Part of Your World

Interruptions

"How injured are we talking?" I said after a pause, voice low. She seemed ready to spill some truth to me, and I knew I'd have to be silent, knew I'd have to keep the psychotic side of myself at bay, reserving it for him.

She held up her right arm, pointing to her wrist.

"Broken?" I asked. She nodded. I figured that was bad enough—until she kept pointing to other bones, other parts of her little body. Ribs, eye socket, even her toes. She pulled back her hair on the side of her head, near her left ear. A long, pink puckered scar ran along her scalp. By the end, my eyes watered in rage and despair.

"How did you survive, Aria?" I said, voice husky, a strange lump in my throat. She frowned a bit, shaking her head and shrugging. I took a deep, steadying breath, forcing my eyes to the ceiling. After a moment of ridding my mind of all thoughts, I brought my gaze back to hers.

"Thank you, for telling me," I said, feeling as though she'd never told anyone before—not even Claire, not even Ellie or Nick. She'd never go into this sort of detail, not with them. I knew, then, that her feelings for me far outweighed her fear of judgement or retribution. That she was keeping said feelings close to her heart, fearing hurt, rejection—fearing I'd move on for any number of reasons. She didn't know how hard she'd have to work to shake me now; I was here, and I was never willingly leaving her side.

"I'm...sorry, if I've ever been too forward, or rough, or—"

She stopped me, pressing her fingers to my bare chest, right above my heart. She shook her head with a bit of a smile.

You won't hurt me, she mouthed, obstinate. I growled, not trusting her judgement as far as it concerned her beliefs in me.

"Never intentionally, I just..."

She pressed herself closer to me, tucking her head under my chin. I sighed, unable to stop myself as my hand wandered down and gripped her ass, tugging her sharply to me, the possessive, dominant wave crashing over me.

"You're mine, Aria," I whispered into her hair. She nodded against me without hesitation. As submissive as she seemed, I knew in my heart it was the opposite—she controlled my every move, my every thought. It wasn't intentional on her part, but it was simply how this relationship was going to be. And I found I didn't mind giving up that power.

I wound my other hand into her hair, giving a gentle tug and pulling her face away from my chest, my lips finding a sensitive spot below her ear. Her hand jutted up, nails digging into my bicep.

"Tap twice if you need me to stop," I breathed against her, seeking a way for her to communicate with me in moments such as this moving forward. I felt her nod, but her fingers stayed clawed into me. I growled into her, kissing every inch of her fiery skin as she squirmed beneath me, her small gasps bringing a grin to my face before my lips crashed back to hers. My hand slid up and under her sweatshirt—my sweatshirt that she'd claimed as her own.

Her skin pimpled as she shivered. I rolled on top of her, her mouth slipping open as our tongues met in a deep, dancing kiss. I pulled her bottom lip between my teeth, one hand gripping her heaving ribs, the other trapping her wrist, leaving one of her hands free, should she feel the need to communicate.

I pressed my need to her, nestled between her hips as she wriggled beneath me, my other hand continuing its exploration, chuckling as I felt she wasn't wearing a bra. I paused below her breast, pulling away from our kiss to seek her permission.

Her glistening, swollen lips almost dragged me back, but I waited a bit.

"More?" I breathed, chest heaving in anticipation. She was nervous, but she nodded. I released her wrist, sliding the bulky material off her torso as I straddled her, throwing it aside as I wiped my hand along my mouth, eyes feasting on the sight before me. She gazed longingly up at me, baring her body to me without an ounce of fear in her eyes. I smirked, bending once more to continue kissing her deeply, our chests pressed tight together. I was for sure going to catch this flu now, but I didn't give a fuck.

"Fuck," I breathed against her, running my hands along her sides, trapping her breast, flicking my tongue along her sensitive nipple. Her back arched again in response, and judging by her rapid breathing, she was well and turned on. Plunging ahead, I tugged the band of her shorts, my eyes closed in ecstasy at the thought of what was to come. Finally.

In quick succession, I felt her tap my bicep, twice. I paused, allowing myself a moment to come down from such a high, until she began slapping at my arm, her other hand pressing to my cheek. My eyes flew open in fear I'd hurt her. Her eyes were wide, filled to the brim with tears as she pointed with fervency to the TV that had somehow switched on, judging by the whitish light we were bathed in.

I whirled, chest seizing in rage and terror and a thousand other emotions. It seemed Brad wasn't done tormenting us for the day.

The photo was black and white, the body clearly Aria's, nude, young—much younger than now, but the same freckly birthmark was there, just under her left breast, on her ribs. The photo had been edited, a noose around her neck, her face blurred. I tore my eyes from the scene, awash with guilt and disgust at such a young photo of her—not something I ever wanted to set my eyes on again.

She was sobbing beneath me, covering her face in shame and utter horror, but in that moment, all I saw was red. I reached down, pulling her up to me as I knelt on the bed, cradling her as her tears wet my bare skin, her frame wracked with silent cries. Jaw clenched in fury, I knew what it was we had to do now.

"Niko!" I roared, shaking. He knew the passcode to our room.

I didn't bother to turn as I heard the door open, heard his sharp intake of breath. I smoothed her hair down, shielding her body with my own, pressing my lips to her head. After a moment, I turned my torso to him, catching his wild eyes, a furious Serg next to him.

"Find him right now. Do whatever you need to do. Meet me at the warehouse when you do," I ordered. Niko nodded, turning to grip Sergey's arm and pull him out after him. I turned back to Aria, still spasming in my grasp. Gentle, I cupped her cheeks, forcing her reddened eyes to mine.

"He dies tonight, Aria."

Her faced blanched, realization creeping into her gaze. I had meant every word I'd ever said to her, and now she knew it. Pressing her lips together, she nodded. I felt the monstrous smile etch its way onto my face, felt her shiver at the sight.

"Every bone he broke, every hit—every injury done upon you, I will dole out a thousand times over, I swear it," I said as new tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Ya tebya lyublyu, Aria," I said, wiping them away.

I love you, Aria.