𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐲 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 | hotchniss

"𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆"- Time, mystical time cuttin' me open, then healin' me fine

Long ass title😞

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She had practically moved in with him the following week, tiny parts of her slowly placed and scattered around his home— things he never saw in her dull apartment back then, as if she were too afraid to do the same in her own space; to claim the place to make it her own.

Now, her belongings could be found in almost every corner of his house: her favorite mug in the kitchen sink, her books shifting from the shelf to the living room sofa, and a picture frame of Aaron and Jack that he knew had originally belonged to him was back on display on her bedside table.

Jack's happiness knew no bounds. Having his favorite people together under one roof was just as exciting as having Emily return from London. The brunette tucking him into bed, reading him stories, and sharing dinners with her and his father was something Aaron hadn't realized his son needed so much. Emily's presence seemed to heal an unseen ailment Jack had suffered from; his nightmares had become rare, and he was far more calm and relaxed at bedtime. If he ever ended up in their bed at night, it was simply to ensure that Emily's presence was real and not merely a dream like those he had of his deceased mother.

All worries had dissipated. It felt so good that Aaron was afraid to admit he was happy again, that he was calm and content. He feared that the one in charge of his life could read his mind and ruin it for him— after all, everything good he had ever experienced had turned tragic so he had a sense that whoever that was wasn't acting in his favor.

But maybe they were? Because this time, his happiness felt different; it didn't seem temporary. After all, there was no reason for them to keep reuniting years after years like they were drawn back to each other. Now, he was confident she would stay with him forever— no more pulling away.

His body no longer felt the need to wake him in the middle of the night to watch her sleep. Doubts no longer clouded his mind, and it wasn't because he had grown indifferent; it was because he simply knew this was forever.

The ring he had carried since that night after Alaska conveyed the same thing.

"No marks..." she uttered with a giggle as he found a sensitive spot on her neck. "I can't keep wearing turtlenecks to work JJ has an eye for that sort of stuff" she continued, her eyes closed as she played with the ends of his hair. "Then use makeup" he murmured, sucking her skin harder, almost defiantly.

She grabbed his face and pulled it back. "No. You'll just have to be very careful not to leave any marks" she said, "at least not on my neck" she added seductively. Aaron laughed, flipping them over on the sofa. "Understood." Their laughter collided and faded into silence as their lips met.

It was, of course, risky, but that wasn't their intention—it had started innocently enough. They were watching a movie, engrossed in the film and for the first time interested in it perhaps because they actually chose the movie this time, the remote lay on her stomach and her feet resting on his lap as he massaged them absentmindedly. But once the credits rolled, it was as if they suddenly remembered their closeness. Aaron slowly pulled her body toward him, her laughter encouraging him to continue.

She then positioned herself on his lap, taking the place her feet had occupied. She kissed him, a brief, simple kiss that intensified as his fingers began to work their way up her shirt, button by button.

It was a roller coaster ride they couldn't get off of, but now they had to stop "Come on!" she whined as he stood up. Aaron sighed and walked to the table behind the sofa to answer his ringing phone.

Emily groaned, picking up his shirt from the floor, wearing it with displeasure. She untangled her hair from under the fabric and approached him. "It was Jess" he explained, saying that Jessica couldn't change her work schedule and therefore wouldn't be able to watch Jack tomorrow.