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“How about weup her knife and fork and pinning Xander with a look that told him she was not at all interested in the subject

Fine He knehen to back off, just like he knehen to push back For now, he’d let her have her way

Two hours later, Xander led Mercedes out of the restaurant and to the waiting lih dinner, and once the conversation had detoured to business, it seeh Mercedes’s tension level had receded a few notches

Holding her hand while she cli to Devotion No interruptions And I don’t care how long it takes us to get there If we arrive before I give you the go ahead, continue to drive until I tell you”

“Yes, sir,” Carson responded, his face showing absolutely no emotion

The ht years He knew exactly what to expect He was paid well for his discretion and had never once interfered or questioned Xander’s instruction It was the main reason he was still on the payroll

Xander climbed into the li hihway speeds before he turned his full attention to Mercedes

“Take off your shoes and colanced over at him, clearly startled by his request To her credit, she didn’t question hihtly

“On my lap,” he instructed when it was clear he hadn’t been detailed enough

Mercedes’s perfectly grooue He watched as she slipped her shoes off, leaving the in front of hihs, relishing the warmth of her bare skin as he slid his hands beneath the short, billowy skirt, pulling her toward his She clearly understood what he wanted because she slowly eased atop hihs

“Much better,” he told her, caressing her cheek as he just stared back at her “I like you close”

“I like being close,” she aduarded response