12. Aria
12
ARIA
M y heart stutters when I hear Dion’s voice on the other end of the line.
The last person I expected to call me was him.
I lift my glasses over my head as if it’ll help me focus and shut the book I was reading. Sitting up on my bed, I try to gather my thoughts.
I haven’t heard from Dion since the night we spent together two months ago. We never exchanged numbers, so I never thought I’d speak to him again.
However , I’m not surprised that he found my contact information.
“ Dion ?”
“ Yes , it’s me, astéri mou .”
My heartbeat slows at the sound of my nickname. “ I .. Wha …” I stammer, not really knowing what to say, so I’m thankful when he continues to speak.
“ We need to talk.” I hear a gate opening behind him.
“ What’s wrong?” I ask, nervously fiddling with my pajama shirt.
“ Nothing . I just need to ask you some questions.”
“ Uh , okay… Shoot .”
“ In person.”
I pull the phone away from my ear to check the time. It’s 11:45 p.m.
“ It’s almost midnight. Can it not wait until tomorrow?”
Honestly , I’m tired, but that’s not the real reason why I don’t want to see Dion in person. I’m just not ready to face him.
I’ve been grappling with this inner conflict for what feels like an eternity now, and the mere thought of seeing him sends shivers down my spine. Not from excitement, but dread.
I’ve spent our time apart in a tug-of-war between longing for the connection we shared and trying to move on with my life. Trying to erase all fantasies of us being together from my mind. I’m afraid that seeing him again will ruin all my progress. Not that there has been much of that.
Though we only spent a few hours together, I’ve never had that type of attachment to anyone before.
I thought it was just because I gave him my virginity, making me feel as if we had a special type of bond. But it wasn’t about the sex.
It was about him .
“ No . It has to be now,” Dion replies, no room for discussion.
What could be so urgent?
“ How am I supposed to sneak out?”
Dion chuckles into the phone. “ I’m sure you’ve done it before, little liar. Figure it out. Meet me at the edge of the forest beyond the trees of your property in twenty.” He hangs up.
He’s not wrong. I’ve snuck out of my room many times before, but it was to go out with Angie or one of my other girlfriends. Not to meet a boy while I technically have a fiancé. If I get caught, I’ll never hear the end of it.
But I guess I’m going. I’m not wearing anything appropriate, so I decide to change into something more incognito .
I slip on a pair of black jogging pants and a black sweater, pulling the hood over my head and tucking my blonde strands inside.
After putting on my running shoes, I open my window and let the cool night air kiss my skin.
My room faces the backyard. At this time of night, there are no guards walking behind the house, so it should be relatively easy for me to run into the forest unnoticed.
As I step onto the windowsill, a familiar thrill races up my spine. I grip the edges of the frame and lean out, assessing the descent.
I lower myself down, my muscles responding instinctively. My feet find purchase on the uneven surface of the wall, between the nooks and crannies, with precision honed through countless climbs.
Just then, I hear the flicker of a lighter.
Who the hell could be out here smoking at this hour?
Not wanting to fall, I continue going down, as slowly and quietly as possible. When I reach the bottom and my feet touch solid ground, I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
Standing beneath the window, I try to locate where the sound came from, but I can’t see anyone. It must’ve been my imagination.
I turn to walk toward the woods when a voice scares the living crap out of me.
“ Where do you think you’re going?” Shit . Dimitri .
I whip back around and squint in the dark. He’s sitting on a stone bench near the rose bushes.
It’s not like Dimo has never caught me sneaking out. He’s also guilty for doing the same. But this is the first time I’ll have to come up with an excuse. I can’t even say I’m going clubbing as usual, seeing as I’m in sweatpants and a hoodie.
“ For a walk.” I shrug, trying to sound as casual as possible.
His brows crease. “ Really , Aria ? At midnight?”
I turn to fully face him and shrug again. Real casual. “ I couldn’t sleep.”
“ So , you decided to venture into the forest? Alone ? Bullshit , Ri .” He takes a large inhale of his cigarette. “ Where are you going?”
Wait a second . I cross my arms over my chest. “ First of all, I’m your big sister, so you can’t question me. Second , since when do you smoke?”
