Chapter 52: So, you really want to twerk for me?

~Alexander~

"I don't blush," Alexander insists, even though he clearly is. Averting his eyes from his mate, he clears his throat when she gives him a look that let's him know she isn't buying his bullshit.

Daisy smirks, pressing her body to his side and curling her hands around his waist. "I can't wait to see you dance in that, sexy lady."

"Oh, sod off," he grumbles, rolling his eyes but he doesn't reject her touch.

"Oh come now, my love," she pouts, sliding her hand down to his ass. "Show me how you'll twerk for mama."

Literal goosebumps creep up his spine and break out on his arms. "That..." He shivers, pushing her hand away, "is weird and wrong on so many levels." What's even more weird is the fact that he got semi hard from that. How exactly can he explain that to his beta, his secretary or himself in general?

"I didn't teach you toxic masculinity, young man," Kathy muses, amusement dancing within her eyes.

"But you did teach me consent and this entire thing is happening to me without it," he huffs, lightly slapping his mate's hand before they can grab his butt.

Kathy snorts, dropping her brush and picking up her phone. "Yeah, well, that's the thing about punishments, you're not meant to like them."

Scowling at his aunt, he eyes her hands. They were surprisingly neat while she was handling his makeup. He doesn't know how long it'll last but at least he's safe. For now.

"Smile for the camera," Kathy smiles, lifting her phone.

Camera? Before Alexander can register what she's trying to do, it's too late. She has already taken his picture. In an instant he knows it's already on the family group chat when his phone dings. Only the moon goddess can help him keep that picture out of social media now. "I kinda wish you hit your head harder on those stairs," he says, knowing fully well there's no use trying to get her to delete it. Thanks to the lightning fast hounds of aunts and a mother he has, he's sure that every single person in the extended family already has that picture. And it hasn't even been a minute.

Kathy snorts. "Say what you will but I rode that bike expertly."

"Yes and then you rode the stairs on your face to the ground floor halfway in," he deadpans, taking solace in recalling the imagery of the multiple injuries the woman sustained doing her own punishment an hour ago. His mother's was the funniest yet. She had to offer her neighbours a casserole with a full clown makeup on her face. It was entertaining seeing their reactions and her piss poor attempt to hide her embarrassment. He won't lie and say he didn't enjoy watching them making a fool out of themselves but now that it's his turn, it's not so enjoyable anymore. Especially because his mate has made it her mission to rub it in his face.

"Jessie, he's being mean to me," his aunt whines, turning to his mate.

Daisy laughs. "It's Daisy and ignore him. I thought you did great with the bike. I can't ride for shit."

Kathy pushes out her lips and makes a terrible attempt at giving his mate doe eyes as she puts an arm around her. "It's decided. I like her more than I like you."

"Thank God." At least the woman wouldn't flock around him all the time if he, for some unfathomable reason, decides to attend another family dinner.

"Aww. How cute," Daisy says, looking into his aunt's phone. "I need that picture."

Smiling brightly, the woman happily nods. "Sure. Give me your number and I'll text it to you."

Shaking his head, Alexander doesn't bother dissuading his mate or his aunt. What's the point? Any other one of his aunts would gladly give it to Daisy one way or another later. Accepting his fate of eternal embarrassment, he turns his head to the door when it opens.

"Are you guys done-" Sabrina pauses, eyes widening when she sees her son.

Groaning, Alexander covers his face.

"I knew I should have had a daughter," is the first thing out of her mouth, followed by a loud squeal.

"Mum, please."

"Oh hush now. Let me have a look at you," she coos, lightly lifting his chin. "Oh my. You almost look like your grandmother."

"Right? I thought he resembled mother," Kathy pipes in, chuckling lightly.

"When I saw it on the group chat, I knew I had to see it in person," Sabrina laughs.

Alexander notices how quiet his mate has become as she stands behind Kathy, almost like she's trying to disappear. "My mate helped pick the dress." Yes, he's being petty putting her in the spotlight but he thinks it's high time his mother drops the tough mother act around his mate.

