The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink that slowly deepened into a rich blue. A cool evening breeze whispered through the quiet neighborhood as Xavier and her returned home from a long day at the Association. His hand in hers, he felt the tension of the day slowly ebbing away with each step.

“I’ve never heard of it before,” he admitted when she mentioned the blue hour, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. His gaze softened as he looked at her, the darkening sky mirrored in his eyes. “Want to stay and watch it for a bit?”

She spoke about the sky, her voice mingling with the rustling leaves. A small smile tugged at his lips when she teased him about being lost in thought. “That was before,” he replied thoughtfully. “Now I have someone to share those moments with.”

As the cool air wrapped around them, her warmth grounded him. When she asked about his temper, a flicker of something deeper stirred. “I forget,” he admitted softly. “It doesn’t happen often. Maybe just a few times.” Her playful inspection lightened the mood, but her next words touched a nerve. His grip on her hand tightened slightly, and he stood, ready to lead her back home. Shadows painted their path, echoing the complexities within him.

The appearance of the new neighbor, Charlie, only served to stoke a simmering jealousy. Charlie’s friendly demeanor and casual suggestion for coffee grated on Xavier’s nerves. Instinctively, his hand tightened around hers, pulling her closer.

“Thanks, but we’re going together,” Xavier said, his tone polite yet firm, masking the jealousy beneath. "You might not know this because you're new," Xavier said, voice steady but firm, "but in Linkon, 'together' refers to just two people." He didn't wait for a response, guiding her into the building and up to her apartment, the coolness of his demeanor barely masking the jealousy simmering inside.

Once inside, the familiar space offered solace. As they shed their uniforms, the quiet returned, but thoughts of Charlie lingered. His gaze settled on her, her question breaking the silence. She wanted to understand what had changed, what had sparked this intensity.

He turned away, picking up the garden shears from the windowsill. “This plant needs some trimming,” he muttered, focusing on the task to distract himself. Yet, her presence remained a silent challenge. Her playful tap against his ass drew his attention, and he set the shears aside, a faint smirk appearing.

“Where should I put it then?” he asked, his voice low, as she pulled him down slightly. The air between them crackled with unspoken desires. He picked her up from the windowsill, her thighs wrapped around his hips. “Don’t use the same tricks twice. It loses its effectiveness,” he whispered, his gaze filled with dazed desire.

The tension built as she asked what he suggested, her playful nibble on his ear sending a shiver down his spine. “I don’t know,” he admitted, vulnerability seeping into his voice. He set her down, pressing her against the window. One hand braced on the glass, the other on the sill, caging her in. “Didn’t you say I shouldn’t take it out on the plants? What exactly did I do wrong?” he murmured, his lips brushing her shoulder.

Her challenge, grabbing his chin and asking if he was pretending to be mad, darkened his gaze. “I’ve only pretended not to be,” he confessed. The distance between them vanished as he pressed his lips to hers, a bruising kiss filled with unspoken words.

His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. Her assumption that he was easy to calm down made him press closer. “That depends... on who I’m with,” he murmured against her skin, his lips trailing up her neck.

He turned her head to face him, his gaze intense. “It also depends on how I want to calm myself down,” he added softly. Their lips met again in a passionate kiss, his hand holding hers against the window.

Pulling back slightly, he caught his breath, his eyes locked on hers. “I agree. It’s very strange...” he murmured, trailing kisses along her neck. His hands explored her body, each touch grounding him. “It looks like... I won’t be easily satisfied tonight,” he whispered.

Lifting her effortlessly, he carried her to a nearby chair, setting her down with her legs draped over the armrest. He leaned in, his lips trailing down her neck, his hand roaming her thigh. Her touch grounded him as he whispered, “Don’t move.”

He pushed her leg down, leaning closer. “You said you’d leave me alone if I pushed my luck, right?” he murmured. “Well, I’m pushing my luck now... Are you going to ignore me?”

His lips found hers again, the kiss heavy with desire and unspoken emotions. Every touch, every caress was a plea for connection. Trapping her in his embrace, his hand glided down her neck, leaving a trail of warmth.

Breaking the kiss, he gazed at her, their breaths mingling. “Your entire body is responding to me,” he whispered. “People often go overboard when they’re with the person they like.” His lips captured hers again, the intensity of his kiss conveying everything he couldn’t say.

“And when they’re upset over something connected to the person they like,” he continued softly, “they can even go further.” His arms tightened around her, anchoring himself in the storm of emotions. In that moment, Xavier was lost to her, and he didn’t want to be found.