"Where’s it?" She asked.
Xavier pointed at his closet where the first aid kit was. She fetched it out and quickly started opening it, picking out the items she needed before she took a seat as well.
When she was done, she looked up at Xavier, ready to take out the bloody drenched bandage but immediately gasped in shock when she saw him half naked.
She quickly shut her eyes as she gave him her back.
"Where’s your shirt?" She questioned, a rosy hue spreading on her cheeks and ears.
"I needed to take off my shirt so that you can apply the treatments," Xavier simply replied as if Anastasia had just asked a stupid question. "If I don’t take it off, you won’t be able to put the treatment on," he repeated, unable to contain the smile that spread on his lips as he stared at her back.
"Can you at least cover yourself with something?" She asked, refusing to look back at him while he was stark half naked.
"Ana, are you shy?"
Anastasia’s face turned even a deeper shade of red at his question.
"I’m not," she lied. "I-it’s all a-about cmon decency," she stuttered.
"Hmm, I see," a low voice rumbled in his throat.
Xavier took his shirt and covered his body with it, leaving only his broad shoulders bare.
He could tell she was shy but he didn’t want to make her any more ufortable than she already was. He still wanted to spend some more time with her before she went to bed. And if he declined her request, she might change her mind about helping him dress his wound.
"I’m no longer half naked," he informed.
It took Anastasia a few seconds before she turned around, sighing in relief when she saw that he had already covered himself up.
"I will start by removing this one," she went back to business, her cheeks still red. She nearly admired his body but quickly snapped out of it.
Xavier didn’t say anything, he simply let her do what she wanted.
But the silence was too loud for both of them. They could almost hear their heart beating in their chests. Ana wanted to forget what had happened earlier at the dining table, but the image lived rent-free in her mind.
On the other hand, Xavier wanted to ask her how her day was. He wanted to start a conversation that would loosen the tension between them.
’How am I supposed to start this?’ He wondered, making a mental note to ask Kace for help. But then he remembered his youngest brother was only going to tease him, using him of <i>falling in love </i>with Anastasia.
"How was the shoot today?" He asked her when his mind finally found words he could say.
Ana’s hands paused for a second before they resumed putting on a new bandage.
"I pped Michelle."
A smirk appeared on Xavier’s lips.
"The p wasn’t part of the script from the movie but I still gave her one. Thankfully, director Jeunes found it iconic and approved of it," she added, pressing the bandage down slightly before she got off the bed.
"You did a good job," he responded.
Anastasia nodded. "I’m done," she said, about to head back to the closet to drop the first aid kit, where she found it. But Xavier grabbed her arm, making her halt.
"Ana," he called.
Anastasia faced him with a smile on her lips. "I won’t forget to tell a maid to make you something to eatter," she said. Her eyes lowered to her hand that he held protectively, his big palm covering her slender onespletely.
She was starting to getfortable around Xavier but in a situation like this, she didn’t know if she wished it happened or not.
Xavier was her husband, the man who saved her when her family wanted to get rid of her permanently. She wasn’t sure if the feelings that brewed in her heart were because he saved her or something more. Either way, she was still thankful to him.
Xavier cupped her cheeks, leaning in to kiss her but was interrupted by the sound of his ringtone.
Xavier nearly snapped. This was the second time in one day he tried to kiss her but something always interrupted.
Anastasia immediately took the chance to bolt from his room, wishing him a <i>good night. </i>