Burning Your Lies (King and Queen Duet #2)

22

Savannah

Huxley enters the office without knocking. He spares me a glance before strolling towards Xavier who is making notes against a contract.

“These need your signature,”

he says, handing him a stack of folders.

Xavier takes the papers without looking up and makes a new stack on his desk.

“Hand the client over to George. Savannah update the system to reflect this change.”

Xavier still doesn’t look up at us.

Huxley makes his way over to me.

“Don’t forget. Dinner. Tonight.”

I thread my fingers through his and squeeze.

“I couldn’t possibly forget when you’ve reminded me a million times. What’s on the menu, sunshine? I have quite the hankering for a six-foot-three, muscular man who has prettier hair than me.”

He lets out a soft chuckle.

“You certainly have the most beautiful hair, sweetheart.”

With a wink, I say, “Could I make a request for dinner?”

“Anything.”

“I’d like you to greet me at the front door. In just a towel. With your luscious locks leaving droplets of water that trail down your body.”

I close my eyes and smile at the image.

“Nothing more delicious than watching you come out of the shower with your hair wet and wavy.”

I lean in closer.

“Actually, I can think of one thing more delicious.” I jump when Xavier’s baritone voice carries across the room.

“Please do share with us all.”

His sharp look penetrates through me.

“This conversation is not appropriate for the office, nor is it related to your outstanding work.”

Huxley’s smile fades.

“I shall leave you to your work.”

As soon as he disappears into the lifts, I turn my unimpressed stare to the devil himself.

“That was a pathetic move, Xavier.”

He’s back to studying his paperwork. When he speaks, he sounds utterly bored.

“What move would that be, Savannah?”

“If that got you riled up, you should hear what I say while he fucks me. Or better yet, if only you knew the things we did in his office. You know, the one you share a wall with.”

I smirk as he gives me his undivided attention. I slap my forehead.

“What am I talking about? Of course you know all about all that. I mean,”

I tilt my head, “you’ve got recordings of me doing that in that prison I once called home. You know, the one I fucked him in once you left me feeling … unsatisfied.”

He grips his pen tighter as he stares at me.

“Unsatisfied?”

he echoes.

“You weren’t saying that when your eyes rolled back so hard you couldn’t form a coherent word.”

I can’t help but laugh at him.

“That’s almost as fictitious as Sara running away from home.”

I gasp and cover my mouth.

“Oops. I’m not supposed to know about her, am I? My bad,”

I say with fake sincerity.

My work day is almost over and my stomach rumbles in anticipation of the feast Huxley has cooked up at home.

“I’ll store the signed contracts in the filing room and then head out. Unless there’s anything else?”

Xavier is shutting his laptop closed and stands up.

“I’ve been dwelling on your earlier statement. The one about Sara? Would you like to see where I killed her?”

A chill runs down my spine at his calm tone. Unease settles in the pit of my stomach. What if this is a ruse to get me alone with him? What if he kills me? “Huxley is waiting for me.”

He shrugs.

“Send a text to say you’re going to be another hour.”

He checks his watch.

“We should be back by then.”

I weigh the pros and cons, but I already know my decision. I quickly send a message to Huxley and gather my belongings. I follow him to the basement and climb into the passenger seat of his car.

We ride in silence through the streets of London. This late into the evening the roads carry few cars; most people are already in the comfort of their homes after a long day. And there was me; driving into the unknown with a psychopath. Xavier hums quietly to the tunes playing through the speakers. Wherever we are going is familiar to him because he navigates the roads as if it’s muscle memory.

He parks onto a driveway of a large house that doesn’t have a single light on. He doesn’t wait for me, getting out of the car and unlocking the front door.

I take a deep breath and shake off my nerves. You’ve got this. I climb out of the car and follow him inside. The lights flick on and I’m surprise at how clean the haunted house is. The sound of my heels echoes against the dark wooden floors. I take in the dark walls and neutral furnishing. Every room we walk through is immaculately, borderline obsessively, clean. The air feels clean, despite all the windows and doors being closed. When we stop in the living room, my feet are propelled towards the row of frames on the mantle. Even the frames are dust-free.

