::CHAPTER 29::

A couple of weeks later, I peered around the wall and watched on as Loki stood talking to Ares. They seemed to be discussing something important judging by Loki's furrowed brow and animated hand gestures. Ares wore no true expression but I could tell he was pretty smug over the conversation. Preoccupied as I'd been with adjusting to the reality of having a Pet, I had failed to notice how chummy the pair had gotten.

"Break it up, you two," I said motioning for Ares to follow me, "Training in five minutes." Ares frowned but didn't say a word as he trailed beside me. Loki didn't seem too happy about my intrusion if his folded arms were anything to go by; a very human gesture that he got from Ana. I shrugged it off and moved along. There was nothing that he could do about my interrupting either way. This was my home, not his. I allowed him to visit so that he could see Ana. No other reason.

I understood now what being bonded to a Pet meant and I thought it was best not to separate the two. It would have undoubtedly lead to an unhappy Ana. An unhappy Ana meant an unhappy Ria. Loki was not allowed to cause my Pet any distress. Only I could do so. I was the primary, if not only, source of distress in this castle and I'd be damned if Loki took that privilege from me.

So he came by often enough and I let him.

Now I had a new concern. What on earth was he and Ares talking about? I considered demanding answers but instinct warned me against it. It would not do to make the ones plotting wary of your suspicions. Basic military strategy. It was unwise and I was sure that there were much better ways that I could think of to get the information.

"Thank you so much, Dier," I caught Ria's voice drifting over from nearby, "You're the best." Frowning, I moved around the corner to see who she was talking to. I knew no one by the name of Dier. Looking for this strange new person, I saw no one but Ria hugging the soldier that I'd assigned her.

"Who were you talking to?"

"My guard."

"His name is not Dier," I frowned at the lie.

"I know that," she rolled her eyes, "But he isn't allowed to talk to me and I don't know his name. So I gave him one."

"And why, may I ask, is he 'the best'? I could hear your gushing all the way over here."

"Oh…" she said, "I have a date tonight and−."

"I'm sorry, a what?"

"A date. It's when two peop−."

"I know what a date is," I cut across, "I just  wasn't aware that you were doing it."

"I am. It's my third one."

"Third?" my focus shifted to her guard, "And you knew of these…dates?"

"Do you have to say it like it's a dirty word?" she grumbled, "It was only dinner and then a show at the grand theatre. I was safe. I asked for Dier keep watch."

"We will talk later."

"Stop, Alejo."

I paused at that. She − a human − had the gall to command me. And in my own home. In front of one of my soldier no less. She would speak to me as if I was not the Master of the castle and all in it.

I turned on her, "You are threading on dangerous waters, Ria." She met my gaze with as much fire in her own. I could sense the temper rising in the tiny thing standing in front of me and it made me pause. For some reason, her temper doused my own with ice and water. I should have been furious that she would dare stand against me at a time where others would look to the ground. It didn't. Not really.

It occurred to me that I'd grown used to her and vice versa. She was comfortable with me. She didn't fear me as much as she once did because I knew without a doubt that my face had been livid. My eyes colder than it had been all week and my mouth curled downward in a way that would ordinarily make every soldier working under me cringe.

And still she stood up to me.

I was irritated and intrigued in equal measures. She was glowering up at me with her fists stuck into her hips and her lower lip jutting out like a petulant child. Oh yes, she was not very happy with me.

"Dier didn't do anything bad. I was there when you instructed him. You ordered him not to speak to me and he didn't. You told him that he was to do as I asked, watch over me and ensure that I always get back to the castle safely. He did that. He followed his orders. He shouldn't be punished for it."

"Hmm. I suppose he did," I glanced at the immortal.

"Good. Okay, so my date is coming to meet me here and he wants to meet you while he's at it."

"So?"

"So be nice."

"I'm always nice," I flashed a smile showing off fangs that would never retract.

"He's a good guy, Al. He just wants to meet my Master."

"Old school kind of man. How respectable. Is he food?"

"Yes he's human," she smiled in spite of how stern she tried to make her voice, "Please don't eat him."

"Since you asked so nicely," I gave my most gallant bow.

"Cute," she sniffed  bumping against my shoulder as she walked past.

I laughed. A full bodied laugh that I was getting used to doing. It felt good laughing a real laugh. Exhilarating even. I had learnt that Ria's emotions weren't all bad. I've embraced a few and rejected the others. Laughing with genuine mirth and joy was one of them. A safe one that I'd kept.

The intercom beeped and the guard out front alerted us that someone was being escorted up to the castle. 'Dier' went to get Ria and we all waited to greet the child who thought he was worthy of my Pet.

