there is a small part in the goldfinch that slays me so differently than the rest of the book.
it’s the small exchange between theo and xandra— about thanksgiving. when she asks him if he wants her to pick up any special foods for he and boris to have while she and larry are out.
there’s a certain tenderness that i was not at all expecting and it moved me to tears for some reason
summary: Kind of an in home date night. You two were mostly physical to start. Now you live in a nice apartment and have officially been together for 10 months yay, 5 months officially (emotional and physical relationship). I love the pet name "Dove" ugh my heart, so that's what Xandra is saying. It's not a typo for love in case someone misunderstands that.
includes: softdom!xandra x fem!reader, thoughts are italicized, all in reader’s POV.
warnings: none
inspired by Dangerous ASMR’s audio on youtube
2,378 words
Y/N POV//
My preparation is interrupted by knocking.
"Babe? It's me- why's the door locked?” Xandra asks from outside our apartment, “Worried someone was gonna steal you?"
Since she always texts me when she’s on her way home, I usually unlock the door in time for her to exit the elevator. Obviously today I did not.
I move the plates as quickly as I can, "Hold on! I'm almost done!"
"Almost done with what? Cmon, open up!" she starts to knock again before going quiet, "Whatever."
I hear her key turning the lock so I rush to put the chain lock on the door, "I'm still getting ready!"
Xandra scoffs, "Getting ready?" she looks me up and down through the crack of the door with a wolfish grin, "Mmm getting that sweet ass rea— shit, sorry Mrs.Sullivan!" she smiles at our neighbor. I go back to setting up as she knocks on the door whisper shouting, "Hurry up before I embarrass myself again!"
I only laugh in response.
"I hope you're okay with old lady Sullivan knowing how you like it."
I give everything another once over before opening the door.
She sighs and smiles when I open the door fully, "Finally." After putting her purse down on the side table she draws me in by my waist and places a long kiss on my lips, "I was thinking you were going to keep me out there all night, my dove."
I peck her lips once more before giving her room to take off her heels and rushing off again, "Stay here please!" I head back to the kitchen.
"So what're you up to, hm? What's the big secret?"
"If I told you then it wouldn't be a secret!" I say in a sing song voice. I come back in with a silk tie in hand, "I am gonna need to blindfold you, though."
Xandra chuckles dryly.
"Please?" I pout.
Her eyes shift from the tie to me.
"Please mistress?" I try again.
Xandra smirks, "Hmm alright...but you better not walk me into anything pet, or you'll pay for it later."
"I won't." I give her a quick kiss before covering her eyes.
"Okay, lead on."
I walk her towards the dining room.
"I'm not used to being the one that's blindfolded. Though I can see the appeal."
I gently push down on her shoulders to have her sit after pulling her chair out.
"Okay...sitting." Her head moves as if she could looking around, "That smells really good...like...stew? No...oohhh bourguignon?"
"Yep!" I smile knowing it's her favorite, "Does that sound alright?"
"That sounds very good, but you know I can't eat blindfolded, right?"
"I will take it off when all is ready"
She sighs dramatically, "So mysterious. I guess I'll play along."
"Would you like to try the wine for the evening?" I ask in a posh voice.
Xandra turns her nose to the air and replies with an ever pretentious, "I hope it pairs well with the main course."
I fill her glass, take a sip for myself, and tilt her already upturned face by her chin to give her a deep kiss.
She smiles as we part, "Well thank you." she licks her lips to taste the wine, "Delicious."
"Are you ready to eat?"
"Yes, I'm very ready. I'm excited to see what my love has in store for me tonight." I untie her blindfold and am rewarded with a gasp, "Oh wow you really went all out, candles, wine..." she watches me refill her glass.
I hear her take a sip as I head back to the kitchen.
"Delicious, I wasn't sure if the wine was good or if it was just you, dove. It smells amazing in here, what's the occasion?" she places her glass down.
"Just because?" I reply.
"Just because, huh? I knew I liked you for some reason." she teases.
I smile and bend to give her a quick kiss on her cheek, placing her silverware in front of her, "I do give great head."
"Oh stop, you know thats not the only reason, doll. I adore you because of who you are not what you do for me." she grabs my wrist and pulls me into her lap, "You're my sweet, darling dove. Yes the things you do are wonderful and amazing and you're very thoughtful, but it's just that, the thought behind it all. It's that every time you do something for me it's because you care for me and you want to show me. It doesn't matter what you do, it's how you do it that matters most."
