Logan

165. I Won't

*Aeron's POV*

"Did you speak with him yet?" Bohannon asks.

I sigh, "I managed to ask him a few question before Natalie came back to see him. He doesn't know anything, just gave me a height and brief description before they got away. Obviously it was smoky, and this person must've known what they were doing."

"We're still in the dark about this case, as you know, time is of the essence."

"Yes sir," I cleared my throat.

"How's surveillance going?"

"Natalie's only been to three locations so far tonight varying between the hospital, Captain Ripley's house and the diner, from my understanding she'll be resting at Captain Ripley's tonight, and as for tomorrow I'm not sure."

Bohannon made a sound of approval, "She won't need complete round the clock since she's moving minimally. She starts on Monday, I'll give her plenty to do to keep her busy."

"You don't think there's a connection?" I ask, "Her father was shot."

"Whomever it was is laying low, this was just a warning. If he was a true target, we'd be having a different conversation right now."

"Yes sir." I rounded the hallway to the elevator, pressing the down button. "I'm in the elevator, I'll call if something else happens."

I hung up and Natalie walked in beside me. "Hey, I thought you were at home?"

I shrugged, "You know me, when duty calls I'm there." When she didn't say anything else I reached my hand out and rubbed her back. I could tell she was tired, and there was something else. "Did something else happen? You seem...off."

Natalie leaned on my shoulder and closed her eyes, "Family drama."

"Come here, love," I wrapped her in my arms and felt her body relax. Her hands were draped around my waist, and my arms were tight around her.

"Everything is just so up in the air right now, and I'm tired." I kissed her forehead and I heard a sigh of calm. There was a moment of peace between us, it felt so good to be needed. My grip on her body was firm, and I heard a sound escape her lips. Comfort? Pleasure? Either way, I willed myself not to ruin this moment with everything she wanted solace from. Now's not the time.

The elevator seized and jostled, sending us to the floor. Legs tangled and the light flickered, I reached my arm out so she wouldn't hit her head. My body towered over her, and we simply looked at each other.

"Oh god, the elevator's stuck, what if we're stuck in here and I die in an elevator?" She starts to panic, and I can sense she's going to be in a panic attack soon if I don't think fast. I get on my knees and pull her thighs to me, then lean forward on her body, applying pressure.

"Breathe, hey, look at me, come on we're going to breathe," I grab her gaze and she focuses on me, I shuffle and apply pressure where it always helped her, when we were together, when we weren't together...

I hear her take a couple of steady breaths. We look at each other, she's breathing out of her mouth, in through her nose, "More," she whimpers, and I'm fully on top, I can feel her shaking beneath me. "Good, yes," she nods her approval and we continue to breathe like this. Natalie looks at me and then at my mouth. Our lips are inches from each other, no not now. I move slightly and I realize my body is betraying me, but as I move she lets out the tiniest moan.

"Sorry," I say, still adjusting myself, "Just give me a minute." I move again and she arches her back.

"Aeron." I could let her go, but she looks up at me, and she thinks to say something but she moves her legs again and I groan.

"Better stop that or I'm going to have to kiss you." I blurt, and her eyes widen.

"So then do it." Our lips are so close I can feel them brush mine, and I can't help but move again and she moans in my mouth. My hands shake and I am holding my self-control by the tiniest thread. Her lips part and her tongue grazes my own, every part of me wants this.

I can't, I shouldn't.

Control yourself for fucks sake.

The elevator dings and I am moving as fast as humanly possible, pulling her up with me, lifting her to her feet and her hands are on my chest to brace herself. I gain my bearings and I try to say something but the words don't come out, there are no fucking words. I want to claim her and lay her back down somewhere soft and make her moan again, somewhere I don't have to restrain myself.

But I can't. I won't.

"Thank you for keeping me calm in there," she breaks the silence and gets on her tiptoes to kiss me again, and I tilt my face so she kisses my cheek.

"Natalie, I want to-" I stop and then start again, "You're going through something, something huge, and you need a friend. I know I can make all these feelings go away, I'm safe, but not right now. I love you too much to be some distraction, and I know you care for Desmond. I love you far too much to take advantage of what happened in there."

I kissed her forehead, "I'll text you tomorrow." I walk away before she can say anything, the last thing I want is for this to blow up and I end up hurting her. Again.