“What about once every season?” I beg. “On the first day of every time the season change. Please, Xavier?”
“Fine,” he grunts, making me shriek with excitement. He holds his hand up and adds, “You will not do anything other than kiss me, though. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I nod eagerly before a devilish smile takes over. “You know what date today is, right?”
“September twenty-first,” I nod. “Your birthday.”
“It’s also the first day of fall.”
“Fuck.” He rubs his eyes, avoiding my gaze. “I can’t do this today, Tallulah.”
“Why? You got somewhere to be?”
“Yes,” he mutters. “Anywhere that isn’t near you.”
I pout. “Am I really such poor company?”
“No. You’re just very... tempting company.”
“Is that so bad?”
“Yes, it’s awful.”
“Then leave,” I tell him with a devilish smile. “I won’t force you, just like you won’t force me.”
He stares me down, making me wonder whether I’m playing the game right. Finally, something in Xavier appears to break, and he takes a step forward, grabbing my neck from behind. I gasp, never getting the chance to inhale again as he pulls me firmly against him.
“I’ll teach you how to kiss,” he mutters against my lips. “I’ll teach you every-fucking-thing.”
With those words, he sinks his lips to mine. My heart pounds with expectation as I feel his mouth parting my lips and his tongue darting inside me, claiming me in a way I’ve almost dreamed of.
The smallest of mewls escapes my lips, and he uses it to deepen our kiss. My knees shake but he helps me stay up, his other arm entwining my hips and pulling me closer against him.
I can feel something through the fabric of his pants. I know what it is. I’m just not ready to admit it to myself, so I focus on the kiss instead.
There’s so much passion in the way Xavier claims me, I melt into his embrace just to get more of it. He has a way of holding and kissing me that makes me feel like the only person in the world beside him. My body melts and molds to his, eager for more.
And yet I can tell my husband-to-be is holding back. There’s a tension to his body I know he won’t let himself ease. He needs to hold back, so he doesn’t go too far... Like we agreed. And now I’m upset with myself. I didn’t beg for more, because already the kiss isn’t enough. Nothing ever will be when it comes to Xavier Gunn.
Finally, he pulls back, his eyes clouded over with passion as he looks away.
“Your lipstick,” he mutters without looking at me. “It’s all over your face.”
“Oh,” I whisper, dabbing at my lips. “Now everyone will know I belong to you.”
“They know already,” he mutters. “And if anyone’s ever inappropriate to you, they also know I’ll cut their fucking throats open.”
“Are you always so ferocious?”
“Yes.”
“And so possessive?”
“Only when it comes to you.”
I grin with satisfaction, knowing I’m special to him. “The day isn’t over just yet. I can get more kisses, right?”
“Not for a while,” he mutters, turning with his back against me. “Come on. Time for you to open the rest of your presents.”
I don’t question him, just follow back inside the house where all my gifts have been laid out in the salon. I rip through the wrapping paper, unboxing perfumes, jewelry, and beautiful clothes. All of it is so over the top and decadent I can’t help but gasp at each new item I unearth from layers of tissue paper.
And yet I can’t help but notice Xavier’s mood has changed. He seems more troubled now that he was earlier. As I thank him and open more gifts, I wonder why this is so hard for him.
If it’s because he secretly doesn’t like me, he’s certainly an excellent actor.
If it’s because he wants more, I see no reason he shouldn’t act on his desires - especially since they match my own.
“Xavier,” I say. “You seem a thousand miles away. What’s going through your mind?”
“I... I have some business to do soon,” he mutters, clearing his throat. “You going to be okay on your own for a while?”
“No,” I pout. “I thought today was supposed to be my special day.”
“It is.”
“Then why don’t you want to spend it with me?”
“Tallulah... It’s not that I don’t want to.”
“Then what?”
“Nothing?” He gets up and walks away, adding, “Enjoy opening the rest of your presents. I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“No!” I throw the wrapping paper on the ground and race ahead of him, making a guard outside the room awkwardly clear his throat. “I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. I want you with me today. And I want you to kiss me again.”
He gently shoves me back inside the salon, closing the door behind us before facing me with a stony expression.
“You’re pushing me, Tallulah,” he says in a cool tone I’m unfamiliar with. “You won’t like it when I lose control.”