Thinking About You

Jericho’s POV

The next morning, after breakfast, Ash said, “We need to

deal with Knox.”

He was itching to head back to Fabrice, but I wasn’t quite

ready to make my move yet.

“No,” I replied, picking up on his frustration. “I can’t do

it just yet. I’m not convinced Knox is behind this, even with his connections

to the Black Society.”

“Then why am I even here?” Ash shot back. “I didn’t change

my whole life just to wait around for you to decide what to do. You’ve got to

take action, Jericho. If you wait too long, you’ll lose your surprise

advantage, and that’s pretty much all you’ve got right now.”

“I need to get everything sorted out before I act,” I

insisted. “I only get one chance at this, Ash. Unless you plan on sending more

men my way.”

Ash looked at me with concern. “You’re starting to sound

like you’re hesitating.”

That thought had crossed my mind before, especially when I

didn’t know about the trafficking. I couldn’t let Knox drag my name through the

dirt any longer. But I also had to think about the situation I’d put Aria in.

“I just need a little more time,” I sighed, already

anticipating his response.

I knew I had already taken more than enough time.

To avoid saying something awkward, Ash decided not to come back to my suite

that night. He texted me to let me know he’d booked a room next door and would

be back in the morning. The demon shifter was giving me some space—probably

because I was driving him crazy.

I couldn’t blame him; I was getting pretty annoyed with myself for being so

indecisive. My mind was racing, especially with thoughts about whether Draven

had delivered the package to Aria.

I also sent Ash’s other guards away for the night. I needed to think without

anyone else around while I figured things out.

I couldn’t just sit around waiting for Aria to return. She had clearly chosen Knox,

but chasing after him could put her in danger, and that was a risk I wasn’t

willing to take, no matter how much it annoyed Ash.

At the same time, the longer I sat there making excuses, the more the Black

Society was getting out of control right under my nose. Ash was right—I was

putting myself at risk just hanging out in Amestris. Plus, if Knox had anything

to do with my fate on the battlefield, I couldn’t just ignore it.

With a groan, I rubbed my temples and kept pacing the hotel suite, feeling like the

walls were closing in on me. All I wanted was to shed my human form and dash

outside for a run to clear my head.

That always helps, I thought, the idea tempting me. I moved toward the door, but as

soon as my hand touched the knob, a familiar sensation pulsed in my chest.

Aria!

I pushed the door open, my heart racing as I took in her tear-stained face, now

surprisingly calm as she looked at me.

“You’re such an idiot, you know that?” she said, her voice rough.

I nodded. “Yeah, I know,” I replied, stepping aside to let her in.

But she hesitated, glancing over my shoulder.

“Is anyone else here?” she asked, her voice shaky.

I shook my head, and she took a cautious step forward. The light from her golden

aura shone brighter through her white t-shirt than I had ever seen, and I felt

a weight in my chest.

I had been worried that our bond might have been severed after everything that

happened.

My longing for her was still there, but with Aria managing to keep her distance, I

wasn’t sure if she felt the same way.

“So, you did see my texts,” I said, trying to keep it light.

As the door clicked shut, she spun around, her loose red curls bouncing as she

faced me.

“You’re making this really hard!” she exclaimed, the pain in her voice clear. “Why did

you send me that time capsule?”

I stepped closer, trying to read her expression.

“You remember it?” I asked softly. “All those moments we spent filling it up? We

promised to come back for it in fifty years.”

She turned away, but I gently lifted her chin, making her meet my gaze.

“I remember,” she whispered.

“You never came back for it.”

She rolled her eyes and tried to pull away, but I held on, feeling that she wasn’t

really resisting.

Aria sighed, “I’m trying to move on,” but she tilted her head back, inviting me

closer with her lips.

I wasn’t buying it. She was here for me.

I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her in, my breath warm against her

face.

“Jericho, what are you doing?” she murmured.

Her question wasn’t really about the kiss I gave her to hush her up; it was more

about why I was even there. But that could wait. The pressure in my pants was

demanding my attention.

Her tongue playfully danced with mine, her eyes fluttering shut as our lips

connected, and we quickly got lost in each other.

I pressed her closer, my hand sliding down to the hem of her shirt. Clothes were

strewn everywhere as we backed toward the couch, moving in perfect harmony.

It didn’t matter how long we’d been apart; our bodies just knew what to do.

When I finally laid her slender form back on the sofa, Aria’s full breasts spilled

out of her black lace bra, and her matching panties were soaked.

The scent of her desire hit me like a wave, making me painfully aware of my

arousal, pressing hard against my jeans.

My unshaven cheek brushed against hers, and I playfully nudged her chin with my

nose, revealing the soft skin of her neck.

“Oh, Jericho,” she sighed. “What am I going to do with you?”

“I have a few ideas about what I’m going to do with you,” I replied with a smirk.

As I pulled her closer, a rush of heat surged through me. The scent of her was

intoxicating, and I could feel my desire growing stronger.

For days, I had imagined this moment—her beneath me, squirming and begging. I

wanted to enjoy every second, even though the urge to take her quickly was

overwhelming.

I forced myself to take it slow, to savor her skin as if it were the first time.

Aria’s fingers danced over my cheeks and shoulders, guiding me down the curves of her

body.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” she murmured. “You’re always on my mind.”