Being the dramatic woman she is, Sabrina gives his mate an expressionless stare. "Did she now?"

"She had rather interesting insights, I'll admit," Kathy plays along, trying not to laugh at her older sister's antics.

"Huh. She has good taste," Sabrina says with a straight face, flipping her imaginary hair over her shoulder as she makes her way to the door. "The show starts in three minutes. It's time to take the stage."

The moment she leaves, Daisy lets out a deep sigh. Holding her chest, she slaps Alexander's arm. "Why would you shift her attention to me?"

"Why do you not realize that woman's messing with you?" He chuckles, rubbing his arm.

"Did you see her stare? She really hates me," Daisy says, her mate's earlier words flying right over her head.

"Oh please. The only person Sabrina is capable of hating is her husband. You're fine, sweetie," Kathy snorts, pinching his mate's cheeks.

Alexander winces lightly. He saw the woman picking her nose just a second ago while his mother was leaving. From the way his mate tenses up, he's sure she feels something slippery on her face. Deciding to ditch the situation before the woman decides to extend her hands of comfort to him too, he makes a beeline for the door. "The show's starting. Let's go," he rushes out before swiftly exiting the room.

The heels aren't uncomfortable to walk in as he quickly makes his way down the hallway towards the backstage in ball room at the East Wing of the mansion. When his mother said she should have had a daughter earlier, it wasn't mere playful commentary. The woman actually bought him everything pink as a child. The reason why he can walk in heels is because his mother taught him at the age of seven. He never liked it but he didn't hate it either. He stopped wearing cute things to school when other kids made fun of him but that didn't stop his mother from pestering him about it at home. With the entire fiasco with his father, it became a bonding experience for him and his mother. Hell, the only reason his room doesn't look like a unicorn vomitted in there is because he told his mother he'd only come home if she repainted his room with a more mature colour. Hence, the black and red Dracula vibes.

"Ladies! The time has come!" Alexander can hear Janice say from the speakers in the room.

The shadow on the curtains let him know she's standing on the podium.

"I cannot believe you left me with that woman!"

Alexander smirks, not bothering to look back at his mate who storms into the room to block his view of the curtains. "I thought you were besties now?"

"She rubbed snot on my face! Snot!"

He shrugs. "That means she likes you now."

"Is this why you were avoiding her?"

He doesn't have to say anything. His smile is enough of an answer.

"Oh dear God."

"And now, the moment we have all been waiting for-" Janice says, pausing for dramatic effect.

"Fair warning, she enjoys being extra touchy." Alexander smirks.

"If she so much as touches me like that again, I'll accidentally stab her with a fork like your ginger aunt has been threathening to do," Daisy huffs, crossing her arms.

He snickers at her annoyed face. If she thinks this is annoying, she has another thing coming. "My ginger aunt is named Melbourne and you can't hurt Aunt Kathy without earning disapproval."

She scoffs. "I know Tremaine will support me."

Yeah. She's definitely right about that.

"-he's a beast, he's a treat, a sight for sore eyes-" Janice continues.

"So you really won't twerk for me?"

Taken aback by the sudden change of topic and demeanor, Alexander unintentionally flinches when she grabs his butt. Either she's really dedicated to teasing the crap out of him or she's a butt person. No matter the intention, he can't shake the quizzy feeling he's getting in his stomach when she does that to him. "I swear to God, Rose," he warns, pushing her hand away.

"You do realize Rose isn't exactly a strong repremanding nickname, right?" She smiles, putting both her hands back on his butt.

"It represents how much of a thorn you are on my side. How's that for reprimanding nicknames?" He grabs her hands, holding them where he can see them this time.

"Eh," she shrugs, lifting her right leg to touch his butt. "Still pretty weak."

"-our very own drag queen, Xandria!" Janice announces, eliciting loud cheers and hollers from the crazy women out there.

"That's your cue, love," Daisy smirks, dropping her leg and ripping her hand out of his hold before he can say anything.

"I will get you back for this."

She moves away from view, winking at him just as the curtain opens up and light floods the stage. "If you don't die of embarrassment first.”