Xiran was sitting near the fireplace as Aselia descended the stairs. A fire had been lit and he had placed a fluffy white rug and cushions near it. He peered at her with a smile.

"Come now," he called her and she quickly moved towards him. Stopping a foot away from the rug she looked at the black fireplace, where fresh logs had been placed by Xiran and the reddish-orange fire crackled with little sparks flying here and there.

He was sitting in a relaxed posture with his one leg raised and his hand perched on his knee. He patted the cushion next to him and she settled down beside him.

"Movie?" He asked with a smile waving the remote control he was holding.

"Sure, but make it an action one starring Paul Strioins," she replied with twinkling eyes.

"Ahhh, I see you like Paul."

"He is the most handsome and desirable action hero in the film industry right now. He is so dreamy, who wouldn’t?" Her excitement showed as she talked about Paul.

Xiran suppressed a smile at her answer and spoke: "So you do find someone dreamy? You know he is also a vampire?"

"Really? I had read the conspiracy theories but he never publicly revealed that information so I was hoping he was a mere human. But his ravishing looks are too much for a human, I guess." Aselia sighed after finding out her favourite actor was a vampire too.

"Well, he stopped ageing a few years ago so everyone is going to find out sooner or later. He is quite a playboy." Xiran added with a mischievous smile.

"Like you?" Aselia pressed her lips together so as not to laugh.

"Like I used to be." He corrected.

"Of course,"

"You want to talk to him? I can call him right now and tell him I have a fan." Xiran took out his phone from his pocket.

"What? Do you have his number as well?" Aselia’s eyes flew open in shock as she stared at the phone in his hand.

"I do, he attends the parties I throw so we became acquaintances."

"Who else do you know? Spill all the beans." Aselia was excited as she sprawled on the rug with a white cushion below her, her hands supporting her face. Xiran smiled a knowing smile and began to tell her all the inside juicy stories of the film and media industry. They continued talking for hours and Aselia’s fascination grew with each passing second as she collected more and more information.

"So basically most of them are playboys, drug addicts and blood seekers." She replied with disappointment dripping from her every word.

"Yes, sorry to disappoint you. But vampires live long lives, so they get bored easily. They seek new thrills and passions. And there is nothing more thrilling for them than women and blood. For female vampires, it’s the other way around." Xiran shed more light on how most vampires spend their lives.

"S£x is a significant drive for all the vampires it seems and they hardly exert self-control," Aselia said, dryly.

"True, self-control is very rare among all living species. Even humans and elves struggle when it comes to it. Then vampires have heightened senses so, of course, their sexual drives are heightened as well."

"Are yours as well?" Aselia asked before she could stop herself. Her bratty self was surfacing again.

"Are mine what as well?" He smiled evilly.

"Sexual drives." She replied her ears going red again.

"You wanna find out?" He teased her stretching his hand towards her.

"NO," she scooted away from his range. He laughed throwing back his head as the light hit his face and made him look even more handsome than he already was.

"Relax, just teasing you." He finally spoke, she sighed and shot him an angry glance.

"Hungry?" Xiran looked at the clock and it was already lunchtime. Aselia hadn’t eaten breakfast properly so she was feeling hungry.

"Yes, please," Aselia said placing her hand on her belly.

"What would you like to eat?"

"Pasta would be nice but wait who will cook?" Aselia glanced towards the open kitchen. She knew they were alone here.

"I will, so pasta it is. You can watch a movie while I prepare the food." He got up and sauntered towards the kitchen which was well-furnished with all the required kitchen appliances. Like the rest of the house, the tiles and cabinets in the kitchen were white as well.

Aselia didn’t want to watch a movie alone. So she followed behind him. He removed the apron hanging on the hook and wrapped it around his slim waist. When he turned around he found Aselia sitting on the shelf near the stove.

"Seems like you can’t stop following me." He raised an eyebrow at her as he wrapped his hair in a man bun on top of his head. Opening his sleeve buttons he rolled his sleeves up, revealing his muscular arms.

"Quit your narcissism, I am merely a spectator to your cooking skills." She blew a raspberry at him which sent him into giggles as he washed his hands at the sink.

"As you say Aselia Ma’am." He took a bow which made her chuckle. He turned around and opened a cabinet to take out a glass jar. He handed it to Aselia. It was filled with dry fruits.

"Munch on some dry fruits while I cook." She took the jar from him and opened it. It was filled with different dry fruits, peanuts, cashews, almonds, pine nuts, hazel nuts and a few more.

She began to toss them in her mouth one by one.

"Xiran," she called him and as he glanced towards her, she threw a peanut which he effortlessly caught in his mouth.

"Not bad," she smiled at him.

It took Xiran an hour to finish making the lunch for both of them and Aselia made herself useful by arranging the small marble table in the kitchen for them to eat. She placed the cutlery, plates, glasses and napkins.

Xiran had prepared white sauce pasta and French fries. He also prepared a cranberry drink for Aselia but none for himself which didn’t go unnoticed by her.

They sat down to eat and as usual Xiran spread the napkin on his lap and let Aselia fill her plate, first. The aroma was making her even hungrier and it looked extremely appetizing.

She took the first bite and everything just melted in her mouth with tons of flavours hitting her taste buds, simultaneously.

"How c...an you cook such deli...cious meals?" She asked with her mouthful.

"Practice," he gave her a warm smile. His heart was content watching her eat wholeheartedly.

"It’s yum....mmyy," she took another mouthful. She finished everything he had made and nothing was spared in the pot.

"Thank you for preparing such a tasty meal for me." She beamed at him and he observed how her smile reached her eyes and how her whole face flushed, the movement of her cherry lips, and the motion of her hands as she tugged her open hair behind her ear.

"It was my pleasure," he smiled warmly at her and it took all his self-control to take her in his arms right then and kiss her.

She helped him with clearing the table and cleaning the dishes. Once it was done, they decided to sit outside in the garden so Aselia could soak in some sunlight.

There were four garden chairs and a table near the red maple trees. The hedge around the house was thick and 9 feet tall, so no one could peek in the garden from outside. They settle down on the chairs.

There was a light breeze going around which was rustling the fiery leaves of the maple tree. One of them flew and settled in her golden hair as she sat with her eyes closed, taking in the warmth which she had missed for so long. Xiran watched her closely, he wanted to etch every tiny detail about her in his memory. For he was sure he would lose her soon.

The thought made his mood sour again. He was reminded of last night when he confessed his love to her and how it was not reciprocated. Although he knew what her answer would be, it still hurt him deeply. He wasn’t used to heartbreaks for he had never been on the receiving end until now.

There was something mysterious about her, something he couldn’t place, something that gnawed at the back of his mind but he couldn’t put it in words. What was it that was overbearing him to the point of losing control and dispensing his heart to her in such a raw fashion?

He wished he knew the answer but he didn’t and all he knew was he wanted to own this woman at every cost. He will stand against the world to protect her if she would let him.

"Xiran..." he finally stepped out of his stupor. She had opened her eyes and was calling him.

"Yes..." his voice was serious.

"What’s the matter? You are quiet."

"Nothing, just thinking about last night." And she automatically became flustered at his answer, he looked at her with so much intensity. The tension between them multiplied in seconds as the events of last night were still fresh in their minds and no matter what they told each other. The desire to own the other was dominant above everything.

"Come here, Leia..."