淑女的欲望

The silence between them was deafening, and Scarlett began to regret her decision to leave the hotel without informing anyone. She knew she needed to explain herself to Xander but didn't know how to start the subject, she was mad at herself.

After finishing their meal, they went to their room and sat on the couch with the television on. But their minds were elsewhere, lost in their own thoughts. 

A few minutes passed, and Scarlett finally broke the silence, her eyes filled with sadness and worry as she looked at Xander beside her.

"Xander, I'm so sorry," she said, "I went without your permission and left without Logan..." Her  voice trembled slightly.

Xander quickly took her hand and gently squeezed it to calm her down. "Babe, it's okay. You don't have to explain anything to me. I understand," he said, looking into her eyes reassuringly.

Scarlett was surprised to hear Xander's reaction, "Y-You know?" She was confused.

Xander smiled and nodded. "Yup, I know."

"Know what?" Scarlett asked, still confused.

He didn't rush to answer her; instead, he lovingly ruffled the hair on top of her head. "I know you went there to meet your uncle," he said.

Scarlett remained silent for a moment, trying to understand Xander's reaction. "But, you're not mad at me? I broke my promise..." She worried that Xander was only pretending to be calm and not genuinely forgiving her.

"Why should I be mad at you?" Xander replied sincerely. "I already know my wife is a badass. Who could hurt you? Besides, I know you were seeing your uncle, so I have no reason to blame you, right?"

Scarlett felt relieved and grateful for Xander's understanding. She leaned in to hug him.

"Alright, now tell me about your meeting with Noah Withers," Xander said, changing the topic.

Scarlett immediately began telling Xander everything she and her uncle had discussed, including her mother and the dark secret about the Withers family.

After a while...

Scarlett finally finished telling Xander everything. She felt happy knowing the truth about her mother's past and the possibility that she might still be alive. Also, she had gained a family member in Noah Withers, her uncle. They both decide to fight Jude Withers one day. She didn't want her mother to live like she is now.

Her dream is that in the future her mother can stop running away, live in darkness and start living like an ordinary person.

Xander had mixed emotions after hearing Scarlett's story. He was happy that she had finally learned the truth about her mother, but he also had concerns knowing that Jude Withers was the person they had to watch out for. 

"Baby, we need to be careful. Jude Withers is not someone to underestimate. He will do whatever it takes if he knows about you..." Xander said, his voice filled with worry.

"I know, Xander. But I won't stay silent too. We need to find my mother and make things right," Scarlett replied.

"Of course, we won't. We'll do it together," Xander gave her a reassuring smile. 

"Thank you!" 

"And what are you going to do now?" 

"Let's go back to Astington! There's no reason for me to stay in this city anymore." Scarlett took a deep breath. "My uncle doesn't want me to stay here too long either. It's not safe..." she said.

"Of course, we'll leave first thing in the morning," Xander nodded in agreement. "It's better to avoid any trouble with the Withers now."

Scarlett smiled gratefully at Xander, feeling relieved that he was so understanding. "Thank you, Xander. I really appreciate your support..."

"Anything for you, babe." Xander grinned, leaning in to kiss her on the forehead. "Now go shower, and I'll arrange our departure tomorrow morning."

Scarlett nodded, standing up from the couch. "Okay, I won't be long." She walked towards the bathroom, feeling happy that Xander was by her side through all of this.

****

A Week Later in Manhattan, NYC.

It had been three days since Scarlett and Xander arrived in New York, just in time for Rex's December 25th birthday tomorrow. 

Scarlett gazed out the window at the lively Central Park below, covered in a thick blanket of snow and adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations. Despite the cold weather, people seemed unfazed and joyfully played and walked in the park.

Lost in her thoughts and reminiscing about her memories of living in the city, Scarlett didn't notice Xander waking up. 

...

Xander was surprised to wake up and find himself alone in bed. He searched for Scarlett and saw her standing by the window with her back facing him. 

He quickly put on his robe and approached her, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and burying his head to kiss her smooth neck and play around with her silky ginger hair.

"What are you doing so early?" he asked.

Scarlett giggled as she felt his embrace tighten. "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to watch the scenery at Central Park," she replied.

Xander pulled her closer, enjoying the warmth of her body against his. "You should have woken me up. I would have kept you company," he said with a smile.

Scarlett turned her head to look at him, and their eyes met. She felt her heartbeat slightly jump as she looked at his handsome wake-up face. "I didn't want to disturb your sleep. You looked so peaceful." 

Xander's smile widened. "Well, I'm awake now, and I want to spend every moment with you," he kissed her lips.

Scarlett felt a surge of heat spread through her body as his lips met hers. She couldn't resist kissing him back, their lips locked in a passionate embrace. When they finally parted, she nestled her head against his chest, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. 

They stood in each other's arms, content to cuddle silently, enjoying the shared moment.

Scarlett released her embrace and looked up at Xander. "Aren't you happy living in my apartment?" she asked. "Should we move into your house?"