Blow Kiss

As they left the aquarium, Xander followed closely behind Valeria, his footsteps light and purposeful. The soft click of her heels on the marble floor echoed in the silence between them, but Xander’s mind was elsewhere. His gaze wandered, noticing the subtle elegance of her movements, the way her posture was poised yet effortlessly graceful.

Valeria’s attention was still fixed on the sunfish, but Xander's eyes softened as he observed her. His thoughts lingered on the past, the days when he was nothing more than her pet; bound, helpless, an object of her dominance. He used to think he would never escape that role, would never be anything more than a decoration in her life. But now, the weight of his proposal, the sincerity in his actions, had shifted something fundamental between them.

He wasn’t just her pet anymore. He was something more. He was her future husband.

As if sensing his change in mood, Valeria glanced over her shoulder. Her lips curved into a knowing smile. “You look different,” she remarked, her voice low, almost teasing. “Not quite the tamed alpha male anymore.”

Xander caught the glint in her eyes, the subtle acknowledgment of his transformation. “No,” he said quietly, his voice steady. “I’m not. I’m your future husband, Valeria. And I’ll be the man who stands beside you, not beneath you.”

Her gaze held his for a moment, the tension between them shifting once more, but this time, it felt like something deeper. Something stronger.

Valeria paused before turning fully to face him. Her eyes softened, and a genuine smile spread across her face. "We'll see about that, won't we?" she replied, the challenge in her voice unmistakable, but there was no cruelty behind it, only the promise of something that could be theirs, something built on trust, on shared moments.

Xander nodded, his heart lighter than it had been in days. As he walked beside her, this time, he felt no restraint, no chains. He had chosen to stand by her, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. And in that moment, he finally understood what true freedom meant. It wasn’t escaping her grasp; it was earning his place beside her, as her equal, her partner.

Xander’s eyes narrowed slightly as Valeria’s hand gripped his wrist with an unexpected firmness. She pulled him forward, her movements controlled and confident, as if she had all the time in the world. Xander, however, was caught off guard. His hands were stuck under her hold, unable to break free. Despite the tug on his arm, his posture remained relaxed, as if he were accustomed to being in this position—tamed, but never truly defeated.

With a smooth motion, Valeria guided him to the ground, her strength making it feel as though he had no choice but to kneel before her. His body sunk to the marble floor, and for a moment, it seemed like a deliberate act of submission. Yet Xander’s lips curved into a sly grin, a glint of mischief flickering in his eyes. His usual sharp, cool demeanor remained intact, even as he knelt before her.

“Really?” he asked, his voice dripping with teasing amusement. “You know, I was starting to think you were done with these little power games.” His head tilted up, eyes locking onto hers, a playful spark in them despite the situation.

Valeria’s fingers tightened around his wrist, forcing him to hold still as her gaze flickered with something dangerous, yet playful. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion,” she remarked, though there was a softness behind the words. Her tone, still commanding, was laced with the familiar hint of amusement, and Xander could tell she was enjoying the shift in their dynamic.

Xander, undeterred, maintained his teasing smile. “If I’m going to be kneeling, you might as well make it worth my while,” he said smoothly, his voice calm and composed. “How long do I have to wait until I can officially call you my wife? Should I start preparing for the wedding?”

His words, casual yet deliberate, hung in the air between them, daring her to respond. The challenge was clear, yet Xander's posture, even as he knelt, was one of cooperation, not submission.

Valeria studied him for a moment, her grip loosening slightly as she considered his words. She leaned down slightly, her eyes narrowing with an intensity that made it clear she wasn’t one to easily bend to anyone's will. “You’ll marry me when I’m ready,” she said, her voice low but with an undeniable edge of control.

Xander chuckled, a soft sound that seemed almost to tease the air around them. “I’ll wait patiently, my lady. But just know, I’m not going anywhere.” His tone was full of confident assurance, and despite the forced kneeling, it was clear to her that Xander was no longer the man he once was—the man who had bowed to her power. He had chosen his place beside her, and now he wanted to make sure she knew it.

Valeria’s lips curled into a smile, and for the first time in what seemed like ages, Xander felt the weight of her dominance tempered by something else. Something more equal, something that spoke of partnership, and perhaps, something that mirrored the shifting dynamics between them.

“You’ll be the first to know, Xander,” she replied, her voice softening slightly, her gaze lingering on him for a beat longer than necessary.

