Kidnapped By The Mafia

Embrassed

•Xander•

The rain was relentless that night, the kind that slammed against windows like fists on a door, refusing to be ignored. I paced the hallway, every now and then, my gaze snapped to the door. It was late, late enough that even I questioned why I was still up.

And then, finally, the front door creaked open.

And there she stood, soaked to the bone, hair clinging to her skin. She looked up, eyes narrowed, as if daring me to comment on her drenched state.

Oh yeah, Melena's allowed outside now. With my security glued to her, obviously. But me? I can't close my eyes or focus on a damn thing until she's back. So here I was, waiting around like a fool.

"You really like making an entrance, don't you?" I said as I crossed my arms, my eyes following a raindrop trickling down her cheek before landing on her lips.

She shrugged, brushing past me without a word, leaving a trail of water on the pristine marble.

"Some of us actually have lives, Xander." She tossed over her shoulder.

I stepped closer, barely restraining the urge to grab her to turn her and force her to face me.

"Do you even know what time it is?" I didn't hide the bitterness this time. It was only 7pm but still. What if something would've happened?

"Xander, I was out for hardly an hour."

My eyes trailed over her face, her soaked figure. She stood there, refusing to let me see anything more than her carefully crafted mask. But that's the thing, no one wears a mask better than someone who's terrified to be seen.

She let out a low huff before turning back and shrugging out of her coat with chilled fingers.

"Didn't bother with an umbrella?"

"I don't know it would rain." She replied. "It was nice though, to have a moment of peace without you hovering over my ass."

"Funny." I felt a smirk tug at the corner of my mouth. "If only you'd let me get that close, things would be a lot more different around here, love."

She rolled her eyes. "I think you're confusing tolerance with enjoyment, Xander."

"Call it whatever you like." I shrugged as I stepped closer to where she was standing.

She hesitated, a slight falter in her gaze but it was brief. Her chin lifted, and she turned to face me fully, her eyes blazing.

A dark chuckle slipped out before I could stop it. I leaned in, my voice barely a whisper against her ear. "You have no idea what you're up against."

She stilled but met my gaze with the same fire, her lips curving into a smile. "I think I'm doing just fine."

I stepped back, unable to resist letting my gaze trail over her, letting her feel the weight of it. "You keep telling yourself that."

She rolled her eyes, pushing past. "I'm going to change. Or are you planning on watching me do that too?"

"Wouldn't dream of it." I smiled.

An hour later, the fire crackled in the study, casting its golden glow against the walls. I settled into the leather armchair, swirling a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the light. I didn't expect her to join me, but Melena was nothing if not unpredictable.

She stepped into the room, her damp hair now brushed, wrapped in one of those oversized sweaters that made her look somehow... softer. She had a book in her hands, and no, it wasn't the poetry one. She had finished that in one sitting. She crossed the room without sparing me a glance, settling into the armchair opposite, her gaze fixed on the fire.

"Nice of you to finally join me." I remarked, letting my voice drift, tauntingly casual.

She looked at me, one eyebrow raised. "I don't remember asking you to wait for me."

"Do you always have to be so difficult?"

"Do you always have to be so annoying?" Her tone was sharp, but I caught the faint curve of a smile.

I raised my glass. "Only when it's fun."

She rolled her eyes and looked back at the fire before leaning back and propping her book open on her knee, flipping to a bookmarked page without looking at me.

"What is it this time?" I asked, nodding toward the book.

She looked up, her expression unreadable. "Dark romance." She said simply.

I scoffed. "Bet it's just page after page of weak plotlines and predictable drama. That could never impress me."

She laughed, a genuine sound that made my smirk falter. "I wouldn't dream of it, Xander. But, you know, you might like this one." She said, her voice laced with mockery. She held the book up, shaking it slightly as if offering it to me.

I narrowed my eyes, folding my arms. "Alright, then. Read me something. I could use a laugh."

She raised an eyebrow, a grin spreading across her face that should've warned me. "You sure? This isn't exactly light reading."

I scoffed, leaning back, pretending her confidence didn't get to me. "Try me, Miss Hart."

She turned to a page, her eyes scanning it briefly before she began. Her voice was soft almost casual as she read the words aloud but the story was anything but gentle.

I listened, my smirk slowly fading away.

She noticed, of course. She didn't miss a damn thing. Her lips curved into a wider grin, and she slowed down, savoring the words as if she was daring me to look away.

By the time she finished, I was silent, staring at her with my mouth hung open. She shut the book with a soft snap, her laugh breaking the silence.

"What?" I snapped, my voice rougher than I meant.

"Are you... blushing?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with delight, leaning forward to study me. "Oh my, you are."

"I'm not." I said, though the heat in my face probably betrayed me. "It's just so fucking ridiculous."

"I thought you could handle anything, Marcellus. Guess I was wrong."

"Do women actually like all this?"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying every second of this. "Oh, you have no idea." She opened the book again, clearly prepared to torture me with more.

Before she could continue, I leaned forward, grabbing the book right out of her hands.

"That's enough." I announced.

"Oh, come on!" She protested, laughing as she reached for the book. "You can't handle a little smut?"

"Maybe I just don't need it read aloud like some cheap audiobook." I tried to keep my tone even, but her amusement was contagious.

She grinned not backing down an inch. "Fine. I'll just keep it to myself, then." She pulled the book back, tucking it against her chest, as if daring me to make a move.

I let out a huff, sinking back into my chair with a pointed scowl. "Good. Please keep it to yourself. Some of us have standards."

She rolled her eyes still grinning as she settled back, opening the book and very clearly ignoring me as she continued to read.

"It's just fiction, nothing more." I couldn't hide my disbelief. "I don't get it. What's the hype?"

She shook her head, laughing softly. "Fiction, yes. But don't be so sure about the 'nothing more' part. You'd be surprised by what people enjoy."

I didn't say anything to that. I was genuinely mortified. Women are scary beings. They read the most horrifying books with a straight face. Looking at Melena, I wouldn't even have been able to tell what she was reading if I hadn't asked.

As I stared at her, I wad still trying to fight down the embarrassment she'd managed to pull out of me and couldn't help but think she'd won this round. Again.