Things got a bit out of hand. More than I expected. But it's not anything I can't handle. I am lucky. Aria's still alive. And we've managed to stay hidden for a week. We're on our third hotel and I'm not sure how much longer it'll be until they show up.

"Do you need anything?" I ask, walking into the room and placing the key on the table. "We're stuck here for the night. Might as well get comfortable."

Aria shakes her head, her arms wrapping around her body as she surveys the room. "Just a bath is fine..."

There's a hint of uncertainty in her voice."What's wrong?"

"So much has happened and I just haven't had the chance to process it all."

I take a deep breath and reach for her, pulling her into my arms. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten you into this mess but I promise I will figure it out and get you to somewhere safe."

"You didn't get me into anything, Sergio." She tries to push away from me, but I don't let her. "This is my mess. And I know this is stupid, but I miss my brother."

It is stupid, for her to miss someone like him, but I understand. He's her brother. Sometimes I missed De Luca, back when we were actually friends. "It's not stupid. We all miss our siblings."

Aria stiffens in my arms. "What was she like, Sergio? Your sister."

I drag her with me as I walk to the bed and sit her down on my lap. "Mellie was somewhat like you. Curious, shy, and loving. She loved unconditionally, but she knew how to use a gun." I chuckle. "She knew how to take the lead despite her introverted nature. She was respectful and had a beautiful soul."

Although a smile comes to my lips, it quickly falls as the image of my sister's lifeless body flashes in my mind.

Aria's soft hand grabs the horrible picture and pushes it away as her palm lands on my cheek. She smiles smile, clearly trying to make me feel better. "I bet she'd be proud of you."

I scoff, shaking my head. "She would be angry. I couldn't save her. Mellie always said that I hesitated and I guess she was right."

"I don't know, you seemed right on time tonight for me."

"It was luck." I look down at my hands. Her arms wrap around my body. "I know it's not the same, but we can have each other. if you're ok with that."

It isn't the same, not at all. But I try, despite my emotions, to lighten the mood. "It'd be too awkward since we had sex."

"I mean each other's company."

She pulls away from me and slaps my arm softly with a smile. "Friends. Or more than friends, since we had sex, benefits, I guess? Friends keep each other company. Sergio. I thought you knew that."

Yes, but friends don't fuck. And besides, she's engaged. "Your husband... Aria. Where is he from?"

"He's not my husband." Aria looks away. "He's from Milan."

Right. He isn't. But he is definitely acting as if he is. Being a jealous prick and all. "Well for now he is acting like your husband."

"I don't want him as my husband."

"We don't always get what we want, Aria," I say ignoring the heaviness in my chest. I grab her hand, brush my thumb over it and place a small kiss against her knuckles. "Go wash up. I will figure out our next route for tomorrow."

Her eyes meet mine, seemingly searching for something but she quickly pushes herself up on her toes and presses her lips to his chin. "You're welcome to join if you'd like."

I smile and lower my face to hers, kissing her lips. "If I join you, you're going to feel even more sore."

"Do you always have multiple rounds?"

My head falls back as laughter leaves my mouth. "No. Only special people get multiple rounds. Including the ones I want dead."

"Then let's make tonight something special since it's only a matter of time until we get caught."

"What do you want to do, Aria?" I ask.

"I don't know. Can we pretend to be normal again? Maybe you can pretend you love me so I know how it could have felt to be loved?"

"Loved?" I ask, shaking my head. "You want me to pretend to love you, Aria? A girl like you must have been loved before."

She glances down and I curse myself for assuming otherwise or well, wanting her to know what being loved feels like.

"Not in that way. No. Never. I never had anyone. But you already know that."

Fuck... I pull her between my legs. "I guess no one's ever seen what a beautiful flower you are."

A blush spreads across her cheeks. Her eyes widen as she looks away. "I don't think I can handle that."

"Handle what exactly?" I smile and brush his lips to hers. "I'm not doing anything."

"You're words." She pulls away from me just an inch. "But I'll try."

"Do you want me to stop? Or keep going?"

"Keep going."

"Then I'm going to show you," I press my lips to her forehead, then her forehead. "How love feels like." I kiss her lips. "Do you think you can take it?"

Her mouth falls open slightly as she stares at me in awe. "Y-yes."

"Good." I pick her up and stand, turning us until her knees hit the mattress. I wrap an arm around her and move her toward the center of the bed. I climb over her, unbuttoning my shirt. "I hope you won't regret your words."

