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Chapter 22
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Counterbalance Chapter 23
From first stepping foot inside the Gaines' Napa Valley home two years before, Peyton had loved the place, and her opinion hadn't wavered since then. Four-thousand square feet of rustic chic in rural Italian style. Scents of lavender from the field blended with lemon from the grove, and wafted in through the open window to put her in sensory heaven. Little touches added charm, like the terra cotta tiled roof or the way they'd used an old barn door to design the dining room table.They finished dinner and sipped wine around the table as Xavier's parents talked about their recent trip to Hawaii. With one hand cradling his glass, Xavier idly ran his fingers through the ends of Peyton's hair from the seat beside her, his attention focused on the discussion. He'd always been more comfortable in his parents' presence, but she'd never seen him this happy. No barriers. No hesitation. Just the real him, minus the strain.She suppressed a shiver of delight at the ministration and his relaxed,
Counterbalance Chapter 24
He grunted as he strode down the upstairs hall toward the guestroom. A sharp, quick slap smacked her butt, and he rested his hand over the spot as if to soothe the heat."Kinky."His laugh rumbled through her, and the rough, low sound had her panties damp. He smelled so yummy with his light cologne blending with the scent of outdoors. She wanted to breathe him in and never resurface. His hard muscles shifted against her and she was reminded all over again how mind-blowing it was to be in direct contact with him.He set her down inside the doorway and crowded her against the frame. The lowlight from the dark hallway and dim lamp inside the guestroom cast shadows across the harsh planes of his face. "I wish you'd sleep in my room with me." Leaning closer, he kissed his way across her cheek to her neck, his five o'clock shadow causing a delicious rasp.A tremble tore through her and her breath caught. Any time intimacy was involved, it was like he flipped a switch and Alpha X took o
Counterbalance Chapter 25
After his run, Xavier climbed the stairs and pulled out his earbuds, pausing outside Peyton's bedroom door. He was surprised she was still asleep and hesitated in waking her. She'd seemed exhausted lately and worn around the edges. But his mom was saddling the geldings and waiting for her. Plus, he really wanted to kiss her good morning without an audience.He knocked, but she didn't respond, so he opened the door and stepped inside the guestroom. The drapes were parted over the balcony doors and early morning sunlight fed in through the glass. Her blonde hair poked out from under a heap of blankets and a purple, grape-printed comforter.He walked closer and perched on the edge of the mattress by her hip, smiling. Curled on her side, she slept with one hand under her head and the other tucked to her chest. Her features relaxed, she looked like a sleeping angel with her round cheeks, long pale lashes, and hair light as a halo across the pillow. He fingered the quilt lower to expose mo
Counterbalance Chapter 26
"I suppose not, but" He closed his mouth over hers and shoved his hands in her hair. He didn't appreciate her trying to fix something he didn't want fixed. If any of his previous lovers had given him cause to be half the man he was around Peyton, they wouldn't be here right now. Together. On paper, their schematics might be all kinds of wrong, but he'd meant what he'd told her yesterday. They were the right counterbalance to one another. If things crashed and burned between them, life as he knew it would be over. Yet, for the first time since he'd raised his hands in surrender, he discovered he held the future in his grasp. Literally. All he had to do was avoid screwing it up.She made a stunned noise in her throat and molded her lithe body against him. One hand pressed over his pounding heart, the other dipped under his shirt and skimmed up his back, sending a violent wave of need coursing through his hard drive. Then, the hand on his chest drifted south, past his abs, to wrap ar
Counterbalance Chapter 27
Peyton bit her lip and, from bed, stared at the ceiling in the Gaines' guestroom. What a day. Horseback riding, shopping. They'd punched out most of the benefit weekend details and Elaine had even managed to get Peyton onboard for Xavier's surprise birthday party. He wouldn't be overly joyful, but he'd calm down once he realized it was a small affair.And, holy wow. Xavier had given her an orgasm up against a tree. Then, they'd headed back inside to eat dinner with his parents and drank wine like he hadn't...given her an orgasm up against a tree. With his hands. After they'd danced. Under the stars.God, that man.She rubbed her forehead and clenched her thighs, aching. She may have had her mind blown, but he hadn't gotten release. If she was still needy and wanting more, she could only imagine what state he was in.Glancing at the door, she mulled over her options. Thus far, he'd been the aggressive one when it came to intimacy. Though she was seeing less and less of his social an
Counterbalance Chapter 28
Closing his eyes, he dropped his forehead to hers, his large hands smoothing her hair. Then, he kissed her, not with passion or heat or need, but with tenderness. Feather-light, he brushed his lips across hers before he opened and, as if having all the time in existence, stroked her tongue. A caress. An unhurried narrative of patience and acceptance and some kind of deeper meaning she couldn't quite grasp.Unsure whether to weep or sigh, she cupped his cheeks and held him pressed against her in a way that seemed much more intimate than the act they'd just finished. He could be such a contradiction that he left her reeling. Never harsh, forever observant, sometimes shy, often commanding, rarely indifferent, and alwaysalwaysconsiderate. Alpha and beta. Dominant and submissive.He pulled away, holding her face, staring into her eyes. His mouth opened as if to say something, but he dragged his thumb across her lower lip like he wanted to pull words from her instead. "What's wrong?" A
Counterbalance Chapter 29
Late afternoon on Tuesday, Xavier leaned back in his chair as Peyton strode into his office wearing a navy blue dress that made her eyes brighter and hugged every subtle curve of her body. He scanned her long legs before letting his gaze hover on her mouth. And sighed. Those red lips had been wrapped around a certain part of him a few days prior, and he couldn't shake the reminder whenever she was within a hundred feet of him."You ready?" She smiled, setting her hands on her hips.Hell, yes. He was more than ready. For their date on Saturday and to take things to the next level. Damn, just to take her period. But that's not what she meant. The reporter and photographer from the magazine were here for his exclusive interview. He'd rather chew nails.He rose and smoothed his tie. "Sure.""Okay, just like we discussed, we're going to take photos with the heads of the various departments in the company, then sit down for the interview." She stepped in front of him and adjusted the l
Counterbalance Chapter 30
Two years ago, it had been her idea to get more actively involved in a charity for his image. What she probably hadn't known was he'd already been playing with the idea, and it was her history, his connection to her, that had launched the entire thing. He hadn't been able to help those she'd loved before it was too late, but he could do something for others in similar situations. She'd been, and still was, the heart behind the project."That's amazing." Daniel made a few notes. "Miss Smoke, you do quite a bit for the charity as well, correct?""From a marketing standpoint." She smoothed her skirt. "It's a cause close to my heart, regardless."Which was bull. She could name every single veteran on their list, along with their spouses and children, and not because of her excellent memory. Peyton gave a shit, even though she'd had all but no one to do the same for her in return. Once again, she was minimizing her role and importance.Daniel nodded. "You started at Gaines Industries al
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