Chapter 16: Reciprocity
Their breaths hitched, filling the silence in the spacious room. Xavier released Agatha's lips slowly. His forehead rested against hers, his emerald eyes clouded with thick desire.
“You feel it, don't you?” whispered Xavier in a husky voice. “This body. This desire. You are the one who created it, Agatha.”
Agatha closed her eyes. Her body trembled. Not only because of Xavier's touch, but because of the turmoil in her stomach that was getting worse.
“Let go...” hissed Agatha.
“No.” Xavier gripped Agatha's waist tighter. “You started this fire in my meeting room. Now you want to run? Don't even hope. You have to take responsibility for it.”
Xavier attacked Agatha's slender neck again. Sucking the soft skin there roughly.
“Xav... stop it...”
“Shut up and enjoy it.”
“It hurts, idiot!” shouted Agatha.
Agatha pushed Xavier's chest with all her might. Her face, which had been bright red, suddenly turned deathly pale. She bent over, squeezing her lower abdomen while letting out a long groan.
“Argh!”
Xavier jerked back. He stared at Agatha with a look of offense mixed with confusion.
“You are rejecting me? Again?!” asked Xavier coldly. “Are you that disgusted by me that you scream in pain?”
“My stomach...” Agatha did not care about her husband's bruised ego. She curled up on the edge of the sofa, squeezing her stomach tightly, cold sweat the size of corn kernels began to trickle down. “It feels... like it is being pulled forcibly... Argh!”
Xavier fell silent. He saw Agatha's hands trembling violently and her lips turning white. His sharp instincts immediately kicked in. This was not a fake rejection.
“Damn it,” cursed Xavier. He approached, touching Agatha's wet forehead. “What happened? Did you poison your own food?”
“I have cramps... idiot...” Agatha hit Xavier's hand weakly. “The effect of that lunch earlier... My stomach hurts...”
Xavier's eyes widened. The next second, he cursed rudely.
“Bastard. You ate that aphrodisiac yourself while on your period? Do you want to kill yourself?”
“How would I know... it would hurt this much...”
Xavier did not answer again. He immediately slipped his hands under Agatha's knees and back, then lifted the woman in a bridal style carry.
“Put me down!”
“Quiet or I will throw you on the floor,” threatened Xavier, contrasting with his wide and hurried steps toward the large bookshelf covering the wall.
Xavier stopped right in front of a small abstract painting in the center of the bookshelf. He stared at the center of the painting for two seconds. A thin red laser beam appeared scanning his retina. A soft click was heard, and the heavy wooden shelf slid open automatically, revealing a secret passage to his private rest area.
He walked in and kicked the door shut. With a movement that could not be called gentle but was not rough either, he laid Agatha on the king size bed.
“Wait here. Don't die yet. I don't want a corpse on my bed.”
Xavier disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of a glass cabinet being forced open was heard. There was an emergency first aid kit that he usually used to treat wounds after fights.
He grabbed a bottle of high-dose painkillers. Shortly after, he returned with a glass of warm water and the medicine.
“Sit up,” ordered Xavier.
Agatha tried to get up, but failed. Xavier clicked his tongue in annoyance, then sat on the edge of the bed and helped Agatha lean against his chest. He held the pill to Agatha's mouth.
“Swallow. It is a high-dose painkiller, so it should be effective for your stomach ache.”
Agatha obeyed. The bitter taste of the medicine was immediately washed away by the warm water Xavier gave her.
“You are truly troublesome,” grumbled Xavier. He placed the glass on the nightstand, then looked at Agatha who was still holding her stomach.
“Go away...” shooed Agatha with closed eyes. “I want to sleep.”
“And let you die? No.”
Xavier did not move. Instead, he rubbed his own palms together quickly until they felt hot. Without permission, he slipped his warm hand under the blanket, landing right on top of Agatha's stomach covered by her dress.
Agatha's eyes opened wide. “What are you doing?”
“Quiet. Warm hands are more effective than compresses,” answered Xavier flatly. He turned his face toward the window, refusing to look at Agatha. “Consider this compensation because you have made me half-dead tense.”
Agatha fell silent. The warmth from Xavier's large palm slowly eased the torturous cramps. Strangely, her heartbeat became even more erratic.
“You...” muttered Agatha softly. “You are not angry?”
“Angry about what?”
“I trapped you. That lunch... I deliberately mixed a high dose so you would explode in the middle of the meeting.”
Xavier finally turned. The corner of his lips lifted to form a dangerous crooked smirk.
“Ooh, so you admit it?”
“Yes. It was quite fun,” Agatha smirked.
“You are a cunning woman, Agatha. You poisoned your husband with passion just for a photo?”
“It was worth it,” replied Agatha challengingly, though her voice was weak. “Seeing your red face earlier... It was entertaining entertainment.”
Xavier snorted amusedly. His hand was still faithfully rubbing Agatha's stomach gently.
“You played with fire, my Wife. And now you are burned yourself. Backfired, huh?”
“At least you are burned too.”
“True,” Xavier leaned his face forward, staring intently into those hazel eyes. “Next time, if you want to play with heat, make sure you are in prime condition. I don't like my opponent collapsing before the war starts.”
Agatha smiled thinly. “I will remember that.”
Silence for a moment. Only the sound of their breathing began to regulate.
“Xavier.”
“Hmm?”
“The photo.”
Xavier sighed heavily. “You are still thinking about that while dying like this?”
“It is mine, according to our agreement.”
Xavier reached into his trouser pocket with his left hand, while his right hand remained on Agatha's stomach. He took out his phone, opened the CCTV connected to his phone, and showed it in front of Agatha's face.
On the screen, the paper shredder looked completely empty. There was no photo or anything on it.
“See? Empty. No photos were destroyed.”
Agatha blinked. “Hah? But you said...”
“I lied,” cut Xavier casually. “That is a basic negotiation technique, Honey. That woman's photo is safe in the safe. I am a bastard, but I am not a monster who destroys someone's memories.”
Agatha stared at Xavier in disbelief. She really wanted to scratch that handsome annoying face, but she had no energy.
“You are a master scammer, Mr. Valois.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Mrs. Valois. Now sleep. Or do we need to continue our delayed activity earlier?”
“Go to hell.”
Xavier chuckled softly. He pulled his hand away, tucked Agatha in up to her chin, then got up to leave.
“Sleep tight. Tomorrow we continue our war.”
Agatha watched the broad back disappear behind the door. Unconsciously, the corner of her lips lifted to form a small smile.