Love and War

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Elena's POV

Aiden's words echoed in my head, fueling the anger that was already simmering beneath the surface. He thinks he can just decide things for me? That I'll blindly follow? The frustration bubbled up, and before I knew it, I reached out, grabbing his arm as he turned to leave.

"Wait!" I shouted, yanking him back with more force than I intended.

Aiden stumbled, his balance thrown off, and the next thing I knew, he was crashing to the floor with a heavy thud. The sound reverberated through the room, startling me.

He groaned, his face twisted in pain and irritation, and when he looked up at me from the floor, a deep frown etched across his features. Guilt immediately rushed through me. I didn't mean to pull him that hard.

Without thinking, I dropped down to the floor beside him, worry flashing through me. "Aiden! Are you okay?" I asked, my hands hovering above him as if unsure whether to touch him or keep my distance.

He grunted but didn't respond right away. Instead, his hands shot out, grabbing my shoulders. Before I could react, Aiden pushed me back with a surprising grace, flipping over me and pinning me to the ground in one swift movement. I gasped as his weight pressed me lightly into the floor, our faces inches apart.

The tension between us thickened, the air electric. His breath was warm against my skin, and I could feel my heart racing as our gazes locked, neither of us backing down. There was something dangerous in the way he looked at me, something teasing yet intense.

"You shouldn't have done that," he said, his voice low, laced with amusement.

My eyes widened at the proximity, but I wasn't going to back down. Not to him. I raised an eyebrow, feeling a defiant smirk tug at the corners of my lips. "And what are you going to do about it?" I shot back, trying to hide the fact that my pulse was thundering in my ears.

His eyes darkened, and he inched closer, the distance between us disappearing. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the weight of his presence making it hard to breathe, and yet, I couldn't look away. The challenge in his gaze mirrored my own.

"Oh, I could do a lot," he teased, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine.

For a brief moment, time seemed to slow, the world outside of us fading into nothingness. All I could focus on was the tension crackling between us, his breath against my skin, the sharpness of his gaze as he watched my every move.

I swallowed hard, but instead of backing down, I smirked. "You're not the only one who knows how to play games, Aiden," I whispered, meeting his challenge head-on.

His eyes flickered with something—amusement, maybe surprise—before he brought his face even closer. There was barely an inch between us now.

"Is that so?" he murmured, his voice thick with temptation.

My heart raced in response, but I refused to let him win. I wasn't going to let him have the upper hand here.

"Try me," I dared, my voice low but steady.

For a second, it felt like we were on the edge of something—something neither of us was willing to name, but both of us could feel. Then, just as quickly as the moment had escalated, Aiden chuckled softly, pulling back slightly but not breaking eye contact.

"You're trouble, Elena," he whispered, still hovering over me. "And I'm going to enjoy every minute of it."

I felt a flush rise to my cheeks, but I kept my composure, lifting my chin defiantly. "We'll see who enjoys it more."

He lingered there for a moment longer, his gaze searching mine as if gauging just how far I was willing to push. But then, he rolled off me and stood up, offering me a hand.

Reluctantly, I took it, feeling the lingering heat from his touch. We stood facing each other, the tension still palpable.

I crossed my arms, my gaze sharp on Aiden as he stood there, smug and unyielding. His words replayed in my mind. Sleeping in the same room, like I'm some obedient doll.

"I'm not sleeping in the same room with you," I said firmly, holding his gaze.

Aiden rolled his eyes as if he expected my defiance, then strolled over to the bed with that calm, authoritative air of his. He sat down, his movements slow and deliberate, making it clear that he wasn't taking me seriously.

"Elena, this isn't up for discussion," he said, his tone maddeningly even. "We're married. Married couples sleep in the same room. They show up to family events together." He paused, giving me a pointed look. "It won't look good if we start coming separately all the time."

I could feel the anger bubbling beneath my skin again. "I don't care how it looks," I snapped, my voice rising slightly. "I care about my privacy."

Aiden leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he watched me. "You lost the right to privacy when you said 'I do' at the altar," he said coldly. "You're my wife. And that comes with expectations."

My mouth fell open, ready to fire back, but before I could say anything, there was a sudden knock on the door. We both turned, startled by the interruption.

Aiden shot me a look as if to say, we're not done, before he stood and made his way to the door. He opened it slightly, and I could see Alex standing there, looking unusually serious.

"Aiden," Alex said in a low voice, glancing briefly at me before focusing on Aiden. He leaned in, whispering something that I couldn't quite hear. Whatever it was, Aiden's expression shifted, hardening.

Without another word, Aiden stepped out of the room, his attention entirely focused on Alex. But just as he was about to leave, he paused, turning back to me with a look that was both challenging and final.

"I'll be sleeping in this room tonight," he said, his tone brokering no argument.

And with that, he left, closing the door behind him.

I stood there, stunned, the tension still crackling in the air. I clenched my fists, seething at his arrogance.