Alison’s POV
The room was unusually quiet, except for the faint ticking of the ornate grandfather clock tucked into the corner. Its rhythmic beat was almost hypnotic, pulling me deeper into my thoughts as Darius performed his routine checks. I studied his meticulous movements, his gloved hands cool and precise against my wrist. Xander sat at the edge of the bed, his elbows on his knees, his sharp eyes never leaving me. His presence, so commanding yet gentle, always made my heart race. But tonight, there was an air of tension between us, subtle yet impossible to ignore.
“All done,” Darius said with a reassuring smile, snapping his gloves off. “You’re healing remarkably well, Alison. And the DNA results should be ready by tomorrow.” He looked between Xander and me. “With that done, I’ll see myself out. Rest well.”
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving us alone. I could feel Xander’s gaze burning into me before he even spoke.
“You’re really overthinking this, my love” he said softly, sliding closer to me. His voice, a deep rumble laced with a rare vulnerability, made my chest tighten. “If it turns out Gaius isn’t your father which I highly doubt, it still changes nothing, You will still be mine, Alison.”
I turned to him, my lips parting to speak, but the words faltered. His confidence in this moment was so steady, so unshakable, that for a second, I believed him.
“I just want to know the truth,” I finally murmured.
“And you’ll have it,” he promised, his hand finding mine. He brought it to his lips, brushing a kiss across my knuckles. “But let’s not waste tonight worrying about tomorrow.” he winked at me
Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips capturing mine. The kiss was slow and deliberate, his touch both soothing and electrifying. My fingers instinctively curled into the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. But then, like a switch being flipped, Caitlyn’s smug voice echoed in my mind: “You think he’s yours? Xander and I have shared more than just a kiss.”
I pulled back abruptly, pressing my palms against his chest. His brows furrowed, his concern immediate.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, searching my face. “Are you in pain? Did I hurt you?”
“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I just… I need to ask you something, more like clearing my mind.”
His shoulders stiffened slightly, but he nodded. “ohh! Alright, Go on.”
“Caitlyn,” I said, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. “She said something before I was… You know in Coma… poisoned.”
His jaw tightened, his expression darkening. “What did she say?”
“She claimed you and she… that you’ve been…” My voice broke off, but the implication was clear.
His reaction was instant, his eyes flashing with indignation. “That’s a lie.”
“How can I be sure? I saw you both kiss” I challenged, my voice rising despite myself. “She sounded so convincing, Xander. She made it sound like you two had something going on and I was just… ”
“I would never do that to you, Alison,” he interrupted, his tone firm yet pained. “Yes, Caitlyn has always been… persistent. But I’ve never given her what she wanted. I’ve made it clear she means nothing to me, and about the kiss, she kissed me, I didn’t even reciprocate, you have to believe me.”
I stared at him, torn between relief and a lingering doubt. “But why would she lie? Why go out of her way to hurt me with something like that?”
“Because she’s desperate, she knows you are naive and would believe anything she tells you, Alison,” he said, his hand cupping my cheek. “She knows I’m in love with you, and she can’t stand it. She’s been trying to come between us from the start, but I swear to you, there’s nothing between Caitlyn and me. There never has been.”
His words settled over me, soothing but not entirely erasing the ache in my chest.
“And what about you?” he asked suddenly, his tone sharper now. “I caught you Alison. With that mail man.”
My brows shot up in confusion. “You still don’t believe me up till now?”
“You were with him,” he insisted, his voice tinged with frustration. “I saw you both. You don’t expect me to just believe that it was a set up?…”
I blinked, realization dawning on me. “Xander, I didn’t lie to you, I don’t know how he got into my room but nothing happened. And for the record…” I paused, feeling a heat rise in my cheeks. “I’ve never… been with anyone.”
His eyes widened, his expression softening into one of astonishment. “You’re a virgin?”
“Yes,” I said, lifting my chin in defiance. “You’re free to check if you don’t believe me.”
The corners of his mouth lifted into a slow, almost predatory smile. “No need for that,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “But hearing you say it…”
Before I could react, he pulled me into his arms, his lips crashing against mine with a fervor that stole my breath. This kiss was different.. wild, unrestrained, a culmination of everything we’d been holding back. His hands roamed my back, pulling me flush against him as his mouth moved against mine with intoxicating precision.
I felt myself melting into him, the tension from our earlier argument dissolving like snow under the sun. My hands slid up his chest, fingers tangling in his hair as he deepened the kiss, his tongue teasing mine with a skill that left me dizzy.
“Alison,” he murmured against my lips, his voice thick with desire. “I want you. All of you. But only if you’re ready.”
“I am,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’ve always been ready.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. In one smooth motion, he lifted me into his arms, carrying me to the bed like I weighed nothing. The world seemed to blur around us, the only thing that mattered was the way his hands explored me, the way his lips traced a path down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
His touch was both tender and possessive, as though he were rediscovering me for the first time. Every kiss, every caress, spoke of a love so deep it felt like it might consume us both.
I reached for him, my hands fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel the warmth of his skin against mine. He chuckled softly, the sound low and sexy, before shrugging the shirt off entirely. My breath hitched at the sight of him, his broad shoulders, the defined lines of his chest, the raw strength that seemed to radiate from every inch of him.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice filled with awe as his eyes raked over me.
“and that’s because of you,” I replied, my voice trembling with emotion.
His lips found mine again, and this time there was no hesitation, no holding back. The rest of our clothes disappeared in a flurry of movement, leaving us bare and vulnerable yet utterly fearless.
He took his time, his hands and lips exploring every inch of me, learning what made me shiver, what made me gasp. He was attentive, patient, and so achingly gentle that I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes.
When he finally entered me, it was like the world shifted on its axis. The connection between us was more than physical, it was soul-deep, an unspoken promise that neither of us would ever let go. He moved with a perfect rhythm, his eyes locked on mine, every touch and thrust a declaration of his love.
“Alison,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re everything to me.”
I reached up, cupping his face in my hands. “And you’re everything to me, Xander.”
We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, lost in each other, the rest of the world fading away. And when we finally collapsed together, our breaths mingling, our hearts beating as one, I knew without a doubt that this was where I belonged.
“I love you,” I whispered, my voice trembling with the weight of the words.
“I love you too,” he replied, his lips brushing against my forehead.
In that moment, there was no more doubt, no more fear. Just us, and the unbreakable bond we shared.