When he came in, she went over to give him a hug and peck on the lips. He complimented her short, black dress that was apparently 'perfectly artsy' for the party tonight. She grinned and already I knew that I didn't like him.

He came over and held out a hand. I opened my mouth on reflex but stopped the thought that nearly slipped out: who gave you permission to approach me? Instead I stood behind my word and did as I'd promised. I took the boy's hand and gave  it  a quick shake. "Hello, sir. I'm Marlon. Very nice to meet you," he beamed. I promised to be nice but even still, I didn't return the smile.

Marlon was alive. I think that counted as nice enough for me. "Pleasure," I replied, "Always nice to meet a friend of Ria's."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'd love to have you for dinner sometime," I said and caught the look Ria shot me. I smiled at them both.

"That would be great. When−?"

"Actually we really should get going, Marlon," Ria cut across, "Don't want to be late."

"Right right," he nodded fussing over his starched shirt and imaginary lint on his jacket.

"I'll meet you outside. I just have to go grab my bag."

He agreed and left after a friendly wave at me. Oh yes, his pretty head would look even better off his shoulders. "Handsome," I commented. He was. Irritatingly so. I hadn't expected that from a human date.

"Right?" she grinned, "Caroline thought so too." She started up the stairs to go for her bag. Carol knew about this guy? And she didn't say anything?

I followed her up to her room where she was just sliding the bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you later," she smiled and made to leave. She didn't get far. I was standing in her path.

"What are you doing?" she frowned.

"I don't like him."

"Why not?"

"Because I…because he…he's too…" I scowled, "I don't need to explain anything to you."

"Yes, you do. You're making me late for my date."

"I don't want you to go out with him."

"Alejo, you might have forgotten this but I'm being held captive here. You've made me feel − uh − welcomed enough. You've made sure that I've gotten all that I need, but I'm still a prisoner in this place. I need freedom to do some things on my own. Dating for one."

"Why?"

"Because I'm human," she sighed, "I need human contact. Hell, I need affection from another being. I'm locked in here all the time and when I'm at school Dier keeps almost everyone at arm's length. I'm not even allowed to talk to him properly. And my sister is my sister. I need more than that."

"Alright. I understand. Does it have to be from him?"

"Who else would I get it from?" she scoffed.

I knew what I was expected to say in this situation. I knew what she wanted me to say. But I stayed silent. I didn't say 'me' even when somehow the word seemed to be screaming in the room because it was the word meant to fill this silence.

"Exactly," Ria said collecting herself and raising her head when I didn't respond. She didn't need me. She wanted me, but she could do without me. If she wanted she could move on with whichever guy caught her eye. That was obvious in this moment.

And still I didn't say anything.

"I'll see you later tonight," she tucked a flyaway strand behind her ear. My hand moved before my mind was aware of it. It was a grossly unsettling thing, reflexes. The flare of emotion that came with it just now made me sway a little. It had felt like something close to panic; an emotion I'd learnt from Ria. What I couldn't tell was whether the panic was hers or mine.

"Are you alright? You don't look so hot," she grabbed my arm to steady me. I blinked the dizziness away.

"Why would you want to date that Kids Meal when you have−?"

"Did you just call my date a number one with fries?" she giggled with one of her habitual eye rolls.

"Why?" I repeated.

"He's nice with a decent job, handsome, great at drama and  he's a gentleman. Marlon's as good as any other guy and we have things in common."

"Are you two officially together?"

"…no."

"I just don't like the idea of you dating. In fact I hate sharing you with other men, period."

"Why Alejo, are we jealous?" she teased but the laughter didn't reach her eyes.

"Whatever it is I'm feeling, I wish it were a person. So I could boil and drown it in a vat of its own blood and they'd never live to see another day."

"Romantic," she sniffed.

"Clearly."

"Seeing as we're talking about sharing, I hate sharing you with other women. But at least you know that I've never had sex with this guy. I've never gone to bed with him after feeding with you because I value our relationship too much to do that."

"And you don't want to lose your virginity to him," I frowned, "I can tell. You like him but not nearly that much."

"That's a plus," she shuffled her feet.

"Stay home tonight. Call it off."

"Why? What's waiting for me here?"

My hand still blocked her path, but she could easily leave from the other direction. I loathed that question. It didn't have anything waiting on her here. I had nothing that I was willing to give her. She wanted a relationship. I didn't have relationships. So there was no reason for her to back out of her date now. I felt my fingers curl against the walls.

