“How rude—” I started to respond, but Anna responded.
“So you’re telling me I chose another loser?” She sighed and sipped her coffee. “Why do I always pick the ass**les?”
“Maybe because you jump before you look.”
“Well, you were about to jump too.” She gave me a pointed look.
“Anna.” I gave her a direct and angry look.
“Yes, Lola?” She smiled innocently. “I’m just saying neither one of us is immune to sex gods.”
“Uh huh.” I turned away from her, and I could see Xavier staring at me with a curious expression. “Can I help you?” I asked him in irritation.
“Spend the day with me.”
“What?” I wasn’t sure how to feel by his request. It wasn’t something I had seen coming.
“You speak English, yes? Let’s spend the day together.”
“Why?” I frowned.
“So that tonight doesn’t feel like sex with a stranger,” he whispered in my ear and then laughed as I stared at him in shock. “Or did we get our signals mixed last night?”
“What did he say?” Anna shouted out. “I can’t hear.”
“Anna.” I shot her another look and she grinned back at me. “I think you should leave, Xavier.”
“So that’s a no to spending the day together?” He ran his hands through his damp, dark hair.
“What do you think?”
“I thought you were a girl who didn’t play games.” He raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were a girl who would appreciate a fun weekend, no strings attached.”
“I see.”
“I guess I was wrong?”
I stared at him for a few seconds with my insides bubbling over. I didn’t know what to say. He was right, of course. I wasn’t the sort of girl who would spend a weekend with a strange guy. I’d never had a one-night stand. I’d only slept with one guy before. And he’d been my boyfriend for two years. He was someone I’d thought I’d loved. I’d thought I was going to marry him. Then I’d walked in on him sleeping with two girls from his political science class. He’d said that they wanted to have a threesome, and who was he to say no? I’d been devastated that he had been able to cheat and then act so nonchalant about it. It had made me question everything.
I was entitled to have a wild weekend. What was one wild weekend? Especially if it were with a guy like Xavier. He’d turned me on with a kiss more than my ex had done when we’d made love. It wasn’t like I’d ever see him again. It could be fun. I was entitled to fun after everything.
“Fine.” I licked my lips nervously. “We can hang out.”
“I’m guessing you don’t want me to be third wheel?” Anna spoke up, and I blushed as I remembered she was there. “I’m joking, Lola.” She jumped out of the bed. “I’m going in the shower, then I’m going to Oxford Circus to get some new clothes before Monday.”
“You don’t have to leave right now, Anna,” I called out to her, but she grinned and then winked before walking into the shower.
“I guess your friend wants you to get laid.” Xavier raised an eyebrow at me and my stomach flipped.
“You’re so crude.”
“Am I lying?” he asked softly and then pulled me towards him. “Part of you wishes I’d throw you on the bed right now and take you.”
“Excuse me?” I answered him breathlessly as my panties got wet. He was right, of course. Part of me wanted him to just take charge and take me.
“Your heart is racing.” His fingers pressed down on my wrist pulse. “You’re wondering if we can get away with it. The only thing making you pause is the fact that your friend is in the shower. If it were just us in here, we’d be in the bed already.”
“You wish.” I shook my head and took a step back.
His hands pulled my back towards him, and this time, he pushed me up against him. “I’m not the only one who wishes.” His green eyes glittered down at me as his hands moved to my ass. “I just make my wishes come true,” he muttered before his lips pressed down on mine.
His lips felt soft against mine as he kissed me, and I felt his tongue in my mouth, eagerly caressing mine. My hands found his hair and I kissed him back passionately. He responded by squeezing my butt cheeks with more pressure and pulling me into him. I felt his hardness pressed against me and gasped against his lips.
“Yes, my dear Lola. I’m very ready for tonight.” He grinned and winked at me. “I’m very ready.”
***
“What would you like to do today?” He smiled at me gently and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling back at him.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged.
“You’re new to London. Yes?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “Anna and I are both new.”
“Your friend Anna is lucky to have you. She is silly to have left with Max.” He shook his head.
“All’s well that ends well.”
“True.” His lips curled up at me. “At least we got to meet.”
“You think that’s a good thing?”
“You were eying me up in the museum, so I’m pretty sure you think it’s a good thing as well.”
“I wasn’t eyeing you up.” I shook my head, my face flushing.
“Okay, you were just admiring my fine physique.”
“I was trying to see if you were one of the artists.” I lied, and he laughed.
“Come, I’m going to take you to Oxford Street and then we can go to Soho and down Carnaby Street.”
“Where?”
“The places with the cute shops.” He grinned. “So you can buy whatever you desire.”
“Oh, I don’t need to shop.” I bit my lower lip. I was on a strict budget and I didn’t want to blow all my money during my first weeks in London.
“I don’t know many women who don’t like to shop.”
“I’m sure you don’t know many women with limited cash flow either.” I laughed and he gave me an odd look.
“Would you like me to take you on a shopping trip?”
“Oh God, no.” I cringed and shook my head vehemently. “I didn’t tell you I was poor for sympathy or anything.”
“I have money.” He pursed his lips together. “I can spend some on you if you wish.”