My Favorite Beast

Xi (The Next Day)

This morning I woke up at 6am to get myself a good workout in before the day got too busy. After a quick stretch, I hit the gym and felt energized as I tackled my favorite exercises. I focused on my strength training routine, pushing myself a little harder than usual. The endorphins kicked in, and by the time I finished, I felt a sense of accomplishment that set a positive tone for the rest of the day.

My workout ended up taking longer than I anticipated , too. I was so engrossed in my workout that I neglected to check my phone for any texts from Karman informing me of their arrival. As I caught my breath and wiped the sweat from my forehead, I finally checked my phone, surprised to see several missed messages from Karman. They have been sitting outside my house for 30 minutes now.

I quickly rushed upstairs to let them in. When I opened the front door, I noticed that they were waiting in a black-on-black Mercedes G-Wagon. I just stood there admiring the SUV for a minute. It was my dream SUV, the same color scheme and everything. After I shook off my shock about the SUV, I waved for them to get out and come inside.

Karman was the first to get out with a big smile on her face, like she'd actually missed me. As she approached, the sunlight glinted off her hair, making her look almost ethereal.

"Hey there!" she exclaimed, wrapping me in a warm embrace that felt both familiar and comforting.

I returned her hug with equal enthusiasm, savoring the moment. "Hey girl!" I replied, stepping back to take in her radiant presence. My friend was hot.

"Girl, I'm getting sweat on you, sorry," I teased, grinning as I playfully nudged her shoulder. She laughed.

Behind her I could see Cole and Xion exiting the truck. Once Xion rounded the truck and our eyes met , a spark ignited between us, which made my heart race. His easy smile was infectious, and I couldn't help but return it as he approached, his gaze lingering on me like he could see everything about me.

His walk was confident, each step purposeful as if he knew exactly what he wanted. I felt a surge of warmth rush through me, making it difficult to focus on anything else but the electrifying connection building in the space between us.

The closer he got, the more I could see the look of hunger in his eyes. It was a mix of desire and determination, igniting a spark deep within me that I couldn't ignore. As he finally reached my side, the air around us seemed to thrum with unspoken possibilities, leaving me breathless and on the edge of anticipation.

"Hey beautiful," he said, his voice a low, inviting murmur that sent shivers down my spine. I couldn't help but smile, feeling the chemistry between us pulse like a living thing, urging us both to bridge the gap that remained just a heartbeat away.

"Hi, Xion," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper, as if saying his name out loud would make the moment more real. The intensity in his gaze deepened.

I punched myself to bring me out of whatever trance he had put me in. I looked at Karman and Cole to see them smiling at us.

"Hi, Cole." He hit me with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"You two look like you’re in your own little world over there," he teased, nudging Karman, who chuckled in agreement.

I rolled my eyes at them choosing not to respond to them.

"I'm sorry I'm not ready; time sort of got away from me during my workout. Come on in and make yourselves comfortable while I shower and get dressed; I just need 20 or 30 minutes," I explained while moving to the side so that they could step inside.

As they settled onto the couch, Karman grabbed the remote, eager to find something to watch. "No worries, take your time; we'll just find something to keep us entertained," she said, glancing over the channel options with a grin.

I nodded and quickly darted up the stairs. Once in the bathroom, I turned on the shower and let the warm water cascade over me, feeling the tension from my workout melt away. I could hear Karman and the others laughing softly as they settled into their show, and a smile crept onto my face.

I finished my shower and wrapped my big fluffy towel around my body before exiting the bathroom. I nearly had a heart attack when I lifted my eyes to see Xion sitting on my bed facing me.

He fixed his eyes intently on mine, a hint of mischief dancing in them. "You took long enough," he teased, standing from my bed and stalking towards me. His eyes were darling with every step he took toward me. He managed to trap me between him and the wall.

My uneven breaths caused my breasts to hit against his chest; we were so close. I could feel the heat radiating off him, a palpable tension filling the space between us.

"Mine," he growled in my ear. I shivered at the possessiveness in his voice, a thrill running down my spine. The world outside faded away as I became acutely aware of every curve and contour of his body pressed against mine, igniting a fire within me that I never knew existed.

I tried pushing him away to get some air so that my brain would start back working properly. However, he only pressed his body into me more, growling, "Don't push me away."

I have never been in a situation like this before. The desire to escape and the undeniable pull of attraction held me captive. My heart raced, torn between fear and exhilaration, as I struggled to find the strength to resist the magnetic connection that seemed to deepen with each passing moment.