CHAPTER 24

Alexa's POV

I wake up to flowers beside me on the bed, gently teasing my nostrils when I wake up. Frowning slightly, I yawn as I force myself to sit up while clutching the duvet to cover my body.

After taking a few minutes to clear my hazy eyesight, I stare at the flowers in bewilderment. Who put them there? I certainly don't know anything about how flowers got there, which is why I'm a little surprised.

Or did Xander put them there?

Furrowing my brows, I glanced around the room where I had slept. It was the largest room in the mansion and also the room I and Xander are supposed to share but ever since we got married when he had refused to stay in the same room with me, I haven't seen much of him.

But looking across the room right now, I can see some of his things littered across the room, such as his shoes and the tie he wore yesterday. I check his side of the bed where he is supposed to sleep, and it looks like he slept there. Biting the inside of my cheeks and not knowing how to feel about that, I climb out of bed without touching the flowers.

I go about the room gathering his things, which were strewn across while wondering why any human would choose to make a mess when the closet is right there. All he has to do is walk into it.

I nearly smile as I pick up his tie from the floor. For all his money, Xander doesn't know shit about cleaning up after himself or tidying up. And I don't blame him, especially as there are maids probably waiting behind the door now to clean the place up if I let them.

I have refused to let them into our room. So far, it has become the only sanctuary I have.

Humming to a song I always sang when I was younger, I take Xander's things to the closet and put them where they are supposed to be. I don't know if he is still around, but I go ahead into the bathroom to brush my teeth, mindful of yet another day.

Another day has passed, and yet nothing has happened between us.

He still hasn't touched me, and I am wondering if he is ever going to.

Although the date we went on yesterday was nice, I still don't know what to think about it.

As I rinse my mouth with water from the tap, I remind myself that I'm not to bother about any of this. It's all for the good anyway. And everything will be fine, I suppose.

But even I can't bring myself to believe that.

Hanging on to the sink, I let out a short breath that makes my throat tighten. I am slowly beginning to lose my mind in the house without anything to do. When I was a teenager and I was dreaming of being rich, I hadn't thought of myself as not having anything to do.

I didn't like being idle, but being married to Xander has made me idle more than I want. And it's slowly starting to get to me.

My eyes flutter open with shock when the glass door to the bathroom slides open and Xander walks in. For a moment, I stand there staring at my face in the splitting mirror while he stands behind me watching me.

“Good morning,” he mutters, not looking away from my reflection in the mirror.

He is even locking eyes with me.

I blink, and he is still there, quietly watching me and probably waiting for me to respond. Clearing my throat dramatically, I press a finger to my neck.

“Hi,” I mumble instead.

Rather than move on and pass, Xander's eyes beam at my response. Before I can ask him why he is smiling, he is already wrapping a hand around my waist and turning me toward him. I watch him with wide eyes, awestruck at the mesmerized look in his eyes.

My nipples harden and peebles from the contact he makes with my skin, sending a cold shiver to run down my spine that it doesn't go unnoticed but Xander's hawk-like gaze. From the way his eyes beam and shine, he seems to revel in the way I'm shivering.

It is then that I become acutely aware of the simple yet destructive nightwear I have on. It's so short that it's just hanging after my ass, leaving my thighs and long legs exposed. Xander seems to notice that.  I am starting to get used to sleeping alone, which is why I wore the dress to bed last night.

“Were you thinking of seducing me?” Xander's cool voice cut through my thoughts of realization.

Seducing him?

No.

I didn't even know how to do that.

Pressing my lips together, I become even more aware as Xander's eyes leave my face and drop to my neck. From the way he had grabbed and twisted me toward him, a strap of my dress had fallen over my shoulders, leaving my neck bare with the sides of my breast peeking out.

That's when it hits me that I am not wearing a bra.

Of course, I am not.

“Bummer. I stayed out too late,” Xander's tone is light as he traces a single finger over the peak of my breast, sending waves of arousal through my spine.

Bewildered, I open my mouth to say something when he cuts me off with a kiss. And unlike the last time, there is something different about this one. It is more fervent, more urgent, and desire filled.

And for a while, I just stand there taking it all until a leash in my head snaps.

Then, I start to kiss him back with as much fervor.

*******

Over two hours later, what had started as a needy kiss in the bathroom had quickly led us to the bedroom where Xander had not only had sex with me but worshipped my body the way any woman's body deserved to be worshipped with his tongue.

I still can't wrap my head on how I had quickly gone from being a virgin to not being a virgin. It had hurt a little like I knew it would, but after that, I'd been so filled with pleasure that I didn't remember the pain.

