Skyla's POV

About a half an hour after a very weird call Xavier's pulling up along the side of my building, a cute young blonde in the passenger seat.

“Is he going to be an issue?” Xavier asks while leaning out of the open window, “I didn’t come alone.”

“No, he won’t be an issue. You okay?” I ask while leaning into the driver’s side window. With a quick kiss on Xavier cheek I turn my attention to young girl seated next to him. “You must be the little sister I keep hearing about, do you like dogs?”

“He’s more like a small bear.” Xavier quips as I step back.

“Oh ignore your brother, he’s harmless… mostly.”

Xavier catches my attention my grabbing a duffle bag out of the trunk while I properly introduce myself to his sister Eloise. “I’m Skyla and that is Diablo.” Pointing out the giant mass of black fur currently trying to eat his football.

“It’s great to finally meet you.” She tells me with a smile. “Xavier’s been all secretive but I’ve noticed that stupid smile when he’s texting you.”

“Not cool, El.” He grumbles as she and I share a laugh. The notion that I have any kind of affect on him that’s not purely sexual leaves me smiling.

“You might at well come on in, dinner's ready.”

I take Xavier’s free hand at the bottom of the stairs, his expression holds amusement at his sister’s teasing but there’s something in his eyes that feels worried. Once inside I usher them both towards the table to eat while the food is still hot.

I’ve made a habit of making more food than I’ll ever actually eat lately on the off-chance that Xavier might stop by on his way to work. Admittedly, part of me is always hoping he might.

“Make yourself at home.” I smile, handing Eloise an empty plate and encouraging her to help herself.

“Wow, it all smells amazing. No wonder he’s always disappearing at night.” She jokes while making her plate. I can’t help the nagging feeling. He’s not here every night, does she think he is? We’ve not defined what we are or aren’t but I’m not seeing anyone else. It might be too much to assume that is true for him too.

“You know I work nights, “ He quickly says. “But yes, sometimes this is where I disappear to.”

As we all sit around the table I make sure they know they’re BOTH welcome to come by for dinner anytime. The room quiets as we eat, it’s clear they’ve not had a real home cooked meal in sometime. Eloise breaks the silence when Xavier goes back for seconds.

“Well it’s clear he isn’t going to ask…”

“What?” I perk up. Oh, the favor?

“I need a place to crash this week while Xavier is out of town, he doesn’t want me staying at home by myself and…”

“This week?” I interrupt, the duffle bag making more sense now. “Really?”

Just staring at his plate and pushing his food around with his fork, mumbling some nonsense about it being last minute and not having anyone else to ask. He says he understands if it’s too much and they’ll figure it all out.

“Eloise, stay as long as you’d like. I’ll get the spare ready and write down the door code.” I say with a smile before turning to Xavier, playfully kicking him under the table. “You seriously thought I’d say no?”

Later that evening we leave Eloise to unpack, Xavier helped clean up the kitchen and has thanked me a million times already.

Now he’s staring out the window overlooking downtown, I give him a playful nudge with my hip. “Are you going to tell me why you’re leaving town? Or just keep brooding out my window?”

Xavier throws an arm over my shoulder, holding me “There’s a job with my dad, it’ll pay well but I’ve got a bad feeling.”

“Anything I can do?”

“You’re already taking in Eloise, that is more than I could ever ask.”

“Try me, “ I tease, turning to look up at him “You could take Diablo, a little male bonding time.”

“I’m not taking Diablo,” he sighs, finally relaxing a little “he’d probably eat me somewhere along the way, besides who else is going to look after my girls while I’m gone.”

“Your girls?” I ask, feeling hopeful and liking the sound of that. Hopefully I didn’t sound too desperate.

“Yeah, I mean… if that’s okay?” He brushes my hair back over my shoulders before cupping my face in his hands. “Can I call you mine?”

I wrap my arms around his neck and stretch up on my tiptoes to kiss him. He responds by squeezing my ass and lifting my feet off the ground, I quickly wrap my legs around him.

He holds me effortlessly turning when I break the kiss, “Let’s go to the roof.”

If the narrow stairs up the roof access give him any trouble he doesn’t show it. Once seated on the outdoor sofa he seems lost in thought staring out at the horizon and this exclusive view of downtown.

“Why are we out here?” He asks when I shift off his lap.

“You look like you expect the worst.” I state plainly, standing next to him.

With a heavy sigh his head falls back, eyes closed. “You never with my old man, it very well could be.”

“Don’t go.”

“Not that simple, Skyla.”

“Then how can I make sure you come back?” Pealing my shirt off, he doesn’t look up until I drop it in his lap.

