Chapter 37: Manipulator (Aria's POV)

"And I'll come over the day after, okay? I'll see you then," Eric said to Alex while walking the two of us out. "Bye," he said to Alexander and then turned to me. "It was great to meet you, you're perfect for him," he chuckled. 

I smiled, glancing at Alex. 

"I'll see you soon, bye." 

"Bye," I grinned. Alex and I headed to the car and we slipped in after that, ready to head back to the palace. We stayed back pretty late, so his parents had already gone back and we were leaving just now. 

"Are you tired?" he asked, grabbing my hand. 

"A little, yes," I sighed, leaning my head back. I turned to face him and kept staring at him. 

"What?" he chuckled, shifting closer. 

"I just want to ask you something. Will you answer honestly?" 

"I will try," he nodded. 

"Why do you hate Adrian and Eleanor so much?" 

He blinked at me. 

"You don't seem to hate their parents. Just the two of them." 

"I hate Adrian because of his attitude towards things. And the way he thinks he's the only one in the world. He never considers anyone else's point of view." 

"And Eleanor?" 

He thought for a second. "I hate her because she's a manipulator." 

"Manipulator?" I frowned in confusion. 

"I've known her a lot longer than I've known Adrian." 

I nodded in understanding. 

"And all the experiences I've had with her have done nothing but torture me. I've gotten in a lot of trouble. Especially with Adrian. And it's all because of her. She's a liar. And she manipulated people and situations too. And ultimately, she got out of it unscathed." 

"Are you saying you and Adrian hate each other because of her? Because of a problem she created?" 

He nodded, looking into my eyes. 

I fell into thought, staring out of the window. The only thing that makes sense is... if there was something going on between Alex and Eleanor. And because of her, he got in trouble and she got out of it by manipulating the situation and throwing him under the bus. 

"Aria." 

"Hmm?" I turned to him. 

"You still owe me a kiss." 

I chuckled, turning away. "We're nearly at the palace and I'm tired, okay?" 

"So? A kiss doesn't take so long," he scoffed. 

"Alex!" I scolded. This is not an appropriate conversation to have right now. At all. He opened his mouth to say something else but I clamped my hand over his mouth. "Later," I mumbled. He smiled as I pulled my hand away. 

After ten minutes, the car slowed down to a stop at the palace. We stepped out and then quietly entered the palace, making our way up to our room, trying to make sure we didn't wake his parents accidentally. He opened the door for me and then closed it once I stepped inside with him right behind me. 

I sat down on the edge of the bed and kicked my heels off. I put them aside and walked into the bathroom where I started taking my earrings off. I left them on the counter and then threw my hair up in a bun. I grabbed the earrings and left them in the jewelry box that I brought from home. "Can't I get a vanity or something in this room?" I asked. 

"Of course you can." 

I jumped, getting startled as he entered the bathroom. 

His suit was off, so was his tie, his shirt was unbuttoned all the way and his sleeves were open and loose around his wrist. "Would you like one?" he sang, stepping closer to me. 

"Yeah. It'll make it easier to keep my stuff somewhere," I shrugged. 

"We'll get one," he nodded. "But before we do that, you have to kiss me." 

I chuckled, scratching my brow. "Why are you suddenly so obsessed with my kisses?" 

"I'm not just obsessed with your kisses, I'm obsessed with you." 

"Haha," I said sarcastically while leaning against the counter, folding my arms across my chest. 

"Funny, right? But I'm not jesting," he said while leaning in closer. "You know what I think?" 

"What do you think, Alex?" I smiled. 

"I think..." 

"What do you think, Alexander?" 

"I think, Aria..." 

"What do you think?" I laughed. 

"I think I have a newfound appreciation for Aria Rose since she became my wife." 

I arched a brow at him, trying not to smile. 

"Oh, pardon me. Aria Phoenix," he smirked. 

I pulled my lips into a thin line, trying to ignore the heat rushing to my cheeks. "You know what I think?" 

"What do you think, Ri?" 

I chuckled, "I think..." 

"What do you think, Aria?" 

"I think..." I brushed his hair out of his eyes. 

"What do you think?" 

"I think you're acting a little lovesick." 

"I think I am a little lovesick." 

"Even though you're not in love with me?" 

"Yet," he said, flicking my nose with his finger. 

I blinked, chuckling. 

"You know what else I think?" he asked. 