"I thought you were going to pretend you love me..." Aria eyes every inch of me. "Is this part of that?"

I chuckle, leaning in and kissing her neck. "Yes, but would you rather have? The innocent kind or the kind that makes your body shake?"

Aria's fingers trail goosebumps along my chest. "Whichever makes me forget it's just pretend."

Pretend right. Because even though I want her to be mine, the truth of the matter is she isn't. And in the end, all I'll do is cause her harm. She'll end up in danger because of me and I can't do that to her.

"I can't make you feel anything, Aria and I really can't give you what you need, but I can give you some affection..."

"That'll be more than enough, Sergio." And yet it feels so wrong. I collapse beside her and pull her into his arms.

"Would this be enough, Aria?" I ask as I press my lips to her head.

Aria snuggles in closer to me and looks up at me with a soft smile. "Yeah. Simple like this... I like this. Do you?"

"Do you think all evil men wouldn't? I can assure you that I enjoy moments like these with special people. Like you." My thumb runs over her cheek.

"I think everyone has a soft spot and craves some form of intimacy. Even as simple as," she lets her words trail off as she takes my hand. She slides her palm over mine, linking our fingers. "This."

Aria is something else. Someone I enjoy being around. I've never felt this way about anyone before. "Is that really all you want from me? Because I feel like it's such a small fraction to give/"

"Sometimes it's the smallest things that make the greatest impact, Sergio." She rests her head against my chest.

"I was told that... But I have been shown the opposite. Maybe it is not for everyone..."

"What do you prefer, Sergio? The biggest things of the smallest?

That is a question no one had ever asked before. "Honestly," I begin, looking up at the ceiling, "I have no idea. I've never been in this position before."

"What would you like in return?" She asks slipping her hand from mine. "I've already given you my body and company what would you like to have instead?"

A chuckle leaves my lips. I pull her closer to me. "I don't want anything in, Aria. Not that you could give me anything you haven't already. I just think you've given me more than enough."

"But you said you never get anything in return. I want to give you that."

I press kisses all over her face. "If I ever figure out what exactly is missing, I will let you know, deal?"

Aria smiles. A soft giggle escapes her lips. "I promise I'll give you it. Whatever it might be." She climbs over me, resting her head in the crook of my neck. "Thank you, for making me feel important, loved, and cared for."

"You're welcome." I reach up and drag my finger down her spine. "But if you keep climbing on top of me like this, we're going to end up fucking again."

"I don't mind... if that's what you want to do. As long as I still have your company."

There she goes again being selfless.

"What do you want, Aria? Because all I have been hearing is what I want. So how about we figure out what you want."

Aria presses her hands against my chest, holding herself up as she swings a leg over, straddling me. "I want you."

Her sweet and innocent smile does nothing to mask the devious look in her eyes. She leans down and presses her lips to mine. " I want your company and your presence. The good and the bad. The rough and gentleness. Kind and sweet. Simple and complex. All of you."

My fingers toy with the strap of her dress. "How can you look so innocent and yet say such words that just make me want to fuck you right here and now..."

Her face turns a bright shade of pink and her hand lowers down to my stomach. "I don't know, but you can fuck me."

"No. That would be cruel. Because you said you were sore."

"You'll just have to be gentle this time." She presses her lips to his hands. "Can you do that for me?"

"I can't always be gentle, Aria. There's no such thing."

"I'm not asking for you to be gentle always." She leans down and kisses my chest. "Just for now... just to start."

"I'm sorry, Aria. That's not in my nature." I pull her down and flip us over. I stare down at her and tilt my head. "What makes you think I will change my ways for you?"

She stares at me for a moment and lifts her head, pressing her lips to mine. I fight the urge to kiss her back. "I don't want you to change your ways for me. I asked if you could be gentle. But since you can't... that's ok."

Her legs wrap around my waist. Her heels dig into my ass. And my traitorous hips thrust into her.

She is too innocent. It just makes me feel like a bigger monster than I already am. I shake my head and pull away from her, climbing off the bed. "You really are going to get yourself into a lot of trouble. I'm going to prepare for tomorrow."

I have to. It's the only way to occupy my brain and my cock. I can't keep trying to restrain myself from fucking her. And she makes it harder with every encounter. It has to stop.

She's not mine to take.

I shouldn't fall for her.

I can't risk her safety.

And yet, I feel myself gracefully tumbling over the edge for her.

❤︎❤︎❤︎

total ONC word count: 27,051

thank you so much for reading along! ❤︎