Chapter 5 - Xenia

I know I’d said I would give the owner of that corgi a piece of my mind. But staring up at this giant man who looks like he’s carved of marble - I felt those muscles only moments ago, and the marble may be an accurate description - I was at a loss for words. How much time does he spend in the gym? Or is this not natural, and it’s all steroids? If it is steroids, do I even want to accept that offer of dinner or the use of his laundry? 

My eyes glanced at his crotch. I couldn’t help it, and don’t judge me. You’d have done the same. Looking down at his crotch is less of a strain on my neck than looking up at his face. Either he’s one of those men that stuffs for show, or that’s the real deal outlined in those jeans. So much for my thought that his muscles are steroids. 

“You realize the longer you gawk at him, the bigger he’s going to get.” He chuckled that deep masculine kind of chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine, not in a bad way.

My eyes quickly cut back to his face, and green eyes twinkled with mischief accented by that dimple on his cheek as he smiled at me. “And just how big are we talking?” I arched my brow. If he wants to be cheeky, I can be too.

“Let’s just say I should have my own line of dildos.” He grinned brighter. I glanced back down at this package, and given the size of the current outline that I’m guessing is soft, he may not be wrong.

“You are confident. I’ll give you that.” I sighed, shaking my head.

“It’s a gift and a curse inherited from my mother’s side.” He shrugged. “So, while you can think about the dinner offer. I only live a few blocks if you want to use my laundry, so you aren’t soaking wet in pond water.” He reminded me of his offer by gesturing to my wet clothes. 

“Though I’m not complaining that your clothes are clinging in all the right spots.” He winked.

I rolled my eyes, trying to pull my top away from my body, but I didn’t think it was helping. “I’m not going anywhere with you. At least without knowing your name. For all I know, you are some creep who trained his dog to do things like this to meet women.” 

“If I could train him to help me meet women, I would. He has the opposite effect. He’s chased off every woman I’ve brought home since I got him. He even got me evicted after he went after my former landlady.” He scoffed, glaring at Zeus. 

“And I’m Clay Nikolaidis. So now that you know my name, do I get to know yours?” He smiled, offering his beefy hand. 

I’m not sure how much of what he said, I believe. Though he sounds very convincing, I find it hard to believe a ten-pound corgi could cause him that much trouble. Cautiously I shook his hand. “Xenia Rosario. And I’ll trust you tentatively. At least enough to get my clothes dry. Lead the way.”

“Let’s go, Zeus. And to be sure you don’t cause trouble.” Clay sighed, scoping his small dog into his arm. Zeus didn’t look thrilled about being carried like a football, but Clay was not giving in to all his wiggling and whining. 

“Don’t start. You know what you did, and now you will face the consequences.” Clay rolled his eyes as he started to head out of the park.

“Your armpit BO?” I arched an eyebrow as I managed to catch up with him, Tinkerbell giving me no trouble about walking at this faster pace. “That is how you punish your dog?”

“I don’t have BO. Well, maybe I do after falling into that pond. But I took a shower and used deodorant this morning.” Clay defended himself. “And no, his punishment is he doesn’t get to walk and possibly cause more trouble.”

“Ah.. well, that part makes sense. If Zeus is half the troublemaker you claim he is, I understand you want to ensure he can’t cause more.” I nodded, raising my eyebrow at the dog.

I swear Zeus understands everything we said because that look he’s giving me clearly said, ‘I’ll show you how much trouble I can be.’ He’s a weird dog, and I think even Tinkerbell knows it as she keeps glancing up at him as if she’s waiting for something to happen. Maybe she’s afraid he will act out and scare her again. He better not. If he triggers her anxiety again, I and that fluffball have words. I train dogs for a living and know how to handle disobedient animals. 

We got some looks as we passed our fellow New Yorkers on the street. We are soaking wet. I’ve got a large breed dog on my leash, and Clay is carrying a dainty dog. We are probably a hilarious sight to behold. I furrowed my brow as we reached a nice building complete with a doorman. Clay walked directly up to the doorman, holding in a snicker. He was right that he didn’t live too far away.

“Another entertaining outing with Zeus, Mister Nikolaidis?” The doorman couldn’t hold back, at least smiling as he opened the doors.

