.CHAPTER 4.

THE CHARITY EVENT was held in a very magnanimous hall, one could mistake it for a royal ball. Sreya was in awe. She'd been surprised when she'd tucked herself in last night to check her email and saw the invite. Turns out the email arrived few days ago but she hardly ever checked them so yeah. She'd never been invited to anything related with K.G Inc before so this caught her off guard.

After seeing the invite, she'd googled Xaver. She knew it screamed "stalker" and was very immature of her but she couldn't help it. She found out he was engaged not married and it had been arranged. She really hoped he was happy.

Right now, she desperately needed to seat down, she shouldn't have worn these stilettos, her toes were cramped and her feet hurt. She wouldn't be surprised if her feet died from suffocation and her stomach frizzed from all the alcohol she's been sipping. Not less than five minutes later, a lady who introduced herself as the executive assistant to the firm announced that Mr. Kirkgarde would like to say a few words.

~•~

Hosting charity events like this was a great way of gaining market experience. Donations put the company's name out there, promoting good reputation in the process and Xaver knew that. His speech was short and straight to the point and with the loud applause that echoed off the walls he knew the event was a success.

Stepping down, he greeted a few friends and made small talk with the people he didn't know that came up to him. For future deals, he shook hands and fixed dates, Lucy trailing behind him. After he was done being painfully cordial, his Cyan eyes scanned the crowd and he found just who he'd been waiting for.

~•~

Sreya secretly commended Xaver for his speech. She watched him talk to a few people, mentally noting how he seemed to do everything calculatingly. As though he was trained to know when to smile, when to shake hands, when to nod his head in understanding, when to stop a waiter for a glass and when to excuse himself. He looked handsome and delivishly Male in his black tuxedo. For a moment, she watched his lips move and imagined what it'd feel like to have his mouth on her nether region but he was engaged to be married so she snapped out of it.

She knew better than messing with someone that was already taken. She'd die of guilt and her mom would punch her so hard she'd grow a penis on her face.

A dull ache travelled up her legs and she was reminded of the need to sit down, spotting a table, she began to walk towards it, trying to be as graceful as she could when all she wanted to do was scream and burn her shoes.

"Sreya Dronian", a deep silky voice called.

Shit. Was she wet already?

Fucking whore, her subconscious whispered

Stopping in her tracks, she turned to face him, etching a gorgeous eyebrow, "Xaver Kirkgarde", her voice was barely above a whisper. Making her sound more sexual than she intended.

He smiled and her panties soaked further, "You accepted my invite", Xaver said as he led her towards the table she'd been heading to.

Thank God, Sreya mused as she followed him, she could kiss this man.

When she was seated, she replied, "I never miss a chance to give back".

Sre knew she had to stop sounding like a bitch in heat and get her shit together. She wouldn't want him to think she was flirting with him.

But then, she was.

Xaver figured he was probably going to jerk off tonight. Sreya was wearing a dark black dress that stopped just above her knees. It had a criss cross bodice that covered up her boobs well but showed a little bit of skin through a small triangle cut made below the chest. The lower part of the dress was skin tight, stretching taut across her round hips, outlining her hourglass figure.

He was yet to touch her and he was already sporting a raging hard on. He'd directed her to the table to avoid scaring her with the thick bulge in his pants and because he wouldn't wear her shoes. When she'd spoken, he'd felt his arousal leap to full flame.

His warm but intense cyan gaze studied her features, like he was looking beneath the surface, beneath her facade of non-arousal.

"Of course not", his voice was low, husky and quiet. Like he'd just shared a secret and was waiting for her to react.

For seconds, they just stared at each other. The hard look in his eyes were almost blistering and Sreya found herself growing increasingly intimidated. Fighting the urge to look at his perfect mouth and chiseled jaw, she held his gaze. She'd be damned before she let him notice how nervous she really felt, his eyes were too quick and he'd surely know if she so much as moved her fingers.

"Would you care for a glass of wine, Sir?" a waiter interrupted and Sreya let out a silent sigh of relief. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath.

"Please", Xaver said with a small nod as the waiter pleasantly dropped two flutes of champagne on the table and walked off. Sre resisted the urge to call him back and tip him for saving her life.

Seeking to distract her hyper aware senses from the demi god across from her she took a sip from her wine and felt like she was almost to have the best orgasm. This was more delicious than what she'd been shoving down her throat earlier. Was it a Kirkgarde special?

She swallowed and the world blacked out. It was just she, this amazing champagne and her arousal. She took another swing and her eyes drifted close, a long slow moan slipping out of her mouth before she could help it.

Xaver was not prepared for the scorching knife of desire that slashed through his groin. Fuck, he was literally in pain. His cock throbbed, pulsing with blood and he muttered a string of barely audible curses beneath his breath.

It's just a moan for fuck sake, his mind screamed to his body but they weren't in sync. Not one bit.

Sreya bit her lip after she'd let out the moan that should have stayed at the back of her throat. She'd sounded like some sort of horny whore. For one thing, she was horny. And with the sinuous thoughts dancing in her head, she did feel like a whore.

She was also beginning to feel a little light headed, her body humming with ease as the champagne travelled through her, numbing her nerves.

Was her drink drugged? She felt so loose.

Her brown eyes lifted to his and her mind seemed to say, ''Can I have sex with you? Your fiancee doesn't have to know" but her lips were screwed shut.

A moment passed and Xaver leaned forward, his elbows on the table. His scent wafted towards her and the butterflies in her stomach moved to her clit, the vibrations from the their flapping wings stirring her regions to life.

He reeked of strength and dexterity. Fertile soil. Earth.

His voice was deep and soothing, "You know, from the first moment we caught sight of each other, we've wanted the same thing".

Raising her eyebrow, she leaned forward, her soft voice below a whisper, "Since I'm no mind reader, why don't you tell me what it is?"

Cyan eyes dropped to her lips and his voice turned huskier, deeper, like sex, "Why don't I show you?"

Sreya's breath hitched in her throat and her gaze moved to his fingers. He wasn't wearing his ring today. She knew she should stop this before it went too far but she'd drunk too much, "That can be arranged, Mr. Kirkgarde".

Xaver loved the drawl she adopted when she'd said his name. The way her lips moved. The way the tip of her tongue brushed the roof of her mouth in the process. His eyes snapped back to hers, cyan blazing with heat, letting her know she was playing with fire, "Will you survive the flames, Sreya?"

Her tongue touched her lips as her eyes lowered seductively, long silky lashes brushing her cheeks, "You might consume me. Burn my soul to ashes and I'll never belong to me again"

Her voice was breathy and the silence stretched before she lifted her brown orbs to his, a ghost of a smile on her lips, "Perhaps, a threesome?"

They both knew she was referring to Crystal.

He smiled, then. A full beautiful smile that had Sreya's heart thumping uncontrollably.

A soft giggle escaped her lips, turning to full blown laughter later, her head titled back. Xaver let out a deep chuckle, infected. If he wasn't scheming ways to get into her pants, he'd stare.

—Gold was innocent and child-like. Gold seduced you. Sometimes, on purpose. Most times, ignorantly—

Xaver just met gold and he was surprised at how much he liked it.

A lovely grin on Sreya's face, she lifted her glass in a toast, "To humour, Mr. Kirkgarde".

Xaver laughed, "To humour, Sreya Dronian".

The butterflies started again as her name rolled off his tongue and she stamped them down. As they both drunk, they knew Xaver had meant his question and Sreya had meant her answer.