Chapter 10

With Anna’s warm frame shaking in his arms, sudsy water slid from them both as Aiden clambered from the tub. After lowering her only long enough to shove into his trunks and wrap her in a large, thick cotton towel, Aiden hoisted her back to his chest. Muffled by the blood pounding in his ears and the energetic melodies swirling in his mind, he caught words, ever more strident, flowing from the distant pool.

After finding Rory, hugging the side of the shimmering clear blue water, a rumble built deep within him. At Aiden’s brows knitted tighter, the pale man’s eyes widened. A slight tremor rippled through Rory, and his lips pursed shut.

“Show’s over.” Aiden’s voice was ice.

“But you can’t—”

“Yes, Rory.” He cut the man off in the same low, not-quite-menacing tone. “I can. See for yourself.”

When Aiden gestured with his chin to Anna clinging to him, her husband gulped. As Rory paddled along the side of the pool, attempting to keep pace, Aiden marched to the rooftop exit.

“But—”

“Don’t worry.” Without slowing, Aiden called over his shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll send you pictures.”

At the blast of chilly air conditioning, she hugged him tighter. Though shaky, her full lips gnawed along his chest. With every step towards the elevators, her heated breathing sped. As orange-tinged wisps encircled them, ancient music serenaded. Image after image passed between them.

She chuckled.

“What?” he asked before nuzzling into her thick, silken hair.

“By right of conquest,” she murmured, before again gliding her open mouth over his skin.

“Huh?” He tapped the elevator button while playful jabs of her tongue sent tremors shooting through him.

As she lifted her face to gaze at him, another quiet chuckle escaped. Skimming his back, her nails sent those ripples deeper, seeking his core. And while tilting his head, he raised an eyebrow.

“You just seized me from my husband. By right of conquest.” Anna’s eyes twinkled as her teeth sank into her lower lip. “That’s a first.”

After swallowing, Aiden—merged—with the ring. Why, of all things, had she said that? Had she spoken those words? Or had it, through her? When he plunged deeper, searching, it squirmed. With a gasp, his mind slapped against an inky steel wall. Not all its mysteries were to be shared.

As the elevator doors parted, an image appeared. Or rather, didn’t. It was a void. No data. Until just then. At the peal of laughter from the ring, he once more struggled to breathe. It was more than clear what she meant by conquest, but that wasn’t all. When his eyes focused on her glimmering dark pools, he rolled his lips.

“By right of conquest?” he whispered while stepping into the waiting car. “Really”

Although she only giggled before again pressing her warm mouth to his chest, the images flowing from her sent his pulse racing. As the car lifted, he peered into her waiting eyes. With a sigh, she raised her face to play along his skin with her glittery tongue.

“How did you find me, Aiden?” she murmured before placing a gentle kiss and once more swirling her tongue over him. It left trails of searing heat in its path. “Or it? How did the—that ring—find us? Me?”

“What do you mean? You and Rory walked into my life, remember?” He placed his lips against her forehead. “I was in the hot tub minding my own business—”

“Aiden.” She sighed. “Month after month, we’d been searching for a decent apartment. Several times in this very building. Then, boom, suddenly one just opens up. Mysterious previous owner vanishes. Left their deposit. Right after you arrived?”

When the doors opened, he didn’t answer while stepping into the hall, but his mind bored into the ring. It shuddered while drawing its flames tighter. Keeping its secrets closer. At his glossy wooden front door, he focused on Anna once more.

“I dunno,” he muttered. “But we’re—”

“—meant to be together. Um-hmm, I get that.” Her gaze flicked back towards the elevators. “Somehow, I think even Rory realizes.” She placed a lingering kiss under his jaw. “But I’m to be much more than your companion. And I’d like that, Aiden. Rory doesn’t need to know everything.”

While shoving open the door with his shoulder, he remained silent. It was only as the door thumped closed behind them and he stared at the empty bedroom doorway that he nodded.

“You tell your husband whatever you wish to tell him.” After striding to the bed, he placed her on her back atop the red silk sheets. “You show him whatever you want to share.”

Although her eyes widened as he dropped his trunks, she pulled away the towel and slid beneath the covers. No words passed between them as he glided in next to her warm, sleek frame. Only a quiet puff of air left her shiny red lips when his outstretched fingers settled on the silken skin of her roiling belly. At her low moan, a tingle wriggled up his arm.

When he released his grip on the ring, another image flew from him. He owed her a choice. No more secrets. Not between them.

Though her eyes fluttered, she flicked that shiny tongue around her mouth and narrowed her gaze. For a second, a question formed on her lips, but with a sigh, she relaxed. Instead, both her hands clamped tight to his arm. When she emitted a groan and tugged, Aiden let her draw him over her.

Despite the ring’s incessant, ever higher melodies, the flames licking taller around them, and a swirl of images, thoughts and emotions, Aiden braced. While resting on his elbows, with those sharp throbbing nipples burning into his chest, he inspected her glittering eyes.

“Are you sure, Anna? This is different for me as well.”

He gasped when her hands shifted to clamp his shaft.

“For fuck’s sake, Aiden.” While wriggling her hips, she pushed his throbbing pole downwards. “Conquer me already, would you?”

After swallowing a chuckle, he lifted his pelvis. When his bulb pushed into her slippery warmth, Anna’s breath hitched.

Wreathed in flames, her entire body tensed.

“Oh. Damn, bab—Aiden.” After gulping, she loosed a nervous giggle. “Fuck, you’re big. I mean. Seeing is one thing, but ... Mmm, fuck. Jesus, you’re not even ... Oh. Oh, wow. Inside, um, me yet. But mmm, my whole pussy is shifting. Oh, my—”