The bully's redemption

The moment Xavier rose from his seat, the air around the circle thickened. The crackling fire seemed to dim, its warmth replaced by the heat of anticipation. Kamsi's breath hitched as he strode toward her, each step measured, his eyes never leaving hers. She gulped, her throat tightening with both apprehension and something she couldn't quite name. Her hands, resting on her lap, curled into fists as she fought the urge to fidget under his intense gaze.

The circle fell into a hushed silence, save for Damon's slow, deliberate countdown. "One... two..." His voice echoed, distant and blurred in Kamsi's ears, drowned out by the pounding of her heart.

Xavier stopped inches away from her, towering over her seated form. His presence was magnetic, commanding attention without a word. He tilted his head slightly, a devilish smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Slowly, he crouched to her eye level, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. The flickering flames cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the intensity in his gaze.

Kamsi felt trapped, not by force but by the invisible pull between them. Her breath came in shallow bursts, and her heart thundered in her chest. Why can't I look away ? she wondered, her thoughts scattered, a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation.

"Seven... eight..." Damon's voice counted on, but the numbers barely registered.

Xavier leaned in closer, his scent—clean and crisp, with a hint of something darker—wrapped around her. His eyes bore into hers, searching, daring her to break the moment. His hand rested lightly on the log beside her, fingers brushing against her knee, not enough to touch, but enough to make her skin tingle. His gaze flicked briefly to her lips, then back to her eyes, the smirk deepening.

The crowd held their breath, exchanging glances, their awe palpable. Patricia, sitting a few spots away, clenched her fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms. Her eyes blazed with fury, but no one noticed when she abruptly stood and stormed off. All attention was riveted on Xavier and Kamsi.

"Nine... ten..."

Kamsi's world narrowed down to the space between them. Every sound, every movement around her faded into the background. Her pulse quickened, loud and erratic. She felt dizzy, caught in the gravitational pull of his presence. His lips inched closer, her breath hitching. A part of her, one she barely recognized, almost... Wanted it.

"Fourteen..."

Just when she thought he might actually close the gap, he pulled back, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. His breath brushed against her skin one last time before he stood, his smirk firmly in place.

"Fifteen," Damon finished, his voice snapping Kamsi back to reality.

The circle erupted in a mix of laughter, cheers, and whispers. Xavier returned to his seat with an air of triumph, reclining casually as if nothing had happened. But his eyes stayed on her, sharp and unyielding. Kamsi, still reeling, struggled to collect herself. Her hands trembled slightly as she smoothed her hair behind her ears. She couldn't focus on the game anymore.

Her gaze drifted to him again, drawn against her will. Their eyes met, and her heart skipped a beat. His smirk widened, as if he knew exactly what she was feeling. What is this? she wondered, heat rising to her cheeks. She barely knew him, yet here she was, breathless and shaken.

Meanwhile, across the circle, Damon's voice carried on, spinning the bottle again. But Kamsi's mind was far from the game. Each stolen glance between her and Xavier sent her pulse racing. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of something dangerous, something she couldn't define but couldn't resist.

Xavier leaned back, one arm draped lazily over the log, his eyes never wavering from hers. His expression was calm, but underneath it, there was a promise—a challenge. And Kamsi couldn't help but wonder: Was this the beginning... Or just a warning? . Finally the game came to an end.

The music thumped louder, the bass reverberating through the room as Zendaya bounced with excitement. "Girl, let's dance! I love this song!" she exclaimed, practically pulling Kamsi from her seat. Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter blasted through the speakers, an irresistible energy filling the air.

But Kamsi couldn't move. Her body remained frozen under Xavier's unwavering gaze, his eyes locked onto her with a heat that made her skin tingle. Every nerve was on edge.

"I'm not in the mood," she muttered, attempting to suppress the flutter in her chest.

"Suit yourself," Zendaya shrugged, already shimmying toward the dance floor.

The circle around them slowly broke apart, yet Kamsi remained rooted, painfully aware of the lingering tension between herself, Xavier, and Alexander. The latter appeared indifferent, but Xavier? He was being swarmed by admirers, their flirtations a noisy distraction. Eventually, he seemed to reach his limit.

"Excuse me," Xavier muttered, shaking off the group of girls. His sudden movement left Kamsi in a panic.

Oh no,She could already feel her pulse racing as he closed the distance between them. His stride was purposeful, and the look on his face—smug yet determined—made her stomach flip.

