To Say Goodbye

Chapter 24

Maggie's POV

I took medical leave from work to give myself time to heal and process everything. When I had woken up the next day, I knew I needed a little time to get my head right.

I have been staying here at Xander's and Xavier's for just over a month now. I feel like I'm back to being myself. The first few days after the incident were the hardest. Seeing all the bruises, the evidence on my body, was somewhat of a trigger. It made it real.

The boys all took off work that first week. They wanted to be with me. To help me in any way they could. After that first week I made them all go back to work. They have a very big company to run and the expansion into Europe is a big deal for them. I didn't want them missing business opportunities because of me. They didn't want to leave me alone though, so they decided to take turns alternating days staying home with me. On days when none of them could stay home with me, Mama Rosa would keep me company. I have become really close with all of them through this. They are my family, and I can't imagine my life without them.

I'm excited and frightened by that thought.

Xander has been the absolutely amazing. I never imagined this big, dominate alpha male had such a gentle side to him. I have found the most comfort in his embrace. He amazed me that night. How he handled my fragile body in his hands. How he carefully washed my skin and made me forget, for a moment, the disgusting feeling of another man's hands on me. He made me feel safe. He makes me feel safe.

I feel completely back to my normal self now. I'm planning to go back to work in the next week or two. I've even been fantasizing about Xander. It surprised me the first time after the incident that I imagined a more sensual touch from him. I thought it would take me longer to want intimacy, but I guess that kind of healing has no timeframe. You are ready when you are ready.

I have been replaying our encounter from the club office lately. How his soft lips felt on me. His warm tongue circling my c**t. His long fingers inside me. The feeling of my climax crashing down on me. I get hot just thinking about it.

However, Xander will not touch me at all. He barely even kisses me. I get he doesn't was to scare or trigger me, but I'm fine. I want this. I want him. I'm ready for more than a peck here and there. I want passion, fire, love. Maybe not s*x right away, but more action than what I am currently getting.

Everytime I make a move for more, Xander backs away and avoids me like the plague. I need to switch up my game plan. I'm close to begging for his touch and I promised he would be the first to beg. Not me. It is time to up my teasing game and I'll be dropping some major hints that he can stop treating me like a porcelain doll.

Right now, Mama Rosa and I are cleaning. I'm wearing high waisted jean shorts and a black crop top. My hair is in a messy bun on top of my head. Mama Rosa is cleaning the kitchen while I'm tackling the living room. The guys should be done with their meeting soon. I have my headphones in playing music while I'm dusting. Currently I'm dancing/cleaning to Take You Dancing by Jason Derulo.

My epic dance moves were interrupted by a pillow hitting my butt. I rip my headphones off at spin around. Xander is standing there with a cheeky grin on his face. James is looking at me with raised eyebrows, waiting for my reaction. I narrowed my eyes at Xander and tried to hide the smile playing on my lips.

"Did you just hit me with a pillow?" I asked Xander accusingly.

"What if I did? What are you gonna do about it?" Xander teased looking smug.

"Oh, this means war Mr. King!" I said picking up the pillow and holding it ready to strike. "You should surrender now. Back home, I'm known as the pillow fighting queen. I never lose." I joked trying to look intimidating.

"Well, I think you are about to be dethroned... cause I never surrender." Xander said grabbing two pillows. He threw one to James, who caught it and smirked my way.

"You dare betray me James!" I said placing a hand on my heart in fake disbelief.

"Sorry Spitfire, but I've been with Xander my whole life. Can't break up the band now. Friends gotta stick together." he said with a shrug.

"You're right, friends do gotta stick together" I nodded. "Xavier, Andre!! I need backup!!" I yelled.

Xavier and Andre came running into the living room a second later. "What do you need backup for.... Oh f**k YEAH!! PILLOW FIGHT!!" Xavier cheered grabbing a pillow and standing next to me.

"We got your back Mags!! Your going down guys, we've got the feisty one on our side!" Andre exclaimed coming to my other side with another pillow from the couch.

"You get the tall gangly ones, I'll handle the feisty midget." Xander said to James as he smirked at me.

"Gangly? Look at these guns, nothing gangly here brother!" Xavier asked incredulously then flexed for added effect.

"Excuse me? Who are you calling a midget? Oh, it's on King!" I threatened Xander. Then the boys and I gave a battle cry and attacked.

I quickly jumped on the couch in front of Xander and tried to hit him. He blocked all of my shots with his pillow. Then, Xander grabbed my pillow and pulled me off the couch by my pillow. Once I was standing on the ground he tried to pull me into his chest to pin my arms down, but I had other plans. I quickly ducked and spun past him. When I was standing on his other side, I stuck my leg behind his and swept my foot to make him fall back. I also used the pillow he and I were still holding onto to help knock him to the floor. Xander fell on his back with an loud 'ommff'.

I quickly straddled his torso and began my ruthless pillow attack on his face. We were both laughing hard. Xander has his arms over his face, using his elbow to block. I can see his smile between my attempted hits.

"Where on earth did you learn that move to make me fall?" He asked between laughs.

"James teaches me some defensive moves on his days with me." I said stopping my attack to look at him.

"Good." he smiled at me. Then Xander wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted his head off the floor. "My turn!" he smirked devilishly.

Xander then flipped us, so I was now on the floor beneath him. He raised up on his knees, keeping mine wrapped around him. He grinned as he raised his pillow up. "You should have never let your guard down little one... surrender now, or prepare to be annihilated" Xander laughed.

I couldn't help but chuckle and shook my head at him. "Never!"

Then Xander brought his pillow down on me. We were both laughing hysterically. Right when he was lifting the pillow for another hit, I grabbed the pillow and yanked it above my head. Xander fell forward on top of me. I took advantage of his stunned expression to the sudden move and locked my legs around his lower back. Pinning him to me. Xander laughed and raised up on his elbow to look at me. He shook his head lightly and smiled at me. His eyes glanced down to my lips. Xander used his free hand and tucked stray hair behind my ear.

"Do you surrender?" I asked in a soft seductive voice.

"I never surrender, little one." Xavier replied in a husky voice looking at my lips again. I unconsciously licked them. His eyes followed the movement and darkened slightly.

"We are gonna have to work on that. Won't we?" I purred softly.

"Abso-f*****g-lutely" Xander said then crashed his lips onto mine. His lips were so soft and he moved so passionately with mine. He pulled my bottom lip between his teeth, asking for entrance. I denied him. I want him to work for this.

Xander let his weight press against my core suddenly. I could feel his large member through my shorts. Xander licked my bottom lip, asking for entry again. Which I denied... again. Then Xander thrusted his hips slightly causing friction on my sensitive nub. I gasped slightly and that was all Xander needed to explore my mouth with his tongue. Our tongues fought for dominance for a while before I surrendered to Xander. He tastes so good! Like mint with a hint of chocolate.

We had to break away for air. Xander looked down at me adoringly, while I smiled at him in admiration. How did I get so lucky? He was leaning down to kiss me again when there was a throat clearing above us.

Xander and I both snapped our heads to the person who disrupted our moment. There was a middle aged woman standing over us with one of her eyebrows raised. She was dressed in a fashionable white pantsuit with white heels. Her raven black hair was in a sleek bun. She had her hands on her hips and was trying to give us a disapproving look. She almost looked like a mother scolding her child. However, a smile was playing at her lips and her crystal blue eyes had amusement in them.

Who is this beautiful woman? Why does she look kind of familiar... similar to Xander, but more fragile and feminine?

Xander answered my questions with one word.

"Mom?"