“It depends. Tell me what you did.”
“Who says I did anything, Evander? You’re so suspicious, goodness.” She pressed her hand to her chest like she was the epitome of innocence. I knew better.
“Do I need to put you on punishment?” I asked. My fingers slid beneath the hem of her dress, skimming her warm thighs. I watched her back arch gracefully in response.
“Are you threatening to put me on dick restriction?”
“Uh-huh,” I licked the shell of her ear and watch goosebumps spring up like flowers in a field.
“Don’t be mean, Evander.”
“I’m not being mean.” My fingertips brushed against her panties. I grazed her piercing and she gasped a little.
“Evander.” Her tone was a warning.
“What’s up, beautiful?”
“You’re not going to withhold sex from me. I will fuck you in your sleep.
“That’s a violation,” I chuckled. My other hand found her perfect tits and I squeezed.
“You’d like it,” she countered. Her hips started rocking and my dick thickened in response to her heat and movement.
“Maybe. Now tell me what you did, Miss Lucas.” My mind raced down a path where I called her Mrs. Freeman instead of Miss Lucas. The thought of her having my last name made my chest explode with warmth.
If I tell you, will you fuck me?” Her pouty whine made my dick grow even more.
“I’ll fuck the shit out of you.”
“Okay,” she sighed and eased off my lap. Her eyes fixed on my hard dick before she continued. “I did a thing and I don’t want you to think I was invading your personal space or…”
“Spit it out, baby.”
“Okay. I kinda submitted A Heart’s Song to a literary agent.”
My eyes went round and my heart stuttered in my chest. She did what? I couldn’t even ask any questions because my brain was consumed with the bomb Xari just dropped in the middle of my office.
“God…you’re upset.” Her dark brows knitted together, a frown puckering her pretty face. I didn’t know how I felt right then. I was still letting the information sink in.
I’d never submitted my writing anywhere because I didn’t feel like it was good enough. I looked at it as a hobby that made me feel alive. I never thought I could be an author. I just thought I was someone who liked to live in made-up worlds with powerful words.
To be honest, I never thought being an author was a real possibility. I was born and bred to be in politics and that had been the only choice for me since I was little.
Now, Xari was telling me she sent my rough, unrefined words to someone. Someone in the world who would read over my innermost feelings and creations and judge them.
My stomach flopped.
“Evander?” Xari blinked at me, nibbling on her ruby lips.
“I heard you, Xari.” I had to stand up because there was too much energy bouncing around inside of me.
“Can you say something?” She begged. “I know at first it seems fucked up, but I believe in you and your writing. I think you could be huge.” I saw the sincerity in her eyes and something deep inside of me wanted to believe she was telling the truth.
Maybe I could have the one thing I’d always wanted.
The thought nearly choked me.
“Xari, you went behind my back and did something I wasn’t ready for. That’s not okay.”
“I know. I know and I’m sorry for going behind your back but…isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? To be a published author?” I skimmed over my hopes and dreams. I waded through my passion and realized how many finished manuscripts I had sitting on my hard drive. How many untold stories swam in the still waters of my mind never to see the light of day.
“That’s not the point,” I grumbled. My voice was rough and harsh, making her pull back. “I wasn’t ready for that. I told you writing is a hobby.”
“I know but it’s your fucking dream, Evander. Your passion. You don’t see how beautiful you look when your eyes are sharp and focused on the world you’re creating on that laptop.” She gestured to the sleeved laptop on my desk that tossed her eyes back to me. They were bubbling over with conviction and the fire I always saw when I looked at her.
My body tensed as I wondered what the agent said about my work. How could I be pissed at Xari but at the same time want to know the results of her sneaky ass plot? I was torn right down the middle. My mouth was cotton. My teeth caged my tongue.
“You keep drinking whiskey to drown the regret of not being able to live your life the way you want to. Why keep putting up with your toxic-ass father and his wants and desires when they don’t match yours? You have a chance, baby.” She walked over and sandwiched my face between her hands. “You’re remarkable. Being a senator is draining you.”
“It’s what I do. I can’t leave.”
“You can. It’s an election year. You don’t have to run again.” She shrugged her shoulders. Whenever things like that came out of her mouth, they were coated in possibility. It was dangerous.
Fear etched lines in my forehead as I frowned and shook my head. Xari tugged on my collar, making me look down at her. “Listen to me…” Like I could ever do anything else. “I know it’s scary as fuck but you know what else is scary? Looking back twenty years from now and realizing you did nothing that lit a fire inside of you. This,” she gestured around my office, “Isn’t for you. You don’t feel alive doing this. This is your father. Not you.”
She took a step back from me and dabbed her wet
