DASHIELL
I thought Alexander and I were okay now.
After last night, after he kissed me like he was trying to erase Anthony's words from my skin, I assumed things had gone back to normal. But apparently I was wrong.
I waited in my office for over an hour after my shift ended. Then two hours. I kept checking my phone, reorganizing the files on my desk into perfect stacks, tapping my fingers faster and faster against the wood. He always came to pick me up from the neurology ward. Always. It was our routine.
By the time I gave up and walked to the Cardiothoracic department, my foot was rubbing against my ankle so hard it was starting to hurt.
His secretary looked up at me with polite surprise.
"Oh, Dr. Harper-Astor. Dr. Astor left hours ago. Around two o'clock, I believe."
I stood there blinking, fingers tapping rapidly against my thigh.
"He… left?"
"Yes, sir."
I didn't say anything else. I just turned and walked away.
The bus ride home was awful.
Too many people and too much noise. The seat fabric was rough and scratchy against my thighs, the fluorescent lights inside the bus drilled into my skull, and someone's perfume kept hitting me in waves. I sat curled against the window, hood up, eyes closed, rocking slightly in my seat while my fingers drummed nonstop against my leg. I hated this. I hated that Alexander had broken our routine without warning. It made everything feel unstable and unsafe.
By the time the bus dropped me off at our street, I was overstimulated, annoyed, and tired. I started walking toward the house, the gift bag from Anthony still clutched awkwardly in my hand because I hadn't known what else to do with it.
The evening air was cool, but I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck. Like someone was watching me. I turned around sharply twice, but the street was empty. My heart beat faster and I walked quicker, toes curling inside my shoes.
When I finally reached the front door, the feeling was still there. I was just about to open it when the door suddenly swung inward.
Alexander stood there, tall and imposing, eyes dark. Before I could say anything, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me inside, closing the door behind us with a firm click.
"I've been waiting for you," he said, voice low.
I yanked my wrist out of his grip, cheeks flushed with irritation and leftover overstimulation. My fingers tapped rapidly against my thigh as I glared up at him.
"You left without me," I said bluntly, voice sharper than usual. "You always pick me up. I waited two hours in my office. Then your secretary told me you left at two o'clock. I had to take the bus. I hate the bus. It was loud and crowded and someone's perfume made me feel sick. And now you're grabbing me like that the second I get home?"
I paused, breathing a little faster, then added even more directly:
"I am annoyed with you."
Alexander actually paused. For once, I seemed to have caught him slightly off guard. His eyebrows lifted a fraction.
I kept going, too overwhelmed and too honest to stop.
"And I still have Anthony's stupid gift bag and I don't even want it but I didn't know what to do with it on the bus so I brought it back home and I feel watched and I hate when you break our routine without telling me because it makes my brain feel like static and…"
I stopped, realizing I was rambling. My foot was rubbing hard against my ankle.
Alexander stared at me for a long second.
Then the corner of his mouth slowly curved upward into a dark, almost fascinated smile.
He pulled me closer, one large hand cupping the back of my neck.
"Come here," he murmured, voice rougher than usual.
He leaned down and kissed me, it was deep, slow, and unexpectedly gentle. When he pulled back, his eyes were darker, but there was something almost soft in them.
"I won't break routine again," he said quietly.
Then he kissed me once more, harder this time, like he was making up for the entire day.
I melted into the kiss for a few seconds before my brain caught up. I pulled back just enough to speak, cheeks flushed, fingers still tapping rapidly against his chest.
"You cannot just kiss me and think that fixes everything," I said even though I was slightly breathless. "That is not okay."
Alexander's lips twitched again, like he was fighting an actual smile.
"I know," he said simply. Then he brushed my messy hair out of my eyes. "Come upstairs. I have something to show you."
I blinked, confused by the sudden shift. Alexander almost never looked… excited. But right now, there was a glint in his eyes I had rarely seen. It made me curious despite myself.
"What is it?" I asked, tilting my head.
"You'll see."
He took my hand, something he rarely did outside the bedroom and led me up the stairs. My foot-rubbing had slowed, but my fingers were still tapping against his. When we reached my bedroom door, he stopped and looked down at me.
"Close your eyes."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Why?"
"Just do it, little anomaly."
I sighed but obeyed, closing my eyes. I heard the door open, then the click of the light switch. Alexander gently guided me inside, one hand on my lower back.
"Open them."
I opened my eyes.
And froze.
In the corner of my room, right beside the window where the light would be perfect but not too harsh, stood a massive, breathtaking seventy-gallon saltwater aquarium. It was already fully set up, sleek black frame, beautiful live rock aquascaping, soft blue-white lighting, and fish… actual fish swimming gracefully inside.
Angelfish. Clownfish. Firefish. Rasboras.
Everything was perfectly arranged. Symmetrical. Controlled. Beautiful.
My mouth fell open. My fingers stopped tapping completely. I took one slow step forward, then another, eyes wide as I stared at the tank. The angelfish glided elegantly through the water, exactly the way I had imagined.
I turned to Alexander, stunned.
"You… you got it already?" My voice came out quieter than usual, almost reverent. "I thought it would take weeks. I did not expect… this."
Alexander watched me with that dark, possessive intensity, but there was clear satisfaction in his eyes.
"I told you I would get it for you," he said simply. "I didn't see the point in waiting."
I stepped closer to the tank, eyes glued to the fish. My hand came up to press gently against the cool glass. A small, genuine smile tugged at my lips.
"They are perfect," I whispered. "Look at the angelfish… they are already exploring. The water parameters must be excellent if they are this active."
I turned back to him, eyes still wide with surprise and quiet joy.
"You left work early for this?"
Alexander gave a tiny shrug, like leaving his department in the middle of the day meant nothing.
"I'm the Chief. They can manage without me for a few hours."
I stared at him for a long moment, processing. Then I walked over and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face against his chest. It was rare for me to initiate hugs, but right now I needed to.
"Thank you," I mumbled against his shirt, voice muffled. "I really like it. It is… exactly what I wanted."
Alexander's arms came around me immediately, one hand stroking my back possessively.
"Good," he murmured, lips brushing the top of my head. "Because you're going to thank me properly later."
I pulled back just enough to look up at him, cheeks slightly pink but eyes honest.
"I am still a little annoyed about the bus," I admitted.
Alexander's low chuckle rumbled through his chest.
"I'll make it up to you."