A One-Night Stand

"What do you think you are doing?" Xander stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Y-You are here!" Aurora looked relieved to see him with tears in her eyes. 

The Playboy regained some courage after jumping away in fright seconds ago. He stood in front of Aurora, trying to block Xander's sight.

"She is my girlfriend, I should be asking what you are doing by interrupting–"

The Playboy had yet to finish his words when Xander strode towards him and targeted his jaw with his fist. His head snapped to the side, causing a total blackout. 

"Are you okay?" Xander quickly pulled Aurora into his arms just as she slipped from the sink.

She shook her head and felt worse. Left without a choice, she leaned her head on his shoulder, relying on him for support.

"I'm seeing two men and three women laughing at me. Make them stop!" She pleaded desperately.

Two lines appeared on Xander's forehead as he peered at the woman in his arms. "Two what? There is no one in front of you."

"But I can still see and hear them!" Aurora swung her arm, trying to point at the door, but ended up pointing to one of the stalls.

"What the fuck did you drink, Aurora?" Xander asked, leading her out of the convenience room. He couldn't get any whiff of alcohol in her breath and that got him even more confused.

"I can't hear you! What did you say?" Aurora's voice was louder than normal, proof that she was really out of it.

Xander abandoned his inquiries and swept Aurora into his arms, lifting her effortlessly. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and nestled her face into the crook of his neck, her warm breath caressing his skin as he carried her outside the building.

"Did you get her bag?" Xander asked his Personal Assistant, Liam Robison who was waiting at the entrance for him.

"Yes, sir," Liam replied, holding up the bag Aurora had left behind.

Liam eyed the woman in Xander's arms, puzzled. "Sir, is she the one you mentioned two days back and had come to the party for?"

Xander glanced at Aurora, whose eyes remained closed. "Yes. Aurora Swift."

Just then, a Mulliner Bentley in the special Quartzite Gray Metallic stopped in front of them. Liam quickly opened the back passenger door without posing further questions. 

"I don't want to go home!" Aurora made a big fuss the moment she found out she was sitting in a car.

"Who said I'm taking you home?" Xander retorted.

Five minutes into the ride, Aurora became restless. 

"How come you are Owen's uncle? You look so young, and you are very good-looking." She palmed Xander's face and peered at him. The next second, she pushed him away. "How come you seem so well-behaved and that bastard isn't?"

From the front passenger seat, Liam saw how his boss was being treated through the rearview mirror and cleared his throat. But as soon as he met Xander's eyes, he shifted his gaze to the road.

"Do you know that asshole dumped me this evening with a text and got engaged to my little sis– No! There is no way that bitch is my real sister. We just share the same father," Aurora quickly corrected herself. "Anyway, your family didn't raise Owen properly. Should I teach you how? Guys like him should be left in jail to receive a beating for a week."

Aurora rambled on and on without catching a breath until the Bentley drove through a sweeping circular driveway and stopped at the entrance of a modern Mediterranean-style villa, nestled among lush gardens and towering palm trees.

The villa's creamy, limestone façade glowed warmly in the moonlight, exuding understated luxury and refinement. Unfortunately, Aurora wasn't in the best state to appreciate the beauty.

Xander helped Aurora out of the car and carried her princess-style inside the building with Liam following behind them. They passed through two living areas to take the curved glass staircase to the first floor before getting to the Master bedroom.

Liam set Aurora's handbag on the round table in the sitting area and left quietly as Xander took her shoes off and tucked her in his bed.

Just as Xander pulled back, Aurora suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him into a sudden passionate kiss. He leaned in, cradling her body with his arms.

A while later, he pried his lips off her. "You should go to bed," he suggested, meeting her disoriented gaze.

"I want to spend the night with you," Aurora revealed, holding his gaze longer than usual.

Xander stared at her for a moment. "You will regret everything by tomorrow morning. Ask me again when you are in your right senses."

"I know what I'm doing," she insisted. "If I end up regretting it, I won't bug you, or do you think I'm not attractive enough to be with, just like Ow–."

Xander immediately captured her soft lips. He wasn't going to let her mention any man's name apart from his.

His lips grazed Aurora's jaw, drifting down her neck and chest, leaving a trail of soft fluttering kisses that coaxed a moan from her. 

His hand moved to the hem of her dress and slowly lifted it to her thighs.

"Remember this night, Aurora," he whispered, his lips reclaiming hers in a passionate kiss.

---

The next morning, Aurora woke up to find Xander lying beside her with a bare chest. Her dress had been changed; she now wore an oversized polo. 

Memories of last night flooded Aurora's mind, stealing her breath. Despite no regrets about sleeping with Xander, she felt uneasy about surrendering her virginity so easily, especially after withholding it from Owen during their five-year relationship just to get back at him.

The longer Aurora stared at those broad muscular chest that stretched out before her, the more she wondered how it would feel to run her hands through them once again.

Suddenly, an idea jolted her upright. Panic set in as she scanned her bedside table for her bag and finally spotted it on the sitting area's round table. Relieved, she got out of bed and walked towards it to retrieve her phone.

Next, she settled back into bed and snapped a photo of herself and Xander in bed.

Xander's eyes opened, catching her gaze. Immediately, she jerked back, surprised to see him awake.

"Who is the photo for?" he asked, dragging his voice lazily.

Her cheeks flushed as she fumbled with her phone. "For a keepsake."

"You enjoyed last night that much?" He teased with a subtle glint in his eyes.

Aurora pushed the strands of hair that covered her face behind her ears and didn't dare to meet his gaze.

"Aurora, I have a proposal," he said, his voice low and measured. "A marriage of convenience. I need a wife to solidify my position in my family's company."

Aurora's eyes widened, shock and curiosity mingling. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

She had only wanted to take a picture evidence to taunt Owen with, how did everything resort to a marriage proposal?

Xander sat up, his eyes locked on hers.

"My family's reputation and resources would protect you from your enemies, and I will help you get revenge."

Aurora's mind reeled.

Marriage?

To Xander Scott?

Owen's uncle??

"Think about it," Xander continued and took her phone to save his contact before dialling it to get her number on his phone. "And get back to me."

Aurora nodded, still dazed.

"I'll drive you home after breakfast." Xander stood, offering his hand, but she refused him. 

"I need to leave now, and I'm taking a cab."

Aurora couldn't stop thinking about Xander's proposal, up until the moment the car pulled up in front of the house.

Releasing a deep breath, she stepped out of the cab and walked straight towards the entrance.

The moment she pushed the door open, she bumped into her stepmother who seemed to be waiting for her. Before she could get over the surprise of her sudden presence, the latter swung her hand on her cheek.

"Where the hell were you last night, and who were you with?!" Stella demanded, her eyes blazing.