Fallen Actress' Comeback: Torn Between the Director and the Mafia Lord-Chapter 13: Accidental

Chapter 14

~Xena’s POV~

My pulse hammered beneath both their grips, my wrists caught between two men who, for some reason I still couldn’t understand, refused to let go.

"Let me go," I snapped, tugging again, though it was pointless.

Xavier leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Xena... breathe."

"How? When both of you are—"

"Fighting over you?" he asked, almost amused.

I couldn’t believe what was happening right now as both men literally dragged me like I was some personal doll to them.

"I didn’t ask either of you to," I retorted.

Xade let out a sharp breath. "You think this is about asking?"

"Then what is it about?"

For a second, his expression softened, barely. Then the wall snapped back. "Control."

Xavier scoffed. "Funny. You’re losing it."

"Watch it."

"Make me."

The tension rose again, tight enough to choke the air. Just too much and too close.

"Stop!"

In annoyance, I pulled harder, and this time Xade’s grip slipped. The force sent me stumbling back, and straight into Xavier’s chest.

Instinctively, Xavier’s hands caught my waist, sparing me no time to catch my breath before my flustered face was painted red.

"Easy," he whispered near my ear as his warmth soaked straight through my skin, sending a shiver down my spine more than I wanted to admit.

Xade moved forward again, his shoulders stiff with restrained anger.

Xavier shifted protectively, stepping between us without shoving or provoking Xade. His palm slid to my wrist, pulling me behind him gently.

The slight jolt knocked me off balance again, and Xavier half-turned, reaching for my hand quickly as he pulled me with him so I wouldn’t fall.

My body bumped against his firm chest. His warm breath tickled my cheeks as I tried not to think about the closeness.

"Careful," he cautioned.

"I’m... fine." My voice shook as my cheeks burned.

"No," he said quietly, eyes flicking down to my lips. "You’re not."

I shook my head, ignoring Xade’s heated gaze on us. "Xavier—"

But I moved too fast, wanting to avoid Xade’s gaze. But at the exact moment, he leaned in closer to hold me. Our faces collided, and our lips... brushed.

Just a slight, soft graze of our lips. I froze, and Xavier froze. Meanwhile, Xade seemed to have stopped breathing altogether.

For half a second, no one moved, not even the little girl whose eyes were as wide as saucers.

Then Xavier’s eyes lifted, straight to Xade.

And something sharp and challenging flashed in them.

He didn’t smirk or taunt. And just when I thought this awkward moment would end, he simply held Xade’s gaze, and then his fingers slid gently up to my jaw.

Before I could step back and process what was happening, his thumb brushed my chin, guiding it up the slightest bit.

And just as though it was the most natural thing in the world to do, Xavier’s lips came back to mine—not rushed, not forceful, but with a certainty that felt far too deliberate for an accident.

His mouth pressed on mine slowly, the kind that didn’t demand anything yet somehow stole the strength from my knees.

My breath caught instantly, and for a full second, I forgot how to move or breathe or even think as his fingers lingered along the curve of my jaw, like he expected me to pull away but hoped I wouldn’t.

The kiss wasn’t deep, wild or messy. It was gentle, almost exploratory, like he was learning the shape of my lips and giving me space to decide if I wanted more or wanted out.

But his mouth’s warmth, the faint taste of something sweet—maybe the iced pineapple juice he’d been drinking earlier—made everything inside me tilt slightly, like the entire room had shifted a little off angle.

I felt my fingers tighten against the front of his shirt, not in invitation but out of sheer shock, my body acting before my mind could catch up.

His thumb brushed my chin again, a silent coaxing that made the kiss linger longer than it probably should have.

And for the smallest, dangerous second... I kissed him back.

A breath sliced the air like a blade.

Xade.

Xavier finally broke the kiss, but he didn’t pull away entirely. His lips hovered over mine for a breath, close enough that I could still feel the ghost of the warmth he left there, close enough that I could hear the soft exhale he released, as if he had planned every second of this.

But what unsettled me most wasn’t the kiss. It was the way he looked at me right after.

Not apologetic or unsure. Just confident, and almost quietly claiming.

And then, as if remembering he wasn’t alone with me, Xavier shifted his gaze to the side, meeting Xade’s eyes without flinching.

There was no smirk this time, no taunting expression, just a direct and unbothered look that spoke louder than anything he could have said aloud.

As though to seal the message, he slid his hand from my jaw to my waist.

I swallowed hard, finally finding my voice, even though it came out too thin. "Xavier... don’t."

The word barely left my mouth when Xade moved.

His footsteps were quiet, but they carried a force that made every hair on my arm rise.

The air around him felt colder compared to Xavier’s warmth pressed against me, and when his hand reached for my wrist, it wasn’t harsh, but there was a restraint there that felt more dangerous than anything he had said earlier.

"Let her go," Xade commanded, his tone calm in that unsettling way anger sometimes was when it was too sharp to be loud.

"Why? When you clearly can’t treat a woman nicely."

"This is between me and her."

"Think again."

Xade turned to look at me. "Do not forget the contract you signed."

My brows creased in confusion. "What about the contract? Do you want to unsign me?" I asked, my voice betraying my slight fear. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Xade’s lips curled slightly at the side. It was at that moment that I knew I must have messed up with the contract.

"You are to obey your boss, at any time and place, 24/7, no matter the task."

"What?"