I pick the picture up and inspect the people. I recognise the young boy immediately. The grey-blue eyes are filled with so much life and joy. His smile is one of ease and comfort. The arm around him is loose. The older man’s face doesn’t hold as much emotion as a young Xavier. His eyes are squinted as if he’s being blinded by the sun. His lips are curled into a smile, but it doesn’t radiate as much as his son’s.

Still holding the picture, I turn to Xavier.

“This is your family home?”

He stands in the middle of the room with a solemn expression.

“Xavier Rivers was the first-born, and only, son of Elijah and Elizabeth Rivers. His father was a diamond maker, and his mother a realtor. It was a normal life until his mother’s affair was exposed. The woman pleaded with her son to keep the affair a secret, but he could not tolerate her lies and betrayal to the greatest man to have ever existed.”

He takes the frame from my hand and places it back exactly where it was. Without saying a word, he walks through the house.

I follow behind him.

“What did you do to her?”

He opens a door and leads us into a garage. His steps are slow until he stops.

“I was standing right here as she spewed more hateful lies about him. She said he was abusive. She told me he attempted to take my life.”

The look on his face makes it clear he doesn’t believe a word of it.

But the tale Henry told Huxley and Jordan backed her claims. Seeking refuge from abuse, she sought comfort in another man’s arms. Her life was the cost.

“How do you know it was lies?”

His cold eyes land on me.

“He was not abusive. He loved her, even she was useless around the house. She didn’t know how to keep order in the home. She was too busy frolicking with another man. And my father loved me. He protected me. Even when he came home and saw the bloody shovel and the blood seeping out of her. Tell me, Savannah. Does an abusive man cry like a repulsive, pathetic mess?”

It’s the first time I’ve seen something other than adoration or sadness in him when speaking about his father. As Xavier recalls the memory, he looks genuinely disgusted at his father crying for his mother.

“Perhaps he was disappointed that he couldn’t be the one to do it himself. I mean, isn’t that why you cried when we went to claim Emery’s body?”

Xavier ignores my question.

“My father was adamant to teach me actions have consequences. He made me do most of the legwork, but it was worth it because she became a beautiful diamond. You should know. You wore her around your neck.”

I feel sick at the reminder. There is no part of him that feels remorse. How could he when he can’t feel anything? “What does this have to do with Sara?”

He straightens his tie and walks past me and back into the house the way we came.

“Sara was a sad soul,”

he explains as we climb up the stairs.

“I met her when we were just seventeen. Poor girl had a life of misery at home, and I had the power to make it stop. I could love her until she knew nothing else. I was going to save her. Except she was just like my mother. She was a cheat.”

We stand in a bedroom. It’s hard to tell whose room this is. The wooden bed and draws match the floor. The bed, though made, shows no signs of use.

“This room used to have carpet, but after that day we replaced it with wood.”

He grins at me.

“So much easier to clean.”

There’s a look in his eyes that makes it hard to breathe.

“What did you do to her?”

“I used to lift weights at home.”

My sob comes out strangled. I cover my mouth to contain them, knowing he feeds off my pain. But my tears still fall.

“She was seventeen. She had her whole life in front of her. How could you…”

I try to back away from him, but my back hits the dresser.

Xavier calmly walks over to me and traps me between his body and the furniture.

“She made a mockery of my love.”

“She was a child,”

I cry.

“She made a mistake.”

His face holds no emotion except contempt.

“Was it a childish mistake when you cheated on me? I would have given you the world!”

he roars. His fingers run down the side of my face and when he speaks, it’s much softer.

“I loved you so much.”

For a moment, I see the softness in his eyes I once believed. Xavier has looked at me like that too many times and I fell for it.

“What did you do to her?”

He doesn’t step away from me.

“She denied her infidelity. She tried to walk out of the room and my life. I was blinded by heartbreak and smacked her over the head with a dumbbell. I just wanted to stop her from leaving.”

He leans forward until his nose runs along my neck.

“Why are you so desperate to leave me, Savannah?”

I turn my head away.

“We both know what you are. And what you’re capable of.”

He holds my head, so I’m forced to look at him. The look in his eyes burns me.

“I love you,”

he whispers.

“So fucking much. I can’t get you out of my head.”

One hand holds my arms above my head while the other runs down the length of my body.

“I know you want me.”

I struggle against him as he layers kisses over my exposed skin.

“Let go of me.”

His hold tightens.