"What?" I grinned. 

"I don't think we'll have as much trouble as we thought we would when we want a kid," he smirked. 

"Slow down, Romeo," I laughed. "Nobody is having a kid. And nobody is getting pregnant. And nobody is having sex," I whispered, leaning in. 

"That too, yet," he winked. 

I laughed. "Our kiss count is..." I held up my fingers in a pinch. "Tiny. And you're talking about sex?" 

"Our kiss count is tiny because of you, not me!" 

"It's not my fault someone always interrupts you before you can kiss me," I said smugly. 

"Let's see who can stop me now," he smirked, leaning in. 

I laughed, "I can." 

He glared at me. 

"Let me change, please." 

"Nope," he shook his head, persistently blocking my way. "You're delaying a kiss. You have been delaying it for so long. It doesn't take that long to just give me one. Unless you're scared?" 

"I'm not scared to kiss you, I'm scared of that one kiss turning into a long makeout session," I blurted out. 

"Oh," he grinned. "Well, I wouldn't mind." 

I rolled my eyes. "Will you open the hooks?" 

"Not yet." He spun me back around. "I would like to kiss you in the very pretty dress," he shrugged. 

"Alexander." 

"Aria," he said mockingly. "Give me a fucking kiss." 

I blinked, shocked at the profanity. I've only ever heard him swear when he's angry. I watched as his eyes traveled down my face. From my eyes, to my lips, to my neck, to my collarbones, my chest, and then back up. "Why are you breathing heavy?" he chuckled. 

"Am I?" I asked and then realized that I indeed was breathing heavy and my chest was heaving up and down ever so slightly. 

"A little," he nodded, staring at my lips and then stepping closer. 

"I should really get away from you," I mumbled, turning my head the other away while my cheeks grew hotter and probably redder. 

He grabbed my chin, turning my head. I pushed his hand off and looked away again. "Oi!" He grabbed my jaw gently and turned my head. "Don't do that," he said slowly. 

"Or what?" I pushed his arm off again. 

"Or nothing," he whispered, his fingers going around my throat as he pulled my face a little closer to his. 

I chuckled, trying not to think about how good he looked right now. With his hair, a little messy, his shirt unbuttoned, his sleeves loose around his wrists. His hand around my throat. I have my likes and dislikes, I have my kinks. I just don't understand if he knows that or if he likes what he's doing. Either way works for me. 

"Oh, you like it?" he smirked, letting out a soft chuckle. 

"No," I lied. "It's just funny." 

"No, no, no, sweetheart. You like it. Don't you? Admit it," he said, his grip tightening just a little. 

I blinked slowly, biting down a smile. I'm way past the point of hiding my blushing cheeks now. 

He smiled, his eyes scanning my face. "Do you have any idea how easily I could fall in love with if you let me?" 

"You shouldn't," I whispered. "What if I chose revenge over love?" 

"Still worth it," he nodded. 

"And what if I... kill you?" 

His eyebrows shot up. "And how would you like to kill me?" he asked, dropping his hand, placing both his hands on the counter behind me. 

"With a dagger," I grinned. 

"Oh?" 

I nodded. 

"And where would you hide the dagger? Here?" He pushed the fabric of the dress near the slit on my leg and traced my thigh with his skin. 

I chuckled, pushing his hand away. "I thought you were here for a kiss? How come we're talking about me killing you?" 

"You're the one who isn't kissing me. And anyhow, it would be a pleasure to face death at your hands." 

"How chivalrous of you," I said sarcastically. "But I couldn't kill you even if I wanted to. Which I do," I nodded. 

"If you can't kill me, can you at least kiss me?" His hand went back to my throat. "You owe me one." He leaned in. "I'm not waiting any longer." He grabbed my chin and tilted my head up, pressing his lips down to mine. His hand crept back to my throat and he kept the kiss going. 

I kissed him back. I couldn't not. I put my hands on the counter behind me and pushed myself off of it, my body pressing into his. 

He deepened the kiss this time and where I was a little surprised, I didn't mind it though. I didn't mind it at all.

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Chapter 37

I just wanna say

at the start of this book, I got very few comments which obviously was a little de-motivating, but ya'll comment a lot now. Like a lot, a lot. So, literally thank you so much. I love reading your comments and I read them for every single chapter and they are literally hilarious, I love you guyssss!!!

next chapter: coffee