Our heads were close and I could smell the spearmint on her breath. It was a vulnerable question but she looked up at me with the most defiant pair of green eyes, narrowed on a dare. She was daring me to lie. To tell her that I was here. That she could have me if she stayed. And I could have lied too. I did it all the time. But I didn't this one time. I have no idea why I didn't just say what she wanted to hear.

Maybe I was going soft. Maybe I had a soft spot for her especially. Maybe I knew she'd 'call me out on my bullshit' as Loki would say. Either way, I didn't tell the lie. Perhaps, I thought, I knew deep down that this would work better this way.

She leaned forward a fraction. That was all the movement it took for her forehead to rest against my own. I blinked down at her. "What's waiting for me here, Alejo?" she asked breath warm against my mouth, "What?" I felt more than saw her move to slant her mouth over mine.

I pulled away. Standing to my full height, I'd avoided the kiss and saw her face fall just a little before she collected herself.

"Nothing's waiting for you," I said and gave some semblance of a smile, "Go on, before Kid's Meal begins to worry."

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Four hours had gone and Alejo was pacing up and down the castle. He paced in the dungeons, he paced around the North Tower, he paced in the training rooms, he paced in the hallways. Loki had left after he'd made the terrible decision to tease his brother.

After miraculously dodging the UV blade that had been flung at him, Loki was not likely to ever ask Alejo if he was already missing his Pet a second time. In fact he hadn't stuck around long the first time around. When he dashed out of the way to avoid being hit, he made a B-line for the door and didn't bother to say goodbye to Ana. Ana on the other hand watched Alejo's every movement with knowing eyes.

She was smart enough not to comment on it. She just sat and glanced at him now and then. She'd seen his reaction to a soldier who had looked at him too hard a few minutes ago. She hoped the man recovered well.

When he couldn't stand the sight of those curious eyes on him, he banned her from looking at him for the rest of the night. She didn't even know people did that.

Either way, she retreated to her own room to avoid breeching the new ban. Alejo was in no state of mind to be toyed with. The immortal was in a foul mood and had been prone to smashing some of the more delicate decorations in the house whenever his temper flared.

He was formidable on a regular day, but tonight everyone avoided him. The man was setting tasks that were impossible and even when the tasks were somehow completed he would roar, "This is what I asked for, notwhat I fucking wanted!" or something equally befuddling. So it was no surprise that once people spotted him, they spun around and headed in the other direction before he noticed.

It was probably why, when the door opened, he turned to the soldier walking in and was ready to snap and take out his irritation on him. He froze midsentence when Ria came inside after him. Alejo checked his watch. She'd been gone for nearly five hours. It would be morning in a bit.

"Back," she nodded at him and then left to go upstairs.

"Back? Nearly five hours and all she can say is 'back'?" he rounded on the soldier. Dier shrugged. "Tell me what happened on this date." Alejo demanded.

"It is not my place to say, sir," Dier said but trailed off as he spotted another soldier standing behind Alejo. The other guy was shaking his head, pointing at Alejo's back and running a thumb across his throat. Dier was confused for a moment until he met Alejo's eyes again.

"Excuse you?" the immortal asked, "Did you just say 'not your place'?"

"I…" Dier's voice trailed off. He felt suddenly cold on the inside. The frigid stare Alejo pinned him with made him rethink that comment and every life choice he'd ever made that day. The blue in those irises was in no way normal. Perhaps it came with the age or perhaps the power, but not even immortals had eyes like that. The irises were too pale next to the black of the pupil giving the blue an even more ethereal look about it. There was fury in them touched with frustration and Dier had a feeling that he'd better fix this soon.

"Alejo," Ria called. Both men turned their attention to the a barefooted Ria standing on the staircase, "Can we talk?"

He nodded briefly before shooting Dier one last look and heading up the stairs. He didn't see the soldier give a sigh of relief and disappear through the nearest door.

Alejo opened his mouth as he reached her but she had already turned and began walking up the stairs again. Deciding to wait until they were somewhere more private, he stayed quiet and walked up the stairs behind her. She passed her floor and his until they wound up at Alejo's sister's old study.

He waited for Ria to say something first. "I talked to Ana," she started, "She told me about what happened tonight." He took a calming breath and thought good, acceptable, non-violent thoughts. Ria wasn't supposed to know about that. He'd been right to assume that his men wouldn't breathe a word but he hadn't expected the snitch to be the Ana.

Ria stared at him but couldn't guess at his thoughts. He had barely reacted to her words at all if not for the single, raised brow.