In a flash, she shot to her feet. "I'll get a drink," she blurted, practically sprinting toward the refreshment table. She didn't need to look back to know he was watching her, that infuriating smirk probably plastered across his face.

Xavier paused, his eyes narrowing as he watched her retreat. So she wanted play? His lips curled into a dark grin. "I love a good chase," he murmured, following at a leisurely pace.

Kamsi reached the counter, her breathing ragged. "Orange soda, please," she said, grabbing the cup the moment it was handed to her. Gulping it down, she finally realized how thirsty she had been. Another cup followed, then another. The sugary fizz was oddly comforting—until her head started to spin.

She blinked, swaying slightly. What is going on?The light-headedness hit her hard. Still, she raised another cup to her lips, but before she could drink, a hand gripped the glass firmly.

"That's enough." The voice was deep, commanding. She didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"Give it back," she slurred, her words wobbly as her cheeks flushed.

Xavier leaned in closer, his brow furrowed. He sniffed the cup, and his expression darkened. "It's spiked," he muttered under his breath, raking a hand through his hair. His jaw clenched. Who the hell spiked her drink?

"Give it back!" Kamsi demanded, pushing at his chest with both hands.

His chest was firm beneath her palms—so firm, in fact, that she paused, staring down in a daze. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing defined muscles beneath.

"So thick…" she mumbled, poking his chest with curious fingers.

Xavier froze, her innocent touch igniting something dangerous inside him. Then he smirked, unable to help himself.

"Do you work out or something? It's so firm," she hiccupped, her awe-struck tone making him chuckle dryly.

"Hm," he hummed, lowering his voice. "Do you like it?"

Her glassy eyes met his, and she nodded with a goofy grin.

"I like guys with abs," she confessed with a chuckle, oblivious to the intensity in his gaze.

Xavier's brows shot up. Abs, Huh?He couldn't hide his amusement. "What else do you like?" he asked, his voice dipping lower, his tone seductive.

"I like smart guys," she replied, her words slurred but sincere.

His jaw tightened. His mind immediately went to Gilbert. Is that why she's soft around him? But wasn't he smart too?

"And handsome guys," she added with a dreamy smile.

That earned a genuine smile from Xavier. Handsome, yeah. I top that list.

"And nice guys," she finished, her voice quieter now.

His smile faltered. Nice? He wasn't exactly known for that. Was that why she kept her distance? A determination flickered in his eyes. I can be nice... For her.

"Anything else?" he pressed, leaning in closer.

"Romantic guys," she murmured, her breath brushing against his cheek.

Xavier nodded slowly, the wheels in his mind turning. Romantic. I can be that too...For her only .

"So, if I became all of that... would you like me?" he whispered.

Before she could answer, the music shifted. Her eyes lit up as a new song began.

"Huh?! I love this song!" she exclaimed, suddenly pulling away from him."Water"" by Tyla blasted through the speakers.

"Normally…" Kamsi sang along, her entire demeanor changing. "I want to dance!"

Without another word, she dashed to the dance floor, leaving Xavier standing there, dumbfounded.

"Fuck," he muttered, face-palming. But then he followed her, his eyes never leaving her.

A circle formed around Kamsi as she danced, her movements fluid, sensual, uninhibited. Her hips swayed to the beat, arms above her head as she twirled effortlessly, her energy magnetic.

Xavier's smirk deepened as he watched her, his body tightening with every sway of her hips. She was carefree, lost in the rhythm, yet her gaze kept finding his—locking, holding, igniting something raw between them.

And as she seamlessly transitioned into the Tyla dance, rolling her hips with precision and fluidity, Xavier's pulse quickened. He felt mesmerized, entranced by her every move.

A murmur spread through the crowd, a mix of awe and admiration, but Kamsi heard none of it. Her focus remained on Xavier, their connection palpable. She moved with a confidence she didn't know she possessed, and for a moment, it was just them—everything else blurred.

Xavier's fists clenched, the desire to pull her close almost unbearable. I need to touch her, hold her .. His thoughts spiraled as he stepped forward, eyes locked on hers.

This was more than just a game. And this was war ?And Kamsi? She was winning.

Notice‼️

This author is so sad about how you guys are not engaging this novel enough. So from now on I'll be setting requirements to unlock chapters from now on.

REQUIREMENTS TO UNLOCK THE NEXT CHAPTER

15 comments and 30 power stones.

Not too much right😊Let's work together to achieve it and if it exceeds my expectations then expect a bonus chapter. Lots of love 😘

~praizy_7