You cannot accelerate past this very moment -- You will arrive there only when you have arrived here.
- Seeker
•••
Ava
The wedding was in the late afternoon. The area faced the breathtaking sunset. At the end of each seated aisle, jasmine scented candles hung from naked tree branches. Spread down the aisle was white leaves, as far as the eyes could see, slightly moist so they wouldn’t crack when you stepped on them. On either side of the aisle, white chairs were set up for the guests.
I was wearing a dress which Aaron gifted me. He had left a box in our room, knowing I didn't really have anything suitable to wear. I was observing this beautiful place when I heard someone calling out my name.
"Ava Knights?"
I turned around, finding a man in his late 40s' who stood tall and strong in front of me. I involuntarily took a step back, "Yes?"
He pursed his lips as if in a deep thought, his eyes narrowed while he continued to keep staring at me. I wouldn't have turned nervous but this kind of gesture was definitely making me uncomfortable. He almost looked familiar to someone I know, almost.
"Is anything wrong?" I asked him. He doesn't answer, instead he turned back and walked away into the crowd of people.
Okay, that was weird.
I shrugged and walked near the bushes, quietly waiting for someone to show up. Where the hell were everyone? Did these Spanish people always come late?
The phone started to ring right at that moment and I prayed it shouldn't be that old man. And thankfully, it wasn't. It was Mom. Smiling, I answered the phone and placed it next to my ear.
"Hi, Mom."
"Ava! Good Lord. How are you, baby? Is everything okay there? I'm still mad at you for leaving London. How is Drake?" She exclaimed and asked hurriedly in a worried tone.
"We are good, Everything is good I guess. . . I have come to Spain-"
"Spain?" She cut me, "Why? You were supposed to be in Italy."
"I know, Aaron insisted to come-"
"You are back with him?" She sounded shocked. But I didn't know how I could tell her about everything that has happened till now. It was not real, well at least not for me. And then again, Mom doesn't have to know that.
"Sort of," I replied, carefully.
She stayed silent for few seconds, "Are you happy? After everything he put you through, I don't want you to be with him again. I believed he was a nice person. But he is a mafia for God's sake! You are not safe, Ava."
"Mom," I sighed. "I'm safe, just please do-don't worry about me. Okay? Drake is with me, I will be fine."
"Come back home." She said after a while. My mom was not someone who was persistent, not like this.
"Soon, Mom. I promise."
"Good. You better don't keep me waiting for too long."
I chuckled, "Of course. Anyway, we should visit Spain more often. It's beautiful."
"Nah, I have been there. It wasn't really impressive, so. . ."
"You are just saying that so I will return soon." I grinned, touching the flowers arranged beside the aisle. I looked back when I caught a shadow hovering me, finding that beast who barely let me to have any sleep last night. I swear my eye bags were very evident when I woke up.
"Mom, I will talk you to later. Love you," I finished, moving back a little to have a good view at him. He wore a black suit as usual and I smelled his rain-forest cologne. His jaw was as sharp as a knife with his stubble ready to pierce through my skin.
Aaron was fūcking sexy. I couldn't breathe. Fūck.
"Stop looking at me like that." I told him as I took small steps towards the garden and I could feel his heat on my back. There was a smirk on his face when he tugged on my arm.
"You look ravishing," he whispered in my ear and I bit on my lip to stop the smile that threatened to appear on my face.
I didn't know what to say, so I said, "You, too."
He paused, taking my jaw in his hand and leaning down to kiss me. I moved back before his lips could touch mine, "The wedding is about to start. You will ruin my lipstick."
Aaron raised his eyebrow, his face seemed to be annoyed and he lost all his playful demeanour in a matter of seconds. I couldn't help but laugh at his face.
My laugh died the moment I sat on the chair. That was when I remembered.
I was so fūcking sore. Shıt.
I quickly stood on my feet, scratching the nape of my neck. This time, Aaron was the one who laughed. Heat crept from my neck as I flushed, my nose tinted bright red when my mind went through yesterday. I was about to sprint inside the mansion but he was over to me in three strides, grabbed my wrist, and turned me to face him.
I refused to connect his eyes and I could feel his chest rumbling with laughter as our bodies met, "You don't have to be shy for this or for anything, tigrotto." His thumb rubbed on my lip, wiping off the lipstick.
I frowned, opening my mouth to say but he pressed a chaste kiss, sucking on my bottom lip and stared down at me. By this time, I was sure my heart was in my throat. People were starting to gather, some gave us looks while some didn't bother to pay attention at all.
"Come," he said, taking my hand and walking towards Kahlaan Ogrè who seemed pretty nervous and happy all at once. We stood to the side and waited, I was curious to see the girl who has made a man turn into this.
The priest came out and asked every to stand. The flower girl lined the path with white rose petals as the music started. Finally, the bride appeared and was greeted by her father. He escorted her down the aisle while the chattering went quiet. Up ahead I realised she was that same woman who talked to me the first time we arrived to Seville. I never really had the chance to ask her name, however she looked so beautiful in that dress, I was sure Kahlaan would die to have a glimpse of her.
When she came to stand in front of Kahlaan who stood tall and broad, there was something in the way he stared at her. It wasn't foreign to me, I have known it. I didn't know I was smiling but my cheeks started to hurt.
"You can now be seated." The priest said and the people followed.
"Dearly beloved," he began, "we are gathered here this evening to witness this man and woman join together in holy matrimony." He said the speech and afterward they exchanged vows. The ring bearer came forward and they placed rings on each other. Kahlaan wasted no time in taking off the veil and kissing his wife like he had never done before.