"What is it that you want? You don't want me one minute. Then you do in the next. Then you want me for yourself. Then you're all for me going on a date. Then you want me again." She had her fists on her hips in that way she loved doing. She was a little ball of anger right now and Alejo couldn't help but chuckle because damn it she was adorable. "Stop laughing at me," she grumbled though the corner of her mouth kicked up a fraction.

"Fine. Yes, Little Red. I want you. I want you and I don't want to share. I don’t want you dating and I don't want you sleeping with anyone else. But I do not feel the need to put myself in a relationship to have what I want."

"I told Marlon that I couldn't see him again."

"You…" he trailed off totally caught off guard, "You did, did you?"

"After I spent the entire night wishing that you hadn't pulled away before I could kiss you. It didn't seem fair to keep things up with him, knowing that he isn't the one I want."

"That's stupid."

"I know!" she tossed her hands into the air, "I ended things with a perfectly nice, normal guy for…you."

"I think if I was capable of it, my feelings would have been hurt by that," his brow furrowed, "I think."

"Oh you know it's true," she scoffed plopping down onto the couch swing, "This − what we would have − would not healthy. And yet it's what I want. We've gone through this enough times. So what do we do?"

Alejo swung one leg over to the other side of the couch swing and sat straddling it. She shifted and did the same so that they mirrored each other. Both sat looking at the other, but neither said a word. It was a weighty silence but no one broke it for a while.

"I say we take a test drive," he said, "Try us out and see where it takes us." She raised a brow. Of all the things, she had not expected him to say that. "What do you say? Girlfriend for a week?" he asked. Correction: of all the things, she had not expected him to say that.

She blinked a few times and settled on the single most quizzical expression that he'd seen in over two hundred years. Alejo leaned away from her a bit and waited for her response. He may not have had the most empathy in the world, but he was very much aware of what kind of decision this was for her to make.

He was Alejo Mercutio Veracci. He did not date. He was not built to belong to another. He was too possessive over what was his. He was too wayward to be a decent boyfriend. But for the first time, he was sitting with a woman who knew all of this − knew him − inside and out. A woman who still wanted him in spite of it. He didn't particularly like the idea of a relationship, but he was a man who liked new things. New things that kept him interested. He wanted to try it out for himself. After all, when next was he going to meet a woman who was clearly messed up in the head enough to take this long to respond. Most people would have said 'no' by now. Adamantly too.

Ria wasn't afraid of the insanity of his request. It brought a smile to his face. He was sure she'd say no but the fact that she hadn't responded yet made him extremely curious to know what exactly was going on in her mind.

They never broke their gaze. They just sat there waiting for the ball the drop. Alejo had to admit that a large part of him wanted her to said yes, though he'd be neither surprised nor truly disappointed if it went the other way.

He didn't interrupt her at all. The idea of dating him − even for such a short time period − would take a lot of thought. You didn't just say 'yes' to being the girlfriend of a known, sadistic murderer on a whim. He understood that. Their current, friendly relationship didn't change who he was or what he'd done. He was positive that she had at least that much on her mind.

"I don't think that would be a good idea," she sighed finally with a shake of her head. He gave a short nod to let her know that he accepted her decision. "But against my better judgment, I'm going to say yes," she rolled her eyes to the ceiling with a 'What the hell am I doing' sort of look on her face. The grin that crossed his face was entirely reflexive.

Alejo might not have realized, and if he did he'd never admit to it, but deep down he had really wanted this.

"You're sure about this?" he confirmed, "You and I. Together for a week. In a relationship."

"Yes, but I have my conditions," she folded her arms.

"I will not stop hurting people. Part of having a boyfriend is accepting his personality. Disorders and all."

"I…hadn't actually considered asking you to do that," she frowned, "I kind of assumed that you would never go for it."

"Interesting. You believe you have the power to bargain with me, but you won't use that power to try to make me 'better'. What a peculiar woman you are, Little Red. Oh I know. It's that. You want me to stop calling you Little Red?"

"No. You can go ahead," she shook her head. She'd deny it but she secretly liked the pet name.

"Then what is it then?"

"Exclusivity. This relationship is going to be mutually exclusive. No Caroline or Darla or any other woman…or man," she added as an afterthought giving him a suspicious once over.

"That's doable," he smiled, "and I don't appreciate that insinuation."

"Two centuries is a long time. S'all I'm sayin'."

"You cheeky thing," he shook his head.

"So um…it's almost morning," she peered at her watch.

"Yes, and?"

"And you should get to a room where sunlight isn't going to get to you."

"Ah yes. You're right. I should get to bed. As should you. You haven't slept all night."

"I know."