“Let’s not talk about it, Frankie. And for once, don’t tell Makayla.” Clay rolled his eyes, stopping to gesturing me inside.

I raised an eyebrow, unsure who this Makayla was and why the doorman, Frankie, would tell her about Clay’s mishaps. Maybe she’s Frankie’s wife or girlfriend? Or perhaps she’s Clay’s!? Oh shit, please, God, tell me I didn’t just agree to come home with a married or otherwise committed man. If I hit on another guy who’s married or taken, I will kick him in the balls. I’m sick of good-looking guys flirting with me when they aren’t single. 

“We both know that I will be telling Miss Hopkins.” Frankie shrugged. 

Well, that ruled out this Makayla person being associated with Frankie, which leaves me to glare suspiciously at Clay as we reach the elevators. I’m getting out of this place as soon as possible. I am not getting into any cheating nonsense. I don’t want to be anyone’s sidepiece. Maybe I should risk getting a cab and paying a little extra for having Tink with me.

“Maybe I should go,” I suggested starting to back away from the elevator as it dinged open. “ I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with whomever Makayla is.”

“Huh? How are you going to get me in trouble with my cousin? Unless you mean jealous ’cause you are totally the type of woman she’d bang if she didn’t already have a girlfriend.” Clay chuckled, shifting Zeus to his other arm as he put his other to keep the elevator door from closing.

“Your cousin has the doorman keeping tabs on you?” I asked, skeptical of that line. 

“I told you, Zeus got me kicked out of my apartment for biting my landlady. I’m between places. My cousin is letting me crash at her apartment. Frankie is her doorman, and she wants to be sure I don’t break her shit or cause trouble in the building.” Clay explained. 

“I… I’m sorry.” I sighed, laughing softly, realizing I sounded like some crazy girl.

“I take it you’ve had bad experiences when guys you just met make you wet and bring you home?” Clay arched a brow, a twinkle in those green eyes.

“Something like that. So… going up?” I asked, looking to change the subject as I stepped into the elevator.

“Doing down is more my specialty, but I’m not against working my way up.” Clay winked as he stepped in and hit the button for the penthouse. 

“I walked right into that one.” I sighed, shaking my head, holding Tinkerbell closer as the doors closed, making her whimper as the elevator started.

“Not that first time you’ve walked into me today.” Clay chuckled, though it petered off as he looked at Tinkerbell. “Is she okay?”

I rolled my eyes, ignoring his initial comment. I sighed and rubbed Tinkerbell’s neck as she leaned into my legs. “She has anxiety. Elevators are one of the things she doesn’t like. My apartment isn’t up too many floors, so I take the stairs. I’m guessing there would be too many stairs to reach your place.” I explained.

“Fifteen flights would be a good workout, but I don’t recommend doing it often.” He agreed. “Don’t worry, Tinkerbell. This elevator is pretty fast.” Clay assured my dog stretching her head.

“See…” He smiled as the doors opened to the top floor. The moment the doors opened, Tinkerbell dashed out of the elevator, yanking me behind her. 

“Well, at least she’s in a hurry to get into my place.” Clay laughed, stepping out of the elevator and to the apartment marked PHA.

I rolled my eyes as he unlocked the door with a key, a keycode, and a thumbprint. “Okay, seriously, what is up with the locks? Is that standard?” I asked as I followed him into the apartment. 

“Makayla works for the government. She does lots of tech stuff and is very careful about security.” Clay shrugged as he set Zeus down, letting the furball free. 

Zeus instantly rushed over to Tinkerbell, sniffing her. I was worried this could go badly, but oddly she seemed okay with it. Did I misread the situation at the park? Did she not have an anxiety attack? Maybe she was just excited to make a new friend? My thoughts about this development got pushed aside as I looked at the art above the fireplace. 

We can circle back to the fact that he’s staying in a penthouse with super high-tech security with a fucking fireplace. I’m more focused on the very bold, yes that’s a good word for it, art hanging in such a prominent place. It was a long vertical framed print of a very naked tattooed man hanging upside down from a curved branch, ropes intricately wrapped around him and a gag over his mouth. I’m not sure what the Japanese characters say, but I saw the artist’s name, Felix d’Eon. It was very erotic and made me look at Clay contemplating if this was his cousin’s art or his. 

“Interesting art…” I commented, nodding to the print.