"Ready to eat?" I blush, making her laugh.
Xandra rolls her eyes at my inability to accept a compliment, "Of course." She pats my butt as I head back to the kitchen, "This is amazing. You're amazing." She places her napkin on her lap and sighs, "This really made my day."
"I'm glad to hear it, but there's still more." I take my seat.
"Right, right, of course there's more." Her eyes follow me as I move around, "You always do so much for me, my dove. Let's eat. Cheers!" we clink glasses and dig in.
___________
Noticing Xandra has finished, I try to take her plate so I can soak our dishes.
Key word: try.
"You sit, I'll take care of this. Sometimes I think you might be too nice."
"Is that a bad thing?" I ask.
She laughs, "Oh yeah. I'm very worried that you're secretly a hitman. No, I just—" she sighs, "sometimes I think you try to help others too much and you forget about yourself. You're very selfless and that's a fantastic trait to have, dove, but you have to take care of yourself, too. You're too selfless for your own good, is all."
"I take care of myself enough" I whine.
"No pet. I mean it. I worry sometimes that you'll let people take advantage of you."
"I rather enjoy it when you take advantage of me." a smirk grows on both of our faces.
Xandra dries her hands and starts walking towards where I'm sitting on the counter. She tucks a finger in the waistband of my jeans and tugs me closer to the edge, "Oh? You want me to take advantage of you, do you?" she rests her hands on my thighs, "We'll see about that..." her lips meet mine and we make out for a few heavenly minutes. She soon moves her lips to my neck, biting down to release involuntary sounds from me. So she does it again.
“Stop that!” I giggle into her shoulder.
Xan chuckles lowly, arms secure around my waist, breathing me in.
"I still have something else for you, though." I whisper, finger-combing her long hair.
She kisses my forehead and then my nose, "I'm ready for the rest, sweetheart, but you know this was more than enough already, right?"
"Is it too much?" I scrunch my nose.
"No, it's not that at all—"
"We don't have to if you don't want to—"
"Of course I want it. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's fantastic. Like you." she cups my face in her hands, "I just wanna make sure you understand that I really appreciate you. I can't tell you enough how much it means to me that you would even think about doing something like this for me." Xandra leans her forehead against mine, "My perfect little dove."
She kisses me slowly, I feel her tongue trace my bottom lip before I gently push her back, "Xan..." I warn her with a shy smile.
"Mmm, alright.” Xandra drops her head to my shoulder before backing up. Her hands up in faux surrender, "Sorry!" she pouts, "you're just very irresistible...you and that mouth."
I hop off the counter, "Onward- oh! I almost forgot the blindfold!" after tying it, I pull her by her hand to the next part of her surprise.
"You know, I'm starting to feel like you're trying to tell me you want to change things up, pet."
I freeze, causing her to bump into me, "Do you?" I squeak out.
She laughs, blindly taking hold of my hips, "Relax, I'm just teasing..." she leans closer and whispers, "mistress knows you know your place."
I shiver slightly, earning another laugh, "Um.... w-we're almost there."
"I hope it's not very far. I'm not sure I'm up to walking miles at the moment, that dinner was incredible."
I open the door.
"The bathroom?" she asks.
"Yep." I help her sit on the padded bench.
"Alright...I trust you."
"Do you?" I check the temperature of the water and light some candles.
"Of course I do- what a silly question. I trust you more than I trust myself sometimes. I meant what I said earlier: you are perfect, dove. Always thinking of ways you can please me...make me happy."
I look behind me to see a still blindfolded Xandra smiling to herself.
"And you do a spectacular job, dove. You do make me happy, so very happy. My days are always better with you. You know me better than anyone else."
"No one else has had the pleasure of living with you." I remind her.
She hums in thought, "That and you really care about me like I care about you. Anything for you, my dove."
I check all the candles before turning off the bathroom light.
"Sitting in the dark?" she asks.
"Is that alright?"
"What's not to like? It smells wonderful in here, too, very cozy." she reaches out and wraps an arm around my waist once she finds me, "I can't think of a better way to end the day than a relaxing bubble bath but I don't wanna leave you alone."
"Well- I was gonna...sorta bathe you?" I blush.
