33. Aria
33
ARIA
D escending the stairs to the crypts, I trailed my hand along the cool, rough stone that lined the walls. This was the last time I would come down here. Our exams were over, as of a few hours ago, and this was our final celebration before the year thirteen students left Hatherley Hall for good.
I’d miss this place. It had been my home for a long time. The place where I’d received my education. Where I’d found my friends. Where I’d fallen in love.
I had the future to look forward to. A future involving me, Tristan, and Oxford University. And from there…who knew? What I did know was that the two of us would be together, and I couldn’t wait to see what our lives would be like.
But even with the knowledge of the things I had to look forward to, I still couldn’t shake the lingering feeling of melancholy. I was leaving a huge part of my life behind after tonight, and nothing would be the same.
I reached the bottom stair, taking in the familiar sight of the crowd of students drinking, dancing, and having a good time. Music filled the space, and lights winked on and off, casting long, intermittent shadows and illuminating faces in a kaleidoscope of colours.
The toe of my four-inch spike heel hit the floor a second before hands curled around my waist. I was pulled into a warm, hard body, moving us both back through the crowd until I was pressed up against the wall in the corner of the room.
“Fuck, Aria.” Tristan took a step back, dragging his heated gaze over me from head to toe. “I don’t think you even realise how fucking obsessed with you I am. Look at you. Fuck. You’re incredible.”
My smile was helpless, all traces of melancholy fading away as I took in the sight of the man who was rapidly becoming everything to me, looking at me like maybe I was beginning to mean everything to him, too. I had made an effort tonight since it was the last night we’d all be together like this. I was wearing my shortest, tightest black dress—the one I’d worn to our ball, cut dangerously low in the front and back, with just a tiny silk thong beneath. I’d left my hair to fall around my shoulders in loose, natural waves, and I’d rimmed my eyes in ebony. I’d wanted to make a statement. And from the lust in Tristan’s eyes, I’d achieved that.
I didn’t even have a minute to spare for thoughts of my attire, though, because my boyfriend was the hottest man I had ever seen in my life. And he knew it. He’d gone for smart casual in black jeans and a black shirt, but his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and he’d unbuttoned his shirt halfway down his chest, leaving miles of tanned, lean muscles on show. As usual, his golden hair was perfectly styled, and his bright eyes were sparkling at me.
“Enjoying the view?” He cocked a brow.
“Are you?”
Licking his lips, he looked me up and down again. “Mmm. Very much. And this time, I’m allowed to appreciate it.”
“Well, I am, too.”
“I know.”
Before I could respond, he tugged me into him, slanting his mouth over mine. I melted into him, winding my arms around his neck as we kissed.
When we eventually managed to drag ourselves away from each other, I alternated between dancing with him and my friends and chilling on the sofas with everyone who hadn’t wanted to dance. I couldn’t stop my smile from overtaking my face. This was how it should be. Everyone getting along with each other, doing whatever they found interesting, with no pressure and no worries. I knew it was mostly a fantasy, and the real world would intrude soon enough, but for now, everyone seemed to be at peace.
It was around two in the morning when the party quietened right down, with only the core members of the elite remaining. We’d been passing around a few joints and playing cards, the music turned down low, when Knox climbed to his feet at a signal from Tristan. He disappeared in the direction of his private room, and when he returned to the sofas, he was brandishing three magnums of champagne in gold bottles.
“A parting gift from the three gods,” Tristan announced, his eyes dancing with amusement as he glanced over at me. I rolled my eyes—I knew he’d referenced himself as a god on purpose. The three of them popped the corks and began passing the bottles around our group.
As soon as he’d relinquished his bottle, Tristan tugged me into his lap, wrapping his arm around my waist. When the closest bottle reached us, he handed it to me with a kiss to my cheek. “Don’t drink too much. I have plans for later,” he murmured in my ear. I shivered as he kissed my cheek again and then trailed a line of kisses down the side of my neck.
I wanted him so badly, but we weren’t alone. Taking a swig from the bottle, I savoured the smooth, crisp bubbly taste as the champagne fizzed down my throat, and after another mouthful, I handed the magnum to Quinn.
“What if I have plans for later?”
Tristan’s palm slid onto my thigh, dangerously close to the hem of my dress. “Do you?” He sounded intrigued.
“No.” Turning around, I nipped at the edge of his jaw. He growled under his breath, and I smiled. “But I’m sure I could come up with something.”
“If it involves you and me and no clothes, then I’m all for it.”
“You’re so predictable,” I told him.
“Can you blame me? You’re fucking hot, and I’ve had to force myself to resist you for years.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Years?”
He cupped my face in his hand, his expression turning serious. He brushed a soft kiss over my lips. “ Years .”
I melted into him.
Tristan Smith-Chamberlain. Self-proclaimed king of the gods and the man who held my heart in his hands.
“I still can’t get over this.” When I raised my head, I found Knox staring at us. “You two…yeah, we all knew it was always inevitable, but the way you two look at each other…I dunno…I never expected to see you so…”
“Sweet with each other?” Elena suggested.
“Yeah. Sweet.” He smirked at Tristan.
“Says the asshole cuddling his girlfriend and whispering sweet nothings in her ear,” Tristan pointed out.
“I was whispering very dirty things, actually.”
“I bet you were, you sick fucker. I don’t wanna know.”
“Believe me, you don’t,” Roman interjected, and I took that as my cue to unwind Tristan’s arm from around my waist and stand.
“I won’t be too long,” I said, leaning down to kiss him. “Quinn, Elena, come with me?” Tristan nodded, handing me one of the full magnums of champagne as we left the boys to it. They needed time together, and so did we.
“Our last night together.” Samira stretched out on her bed with Gracelyn draped over her thighs, the two of them passing the bottle between them.
“I can’t believe it.” Elena shook her head. “I went to dinner with Katy and Will before the party, and they were leaving straight after we’d eaten. They’re flying to Florence and then getting the train to Rome. No looking back.”
Grace and Mira exchanged glances, and Mira handed the bottle back to Quinn. “Yeah. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow to fly to Rhodes,” Gracelyn said. “Probably before anyone else is awake, unless you’re planning to be up by seven-ish.”
Quinn eyed the bottle, shaking it lightly in what I assumed was an attempt to work out how much champagne was left inside. “No, I don’t think any of us will be up that early. I know there are at least another few magnums of this in Knox’s room, plus the other stuff everyone’s been drinking.”
“That’s why I thought we should spend some time together tonight,” I said. “Make the most of it. I know we’ll all stay in touch, but it won’t be the same as being here.”
Elena sighed. “I’ve been here the least amount of time, and I’m going to miss this place. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the rest of you.” She laughed and shook her head. “I never actually thought I’d say I’d miss Hatherley Hall, but I guess it’s grown on me.”
Quinn passed her the bottle. “Or maybe we’ve grown on you.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re okay.” She smiled before taking a swig from the bottle. “Seriously, I’m glad I have you in my life.”
I slipped my arm around her waist. “Same goes for us, too.”