~Aoife~I slept soundly on Xander’s shoulder, finding comfort and a respite from the turmoil of my emotions. But as the morning dawned, I fluttered my eyes open, feeling the strain in my neck and back. I rubbed the tense muscles, trying to ease the soreness.“Are you okay?” Xander whispered, shifting his shoulder to give me some relief. I blinked my heavy eyes, offering him a faint smile, and gently rubbed my temple.“Yes, how is Alex?”.“He’s still under observation,” Xander replied, his hand making soothing circles on my back.I excused myself to the restroom, splashing water on my face in an attempt to refresh myself. As I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed that my eyes were swollen from crying. My son was fighting for his life, and here was the man outside doing everything he could to help. I silently wished for his well-being, my gaze lost in a cascade of thoughts.Taking a deep breath, I prepared myself for the news that lay ahead. Returning to my seat, I observed
~Aoife~We drove for the next two hours, and then Alex’s plea for a restroom break interrupted our journey. Xander smiled, embracing the new role he was playing as a father figure. It was evident that he was enjoying this journey just as much as Alex was.“Okay, champ. Do you want to eat something?” Xander asked, winking at Alex through the rearview mirror.“He likes Chik-fil-A,” I responded instinctively. Within a couple of miles, we spotted our favorite place and decided to take a break.“Mommy, look, a play place!” Alex exclaimed, jumping out of the car.“Okay, but first, let’s go to the restroom, and then you need to eat something,” I commanded, taking his hand, and leading him towards the restroom.“Hey, I’ll take him,” Xander insisted, placing his hand on my lower back. I smiled, appreciating the gesture of shared responsibility. They headed to the restroom while I stayed behind, scanning my phone anxiously. The stress of a job interview call weighed heavily on my mind. When th
~Aoife~I hissed as the cold sand made contact with my back, followed by another wave that sent another icy shiver through my body. When Xander touched my lower lip with his, a surge of warmth and desire overcame me. He kissed me passionately under the glow of the full moon, causing my lower lip to tremble from the cold.“I am c-c-cold, Xan,” I managed to utter, my voice quivering.He smiled and looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You need a hot shower,” he replied, raising an eyebrow suggestively.“Why are you looking at me like that?” “Because I am going to give you that shower,” he said, his tone laced with naughtiness.Before I could react, he effortlessly lifted me onto his shoulder. “Why are you carrying me like this? I can walk.” He playfully squeezed my ass, eliciting a hiss from me.“Xander put me down,” I insisted, trying to free myself from his grasp.“I don’t trust you. You might run,” he teased, nuzzling his face against my ass.“Ahhh... stop biting me!”
~Xander~I finished breakfast with Alex perched on my shoulder, and we headed to meet Ace and his family.“Alex, today I am going to show you our old Ace,” I said, a touch of nostalgia in my voice. Alex looked at Aoife, curious and intrigued and she smiled and nodded in confirmation. As we reached Ace, we found him sitting quietly in the corner, his age apparent in his demeanor. However, as he caught Aoife’s scent, he came walking towards her.Aoife kneeled and cupped Ace’s face, her eyes welling up with tears as she looked at him. Ace whined and snuggled his head onto her lap, a clear display of affection and longing. “He missed you,” said the groundskeeper.“I am so sorry. But honestly, I missed you, too.” Her voice filled with genuine remorse as she continued to pat Ace’s head, while Alex sat beside her, observing the heartfelt moment.“Ace, this is Alex,” I introduced, extending Alex’s hand towards Ace. Aoife couldn’t bring herself to speak, overwhelmed with emotions. I sat down
~Aoife~I was still hanging onto Xander’s chest, trying to process what had just happened. “What was that?” I asked, my voice filled with confusion.“It’s another dog,” he replied, gently setting me down on the ground. I turned to see a Siberian Husky sitting next to us. “But yes, it’s dangerous.” A mix of shock and disbelief washed over me. I stepped away from him, feeling a rush of emotions coursing through me. I pressed my palm against my chest, fearing that my heart couldn’t handle any more of his tricks.Seeing my fear, Xander pulled me close, his arms enveloping me in a comforting embrace. “Do you think I will allow you to leave me this time? You’re bound to me for your whole life, whether you want it or not. You are all mine, and I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”His words struck a chord deep within me, stirring up a mix of emotions. Part of me wanted to hear those words, to feel that sense of belonging. Yet, another part of me resisted, wary of the intensity and poss
~Aoife~I was jolted awake by the first droplet of rain that landed on the windowpane. Looking up, I saw that it was a cloudy morning, and the sound of thunder filled the air. Xander whispered for me to wake up. As I did, Alex’s cries filled the room, frightened by the thunderstorm.Xander quickly ran to Alex’s room, and I followed closely behind. We reassured our son, holding him close and soothing his fears. As I held Alex in my arms, Xander wrapped his arms around both of us, providing a sense of comfort and security.“What happened?” Xander chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.I whispered, “I’m scared, too.”We moved back to our bedroom, all cuddling together as a family, seeking warmth and solace.I couldn’t help but share my feelings with Xander. “I never liked thunderstorms. The rain makes me feel alone and depressed. Whenever it rains, it reminds me of you.”He pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his love evident in his actions. “Me?” I lifted my head, curious.He smirked pl
~Aoife~I woke up in the morning, my body filled with excitement and curiosity about the day ahead. Xander emerged from the bathroom, his towel wrapped around his waist. I couldn’t help but admire his physique, licking my lips unconsciously.“Everything okay?” A mischievous wink accompanied his question as I sat next to him on the bed.“Hmm... I’m just curious about who we’re going to meet.” He stood before me with his gaze locked with mine. My eyes trailed from his towel to his well-defined chest, and then back to his eyes. “No, I’m not checking you out,” I teased, raising an eyebrow.“Then why are you looking at me like you want me?” he asked, his lips dangerously close to mine.I blinked, the sapphire of my eyes shining with desire. Gently lifting his chin with my index finger, I brushed my lips against his, barely touching. “I think you should wear your clothes” I chuckled, tugging at his towel.“What the fuck, Aoife? Alex can see me. Give me my towel back,” Xander growled, attem
~Aoife~The next day, we reached Austin after a quick journey by flight. I could feel the excitement bubbling inside me as we approached the city. I was looking forward to seeing my old friend, Neeral. While buckling Alex’s seatbelt, I turned to Xander and asked, “How do you know Neeral?”“Oh my God, Aoife. You’re so impatient. You’ve asked me this question like ten times since yesterday.” Xander rolled his eyes playfully. I scowled at him, which only made him chuckle. He walked over to me and cupped my face in his hands.“Calm down. You’ll know everything in due time,” he said, giving me a quick peck on the nose. My anger melted away, and a smile spread across my face. “That’s better,” I replied.“I’m spoiling you.” Xander raised an eyebrow teasingly.“It’s not spoiling. It’s love. And I deserve it, don’t I?” I crossed my arms over my chest. Xander pulled me into a tight hug, and I couldn’t help but feel warm and safe in his arms.“All you deserve is for me to fill you with my lov