Chapter 2

After acting out an intense romantic scene with Alex on the rooftop, I headed for the library right away, burying myself in medieval economic history. I needed to calm down while waiting for the next one to take my bait. Sure enough, I had barely gone through a few pages before a familiar figure loomed over me. I looked up and saw Xavier's handsome face as he plopped down beside me. "Hey, Grace. What a coincidence," Xavier said in a low voice, carrying a deliberately familiar tone. "About what happened earlier… Are you okay? When Alex gets upset, he goes all out." The concern in Xavier's eyes was practically spilling over. I put on a forced smile and shook my head. "I'm fine. It's just… a little misunderstanding. We've worked things out." "I'm glad to hear that." Xavier leaned closer, his cool breath fanning my face—he probably just got off the ice rink. There was even a faint hint of minty gum on his breath. "If Alex bullies you, just let me know. I'll teach him a lesson on your behalf." I rolled my eyes inwardly. Alex and Xavier shared the same dormitory, yet the former was up to no good. However, I looked at Xavier gratefully, a hint of vulnerability in my eyes. "Thanks, Xavier. You're so nice. Compared to Alex, you're much gentler." Sure enough, my trick worked on a golden retriever like Xavier. His eyes lit up instantly, and he went for it. "Oh, I have a practice match tonight. Why don't you come over? You can cheer me on." "Sure," I agreed readily. Since Xavier had taken the bait, I had to play along. It was hard not to notice Xavier on the ice rink. He moved quickly and gracefully, dashing all over the ice rink. Whenever he scored, he would turn to look at me, grinning like a golden retriever expecting treats. Once the practice match was over, he ignored the other teammates crowding around him and made a beeline for me, steam rising off his body. "My team won! Come on. I'll take you back to your dorm!" His sweaty hair clung to his forehead, and his eyes practically shone. Without waiting for me to respond, he led me away. Xavier chattered all the way, telling me all the exciting things that happened during practice. From time to time, he would "accidentally" brush his arm against mine. As we were about to reach my dormitory, he suddenly stopped. "Grace." He turned to look at me, wearing a pitiful expression. "My teammates ran into me a few times. My shoulder feels a little sore." Before I could say a word, he pressed himself against me—sweat and all—and hugged me tightly. Fresh from his workout, his body felt hot. With his sweat-soaked jersey pressed against my thin jacket, the warm dampness instantly spread all across my body. I could feel his hard muscles and pounding heartbeat clearly. "Let me hug you. I want to recharge." Xavier nuzzled his head back and forth into the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. Finally, he pressed his soft, wet lips against my neck a couple of times. The sticky sensation left me tingling, even more so than Alex's roughness. Xavier took advantage of this and trailed his lips up my neck until he found my mouth. He tentatively brushed his lips against mine. Seeing that I did not resist, he immediately deepened the kiss. Unlike Alex's intensity, Xavier's kiss was soft and far more eager to please. He slipped his tongue into my mouth, carefully intertwining with mine, a hint of mint lingering. He wrapped one hand around my waist tightly, the other gently caressing my back. Once he was finally done, he moved away slightly and pressed his forehead against mine. His breathing was uneven as he spoke, his voice hoarse yet seductive. "Grace…" Without a word, I wrapped my arms gently around his strong waist. My silent response instantly left him overjoyed. Xavier kissed me again. This time, his kiss was more urgent and deeper, his lips and tongue dripping with possessiveness. Satisfied, he finally let me go, the happiness in his eyes was unmistakable. "Can I see you tomorrow?" I nodded, blushing at the right moment. I watched him walk away with a spring in his step, turning back to look at me every now and then. I wiped the wet trace of saliva from my neck. I turned to return to my dormitory, my gaze cold. I pulled out my phone and made a post that only Xavier could see. "His smile, the way he holds me tight, and his minty kiss… He makes me giddy."