Biting the corners of my lips as the past two hours play in my mind, color coats my cheeks that it takes me a little while to realize that my husband is still in the room and he is watching me.

“Get dressed, Mrs. Gold.” His voice is teasing, but the sheer joy I see in his eyes almost convinces me of something that isn't real. “We are having breakfast on the balcony.” He tells me.

I nod, but Xander doesn't wait for my reply as he stumbles out of the room.

With a dazed smile on my face, I climb out of bed, suddenly feeling shy at the thought of seeing him at breakfast. I don't know what is happening, but I'm definitely not complaining. Stretching slightly, I almost face palm when I remember how I took a short nap right after the…sex.

It feels a little intimate to call the acts love making.

And if there is something I didn't do, it is bullshitting myself.

I walk over to the bathroom, where I take a quick shower. I wash my hair, too, coating it with the new shampoo I just got. When I finish, I step out of the shower with the smell of jasmine and citrus teasing my nostrils. I grab a towel and wrap it around my body. I take a smaller one and wrap around my hair too before moving to the closest to throw on something casual.

The only clothes I can think of are shorts and tank tops especially as it is the summer and the early morning sun is bright and inviting. After putting on Jean shorts that reach my mid-thigh and a white tank top which I tuck into the shorts, I grab a white chiffon kimono jacket and throw it over my look. My hair is still a bit wet despite towel drying it so I just leave it out to flow down my shoulders.

When I walk into the room, I can already smell the fried eggs and other food I know must be loaded in the balcony by now. Grabbing the bouquet of flowers which I had found on my bed this morning when I woke up, I walk toward the balcony where I found my husband standing.

He is looking at the city ahead of him spread out in different numerous buildings and beauties. I can't help but admire his toned and leaned upper body highlighted by the white shirt he has on. He has his back to me but it is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. Transfixed, I don't move but I stand there watching him feel the sun on his face while enjoying every bit of it.

“Don't just stand there, join me.” Xander urges when he turns back to stare at me. Surprised that he knows that I am standing there, I forbid myself to be shy as I walk toward him.

My movements are slow owing to the sex we had two hours ago.

I stand with Xander in silence for a few minutes, feeling the morning sun on my face. The fresh air I inhale makes me feel a lot better and I exhale with a smile on my face.

When I turn, Xander is watching me with a slight smile of his.

“What?” I ask, softly.

He is being too nice to me and the worst part is that I like it.

“Nothing. You just seem so at peace. So at home.” He relays with a smile still grazing his lips.

I shrug and continue to look at the busting city we live in, choosing to ignore his teasing remark. Up until then, I only ever felt comfortable in my old apartment that really wasn't even my space. But now, I have a lot more than a room to myself. Although just for the moment.

“Alex,” he calls.

I want to narrow my eyes at him and snap at him not to call me that. I want to remind him that my name is Alexa and not Alex but I don't . I just turn to him, determined not to ruin my good mood. I really am  not always happy and the few times I am, I hold on and cherish it.

“Yeah?”

“I'm sorry for the way I acted toward you in the past few days. I promise, my intention was not to hurt you. I just didn't want to be selfish for the first time in my life.” He apologizes while I stand there, staring.

I blink, unable to believe my ears. “Are you sick?”

“No.” He shook his head.

Not believing him, I raise my hand and place it on his forehead. He isn't sick. His temperature is quite normal.

Narrowing my eyes at him,  I say, “Okay.”

“I'm not sick.”

“Is that why you got me flowers?”

I raise up the long forgotten bouquet of flowers in my hands for him to see. Xander goes from staring at me to the red roses.

“Yeah,” he nods as he scratches the back of his head. I don't miss the slight tinge of color that adds to his cheeks.

Unbelievable.

Xander is blushing!

I bite down on my lower lip to stop the laughter from spilling out of me as I eyes the red roses.

Xander notices and asks, “You don't like them?”

I bit the inside of my cheeks  for a moment, wondering if I should tell him the truth. I suppose that it doesn't hurt for him to know.

“I like flowers,” I shrug.

Xander frowns slightly. “But not this kind?” he catches on to the unspoken words.

“Yeah,” I nod.

Roses were beautiful, but they weren't my favorite.

“Oh,” Xander mumbles, and I immediately feel bad.

After all, he took the time to get me the flowers. I should at least be grateful. Before I can speak, though, he grabs my hand and leads me to the breakfast table spread out in the balcony.

Clamping my mouth shut, I guess that is the end of our conversation.