Chapter 83

"Welcome back, Aurora," the sentence echoed familiarly as she heard it so many times that morning. It was her first time at the Emotion headquarters in years, and she didn't expect to see so many familiar faces. Even the new employees greeted her kindly, making her feel like she wanted to get to know them gradually.

Luna offered to give her a quick tour of her new office. Light colors dominated the space, and sunlight flooded through the large window behind the desk, creating a clean and radiant atmosphere.

"I hope you like it. You can decorate it however you want," Luna offered, giving Aurora room to familiarize herself.

"It's beautiful. Thank you," Aurora smiled as her eyes scanned every detail of the place.

"I'll let you get used to everything. If you need anything, you know where to find me." Luna left, leaving Aurora alone in her new office.

"My office. My own space," Aurora murmured to herself as she began to unpack the few decorative items she had brought with her.

Shortly after, someone knocked on her office door. "Come in," Aurora responded, allowing the handsome young man who had knocked to enter, his eyes scanning the room.

"How fancy," Klaus commented.

"Shouldn't you be on vacation because of the wedding?" Aurora asked, observing him.

"Don't remind me!" Klaus groaned, clearly stressed.

"Is there a problem?" Aurora inquired, concerned about her friend.

"The wedding is tomorrow, and I'm a bundle of nerves!" Klaus gestured with his hands, showing his agitation. He sat down, clearly anxious, and Aurora took the seat in front of him.

"Everything will go fine. After all, you planned everything. And I bet you even wrote the master of ceremonies' script," Aurora tried to calm Klaus.

"That's not the issue. I'm not worried about something going wrong. I'm just anxious, I wanted to get married today!" Klaus confessed, explaining his agitation. "So I came here to distract myself a bit and avoid the groom."

"The old superstition that the groom can't see the bride on the eve of the wedding?" Aurora questioned with a smile.

"Exactly! Better not to risk it," Klaus agreed. "So, how about we go out for some drinks?"

"I just arrived, and I still have a lot to unpack and catch up on..." Aurora began to say, but Klaus interrupted her.

"But you haven't missed out on anything that has happened here over the past few years. By the way, I have some news!" Klaus revealed, recalling the many reunions they had had over the years.

"Good or bad?" Aurora asked, curious.

"It depends on your perspective," Klaus replied, keeping the suspense. "I heard that Seraphina is dating a model."

"Who?" Aurora questioned.

"A newcomer. Not as handsome as me, of course," Klaus smiled, convinced. "And speaking of handsome men, did you really have lunch with Tristan last week?"

The mention of Tristan's name made Aurora immediately uncomfortable. She shifted in her chair and cleared her throat before responding. "Yes, we..."

"Did you or did you not have sex?" Klaus got straight to the point.

"Klaus!" Aurora scolded him. "What do you think of me?"

"I think you're an independent adult who does as she pleases. And I'm sure you wanted to. If you say you didn't, you'd be lying," Klaus didn't mince words.

"It wasn't a romantic lunch, if that's what you're thinking. We just talked and resolved our differences..." Aurora explained, trying to ease the tension in the air.

"With sex?" Klaus continued to tease.

She sighed, looking at him with boredom. "What do you think if, tonight, we throw a bachelor party for you?"

"With strippers?" Klaus laughed and shook his head. "I'll call Thomas right now!"

[...]

Hours later, Aurora packed up her things and left her office. She crossed the office and stopped in front of a door. She knocked three times, and after hearing a "come in," she opened the door to find her friend working on the computer.

"Are you done for the day?" Aurora asked.

"Just wait a minute..." Violet continued typing quickly on the keyboard. "And... done!" She pressed the last key with an air of satisfaction. Then she leaned back in her chair and stretched her hands forward, cracking her fingers. After Violet had revealed her own sister's secret, Aurora and she had become close. "What time is it?"

"Almost eight," Aurora replied.

"How about we order pizza for dinner? I'm too tired to cook," Violet suggested.

"Actually, I was thinking of going out for some drinks," Aurora said, changing her mind.

Violet made a face, not looking excited about the idea. "Sorry, but I'll have to pass this time."

