's happy," Jack mumbles behind me.

Liza giggles.

I sigh and my phone chimes again.

Your pussy's mine.

Well, that's just…damn, that fucking hot.

It's attached to me, so I'm not quite sure how you figure it's yours.

It may be hot, but he doesn't need to know I think it. His reply is lightning fast, like he was just waiting to send the response.

Creepy fucker.

I licked it. It's mine. Those are the rules.

"That's true," Jackson says over my shoulder.

I clasp my phone to my chest and glare at him.

"Sorry," he puts his hands up, "but he's right. That's the rule."

Ignoring him, I stuff my bag in the overhead compartment. I can't sit down fast enough to reply.

Wouldn't the licks before you have first ownership?

This is the best text conversation I've ever had.

"Wow, if you're going for pissing him off, that should work," Jacks states.

Turning around, I find him in the seat behind me. Liza has her hand over her mouth, but I can see the amusement in her eyes.

"Stop now or a disco stick is in your future," I threaten.

He pales.

"I'm done," he assures, sitting back into the seat.

The chime and vibration of my phone brings my attention back.

My lick erases all others. In fact, the rule is, the last one to lick it, owns it, which also means I own your ass and nipples.

Holy shit.
Xena clenches and tingles burn my inner thighs.

What the fuck do I say to that? Shit…I'm stuck on a plane when all I want is to straddle his hairy face.

Before I can respond, he messages again.

Thinking about it, aren't you?

Cocky fucker. It's true, but still!

I hate you and you are getting airplane moded now.

But I don't shut down my phone. I sit there, staring at the screen, waiting like a desperate little girl. I hide my phone when the attendant walks by, scanning the rows.

I hate you too, tiger. Safe travels.

Then, I shut off my phone.

"Mom is going to lose her shit when she sees you guys," I say as the group of us walks through the terminal for baggage claim.

"I can't wait to see her," Liza say, her voice full of excitement.

Cameras flash and a few people stop Jackson.

When we finally reach the baggage claim, our luggage is already coming around. Two large men in matching jeans and black shirts also greet us. Their only difference being their skin tone.

"Well, hello there," I drawl to the dark-skinned gentleman, and push out my chest.

I'm not above using them to get past security figures.

His eyes scan my body and return to mine.

Mr. Tall Dark and Authority Figure is mid-smile when Jackson says, "Yeah, I wouldn't if I were you."

His eyes snap over my shoulder.

"Mr. Shaw?"

"Yeah," Jack answers, pushing by.

"I'm Dave. This is Grant." He motions to the light-skinned man. "We've been assigned to your security detail while you are in town."

"Julia told me you'd be here," Jackson confirms.

"Well, thank fuck, I thought we were going to jail," I sigh, pushing around them toward the luggage carousel.

"She's a security risk," Grant states.

"You have no idea," Jackson confirms.

I flip them my middle finger over my shoulder.

"Sidra Pauline." My mother's scold makes me cringe. "I can't believe you would…" Then, she screams, realizing who I'm flipping off.

"Eliza Mae," she squeals.

They run into each other's arms.

The familiar scent of my father surrounds me before his arm slides over my shoulders.

"You just made your mom's day," he whispers, kissing the side of my head.

I shrug.

"I sort of like her."

We laugh, watching Mom make sure everyone gets a hug and multiple kisses. Even Jackson isn't safe. Mom shoves by the security men and pulls him down into a hug.

When he lifts her off her feet, she screams.

"Uncle Marc," Liza approaches with open arms.

Dad slips away, embracing his favorite niece.

"I think the only thing that could make your mother happier would be if Xavier were with us," Liza says as her and my dad pull apart.

"What?" I choke out.

She laughs.

"Ah, yes, she looked him up online," my father reveals.

"No, she didn't," I groan.

"Blame yourself," he says, "you taught her how to use a computer."

"Great," I deadpan. "She already got worked up by Xavier's voice, I can only imagine—"

"Yeah, it's working out well for me," Dad interjects.

Scrunching my face, I blurt, "Ew, Dad, just no! I don't need to hear about that." I march away from my dad to watch for my luggage.