Before she could even open the second one, Zoe Pierce heard a soft knock at the door.
She froze for a mont and put all the gifts away again.
She glanced at the ti.
Half an hour had passed since she had closed the door.
’Who could it be?’
Shuffling to the door in her slippers, she opened it a crack. Seeing Aaron Xavier standing outside, she pulled it open a little wider.
Aaron Xavier easily slipped his knee through the gap and into the room.
Then he sat on the edge of Zoe Pierce’s bed, as if this were his room, not hers.
Zoe Pierce closed the door and walked over. "Why did you co over so late?"
Aaron Xavier had also changed into short-sleeved pajamas.
In the villa, no one wore their Military uniforms.
Dressed in a loose, light-beige T-shirt and shorts, he always looked well-behaved when he wasn’t speaking.
She was standing by the bed, not yet steady on her feet, when she suddenly felt Aaron Xavier’s arm wrap around her waist, nearly causing her to fall directly onto the bed.
But the Alpha’s body braced her waist first as he murmured, "Zoe."
Zoe Pierce’s hand landed unavoidably in his short, brown hair. She also lowered her voice. "Aaron Xavier, this is a Military villa."
The Alpha nuzzled against her a few tis. "I checked everywhere. There are no surveillance devices in the room."
The sweet scent on the young woman, though just from her body wash, was intoxicating.
"Besides, Miles went to take a shower," Aaron Xavier said.
"Did you two kiss?"
If everyone had kept their hands to themselves, Aaron Xavier would have behaved.
But the mont soone else gained an advantage...
Aaron Xavier could no longer accept just sitting back and doing nothing.
His question left Zoe Pierce nearly speechless.
"Or where did he kiss you?" The Alpha’s gaze drifted to dangerous places, moving from her flushed lips to the swell of her chest, then down to the area below her waist, which was hidden by his tight embrace.
Zoe Pierce’s face instantly flushed red. She berated him in a low voice, "You think everyone is like you?"
Aaron Xavier’s expression faltered for a second. But instead of sha, he looked proud. "You an they’ve never kissed you there?"
Zoe Pierce couldn’t take it anymore and clamped a hand over Aaron Xavier’s mouth. "Don’t say another word."
If she let him continue, there was no telling what other outrageous things he would say.
Aaron Xavier’s eyes narrowed. Muffled by her hand, he said, "Zoe, are you trying to get to lick your palm?"
That forced Zoe Pierce to snatch her hand away from his mouth.
She shoved his shoulder. "Aaron Xavier!"
Aaron Xavier tightened his grip on her waist. "I know, I won’t say it. There wasn’t enough ti. You ca down very quickly."
So, at most, it was just a kiss.
After all, for soone who’s been deprived for a long ti, a single kiss is more than enough to ignite sothing.
He was no exception.
"I just wanted you to see if you like the gift I got you."
"And give another kiss, okay?" Aaron Xavier nuzzled against Zoe Pierce, his tone practiced and unfairly charming as he stated his demand.
’The request... isn’t too unreasonable.’
Zoe Pierce’s heart softened. She leaned down to kiss Aaron Xavier’s lips.
One foot was on the floor, while her other knee was half-kneeling on the bed between his legs.
She brushed his brown hair aside and supported herself on his shoulders as she kissed him.
Soft whimpers continued for a mont.
They broke apart.
Zoe Pierce even took the initiative to move her knee off the bed.
Her knee, wedged between his legs, could feel a taut danger clamoring for attention.
Aaron Xavier released Zoe Pierce and scooted to the side.
He took a deep breath, then let out a few heavy exhales.
A few seconds later, he stood up and walked toward Zoe Pierce’s bathroom. "I’m going to wash my face."
Zoe Pierce pressed her lips together.
A mont later, Aaron Xavier returned, his face still beaded with water he hadn’t wiped off.
He didn’t dare sit next to Zoe Pierce again.
Instead, he grabbed the small stool from in front of her desk and sat down by the bed.
"Open it and see if you like it," he said.
Sitting on the bed, Zoe Pierce looked at the distance Aaron Xavier was now keeping and knew he wasn’t completely without self-control.
She took Aaron Xavier’s gift out of her Space Button.
It was by far the heaviest of all the gifts.
Aaron Xavier cleared his throat. "Let just say, I’m a simple guy."
"So I only got you sothing... simple."
His words gave no clue as to what was inside.
Zoe Pierce opened it, took one look, and then stared at Aaron Xavier in disbelief.
"You..."
She was at a loss for words.
Aaron Xavier scratched his hair. "I really didn’t know what to get. If you don’t like it, I can get sothing else."
Zoe Pierce, feeling a little numb, pulled out at least a pound of gold.
There wasn’t just one piece; the box was visibly stuffed full of it.
Yes, she never would have imagined, not in a million years, that Aaron Xavier would actually give her gold bars.
Her mind went completely blank.
"I asked online, and everyone said giving money is too blunt." Aaron Xavier watched Zoe Pierce’s dazed expression, feeling a little cautious. "Do you hate it?"
’Who could hate gold?’
’Who could possibly?’
Zoe Pierce looked down again at the bundle of gold in her lap.
She wasn’t exactly short on money these days; even the Pierce Family business brought in a considerable inco for her.
But gold, even in this Interstellar World, was still a rare tal.
It could be easily exchanged for Star Coins.
’Giving money is tacky, but is giving gold tacky?’
Zoe Pierce felt her own voice sound a little distant. "I love it."
Seeing cash probably wouldn’t have been as thrilling as seeing this gold right in front of her.
Aaron Xavier’s eyes lit up. "You really like it?"
"I went out of my way to get it exchanged. There are a few small gold ingots at the bottom. I had them made a little smaller. The Intelligent Brain said it would be cuter that way."
’He’s the one who’s cute,’ Zoe Pierce thought.
’He’s a real God of Wealth.’
"If I give you gold in different shapes every ti from now on, will you get mad?" Aaron Xavier asked with a blink.
Zoe Pierce put the gold bar back in the gift box. "No. I love it."
After a pause, she asked, "Aaron Xavier, what do you like?"
His birthday, strictly speaking, was also coming up soon.
Aaron Xavier giggled. "I like you."
"Have you thought about my reward, Zoe?" he asked again.
For the sake of the gold, Zoe Pierce answered honestly, "No."
Aaron Xavier’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "Well, I’ve thought of sothing. Will you promise , Zoe? Okay?"
For the gold’s sake, Zoe Pierce nodded.
Aaron Xavier’s lips suddenly curled into a grin. "No backing out."
Zoe Pierce glanced at the gold again and opened her mouth. "I won’t back out."
Looking into Aaron Xavier’s eyes, she felt a little flustered. "Just tell first..."
Aaron Xavier laughed. "Zoe, you said you wouldn’t back out. You can’t go back on your word."
Zoe Pierce: "Just tell first..."
Aaron Xavier licked his lips. "You want to know now, Zoe?"
She knew he couldn’t possibly have any wholeso ideas. It had to be so kind of dirty thought, one tinted the sa color as the gold.
Looking at his smiling face, she said, "Go on... I’m listening."
"Will you back out?" he asked.
Zoe Pierce shook her head.
Aaron Xavier stood up, coughed, but his gaze landed on a certain spot. "Before, I’ve always been the one kissing you, Zoe. So, you should help out, too."
Zoe Pierce followed his gaze down to below his waist.
Then Aaron Xavier said, "I’m leaving now, Zoe. You promised. No backing out."
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