Chapter 68: Dinner
The bathroom was still thick with steam as Agatha emerged, wrapped in a plush white bathrobe that clung to her damp skin. She moved toward the vanity, using a small towel to blot the excess moisture from her hair. Xavier was already there, sitting on the edge of the large bed. He had discarded his suit jacket, leaving him in a crisp white shirt with the top two buttons undone and sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
Xavier watched her through the reflection of the mirror. His gaze was heavy, trailing the movement of her hands. "We are going out tonight. I have reserved a table for dinner."
Agatha stopped her movements. She turned her head slowly, letting the towel rest casually on her shoulder. Her eyes met his in the mirror, searching for the motive behind the sudden invitation. "Dinner? Is this some sort of indirect apology because you had me locked up all day?"
"Consider it a change of scenery," Xavier replied, his voice flat and unreadable. He stood up and bridged the gap between them, stopping just a breath away. "Just the two of us. There will be no guards standing behind your chair tonight."
Agatha tilted her head, a thin smile playing on her lips. "It is truly rare for a man like Xavier Calestiano Valois to surrender to my whims. Very well, I will go. But you must wait for me to get ready, and I do not like being rushed."
Xavier glanced at his watch, the metal glinting under the vanity lights. "I will wait for you downstairs. Do not be too long."
"Wait as long as it takes, Xavier. After all, did you not say this night was meant for us?" Agatha turned back to the mirror and reached for a bottle of moisturizer, effectively dismissing him.
Xavier did not answer. He lingered for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on the curve of her back before he finally turned and walked out of the room.
An hour passed. Xavier stood at the foot of the grand staircase, a glass of amber whiskey held loosely in his left hand. He had changed into a more formal black tuxedo that sharpened the dangerous edge of his silhouette. His eyes were fixed on the upper landing, waiting for his wife to appear. He was a man used to waiting for high stakes business deals, but waiting for Agatha always stirred a different kind of restlessness in his chest.
The rhythmic click of high heels finally echoed from the corridor above. Xavier straightened his posture, setting his glass down on a small side table.
Agatha appeared at the top of the stairs. She was a vision in a floor length gown of deep, coal black silk. The fabric draped perfectly over her curves, moving like liquid shadows with every step. From the front, the dress appeared incredibly modest, featuring an elegant high collar and long sleeves that reached her wrists. She had swept her hair up into a meticulous bun, leaving her long, pale neck completely exposed.
Xavier remained silent as she descended. He did not look away for even a second. Agatha moved with a calculated grace, each step a testament to her composure.
"Well?" Agatha asked once she stood before him. "Is this appearance suitable for the restaurant you have chosen?"
Xavier took her hand, his fingers grazing her skin as he brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of her hand, lingering for a moment. "You always look stunning, darling. Though I must say, this dress is surprisingly modest."
Agatha adjusted the fur coat draped over her arm, her expression unreadable. "I am glad you find it pleasing. Shall we go?"
They left the estate in a car driven by Xavier himself. There was no music to fill the space, only the low hum of the engine and the heavy silence between them. Xavier occasionally stole a glance at Agatha as she stared out at the city lights. Her face was a mask of calm, but Xavier knew her well enough to know that a storm was brewing beneath the surface.
The car came to a halt in front of a luxury restaurant situated on the top floor of a skyscraper. Below them, the city lights sparkled like fallen stars. As they entered, the silence was immediate. The vast, opulent space was empty of other patrons. Only a few servers stood at attention, ready to cater to their every need.
"You rented the entire place?" Agatha asked, her eyes scanning the empty tables.
"I did not want any interruptions tonight," Xavier said shortly. He led her to a table by the window and pulled out a chair for her. "Please, sit."
Agatha handed her fur coat to a male server who stepped forward to assist her. As the coat slipped from her shoulders, Xavier, who was standing right behind her, suddenly froze. His jaw tightened instantly, and his eyes darkened with a flash of possessive fury.
The gown that had looked so modest from the front was entirely different from the back. The silk fabric vanished just below the shoulder blades, revealing Agatha’s smooth, bare back all the way down to the small of her waist. Her pale skin glowed brilliantly against the dark fabric under the light of the crystal chandeliers.
The server who took the coat hesitated for a fraction of a second, his eyes widening slightly before he quickly averted his gaze and bowed his head.
Xavier did not move to his own seat. Instead, he stepped closer, hovering directly behind Agatha. He placed his hands on the back of her chair, effectively using his large frame to shield her exposed back from the rest of the room.
