Zara woke up to the sound of Apollo's excited barking. She stretched, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, and smiled as she saw him playing around with his new squeaky toy. He had already gotten the hang of it, bouncing around with it in his mouth, making little triumphant yelps. She quickly freshened up, giving him a quick pat on the head before heading to the bathroom.
Today, she opted for something simple but comfortable: a cropped black hoodie with "dreamy" embroidered in a subtle grey color, paired with matching black sweatpants. The loose fit was perfect for a lazy yet productive day of training with Apollo. She finished her look with white sneakers and slung a small black handbag over her shoulder.
As she entered the living room, she noticed the place was eerily quiet. No Xavier. She figured he was probably still asleep, or busy with something else, so she decided to take the opportunity to do something for herself.
Apollo was happily chewing on his toy as she grabbed her phone and ordered from a five-star restaurant she had been dying to try. Of course, she wasn't going to let Xavier miss out—he'd better be grateful for this treat. She ordered a portion for him, thinking that maybe today she would show a little generosity, despite their usual banter. She even ordered a portion for Apollo, figuring he deserved a gourmet meal too.
Zara and Apollo devoured their food quickly, both of them savoring every bite. After they were done, Zara cleaned up and decided it was time to focus on Apollo's training. She had been doing research and was eager to put her new knowledge to the test. They went outside to the garden, where Zara set up a small obstacle course with some of the new toys and treats. For the next couple of hours, she patiently worked with Apollo, guiding him through each trick, rewarding him with treats when he succeeded. They both had a blast, and Zara couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment when Apollo caught on to the commands faster than she expected.
After their fun training session, they went back inside, and Zara was eager to see if Xavier had finally surfaced. To her disappointment, the food she had ordered for him was still untouched, and there was no sign of him. She furrowed her brow, confused. Where had he gone?
She knocked on his door, but there was no answer. She knocked again. Nothing. And again, nothing. Her patience wearing thin, she finally decided to take matters into her own hands. She turned the handle and pushed the door open, calling his name out in search of him.
"Xavier? You in here?" She checked the walk-in closet, under the bed, and behind the curtains, but the room was completely empty. Where the heck was he? The only place left was the bathroom, and just as she reached for the handle, the door swung open from the inside.
Standing there, with his shirt off and sweatpants hanging low on his hips, was Xavier. His toned abs and V-line were on full display, and Zara couldn't help but stare at the work of art in front of her. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes traveled over his body, lingering on every detail.
Xavier raised an eyebrow, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "Do you mind?"
Without even thinking, Zara replied, her gaze still fixed on his chest, "Not at all."
For a moment, neither of them moved. Zara's heart raced, and Xavier seemed to notice. His smirk grew wider as if he was enjoying the effect he had on her.