Page 12 of Aria's Desire

It was the first time since that electrifying moment in the dungeon so long ago that she’d felt his touch, felt the rough grip of his hands on her body, felt his heat warming her inside and out.

He consumed her, devoured her with lips and tongue, and when that no longer satisfied him, he grabbed her ass in his big hands, hauled her up against him, and pinned her to the wall so he could take her mouth deeper.

Moaning low in her throat, Aria met his fervor with her own, clutching him to her, tightening her legs around his waist so she could feel the hard bar of his cock against her. In that moment, there were no barriers between them. There was only need and relief and desperate hunger.

And then a low, barking chuckle from behind him shattered the spell. Jolting, Aria realized that she’d forgotten where they were. She’d been so lost in him that nothing else existed.

Breathing hard, she pulled back, brushing her hair off her face to find a toothy grin aimed their way. She didn’t have to feign the look of surprise she aimed at the guard standing behind Sin.

“Much as I am enjoying the show, you cannot be back here. Move along,” the guard ordered with a smirk.

Looking at Sin when he didn’t make any move to put her down, she found him staring at her, the look in his eyes telling her he was contemplating killing the guard and picking back up where they’d just left off.

Shaking her head ever so slightly, even though she’d considered exactly the same thing for a split second, she feigned tipsy embarrassment.

“So sorry! We didn’t know we weren’t suppos’ta be back here.” And, because the guard looked like an idiot, she added a hiccuping giggle for good measure. Loudly, intending to be overheard, she whispered to Sin, “Gotta put me down, hubby, or we’re gonna get in trouble!”

Finally, he blinked and reluctantly, haltingly set her on her feet as though he had to fight to make himself release her.

With an almost audible snap, all the passion and need burning in his eyes was gone, and the chasm between them was there once more.

Aria was left with a hollow feeling, the pain in her chest all the more intense for having tasted what she so badly craved, even if only for a brief moment.

Chapter 8

Knowing the guard was more than likely headed to tell his buddies about the horny couple he’d caught almost fucking in the hallway, which would put them under scrutiny, if only because they wanted to catch their own show, they left, keeping up the drunk act just in case.

While she would’ve liked to check out the restricted levels, they’d seen enough. This arena was seriously lacking in electronic security measures, likely something they planned to fix in the upgrade. Hell, they’d only seen maybe half-a-dozen actual guards between all the floors they’d scoped out. Assuming the off-limits floors boasted the same lack of defences, taking it over should be a cakewalk.

After this arena, the only places that would be left in the city not under their control were the three skyscrapers. According to Killir, that was where the true heavy-hitters lived and worked: visiting royalty, rulers of other planets, and various other rich and powerful people who needed a backwater slave planet on which to conduct their shady business without having to worry about the Federation catching them.

Taking those places down was going to be a hell of a lot more complicated. Aside from what was sure to be significantly better security, they’d have to deal with the people themselves. While a run-of-the-mill lowlife could go missing for a while without too much fanfare, someone was sure to noticetheirabsences immediately.

Feeling Sin’s eyes on her as they rounded the side of the complex to head back to the cleared space in which they’d landed, she glanced up at him only for him to look away.

She almost let it go, almost let the uncomfortable silence fall between them again. After all, what was the point in talking about what had just happened? What good would it do? He wasn’t hers.

Hell, she wasn’t even sure hewantedto be hers, not really.

If he did, wouldn’t he have done something by now? Something unmistakable, something to show her his interest? No, not interest. She knew he was interested.

Aria realized with sudden clarity that she was waiting for a sign, from him and Rellik both, that they wanted something real.

She knew they desired her. But that wasn’t enough.

She wouldn’t—couldn’t—entertain thoughts of dating them if all they really desired was to scratch an itch. Yes, she wanted them both, and acknowledged, finally, that she was willing to at least initiate a conversation with her mates about the possibility, but not without first knowing what exactly it was Sin and Rellik wanted from her.

So, for a moment, she considered letting him shut down.

But when he fell back, walking behind her instead of at her side, something in her snapped.

Fuck this.

Angry, confused, and abruptly fed up, she spun on her heels and stalked up to him.

“What? What is it, Thrasin? What aren’t you saying with those stares I can feel down to my goddamn bones? Tell me! Because I’m sick and fucking tired of guessing and walking on eggshells, not knowing what you and Rellik fucking want!”

Instead of being taken off guard by her anger, his face immediately twisted into an expression of fury and what looked a hell of a lot like grief. And, still, for a moment, he didn’t speak. Just as she was about to give up, to turn and walk away from him once and for all, he growled.

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