Chapter 108: Little Break

The silver letters seemed to have been inlaid one by one before being polished until they glowed softly beneath the hall lights.

A subtle light flowed through the characters, giving them an almost living radiance.

As though the inscriptions were breathing.

As though they were an integral part of the barracks itself.

The result was beautiful and deeply personal.

Blanche ran her fingers over her own plaque.

Her name was etched there in delicately illuminated silver letters.

Beside it were Derek's, Nicky's, Argy's, Glen's...

Everyone's.

No one had been forgotten.

She felt something tighten gently in her chest.

Because she knew Aaron.

And she knew exactly what this meant.

It wasn't simply a practical improvement.

Nor a decorative whim.

It was his way of saying they belonged here.

Their place.

Not the place of passing guests.

Not the place of temporary residents.

A place that belonged to them.

A place no one could take away.

Aaron had always had this strange way of caring for people.

He didn't talk much about his feelings.

He built them.

Literally.

A pond made from his scales.

A room for two where there had once been a dormitory.

A library for Derek.

A photography studio for Argy...

Engraved coat racks.

Every time, he found a new way to remind them they were home.

Without ever needing to say it out loud.

Blanche stared at the silver letters for a few more seconds.

Then a fond smile curved her lips.

Honestly.

He could be infuriating.

Mysterious.

Far too patient for his own good.

But when it came to making people feel like they mattered...

Aaron was probably one of the most dangerously adorable people she had ever met.

"It's beautiful," she breathed.

Aaron, however, apparently disagreed.

He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her in a hug so sudden and intimate that it stole her breath.

"Hi," he murmured against her ear. "You're the beautiful one."

Feeling her legs threatening to give out beneath her, Blanche turned her head toward him.

He didn't give her a second to recover.

He captured her lips.

She surrendered without resistance.

God, she'd wanted this.

Her entire body shivered as Aaron kissed her with unmistakable intensity.

He pulled her against him, warm and powerful, sending electricity racing from head to toe.

Their tongues sought each other, teased each other, eyes closed, lost in sensation.

Then she turned fully toward him, and their bodies pressed together, hungry for contact.

Aaron's low groan drew a growl from her own throat, and before she even realized it, her hands were buried in his silky hair.

Disconnected from everything else, thinking of nothing at all, she simply surrendered to the moment.

Until his hands slipped beneath her tank top from below.

A soft gasp escaped her.

She pulled back abruptly, breathless, eyes wide.

Aaron looked completely disheveled.

His eyes were entirely black.

His breathing uneven.

His shirt pushed up.

His hair a glorious mess.

Good grief.

He was absurdly sexy.

Suddenly, the air felt almost unbearably hot.

"I... shower," was all she managed before fleeing down the hallway.

"Is that an invitation?" the warrior called after her, still looking half dazed.

Blanche shook her head.

If this kept up, she was genuinely going to lose her mind between the two personalities that shared this man's body.

She slammed the bathroom door shut, hoping the message was clear.

Wow. That had been intense.

"You're still here?" she grumbled. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

She had completely forgotten about him.

The cat chuckled before vanishing.

Blanche stripped and stepped beneath the scalding water.

After slaughtering a thousand goblins, she knew she smelled like sweat.

Not to mention she probably looked like a disaster.

And yet...

He had kissed her as though he intended to devour her.

As though she were the most desirable thing he'd ever seen.

It took her more than half an hour to emerge from the bathroom.

For once, she almost wished she'd taken a cold shower.

She'd taken her time making herself look genuinely pretty.

One ridiculous thought had also kept her occupied:

If Aaron was here, then either Kiyan was even more exhausted than she'd imagined...

Or he'd gone to bed hoping to see her.

Or perhaps a little of both.

She found him at the stove, preparing a brunch capable of feeding an entire regiment.

"I told Argy I'm ready, if he wants to tell the others who I am. With your approval, of course."

"Really?" Aaron replied, visibly delighted. "When?"

She could have smacked herself.

Of course he had no idea he'd missed a week.

Time didn't flow the same way here.

As she helped him set the table, she explained everything.

"I wasn't here...?"

Judging by his expression, the idea was inconceivable.

He explained that since moving into the barracks, he had never missed a gathering.

Then, not wanting to worry her, he changed the subject.

"What made you decide to reveal yourself?"

His voice softened toward the end.

"I'm not really sure... Maybe I'm getting used to the idea of being a mom. When we're alone, he calls me that, but the moment someone else is around, he pulls away without even realizing it. And then there's you too. It doesn't feel very fair."

"I'm glad you accepted," Aaron said, "but... maybe this is selfish. I'd hoped I'd matter a little more than it doesn't feel very fair."

She blushed beneath his sparkling gaze.

"Sorry... I've spent more time with Argy than with you."

"That's true," he murmured. "Maybe we should fix that. Share a room again?"

She nearly choked.

"Sleep with you?"

"If you don't mind."

She had said no...

Well, no—it didn't bother her.

The meal—which looked more like dinner than brunch—passed peacefully.

Aaron was radiant.

Adorable.

They devoured each other with their eyes, but neither made a move.

As night fell, anxiety began creeping in.

Sleeping with someone didn't bother her...

But alone with Aaron?

She paced the room until she realized he was watching her with amusement.

Without a word, he held out his hand.

She barely hesitated before taking it.

It wasn't a consolation prize.

Technically...

It was the same man.

He led her into the bedroom, removed his shoes, patient as ever.

She grimaced nervously.

He was deliberately taking his time, giving her room to breathe.

She sat beside him.

"I sleep in my underwear. Does that bother you?"

"No."

He switched off the light.

She could now see his silhouette perfectly.

Slowly, he undressed.

She did the same, cheeks burning, before slipping beneath the covers.

He joined her.

Pressed himself against her.

Wrapped his arms around her.

The warmth, his breathing, his lips against the back of her neck...

She shivered.

She blushed even harder when she realized just how badly her body was betraying her.

Aaron smiled against her skin, kissed her gently, then pulled back.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she whispered.

Professor, she added silently, for herself alone.

Lucky man.

Fenrir grumbled inside her mind, making her smile.

Aaron fell asleep shortly afterward.

She followed soon after, finally at peace.