He laughs at my attempt to switch the topic. “ You might be older, but I still have a duty to protect you. And I’ve been smoking since Baba decided to start showing me the ropes.”
Ah , yes. Now that my brother is eighteen, our father has begun teaching him about the business. Training him on how the mob works for when he’ll have to take over for him.
As a legal adult, and the male heir, he’s obligated to begin working for the clan. But Dimitri was never interested in following in my father’s footsteps. He’s creative, an artist. He has such unique quirks and sense of humor and spends a good chunk of his days playing video games. The mob life is not for him.
“ Shit . How’s that going?”
He shifts and raises his cigarette into the air. “ What do you think?”
“ That bad, huh?”
“ Yup .”
“ Have you tried telling Baba again that you don’t want any part of the clan?”
“ Yes , and it didn’t go well. He yelled at me about the importance of continuing the family’s legacy and went on about having a “big break” soon. Whatever the fuck that means.”
I ponder that for a moment. Lately , my father has been more invested in work than ever. I thought it was because of arranging my upcoming engagement. But now, I feel like there might be more to it.
I remember that I’m meeting Dion in a few minutes. I have to get going.
“ Well , I’m here for you, Dimo ,” I tell my brother, and he nods, a soft smile at his lips. “ I’m going to meet a friend for a bit. I’ll be back soon. Please don’t tell our parents,” I plead, hoping he won’t ask any more questions.
He pretends to zip his mouth shut just as he blows out the remaining smoke from his cigarette before crushing it under his foot.
“ Thank you!” I exclaim, running to give him a peck on the cheek. He chuckles and pretends to push me away.
At the edge of the forest, I take a deep breath in. All you’re going to do is talk. Nothing more.
When I’ve finally convinced myself—or barely— I step onto the mossy floor.
Darkness presses in around me like a heavy blanket. The only light comes from the faint glow of the moon filtering through the trees. I rarely wander through these woods anymore, but when I was younger, they used to be my playing grounds. Other than planting flowers and gardening, this used to be my sanctuary. I’d hide here when life out there felt too overwhelming.
Each step I take seems to echo through the silence. Suddenly , a rustling sounds nearby. I freeze.
This might not have been a good idea after all.
I try to determine the source of the noise, but my own heartbeat thuds in my ears. It has to be an animal of some sort .
Then , I hear it—a faint crunching of leaves, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps.
Panic grips me as I realize I’m not alone. I’m still far away from where I’m supposed to meet Dion , so it can’t be him. Right ?
My breath quickens, palms growing clammy with sweat. I didn’t bring my phone in case I somehow got tracked into the forest. I’m now regretting my decision.
Every instinct screams at me to go , to get out of here as fast as I can.
I break into a frantic run, my steps loud and erratic. The shadows seem to twist around me, playing tricks on my mind. I try to rid myself of my imagination. But the snap of a twig sends me into a frenzy.
My chest tightens with each passing moment, my lungs urging for air as I push myself to go faster. I can see the end of the treeline.
As I continue my distraught dash through the forest, I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye. Out of instinct, I turn my head—and there, illuminated by a shaft of moonlight, is a figure clad in dark clothing, a motorcycle helmet obscuring the face.
My pulse quickens. It’s undoubtedly a man. And there’s something about the way the helmet fits snugly on his head, accentuating his rugged features. It’s hot .
The figure lifts the visor, and for a moment, time seems to stand still as our eyes lock in a silent, tense standoff. Dion ? What is he doing?
I blink, heart pounding in my chest, and try to make sense of what’s happening. But before I can react, he darts behind a nearby tree, disappearing into the shadows.
“ Dion ?” I call out. No response. I turn in circles, looking for his large frame, but there’s no one in sight.
Out of nowhere, I hear a whisper, soft and insidious, right beside my ear. “ Run , little liar.”
My heart lurches and I whip around. There’s no one there. Just the stillness of the forest, broken only by the sound of my own ragged breaths.
“ Dion , come out. This isn’t fucking funny,” I spit, irritated. Why is he playing games? He was supposed to wait for me outside of the forest.