I felt Aaron's fingers entwining with mine as he tightened his hold. I tore my gaze from the married couple to look at him. His eyes were set to his front but I swear they shined in a way which had my heart melting.
I didn't know why but I realised at this moment; I knew exactly what he was thinking.
And it scared me.
•••
"Fancy a dance, m'lady before your man shoots me?" Ferro had his hand outstretched and bows slightly, speaking in his heavy accent. Even though I wanted nothing to do with my insides being sore because of last night, I found it difficult to decline him. Moreover, now that he had added 'my man' who hasn't really asked for a dance, I would likely go with another one.
I beamed, placing my hand on his as he led me towards the dance floor. The music has turned into a slow one and many couples joined altogether to celebrate the wedding.
Ferro encircled an arm around my waist and I put my hand on his shoulder. We started to move along the music and I tried to ignore the burning between my legs, every time thoughts crossing my mind about Aaron. I closed and opened my eyes, took a deep breath and smiled at Ferro who seemed to be glancing sideways.
I followed his gaze and found Drake dancing with Amor. They were laughing together and I found myself searching for Nedaya. Wasn't Drake supposed to be with her?
"Aaron will be hunting your friend soon," Ferro commented.
"Why? What's wrong with that?"
"You should know how feels about his family. Anything goes wrong with Elvika or Amor, he snaps." He explained and my eyebrows furrowed.
"And how does that relate to Drake?" I queried.
"Amor is sensitive, very sensitive; has been since she was a kid."
"Ferro, cut the chase-"
"That's exactly what I'm doing. If she likes your friend, she wouldn't let go, never. And if Drake breaks her heart, Aaron is going to hunt him."
I scoffed, "You're bluffing. Amor likes Ace and besides nobody falls in love everyday-"
He froze, "What did you just say?"
Did he not know?
I shook my hand and urged him to resume dancing, "Nevermind." I replied but he didn't move. He has lost all his playful demeanour.
"Ace never told me." He spoke after a minute, his eyes narrowed as if in a deep thought.
"Maybe he didn't want to or maybe he didn't realise it either," I finished. Ferro opened his mouth to say to something but he didn't have the chance to.
"That's enough," a voice startled me. I saw a hand on his shoulder and he turned around, dropping my hand and letting go of my waist without even thinking twice. When I peeked behind his shoulder, I found myself biting my lip as I was instantly pulled closer to the warmth.
I felt my waist being held again, this time with more sturdiness and stronger hands. My arms reached behind his neck and leaned against his chest, his scent overwhelming my senses. I didn't know how long we danced but I couldn't help but remember the first time we danced like this.
"Seemed like you were having fun." Aaron muttered, his lips grazing my temple.
"With Ferro? Absolutely. He is a gentleman." A mafia but a gentleman, I opted to not say that part aloud.
"Mafias are not gentle, tigrotto. But If that's how you want to phrase it," he pointed and I looked up at him.
"Are you reminding me to stay away from him or is it just you being jealous because I danced with him? Ferro is nice to me, he always was unlike you." I told, rolling my eyes in annoyance.
"First, I'm not jealous. Second, Why do I feel like if we keep talking like this, it's going to drag the conversation somewhere else?"
"Somewhere what?" I prompted.
Aaron shook his head, pressing his lips together and choosing to stay silent. "I asked you something." I said again but he continued dancing as if he didn't hear me.
"Come on, now. Was I not supposed to say Ferro was always nice to me and you were not?" I blurted, widening my eyes at him.
His jaw ticked but he refused to answer. If there was any chance of kicking him between his legs, I think it was now. I hated how he was ignoring me so casually. I was not overreacting and he was one who emphasised on it. I didn't even want to mean it but I guess somewhere, I actually do, there were things that couldn't be forgotten and he had to accept that.
"Are we fighting?" He finally decided to open his goddamn mouth.
My jaw dropped, "No, I'm arguing- it's only me who's talking."
"Listen, Ava." He set his hard eyes on mine, "I don't want to this, at least not here."
"Okay, Aaron," I faked a sweet smile and I was sure he knew it. "Fūck you too."
All of a sudden, he was taking me deeper into the garden and then I realised there was actually a hill behind this mansion. I couldn't keep up with his pace, "I can't walk so fast."
He doesn't listen, instead he took me in his arms and continued to walk deeper and deeper into forest. Aaron was angry, he definitely was but I didn't care. He started to take my words seriously, and it wasn't my fault. It almost looked like a creek when he stood in front of a riverside. I was awestruck at the beauty of this place and confused at the same as to why he would bring me here.
"I wanted to bring you here after the ceremony and then, you started to fight. Oh wait, argue - like you said," He mocked my words and I glared at him.
"You were the one who refused to answer me. Where are your manners, Aaron?" I retorted with a look.
He let out a rushed breath and swallowed hard, making his Adam's apple to bob sexily. I closed my eyes and repeated inwardly, I'm not getting intimidated, I'm not getting intimidated.
When I opened them, I yelped at the proximity we were in. His face was merely inches away from mine, "Can we not fight, please?"
I was taken a back. This was not the Aaron I knew, he didn't say please on such trivial matters. What has changed?
I didn't let him know that his words affected me but I nodded meekly and he pulled me down with him. We laid there in silence, my head resting on his broad shoulders, only the sounds of water rushing and the birds fluttering were heard.
"Again, I was arguing. Not fighting." I mumbled and felt his chest rumbling with laughter.
•••
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Love, raaz.