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We swayed together, and it felt both like forever and just a moment. The bluesy track seemed to stretch out, almost like it was getting paid to keep us in this position...Xavier's hand solid at my lower back, his other hand guiding mine with such effortless control that it made my knees feel weak.
On the outside, I was probably appearing composed: small smile, relaxed posture, and the occasional nod to the rhythm like I was slow-dancing with billionaires every weekend. But inside? Total chaos. My mind was a screaming stadium filled with thoughts like,
"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" and "DON'T TRIP!! DO NOT FUCKING TRIP!!!," and "HIS HAND IS SO WARM, I WANT IT WRAPPED AROUND MY NECK!" plus "IF YOU HYPERVENTILATE, HE'LL NOTICE!." I was one misplaced breath away from a full-blown internal meltdown.
The lights were kept low and moody, indigo mixing into soft violet, making everyone around us look like slow-moving shadows. Couples moved closer together as the song continued, and somehow, probably because Xavier was steering like he owned the place...we drifted to a quieter corner where the crowd was light enough to feel almost private.
I had to say something. Anything. Silence was risky; it left too much room for my heartbeat to pound in my ears and for me to notice every little thing—like how his thumb was absentmindedly tracing small circles on my shirt, or how he smelled even better up close, or how his eyes kept darting back to mine with an intensity that was definitely not normal boss behavior.
"So," I started, trying to sound casual but landing somewhere closer to breathless, "is this really your first time doing… all this?" I gestured vaguely around the club. "Like, ever?"
Xavier's mouth twisted into that dry half-smile I'd seen maybe twice in the two years I'd worked for him.
"Yes, Theodore. My very first venture into this... neon-lit chaos and aggressive drinks. I'm just as surprised as you are that I've made it this long."
I laughed, it just slipped out...sounding lighter than I expected. "Wow. So, there are actually things the great Mr. Fairchild can't do. I should jot this down, historic moment."
He raised an eyebrow, the hand at my back tightening just enough to pull me a little closer as we turned. "I never claimed to be all-powerful. Just efficient. Places like this have always seemed like a total waste of time, they're loud, sticky, and filled with folks making questionable life choices."
"Ouch," I said, clutching my chest with my free hand in a dramatic gesture. "Aren't you a ray of sunshine? But to be fair, you're here now. Voluntarily, with me. So who's really the reckless one?"
He let out a quiet laugh, the sound rumbling in his chest and into mine since we were practically in each other's personal space at this point. "I think you might be the corrupting influence in this situation."
"Proudly," I shot back, grinning up at him. "But come on, admit it...you're having at least a little fun. I saw that smile earlier. Tiny, but it counts!"
"I smiled because you nearly toppled over during your enthusiastic spin," he replied, deadpan. "It was out of pity."
"Liar. That was a genuine smile of enjoyment. I'm an expert."
His eyes narrowed in mock offense. "I can definitely indulge in unsophisticated behavior if I feel like it. I just prefer not to broadcast it."
"Oh, really?" The words slipped out before I even had a chance to stop them, soft, sultry, way too bold considering how much peach schnapps was steering my brain. "Prove it."
The air between us shifted, felt heavier, as if the heat was cranked up without warning. Xavier's pace slowed just a bit, his gaze locking onto mine with that sharp, focused intensity he usually reserved for serious business deals. His hand at my back pressed firmer, fingers spreading wider, and for a gut-wrenching moment, I thought he might actually—
He leaned in just enough that I could feel his breath warming my ear when he murmured, "Be careful what you ask for, Theodore."
My brain short-circuited. All my usual witty comebacks vanished. All that was left was a loud internal scream and the dizzying realization that I had absolutely, without a doubt, poked the alpha.
For a heartbeat, the club seemed to quiet down, like even the saxophone took a nervous breath. Xavier's eyes locked onto mine, gray darkening under the dim lights, and something electric snapped between us. My omega instincts...those tricky little gremlins that lived rent-free in my mind went totally wild.
I felt a rush of warmth and the sudden, intense urge to tilt my head just a bit, to expose my throat, to let this ridiculously powerful alpha know in every primal way that I was right here and very, very interested. My skin prickled, my scent glands activated, and I swear the air thickened with something sweet and needy that was definitely me losing control.
I'd spent years training those instincts to sit, stay, and shut up, especially at work, especially around him...but tonight they were off the leash, barking like I'd just stepped into a feast. And Xavier, being the annoyingly perceptive alpha he was, had to have caught at least a hint of it. His nostrils flared slightly, and the hand on my waist tightened in a way that made my knees seriously reconsider their stability.
Shit...I hoped he hadn't put two and two together even though my suppressants were very strong.
But Theo wasn't exactly known for playing it safe.
I went for it, tilting my chin up with a lazy, daring grin. "Seeing is believing, sir."
The silence that followed was so complete I could hear my own heartbeat thumping in my ears. Xavier didn't say a word, didn't laugh, didn't even blink for what felt like an eternity. His expression went blank, like it did in meetings when someone had just suggested something seriously stupid. My stomach dropped right through the dance floor.
Oh no. I had crossed the line. The big, neon "do not enter" line. I had flirted openly, seductively with my boss. In public. While he was technically still on the clock of my ridiculous "teach you to party" masterclass.
Tomorrow morning, I'd probably be out of a job, blacklisted, and maybe even banned from every office building in New Athens.
I waited for the polite dismissal, the cold "that's enough for tonight," the immediate extraction to the nearest exit. My omega instincts, sensing danger, curled up in a corner and started drafting apology letters.
Then Xavier spoke, his voice low and steady, his gaze so intense it was almost frightening. "I would like to go home."
Wait, what?
Crap... now I've really done it.