Xaiden:

"Hey, I checked up on Talia and she did seem depressed...well, even though the bruises were faded when I looked harder,they were visible on her left wrist, neck and chest." Roselyn said her voice bearing a bit of hesitation that I heard through my phone.

Hearing the voice mail, my shoulders stiffened and I felt something twist in my stomach. The same fire from before ignited but now, stronger. Mind numbingly powerful flames went through my whole body.

I abruptly called my assistant to prepare the private jet as if hearing those words made all the rational thoughts turn into ash. My rage and self loathing were at the cliff of the mountain. Self loathing, because I should have known at the second someone laid hands on her. How could the timing be this bad? Visions of all the ways to torture the faceless fucker occupied as I imagined all the emotions Talia felt when someone harassed or abused her. That son of a bitch didn't know what was coming towards him. Panic was creeping on to me in the form of ghost spiders at the thought of consequences for my negligence but I brushed them away thinking of all my techniques to give him a personalized hell. I fucked up, I knew that but it wasn't the right time to have a panic attack.

~~~♡~~~

I was writing a text to Talia asking if we could meet tonight. Or at least I was trying... it was hard not to explain the whole thing but still make it nonchalant. I hadn't texted her since the charity event which was about a weeks ago so if I texted now, it would be oddly spontaneous.

Me
Hey, I know I haven't texted for a while due to the workload but I was thinking we could meet and catch up.

Even at my breaking point I couldn't apologize to anyone. Not even Talia. It was against my rules because a simple 'sorry' could damage my power (and ego). Fuck it! I had bent all my rules and boundaries for her and this wouldn't be any different. With that, I added a simple apology to the text. And within a minute a reply came back saying 'yes' which created a small bubble of pride and curved my mouth into a smirk.

That's my girl.

~~~~~~~♡♡♡~~~~~~

Talia:

"What are you doing with my phone??!" I yelled from the other end of the room when I saw Nichole typing something in my phone with a sly smile.

She uses my phone all the time but I knew that glint of mischief in her eyes. That same glint when she is doing something that she thinks is good for me but it would end up in a disaster. I took long strides to reach her and snatched my phone.

"NICHOLE!!!" I gritted out as loud as I can when I saw the reply that she had texted to Xaiden! XAIDEN AALDERS!!!

Xaiden
Hey, I'm sorry I haven't texted you in a while due to the workload but I was thinking if we could meet and catch up.

Me
Yes!

Although, most of the text was written by typical workaholic Xaiden with all the periods and commas, the word 'sorry' didn't add up. My stereotypical brain thought he didn't apologize to anyone but I guess I was wrong.

Strangely, I was a little impressed by that tiny word. What is happening to me?

"What?" Nichole's innocent (but not so innocent) question snapped me out of my thoughts.

She looked up at me with those big doe eyes but it wasn't going to work on me. Nah-uh!

"What!!?" I said with a demanding tone while raising one eyebrow.

"Oh come on! You have not went outside from a month! Just work and movies won't cure your depression, honey!"

"So, you push me into a date with a man you barely know?!!" I said, disbelief clouding my exasperated tone.

"I know you have been through a lot but you have to overcome your paranoia and start living your life again. I miss the happy you and I hate the fact that some cowardly creep is the reason why someone as strong as you are depressed..." she said with a genuinely concerned look.

"Okay... what if I don't want to go with him? If you want me to go out again, I can do that with you!" I said, my voice low with uncertainty.

She smiled with pure amusement and said, "Because I have been with you when you come home after hanging out with him!!! You practically glow whenever you talk to him or spend time with him and I don't know how to make you feel like that..."

"What?" Now I'm seriously confused.

