"I'm going shopping with Ryan. I need an outfit." I said as I searched around for one of my many hair bands. It was a bit past twelve and I was meant to be out and ready but with Xander in my room, I just couldn't calm down.

I was jittery, excitement thrumming under my skin. We had slept together last night and I had woken up wrapped in Xander's arms. Xander asleep had to one of my favourite. His hair was all over the place and he looked relaxed. He doesn't even snore, he just held onto me, his grip firm and yet gentle.

How was this my life?

"Baby..." Xander said and I paused. It took a beat for me to turn to him. He had a hair ruffle in his hand and he was smiling. He looked so good relaxed as he was seated on the bed, leaning back, hair falling into his eyes.

I watched as Xander got up from the bed and made his way towards me. Xander was tall, his auburn hair looked darker, five o'clock shadow on his face, he was every bit tall, dark and dangerous, tattoos on his rib and left arm, his sweatpants resting low on his hips.

Mine.

He was my man.

"Can you help me?" I asked, my voice coming off quiet as I looked up at him. I took my bottom lip between my teeth and his gaze drops to them. He doesn't say a word but he does lift his hands and gently packed up my hair. I let go of the table and reached for him, my nails tracing the tattoo of the tribal black lines that formed a wolf. I hadn't noticed the tattoo before and last night I had been too tired to notice and the lights had been turned off.

My tattooed man.

Once he was done with my hair, he slips his hand down to my cheek and cupped them, moving close enough for our nose to touch.

"You could come with us."

"I wish I could, kitten but I have something to take care of today." Xander said, leaning even closer to press a quick kiss to my lips.

"All day."

"Sadly, kitten."

"Can you drop by whenever it ends? We could sleep on the same bed." I asked, looking up at him with big hopeful eyes.

"As you wish, darling."

There was a sharp knock on the door, startling me a little and popping our little bubble. I smile at Xander, moving to press a kiss on his cheek before he stepped away. I watched with great sadness as Xander pulls on his shirt. He ran his fingers through his hair and it felt like everything was happening in slow motion.

We walked out of the house hand in hand and Ryan looked so so close to squealing. I could see it on his face. Xander walked us over to the uber idling and with one last kiss to his cheek, I got in. As the car drove away, I still turned to see him.

"You are properly smitten." Ryan said and I sighed, thinking of his gentle hands in my hair, sweet chaste kisses and his warmth. It hasn't been long and I was falling for him.

"I am, Ry. He's... the absolute best." I said, looking over at my friend.

"You've been smiling so much lately and I love it. You have been so happy." Ryan said, reaching for my hand and giving it a squeeze.

"You have been too. J's been treating you well?" I asked and Ryan blushed, his cheeks a nice shade of pink.

"He's good. Great. Wonderful." Ryan said, chuckling as he said it.

We got to the mall in time and we giddily got out of the car. Ryan and I walked arm in arm into mall, heading right for the clothing stores. We spent the day trying on different clothes, laughing and taking pictures. I sent some to Xander who send back praises. Praises like, you look so good, baby. You are absolutely stunning.

In the last store, something caught my attention. In the last store, I grabbed a playsuit, it was a black, bejewelled, backless playsuit.

"Oh my god! You would look so good in that." Ryan cheered. "Try it on! Lets see!"

I couldn't help but smile widely as I made my way towards the dressing room. I quickly got out of my jeans and top and slipped on the playsuit, sliding it up my legs, slipping my hands through the thin straps. I slid my hands down the outfit, feeling the soft material. I finally faced the mirror, my eyes widening as I turned this way and that.

I looked so good.

The thin straps went over the curve of my shoulders and the material fell past my ass by an inch. Holy smokes. I looked incredible. I walked out of the dressing room and Ryan actually screamed yes! I laughed, doing a little twirl for him.

"Oh my god, you have to go out with this! We have to go out!" Ryan said. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and judging by the flash, he was taking pictures of me. I struck a pose, and another until I was a giggling mess. But yeah. I agreed with Ryan. I needed to break in this bad boy.

"Let's do it! Lets go out!" I said and Ryan cheered again. We were attracting attention but I couldn't give two shits about it. Ryan got leather shorts and this silky shirt, strutting up and down the short walkway out of the dressing room. He looked pretty good too.

On our way home, we got some biryani rice. Ryan sent me the pictures he had taken of me in the playsuit and I sent them to Xander. I wondered what his reaction would be, would he like the outfit? Anyway, Ryan and I could definitely go out. Xander said he was going to come over late, so we could go out and come back just in time.

