Chapter 13

Amanda walked into Xavier's room and found him sitting on his bed, operating his laptop.

"You were advised to have a total bedrest," she reminded.

"And that's what I'm doing."

She walked up to him and closed his laptop.

His head snapped up.

"What's the..."

"It's time for dinner," she cut in softly and walked away.

Xavier grimaced, when did she suddenly become a caring wife? He knew if he wasn't so stressed and tired last night, he wouldn't have say all those words to her but he didn't regret telling her because it made her so comfortable around him. At least, she didn't give him that 'arrogant and pompous jerk' look anymore. Was it okay to feel this way towards her? It might not be like before, was she his shot at happiness?

She walked in with a tray containing two plates.

"I can't finish that," he complained.

"Who says they are both for you?"

"It's time!" She announced, excitedly.

He frowned, "Time for what?"

"For our eating contest."

Xavier's jaw dropped. "I was just kidding when I said that."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, can't I take back my words?"

"No, you said you would do anything I want, and I actually believed you," she said sadly.

Xavier took a deep breath. "Fine." He grunted and grabbed the cutlery from her.

"My price is that you would do anything I want from now on without complaining."

Xavier snickered. "Your price? What if I win?"

"You won't," she replied, confidently.

"Bring it on, cara."

If there was one thing she would have to admit was that she loved it when he calls her that.

Hearing him calling her 'Alisha' was starting to hurt in an unfamiliar way.

She was brought back to reality to see Xavier gobbling his food.

"I didn't even say we could begin"

He grinned with puffy cheeks.

Amanda took her cutlery and when she started eating, he paused staring at her in awe.

"Wow!" He exclaimed, she wasn't even stopping to digest her meal, was she even chewing it?

Few minutes later found Amanda massaging Xavier's back.

"After suffering from malnutrition, now, indigestion... Dio!"

"Stop whining, you couldn't even prove how manly you are," She snapped.

He turned to face her, amused. "Manly? How does an eating contest make one a man?"

She shrugged. "I don't know but it does, and for my award, I want us to go out tomorrow, I still haven't chosen a place yet, but you have to cool with everything I do"

He rolled his eyes. "Fine."

She tried to crawl out of the bed, but he held her hand.

"Who said you could leave? I still feel like throwing up."

She sighed and watched him lie on his stomach. She moved closer to him and started rubbing his back again.

Xavier leaned against his car, waiting for his wife.

A sound came from the front door, he lifted up his head to see his new favorite thought walking up to him, she wore a softly draped silk dress in a dark chocolate color, exactly like her eyes. Gold hoop earrings drew the eye to that slender neck, her dress clung to her breasts, clearly outlining their alluring shape. His gaze skimmed her flat stomach and lingered on the gentle flare of her hips. Her feet were encased in gold strappy sandals which made her legs look even more lithe. His head felt curiously light, while his crotch was unsurprisingly heavy.

"You look beautiful," he said honestly.

"Thank you," she replied trying not to be floored by his sheer gorgeousness in a blue shirt which clung slightly to his wide shoulders and powerful chest and his jeans accentuated the long muscular strength of his legs and the lean tautness of his hips.

He looked more masculine and sexier than he normally did. Her mouth ran dry, the color in her cheeks heightening, and suddenly she craved for his lips on hers.

He held out the door for her, but she closed it without entering.

"What?"

"The place I've chosen isn't too far from the house and it'd more fun if we walk there without your men."

"I don't walk to places; I can leave my men behind but we're taking the car," he declared.

"Please Xavier," she pleaded sweetly, and all thoughts fled with the look on her eyes.

"Alright, let's walk there," he agreed taking her hand in his. She stared down at their fingers entwined, she felt uneasy but knew she would be disappointed if he let go.

"A fun fair!" Xavier exclaimed staring at the disorganized crowd with kids running to and fro.

She giggled excitedly.

"Are you a kid?"

"Who says only kids can go to fun fairs?" She asked, staring at all the machines wondering which one to go on first.

"I didn't expect that you'd choose this, and you should have told me sooner so I could book the whole place for you."

She scoffed. Just two people in a big fun fare, would be as fun as a cemetery.

"There's nothing wrong with this place as it is"

"I won't go on anything"

She shrugged, refusing to allow him to be a killjoy.

"I'm going to enjoy myself." With that, she scurried off.

Xavier sat on a rocky chair staring at his wife gleaming with excitement as she rode on a machine horse which moved in circles. He didn't think anything else would be more fun than watching her like this.

He was used to women who craved for material things and social outings meant for the elite.

She was proving day after day to be different from her peers and he loved that about her and also her beauty which lay in her shapeliness, her sweet little mouth and her simplicity.

His head snapped up to see a man assisting her out of the equipment. He stood up and walked towards them.

"She's married," he growled.

Recognizing the great Xavier Da Silva, the young man nodded and walked away.