"You'll see once you meet him..." She said with the same sly smile. God! The things I would do to erase that smile off of her forever!!! I don't know why but I sensed a slight challenge in her voice and I am foolishly going to accept it!

~~~♡~~~

Of course he's gonna pick me up! I don't know why he cares about being a gentleman when he also know he isn't.

'And why are you complaining about it when you experience an alarming amount of butterflies that you never experienced before?' My inner voice said and I hated that it was right!

As I waited for him, the braveness and determination to prove Nichole wrong all swept up in a single wave of nerves and comprehension. I was planning to overcome my fear with the man I fear the most!!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME!!?

"Talia?" The all too familiar sweet voice melted me out of my thoughts.

This was it. No turning back now. Strangely, my instincts told me I didn't need to... The same instincts which refrained me from touching a Pomeranian thinking that it was too cutely vicious. Maybe it was rigged just like my logical sense whenever he's a little too close to me.

When I saw his concern was replaced by a frown and realised I was staring into his attractive black safire like eyes, glinting like one instead of replying, I said sheepishly, "Ya? I was thinking about something sorry!"

"It's fine, are you ready to go?" With that he smiled and took my hand kissing my knuckles. There were the damn butterflies again! Maybe because of my fear. Yeah! Then why else would there be so much that it was almost sickening! Almost...

I climbed onto the passenger seat while he held the door open. And then he slid into his seat starting the engine. It was now that I noticed something underneath the perfect exterior of his face. He was stressed and from a far and no one including me couldn't tell that. The slight dark under-eyes, hint of wrinkles and the tousled hair which I thought was intensional at first glance. I felt the urge to ask him what has got him worried but it was none of my business so I kept silent and looked out the window. The beautiful glaring building lights of New York city always seem to distract me from all my worries. They say that New York city never sleeps and it certainly is true. That's what I like about it, the constant liveliness that brings a zast of energy to everyone who is lucky to see it. It is not just a place, it is a feeling. I could just drive like this forever with no destination in here. Wait...

"You didn't tell where we are going" I said whipping my head back to Xaiden.

"It's a surprise." He said with a half smirk.

He did tell me to wear something casual and I had put on a pair of light washed Jean shorts and a crop top with a cherry red Bolero so it cannot be a fancy diner or something. As I was guessing all the places he could bring me, he parked the car beside a old rusty building.

"What's here?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"Then why are we here?"

"The place doesn't have parking so I parked in walking distance."

After a minute, I don't know why but he asked me, "Are you okay with walking?"

"Ya, why wouldn't I be?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

"No reason." He said passively but I saw a glint pass through his eyes in a split second. It was so fast that I didn't catch it.

We walked and I couldn't say that I wasn't scared to roam around an empty street in the dark because I was but the place was not that far. When we reached I couldn't believe my eyes! He brought me to a carnival!!? Euphoria pumped through me as I stood in front of a magnificent set up. From the Farris wheel to all the small stalls glowed with bright neon lights and the place boomed with excitement and adrenaline. When I realised my mouth was on the ground, I closed it and entered inside.

I turned to Xaiden who was already looking at me like I was a cute little hamster on a wheel, endearing and interesting, "This place is amazing!!!"I said with a bright beam.

I wanted to hug him and thank him for being so thoughtful and bringing me to this carnival. But I knew it would be awkward and would spoil the moment so I showed how much I appreciate it from my eyes.

"Wait till you try the rides." He said with a warm smile.

~~~♡~~~

"Tell me now so I would be rescued from the heartbreak, are you a robot?" I asked, smiling. Honestly, my cheeks were starting to ache by smiling too much but still, I couldn't stop smiling. Not only my cheeks, my throat was also damaged from all the screaming on the rides while Xaiden just sat beside me looking bored. That's why I thought he was a robot.

"Ha, ha very funny." Xaiden said in a monotone but I knew he was biting back a smile.

I burst out laughing even though there was nothing funny about his reply. I don't know why but I found his little failed attempts of joking so funny. After a small session of laughing, my stomach growled in hunger and he went to buy a hot dog. I watched him as he leaned against the counter, waiting for the hot dog. Even in a white tee and jeans, he stood out. Like a tiger among cats with his elegance. It had nothing to do with the way he dressed but everything to do with the way he carried himself. Bold and vigilant.

I could practically see his muscles flexing through the thin material of his T shirt as he walked towards me with two hot dogs. I curled up the sleeves of my Bolero to take the hot dog but he didn't give it, instead he kept watching my arms with a sad and menacing expression. I looked at my wrist and noticed the fading bruise of a hand. The memories of that night resurfaced and I would have cried at the sight if I wasn't so interested on what Xaiden found sad about it. I looked back at him and noticed his hand shaking, mouth slightly twitching and his shoulder was tensed now. He was on the verge of having another panic attack and I didn't have a clue why! It was like the day we met again but...worse?

I took the two hot dogs from his hands carefully and held his hands in hopes to make it stop trembling. I made eye contact with his starry eyes which had turned into a plane black orb now. His breathing was ragged almost as if he was gasping for air.

"Wh-who did this to you?" He managed to choke out.

"It's fine, Xaiden. You don't have to worry about it. I am okay." I said as calm as possible. I didn't know why he was worried about me but I felt like I had to reassure him.

"No it's not!" He gritted out. His breathing was still shallow and his posture was still stiff but his eyes finally showed some emotion. Spite but not towards me.

With every breath he took, the more anxious he got. He was growing more tense by the second. I had to do something fast but I didn't know what to do so I did what seemed right under stress. I kissed him.

The moment I crashed my lips to his lush ones, butterflies in my stomach danced around the sudden burst of flames. And when his posture softened, his began to move his lips in a languid motion and I would have swooned had I not been so consumed by the feeling of want. He slid his hand out of my grip and on to my hips burning the skin underneath the denim. My hands went to his velvety hair, tugging it to harden the kiss. Adrenaline rushed through my ears, booking every sound when he pulled me as close as humeinly possible. Everyone disappeared into a pink haze when the heated caress of butterfly wings woke all the harmones. A single stroke with his tongue was all it took him to enter my mouth and my wildest dreams. Kiss deepened when our tongue harmonized. My hands were wandering around his packed muscles when I realized what we were doing. My senses crashed back from the high of arousal. I flinched back, not giving him time to hold me from breaking the kiss. The sharp ring of his phone cut through his trance.

He picked up the call and I thanked God for giving me a little time before the awkward talk. I picked up my cold hot dog and nibbled on it but it didn't taste right. My head was getting foggy and my eyelids felt heavy. I closed my eyes as a whiplash of the sudden migraine and started falling back.

☆★~~~~~~~♡♡♡~~~~~~☆★

A/n

Ahhhhhh!!! It's my first time writing a kiss scene and I think I did good but what do y'all think? If it's not good please bare with me!