They got to their feet with a sense of finality in the air. She fidgeted a bit. It wasn't outright but he picked up on it. Alejo didn't care to find out so he didn't ask. He was more concerned with getting to the safety of his room.

They made it to Alejo's floor and he frowned when he noticed that Ria was moving as if to continue down to her floor. He grabbed the back of her blouse. It was almost comical the way he could stop her dead in her tracks with only two fingers.

"Where are you going?"

"To my room."

"Why?"

"To sleep, duh."

"Is there something abhorrent about my room?"

"No, there's something abhorrent in your room," she said trying to hide a smile.

"Ha ha," he said roll of his eyes catching her teasing tone, "Ria, I would prefer it if you slept in mine."

"Well if it's what you prefer, Master," she said.

He knew she only ever used that title disparagingly because she didn't approve of it. And he also knew that she used it to keep up her own bravado. He smiled. His Pet − er − girlfriend was nervous. It was, dare he say, sort of adorable. "Come on then," he motioned for her to follow him but she stayed rooted to the spot.

Alejo let out a sigh. All of this was not necessary. She had been in his room many times before. There was nothing different about it all of sudden.

"What now?" he asked.

"I have to go get clothes from my room to sleep in. I can't sleep in jeans."

"I have things. Come in."

She followed me inside and stood to the side a little awkwardly. "I have a shower in through there. You probably never noticed it," I pointed at the door that blended near perfectly with the wall. Her eyes squinted a bit before widening.

"Now that's awesome. How did you even−?" she went up to the door and ran her hand across it, jumping when it slid back and to the side. He shook his head at her, admittedly pretty amused. He got her a towel, a pair of new boxers that were a tad small for him and a shirt.

In the shower, Ria took that time to herself to really deal with what was going on here. On one hand she cursed herself for even considering saying yes, far less actually going through with it. This was madness. Who the hell would see what she'd seen and still want to go along with this. Even the fact that there was a timeline on their relationship showed that this was his overly clinical way of dealing with things. She was something that made him want to experiment and that was all. This was a way to get her out of his system. She knew it.

On the other hand though, she was internally squealing and grinning from ear to ear because damn it she was happy. In spite of everything that proved that there was nothing normal or healthy about this, she did like Alejo. She liked him a lot. She had a damn crush on the man. A grown woman − absurd lack of height aside − with a crush. She was too old for this.

She couldn't help it. She teased him mercilessly to hide it most times, and the attitude was almost as much a cover as it was her personality. But under it all, she did have a thing for the man.

He was all long lashes, perfectly coifed hair and gorgeous, blue eyes. Tall, well built and lean with just enough muscle in the places that he needed them. He had a gracefulness and odd perfection that came with his immortality because of their heightened sense of balance and their flawless cellular structure. It gave them the kind of skin humans paid fortunes to imitate. His gaze was often cold but when she could wring a authentic smile out of him, God his face lit up. When he laughed it was something else entirely. You could almost forget the darkness lying deep inside of him. His face was all faultless symmetry and angles; not pretty but definitely handsome.

They spent a lot of his free time together and she had a difficult time keeping things friendly. And not just because he seemed to get his kicks out of pissing her off. She'd look over and watch him sculpting something with wet clay smudged on his forehead and feel the urge to wipe it away if just to touch him. To feel that cool, not entirely human skin beneath her finger tips. Maybe muss up that dark hair of his that seemed never out of place and oh so immaculate.

She knew when she started falling for sure. She knew the exactly day and time. It was that last damned kiss they'd shared. That last soft and yet burning, blazing, scorching hot kiss. The memory had lead her to find pleasure in her own touch that day; deeper and longer than she'd ever had. And with thoughts of one Alejo Veracci on the brain no less. She'd wanted him then. She'd tried blaming the branding between them but she knew better.

And here she was. In his shower. Waiting to put on his underwear and his shirt and climb into his bed in his room and sleep beside him. "Damn it all," she murmured and shut off the shower. She dried off and dressed, taking her time and willing the butterflies inside her to all die a quick death. With a deep breath, she left.

She stepped into the room to see a bare bottomed Alejo just pulling his boxers up to his hips. Boxers not unlike the ones she sported now. He turned around and his eyes grazed over her before he said, "I like it." She moved a little, watching the oversized button down move with her. She nodded with a little smile on her face, "Yeah, I like it too."

"Lights off," he said and the room was thrown into darkness. Ria gasped and stepped back on instinct. On some level, she did trust him but Alejo was not a man you wanted to be in a pitch dark room with. Much less without warning. "I apologize. I should have told you I was about to do that," he murmured catching the echoes of her anxiety. She knew that he could still see well enough, but she couldn't make out a thing.

