CHAPTER 184
She was exhausted and desperate to sleep, but an unusual heat made her restless, tossing and turning under the covers.
Despite her careful movements, she seemed to disturb Xander, who finally broke the silence with a gruff voice that cut through the darkness. “Are you planning to sleep or not?”
Startled, Arianna froze and responded quickly, “Yes, I’m going to sleep! I’m just... feeling a bit too warm.”
There was a brief pause before Xander’s voice returned, still serious. “It is.”
“Oh, you think so too? Then I’ll—”
Before Arianna could finish, Xander abruptly sat up, seized her wrist, and pressed his body against hers. In one swift motion, he silenced her with a kiss, effectively cutting off her sentence about turning on the air conditioner.
Xander’s kiss was intense and his touch grew more insistent, causing Arianna to feel bewildered. His large hand ventured beneath the hem of her clothes.
“Mmm…”
Arianna struggled, her confusion deepening. Her comment about feeling hot had been a simple remark about the temperature, not an invitation for anything else!
Although she had shared a bed with Xander before, he had always kept his distance and never exhibited such fervent behavior.
Suddenly, it hit her.
It must have been the dinner!
No wonder Grandma King had abstained from eating and insisted they finish the meal—it all made sense now.
As that realization struck Arianna, she shoved Xander away with all her strength and panted as she managed to create some distance. “Xander, you’re acting like this because Grandma must have put something in our food. You need to stop!”
Her words had little effect, and instead of backing off, Xander tightened his grip on her wrists, pinning them above her head.
Even through their clothes, Arianna could feel the heat radiating from his body and the burning intensity of his breath.
Her heart raced uncontrollably, and she struggled fiercely, but her efforts only seemed to fuel the fire. The increasing heat made her feel as though she was on the verge of losing control, and she realized that if this continued, she might not be able to manage her own reactions, let alone Xander’s.
Arianna swallowed nervously and started to say, “Xander, I understand you’re struggling right now. If you really need—”
Before she could finish, Xander anticipated her words and abruptly gripped her chin. Without warning, he kissed her with such fierce intensity that it felt like it might consume everything.
It was less of a kiss and more of a punishment.
Arianna couldn’t help but moan at the force of his touch. The raw, unrestrained aggression brought back memories of his earlier brutality, draining the color from her face.
Her eyes widened in fear, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
Xander noticed the shift in Arianna’s demeanor, and his movements faltered. He lifted his head slightly, meeting her wide, fearful eyes.
Arianna's fear was palpable and impossible to mask. She tried to avert her gaze, her lips trembling as she bit them in an attempt to stay composed.
Despite her efforts, she could do nothing to stop Xander. After a brief pause, he gently turned her face towards him and leaned in to kiss her again.
Arianna’s heart sank, realizing he was determined to proceed regardless of her feelings.
Yet, as the kiss continued, she felt something change. It wasn’t the harsh, aggressive kiss from earlier. Instead, it was tender and gentle, as if Xander was handling someone he deeply cherished.
Arianna found the kiss both unsettling and oddly familiar.
Xander had been painstakingly cautious during their first kiss, taking his time and moving with the utmost gentleness, making her feel lightheaded and drawn to him.
Arianna’s eyes widened as she struggled to reconcile the situation. Was this truly Xander? Why had he suddenly become so tender?
The moonlight filtered in through the window, revealing Xander’s face in the soft glow—indeed, it was him.
His gentleness began to soothe her anxiety and fear, and before she could fully grasp what was happening, the kiss overwhelmed her. Her mind went blank, her vision blurred, and she felt herself drifting into a disorienting haze.
As Xander guided her into this new, altered state, Arianna couldn’t tell if it was her own overwhelming desire or something else entirely that was affecting her.
They had a long passionate night.
A night where she lost her virginity
...
The next morning, Arianna stirred awake, her biological clock rousing her from sleep. As she struggled to open her heavy eyelids, she felt a pervasive ache throughout her body, as if it had been disassembled and reassembled.
She frowned in discomfort and took a sharp breath.
Memories of the previous night rushed back, causing her cheeks to flush with heat.
Turning her head reflexively, she glanced at the other side of the bed. It was empty—Xander had already left.
Arianna let out a sigh of relief. She was thankful he was gone, as she was unsure how she would face him if he were still there.
The phone rang abruptly.
Arianna wrapped herself in the blanket and sat up slowly. She reached for the phone on the bedside table and saw that the caller ID displayed ‘Dr. Woods.’
Why was he calling her so early?
Curious, Arianna was about to press the answer button when the door swung open suddenly and Xander walked in.
Her gaze shot up, and her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Xander’s striking face. Her hand shook uncontrollably, and the phone slipped from her grasp.
It clattered to the floor.
