As he finished speaking, Xavier took out his phone and dialed a number.
The moment the call connected, he got up and walked into his new bedroom.
Bang! The sound of the door shutting made Serena turn her head in surprise. "Who is he calling now? What's with all the mystery?"
Ten minutes later, Xavier emerged from the bedroom, wearing his usual roguish smile.
He seemed to be in a much better mood than before.
"Secret call all done?" Serena teased.
The man raised his hand. "Serena, I swear to God, it was just a work call. I absolutely didn't do anything to betray your trust!"
"I didn't say anything. Why are you acting so guilty?"
"Hehe, not guilty! Just... afraid you'd overthink it! That photo of Celia last time made you upset-you have no idea how nervous I was!"
"Didn't it all get cleared up later? The people in the picture weren't even you two. What were you nervous about?"
"What if the Ryders hadn't clarified it?"
He slowly approached her and stood behind her, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "Would you have misunderstood me? Would you have refused to trust me?"
"I..."
The warm breath from his nose brushed her ear, making her mind waver uncontrollably.
Her brain seemed to freeze, and her thoughts slowed down.
Almost instinctively, Serena replied softly, "No, I believe you."
As soon as the words left her mouth, both of them were stunned.
The next moment, before Serena could react, his cool lips landed gently on her snow-white, delicate neck.
"Ugh..." A soft moan escaped her lips.
She quickly covered her mouth, trying to suppress her involuntary reaction of embarrassment.
But the man clearly had no intention of letting her off the hook. While she was distracted, he grabbed her slender wrist.
His voice turned hoarse and alluring, as if enchanted, "Serena, why are you suppressing your instincts?"
"I..." The tingling at her neck made Serena's thoughts scatter even more. She could barely form coherent words. "I... I'm not..."
"You're not?"
His kisses, feather-light, trailed lower.
Serena's willpower was being tested like never before.
"Say you love me! Serena, come on, say it!"
Serena clenched her teeth, trying not to make any embarrassing sounds.
Seeing that she still wouldn't say it, he simply stepped forward in one large stride, crossing the back of the sofa and landing directly beside her.
Now face-to-face, their faces were less than ten centimeters apart.
He paused, looking into her eyes, his gaze tender and intense. "Serena, say you love me. Even if it's a lie-just once, okay?"
Her eyes were still glazed, as if she no longer recognized him.
Though he was so close, his voice seemed to come from far away, hazy and faint.
By the time it reached her ears, a few seconds had passed.
"You... what did you say?"
Xavier looked at her dazed expression, and the heat in his body surged.
Cursing inwardly, he couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned in and kissed her hard on the lips.
Serena didn't know what was wrong with her!
She should have resisted! But somehow, she felt no inclination to push him away.
Her body felt drained of strength, her arms limp, unable to resist, letting the man do as he pleased.
She didn't know how long it lasted. Xavier finally pulled away, gritting his teeth, looking down at her.
"Serena, I... I think my self-control is at its limit. If..."
Her flushed cheeks were like a fine wine, luring him to take another sip.
Turning his eyes away, afraid to look at her, he continued, "If you don't want this, tell me now. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what might happen next!"
Serena, eyes misty, looked at him as if she didn't recognize him.
She was too embarrassed to say it out loud, but truthfully, she didn't not want it.
On the contrary, she wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and let go.
She sighed silently-humans really are shallow creatures, always seduced by beauty.
She found a convenient excuse for her loss of control:
Xavier really is good-looking. I was just momentarily dazzled by his looks.
Besides... I'm single now. A little indulgence once in a while-isn't that okay?
So she reached out with her pale arms, looped them around his neck, and pulled him closer.
Her breath warm against him, she whispered, "It's not that I don't want to..."
Before she could finish the sentence, the man-unable to wait even another second-lowered his head and kissed her again.
No one knew how long it lasted, but eventually the world grew quiet again. Only their hearts kept pounding, echoing the fire from earlier.
Serena lay limp on the sofa like a puddle.
She couldn't remember how many times she had metaphorically died and come back to life just now.
Only after begging him repeatedly did Xavier reluctantly let her go.
When she turned her head, the sky outside had already darkened.
That's when it hit her: They hadn't even had lunch yet!
Summoning all her remaining strength, she managed to roll over.
When she looked up again, she saw the man, full of energy, lying beside her with one hand propping up his head, smiling as he watched her.
They were both completely unclothed.
The sight of their exposed bodies made Serena's face flush red instantly.
She quickly looked away, too embarrassed to meet his eyes or say anything.
Whether on purpose or not, the man didn't say a word either. He just kept staring at her with his deep, soulful eyes, filled with emotions she couldn't decipher.
Serena began to feel awkward. She hesitated, thinking about finding an excuse to get up and escape the chaos they'd created.
Suddenly-growl...-a stomach grumbled, loud enough to disturb the silence!
The man's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. "Serena, what's wrong?!"
Serena blinked, embarrassed. "N-nothing... I guess I'm just a little hungry."
"It's my fault!" Xavier scolded himself.
"Your fault? Why? You didn't eat lunch either!"
"It's my fault for taking so long and forgetting all about food. I made you go hungry... I should've just been quicker!"
"Uh..."
The vivid memory of their earlier 'battle' in this spacious living room returned to her mind, and Serena's face turned an even deeper shade of red.
***