Chapter 14 #3
"I'm going to win him over, and then you will finally be free to find the true love of your life." She nodded firmly, as though she had already made the decision for both of them. "You deserve to be happy, and I will do everything I can to make sure that happens."
She grabbed Elise's hands excitedly.
"From now on, I am going to put in all my effort to make Xavier fall for me."
After a while, Astrid left the Chen Mansion to meet a few friends, while Elise returned to the bedroom.
Although she hadn't stepped out into the snow herself, she had stood near the entrance long enough for the icy air to seep into her bones.
A few melting snowflakes had landed on her bare skin, leaving her shoulders slightly damp, and the lingering chill clung to her like a second skin.
The moment she stepped into the bedroom, she frowned.
It felt unusually cold.
"Xavier must be freezing," she murmured to herself.
She knew his habits all too well. Even on the coldest winter days, he rarely turned on the heating. He preferred the crisp, freezing air, as though he welcomed the discomfort.
With a quiet sigh, she walked to the closet, took out a thick woolen shawl before heading back out.
She checked the bathroom first.
Empty.
Then the upstairs sitting room.
Still no sign of him.
A faint uneasiness settled in her chest as she made her way toward the study.
Her fingers curled around the brass doorknob before she gently pushed the heavy wooden door open.
The familiar scent of polished wood, aged books, and expensive leather greeted her immediately.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls, packed with neatly arranged files and leather-bound volumes.
A solid mahogany desk sat before the tall windows, where the pale winter light filtered through the snowfall, casting long shadows across the room.
"Xavier?"
Her voice was soft as she stepped inside, her eyes searching every corner.
The study appeared empty.
Outside, the snowfall had grown heavier, swallowing the last traces of daylight until the room was bathed in a dim, bluish haze.
Then—
Thud.
The heavy door slammed shut behind her.
Elise jumped and spun around.
Xavier stood in front of the closed door, his dark eyes fixed on her without blinking.
Just as she'd expected, he was still wearing the same white dress shirt and black slacks from earlier. His coat was nowhere to be seen, the thin fabric doing little to protect him from the bitter cold.
A crease formed between her brows.
"You're going to catch a cold."
Without thinking, she hurried toward him, the shawl still clutched in her hands. She barely took two steps before his hand shot out and wrapped around both of her wrists.
With one sharp tug, he pulled her straight into him.
She stumbled forward until barely an inch separated them.
"What do you care if I get cold?"
His voice was low, rough, and edged with restrained anger.
Elise looked up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the hostility burning in his eyes.
As he stepped closer, she instinctively took a step back, her heart racing in surprise.
The back of her legs hit the edge of the desk, pinning her in place.
His hands pressed down on either side of her hips, creating an intimate barrier that caged her in.
The heat radiating from his body contrasted sharply with the chill in the air, and she shivered under the intensity of his gaze, which burned like embers.
His gaze never left her face.
"Are you worried about me?"
One brow lifted slightly, but there wasn't the slightest trace of amusement in his expression.
"Why?"
His voice dropped even lower.
"What right do you have?"
"You'll get co—"
"I thought you said Astrid is my girlfriend now."
He cut her off before she could finish.
The bitterness in his voice was impossible to ignore.
"So why are you worrying about me?" His jaw tightened as he stared into her eyes, searching for something only she could give him. "Or are you pretending?" A humorless smile flickered across his lips. "I didn't realize you'd become such a good actress."
Elise's fingers tightened around the shawl.
She lowered her eyes for a brief second, drawing in a slow breath before gathering herself. Then she gently pushed against the arm caging her in.
"Sorry." Her voice was quiet. "I'll send Astrid—"
She never finished.
His hand slid into her hair, his fingers tangling firmly in the silky strands before he pulled her toward him.
His mouth crashed onto hers.
The kiss was fierce, fueled by an animalistic rage that consumed him.
Each breath he took shook his body, tense and burning with fury at her words.
His heart pounded in his chest, loud enough that he feared she could hear it, yet he couldn’t stop his lips from moving against hers, kissing her like a man starved of something he couldn’t articulate.
Elise let out a startled gasp as Xavier lifted her effortlessly, as though she weighed nothing at all, and set her down on the edge of the study desk.
One arm slipped behind her head, his hand cradling it protectively as he held her close, leaving her with no room to pull away.
His other hand settled firmly around her waist, drawing her against him until there wasn't a breath of space between them.
Her fingers instinctively curled into the front of his shirt, clutching the fabric as her breathing turned uneven. Every restrained emotion he had bottled up seemed to pour into the way he held her, surrounding her with an intensity that left her heart racing.
His mouth slid down to her throat, trailing from her lips to her neck, then further down.
His tongue danced along the base of her throat, teasingly gliding down to her collarbone before sweeping back up, igniting shivers that coursed through her.
A soft moan escaped her lips, pleasure overwhelming her senses, making it hard to breathe.
Yet he was far from satisfied; his hungry mouth swept back up from her neck to her ear, where he bit her earlobe gently.
“Xavier,” she whimpered, flinching at the sharpness of the bite, but his tongue soothed the sting almost immediately.
His taste filled her senses as he gripped the hem of her dress, yanking it over her head and leaving her clad only in delicate black lace bra and panties.
The cold air kissed her skin, sending a shiver racing through her, her breath hitching in response.
He gazed down at her body, hunger blazing in his eyes, his expression dark and intense.
Then his hand shifted, gripping her throat gently yet firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Her troubled eyes locked onto his, the anger still simmering beneath the surface.
His fingers deftly moved to her back, unclasping her bra with a swift motion, tossing it carelessly to the ground.
He then pulled the tie from around his neck, his hands capturing both of hers.
The silk slid around her neck, wrapping snugly before descending to her wrists at the back.
He tied the tie securely, tilting her head back, leaving her body open and vulnerable on the table.
Her neck arched back, his tie binding her wrists, rendering her upper body immobile.
With a firm grip on her jaw, he tilted her face upward, exposing her neckline to his ravenous gaze.
His eyes burned down every inch of her skin, and in the next instant, his mouth was on her, devouring her with fervor.
His teeth and lips explored her, trailing wet kisses down her throat, leaving a path of saliva as he licked and sucked hungrily.
His hand grasped her breast, giving it a light squeeze, igniting another wave of tremors through her body.
Just as he had lunged at her with ravenous intent, he suddenly broke away, stepping back and leaving her gasping for air, confusion swirling in her mind.