AIDEN
"Don't freak out. I don't need you to say it back. Your beautiful eyes give you away. I just want to hold you. Kiss you," I said coaxingly, my gaze lingering on her lips as I closed in on her.
I took her hands in mine to stop her from going any further, at least until I was ready. She wasn't running away the way my lips on hers made her feel. It was okay if she didn't say it, as long as I could taste her mouth properly and take my time with her.
"Tell me then, since girls don't propose, how do men do it?" I asked in between kisses.
I felt her body relax under my touch. She let me take her back into my arms and pull her closer. My mouth took hers every which way I knew how. I withdrew slightly, squeezing her hands gently before giving her a moment to answer my question.
"On one knee with flowers while holding the ring he gave her to make her feel safe and saying cheesy shit like 'Hope and peace is being next to you. So Keira, give me hope, give me peace. Be next to me always,'" she replied, intertwining our fingers.
I chuckled as we watched her manipulate my fingers with her own.
"Is that what I sound like?" I asked, extracting my fingers from hers carefully.
She scowled at me, evidently not appreciative of this development. A forgiving beam graced her face moments later when I picked her up bridal style. Our eyes met. Something so pure flowed between us it really must have been love. I saw my whole future in her eyes. What could I do, besotted fool that I was, but smile back?
"Yes. First you have to get me to go out with you though," she said, wrapping her arms around my neck like she was entitled to being in my arms.
"I'm going home with you to see your crazy family and I still don't even get g-word rights? Damn, maybe I should run for the hills after all," I said, walking us to the bed.
Keira was special though. She brought me back to life during a time in my life when everything felt pointless. I would protect that feeling, the woman who made me happier than I had any right to be, with all I was.
No sooner had I laid her down on the bed and gotten on top of her than she wrapped her legs around me. Then she threw me down onto my back.
"You do what you need to, Condron. I've gotten used to being up here though. You're going to have a time of it getting me to let go now," she said meaningfully as her hands roamed over my chest.
I dragged my fingers through her hair and just looked at her. The day absolutely terrified me. Messed up as it sounded, I wasn't afraid until I realized me being hunted by Kate put Keira in danger too.
Nevertheless, I'd go through it all again to share this moment with her. It was a total cliché, but even after letting myself admit that we were dangerous together, I couldn't stop being drawn in by her.
The way she touched me, let me touch her that night was nothing short of pure symbolism of our newly declared love. She smiled differently. Was demanding in a different way. She wanted to be touched, to be loved, to be held, to be told again that I loved her. We were probably louder than ever, because I just kept telling her all the things she wanted to hear and she finally let herself accept me and how much she wanted me.
2020, July 27th
It was late morning. We slept in. I watched her anxious face while lying in bed. A sheet was draped lazily over my lower half as she got dressed. Keira was getting ready to make the call that would put an end to our time away from the real world.
Maybe not being naked in my arms gave her some sort of strength. Maybe she felt less defenseless as she armed her person with weapons. We were somewhat apprehensive about accepting Nathan's offer, but it had to happen. I wanted it over with so I could take her back to Caspira with me.
"Show me where they all are,* I said, voice hoarse as I slid out of bed.
I came up behind her and gathered her hair up into a fist, Then I nuzzled and kissed her neck and shoulders. My itchy fingers pulled her bra straps down her arms next. When I was satisfied with my handiwork, I slid my hands back up and onto her chest, fondling her breasts.
"Pretty sure you know how to find them, Denny," she said with a tender smile, pulling the bra straps back up, exasperated.
"Not these," I said, slipping my insistent hands into the cups and laying hands on her breasts again. "The other weapons on your person. Show me how to dress you."
She turned to me with only a pencil skirt and underwear on, took my hands and laid them on her body. Then she cautiously dragged our hands to where the weapons on her body were hidden.
"This one goes in my hair," she said, handing me a dart. "Don't touch the tip. It's poisonous," she said, closing my fist around it while inhaling deeply.
Then she turned her back on me and made a bun. I stepped forward and slid the dart into place as per her instruction.
"Will it hold?" I asked, uncertain but mesmerized by what was playing out between us.
In that moment, I wanted to know everything about her all at once.
"It should do. Next," she said, reaching for her spare gun. "This goes around my thigh. You don't need help with that, do you Denny?" she asked playfully as she handed it to me.
Her hand lingered on mine like she was reluctant to let go. The tension in the air was unmistakable.
"With touching your thigh? No help needed at all," I said, intending to put her at ease with light flirtation.
Instead my voice was patient. Careful. I got sucked into the intimacy that seemed to surround us. The air lacked oxygen. I held my breath in disbelief as she surrender her gun to me. Keira took an age to get dressed because of the extra admin involved in arming herself. I watched her do it many times.
Never in a million years did I think she would let me help her do it. I wasn't allowed to undress her either because she was afraid I'd accidentally get hurt. Alarming and disarming herself was an extremely personal process.
"Don't make me change my mind," she sassed me, but she finally removed her hand from the side piece.
Her tone of voice was equally patient. Affectionate.
We were completely enchanted with each other. Caught up in existing in our own little world. Probably had been from day one.
Handing me weapon after weapon to strap to her body wasn't I love you or a proposal, but it was something. A calm settled over me. We were in this together, even if it wasn't going to be just us anymore.
"All done," I said, buttoning up her blouse for her.
Another silent inhale. Fear tainted her beautiful dark eyes. She turned away from me abruptly.
Please don't change your mind went through my head as I turned away to pick up my boxers off the floor.
My heart raced wildly in my rib cage. Excitement? Happiness? An unparalleled frenzy coursed through me. When would I learn? How did I manage to go and fall in love yet again? It was so much worse this time. No arrangements made for a country's sake. She was completely my choice.
After putting my boxers on, I turned back to her. She sat on the edge of the bed, twiddling her thumbs. Unrivaled, sinful beauty. Aphrodite would be jealous of her cheekbones. The golden ratio was calculated with her face in mind. Somehow, against all odds, she wanted me.
I grabbed her purse off the nightstand on my way back to her. Then I handed it to her. The weight of my body made the mattress dip as I sat down next to her.
"Ready to rejoin the world?" she asked as she dug the phone Nathan gave her out of the purse.
"No," I admitted, taking her empty hand in mine. "But I am ready to take you home."
"Then let's get this over with," she said, hitting the dial button.
***Disclaimer: now switching back to timeline 2.