CHAPTER 15

Audrey's Pov

Did he just ask me to kiss him? I cleared my throat pretending to be thinking about it but I already made up my mind.

“I thought we agreed on asking for something less outrageous,” I remarked and he chuckled.

“I guess that is a no then, I'm not surprised that you refused” He chuckled cutting more meat and transferring the pieces into my plate, “I'm sorry, you can ask for something else, anything that doesn't involve intimacy” I asserted.

He didn't say anything or even try to protest so I let it go, “Are you going to ask me questions now?” I asked as soon as I was done with my food, he stayed silent cutting the cake and placing a piece on another plate beside me, “Eat first, we will talk after you are done” He mumbled and I nodded.

I gave up on eating after three big pieces of cake and the amount of meat I ate was enough, I couldn't try the other dishes so I called for the staff to clear the table and gave the rest.

They thanked me and I was worried for their necks as they bowed more than I could count in appreciation, Xander took a seat beside me after they left us alone and my body was aware of our proximity as his knee brushed mine.

I could feel the heat seeping out of his skin and I felt like I needed.... Oh crap!

“Are you alright?” He furrowed his brows as I forced a smile, how do I tell him I'm drunk and thinking about jumping on him even when it goes against all my rules?

“I'm a bit tipsy thanks to the wine you gave me, I see you are trying to get me drunk so I can make bad choices” I accused even though I was the one pouring more wine into my cup while enjoying my dinner.

“Well I guess it didn't work, trust me if I wanted you drunk then we will both be knocked out cold on this table” He chuckled and I grinned.

“Are you saying we will be competing? What makes you think I would agree to such a thing?”

“Because I know you love a challenge, you'd never back out first and you will aim to win, you might not want to admit it but we are both very much alike, love, like birds of a feather” He reaches out to brush his thumb at the side of my mouth and my breath hitched.

“You've got sauce there, sorry for touching you without your permission” He mumbled and the glint in his eyes told me he was anything but sorry, I gulped and looked away.

This is all too soon.

I have gotten what I wanted and my inheritance is mine now, the only problem is I don't know what to do about us.

“Your questions, we should get over with it before I pass out on you” I quipped and he scoffed in disbelief.

“We both know that isn't going to happen, you are always so strong and put together, the last thing you would do is to embarrass yourself in front of me, you don't even trust me enough to pass out on me” He pointed out and I giggled.

He is right, how did he read me so quickly it's creepy and hot at the same time.

“Why do you always tie your hair in a bun? I have never seen you with your hair down” He gave me an intrusive look, “Because I prefer it that way” I replied dryly, I'm not drunk enough to share my childhood experiences with him.

“Then I want to see you with your hair down” He requested, “Is that your wish, Xander?” I taunted and he shook his head.

“Not a wish, I asked and I don't expect you to comply with my request but I just wanted to try,” He said staring deeply into my eyes. Alright, I might as well get over with it and I rejected his wish before I can't reject this, “The maids you assigned to me are the only ones who have seen me with my hair down, I always sleep with my hair down so it's unusual for me to let it down in public, it's like a habit I like it that way” I explained thinking that would throw him off course but he just hummed staring at me with anticipation in his eyes.

Fine, I reached for the pin in my bun and I pulled it out letting my long brown hair unwrap from the tight bun, I removed the hair band too and my brown locks cascaded down my back in waves.

I felt like I was giving out a piece of my soul and what my stepmother said echoes in my head, “You look ugly with your hair down, unlike Amelia you have a wide-framed face so letting your hair down is something you should never do, a bun should be the best option for you”

Bullshits.

But it stuck to my head and I couldn't even look at Xander, I regret letting it loose in the first place.

“It's so long”

I turned to face him and he was staring at my hair, he is right its pretty long as it stops at the top of my ass.

“Can I touch it?” He lifted his gaze and I counted that as another request I'm not supposed to grant, but did I decline? No.

I nodded and he raked his fingers through my hair with a smile on his face, why does this make him happy?

“It's beautiful Audrey, you are beautiful and so is everything about you” He looked enamored by something so little and trivial as this. My steady heartbeats turned erratic and I realized this wasn't supposed to be happening. I'm making a mistake again, one that might ruin me for real this time.

“Thank you for the compliment, I should get going now” I fake a smile and stand up, “Leaving so soon? We haven't finished our little chat, and you haven't wished for anything yet” He probed and I sighed.

“You said I have till tomorrow so that can wait, you can ask me the last question now” I refused to take a seat again, the earlier I vacate this place the better.

“Are you still in love with Zachary?”

My jaw dropped at the absurdity of that question, I would rather choke on my own vomit and die a thousand times than harbor feelings for that idiot.

“Not anymore, my feelings died the day I found out about him and Amelia, but I'm curious about you. You don't seem to care too much about Amelia, just when did you find out?” I asked with my hands on my waist, “The moment they started their little fling, I figured what Amelia wanted to do when she begged me to marry her” He replied.

And he rejected her and then dumped her only for him to accept my offer without having a second thought, it would be suspicious if I think of any way he might be gaining from this but there is none, except the fact that we make a powerful couple but I doubt that's what he wants.

“Thank you for today, I would like to get some rest now I had a long day” I enunciated and he nodded.

I retired to my bedroom hoping I would forget about this discussion tomorrow, but as I closed my eyes to sleep I only dreamt of the need in Xander's eyes when he asked me to kiss him.

Maybe I'm slowly falling into whatever trap he has laid out for me.

I woke up the next morning with a slight headache then I recalled having too much wine at dinner, the maids came in to make my bed and I left for the bathroom to take my bath.

By the time I finished with my morning routine it was almost noon, the maids told me that the decoration team where busy downstairs so I didn't bother to go check, I called my assistant instead and informed her that I wouldn't be coming to work today. To my surprise she said she was aware and asked if she could crash later at night, I gave her permission and told her to invite my father and Amelia.

I should also use this opportunity to celebrate my success, there was a knock on my door jolting me out of my thoughts.

The maids don't knock because I ask them not so that leaves... Oh my goodness, Xander.

I haven't tied my hair and I'm still wearing a bathroom robe, I brush my hair with my fingers and open the door.

Xander was standing outside wearing his usual smirk with a large covered tray in his hands, “Can I come in?” He asked and I nodded creating space for him, I locked the door after letting him in and I blushed as he scanned me intensely.

“I have never seen you out of anything formal, maybe I should start coming to your room often so I can catch you off guard like this" He quipped and I rolled my eyes.

“Good morning to you too, you brought food?” My face brightened as I moved towards the tray on the bed, but he stopped me halfway.

“I only did because I knew you wouldn't come downstairs, you are quite an introvert aren't you?”

“I prefer selective participation, I don't want to disrupt them while they are working, now if you will excuse me I have to eat” I gestured for him to leave instead he sat on my bed with a smug grin.

“By all means throw me out yourself” He raised one hand for me to take it and I groaned, why does everything about him have to be difficult?

I walked towards him and took his hand only for him to pull me and my ass landed on his thighs, he wrapped his hands around my waist and brush his lips on my neck.

“Xander!” I gasped and he chuckled at my reaction.

“I like you better this way, ruffled and cute”

My stupid heart started thumping hard I was afraid he would hear, and for some reason, I relaxed into his touch and smirked at him.

Two can play this game.