The rational part of my mind tells me to run. But curiosity and fear keep me rooted to the spot, unable to tear my gaze away from where his figure vanished.
Every nerve in my body is on edge, every sense heightened as I strain to catch any sign of movement. But the forest remains silent and still, as if holding its breath, waiting for me to make the next move.
I start running again, and the sound of footsteps reappears, this time closer and faster. He is moving at lightning speed, and I have nowhere else to go.
Adrenaline surges through my veins when Dion lunges out from behind a tree, and the real chase begins.
With a strangled cry, I pivot on my heels and tear through the undergrowth, branches whipping at my face and limbs as I push myself forward. When I look back, I see he’s getting nearer. Fear grips me in its icy embrace. But beneath it all, there’s something else—a rush of exhilaration that courses through me like a wildfire.
Am I actually getting turned on by this?
The pounding of my heart fills my ears, drowning out all the other sounds as I race through the darkness. Dion’s heavy footfalls get louder.
I run faster, now a willing player in his game.
Dion notices my boost of energy and lets out a loud and deep maniacal laugh, slightly muffled by the helmet. “ Oh , little liar. I’m going to catch you. And when I do, you’re going to wish you outran me.”
His threat only builds the arousal within me, leaving me breathless with anticipation.
I can feel his body closing in, his presence hot on my neck as he gains ground with every stride. And then, with a suddenness that steals the air from my lungs, his strong arms wrap around me in a vice-like grip.
Our bodies collide, his chest pressing against my back, and he steadies us. In that instant, fear and arousal blur into one.
His touch is rough, yet strangely intoxicating, his hands roaming over my body with a possessiveness that sends shivers down my spine.
“ Stop ,” I mutter, sounding unconvincing even to my own ears. “ We’re just supposed to talk.”
“ I changed my mind, little liar. Having you this close makes me want to fuck you against that tree.”
His helmet brushes against my ear, sending a thrill of anticipation through me. I should be fighting, struggling to break free from his grasp, but instead, I find myself leaning into his touch, my body responding to him with a hunger I can’t deny.
“ We shouldn’t,” I moan.
“ Your body is betraying your words, astéri mou .”
I shouldn’t want this. I know that.
Dion presses my face against the rough bark of the tree. Every rational part of me screams to push him away, to resist his advances, while my body responds eagerly to his touch.
His hands explore my skin with a gentleness that contradicts the urgency of our arousal, and the warmth of his touch leaves me paralyzed, making me crave more despite myself.
A moan escapes my lips when he reaches under my hoodie and grabs onto my breasts. He squeezes them hard, and I jolt.
His fingers travel down my stomach, reaching the waistband of my pants. I try to summon the willpower to resist, to stop him before things go too far, but his proximity overwhelms my senses, clouding my judgment.
Dion caresses the delicate skin above my pants and sticks his hand between my legs. He presses me harder against the tree, his other hand trailing a path of fire along my neck, and I surrender to the forbidden longing, knowing full well the consequences of succumbing to him.
“ Fuck me, please,” I beg, and he emits a raw, guttural noise.
Dion unbuckles his pants right before pushing down my joggers with force, eliciting a gasp out of me.
He grabs onto my wrists and arches my back, pinning my chest to the tree. Then , I hear him spit and it only intensifies the wetness between my legs.
“ Fuck , Aria . You’re soaking. Is that all for me, little liar?”
A flush heats my cheeks and I nod.
“ This pussy is mine. You know that, right? I took it, claimed it, fucked it, so it’s mine,” he growls.
I nod again and he pulls on the neckline of my hoodie, causing my head to fly back. “ Say it, Aria .”
“ This pussy is yours,” I choke out.
He grunts in approval and kicks my legs open right before angling his cock at my entrance. With one sudden movement, he slams inside of me. I scream.
I immediately regret it when I remember that we are still in the forest, not far from my house, which means that anyone in proximity could hear us.
“ Are you trying to get us caught, baby?” Dion teases. “ Be a good girl and stay quiet for me while I pound into your perfect cunt.”
Fuck . Me .
I’ve been fantasizing about feeling Dion inside me again, but nothing could’ve prepared me for this primal, raw reality. He’s still wearing his helmet, and it makes this even hotter.