"Bathe me?" she grins, "You really want to pamper me, huh? My dear, sweet dove...no."
My smile falls, "What?"
"You've done so much for me already, now it's my turn. This is amazing but the thing I want tonight...” she pulls me to sit on her lap, "the thing I want most right now is to treat you for being so wonderful and kind and thoughtful and generous..." she hums, "caring, loving, supportive, the absolute sweetest. You are just so amazing."
I rest my forehead against hers, the silk blindfold cool against my brow.
"You deserve to be pampered, too. You made me that wonderful dinner, and just the fact that you thought to do this for me is more than enough."
I twist one of her rings around her finger, "But I—"
"Ah ah ah, no buts except yours in that tub."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, dove. I really want to do this so...let me?" she offers a smile that makes me melt.
I nod even though she can’t see- oh wait. I remove the blindfold, laughing at my forgetfulness, “Sorry about that.”
"Thank you" she smiles into a kiss, "Now strip. Usual orders, new context." she leans her butt on the counter and crosses her arms.
I start to undress, "Are you just gonna watch...?"
She taps her chin and tilts her head, "Why not? You know how much I enjoy you with clothes on, so imagine how I feel when you get rid of them."
I fold said clothes and place them on the bench.
"Since you were so keen on it earlier, put this on." she lifts the silk tie from the counter.
I look at it, then at her, and raise my eyebrows.
Xandra smiles, "Yes. I want you blindfolded." She turns me around to put it on, her hands slide down to the curve of my waist when she's done, "I told you, you would pay for it." she whispers, guiding me into the tub, "Careful my dove, gently, there you go" she laughs when I gasp.
"I forgot about the bath salts" I explain.
"I bet that feels wonderful"
"Regretting your decision?" I smile.
"No silly, I'm not changing my mind. I'm very happy that you set yourself up to be treated so wonderfully." She strokes my hair back, "You deserve it."
I hear her stand and something hit the floor, "What are you doing?"
"Me? Oh, just taking my clothes off."
Yes please.
"Is it alright if I wash you from inside the tub?"
Again, yes please.
"Dove?"
I clear my throat, "Yeah- um y-yes"
"I'm just getting the loofah, my love. Getting it warm and wet. It's the soft one don't worry. I won't be rough with you...not tonight." I hear her close the body wash, "Sit up for me, baby." I do as she says and she slides in behind me, "I'm going to start with your back..." repeating slow, soft, gentle circles.
She lifts one arm by the wrist slightly above the water. Starting at the shoulder, moving down to the elbow, and slowly down to my hands. I feel her kiss my nape after she finishes the other arm.
"You can lean back"
My brain stops working when I feel her breasts on my back.
"So good for me..." she mutters to herself as she washes my chest, softly scrubbing back and forth. Over my collarbones and down my sternum.
My breath hitches in my throat.
A smile is evident in her voice, "Does that feel nice, dove?"
"Very" I reply quietly.
Xandra laughs, "I can tell. It's okay if you fall asleep, I'll take it as a compliment." she goes for more soap, "Mmmm next I'll move to your legs... starting with your thighs—"
I jump causing her to laugh.
"Oh! This is why I said something, pet. I know how jumpy you are." she kisses my temple, "Just relax, my love. Only soft touches." she scrubs across my left thigh in small circles before doing the other. Moving down to my knees, bending my legs up to reach my calves and feet. Xan laughs when I do, "I almost forgot how ticklish you are, dove."
I feel her lips against my neck.
"Put your head back for me...that's it. Just feel my hands, and the loofah...the water." she lets out a content hum, "All taking care of you."
prompt: the meaning/origin of their names + their reactions to the definitions. i gave them middle names sorry if you hate them. i used google to find ones i saw fitting the character.
includes: billie dean howard, lana winters, cordelia goode, sally mckenna, audrey tindall, ally mayfair-richards, wilhemina venable, diane sherman, alice macray, mildred ratched, tammy, and xandra terrell.
☆ billie dean howard ☆
name:
• BILLIE = determination, strength
• DEAN = leader
• HOWARD = high defender, chief guardian, noble watchman
reaction:
• she wears a cocky smirk the whole time you read it out
• "We already know I'm in charge, babydoll. Now we know it's been destined since birth."
