a thousand instincts (#1)

Serve Justice (41)

Aeress

    She woke up to the presence of Warrick, and pleasure coerced through her veins at the thought of it. His hand was gliding down her inky black locks and she curled into a ball on his lap with her cheek against his pectoral. With his other hand was a phone, he was texting someone and he repeatedly had to deny FaceTime calls from the same number. 

    She didn't bother to be curious. If it meant ruining the moment of peace between them, she would rather not. 

    He seemed to give up on whoever he was communicating with and put his phone down. She snuggled in closer to him. 

    "You don't have much time left, Aeress," he warned her, breaking that moment of peace she was desperate to hold on to. 

    She didn't respond for a very long time. She simply held onto him with a tight grip, wishing they were in some hotel room in Paris or London, like a couple on their honeymoon, making love and having the time of their lives. She wished she had met him at some wedding in a funny way which could be retold endlessly. But it was foolish wishing. "I just don't think I can," she muttered.

    He sighed. "Aeress-" 

    Her eyes shot up to meet his and she shook her head in denial. "I mean it, Warrick. I don't want too hurt anymore. It feels like the moment I entered this fucking world... it's been nothing but pain. I don't want to hurt anymore. I'm sick and tired of it. I feel like it'll never be over!" 

    She attempted to rise off of him, but he was quicker, and pulled her down so that she was straddling him as he sat. He cradled her face with his hands and studied her features as she fought off the tears. "I'm sorry, Aeress, I am. You're right, this world has been cruel to you. Too cruel. You're so close, Aeress. You can't give up now." 

    Aeress felt helpless. "Let's just go, just you and me. We can go, anywhere you want, just away from here-" 

    The look on his face stopped her. "If I could spare you from any of this pain, I would. I'd take everything... Every moment of when you felt fear, sadness, or suffering. I can't," his jaw clenched with raw anger, "and for that I am sorry." 

    He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers. It was electric, how softly he kissed her, with care that filled her with warmth. "You can't give up, Aeress. Two more, that's it. Then you're done, and I'll take care of everything, and you'll never have to work a day in your life, I'll make sure of it." 

     She studied his face and found truth there. At least he genuinely believed what he said. "You can't say things like that, give me hope that I can go back to a normal life." She traced his cheekbone with her thumb, feeling as the stubble threatened to grow. "When even I have to admit that it's not true. I don't even know why I said what I said," she felt defeated, "it's impossible." 

     He rested his forehead on hers. "It could be possible," he responded quietly, "if I were a different man or you had a different mate." 

     She laughed at such a silly statement. "What if I wasn't me? Someone trained, collected, understanding. What if I hadn't gone to that stupid nightclub? What if is a dark hole we don't want to go down right now." 

     He nodded. "You are right." 

     She shook her head at him, playing with his copper locks. "Are you alright? You've been especially agreeable lately. It's so unlike you. I hope it's not because you feel sorry for me. I'm telling you right now, I will not be beaten down every time just to get some affection from you."