Strong For Too Long Trilogy ✔️

10. Drowning in Dried Darkness

CHAPTER 10: Drowning in Dried Darkness

Aaron paces in the lounge of our hotel room. My laptop sits on my lap as I'm literally comfortable in my silk nightclothes, he stands stiffened with only simple trousers on and the city of Moscow in the sliding windows behind him to the terraces. It was barely nine in the evening as he reads over his file once again, "Where will you be during the duration of the ball?" He asks me, sternly.

I look up at him in my chemise and pale peach gown over the top, I give him a long look, before moving my laptop from my lap, his eyes stare deeply into mine as I pat the soft cushion. He's wary, hesitant, before sighing and taking a seat, facing me, "I will be where I need to be. Your job is simply to flirt with Elena. If I know Miles as much as what has been described in his files, then I know she means a fair deal to him. What Harrison and I need to do tomorrow is work out the perimeters, the scope of the place, while you read up on Elena, while you work in with your team, Aaron. I know what I am doing, you don't have to worry. You've already seen me, I am much harder to kill now. I need to use these attributes to stop the Continuum from potentially hurting anymore people like me. Just take a few deep breathes, this won't be one of the hardest missions we go on. You won't even have to fight here, okay." I coax him to relax.

He stares deeply into my eyes, "Alright." He whispers.

I raise an eyebrow, "A few mere words and you finally relax, hmm?" I murmur to him.

"I just need to hear your voice now." He sighs in defeat, leaning down and lowers his forehead to mine.

I lean back a little and watch him closely, folding my arms slightly, "Before you get cozy with me, I have a few questions." I start with, watching as he studies me, nodding openly and leaning his elbows on his knees, sliding his fingers over his wrist watch as he waits.

"Pierce-he holds a fatherly tenderness towards me? He's not my Father though." I study him, waiting for confirmation. Slowly, he leans his masculine hands down and I watch in hidden surprise when he glides my sock-covered feet on his legs and softly begins massaging the soles of my feet. I watch closely, knowing I didn't need the massage, but he looked adamant to remove my socks, despite the look in my eyes when I showed I'd preferred to have kept them on. He slides his callous fingers along the smooth skin.

"He was in love with your mother and adapted a certain protectiveness over you when you arrived at the Academy." He murmurs, concentrating on massaging my lower legs, running his fingerprints along the eerily pale skin. I lean my arm against the back of the couch as he snaps his eyes back up to mine.

"Fern is attracted to me, correct?"

"Oh, for goodness sake, he still is?" He asks me, looking ready to break into a sprinting run to get Fern to back off.

I raise an eyebrow, "So, he did before?" I wonder.

He gives me a flat look, "I hoped he was just being a prick." He mumbles.

"So, that's a yes?"

"You have a lot of suitors." He mutters. I study his features closely. Adrenaline sinks into his pores and runs marathons behind his eyes, I tilt my head at him with questioning eyes. He asks permission with his cognac brown eyes, staring deeply, intensely in mine and slowly I gesture with a flick of my lashes down then back up and one leg curls against his muscular, toned back and the other is lifted flush against his ribcage and peck. I was closer, and by closer, I mean I was seated on his bent leg with his nose sliding slowly up against my cheekbone. I curl my dainty fingers against his broadened shoulders, one gliding towards his neck, my thumb flutters against his jawline as he glides his own arms around me, causing my silk gown to fall past my shoulders. He hugs me to him.