Vicious Little Darling (Love So Cruel #3)

16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

EMBER

I t’s been over a week since Skull-face last showed himself, and I hate that I feel disappointed. I should be reveling in the lack of stalking, but there's not a single chill has run down my spine since that night. Either I’m going numb, or he got what he wanted. I swallow the disgusting hurt, and push through the entrance into the bar.

“Hey!” Josh calls over the light music starting to play in the background.

I look up, and immediately catch my breath. But it’s not at the sight of Josh. It’s Xander, standing a few feet behind him, wiping down a glass. Fuck, I forgot how handsome the guy is. There’s another blond guy behind him, also wiping glassware.

“We’re fully staffed tonight, which is great as there’s a private costume party being thrown in here,” Josh continues, as I slip behind the bar. “They specifically asked that we not be in costume, so don’t get any ideas.” He shoots me a wink as I grab a towel, before tucking it in my back pocket.

“Must be upscale people,” I joke, trying to avoid the gaze that’s heating up my skin.

“Yeah,” Josh laughs. “Anyway, Look. I know that it’s just been us lately, so let me introduce you to the two new guys that I hired.” He gestures to the blond. “That’s Major. We went to high school together, and this is Xander. He’s local to the city as well. He’s cool.”

I nod, smiling at the two of them. “Nice to meet you both. I’m Ember.” I extend a hand, and Major readily takes it, before shaking it.

“Josh has told me so much about you. It’s nice to finally meet you.” He gives me a handsome grin, but it does nothing for me.

I smile at Major and then turn to Xander, trying to keep my heart rate in check. “Nice to see you again,” I force out, trying not to choke on air. His tattooed biceps are rock solid, and covered in black ink. His five o’clock shadow adds to his rough appeal, and I try not to stare too long.

Why on earth did I fuck the dynamic up between us?

“Right back at ya,” he quips, but then returns his attention to the glass in his hand.

“Cool, everyone is good to go now,” Josh laughs, but then he grows serious. “We’re going to run two drink stations . One here, and one over there.” He points to the other, smaller bar. “I’ll stay right here at this bar with Major. Ember and Xander, you’ll work the small one.”

I feel my face flush with heat, but try to hide it. “Sounds good.”

“Great, because they’re lining up outside. Get a move on.” Josh shoos me out from behind the bar, and I walk across to the smaller counter on the other side, noting that it’s fully stocked. Josh opens the door, letting in a whole group of women clad in scanty costumes that barely cover their bodies.

Oh boy. This is going to be fun.

“Kinda cramped over here,” a voice cuts through my thoughts along with a strong masculine scent of sandalwood and leather.

“Yeah,” I breathe out, forcing myself to look up at Xander, whose shoulder is only about a foot from mine. “This’ll be fun.”

He chuckles. “I think so, but we’ll see.”

Within fifteen minutes, the bar is packed, and I’m making drinks so quickly that I don’t even have a chance to talk to Xander, who I’m becoming more and more aware of with every passing brush of his arm against mine. It takes two hours for things to slow, and when everyone is good and liquored up, I finally have my chance.

“Hey,” I turn to him. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for rushing out on you before, when we got coffee.”

“It’s all good,” he answers, pouring us two shots of tequila. “Water under the bridge.” We clink glasses and down the shots. I sputter at the burn, and he chuckles. “Not used to shooting it straight?”

“I guess not,” I cough.

Xander quickly pours me a water and slides it across to me. “I won’t do that again. Sorry.” He gives me a sheepish grin, and I try not to stare at the way his black T-shirt clings to his muscles.

I sip the water, and wave him off. “It’s okay. I’m just having an off week, I think.”

He raises his brows. “Yeah? What’s happened?” There’s something soothing in his voice, which is just loud enough for me to hear over the hum of the bass.

I hesitate, running my finger across the slick counter. “Um, it’s kind of hard to explain.”

“A breakup?”

My cheeks flush. “I’m not sure I could call it that. I just kind of got hung up on this guy, and then he ghosted me.”

“Damn, that’s cruel. I took this girl out for coffee and then she kind of did the same thing.” His joke sets me giggling, overcome with guilt and relief at his playful tone.

“I’m so sorry.” I place my hand on his bicep lightly. “I messed up doing that. My head was just all over the place.”

“Seems like it still is.” He grins down at me. “But lucky for you, I don’t mind giving second chances to my friends.”

My smile falters slightly. “Right. Look at you, being so kind.” I instantly drop my hand from his arm, inwardly chiding myself for even thinking that he’d want to look at me in any other way, given that I just alluded to a breakup.

Dammit, I’m so stupid.

I swallow hard, relieved that one of the partygoers is approaching the bar. It’s a woman in a bralette and sheer black shirt, with handcuffs attached to her leather skirt.