"You didn't have to scare him off like that, he was just being nice."

"He was touching you."

"Helping me," she corrected. "And there's nothing wrong with that."

Xavier crossed his arms around his formidable chest, was he the only one feeling this connection then?

"You're saying that you'll be okay seeing me with another woman, right?"

She gulped trying not to form that picture in her head, but it already did. And that thought made her hurt.

"He's not even yours," her subconscious mind reminded.

She looked away, why was she seeing herself as his wife? She wasn't and suddenly she wished she was. That thought nearly felled her.

"I'd like to go on a roller coaster now," she said.

Xavier nodded, this time, he would ride whatever she wanted with her, the last thing he wanted to see again was another man helping her down.

Almost an hour later found them in a movie theater, she had chosen to watch a Rom-com and had been laughing her eyes out.

When her laughter sounded in his ears again, he stared at her, was she always this beautiful? He hadn't felt this glad in a while, he couldn't believe he was feeling this joyful because he was making her happy.

"Did you always go to fun fairs?" He asked, curiously.

"Yes, with Miguel."

And soon as his brain registered those words, that gladness in his heart turned into anger.

Miguel?

As they walked home, Amanda wondered why he had suddenly become so cold towards her again, he wasn't even holding her hand. She knew he was fanatic about his work, was he perhaps regretting the hours spent with her instead of working?

"I'm sorry," she apologized, sadly.

He glanced at her.

"For what?"

"You probably had other important things to do. Don't worry, I won't say anything about going out again."

The sadness in her voice made his chest ached.

"Other things can wait, cara. Making you happy is more important to me. And if you have anything more to do, I'd gladly do it for you."

"You were acting so distant towards me again," she reminded.

He stopped walking and faced her.

"I don't like hearing the name 'Miguel.’ It bothers me a lot that you grew up with him," he confessed.

"Have you ever been infatuated with him?"

"No," she replied sincerely. She respected Miguel a lot, but had never thought of him romantically, he was like her guardian angel. She didn't even want to go clubbing or meet new people because her scar made her feel ugly.

And a thought occurred to her. She knew he was used to far more elegant and spotless women, what if he sees everything about her? Would he still think she was beautiful?

Xavier held her hand.

"I'm sorry for acting cold towards you before and a few minutes back, I'd work on that, I like that we're getting along and knowing more things about you is refreshing"

She smiled blocking all thoughts out of her mind as they continued the walk home.

"Sounds made by animals," she suddenly began.

Xavier frowned. "Don't you know them?"

"You aren’t supposed to tell me the sound, you have to make the sound"

"I'm not doing that," he snapped.

"What sound does a cow make?"

He sighed. "Moo moo."

She chuckled. "What sound does a pig make?"

"Oink oink!"

She laughed harder. "What sound does a dog make?"

"Woof woof! I can't believe I'm doing this," He added.

She continued laughing, he looked ridiculous making those sounds.

"So making me look foolish brings you joy too?"

She nodded.

Xavier chuckled, then it really won't be that hard to make her happy.

"What sound does a cat make?"

"Meow meow!"

"What sound does a lion make?"

He froze."I can't roa.r"

"C'mon. How hard can it be?"

"I'm not doing that shit!" He retorted, then felt the rain drizzling.

"Damn it. Wait here, I'll get an umbrella," he said.

"We are almost at the house; I'll race you home!"

Xavier ran a hand through his hair, she was too playful, he didn't want her to get drenched by the rain, but it seemed like she didn't mind.

"Just because you won that silly eating contest doesn't mean you can beat me in everything," he challenged as the rains started falling down in thick sheet.

She giggled, and without warning, she ran off.

He soon caught up with her but realized that she was a big cheat, she kept on pulling him backwards and making false alarms to slow him down but at the end, he still won.

They walked into the house both drenched and happy.

He followed her into her bedroom and quickly grabbed a towel. Before she could articulate things, he was drying her hair but when water didn't stop dripping, he said concerned.

"You should blow-dry it so you wouldn't feel too cold, I wouldn't want you to fall sick"

She smiled uneasily.

"Am I…you know…fun to be with?" he asked, curiously.

She never would have thought days ago that she could be this comfortable with him, and right now, she won't trade this moment for anything else.

She nodded.

"Just being with you today is the most fun I've ever had," he confessed.

Her heartbeat was out of control again. They were standing too close, and she couldn't breath, couldn't gasp. His face came closer and closer, she didn't even know when she closed her eyes and all she could feel was Xavier's mouth on hers. She was transfixed, all her veins were afire.

He took one nibble on her lips...then another until he grew hungry for more. He snaked his arms around her waist and hauled her into his body. She opened her mouth and welcomed him fully... flames of passion escalating as the kiss grew hotter and heavier in seconds. When Xavier's mouth moved away for one second, Amanda heard a mewl of distress come from her throat and she sought blindly till she found his mouth again.