“ I missed this tight little cunt.”
His presence envelops me, and I get closer to the edge, losing all sense of time and space.
“ Touch yourself, baby,” he orders, and I bring my fingers to my mouth, moistening them, before placing my hand between my legs, flicking my clit while Dion fills me from behind.
He holds onto my hips with a vice-like grip, nails digging into my skin. Each thrust carrying the force of a lightning strike, sparking all my nerve endings and leaving me breathless.
“ Who’s inside you? Spell out my name and tell me who’s inside your pussy.”
“ D - Dion ,” I mutter. “ D .” Thrust . “ I . Ahhh ,” I moan, feeling him in every crevice of my body. “ O .” Thrust . “ N .” An overwhelming tide of sensations invades me.
“ Atta girl. It’s me . Remember my fucking name as I let you come all over my cock.”
I surrender to Dion , getting lost in the ecstasy of my orgasm.
“ Yes ! Don’t stop. Don’t stop,” I chant, ripples of pleasure cascading through me.
Dion’s moves grow frantic as he releases inside me.
We’re both left breathless.
After several labored inhales, he finally pulls out of me, and I stand against the tree, longing for more, yet fulfilled at the same time.
“ Keep your legs parted,” he orders again.
After a few seconds, something leaks out of me.
I turn my head just as Dion reaches up, slowly removing his helmet. He shakes his head, his hair falling over his eyes, framing that beautiful, chiseled face. His tanned skin glistens with a slight sheen of sweat, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the intensity in his eyes. His gaze is piercing, yet calm, as if the chase has only improved his focus.
Then , he kneels and places himself in between my legs, letting his tongue swipe up my inner thighs to lick up the mess.
My heart races and heat creeps up my cheeks. A gasp gets caught in my throat as I look down at him, my knees almost giving out.
When he stands back up, his stare locks onto mine. Squeezing my cheeks, he forces my lips apart and spits our combined juices into my mouth, his penetrating gaze consuming me. “ Taste that, Riri baby?” Dion grabs my wrist, yanking me close. I gasp, my breath hitching as his grip tightens. “ You need to understand something, Aria . You’re mine. No one else’s. And no one will take you away from me. Not even your fiancé.”
Dion
My heart races, thundering against my chest as I struggle to catch my breath. My body is fucking electrified after our chase. I feel so alive.
Aria turns around and closes her eyes, leaning against the tree for support, and trying to steady her trembling limbs.
“ Here ,” I say, helping her slip her jogging pants on, before buckling myself back up in my jeans.
She looks at me, and I gaze into her beautiful gray eyes, sparkling brighter than the moon and stars combined.
“ What did you want to talk about?” she asks, a slight tremor in her voice. Her gaze darts around, suddenly nervous, avoiding direct eye contact. The conversation I had with Evan plays over in my mind— I need to find out if our plan has somehow been compromised.
I grab onto her hand and rub circles over her soft skin. Immediately , she relaxes with my touch.
“ Did you tell anyone about us?”
“ No ,” she responds quickly.
“ Not even Angelica ?”
She shakes her head. “ I trust her, but I don’t want to risk it. If this makes way to my baba , it’ll cause a huge issue.”
I nod in agreement. “ Did your father ask you about that night?”
I remember when I offered to drive her home, she had initially refused, worried that she might be seen with me. At the time, my ego hadn’t allowed me to comprehend the implications. It might’ve been a smarter idea to drop her off at her best friend’s house.
“ No . I’m sure he didn’t see us, but I can’t confirm if the guards told him. I’m assuming they didn’t think to notify him.”
I’d be surprised if his men didn’t tell him that his daughter was dropped off by a guy. Especially when she has no need to take a rideshare as she has a driver. Something’s not adding up.
“ Why ?” Aria asks, her gaze focused on me, searching for an answer.
I reach into my pocket and pull out the notes I received, handing them to her. She opens the pieces of paper and reads the messages.
Her eyes dart back up to me. “ Oo theé mou . Are they talking about me?”
I nod. “ I think so. My guess is that it’s your father trying to scare me away. Us being together poses a threat to whatever arrangement he has.”