She goes straight for Xander, naturally.

“Hey Handsome,” she says, leaning against the counter, her ample breasts—something I don’t have—spilling out of her top in a way that makes me jealous.

“What can I get you?” Xander asks, his eyes remaining on hers.

“Out of here,” she giggles, her breasts jostling as her chest heaves. “But for now, maybe just a Shirley Temple?”

“Got it,” he says, immediately beginning to make the drink.

“I’ve not seen you in here before,” she continues. “I used to come here all the time with my boyfriend, but we broke up about six months ago.”

“I’m new here,” he answers, sliding the glass across the bar to her. She places her hand on his forearm, her long manicured nails dragging across his skin. He instantly pulls away. “Enjoy.” He leaves her cold, and she stares after him as he slips off to the bathroom.

“Wow, he’s an asshole,” she turns to me, shock still apparent on her face. “I’m sorry you have to work with that.”

“Yeah, thanks,” I clear my throat, staring at the spot Xander slipped off to. I consider going after him, but hesitate, not wanting to leave the counter unmanned. Luckily for me, he returns in just a few minutes, jumping right back into serving customers.

“What’re you doing after this?” Xander asks randomly, hours later as the party begins to thin out.

“Going home to sleep,” I sigh. “I have to work at the bookstore in the morning.”

“Oh shit, the bookstore,” he gives me a sympathetic look. “That’s tough.”

I shrug, studying the way his lips appear so fucking alluring. “It’s what I have to do to get out of the shithole I am living in.”

“I get it,” he says, grabbing a glass and wiping it down. “How far are you from here?”

“Like a forty-minute walk.”

“Damn,” he mutters. “That’s a long way. You want me to give you a ride home? I rode my Ducati tonight.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I say quickly, embarrassed for some reason at the thought of him seeing where I live.

He holds my gaze, making my breath to catch. “Why not? Just means you’ll get home quicker.”

I swallow the knot in my throat. “Okay. You just have to promise…”

“Promise, what?” Xander looks confused.

“Nothing,” I say quickly. We fall back into work for the final hour, and then Josh lets the two of us go.

“I’m giving her a ride home,” Xander tells Josh. “Promise I’ll get her there safe.” He pats Josh’s shoulder, and reluctantly, my best friend agrees.

Josh turns to me. “Text me when you make it. I’ll call the cops if you don’t.”

“Deal,” I salute him, and Xander and Josh chuckle. Xander holds open the door for me and leads me around the corner to a black Ducati. It’s dimly lit beneath the street lights, but I don’t feel uneasy in the slightest, not even as I slide the helmet over my head and climb onto the back.

“Hang on tight,” he warns me after I give him the directions. I cling to him, breathing in the comforting scent of his cologne. I swear, I could bathe myself in it, and for the first time in a week, I don’t think about Skull-face and his big dick.

I keep my arms wrapped around Xander’s waist for the entire ride, wishing I could melt into his body. After only ten minutes, he pulls up alongside the curb of the apartment building and kills the bike’s engine.

“Thanks for the ride,” I tell him, swinging my leg over and pulling the helmet off my head.

“I’ll walk you in,” he offers, removing his own helmet and taking mine. “Just to make sure you make it all the way in.”

I linger in his gaze for a few moments, my body shivering with something familiar. “Um, okay. I guess that would probably make Josh happy.”

“I doubt it,” he chuckles from behind me. I lead the way to the front door, and punch in the code. I’m so fucking nervous, waiting for him to say something about the shithole apartment complex I live in…

…but he makes no comment as he climbs the stairs behind me.

My heart rattles my chest, and when I make it to my apartment door, I shove the key into the lock and turn it, opening the door slightly before turning back to Xander, whose gaze is on me.

“Thanks for getting me home,” I say, my voice wavering with nerves.

“Thank you for letting me,” he murmurs, his eyes dropping to my lips. I can barely breathe as he takes a step closer. “I don’t know what the policy is, but…” His voice trails off as his fingers thread through my hair and draw my mouth to his.

I eagerly let him in, his tongue hungrily claiming my mouth. I moan as he pulls me into his chest, and my hands cling to him, much as I did earlier on his bike. Something about kissing him hits deep, and I cling to him as our kiss grows heavier and more desperate. I kick the door to my apartment open with my heel, tugging him inside, but he goes rigid.

“I’m sorry, Ember,” he whispers, pulling away from me. “I can’t.”

Rejection rips through me.

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Just a heat of the moment thing,” he tells me, clearing his throat and smiling. “I don’t really want to be a rebound. Goodnight, Ember.”

With that, he turns away, leaving me there in the threshold of my apartment, completely speechless.

And totally crushed.

Fuck me.

And fuck Skull-faced Stalker.