Chapter 33: Bury (Aria's POV)

When I felt his hand slip under my shirt and rest at my waist, I snapped back into reality. I pulled back quickly, gasping a little. "Hoi," I panted. "No, no, no. This is bad, this is very, very bad. I can't kiss you," I blurted out. 

"And why not?" He arched a sharp brow at me. 

"Because I can't," I said. "I'm not allowed to." 

"Says who?" he asked. 

"I do," I said, stepping back and folding my arms across my chest. "I will not allow myself to get involved with you. No, absolutely not." 

"Why?" he asked, taking a step forward. 

I moved away from the wall as quickly as I could and took numerous steps back. "B-because," I stammered. 

He kept taking steps forward and I had to take steps back if I wanted to avoid him. "I asked you why." 

"Because I... I-" I gasped, my legs hitting the couch which led me to fall on it. I sat down, leaning as far back into the couch as I could. He stepped forward and leaned down, towering over me. 

"Why?"

"Because... I didn't come here to fall in love with you." He listened intently. "Or to get involved with you." 

"Hmm," he nodded. "But you came here to marry me. And you did." He leaned in closer. "And if I can't kiss my wife, then who shall I kiss?" 

"Y-you want to kiss me?" I stuttered. 

"I do," he whispered, leaning in even closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. He acted like he was going to kiss me but then didn't. He pulled back and looked at me. 

"If you kiss me, you have to promise me that you won't fall in love with me." 

He frowned in confusion. "I can't promise that." 

"And why not?" I asked. 

"Because there's no reason for me to not fall in love with you. You're the one here for revenge, not me. So, why can't I fall in love with you?" he asked, putting his hands on the back of the couch and trapping me there. "I have no reason not to." 

"But you... you hated me." 

"No," he shook his head. "I could never hate you." 

I blinked once. Then twice. 

"You hate me," he sighed. 

"I don't hate you." 

"You just want to hurt me. You keep saying that. Why don't you just do it then? Get it over with and then we both can move on." 

"Huh?" 

He rolled his eyes, kneeling in front of me. "You came here to do something and that something doesn't allow you to fall in love with me, right?" 

I nodded slowly. 

"So then why don't you just do it? Once you've done it, we both can move on from it and you can allow yourself to fall in love with me. We're married now. It makes no sense for us to act like we hate each other for the rest of our lives," he shrugged. "And anyway, if I'm in love with you, I'll be in your control, regardless, no?" 

"I don't want to control you," I argued. 

"Either way, once we're together, we're together. So maybe you should just go ahead with your plan. And just let me know once you're done, hmm?" 

"Mm-mm," I shook my head. "I can't hurt you if you're in love with me." 

"Of course you can." 

"Why would I want to hurt someone who loves me when I've lost nearly everybody who does?" 

He opened his mouth to say something but didn't. He stared at me for a while, probably gathering his thoughts. "Then what is it that you want? You want to hurt me but at the same time, you don't? You want to be with me because you like me, but at the same time you don't?" 

"I know it doesn't make any sense but..." I trailed off. "What I want right now is to bury myself," I mumbled under my breath. "It's complicated." 

"Let's uncomplicate it. Pick one," he suggested. 

"I can't," I replied. 

"Then take some time and wait until you can. Wait until one emotion overpowers the other. If you decide you hate me more, then go ahead. If you decide you like me more, then..." he trailed off with a small shrug. 

"Fine," I agreed. 

"But then you can't expect me not to kiss you while you figure that out." 

"That's unfair," I protested. 

"So is life," he smirked. "But I know that I like you too much to not kiss you at all. And you're my wife, it's my right." He leaned in. "And they're just kisses, right?" 

"Kisses can do a lot." I swallowed, my eyes falling to his lips that were just inches away from mine. 

"I'll tell you one thing kisses can do," he cleared his throat. "Kisses can make you not want to bury yourself." 

I rolled my eyes, resisting a smile. 

"But you can be buried with kisses if you'd like," he smirked. 

"Don't," I said warningly, pushing him back. 

