Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Xavier POV

No. No, no, no! This can’t be happening! Layla Kincaid cannot be here! In my house, on my campus, in my

head!

Storming downstairs, I bypass the kitchen, purposefully avoiding Moira.

After the other day when she scolded me about how I treated Layla in front of Bianca and José, I am lost.

When Dad told me about his impending marriage to Allison, I initially was numb. How could Dad move on

from Mom?

Yes, they didn’t have the greatest marriage, but she was the most amazing Mom. Our Sunday morning ritual of picnics in the park comes to mind. Or Monday night games night – Monopoly was mom’s favorite. Or my packed lunches with little surprising inspirational notes inside.

She passed away when I was 16. Is five years enough time to get over someone and move on? I would like to think not. But it wasn’t up to me.

So, I cauterized the wound that is my dead mother and shut myself off emotionally from anything and everyone. The only loves of my life are football and my boys. Those two have always been constant and have gotten me through some dark times – Mom’s death being the most prominent.

Originally, I lugged Layla in the same basket as her mother – the gold–digging, fake–as–shit, bitch basket.

Even though I didn’t know a thing about her except her name, I created this image in my head of someone I wanted nothing to do with. Even gave her some devil horns for added effect.

And it was easy making myself hate her, no matter how unprovoked, until that first day I saw her in the

restaurant.

I was standing off to the side so they wouldn’t notice me at first. I planned to pick up on little things that I could use to my advantage in my quest to humiliate and break her spirit. Maybe she was self–conscious of her hair, or her body type, or maybe her bitchy personality would be enough ammunition to solidify my loathing for her.

But the joke was on me. Her auburn hair was highlighted by the sun as it streamed in through the window at her back, giving the illusion of melted chocolate. Her amber eyes shone with kindness yet determination. Her smile, though small, lured you in, and made you want to be the cause of it. She carried herself with pride and self–respect, but she wasn’t haughty or pretentious.

I didn’t like all the emotions that she was stirring up in me; the fact that we hadn’t even spoken made it worse. I didn’t want to acknowledge the dip in my stomach when she pulled her hair into a loose ponytail – showcasing that long, luscious neck. A neck I wanted to lick, suck and nibble on. I didn’t want to give way to my rising lust when I saw her shift and her ample cleavage became more prominent – what I wouldn’t give to feel her abundant breasts in my hands, confident that they would be more than a handful.

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Chapter 15: Xavier POV

So, I defaulted to my most recent personality – a raging asshole.

Storming over to their table, I spewed rude comments at them in hopes of unsettling her, but like the pure soul that she is, she didn’t take the bait and her coming to the waitress’s defense showed me she would fight for injustice against anyone, even if it was at my expense.

The final nail in my proverbial coffin was when I pinned her to her car for the first time. Her decadent smell of strawberries, honey and something distinctly her, almost brought me to my knees. I’m glad she didn’t notice me taking a subtle whiff of her scent at the back of her neck – she would have most likely kneed me in the balls for being a weirdo.

I covered her mouth to prevent her from speaking. Not because I was scared she might get us in trouble with her screaming, but because I knew if I heard the melody that was her voice, I would claim her for myself.

I find myself sitting in my electric blue Dodge Charger that’s parked in the driveway of the mansion, not completely sure how I got here. This is what she does to me. She consumes me my thoughts, my dreams my actions aren’t mine anymore.

That day in the kitchen when Moira told me off like an errant schoolboy, I was so ashamed of myself. Moira has always been part of our family in one capacity or another. She was my nanny when I was a young boy, our housekeeper during my teenage years, and after mom’s passing, Moira became like a surrogate mother to me. I adore and respect her. She taught me better manners than to call women ugly names, degrading them, and disrespecting them.

So, to be told by one of the people that I trust implicitly, that the girl I despise is not who or what I made myself believe, threw me for a loop.

Her reaction to me outside by her car after the kitchen debacle also infuriated but intrigued me.

–

At the risk of sounding like a complete dumbass, I know I’m a catch. Women have always loved me. I’m not naïve enough to believe it is because of my sparkling personality but I’ve never lacked female attention. My looks, money, and sexual prowess have made sure I don’t have to look far for a night of release.

Because that was what it always was. One night. No double–dipping. No complications. No drama. I made that abundantly clear before I took a girl to bed. Most of them had no problem with our arrangement, but like all things in life, now and then you found someone who had to try their luck. Thinking they could change me, or that they might be the one that I’d change my rules for. Getting rid of those was a little bit trickier, but doable.

Until her. She pushes every button I have with case but is not affected by me in the slightest, I want to strangle her one moment but a few seconds later I want to lose myself in her body.

The fact that Moira confirmed what I already suspected that Layla is a pure soul, is kindhearted, friendly, helpful, and all the adjectives encompassing an earthly angel irritates me immensely. Because now she can’t be the villain I made her out to be. She can’t be the whore that will parade around my house with a

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Chapter 15: Xavier POV

new guy every few days. And she can’t be the money–hungry slut that will have my dad buying her the latest AMG or designer outfits.

I need to get my head in the game. I need to distance myself from Layla Kincaid.

No matter how plump her lower lip is, ready for me to sink my teeth in. Or, how I want to get lost in her unusual eyes while lying next to her on a picnic blanket. Or, how I want to wake up to her in my bed in the morning, wrapped around her delicious curves. I. Can’t. Have. Her.

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Chapter Comments

Helen McRae

oooh I’m thinking Cade, Hunter and Xavier are the best mates that just moved in together! and they all like her!

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