HAUNTINGLY | 18+

3 | Blood

Muttering to myself with a mouthful of candy, I couldn't help but express my disbelief, "She actually cut all her hair off...I'd never do that." Engrossed in watching Tangled, my attention was abruptly interrupted by a loud banging at my door.

Glancing at the clock, I noticed it was already 2:15 a.m. Who on earth could be at my doorstep at this ungodly hour?

Slowly rising from the couch, I snatched the baseball bat that was next to my couch and cautiously approached the door, my adrenaline pumping. With a quick motion, I opened the door, fully prepared to swing the bat at whoever stood before me.

"That's not a nice way to greet someone," Xavier said, his eyes filled with amusement.

His words startled me, causing me to lower the bat and fix my gaze upon him. I was taken aback. "What are you doing at my house? Have you looked at the time?" I asked him, still in disbelief.

Gasping for air, Xavier replied, "I need your help, princess. And before you say no, remember that I'm the reason you're still alive." He clutched his arm, which was visibly bleeding through his shirt.

Finally noticing his arm, I started to panic. "Oh my god, are you alright?" I asked. "What happened to your arm?"

Without hesitation, I brought him inside and directed him to sit on the couch, assuring him that I would return with the first aid kit. It took me less than a minute to retrieve the box and make my way back to Xavier.

Standing before him, I found myself getting nervous. "I need you to take off your shirt," I mumbled softly.

He smirked at me. "If you want me to get naked just say so."

My cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance at Xavier's suggestive remark. "If you insist on being inappropriate, then forget it. I won't help you with your wound," I retorted firmly.

Xavier relented, responding with a resigned tone, "Alright, alright. You're no fun." He removed his shirt, revealing his chiseled abs and broad shoulders adorned with captivating tattoos that trailed from his neck to his knuckles.

Every piece of his skin was covered in ink. I couldn't help but steal a glance, appreciating the intricate artwork.

God, he's huge. I wonder what else is huge. I shook my head, trying to get rid of those dirty thoughts.

I didn't realize I had been staring for a while until Xavier spoke. "As much as I love having you fuck me with your eyes, I'm going to need you to actually start cleaning my cut or else this white couch" he gestured at the couch he was sitting on "is going to turn a shade of red."

In just a matter of minutes, a sense of embarrassment washed over me again as I began tending to Xavier's wound. Although the cut wasn't deep enough to require stitches, it still appeared quite bad.

Carefully, I applied gentle pressure to the wound using a clean cloth, allowing it some time to stop the bleeding. Retrieving the antiseptic spray, I alerted Xavier, "This might sting a little." As I sprayed the wound, he winced in response.

"So, are you going to tell me how you got this cut?" I asked.

I sensed his gaze on me, but I decided to avoid eye contact and focus on treating his wound. "I got into a fight, it's nothing serious," he replied calmly.

I nodded my head in understanding.

I proceeded to softly pat the area surrounding the cut dry with a clean towel, mindful to avoid any rubbing that might cause further discomfort or harm.

As I tended to Xavier's wound, my mind wandered back to a vivid memory from the past.

"Layla," Jason hissed in pain, his voice strained. "I need you to stitch me up." I observed my brother's face, then my gaze dropped to his stomach, where he desperately tried to stop the bleeding with a towel.