"Lights dimmed. Sub-setting low lights," he said. The room brightened just enough to cast a soft glow. She breathed easier then.

He went to the bed and took a seat, looking at her with open curiosity. She wasn't the only one who had noticed the changed dynamic between the them. He'd thought the transition would have been easy. Clearly they had to learn to get close to each other in this way. It was not the same.

 Ria took his curious expression for expectancy. And to be fair, he did look pretty expectant in that moment. She tugged on the hem of his shirt and wondered exactly what it was her new boyfriend − damn it was difficult to pair that title with Alejo − wanted from her.

"Do…do we kiss goodnight?" she asked walking toward the bed. He blinked up at her, not anticipating that question at all. He narrowed his eyes, "Would you like to?"

On the inside she was doing a jig and screaming yes to the heavens. But on the outside she gave a non-committal shrug, "Why not? We are dating now, I guess."

A tiny smile pulled up the corner of his mouth. Once she was near enough, he rose to his feet and circled a hand around her wrist. A soft tug and she tumbled into his chest with a laugh. Teasing. Teasing was good. This was familiar for them.

"Are you going to lay one on me or do I have to do it?" she asked taunting him. He scoffed in response and just as quickly, he sobered up.

"Good night, Little Red," he murmured into the deafening silence.

"Good night, Alejo."

Her voice faded when he took hold of her chin. His stare was absolute. There was nearly too much tension between them for a simple good night kiss. Far too much.

Alejo had no idea what made him do it, but he found himself murmuring an apology, "I shouldn't have rejected you like that earlier. Forgive me."

He didn't need to tell her. This was clearly the first time he'd given a real apology to another person and meant it. Granted he'd never actually said that he was sorry and he'd more demanded forgiveness than asked for it, but it was the best he could do and she accepted it. He could see that much in the way he eyes warmed. She hadn't thought to expect it of him so it was the thought that counted.

She didn't say anything. Ria knew this man. She knew that he'd feel weird about this whole thing. Responding to his first apology would make things even more odd so she just looked at him and let him see that she understood.

Touching the wrist of the hand that held her chin, she tiptoed up to him. Just before her eyes shuttered closed, she noticed his gaze drop to her lips.

A second later, she felt him. His mouth covered hers in a kiss that was in no way chaste. It didn't simply say 'goodnight'. It said 'I want you'. It said 'I need you'. And when she responded to it, he could almost hear her give him permission inside his head.

Her mouth opened and he wasted no time in taking full advantage of that. He didn't kiss like the untrained schoolboy inside the stalls of the girl's bathroom. He didn't shove his tongue inside or make it impossible to see it as sexy. No, Alejo had been in this world for too long to lack that finesse. He French kissed the way it was meant to be; tiny flicks inside her mouth that was both tasting and caressing. It rocked her deep to feel his warm breath mingling with her own. She felt like the most delectable woman to ever live the way he ran his tongue over her lower lip. It was as if she was made of strawberries and cream.

Enough was never enough.

There was a throbbing in lower, more desperate places. She knew he caught the scent of her. Ordinarily she would have felt embarrassed for getting hot and bothered over a good night kiss. Not this time. This time she felt his erection pressed against her. It was full, hard and painted all sorts of naughty ideas in her head. "Ria," he pulled back on a startled gasp, "You're broadcasting."

Images of tangled, nude bodies and him delving inside her had smacked into his mind without warning. It was all raw and hot and passionate and fuelled by her own emotions. He'd never felt any of that while having sex. It had always been a physical thing. An outlet to get off. Emotions never played a part.

But he'd felt it when she'd broadcasted. It gave him a bit of a headache and it was all too new, but damn  it those images were all kinds of hot. He could feel his cock throb at the recent memory. Oh he most definitely wanted to try this with emotions. Her broadcasting had been the most sexually satisfying six seconds of his existence.

"I don't want to sleep," she breathed against his lips.

"We don't have to."

"Could we," she paused as the feeling of his hand gripping her hip, "do something else?"

His eyes narrowed. A lot of other people would have seen that as suspicion or anger or irritation. She saw the way they darkened and the desire laying low in them. That was his 'yes'.

She smiled and pulled him closer for another kiss. Her hands cupped his face and she took this moment to pour out everything she'd hid from him lately; all the times she wanted to kiss him, the times she wanted to touch him, the times she itched to tussle his hair, the times she just wanted to say that she wanted him.

