Paula_y2k

Zara's eyes were glued to Xavier's bare chest, unable to look away. The sculpted muscles, the deep V-line, the way his sweatpants hung low on his hips—she couldn't help but be captivated. It was as if her brain had short-circuited, and all logic had left her. She moved a step closer, almost unconsciously, her hand lifting as if to touch his chest.

Before her fingers could make contact, Xavier's quick reflexes caught her wrist. His grip was firm, but not harsh, and he raised an eyebrow, looking at her with an amused expression.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice low but laced with a hint of teasing.

Zara, startled but determined not to show weakness, scratched the back of her head awkwardly, trying to save face. "What do you mean? Why are you walking around shirtless?" she countered, trying to shift the focus off herself.

Xavier's smirk deepened, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. "I'm not the one sneaking around in other people's rooms, Zara. You're the one who barged in here."

Zara blinked, her mind scrambling to find an excuse. "Oh, right," she muttered, still not sure how to explain her behavior. She gave him a sheepish grin, but her eyes darted back to his chest, trying to look casual. "I was just… looking for something," she said, her words trailing off as she tried to think of a better lie.

Xavier didn't buy it for a second. Slowly, he took a step forward, closing the distance between them. Zara instinctively took a step back, but Xavier followed, not giving her any space to escape. Her heart raced as she backed up again, trying to keep some distance between them, but Xavier wasn't making it easy.

"Trying to run away now?" Xavier teased, his voice laced with playful challenge. He moved another step forward, and Zara continued retreating, her back now against the wall. Her breath hitched as she realized she had nowhere else to go.

"I wasn't trying to run away," Zara said quickly, her voice a little too high-pitched. "Just, you know, I… I don't want to intrude. I just—" 

But Xavier wasn't interested in her stammering excuses. His gaze remained locked on her, and as he stepped closer, his hand that had caught her wrist slowly slid down to her fingers, brushing against her skin. The gentle touch sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.

Zara's heart hammered in her chest, and she took another step back, this time bumping into the wall with a soft thud. She couldn't help but feel the heat building between them, the tension so thick it was almost palpable.

Xavier, now mere inches from her, tilted his head, his lips curling into a playful grin. "I think you're lying," he murmured, his voice soft, but full of mischief. "You were trying to touch my chest, weren't you?"

Zara's face flushed with heat, and she tried to push back against him, but it was like trying to move a mountain. She cleared her throat, trying to recover some of her composure. "Maybe I was," she admitted, her voice low. "But, um… so what? It's not like you're making it easy to ignore."

Xavier's grin widened as he leaned even closer, his body just inches away from hers. The closeness was overwhelming, and Zara's mind started to spin. She could feel the heat radiating off his chest, and she had to fight the urge to reach up and touch it again.

"Is that so?" Xavier whispered, his breath warm against her ear. He placed his hand on the wall beside her head, trapping her in place as he stared down at her with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "You sure about that?".

Tangled in Desire

The moment Xavier placed the dish in front of her, Zara's senses were immediately overwhelmed by the rich, mouthwatering aroma. The spaghetti was perfectly cooked, the sauce rich with flavor, and the meatballs were tender and juicy. As soon as she took her first bite, she couldn't help but close her eyes in pleasure. It tasted like heaven—better than anything she could've imagined. Xavier's cooking was on another level, and she had to admit, he could easily rival a five-star chef.

But of course, she wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of hearing how amazing it was. She swallowed her bite, wiped her mouth, and leaned back in her chair with an air of nonchalance. She looked at him and, with a smirk, said, "You know, I honestly don't see the difference between what you made and what I made. It's pretty much the same."

Xavier, who had been watching her with a satisfied look on his face, froze for a second. His brows furrowed in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

Zara couldn't help but grin. She'd already finished most of the food, savoring each bite, but her teasing had to be delivered with some drama. "Yeah, it's all right. I mean, I've had better."

Xavier's jaw tightened as he watched her scrape the last bits of sauce off her plate. His pride took a slight hit, but he kept his cool. As he reached out to take the plate away, she swiftly slapped his hand away.

"I don't like wasting food," she said, her tone firm but playful. "And you can't just take the plate from me after all that. I'm eating this."

Xavier's face contorted in disbelief. "You've already eaten most of it! Are you really going to eat all of it?"

Zara, already on her second plate, shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll eat as much as I want. Besides, I'm starving. And unlike some people, I don't waste good food."

Xavier stood there for a moment, watching her devour the meal. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself despite his initial frustration. Zara sure had a way of turning everything into a challenge.

Once she finished the second plate, Zara pushed the empty dish aside with a satisfied sigh. "Okay, now that I've eaten my fill, I guess I'll do you a favor and clear up this kitchen," she said with a dramatic flair.

Xavier raised an eyebrow, looking at her with a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You're going to clean up? After everything you did in here?"

Zara gave him a look, standing up from the table and stretching. "Yes, I'm going to clean up. I'm being generous. Consider it my way of making up for the chaos I caused earlier. Plus, I'm sure you'll appreciate not having to clean the disaster yourself."

Xavier was about to argue, but Zara was already at the sink, rolling up her sleeves as she grabbed a dishcloth. "I'll do the dishes," she said, her voice light but determined. "You can relax. I've got this covered."

He couldn't help but laugh quietly, watching her tackle the kitchen with unexpected enthusiasm. As much as he hated to admit it, Zara had a way of surprising him. Even when she drove him crazy, there was something undeniably charming about her—and in that moment, he found himself oddly impressed by her sudden burst of responsibility.

"Well, I guess I'll take you up on that," Xavier said, leaning against the kitchen doorframe. "Just don't burn down the kitchen this time, okay?"

Zara shot him a playful glare over her shoulder. "I'll try my best. But no promises."

Chapter 35: A Generous Favor