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Her violet eyes were looking around the dark house. Then, the lights were switched on and Astrid was amazed.
Sure, the exterior was poor—with its thatched roofs and poor stone walls—but when they got inside the house, the interior was up to date with the latest inventions of humankind.
Astrid can only conclude that the abandoned house was just a cover to throw off the enemy from looking closely. Even she did not know such a place existed. If she was on the hunt for Aaron Covaci, she might overlook this house in her quest.
She was still looking around the house, walking around and touching stuff. Astrid was browsing the bookshelves that stood enormously next to the fireplace when Aaron gave her a glass of whiskey.
“Here you go, dragul meu,” he whispered as their fingers touched. Astrid glanced heatedly at him.
“Thank you, min kjærlighet,” she replied. A smile formed on her upturned lips as Astrid was looking at him. She took the glass and sipped on the whiskey. It warmed her insides instantly.
Aaron smirked, training his green eyes on Astrid as he was sipping on his whiskey. Then, ever the gracious host that he was, Aaron was showing Astrid around. He draped his hand against her small back.
“Well then, dragul meu, welcome to my humble home. I hope it is to your liking,” he said huskily as they were rounding the living room to get to the divans that were sitting in front of the fireplace. Astrid arched her eyebrow.
“Humble? Really, min kjærlighet? I wouldn’t use that adjective to describe your crib but if we were to compare the castle that I used to live in... this might be a humble crib then,” Astrid said nonchalantly as she was sipping on the whiskey.
She went ahead to stand in front of the window beside the fireplace. Astrid looked outside the window, trying to take into account their surroundings for defense. Whilst she was busy doing that, she forgot the heat behind him.
Instantly, Astrid knew that Aaron was behind her.
“It is humble for me when you’re here, dragul meu. I wish I could show you the world and not this...excuse for my courtship of your hands,” Aaron said huskily into her ear.
Astrid blushed profusely as he turned her around. They stared at each other.
Aaron tucked her hair behind her ear as Astrid looked into his green eyes. She gulped. Then, she was biting her lower lip.
“Aaron,” she whispered huskily. Astrid put her hand against his chest as his heat slipped into her fingers.
“Yes, dragul meu?” Aaron asked, still fascinated with her hair strands.
Immediately, Astrid was moving out of his embrace. Aaron looked at her, confused by the whole interaction.
“Astrid? Dragul meu, what’s wrong?” he asked softly. His hand dropped to his side as Astrid was looking at him. She sighed while hugging herself. She put some distance between them before turning around to look at him.
“I...I never did this—whatever this is—before...with anyone, Aaron. I hope you’ll be gentle with me,” Astrid confessed her violet eyes looking at his face.
Aaron was shooting his eyebrows up, clearly not expecting what she expected him to be other than gentle with his mate. He put the glass down and moved toward Astrid.
“Why would you say that, dragul meu? You know I would never hurt you. Why? Has anyone hurt you before by taking what is not given freely?” he asked, his darker side riding hard in his veins.
His vision turned grey. Aaron knew that his eyes were pure black now, perhaps obsidian as he was trying to control the urge of mating that his darker side demanded of him against Astrid.
“No! Of course not. No one would dare to be on the bad side of me. No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Astrid countered as Aaron took a step forward.
“Then, what? What are you trying to say?” he asked. Then, silence fell between them. A moment later, he asked again.
“Are you afraid of me?” Aaron asked softly. Astrid’s eyes widened when his green eyes were focused on her face.
Astrid shook her head. Her fair strands were all over her face. Then, she sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. After taking a deep breath, she opened them again and looked at Aaron.
“No, min kjærlighet, you know that’s not true. I even let you...” she stammered before her fair face was covered with blush.
Arching his eyebrows, Aaron was smiling as he nodded. An understanding came from the depth of his green eyes
“Well... that’s a good thing to know about you, dragul meu. I was thinking that you might find me...repulsive,” he said wickedly as he rested his hands on her waist. Astrid glared at him.
“I don’t find you repulsive, as you put it, min kjærlighet. It’s just that...I was born and raised on traditional core values by my parents. Hence, I am more of a traditional woman who values relationships more than anything.” Astrid stated as she gulped.
“And I don’t want to cause any trouble for you, min kjærlighet. You know I do and I’m sure your...species is used to sensuality and all that stuff. But I’m not! You know I’m not a woman that you can just graze her bed like you always do, Aaron, for I was raised on the value of holy matrimony,” she added as she was brushing her hands against his shirt. Then, she sighed again.
“All my life, I have been alone. Only the memories of my parents who were so in love sustained me through the night in my cold bed, min kjærlighet,” Astrid said as she was looking at Aaron.
“Believe it or not, I am a hopeless romantic at heart. I would not settle for less than my hands in marriage in which you will take mine...forever,” she confessed her darkest desire.