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

As Apollo trotted off with the vet assistant for his checkup, Zara and Xavier were left alone in the waiting room. The tension hung in the air, thick and palpable. Zara kept her focus on her phone, scrolling aimlessly, while Xavier sat silently, stealing glances at her every now and then.

Finally, Xavier broke the silence. "Zara." His deep voice cut through the quiet room.

She barely looked up, responding with a disinterested hum.

"About earlier... what I said, it didn't come out right," he began, his tone uncharacteristically hesitant.

"Oh?" Zara raised an eyebrow, still not looking directly at him. "And what exactly did you mean by it?"

Xavier sighed, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't used to apologizing, much less fumbling through one. "I was joking. It wasn't meant to upset you."

Zara finally put her phone down and turned to face him fully, her expression calm but unreadable. "You need to work on your jokes, Xavier. Because right now, they're horrible. Just like your apologies."

His jaw tightened slightly, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I'm serious, Zara. I… I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

She held his gaze for a long moment before finally breaking into a small smile. "Fine. I'll let it slide this time. But you really need to work on this apology thing. You're awful at it."

Xavier's lips quirked upward ever so slightly, relieved to see her mood beginning to shift. "Noted."

The door to the examination room opened, and Dr. Hayes walked out with Apollo padding happily beside him. Zara's face lit up as she crouched to pet her dog.

"Apollo's legs are in perfect condition now," Dr. Hayes reported cheerfully. "He doesn't need frequent checkups anymore."

"That's great news," Zara said, ruffling Apollo's fur affectionately.

Dr. Hayes smiled warmly. "Though I must admit, I'm a bit sad. Without Apollo's appointments, I won't have an excuse to see your pretty face again."

Zara laughed, brushing off the compliment with a wave of her hand. "You're too kind, Dr. Hayes."

Xavier stood silently nearby, his expression unreadable but his eyes briefly narrowing at the doctor's words.

Back in the car, Zara leaned back in her seat and sighed dramatically. "I'm bored. I don't feel like going home."

Xavier glanced at her briefly. "And what do you suggest we do instead?"

She turned to him with a playful smirk. "As someone privileged enough to have me as their business partner, don't you think you should be giving me princess treatment?"

Xavier raised an eyebrow. "Princess treatment?"

"Exactly," Zara said, sitting up straighter. "You're supposed to be spoiling me, keeping me entertained. Right now, you're doing a terrible job. So, take me to the mall."

Xavier shook his head, a small chuckle escaping him. "You're unbelievable."

"And yet here you are, stuck with me," she teased, flashing him a triumphant smile.

Without another word, Xavier adjusted the GPS and headed toward the nearest luxury mall, a faint smile tugging at his lips as Zara hummed along to the music playing softly in the background.

Chapter 68: Privileged Treatment