"No problem," Aurora smiled, understanding her friend's situation. "Busy first day?"

"Way too busy! Things were much calmer in London." Violet got up and grabbed her designer bag. "And it's not just because of that I won't go with you. Tomorrow is Klaus's wedding, and I don't want to be hungover. Plus, you need to be careful. Klaus will kill you if you're late."

"Know that I'm going to drink precisely with him tonight," Aurora revealed.

"You two are hopeless," Violet shook her head, and the two said their goodbyes with a brief hug.

[...]

Tristan trained tirelessly. His shirt clung to his sweat-soaked body, his hair was drenched, and his hands ached, but he continued to pound the punching bag.

Memories of the past invaded his mind as he punched the bag. He remembered a night when he trained the same way, in the middle of the night, until he felt the presence of another person in the training room. He turned his head, breathless, and his eyes met the figure of a girl in a nightgown.

"What are you doing awake?" Tristan asked, catching his breath.

"Come to bed with me," her voice sounded playful.

"Go back upstairs. I'll be there soon." Tristan replied, controlling his own accelerated breathing.

"How soon is soon?" She swayed, looking agitated. Her cheeks were flushed, and she bit her lower lip.

He smiled knowingly, understanding her intentions. He began to remove the wraps from his hands.

"What do you want, Aurora?" Tristan asked, as she approached.

"Anything," Aurora replied, and he couldn't help but smile at her words. He extended his hand towards her.

"Come here," he invited her.

She obeyed, taking his hand, and he pulled her towards him. Aurora fell into his arms and smiled before being kissed.

On the mat, Tristan lowered the strap of her nightgown, kissing every exposed part of her skin as the piece of clothing slid down her body. Aurora panted beneath him, her moans a melody that only heightened his excitement.

However, reality hit him as he landed the final punch on the punching bag, bringing him back from his thoughts. He approached the bench, where his phone was vibrating. He sighed, picked up the device, and read the message glowing on the screen.

"Up for a bachelor party?"

***

The nightclub was packed, the typical scene for a Friday night in New York City. The dance floor was buzzing, and the bar was filled with people, but thanks to Thomas and Klaus, they managed to secure a few empty seats at the counter.

"Tonight, I won't be anyone's babysitter," Thomas warned. "And I'm leaving early. I need a good night's sleep for the big day tomorrow."

"But I'm the one getting married," Klaus pointed out.

"But I'll be covering the whole event! And if you look terrible tomorrow, I won't go easy on you. Sorry," Thomas shrugged, calmly sipping his whiskey.

"Don't worry, Klaus. You look good even wearing a trash bag," Aurora joked.

"I know," Klaus boasted. "Tonight is a no-holds-barred night! Let's celebrate!" He raised his glass, and they all toasted. Klaus and Aurora downed their drinks in one go. Thomas continued to savor his whiskey, observing the surroundings.

"Look who just arrived!" Thomas pointed.

Aurora looked towards the entrance and nearly fell off her seat when she saw who was there. "Who invited them?"

"I did. Tristan! Xavier! We're here!" Thomas shouted, despite the loud music, and the two soon spotted the group.

As they approached, Aurora noticed how handsome Tristan looked. As her heart raced, she tried to compose herself. Xavier, on the other hand, wasted no time in needling her with a sly smile.

"Why isn't this little one in the garden?" Xavier teased.

"And what are you doing here? Traffic needs a traffic light because of you," Aurora retorted, undeterred.

"You two are hopeless," Thomas added, instigating the banter.

"As everyone knows, a bachelor party is for men," Xavier continued to provoke.

"Lucky for me, Klaus is open to all options. Literally," Aurora replied, casting a mischievous glance.

"And tonight is a night with no restrictions! Drinks are on me!" Klaus proclaimed, encouraging everyone to enjoy.

Xavier quickly got excited and ordered a bottle of the best liquor. Aurora continued to drink one glass after another, feeling the effects of the alcohol. Klaus pulled her onto the dance floor, and she began to show off her moves. Signs of her getting drunk began to show, but she danced and had fun without thinking about tomorrow.