“I see the way you look at me. I’ve always seen you Savannah.”

His erection presses against my hip.

“Can you feel what you do to me?”

Xavier isn’t aroused by me. He’s turned on from reliving his crimes. Being back here gives him the thrill he chases, and it makes me feel sick. It’s probably why he maintains this empty house.

“I don’t want you.”

Both his hands hold my face.

“I’ll stop all this. I will let you burn it to the ground; diamonds and all. Just love me. I want you so fucking bad.”

His head drops and his lips are all over my neck.

“Let me love you,” he begs.

I try to push him away, but he doesn’t move.

“I’m married.”

“So was I. And I chose you. I killed my wife, just so I could have you.”

Grabbing his jaw stops his kisses.

“You killed her because she figured out why you loved those diamonds so fucking much.”

It’s like he never heard me.

“Ray will never know. It can be our dirty little secret. Is that what you need? You need the thrill of sneaking around, secrets and lies?”

Snapping out of my weak state, I scoff at him.

“I’ve had enough of your lies. I’m ready to go home now. To my husband.”

Xavier steps away from me as if I burned him.

“He will never love you like me. He will never protect you like me. He will never fuck you like me. I am ready to give it all up, Savannah. Everything. We can leave this country with Elise and live a happily ever after. I’ll forget everything my father taught me about diamonds and building a collection as large as his. We can be happy.”

It’s almost ironic that he sent me away for being delusional when he’s looking at me like that. He truly believes this fantasy he’s created.

“I’d rather be alive.”

I shut the door behind me. I know Huxley’s going to be upset I came home later than I promised, but this nugget of information was worth it.

“Hux? You’ll never believe it.”

I join him in the kitchen.

“Xavier practically admitted to his father killing women and turning them into diamonds. So, we should look at the women he was associated with and see if they disappeared. It should strengthen our case and show a pattern with the Rivers men.”

I furrow my eyebrows. “Hux?”

He’s leaning against the countertop with his head down.

“You’re late.”

I shrug my coat off.

“I know, but did you hear me? We have more to work with now. He admitted to Sara, too. He even showed me where he killed her and how. She was seventeen when they met, so that should make finding her easier now.”

When he doesn’t look up at me, I sigh. I thread my fingers through his hair.

“You’re angry, I know. But this wasn’t an opportunity I could pass up on.”

“Glad to know you’d much rather spend your time with Xavier than me.”

“That’s not true. And look, I came home. I certainly would rather be here, so I can do this.”

With a playful smile, my hand reached into his trousers. I grab his length and tease him.

“Not in the mood to play, sunshine?”

Huxley doesn’t even flinch.

“You want to play?”

I kiss his neck. “Always.”

He picks me up and places me on the counter. He hitches my dress up and pushes my underwear to the side. His trousers are pulled down enough to free himself.

“Keep those legs spread.”

He spits into his hand and strokes himself until he’s hard enough to slam into me.

Not expecting the roughness, I yelp and hold on to his arms. “Ouch.”

Huxley finds a steady pace as he thrusts deep inside me.

“Isn’t this what you wanted? Isn’t that why you came home? So I can fuck you the way you want?”

His arms lock around my legs, pushing them closed. He pulls me to the edge of the counter as he mercilessly fucks me.

“I can already feel that greedy pussy throbbing. Are you going to come?”

My eyes close as I pinch my nipples through my clothes. “Yes,”

I breathe. I’m just about to fall into oblivion when Huxley completely pulls out of me. My eyes snap open.

“What the hell?”

He’s masturbating himself, using my juices as lube. “Not yet.”

He parts my legs slightly as he pushes back in.

“It’s always so wet.”

My nails dig into his shoulders.

“I’m going to come.”

He pulls out again.

“No, you’re not.”

I squeeze my thighs tight, hoping for some relief.

“Hux. Stop it.”

He spreads me open again and spanks my pussy. His fingers rub my clit before they spread my folds open.

“Look at the way you’re pulsing. I can see how desperate that cunt is for an orgasm.”

“Give it to me then,” I growl.

He laughs as he fills me again.

“When I decide I want you to come, you can. Until then, take my cock like a good girl. Milk me clean and I might reward you.”

I’m not playing this game. I lift my hips to meet his thrusts and it only makes him grin wider. “Please,”

I beg, as the wave gets closer.