He watches closely as I slide my pants off, leaving just lingerie. He glances around, but the businesses surrounding us have been closed for hours. Before he can get up I kneel between his knees, looking at him beneath my lashes. We don’t say another word as I reach for his belt, Xavier stretches his arms along the back of the sofa.

“Fuck, woman…” He grumbles as I lick, base to tip. When I wrap my mouth around him he visibly melts.

His head drops back as I take him down my throat, using my hand to work the rest of him. Savoring very inch and moan and twitch of his muscles as I bob my head.

“Skyla, fuck! I’m…” He tries to warn but barely gets a word out before it’s too late. 

“You taste” I sit back on my feet, teasingly wiping my lips “amazing.”

“Get up here.” He practically growls, scooping me up off my knees.

Xavier throws off his shirt, laying me on the sofa beneath him before capturing my mouth with his. Our tongues battle for dominance, fighting for breath, as he removes my lingerie. The warmth of his skin sets me on fire, all I want is more.

“It’s my turn.” He says playfully, breaking our searing kiss.

Capturing my hands that were slowly tracing and memorizing every muscle and pining them above my head, he lowers his mouth to my neck and begins to kiss and bite his way down my body.

Pulling my legs out of the way before settling between them, Xavier kisses the inside of my thighs. “So wet for me.” The praise in his tone makes me blush, but there’s not time for embarrassment.

“Only for you.” I whisper.

“That’s fucking right.” He says, looking up at from between my legs. “Cause you’re mine.”

“Xavier, wow…” I struggle to catch my breath after seeing stars from just his tongue and fingers, “that was.”

A bolt of lightening and roaring thunder send us scrambling to gather our clothes and retreat from the rooftop to my bed. The laughter ensuing in the chaos thankfully doesn’t wake up his sister.

It’s still dark and stormy out when Diablo bursts into the bedroom and climbs on top of me. He’s growling with hackles raised and ready to pounce as he blocks me from whatever has him on edge.

My first thought is that Xavier must have startled him but movement beside me in the bed means it can’t be him, and Eloise shouldn’t be seen as a threat at all.

“What the the hell is his problem?” Xavier yawns.

Shoving Diablo off my chest so I can breathe properly “I don’t know yet.”

I slip out of bed and into a short silk robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, Xavier sits up when I pull a gun out of my nightstand trying to assure me it was probably just the thunder.

“Stay here.” I tell him, even though he’s already climbing out of bed and insisting he check things out for me. “Seriously, please stay in bed.”

“Fuck that.” Is his only response as he pulls up his jeans.

Following Diablo’s lead, head cocked at the apartment door, listening to something or someone we can’t hear. Xavier reaches for the handle and Diablo lets out a menacing growl.

“You should check on your sister, I’ll take him downstairs.” Trying hard to be brave enough to actually do it, just the idea of an intruder in my building makes me nauseous.

After a deep breath I throw open the door, Diablo stalks forward very nearly silent on his feet. I follow close behind him with my gun drawn and Xavier behind me, because why would he start listening to me now?

“Diablo.” I whisper, I should put him into protection heel at the bottom of the stairs.

Before I can say another word he launches himself off the last step toward the shadowy figure approaching. Between the barking, snarling, and gnashing of teeth is the yell of a cornered man at the mercy of my demon.

“Goddamnit!” He yells, “Get this fucker off of me!”

It’s too dark to take aim at him without Diablo getting caught in the crossfire, “Get out and he’ll let you go!” 

In the midst of the chaos I’d forgotten Xavier was behind me, I jump in surprise when he places a hand on my shoulder and steps in front of me to block me with his body. It leaves me no choice but to lower my weapon.

“Skyla, call Diablo off.” He says casually.

“No!” I protest, heart racing wildly. “This asshole broke in.”

With a heavy sigh Xavier interrupts, “This asshole is Ripper… Mathis.”

Unsure whether or not it’s the shock but had he said Mathis? I look up at his still scowling face hoping for answers or some kind of explanation, Xavier places a hand on my hip and pulls me behind him.

“Diablo, thank you but that’s enough.” His ears pin back refusing to let go of the intruder’s arm, his protesting growl is low. “By my side, please.”

As soon as Diablo is out of the way, now standing next to me, Xavier steps forward. He waves his arms as he yells at the other man. “The fuck you doing here Ripper?”

“Who’s the little minx?” The older man leans to look around Xavier, eyeing my lack of clothing with interest. “Bet she’s got you on a leash too, doesn’t she?”

The way he’s looking at me turns my stomach, and quickly I tighten the robe around me and take a couple steps back. 

“It’s four the fucking morning! That’s a little early for a B&E even for you.” Xavier spits.