And he caught it all. It broadcasted over to him. Snapshots of memory. All rapid and impossible to discern but he got the gist of it. It took him a second to shake it all off but damn if he wasn't harder than he'd been in a while. She hadn't even stopped kissing him yet. Alejo found that he really really wanted her right now. If she denied him, he had no idea what he'd do. He was in no position to even consider that possibility.

He leaned closer and deepened their lip-lock, feeling a strange heat low in his stomach. It wasn't unpleasant. He reached down and ran his hands up her thighs, raising the hem of the shirt and boxers so that his hands could curve around warm flesh.

She shivered at the touch. It was so cool and claiming. So close the curve of her ass. If things were to go past this ongoing goodnight kiss, she didn't think she could refuse him. "Would you let me?" he asked as if reading her mind.

His voice sounded off; tight.

She nipped at his lower lip, slipping her tongue between his incisors. It was answer enough as far as he was concerned at this point.

He moved his hand a fraction and, the next thing she knew, the boxers were tugged and pooled around her ankles. The cool air in the room blew against her wet skin and she stifled the groan. The man was terrible. Absolutely terrible. His hands were running up her sides and she could feel her nipples harden and brush against the shirt.

"Alejo…" she whispered.

He paused, never having heard his name sound that way. As if she was clinging to it. He liked that. He didn't know why exactly, but he did. "I'm taking this off," he said decidedly. Before she could point out that he'd already taken off her underwear so this wasn't a big deal, he was already getting to it.

One by one, the buttons were gone. He parted the shirt as if opening curtains. His eyes raked her entire form and he liked what he saw. She, on the other hand, blushed at his scrutiny. Now she saw why he'd needed to announce it.

He walked her out of the boxers around her ankles and brushed the shirt off her shoulders where they fell to the floor. He smiled. She was so freckly. It was such a rarity in humans that he couldn't look away. The sun kissed flecks dotting her shoulders and the upper curves of her breasts were beautiful. He wished he had the patience to appreciate them more, but he did not. His cock was an impatient thing and he wanted to be inside her sooner rather than later.

Alejo picked her up and placed her on the bed, taking a moment to appreciate the naked body lying before him. Open. Warm. Soft. Moist. Ready. His.

Her breasts seemed too large for her petite frame, but they fit perfectly in his hands. He didn’t miss the way she arched toward him as he squeezed and molded each one with enviable patience and attention. Age had taught him that patience. It was that alone that helped him to ignore the throbbing flesh pressing flush against the inside of his boxers.

“Alejo…please,” she murmured, slim fingers moving over to touch herself. He removed her hand and suckled her slick fingers into his mouth. He then smiled to himself, kissing his way down her body. It was tense and expectant when he moved to the fair curls between her thighs. They were short and neat; so fair that he almost didn’t notice them. It was trimmed into the shape of an arrow’s head and he smiled openly up at  her this time. She’d been expecting something like this.

Raising each leg over his shoulders, he leaned in and put his mouth to her. She cried out at the slow intrusion of his tongue dipping inside of her. It was probing and gentle. Tasting the dampness waiting for him. He wanted to bury himself in the tight entrance that was already clenching around his tongue. She was a greedy thing, his Little Red. He grew even harder at the image of her clenching that very same way around his erection.

He kissed those nether lips like he'd kissed the now gasping ones on her face; slow and skilled.

Parting her folds with a single lick, he drew a figure eight around the quivering flesh and dampened nub of sensitive nerves bundled at the very top. She moaned her wonton pleasure at that touch. He brought his mouth closer. Alejo had a certain, sinful talent with his tongue and Ria was beginning to resent and worship it in equal measure.

Every nerve ending in her body was coming apart and readying her for an orgasm like she’d never felt. The closer she got, the more that tongue worked wonders she couldn’t even describe. Fingers tangled in his hair, she pulled him somehow closer and – that wicked wicked man – he smiled against her swollen, throbbing flesh.

A mewling noise left her just as her body began to move with the first few tremors. Just when she thought she could take no more, when she thought she would come at any moment, fingers entered her without warning. “Oh my G—!” she grabbed hold of her breasts trying with everything in her to ride out each wave of ecstasy coming one after another. “I-I can’t…” she gasped becoming sensitive to every touch he offered. She came apart more for every seductively sweet second he spent suckling that spot.

Tears…actual tears rolled down her cheek. She had no control over it. She’d never felt so amazing. So pleasured and taken over.

As she was coming down from her high he got up, wiped her eyes and stripped off his underwear. She lazily wondered if he’d take singles. No one who undressed like that could say that he’d never been a professional stripper. A porn star at least.