Tristan watched her dance, her body moving to the rhythm of the music. He couldn't take his eyes off her, feeling a growing tension. He longed for her, for her touch, for her lips... and now, with the alcohol, these feelings seemed more intense than ever.

He grabbed a glass from the counter and downed its contents in one go.

The pulsating sounds of the music reverberated in the environment, creating an atmosphere of euphoria and freedom. Amidst the people moving to the beat, Tristan was looking for something more, something that could fill the growing void within him. He held a glass in his hand, but he knew that the drink wouldn't bring the relief he was seeking.

"One more," he muttered to himself, the tone of despondency evident in his voice. However, he knew the drink wouldn't be the solution. Each sip seemed to erode his control, dragging him into a spiral of aimlessness.

Without warning, Tristan abandoned the glass and headed to the dance floor. Among the unfamiliar faces, he finally spotted Aurora, her back to him. It was the opportunity he was looking for, and he approached, wrapping his arms around her waist and bringing their bodies intimately close.

"You're driving me crazy," he whispered, his lips grazing her ear.

Aurora, still facing away, replied, "I haven't done anything."

The soft laughter from Tristan at her neck made Aurora shiver, a wave of heat and desire coursing through her. Tristan's body pressed against hers conveyed palpable tension.

"Do you see what you've done to me?" he murmured, pressing his hip against her. A sigh escaped her lips, surrendered to the intensity of the moment. Both were enveloped in a state of inebriation, surrendering without reservations, without restraints, without regrets.

She turned to face Tristan, but before she could say anything, he captured her lips in a long-awaited kiss. Years of repressed desire seemed to materialize in that moment. Aurora's hands found the nape of his neck, pulling him closer, as if fearing he might slip away at any moment. Tristan, on the other hand, held her face with one hand, while the other explored her body urgently.

A muffled moan escaped Aurora's lips during the kiss, marking the point of no return. It was as if that kiss were the catalyst, the limit that Tristan was about to cross. Every fiber of his being longed for her.

In an impulsive move, Tristan led her away from the dance floor, determined. He didn't hesitate to pay for the room, handing over bills with a quick gesture and practically dragging Aurora with him. Their fingers entwined as they navigated the corridors towards the refuge of that night.

In the room, Tristan threw her onto the bed, and without wasting any time, he positioned himself over her, resuming the passionate kiss. "I imagined this happening so many times," he confessed, tracing a trail of kisses down to her chin and neck, marking her skin with passion.

"Did you think about me?" Aurora asked, feeling the heat between them intensify with the idea. Tristan's words revealed a long-held confession.

"Every night. It was all I could do," he whispered, his hand exploring her body with burning desire. With skill, he brought her to the brink of pleasure, each touch calculated to awaken her deepest desires.

Suddenly, Tristan's fingers withdrew, prompting a frustrated groan from Aurora. But he could no longer delay the inevitable. Clothes were discarded quickly, both eager to satisfy the passion that consumed them.

When he entered her, a synchronized moan of pleasure escaped their lips. Aurora wrapped her legs around him, her nails digging into his back, while Tristan held her firmly by the hips, deepening each thrust. The moans grew louder, but their voices were drowned out by the music still playing outside, unaware of the passion unfolding in the room.

The heat intensified, muscles tensing, and they knew that climax was imminent. Tristan increased the pace until they finally reached the peak together. He lost himself inside her, calling her name in ecstatic sighs.

Tristan buried his face in Aurora's neck, trying to catch his breath. When he finally rose to look her in the eyes, there was an urgency in his words that was palpable. "Tell me you felt the same."

But instead of a response, he found Aurora lost in contemplation of his face, a mischievous smile playing on Tristan's lips.

"What's so funny?" she asked, curious and captivated by him, by the situation, by everything they had shared.

"You're still a knockout," he replied, an echo of their connection.

Soft laughter filled the space between them, as if time hadn't passed, as if all the scars of the past had been erased by that shared moment.

"You arrogant pervert," she teased, in a whisper filled with affection.

And there, in that moment, it seemed like the outside world had disappeared. Time was suspended, and all that mattered was the connection between them, renewed and more intense than ever.