☆ lana winters ☆
name:
• LANA = shining light, sun ray, calm as still waters, precious, little rock, gentle, soft, tender
• MAUDE = powerful battler
• WINTERS = descendent of winter, time of water in german, in the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain it was a name for a person born in the wintertime having derived from the Old English word wintar meaning wet season
reaction:
• blushes as you define her first name
• feels a sense of pride and surprise for her middle name
• "Wet season? I could have lived without that."
☆ cordelia goode ☆
name:
• CORDELIA = heart, daughter of the sea(-god), jewel of the sea
• PRIMROSE = first rose (of spring)
• GOODE = begins in the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain, it was a name for a person who performed good deeds or acts of kindness
reaction:
• she's an astrology girl so similar to her zodiac she loves learning the meaning behind her name and connecting it to her personality/life
• very thoughtful look on her face as you define her name
• "Why does my name sound made up?"
☆ sally mckenna ☆
name:
• LUCILLE = light
• no middle name
• MCKENNA = born of fire, fiery love
reaction:
• scrunches her nose when you call her lucille, she always hated it
• she was nicknamed 'Silly' when she was a kid because she was always goofing off, overtime it transformed into 'Sally' and she stuck to it
• "Born of fire and died in this hell hole? The universe is a cruel mistress."
☆ audrey tindall ☆
name:
• AUDREY = noble strength
• FAYE = fairy, loyalty
• TINDALL = modern version of tynedale, the valley of the river Tyne in Northumberland, derived from the Celtic word tina meaning 'to flow' and the old English word doel meaning 'valley'
reaction:
• "I am rather like a fairy, aren't I?"
• “You looked this up?! You’re so cute.”
☆ ally mayfair-richards ☆
name:
• ALLYSON = noble, exalted
• COLETTE = people of victory, victorious
• MAYFAIR = an exclusive residential/fashionable district in the West End of London, named after an annual fair held in the district until 1708
• RICHARDS = powerful, brave, ruler
reaction:
• loves the history aspect of her last name, must do research on her own
• "I wonder if my family has any genuine connection to that area."
☆ wilhemina venable ☆
name:
• WILHEMINA = resolute protection, wil meaning will/desire and helm meaning helmet/protection.
• ANNEMIE = he (God) has favored me, bitter grace, favor, sea of bitterness, drop of the sea, star of the sea, rebelliousness, exalted one, wished for child
• VENABLE = hunting ground, a derivative of venari 'to hunt', habitational name from a place called Venables in Eure, France
reaction:
• her first name is dutch/german so i did the same for her middle name
• "Hm...bitter grace? Fitting."
• secretly loves that you put the time into learning about her name
• MINA means love, this makes her roll her eyes dangerously hard
☆ diane sherman ☆
name:
• DIANE = divine, heavenly
• MARA = bitter in hebrew, joy in arabic
• SHERMAN = shearer of woolen garments
reaction:
• tries to hide her grin when you emphasize divine and heavenly
• "So I'm the descendent of wool shearers? I do like to knit so I guess that's something."
☆ alice macray ☆
name:
• ALICE = noble, truth, kind
• MARIGOLD = golden flower
• MACRAY = a name for a prosperous person, Gaelic form of the surname MacRay is Mac Rath, which literally means son of grace or son of prosperity
reaction:
• has you read it again, makes her all smiley
• "Marigold was my great grandmother, love her but mixed emotions on the name."
☆ mildred ratched ☆
name:
• MILDRED = gentle strength
• LOIS = superior, most beautiful, most desirable, renowned fighter, warrior maiden
• RATCHED = i couldn't find anything ?
reaction:
• rolls her eyes and nudges your shoulder when you draw out most desirable
• "I actually made up ratched when I got older. I read it in a book somewhere, can't remember but I liked it. Thought it was tough.
☆ tammy ☆
name:
• TAMARA = palm tree
• EDITH = rich, happy
• ROBINSON = son of robin, bright with fame
reaction:
• son of robin makes her laugh
• "I'm a rich and happy palm tree. All my dreams have come true."
☆ xandra terrell ☆
name:
• ALEXANDRA = helper, defender
• FAUVE = wild, uninhibited
• TERRELL = was a name for a stubborn or obstinate person, derived from the Old French word tirer, which means to draw
reaction:
• "Wild? Sure. Uninhibited...? Maybe. But I am not stubborn. Would you say I'm stubborn? Actually don't answer that."