Doe's POV:

When Xander left earlier telling me he was aiming to set something up, I don't know what I was expecting.

I figured it would of had to do with our later plans, but I don't know what he'd have to leave our room for if that was the case.

Come to find out, it did... sort of.

He insisted we ate in the dining room for dinner, something we'd rarely done, but I got dressed out of my comfortable clothes and followed his wishes anyway.

When we got there, it looked different.

It was completely empty, which felt odd for this time of day.

The lights were dimmed, candles casting a bit more light onto every table.

He lead me over to one in the back that already had steaming plates of food, and a thin vase of beautiful dainty flowers at the center.

'Setting the mood' he called it with a casual smirk.

And yet I recognized certain aspects of it from that first book I read, and the sight of it all sent a flurry of butterflies loose in my stomach.

They were dressed a lot nicer than I was in the book...

Which I don't think mattered. Xander was dressed as casually as I was.

He'd even sent Lily out for a short break so we were completely alone.

My plate heald held a magnificent assortment of smoked duck with a sweet fruity sauce, glazed carrots, and the basket of fresh rolls that we both shared.

Small plates of butter, jams, and honey surrounded it.

Xander's plate had a thick serving of salmon that radiated the scent of cedar, along with roasted asparagus.

"Did you choose this?" I asked as I sat through my stunned expression at the whole display.

Trying not to drool over the smell of all this alone, and stifling the part of me that didn't know how to handle the perfect atmosphere and dinner he'd put together.

His hair was still a complete and utter mess, but it somehow just... worked with the rest of everything here.

"Mhm," He began as he sat, "It's one of my favorite meals, and I think you'll like it."

Well, duh.

Just by look and smell alone, I was losing it.

"And all of this is for...?" I questioned, picking up my utensils at a totally normal speed.

Xander did the same.

"For tonight. I told you I wanted you to know what you should expect." He divulged.

I blinked at him in surprise.

"This is part of it?"

None of this was included in how I was taught, though I've been slowly coming to terms throughout the day that I was going to be having that realization a lot.

"For the most part," He plunged his fork into his food, "I've been wanting to do something like this for a while... For you to experience."

My face couldn't remain my own skin tone a lot today and succumbed to a blush a lot more than I would have liked.

I don't know what it was with me lately when it came down to him, but tonight wasn't the right one to start questioning.

The ambiance of everything was just... comforting.

The high-quality atmosphere mixed with the fact we were both just wearing jeans and shirts that didn't fit exactly how they should.

It was very him... very us.

"Thank you," I grabbed my own piece, "It's... its lovely."

I looked all around the room again, seeing even a warm light coming from the empty kitchen to add to it all.

Then back to Xander as his face looked to have the same reaction as mine color-wise.

I took the first bite.

Oh, holy crap.

Lily, you've outdone yourself yet again.

The duck was perfectly tender, that glaze adding the perfect touch.

Xander's decision-making when it comes to food has outdone itself as well.

"Holy shit, Xander," I spoke through the food that was still in my mouth.

His eyes crinkled as he laughed.

"I knew you'd like it," He beamed.

We indulged in idle chit-chat through our meal.

He'd stuck close to me all throughout today, answering my questions about all this at they came.

Tryin -and failing- to hide his disdain during every other one.

Even so, there was patience about him through it all, easing me of every worry that managed to squeeze into my brain.

Constant reminders that I wouldn't need to stress. That I was in control of what would happen.

That at any time, no matter what was happening, or how far into it we were, we would stop if I so desired.

There was no pressure whatsoever on me for anything.

He reiterated that point several times.

Very different from what I learned in that shop...

"So what should I um, wear?" I questioned.

"Preferably nothing," Xander quipped.

One of his quicker responses today.

I rolled my eyes.

"Well yeah duh, I mean beforehand."

I remembered my shop also sold the same kind of clothes they sold us in.

I guess it was just appealing to look at.

Xander just shrugged.

"Whatever you want to wear I suppose," He answered, "Something you're comfortable in since it's not like it'll be on you for long."

He didn't even say it in that deeper tone I knew he was capable of, and yet it got a similar reaction out of me.

Right...

"There's nothing you want to see me in? Or anything like that?" I pushed.

I figured that the clothes wouldn't be too much of a big deal. If there was something that he had in mind, I'd be happy to oblige.

He made me feel nice in whatever I put on...

He stopped, head-turning downwards just a hint.

His eyes narrowed with it, looking me over in deep thought.

It's not normal to almost shiver just from someone looking at you, is it?

"There are a few things that come to mind," He began, " But I don't know if we have any of it in the closet. I'd honestly be more than happy taking one of my shirts off of you."

I noted that last part, but wasn't done with the first.

"What comes to mind?"

Jeez, I think today is the day I've had to press him for more of an answer the most.

And yet I didn't completely feel like he was being vague intentionally.

He waved his hand, "It's nothing that you have already, so there's no use worrying about it. I'll let you know if the topic ever comes up again after tonight."

After tonight...

Alright then.

I took in a few more bites and downed an entire roll before talking again.

Right when the first sign of being full started to show.

"So is this like a 'right after dinner' thing?"

Another quiet laugh.

"This is a 'whenever you want it to be' thing," he corrected, "I can't imagine starting on a full stomach. The night is still young, and it's not like we go to bed early anyway."

He took a sip of that delightful soda Lily made.

"We can snag some dessert afterward if you want." He offered.

I still couldn't wrap my head around the casual and easy-going way in which he talked about all of this.

The process I was taught was anything but.

The 'afterward' part didn't even re-occur to me until he said that.

But that sounded...nice

He's not them.

"Yeah. That sounds good."

My ankles crossed under the table, basking in that comforting warmth in my chest.

I know in my heart that Xander wouldn't even intentionally do anything that made me uncomfortable.

I knew that. I give him crap about it all the time.

These sudden worries were just ruthless, mixing the knowledge I had with how I expected him to handle this and all of it resulting in a huge mess.

I released the nervous tension in my back, the absence of it letting me enjoy my meal even more.

My eyes lifted to the man across from me, deciding to focus on the hand holding his fork.

He did have nice hands I've come to notice.

And he did cut his nails like he mentioned prior.

For some reason...

I followed a vein from his wrist down his forearm, looking over his bicep before his skin disappeared from my view.

I kept my trail up to his face. The hair I remember once despising and still wasn't willing to admit how nicely it suited him regardless. The color in his eyes I could see from here, down to his lips-

God, I was getting way too deep into this.

And it was leading my mind places it probably should be going.

Not yet anyway.

My dream. The night a few days ago.

He told me it would be similar. That those nights were the 'basics'.

Still... even after the basics there was so much more to be discovered.

I could barely keep it together just seeing him shirtless...

My stomach teemed with something familiar, but not at the high rate it was at now.

That anticipated excitement making its debut.

"Something on your mind there?"

My eyes narrowed as he pulled me from my enjoyable thought process.

So, I spit out the first question I could pull from the new frenzy of thoughts.

"Are you blond everywhere?"

He nearly choked on his roll, but ended up recovering impressively quick.

There was an upward curve to his lips, a hint of that playful confidence I wished more than anything would show tonight.

The shiver succeeded in shooting its way down my spine.

"Well, you picked the perfect night to find out."