“I need it.”

“You’re dripping all over my cock. You’re so wet, it’s dripping into your asshole.”

Huxley spreads my legs and bends my legs as far back as they can go.

“Look at that tight asshole, begging to be fucked.”

I’m ready to let him do whatever he wants to me.

“It’s yours. Just let me come.”

He rubs my juices over my asshole.

“Nobody worthy to fuck your ass before?”

He slowly insets his fingertip into me and lets out the sexiest groan.

“I’m going to rail that ass one of these days. So much so, you won’t be able to fucking sit.”

He leaves me empty again.

My core is aching.

“I’m going to have a shower. And I’m going to fuck myself so hard, you’re going to wish it was you,”

I spit at him.

He laughs.

“Who are you going to be thinking about?”

I consider mentioning Xavier to provoke him, but I know it’s a boundary I shouldn’t cross. I don’t even want to tell him about Xavier kissing my neck.

“Anybody but you,” I fire.

He bites his bottom lip as he stares at me.

“Take your fucking panties off. And like a dutiful wife, bend over that counter with your legs spread.”

The look in his eyes makes my clit throb. I’m tempted to tell him to fuck off, but I know nothing will satisfy my craving like him. With a stare of determination, I follow his orders.

“You better let me come on that bastard cock.”

His fingers raise goosebumps as they trail up my legs and bunch my skirt at my hips. He rubs his head along my pussy before slowly easing back in. One hand fists my hair, while the other reaches my lips. “Spit.”

They’re quickly rubbing over my ass again.

“Spread your ass.”

I can barely think straight as he teases me with his slow movements. “I’m…”

He stops moving.

“I didn’t say yes yet. Now spread your ass cheeks properly.”

“Why?”

“I’m going to train your hole to take my cock.”

He takes a few seconds to slide his index finger in and when he does, he lets out the most ungodly groan.

“Oh fuck. Your cunt is holding me so tight.”

I feel my walls throb from the assault on my ass. My eyes close as another level of pleasure takes over.

“I won’t be able to stop it,”

I warn him.

He spanks me.

“Control yourself.”

“Please.”

A soft moan elicits from him as he’s wrapped around me again.

“Not until you give me what I want.”

His denial has me on the verge of tears as a desperate ache forms inside me.

“I don’t know what you want,”

I plead.

“Tell me what you want, and I’ll do it.”

Huxley doesn’t hear me. Too busy enjoying both my holes.

“Your pussy feels even tighter. I’m going to add another finger.”

My legs shake as I let out a cry.

“Hux! Stop teasing me.”

“I need lube.”

He withdraws, only to insert two fingers inside me. When he thrust them in and out, he is rewarded with the lube he’s looking for. Filling me to the hilt again, his fingers go back to my ass as he tries to claim the unmarked territory.

“It’s not going in.”

I repeat a mantra of please until my voice cracks.

“I can’t take it anymore.”

Both his hands grab a handful of my ass.

“Give me what I’m owed. What I want.”

“What?”

His body pins me to the counter. His teeth come down on my shoulder.

“Think! What did you promise me?”

My brain is struggling to remember my name. All it can think about is the throbbing in my core. And then it hits me.

“I’m sorry.”

He groans.

“What for?”

My palms rest flat against the wall as I take the brunt of his thrusts.

“For being late.”

“And?”

“For missing dinner.”

“And?”

“For breaking my promise. I’m sorry.”

He slams into me and stills.

“What else, Savannah?”

My eyes land on my ring and I let out a crying moan.

“For not coming home. I’m sorry I never came home. I’m sorry.”

His lips kiss over the markings of his teeth.

“Good girl,”

he praises.

“You may come over my cock now.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. My knees almost buckle over, but Huxley keeps me in place as he continues to thrust into me. My mouth opens, but no noise comes out of me. Every muscle and joint in my body locks as the most intense orgasm washes over me. His hands are around my neck as he fucks me through my orgasm.

“You fucking squirted all over my expensive suit,”

he groans.

“That’s my girl. Keep coming.”

The wave doesn’t stop. I’m moaning so loud, I’m afraid of waking the entire street. Huxley grunts into my ear as he praises me for making him feel so good. He stills inside me as his cum floods me.

“Welcome home, sweetheart.”