Mag-log inBracing himself for the long overdue conversation about Ethan, the one he should have insisted on before he fucking got her a ring the first time, Aaron kept her close. Anticipating her trying to run. Her eyes flooded with tears as they returned to him, but she didn't try to leave his arms. Instead, she slid her arms around his waist and grabbed onto his shirt."It's too hard, okay?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Where's the shit eating grin he should have on his face? What the fuck did you say, Cam?" asked Kate, getting unexpectedly riled up. "Easy," said Nathan, holding Kate back as she started walking towards a cowering Cam, he and Flynn alternating between hiding behind each other. "You're not the only one who has been waiting for him to come back, Keira," said Nathan, his gaze meeting Aaron's. "I thought you hated me now," Aaron said, sparing his friend a small grin. "Remember when I said she wouldn't be okay here?
Keira's eyes followed Aaron all around the House of Assassins as Cameron and Flynn gave him the grand tour. Her eyes stalked him. Whenever hentried to catch her eye, her gaze would drop. She'd go right back to staring when he looked away. Did she resent his presence that much? Was he making her uncomfortable just by being next to her? Was it about the condition he imposed on their marriage? She sounded so confident, so playful when they were talking about it. It was so them. Then again, they did have hands on each other. He wasn't trying to make her fuck him. That wasn't the point. He just needed her to know their marriage wouldn't be like his parents'. No separate bedrooms. No not knowing what was going on with the other. And sure as shit no letting each other fuck other people. If she didn't want him touching her, then they could both damn well be celibate. He couldn't sit next to her during the day pretending he was okay with knowing someone else was inside he
Unable to help himself, he grabbed her breasts and shoved himself deep into her, holding on hard as he laid his lips on hers. Her response to him was so vulnerable and affectionate, so unlike when they first started this. He couldn't stop himself from letting the hope seep in."Fuck this," he said into her mouth, withdrawing from her suddenly. She turned on him quickly, surprise and hurt on her face. He regretted his rashness instantly. "Sorry. I just needed to see your face," he said, rushing back to her to pick her up and put her back on the desk. She grinned at him smugly. What the fuck was he letting her see? He smashed his lips into hers, yanking the panties around her thighs clean off and tossing them to the floor. His mouth still glued to hers as they devoured each other's lips, he slid his shaft back inside her just as abruptly as he left her. Her mouth attached itself onto his so hard that it meant going slower than he knew she liked.
Panting and moaning, they each made quick work of the other's clothing, her reaching for his belt buckle and him for the zipper of her dress. He stepped back from her, just long enough to watch her step out of her dress while he pulled down his pants. He inhaled sharply as he took her in. He never thought he'd get to see her step out of a dress ever again. The yearning made his chest tighten as he watched her disarm herself. Make herself vulnerable for him. No to the marriage on paper alone. They'd go back to basics. How it was in the beginning. The relentless time between the sheets. Those beautiful nights when she devoted her body to his. The pleasure they gave each other slowly numbed the pain of the past. He wouldn't hope for what came after the pleasure and contentment though. Didn't expect her to love him again. Their eyes met, both of them half naked in her office in broad daylight. "I'll fuck you, hold you, kiss you, make myself available to you
Present day — 2021, August 30thKeira deserved so much better than having a marriage forced on her. She was a big girl though. She asked for him to be here. Aaron felt no remorse about being back in her life. Just six months ago, he was declaring his love to another woman. Openly talking to both Keira and Emily about his future with the latter. This arrangement could not possibly bring Keira joy after he made her listen to that. What would their marriage look like? No trust or love like what was once between them. Could he really give her that kind of life? Too much had happened between them for him to dare to hope for the things he promised her a year ago. All that preaching he did in Caines about being unable to treat her the way Ethan did and he kissed her. Again and again. Shared a bed with her. Danced with her. Fucked with her head while still being with Emily. He hated himself for it. Maybe she hated him too.Then there was how pissed off
Keira felt the tension in the air just as her siblings did. Some of the world's greatest killers were assembled in the heart of what was once Absconditus, on the border of Imperium and Venatores. There was enough bad blood flowing between the founding families of the House of Assassins to drown all of Warlanda. And yet, even just a glimpse of Aaron was like finding him in that restaurant one and half years ago all over again. Brand new sensations. Life breathed back into her. Their last names meant that they were born on opposite sides, destined to kill each other. Nothing could erase that. Rivers of blood flowed beneath the bridge that connected them. Still, the way her aching heart yearned for him was irrefutable. "This is happening. We're all just going to have to get the fuck over it," said Keira, clasping her shaking hands behind her back as she and Aaron took their first steps away from their siblings, towards each other. Unreadable eyes looked her ove







