Aeress

She shut the door behind her and took in a deep breath. The scent of him immediately came to her.

Low and behold, the man who haunted her sat on her couch, lounging around like he owned the place (technically, he did?). Her first instinct was to yell at him, but she didn't think he deserved that much effort, so she ignored him and went about her self.

She held her breath as she neared him, speeding up intentionally past him, knowing that no matter how much she hated him, she would always feel a pull toward him. She reached her bedroom and shut the door behind her.

The room itself was simple, decorated with darker hues of blue and grey. This was her second favorite place to stay, besides her old place in Chicago, which was her next destination.

Her heart was racing. She couldn't believe he was in her place. How did he get in? The answer was obvious: Premier can get in anywhere, no matter the obstacles. She wished he was someone different, someone she could avoid. But with Warrick, it was impossible.

"Get yourself together!" Aeress whispered frantically to herself. "He's just a man." Yeah, a man who's touched her like no one else, who was on her mind constantly.

Maybe he would leave and she wouldn't have to deal with him at all. But that wasn't like Warrick, now, was it?

Aeress struggled to get the skirt off. And while she was the fittest she'd ever been in her life, that didn't mean she was skin and bones, far from it actually. Even with powers of a goddess, she could never fully get rid of her imperfections.

"Let me."

Aeress literally jumped in surprise, and very few people could do that to her nowadays. After a quick thought, she stood still against her better judgement and allowed him to approach her again. She'd be hopping around all night if she didn't accept his help. Yeah, that was the reason.

His fingers brushed against her bare back as he began pulling the zipper down. Chills ran up her spine, which was covered by dark blue, overlapping scales, raising goosebumps in the process. She swallowed and steadied her breath. She blinked, once, twice. Calm down, Aeress, he's just a man. She was in charge, she had all the power.

And while she felt her knees weaken, it was true. Everything was in her control.

As he reached the bottom, he inhaled sharply. So he noticed she wore nothing underneath! "Aeress," Warrick breathed out.

She almost forgot everything and fought the desire to lean into him. Instead she stepped away from him and marched into the bathroom. Aeress made a point of locking the door behind her with a rather obnoxious slam.

With her top and skirt on the smooth, tiled floor, she removed the gold bands off her arms and pulled on a nearly sheer, floral robe. Her most private parts were carefully hidden. She braided her hair back in a simple style and washed her face of any makeup.

She was finally accustomed to the person she saw in the mirror after so many months of adjusting. Her once tan skin had a light blue, glittering tint to it, shimmering here and there whenever hit by light. Dark blue nails. Eyes tinted red. Inky black locks. So completely different from the face she had known all her life. A fusion of Aeress Lupyn and the mother of all werewolves.

A lot of things were different now.

She looked to the bathroom door. Too many things.

She couldn't hide in the bathroom anymore. Aeress straightened her stance. She hid from no one.

She twisted the silver knob and opened the door to reveal that he was standing at the edge of her bed.

The way he looked at her when his eyes landed on her attire made her feel like he was disrobing her without so much as laying a finger on her. Warmth spread from her chest and snaked out along her arms and belly, and even lower to places she wish would actually listen to her. And she looked at him head on, unflinching. She was through with being intimidated by anyone a long time ago.

He folded his arms. "Still not gonna speak, huh?" She could tell something was different about him. She was used to him ignoring her the best he could in return, but maybe he realized she could go on forever with this?

Silence followed. Need she say more?

With just a subtle movement, he went from looking relaxed to tensed in no time at all. "I'm done playing these games, Aeress." Her excitement spiked, like a shot to her pulse. The way his eyes cam ablaze, she missed it, wanted it even.

Well, I'm not.

"Aeress," he repeated, and his subtle Irish accent popped out suddenly. "I won't play along any more. You will talk to me."

She couldn't help but smirk. You wanna bet? She didn't get a foot out before he was right there, inches from her face, breath fanning across her cheekbones.

Wow, she really had forgotten what a view his eyes were, but they were so dark this time around, anguished by something which Aeress knew all to well, she had been living with it this last year. They were both breathing hard, trying to anticipate each other's next move. She darted, but he was faster. He grabbed a hold of her and tossed her onto the bed. He swallowed her gasp with his mouth, pressing into her with most of his weight. The feeling of his heaviness was the only bliss she wanted.

The contact of their lips shocked her, giving him opportunity to explore. Before she could control her own instincts, she sucked on him, savoring his taste and fucking his mouth like it was the most natural thing in the world. And it was. There was nothing else she wanted to do. But now, that wasn't true, she wanted to do more.

She reached in between their bodies and cupped him, roughly grabbing him and grinding her throbbing core against him, wishing he was inside, taking her over the edge she was so desperately clinging to.

Aeress wanted to fall, to let go... but she couldn't.

Her eyes opened wide and she immediately realized what she was doing, something she promised herself she wouldn't. This was a mistake. Aeress pressed a firm hand again his chest and shoved. He let up just enough so that he was kneeling on the mattress, and he held her legs around his hips. She laid there, looking up at him with narrowed, heated eyes. "Get. Off."

This time, it was he who cupped her, but he made contact with naked flesh. "Haven't you missed this?"

She bit back a vicious moan and firmly pulled his hand away, as much as it pained her to do so. She made sure she was looking his straight in the eyes when she said, "no." She raised her legs and untangled herself from him.

"Now get away from me." Okay, so maybe she was going to talk. "And don't ever touch me like that. Don't think because I reacted that it meant anything." She opened her door and gestured to the entry way.

He chuckled. The nerve he had! When he came to a stand, she couldn't help but noticeable the obvious bulge in his pants. "Is that what you think? The bond forced you?"

Aeress swallowed. "Well, obviously. Nothing else could explain it."

"It's been a year, I'm done giving you space. We tried your way, it hasn't fixed anything. Now we're going to try my way-"

"There's nothing to be fixed!" She suddenly screamed. She burst with anger and hurt. "It can't ever be fixed. Sex won't fix it. You fucked everything, it's too late! I won't forgive you, I can't, I won't let you hurt me again." Her eyes burned as tears threatened to come forth.

"Aeress." He attempted to grab her.

"No!" She shouted, throwing the nearest item at him. Warrick just barely dodged the glass frame before it shattered against the nearest all. "Get out! Get out! Get the fuck out!"

She waited as he watched her. His neck was bleeding as a shard sliced against his skin. "Is this really what you want? For us to be miserable for the rest of our lives?"

"I didn't make this decision, Warrick. You did."

"You are the most stubborn person I've ever met, you know that?"

"At least I'm not a lying bastard."

"If you refuse to talk to me, fine. But at least talk to Shaya." His eyes hardened. He finally starting moving toward the exit.

"Why would I do that?"

"Because no matter how much you deny it, you still love her." He shut the door behind him.

Aeress got underneath the covers and cried to herself. She was a mess. She was so fucked up inside, filled with bitterness and longing. No matter how furious she was and no matter how mean she became, none of it took away the anguish. She wanted Shaya, but didn't know if she would ever trust her enough ever again. She didn't know if she could ever get the picture of Warrick and Shaya kissing out of her head.

She picked up her phone and looked up their messages.

The least she could do was hear her out.

Aeress: Meet me tomorrow. Our place at 6 pm. Don't be late.

Shaya: Of course. Thank you.

Aeress sighed, shut off her phone, and worried for what tomorrow would bring.