Stay

thirteen.

Aaliyah's body ached.

It ached in places she thought could only ache around that time of month. It throbbed in a way she felt uncomfortable thinking about, but she would take the pain ten times over if it meant waking up every morning in her current position.

Neither said anything. The only light in the room emanating from the glow of the moon.

She could hear his heartbeat thudding against his rib cage, while his left hand lightly caressed the small of her back. Despite the intimate activities that had taken place over the past few hours, his touch sent chills up her spine and warmed her face.

Her arm tucked under her side, the other one rested on his sun tattoo. He was up; she was sure of it. Almost as sure as she was that he knew she was also awake.

"Why the sun?" She questioned. After all, she was 99.9% she was right and he was awake.

"It was not by choice." Make that 100% sure. "It is the official symbol of the Bratva. All Captain's are required to have one."

"To show association?"

"To show commitment."

She pulled her lips together and then added. "I am surprised he allowed you to make such an oath." By he, she meant Ra's Al Ghul.

"Ra's will do whatever he feels benefits the League."

She paused. "What does he think of me?"

She stayed still even as she felt him tense. "You assume he knows of you."

"I assume he knows of everyone who enters Nanda Parbat." She countered, and felt his chuckle through his chest.

"He thinks nothing. You are my mistress. There is no need for further explanation." To anyone else, his words would come off as cold, but she knew better. She knew the underlying meaning, and finally, just how him making her his mistress was more for her safety than his carnal desires. A mistress would not cause for alarm or raise suspicions. No one would question her place there.

Not even Ra's Al Ghul.

"Well." She started quietly and then smiled wryly against his solid build. "Now I am."

She could practically see the small trace of a smile on his face at her small joke. The thought widened her own grin. She adored this side of him. This relaxed, not as on edge side. It gave the heir to the demon human like qualities that captivated her soul.

And her heart.

"Will you train me?"

This time, he tensed and looked down at her. "What?"

She sighed and looked up to meet his gaze, temporarily left in awe at the beauty of his eyes with just the light from the night sky. "You permit Sara to train me, even Roy and John, but not yourself." She looked him right in the eye. "Why?"

"It is a matter of time." He replied, but she sensed that wasn't all.

"And?"

"For me to train you would mean my interest in you would be questioned." When she still showed confusion, he continued. "The future Ra's Al Ghul would not waste time training his mistress unless she was more than that."

"Oh." She said plainly, now understanding what he meant. Him taking the time out to work with her would raise questions. Questions about just what she meant to him. "Is it hard?" He raised his eyebrow and she blushed profusely. "I me-"

She squealed when he flipped them over so he was hovering over her, his head moving down as he kissed the valley between her breast.

"Only with you." He answered against her soft skin, and she chewed on her bottom lip.  Her blush stayed because she got the feeling he was referring to something else.