Xander’s grin deepened, and though he remained kneeling, he felt a sense of satisfaction stir within him. He wasn’t being forced anymore. He was here, by choice, and it seemed that Valeria was slowly beginning to understand the new role he had claimed for himself.

Xander leaned against the polished wood of the study desk, the faint glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across his sharp features. His gaze was fixed on the calendar, his finger tracing the date that had been circled with a bold, red marker—March 27th. The date seemed to linger in his mind, the weight of it settling deep within him.

Valeria’s words echoed in his head. “We’ll marry on the 27th of March, next year.” She had said it with such finality, as though the date was already carved into stone. It wasn’t just the date of their wedding, it was the beginning of a new chapter—one that would demand more than just his usual resilience.

A quiet chuckle escaped him, despite the tension knotting in his chest. He had always been a man who bent to no one, who ruled his own path. But now? Now, he was bound by the promise of that date, a promise that Valeria had set for them. March 27th would be the day he would claim her as his wife, but it would also be the day he knew his discipline would be put to the test like never before.

He wasn’t naïve. Valeria’s idea of preparation wasn’t simply about planning a wedding or finding the right outfit. No, it was about testing his limits, his ability to bend—without breaking. He could already feel the weight of the discipline that would come with being her future husband. The last year would be full of subtle trials, a series of lessons that would shape him into the man she wanted him to be, not just in the eyes of others, but in her eyes.

Xander sighed, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t a stranger to discipline. Valeria had already made that clear, from the way she had taught him through her commands and her moments of calculated cruelty. But this time, it would be different. It would be about understanding the balance between control and submission, love and authority, two souls that needed to fit together seamlessly.

The soft click of the door opening broke his thoughts, and he turned to find Valeria standing in the doorway, her figure framed by the soft glow of the hallway light. Her expression was unreadable, but the way she looked at him—intensely, almost thoughtfully—made him feel like he was standing on the edge of something important.

“March 27th,” she said softly, her voice calm but filled with purpose. “That’s the day, Xander.”

Xander nodded slowly, his eyes meeting hers. He could see the challenge in her gaze, the same one that had always been there. “I’ll be ready, Valeria,” he said, his voice steady, despite the storm brewing inside him. “I’ll be the man you need me to be.”

Her lips curled into a smile, but it was not the soft smile of affection—it was the smile of someone who knew exactly what she was doing. “I’ll be watching,” she said, her words dripping with an almost dangerous promise. “I’ll make sure you are.”

Xander met her gaze, a quiet challenge flickering in his own eyes. He had made his decision. No matter the discipline, no matter the trials she set before him, he would marry her. March 27th would be the day he finally stood before her, not as a captive, not as a subject to her whims, but as the man she had molded—tamed, yet free in his own right.

And as Valeria stepped closer, her presence like a force that filled the room, Xander couldn’t help but feel that, in this game they were playing, he was already one step ahead.

As the tension hung thick in the room, Valeria took a slow step toward Xander, her presence commanding yet graceful, like a queen approaching her throne. She stood before him for a moment, her eyes never leaving his, and the silence between them seemed to stretch longer than it actually was.

Then, with a sudden shift, her lips curved into a playful smile—a smile that held more mischief than affection. Valeria tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening just enough to reveal a fleeting moment of tenderness. Without saying a word, she raised one hand, delicate fingers brushing her lips before she blew him a kiss.

The motion was slow, deliberate, almost teasing as the kiss seemed to linger in the air, just within reach. Xander watched it, feeling a strange mix of frustration and admiration. It was the kind of gesture that, on any other woman, would feel like a genuine expression of love. But from Valeria, it carried the weight of a challenge, a reminder of the control she held, even in moments of lightness.

Xander's breath caught for a second, his expression wavering as he tried to keep his composure. But Valeria's gaze remained on him, her lips still curved in that knowing smile, as if she were daring him to respond.

And in that moment, Xander realized something—this game they played, this complex dance of dominance and submission, was no longer just a test of his endurance. It was a test of his heart. The kiss, though playful, was a reminder that Valeria was both the enigma and the key to everything he was becoming.

He swallowed, his voice finally breaking the silence. "I’ll be ready for whatever you throw at me, Valeria."

Her smirk deepened, as if she were pleased with his response. "Good," she murmured, her tone low and measured. "Because I’m not finished with you yet."

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