C U R I O S I T Y | Aemond Targaryen

F I F T Y

Cordelia's P.O.V.

"I fucked you because I fell in love with you."

Without a thought, from pure impulse, I strike him across the cheek.

"No."

I declare in an unsettling tone while watching his cheek turn an agitated shade of pink from the slap of my hand. Stumbling back from him, pulling my chin free from his grasp, I'm forced to stop backing away because the edge of the couch hits my back. I shake my head wildly, refusing to acknowledge his confession, and suck in a nervously dreadful breath.

"Yes, baby." Aemond whispers with a tone of heartache while closing the distance between us. Not giving a shit about the ache in his cheek, he brings his hands to cradle the sides of my face as he repeats himself in a desperate voice. "Yes."

My heart feels like it is being torn apart all over again, and tears sting my eyes as my thoughts keep repeating his lie in my mind. The room feels suffocating, like the walls are closing in on me, all because he refuses to let me move on properly. I can hear the pounding of my heart in my ears, the rapid beats echoing the chaos in my mind.

He couldn't possibly love me... Does he even know what love is? 

If Aemond actually meant his words, he would have never gotten involved with me while still handling this merger. He would have waited until the time was right, or simply end things with the merger to be with me. Though instead of doing any of those things, he lied and hid things from me, but for the sake of what?

For the sake of sleeping with me? Or for my attention? Whatever the reason may be, I know it is not for love... This isn't love.

My body trembles uncontrollably, a mixture of resentment, heartbreak, and confusion coursing through my veins. Aemond's gentle touch on my face is so tender and comforting, but it feels like it's smothering me as my mind becomes a mess over his confession. I try to pull my face out of his hands, but his grip tightens, trapping me in his grasp and making me hold his gaze. 

"I fell in love with that damn dimple smile, with that ridiculous laugh." Aemond whispers with his expression full of remorse and longing, while his gaze searches for something in mine. Shaking my head in his coddling hands, refusing to believe a word that comes out of his mouth, I watch as he hums, like he's telling me all his secrets. "The way you pick at your pinkie finger-"

"No... Aemond. Stop it." 

I whimper with tears threatening to spill, with my heart pounding in my throat. I want to scream, to unleash the pain and anger within me, but my voice feels trapped from how he's holding me with such desperation. Grabbing one of his wrists, like it will help me not break into more pieces, I mutter, with my books wanting to slip out of my arm. 

"You're being mean."

"I fell in love with that light that always seems to be in your eyes." Aemond's voice cracks with anguish, his thumbs graze over my cheeks like they will soothe me enough to believe him. "I love how you're scared to hurt a fly, how you trip over your own feet." 

The ache in my chest deepens, as if my heart is being ripped apart piece by excruciating piece. My body wants to melt into his touch like it always does when in his hands, but my mind is roaring from all the pain he's put me through. I want to believe him, wish every word is genuine, but how can I after everything?

Why didn't he say these things when I trusted him? Why did he have to lie and hide things from me? Why couldn't he just be the man I thought he was from the beginning?

"I don't want to hear this from you."

Stuttering on my words, I bite my bottom lip to stop it from quivering right in front of him. He tilts his head only an inch then, as if my words are doing just as much damage to him as his words are doing to me. Sliding a hand to cradle the back of my neck, Aemond slips his other arm to wrap around my waist and brings us flush together.