Zara's heart raced, her pulse quickening as she realized her own boldness. A wild sense of daring took over, and she decided that if Xavier wanted to play games, she could play just as well. This time, she wouldn't be the one blushing or backing down.
She kept her gaze steady on his, her fingers brushing his chest with deliberate slowness, her touch featherlight but confident. She let her hand drift down over the sculpted lines of his abs, feeling the warmth radiating from his skin as her fingers traced over his muscles. It was just enough to keep him off balance without crossing any lines.
Xavier's usual smirk faded slightly, replaced by something deeper, his eyes narrowing as he watched her, his breath subtly hitching. She could tell he hadn't expected this. The tables were turning, and she could see a faint flicker of surprise in his eyes, hidden just beneath the amusement. She took another small step closer, her hand moving back up, leaving a trail of warmth on his skin. His muscles tensed under her touch, and for the first time, he seemed genuinely caught off guard.
"Isn't this what you wanted, Xavier?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, a playful gleam in her eyes. "For me to fall apart around you?"
Xavier's jaw clenched, the confident glint in his eyes dimming just slightly. But he stayed silent, his gaze locked on her, his stance unwavering as she continued. She leaned in closer, their faces so close she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin, the faintest hint of tension in the air between them. Her fingers brushed up along his neck and over his jaw, and for a brief moment, she felt his hand hovering, as if he was about to pull her closer.
But Zara didn't give him that chance. When she was so close that their lips were just a breath apart, she lifted her hand to his cheek and tapped it twice, softly.
"Snap out of it, Xavier," she whispered, a playful smile on her lips. She watched his expression closely, savoring every flicker of surprise and the way his eyes darkened in response.
Then, with a graceful turn, she stepped back and headed toward the door, leaving Xavier standing there, stunned. The smirk was back on her face, and she couldn't help but feel a swell of satisfaction at the victory she'd just scored.
She stopped in the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder, and added, "Oh, and I ordered some food for you. At least you can be grateful that I know your tastes."
His brow furrowed slightly, the intensity in his gaze still lingering, as if he was trying to understand how she'd turned the tables so quickly.
"And just so you know," she added, unable to resist one last tease, "I think it's safe to say you're definitely not indifferent to me." She gave him a cheeky grin, a spark of satisfaction lighting up her eyes. "Not at all."
With that, she turned and walked down the hallway, letting out a laugh that had been building in her chest. She could still feel her heartbeat thudding wildly, a reminder of how close they'd just been, of the intensity of his gaze and the challenge he'd thrown her way. But she'd met him, matched him, and come out on top.
The silence in the room was thick after she left. Xavier stared at the doorway, his brow furrowing as he processed what had just happened. She'd walked in here, thrown him off balance, and left with a grin, leaving him standing there like he'd just lost a game he didn't know he was playing.
He shook his head, a small smile pulling at the corners of his lips despite himself. She was full of surprises. He couldn't remember the last time someone had gotten under his skin this way, had pushed him to the edge and then pulled back with such perfect timing. And that last comment—"not indifferent"? That had definitely gotten to him more than he'd like to admit.
He thought back to the way her hand had felt against his skin, the way she'd leaned in so close that he could feel her breath, her warmth. The electric tension that had crackled between them had been more intense than anything he'd felt in a long time, and he found himself grinning despite himself. She was a game-changer, no doubt about it.
As Zara walked down the hall, she could feel her heart finally starting to calm down. She didn't know what had come over her, but the rush of confidence, the thrill of flipping the game on him, had been intoxicating. She wasn't sure how long she could keep up this back-and-forth with Xavier, but one thing was certain: it was thrilling, exciting, and completely unlike anything she'd experienced before.
Reaching the living room, she took a deep breath, pressing her hand to her chest to steady herself. Apollo was watching her, wagging his tail as if he knew she'd just accomplished something big. She let out a small laugh, ruffling the dog's ears as she gathered her thoughts.
"Guess I'm not the only one with a wild side, huh, Apollo?" she murmured, scratching the pup's ears.
But as she settled back onto the couch, a part of her couldn't help but wonder just how Xavier would respond next. Because something told her that this little game they were playing had only just begun. And for the first time, she found herself looking forward to it.