"Is something wrong, Xavier? Why are you not sitting?" Agatha glanced back over her shoulder, a small, triumphant smile gracing her lips.
Xavier leaned down, his face inches from her ear. His voice was low, vibrating with a warning. "Did you do this on purpose, darling?"
"Do what? I simply wore a dress that I found beautiful," Agatha replied, her tone dripping with mock innocence.
"Your back is completely bare. And you are well aware that the staff here are almost exclusively men," Xavier whispered. His hand moved from the chair to her shoulder, his grip firm and possessive.
Agatha let out a soft, melodic laugh. "Did you not say you rented the entire place? There are only servers here. Why must you be so territorial? Besides, do you not like the view?"
Xavier did not answer her. He pulled out the chair directly beside her instead of the one across the table. He sat so close that their arms brushed. He turned a sharp, icy gaze toward the two servers who were setting the table.
"Keep your eyes to yourselves," Xavier commanded, his voice cold and unwavering.
"Xavier, you are frightening them," Agatha remarked. She reached for her glass of water, taking a slow, deliberate sip. "Let them do their jobs. We came here for dinner, not to intimidate the staff."
"I do not like the way they look at you," Xavier countered. He reached across the table and took her hand, his fingers interlacing with hers in a crushing grip. "You are mine. Every inch of skin you have chosen to display tonight should be for my eyes only."
Agatha tilted her head, challenging him. "Then why not just lock me in our bedroom again? Would that not be far easier for you?"
Xavier stared deep into her eyes, his intensity enough to make anyone else flinch. "Do not bait me, Agatha. You know exactly what I am capable of when I truly lose my patience."
"I actually want to see it," Agatha challenged. She used her thumb to stroke the back of his hand. "I want to know if your love is pure, or if I am merely a prize you wish to keep on a shelf."
The servers arrived with the appetizers, moving with trembling hands. Xavier watched their every movement like a hawk. The dinner, which was meant to be a romantic gesture, was thick with a tension that was almost suffocating. Agatha ate with a calm appetite, while Xavier barely touched his plate. His focus remained entirely on the woman beside him.
Once the main course was finished, Xavier signaled for the staff to leave. "Clear the room. Do not return until I call for you."
The servers disappeared quickly, leaving the two of them alone in the vast, quiet restaurant.
"Are you satisfied now? No other men can see your back," Xavier said. He stood up and reached for her hand, pulling her to her feet.
Agatha stood and turned toward the massive window, looking out at the skyline with her back to him. "You worry about such trivial things, Xavier. My back is just skin. It is my freedom you should be concerned about."
Xavier stepped toward her, pressing his chest against her bare back. The heat from her skin radiated into him, sending his pulse into a frantic rhythm. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back until she was flush against his body.
"You will never be free of me, Agatha. Never forget that," Xavier whispered against the crook of her neck.
Agatha closed her eyes as she felt his hot breath on her skin. "And you will never truly possess me if you continue to suffocate me like this."
Xavier spun her around with a sudden, forceful movement so that they were facing each other. He cupped her face with both hands, his eyes burning with a mixture of desire and restrained anger.
"Then let me suffocate you in a different way," Xavier growled before he leaned down and captured her lips in a rough, demanding kiss.
Agatha gasped, but she did not pull away. Instead, she met his hunger with an intensity of her own. Her hands traveled up to the nape of his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened. The frustration that had been building since that afternoon exploded between them in the middle of the silent restaurant.
Xavier moved one hand from her face to the back of her head. He felt for the pins holding her bun in place. With a slow, deliberate tug, he began to pull them out.
One by one, the hairpins fell to the marble floor with a series of light, metallic clinks. Agatha’s long, dark hair cascaded down her shoulders, spilling over the back that had been so provocatively exposed. Xavier ran his fingers through the silken strands, spreading them out until they completely veiled her skin.
Their kiss broke as they both struggled for air. Xavier kept his forehead pressed against hers, his eyes fixed on the hair that now covered the back of her gown.
"There," Xavier murmured, his voice thick and hoarse. "Now no one else can see you."
Agatha breathed heavily, her lips slightly swollen and red. She looked into his green eyes and saw a darkness there that was bottomless. She knew that even though she had won the psychological battle of the night, she was still caught in the intricate web he had woven around her.
"You are far too possessive and mad, Xavier," Agatha whispered.
"I am mad because of you," Xavier answered. He pulled her back into a hug, this time more gently, as if afraid that if he let go even a little, she would vanish into the night.
Agatha remained silent in his embrace, feeling the frantic beat of his heart against her own beneath the cold, black silk.