Dangerously Real

A soft knock came a few minutes after Aaron left the room.

I looked up from where I was sitting.

“Come in,” I said quietly, my voice still a little unsteady.

The door opened gently, and a well-dressed woman stepped inside holding a long garment bag. 

She offered a polite smile.

“Mr. Briggs sent this for you,” she said, carefully placing the bag on the chair near the mirror before slipping out as quietly as she had entered.

I stared at the bag for a long moment, curiosity and nervousness mixing in my chest.

Finally, I walked over and slowly unzipped it.

My breath caught the second I saw the dress.

It was stunning. A deep, rich emerald silk that shimmered softly under the light. The fabric looked incredibly smooth and luxurious, the cut elegant yet daring. 

It didn’t just look expensive. It looked like it had been chosen with purpose.

I hesitated for only a second before slipping out of my previous clothes and carefully putting on the new dress. 

When I stepped in front of the full-length mirror and turned slightly, my eyes widened. 

The dress hugged my body perfectly, hugging every curve in a way that made me pause.

For a moment, I just stood there, running my fingers lightly over the cool, silky fabric.

Was this really me? I looked different. 

More polished. 

Almost like I belonged in Aaron’s world.

I reached behind my back to pull up the zipper, but it glided up smoothly only halfway before stopping completely. 

No matter how I twisted or angled my body, it refused to move any further.

“Seriously?” I muttered under my breath, frustration creeping in.

Just then, another knock sounded at the door.

My heart skipped a beat. 

“Aaron?” I called out.

The door opened.

Aaron stepped in and stopped abruptly the moment his eyes landed on me. 

Through the mirror, I watched as his gaze moved over me slowly, taking in every detail.

The air in the room suddenly felt heavier, charged with something I couldn’t quite name.

“Don’t just stand there,” I said quickly, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. “The zipper’s stuck.”

He didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he closed the door behind him and stepped closer. 

His presence filled the space, making my pulse quicken.

“Turn slightly,” he instructed, his voice low and quiet.

I did as he asked. His fingers brushed lightly against my lower back as he found the zipper.

He began pulling it up with deliberate slowness, each inch feeling more intense than the last. 

The gentle graze of his knuckles against my bare skin sent shivers racing down my spine.

The closeness, the silence, the way he took his time, everything made my heart beat faster.

When the zipper finally reached the top, his hand lingered there for a second longer than necessary. 

Then he leaned down and pressed a warm, open-mouthed kiss to the side of my neck. 

I let out a soft moan as heat flashed through my body. His lips lingered, sending sparks straight to my core.

Before I could catch my breath, he gently turned me around to face him and captured my lips in a deep, hungry kiss. 

I moaned his name softly against his mouth, “Aaron…” 

My fingers slid into his messy hair, pulling him closer as the kiss quickly grew more intense. 

Our tongues met, and soft sounds of pleasure filled the quiet room.

His chest pressed firmly against mine with every breath, the thin silk of the dress doing little to dull the sensation.

The kiss became hotter, more urgent.

Without breaking it, Aaron gripped my waist firmly, lifted me smoothly, and set me on the edge of the dressing table, stepping between my legs. 

He pulled me closer until our bodies were flush together, his warmth surrounding me completely.

Breathless, I finally pulled back just enough to whisper shakily against his lips, “Aaron… this is all supposed to be fake…”

His dark eyes burned into mine, intense and full of want. 

That familiar dangerous smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he tightened his grip on my waist.

“Yeah?” he murmured, his voice rough with desire. “But you’re too damn tempting to remember that right now.”

He didn’t give me a chance to respond. He silenced me with another deep, possessive kiss, pressing his chest flush against mine once more, stealing every thought from my mind.

Everything around us seemed to fade away.

Then a sudden, sharp knock on the door interrupted us.

We broke apart instantly, both of us breathing heavily.

Aaron’s expression shifted in a heartbeat, the heat replaced by his usual composed mask.

“Looks like my parents want to see us already,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

My stomach tightened. “Your parents?”

He nodded, then looked at me again, his eyes softening just a fraction. 

“Stay close to me tonight.”

We left the room together and walked back into the main hall. 

The atmosphere felt noticeably heavier now. 

People’s eyes followed us with more interest, whispers floating through the crowd.

Aaron’s hand brushed lightly against mine, not quite holding it, but close enough to feel grounding.

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs stood together near the center, radiating effortless power and control. 

As we approached, Mr. Briggs’ sharp, observant gaze locked onto me immediately.

“So,” he said calmly, his voice carrying quiet authority, “this is the girl.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied, keeping my tone steady even though my nerves were buzzing.

“You attend the same school as Aaron.”

“Yes, sir.”

A voice suddenly cut in from the side of the room. 

“Isn’t she the one involved in that situation last week?”

The words hung in the air. 

Silence fell around us. My chest tightened painfully as heat rushed to my face.

Before I could even think of a response, Aaron spoke, his voice calm but firm. “It’s been handled.”

Mr. Briggs studied us both for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he gave a small nod. “We’ll speak another time.”

And just like that, the conversation ended. But the weight of it lingered.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of polite smiles, endless introductions, and eyes that seemed to watch us a little too closely.

Aaron stayed near me the entire time, not always touching, but always present, a silent shield against the curious crowd.

Later, during the quiet drive back to my house, the car was filled with a comfortable but loaded silence.

When we finally stopped in front of my home, I reached for the door handle.

“You handled yourself well tonight,” Aaron said suddenly, breaking the quiet.

I paused and turned to look at him. “That sounds like a review.”

“It is.” His gaze held mine steadily. “From my father.”

Something about those words made my chest tighten with a mix of warmth and anxiety.

This arrangement wasn’t over. 

If anything, it felt like it had only just begun.

I nodded and stepped out of the car. “Goodnight, Aaron.”

“Goodnight.”

I walked toward the front door, my mind still spinning with everything that had happened. 

The moment I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, my phone buzzed in my hand.

I froze.

Slowly, I pulled it out. Unknown number.

My fingers trembled slightly as I opened the messages.

"Enjoy tonight while it lasts."

Another message appeared right after.

"Because by tomorrow, everyone will know who you really are."

My grip tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white. 

A cold feeling settled in my stomach. 

I already knew exactly who had sent it.