The Space Between

Chapter 40; What are the odds?

Xavier furrowed his eyebrows as the bell rang. Who could be at this hour at Ahmet's? He thought. It was night time and Ahmet wouldn't be home from work until late. Nevertheless, he still stood up from his chair to open the door.
Opening the door, he was surprised to see Sarah standing on the other side. It seemed she was also just caught off guard. "Is Ahmet here?" Sarah asked keeping her composure. Xavier felt a sense of deja vu at her question. A brief snippet of their first meet flashed in his memory but he still answered. "He's at work but...sure come in" He stepped aside. Sarah entered. Sarah came to Ahmet when she needed to think clearly and relax. She could talk with her brother and feel at peace just by knowing that he was there as always.

"Would you like something to drink?" Xavier asked. "A glass of water would be nice," Sarah said keeping her bag on the sofa and easing herself onto its blue cushion. Xavier handed her the glass of water and sat across from her. For a minute or two they said nothing. Both tried to look away but eventually, their eyes would meet for more than a second. Sarah kept the half drank glass on the table and asked. "I heard you left the company" She spoke first and Xavier looked at her for a minute. Trying to see what believable lie he should tell her. "I wanted some time off for myself. " He replied. Sarah raised her eyebrows "Time off and disappearing completely aren't the same thing. You resigned" Sarah said. "I didn't leave or run away". Xavier replied his voice getting defensive. He hated being called a coward. Sarah chuckled. "I beg to differ," She said mockingly.

She was upset and she didn't know the accurate reason because some part of her expected that he would have told her of the change. "What do you want me to say, Sarah? I didn't talk to anyone about this because it was so sudden," Xavier said with a neutral tone. "You see that. That right there is my problem" The tone he spoke irritated her. Sarah said her voice raising slightly. "You don't consider anyone worth anything, do you? Anyone worth sharing the troubles of your life with " She stood up in frustration. Xavier did too "I have always been like this. You know this". "Then why do you confuse me by saying that you want me, by saying that you think of me. When you can't even talk to me. When you don't even TRY to talk to me"
Xavier walked closer to her. Coming to stand in front. "I try but I don't want to scare you away. ". Suddenly a thought occurred to Sarah. "Oh, my God. What if you are playing me and I'm falling for this? How can I trust you fully". Sarah said aloud wide-eyed. Xavier clenched his jaw. "You have known me for years. How can you even think I would go to someone else after telling you what I did
How can you not trust me enough?"
Sarah stopped pacing for a moment. And looked him in the eye. "Prove it then," She said daring him. Even she didn't know what she meant by that. "You know I can't do that," Xavier said clenching his fist and closing his eyes to calm himself down. He was thinking of a thousand ways to prove it to her. None of them were innocent. "Because you are lying," Sarah accused and Xavier's eyes snapped open. Sarah's eyes widened slightly seeing the rageful expression on Xavier's face. More than rage, there was hunger. This one resembled the one she had seen at the office party. This was a total step up from the calm or the cold Xavier she knew. She had woken his dominant side. His expression turned serious. She got scared slightly and took a step back. Her back hit the table and his hand were placed on the table behind her. Trapping her.  Xavier got closer to her. Too close. He leaned in and put his hand on her cheek. Staring into her grey eyes. "Trust me Sarah you don't want me to show you just how much I want you. Because once I start I'm not going to hold back" He whispered hoarsely. His words carrying a dangerous promise. He kept leaning in and Sarah's heartbeat raced. "Stop me. Stop me before it's too late" Xavier said closing his eyes. They were too close. Their lips almost touching. He didn't want her to cross this line but he was a man drunk on the undeniable attraction he felt at the moment. Sarah turned her face slightly in an attempt to dodge him and his lips made contact with her exposed neck through the loose scarf. "Ahh" Sarah breathed out. Her eyes closed and her face went back. The slight contact sent shivers down her spine. This is so wrong. I should push him away. She thought. It seemed her legs and arms had become jelly. She put her hand on his hard chest to push him away but she couldn't muster the strength. Xavier took that hand and intertwined their fingers. Xavier kept placing his feather-like kisses on her neck. His other hand had moved from her face and pulled at her waist to move her closer. Steadying her. He was retraining himself to not take this ahead. The beast inside of him needed control. His lips became a bit more aggressive. It didn't help that she smelled and felt amazing. Sarah tried to speak once again. Her mind had become foggy from the toe-curling pleasure. Her eyes shut and opened constantly to find steady ground. Xavier wasn't any better. Their closeness and intimacy drove him crazy. He growled in a low voice. "You feel so good" He wanted more.  "Xavier...stop," Sarah said her voice coming out breathy. With much willpower, Xavier pulled his head away. They both looked at each other breathing heavily and with the same thought of closing the little space they had between their bodies. Xavier stepped away maintaining a good distance. "I don't want to run away from you anymore Sarah. I want you to be mine " Xavier said in a soft voice.
Sarah was ready to refute a good argument. Xavier turned serious again "We should sit and talk," He said. For the next hour or so they talked everything out. All the misunderstandings, all that had happened. Sarah was especially focused on the engagement with Amelia which Xavier said he would break soon and assured her nothing was going on nor had he ever been physical with her. Xavier didn't yet fully tell her about the business or his father or any of his own set of problems. They talked about them. They both admitted that they liked each other. A lot and wanted the same thing. To settle down together. "If you agree to this Sarah, if you agree to be with me I have to warn you that it isn't going to be easy. And that you will have to be patient a lot. I don't want you to agree to this and regret it later. So think about this and then tell me." Sarah looked at him and thought about when he had been patient with her all those years. She could also give some of the patience back. Sarah smiled. "I don't need to think about this twice. Take your time as long as you want. Just know that I'll be waiting here for you". There was still one thing though he needed to be cleared. "There is one thing though, I want us to maintain space until I come to your house asking for marriage. I don't want it to happen again what happened today, I know that is crossing a line in your religion. I respect you and I want to only touch you as your husband. You have your career and I want to focus on becoming a better man for you. Remember, I said you would have to be patient a lot. " Xavier said calmly even though it was going to be harder for him when he had just gotten a taste. He was already addicted. Hence the more reason to set this condition. Sarah nodded agreeing. She suddenly felt guilty about what had happened. Thinking that she shouldn't have stayed and decided to leave soon. Xavier looked at her and couldn't believe this was true. It felt like a dream. She was here and she was willing to try. But no this was better than any dream. This was his sweet reality.

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Author's Note; Looks like things are getting a bit heated👀. Would anything become easy now that they had the talk?