“Bar closed.” He responds with a shrug while inspecting the damage done to his leather jacket. “James mentioned you might be here. Saw the car parked out back, figured I’d let myself in.”

Diablo growls, shifting his weight forward and ready to attack. Maybe he should. Some deep bruising and minor cuts don’t seem like punishment enough.

“Skyla,” Xavier says softly, offering a hand for me to hold “this asshole is Randall Mathis, mine and Eloise’s…”

“Ah, just call me Ripper.” He interrupts. “I’m this bastard’s father.”

Staring at his extended hand, there is no way I’m shaking it. “By definition that means he’s not a bastard.”

“Oh a spitfire, huh?”

“She’s not one of the club’s hangabouts and you aren’t going to treat her like one!” Xavier rages.

Xavier quickly turns us away from his father, leading me back towards the stairs. He apologizes for the unwelcome intrusion and explains that he’s leaving in a few hours to work this “job” with him. I’m not ready to let him go yet, and I certainly don’t care about the lack of details I’m given during his feeble attempt at explaining.

“Just come back upstairs, I can have coffee ready in a few minutes.” I plead.

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea,” he says while glancing back at Ripper. “I’ll just get dressed and we’ll get out of here.”

“You said you weren’t leaving for a few hours, he needs to sober up.”

Once we’ve all made it upstairs in mostly one piece I get the coffee pot on and signal for Diablo to watch our new guest. Ripper appears unfazed by Diablo, even after being on the receiving end of his teeth.

As the coffee begins to brew and the two men are seated at opposite ends of my sectional just staring at one another I duck into my bedroom to get properly dressed. The tension is thick in the apartment like they’re daring each other to make the first move.

“How do you like your coffee?”

“I’ll take care of that.” Xavier gets up to join me in the kitchen, but not before glaring at Ripper in a way that I can only guess means don’t move.

“Thanks for the coffee.” Ripper smiles, “Such shame you decided clothes were necessary."

Xavier pulls me in so close on the couch that I’m almost in his lap, Diablo drops his head on my knee but keeps his eyes trained on Ripper. I whisper to him that I’m okay as I stroke his jet black fur.

After some encouragement and reminding him of my big hairy bodyguard Xavier leaves the room to go get ready. Once Ripper and I are alone I ask, “How did you get inside my building?”

“Not many doors I can’t open.”

“Well I’d like to make sure this never happens again.”

“You see, little minx, if I go and share my trade secrets with you, I’d have to kill you.” No humor in his tone, though he smiles as he looks me over. “Ellie here too?”

“You mentioned James, is he in that club of yours too?” 

“Not exactly, had plenty to say about you though.”

“Why do you need Xavier for this? Isn’t there anyone else?”

“I’m sure you don’t have any idea who my son really is.” Ripper leans forward to make sure I’m listening, “In fact, the only thing you should know is that he will fight and kill to get back here, to make sure Ellie is never alone.

“If you’re lucky maybe she won’t be the only reason he makes it home.” He smirks behind his coffee.

Xavier clears his throat behind me, my eyes follow him closely as he returns to the couch. He sits just out of reach now looking very much like the weight of the world is on his shoulders, he looks tired.

We flip through channels on the television while finishing off the pot of coffee, I give Xavier a nudge to follow me to the kitchen. 

“I don’t like this, especially after he broke in here, I know I can’t ask you not to go but…”

“I’ve gotta do this,” Xavier says softly, brushing a thumb across my cheek, “Keep an eye on Eloise for me, you know, if anything happens.”

“Don’t- don’t do that.” I say, shaking my head . “You’re going to do this job and be back by next week, right?”

His face softens, his forehead presses against mine, he’s so close I can see light reflecting in those dark eyes.  Xavier wraps a large hand around the back of my neck and pulls me closer. The kiss is gentle at first. When he pulls away my heart sinks, I can’t help but think it felt an awful lot like goodbye.

“Right,“ he smiles down at me “back by next week.”

Chasing Xavier and Ripper to the door, I grab Xavier’s arm and shove my keys into his hand. He declines right away, trying to give them back. “You are, and you better bring it back without a scratch otherwise Diablo and I will hunt you down.” I insist. 

He laughs, leaning down to kiss my cheek. Before he can stand back I grab a handful of his collar and whisper in his ear. “There’s a 9mm in the glove box and a shotgun under the backseat, be careful.”

He snaps his head to face me, probably to see if I’m joking. I smile, “see you around?”

He nods, leaving with Ripper without another word. With a yawn a lay down for a nap, hoping that by the time I wake up the unsettling feeling in my stomach will have gone away.