Two o'clock turned into three and the next thing know, it's ten past eight and the sky was dark. I slipped on the black playsuit, pulled on my white chunky sneakers, I didn't pull my hair free from the bun. I had spent the day being extra careful so as not to ruin what Xander had done. I wanted to keep a piece of him while I go out dancing.

Dancing.

That was what Ryan and I wanted to do tonight.

-

The club, XIN, was loudly and was already filled with people even though it was just nine. Strobe lights on, the bar packed and so was the dance floor. XIN was a two storey club. The top floor were strictly for vips and was heavily guarded. You could only look up at the balcony and wonder what was up there. They even had private bathroom up there. It was a new club and one that Ryan and I have been dying to try since we saw posts about it online and loved the vibe we had gotten.

As we waited to get our drinks, I pulled out my phone to check if I had a message from Xander. Still nothing. I let out a sigh. I wondered what he was doing and if he was okay? If he had eaten? He did tell he was going to be busy today, though, so it was okay. I'll just have to get home in time so I don't make him wait. Ryan weaselled his way to the front and finally we were going to get our drinks. I got a whiskey on the rocks and Ryan ordered a vodka bomb.

I took sips from my drinks, body moving in time with the music. I threw back the rest of the drink and got another. Three drinks later, I was right in the middle of the dancefloor, hands above my head as I danced.

Ryan lets out loud laughs as he also danced. I loudly sang along with the songs playing, moving my waist, dipping low and just having a great time. I was still dancing when I thought I saw him. Xander. At the balcony

It couldn't possibly be. The club was dark, except for the LED lights. I looked again and I didn't see him. When I looked back around me, Ryan was dancing with this pretty girl, the two of them smiling. I was about to joined them when someone slips an arm around my waist, nails trailing down my exposed back.

"You look so good, baby."

My entire being went cold. I tried to jerk out of the stranger's hold. I didn't know this person. I didn't like the way he called me baby. I only liked it when Xander called me that. The stranger settled his hands on my waist tightly and I struggled to get out of his grip.

"Let me go!"

"Why should I? You have been teasing and dancing so sexily all night." the stranger said and I could feel his hot breath on my neck. Ew. No. I tried yelling Ryan's name as I struggled out of the stranger's hold.

"Let me go !"

"Not until you shake that ass for me."

"No!"

Fear settled deep in me and I struggled to get out of his hold. I was about to scream as loud as my lungs could allow when the stranger was ripped off me. People let out loud screams and stepped back. Ryan swiftly appeared by my side and oh-

Oh.

The stranger was pressed into the ground, Xander's hand around his throat, the other pressing the stranger's hand to his back.

"He said no!" Xander yelled, squeezing tighter. "He said you should let him go!"

I hadn't even realised how heavily I was breathing. The music was turned low and we could hear Xander's anger filled voice as he spoke. I had to do something or he was actually going to kill the stranger.

"Xander." I called out, taking two steps towards me. Ryan doesn't let go of my hand. Xander doesn't reply though but his hand was still wrapped around the stranger's neck.

"Xan!"

Xander let go of the stranger and got to his feet. He made his way over to me, wrapped his hand around my wrist and pulled me away. He dragged me through the people and out of the club.

"Xander, I can't just leave Ryan alone."

"J is there." Xander said, anger still dripping in his tone. I could feel the anger coming out of him in waves. He settled me into the car and buckled me in. Even when he was angry, he was still Xander. The car ride was quiet and tense. Xander doesn't take me home. He takes me over to his and I followed him, falling into step behind him as he marched into the kitchen.

"Xander." I called out when he pulled open the fridge and got out a bottle of water. He doesn't say anything but he does look at me. I could finally see him clearly now. He was clad in all black, black suit, black shirt, his hair styled back.

"Xan." I called him again and this time I get words.

"You said no."

"I did." I replied, my voice coming off soft.

"You told him to let you go." Xander said, angrily tossing the bottle in the sink. "What if I wasn't there? He could have hurt you."

"But he didn't. You saved me."

"Bram, you... you are so important to me and the worst thing that could happen to me is you getting hurt. I would kill anyone who so much as looks at you in a bad way. I almost killed that stranger." Xander said and I moved closer to him, settling my hands on his chest as I stared up at him.

"I'm fine."

Xander raised both hands and cupped my cheeks, his thumb stroking my cheek softly. "What if I was late?"

"You got to me right in time, daddy."

—

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