He chuckled, staring at me. "Problem solved?" 

"Temporarily," I nodded. 

"Now can we go to sleep?" he asked. 

"Yes," I huffed. "We can go to sleep." 

He pulled back and went and sat on his side of the bed while I stood up from the couch and took a seat on my side of the bed. I lay down, keeping my back to him. I heard him shuffle before an arm went around my waist. I smacked his arm. "Get off." 

"Why?" he whined. "I'm allowed to cuddle my wife," he chuckled. 

"Alex," I said scoldingly. 

"Aria," he said mockingly. "Shut up and go to sleep." 

I gave up and closed my eyes, trying not to think about it and forcing myself asleep. 

What the hell did I just get myself into? 

I woke up the next morning and the bed was empty again. I could hear the shower water running. I stayed in bed, taking my time to actually wake up. I have to brush my teeth but he's in the bathroom. I got out of bed while throwing my hair up in a high ponytail and then quietly tiptoed to the bathroom. I carefully tried the handle and found the door open. I quickly closed it back up and then knocked. 

The glass shower cabin in there is clear from the ribs up. Basically, the top half is clear glass, the bottom is opaque, you can't see anything but the silhouette of the body. 

"Alex?" I heard the water turn off. 

"Aria?" 

"Yeah! Can I come in?" I asked. I opened the door and stuck my head in but kept myself from looking his way. "I need to brush my teeth," I said while staring at the ground. "I can wait though, it's fine. Nevermind, forget I asked." I turned to leave, cursing at myself. 

"You can brush your teeth, it's okay," he chuckled. 

"I won't look, promise," I mumbled while slipping into the bathroom. I grabbed my toothbrush, ran it underwater, and quickly applied the toothpaste. I kept my eyes away from him and away from the mirror and just focused on brushing my teeth. 

I turned around to leave once I finished and I ran straight into him. I stumbled back, blinking up at him and then realizing that he had a towel around his waist and was done showering. 

"You couldn't wait until I left the bathroom?" I mumbled, trying to walk around him only for him to block my way. 

"No," he smirked, stepping forward. 

I walked back until my lower back hit the edge of the counter. "You should get dressed," I suggested. 

"Really?" His hands went to the towel on his waist. 

"No! No, no, no!" I shrieked, putting my hands over my eyes and closing my eyes behind my palm as well. 

I heard him let out a soft chuckle before he pulled my hand down. "I was just joking," he smirked, slowly leaning in. I leaned back and kept on pulling away until I couldn't anymore. He leaned in, his lips mere inches from mine. "I really want to kiss you. Should I?" 

I shook my head quickly. 

"Then be still," he ordered. 

How can he put me in situations like this and then expect me to not want to bury myself? 

I looked away from him while he stared right at me, his eyes scanning my entire face, lingering on my lips a little longer. "Will you stay still?" he asked. 

I nodded slowly, knowing that I was lying. 

He leaned in and when his lips brushed against mine lightly, I turned my head the other way, my eyes squeezing shut. "Liar," he chuckled. 

"Get dressed, please. I'll wait outside," I said quickly, slipping away from him and out of the bathroom. I pulled the curtains open and then the balcony door, stepping outside to catch my breath because yes, it really was necessary. I ran my fingers through my open hair, tugging at it briefly. I put my arms on the railing and ducked my head down, mumbling curses under my breath. "What are you doing, Aria? What the hell are you doing?" 

"I don't know, what are you doing?" 

I looked up at the lake, letting out a sigh before spinning around to face him. 

"You're rejecting kisses and running away from them. That's what you're doing," he said while walking over to me, his hair still damp and sticking out in all directions, all over the place. 

"I have my reasons," I shrugged. 

He stopped in front of me, putting his arms on the railing behind me, keeping me between his arms. "I hate your reasons," he mumbled, his eyes trained on my lips. 

"Are you really that desperate for kisses?" I asked. 

"Yes. I really am that desperate for your kisses."

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Chapter 33

It's FINALLY time to introduce Eric since they'll be back to the palace in the next chapter

next chapter: London