The feel of skin, soft and smooth despite its hardness, caught her attention. She looked down to see that he was running the crown of his penis over her entrance. Before, she’d thought she couldn’t handle any more of this, but found that she’d been wrong.

Deep inside there was an ache. She doubted that all of him could possibly fit inside her, but she wasn’t going to tell him not to try. He leaned closer to her and he saw her gaze turn fond. Tender almost. Her fingers combed his hair behind his ear. It felt nice. She smiled up at him when he leaned into her hand.

With ease, he began to push inside of her. She winced and tried to pull away even as she waited for him to continue. It hurt and it was uncomfortable but she knew when he was done. Panting, she wiped the sweat beaded on her brow.

“Are you alright?” he asked, curious. There had only ever been one virgin in his lifetime. She nodded, still breathing deeply. Biting her lip, she tried ignoring how foreign it felt to have him inside her this way. Yet looking down, she couldn’t deny how hot it looked seeing him balls deep between her.

He allowed her a moment to adjust before he began rolling his hips. She’d expected him to pull out and slam into her like she saw in those dirty movies, but this felt different altogether. It sparked another bout of heat and she could almost feel her need pooling at his head.

Loving the feel of that, she rolled her hips to counter his movement, not expecting the burst of pleasure that would come from it. It was enough to wipe out some of the discomfort. He rolled the hardened peaks on her breasts, unable to stop the moan slipping out every time he rolled his hips around and inside.

It felt full and deep and incredibly hot. The once cool room had her sweating all over at this point. She ran her hands up his abs and chest, enjoying the feel of the rest of his body.

Alejo had to admit that he liked seeing her touching him like that. He leaned in to kiss her again, but paused at the feel of her muscles clenching around him. "Shit−!" he gasped out his head falling to the sheets instead. Her lips kissed his neck and he felt her hand reach around his thigh and massage his balls. A moan slipped from his lips. He wasn't sure what he said but he was certain that he was actually saying something.

Ria's low level broadcasting tore at him bringing different levels of bliss that wiped his mind blank and made his cock leap even inside her.

His breath started to come out in short bursts, his arctic blue eyes shut against his own pleasure. He felt her hand raise up and scratch at his back. A moan. Short, loud and raw fell from his lips. It felt amazing to be able to make him to let go that way. She did it again, but on purpose this time, and saw his eyes shoot open and lock onto hers.

It was a reminder that this was no human man she was playing with.

Raising her hips from off the bed, he pulled out and entered her anew. She arched into his thrust, meeting him every time. Cries spilled out of her whenever he slipped deeper into her. “Yes…yes…Al…oh…please yes…” she had no control over her body’s reactions. The hard demand of him pushed past tight rings of muscle and had her in a quivering mess within the next few minutes.

But he didn’t let her release.

He pulled out just as she was nearing another orgasm. She was about to complain when he flipped them. She was sitting on top, not sure what to do when he took the reins again. She was sitting perched on his cock and he held her up and in place so that he could drive into her smooth and quick.

Ria hadn’t even realized when he stopped controlling what they did. One minute, she was enjoying what he was doing to her and, in the next moment, she opened her eyes to find that she was in control. She was riding him for everything it was worth, getting her own pleasure the way she wanted from the angle she needed. He pushed her upper body back so that she leaned away from him.

She gasped. He seemed so much deeper now. So much harder and better. So strong and his power in every, sweet inch of him. Alejo was all masculine appeal right now. Hair disheveled and damp. Eyes bright and yet darkened by pure desire. Lips red from biting down on them so hard. Muscles taut with the orgasm he was about to have.

He felt his balls tighten and draw closer to his body before he came long and hard. Longer and harder than was normal for any human male. And Ria sat atop of him riding out her own orgasm, spasming around him and milking the rest of his climax from him.

She got up off of him, dripping with the evidence of every dirty thing they just did, and felt no regret.

****************************************

Soooooooooooooooooooooo....yeah...there's that :)

Ria's no longer a virgin for real this time. And uh things are gonna be a bit different between the two from now on. But I think you already guessed that lol. 

It's a pretty long chapter and it took a while to do so sorry again for you having to wait so long. I also had to write a 15 page (on wattpad cuz it was 19 on microsft word) chapter for the other story before I did this one. So that plus my much needed break between those stories made for a long wait. Hope it was kinda worth it though *crosses fingers*. 

What do you guys think of the chapter? What do you think of Al's introduction to real emotions? Hehe what do you think of their little one week deal? Any expectations? Anything you want to see happen? Was the love scene (well can it be called love idk) alright for those particular characters? Let me know. This is an important chapter so feedback is needed. 

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