She quiets, seemingly processing the information.
“ I’m meeting my fiancé for the first time tomorrow. My baba will be there, too. I’ll try to pick up on anything.”
Jealousy grips me like a vise, an intense wave sweeping over me. The thought of her and her fiancé stirs something inside me. I drop Aria’s hand and clench my fist.
What the hell is happening to me? I should be pushing her away, keeping my distance.
I can’t let myself get too close. I can’t let myself fall . Because once you fall, there’s no going back. And I’m not ready for that. Not now. Not ever.
“ Dion ,” she says, faintly, reaching for my hand again, but the green-eyed monster has taken hold. It’s too late to stop my whirring mind.
What perplexes me most is why Aria has such a powerful effect on me. It’s a question I can’t answer, no matter how hard I try to rationalize it. All I know is that the potential of her being happy with someone else ignites a fire within me that I can’t extinguish.
“ I have no choice,” she murmurs.
“ I fucking know that, Aria ,” I spit.
Her eyes widen at my outburst, flashing with anger, and I instantly regret taking out my fury on her.
“ What , Dion ? What do you expect me to do?” She throws her hands up in frustration. “ Do you think I want this?”
My chest tightens, and I struggle to find the right words. “ I don’t know what you want, but thinking about you with him , whoever he is?—”
“ You have no right to be jealous,” she interrupts, her voice trembling. “ What is it that we’re doing, anyway? We know this can’t go anywhere.”
I take a step back, raking a hand through my hair. “ I don’t fucking know!” I shout. “ But I can’t stop it. Whatever this is, we have to see it through. I’m not letting you marry him.”
Aria shakes her head, tears now filling her eyes. “ Dion , we don’t even know each other. This could just be the remnants of lust from that one night.”
I push her back against the tree, bringing my face to the crook of her neck. “ Have you thought about me in the past two months?” I demand, my breath leaving goosebumps on her skin. “ Because I haven’t been able to get you off my mind no matter how hard I’ve fucking tried.”
She looks away, biting her lip. My heart pounds in my chest.
“ Tell me the truth, Aria ,” I say, my voice raw. “ Have you thought about me?”
She finally looks back at me, her jaw locked. “ Every single day. But that doesn’t change anything.”
My hand reaches out to cup her face.
She doesn’t pull away, but I can feel the tension in her body, see the conflict in her eyes.
“ It changes everything,” My voice is barely more than a breath. “ Because it means this isn’t just in my head. It’s fucking real.”
Aria’s tears spill over. “ I’m scared,” she admits, leaning into my touch, her eyes closing for a moment. “ I’m scared of what this means.”
I pull her closer, my forehead resting against hers. “ I know. But I’d rather face whatever comes our way than keep pretending this doesn’t matter.”
We stand there in the darkness, the forest around us silent.
“ Then what do we do?” she asks in a whisper.
I take a deep breath, my fingers gently wiping away her tears. “ Tell me who he is, and I’ll figure it out.”
“ Andrew Galanis ,” she responds, not hesitating.
His last name sparks a flicker of recognition in my mind. Have I heard it before? I quickly rack my brain, trying to recall any previous encounters with that family, but I can’t quite put a finger on it. This is a job for Xander .
“ I’ll handle it from here, astéri mou . But if you notice something tomorrow, text me.”
“ I don’t have your number,” she says, pulling away from me.
“ Give me your phone, then.”
“ I don’t have it,” she replies with a guilty smile.
I hand her mine. “ Put in your number and text yourself.” She does, then gives the phone back to me. “ Now , go back home before you’re caught.”
I kiss her again, savoring her soft lips, before releasing her.
As I watch Aria weave through the forest, a mix of emotions, a concoction that my damaged heart struggles to comprehend, stirs within me.
My heart is scarred and wounded, but perhaps it is still capable of feeling something .
What I feel for Aria can’t be love—it’s too fast, too soon. Love requires a certain vulnerability, a willingness to open up and connect on a level that I just haven’t been able to reach in years.
But there’s something else inside me, undefined, something my mangled soul can’t quite grasp. And it’s pulling me toward her.