Chapter 26 Aria
Aria
Sebastian had left the office early again today, but he was at home when I got there, ready for us to go to Soran’s restaurant on Edgeware Road.
Little butterflies fluttered in my stomach.
I was nervous in case they didn’t like me.
Sebastian had known them for over ten years, so they clearly meant a lot to him.
It was nice that Sebastian wanted me to get to know some of his friends.
That he wanted to include me. I’d only ever seen him with Hayden.
“Where did you meet Soran?”
His eyes flicked to me, then back to the road. “From underground fighting.”
Oh. Maybe that’s why I’d never met him before. He’d always tried to keep that separate from me when we were younger.
“So he owns a restaurant now?”
“Yes, he has for many years.”
I mean, he’d met Hayden there as well, and he was a good man, so I’m sure if Sebastian had been friends with Soran for so long, he had to be as well.
Sebastian pulled his car up along a side road. He leaned over and kissed me before he got out and opened the door for me. He took my hand, helping me out, and linked his fingers between mine, and we started walking.
As we hit the main strip, there were people everywhere. The road was full of families, friends together, and people who looked like they were enjoying themselves. The different Middle Eastern restaurants and shisha bars sat next to each other, showing off their unique styles.
We reached the restaurant door, and Sebastian paused momentarily before pushing it open. The sound of laughter and chatter filled my ears. The place was packed. Then that smell. The aroma of mixed spices and freshly cooked bread made my mouth water.
I saw Serfina jump up, waving excitedly from a table at the back of the restaurant, and Sebastian placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me over.
“Aria, girl!” She pulled me into a hug.
Sebastian greeted Hayden in their usual bro hug, and then he gave me an embrace.
“Feels like I haven’t seen you in forever,” Hayden said to me.
“You saw me a few weeks ago.” I chuckled.
“Sebastian needs to let you out more,” Serfina teased.
He rolled his eyes at her. “When has this girl ever not done what she wanted with me?” he countered.
“Sebastian,” Soran called.
“Hey, Soran,” Sebastian said as they shook hands.
He turned to face me. “Lovely to properly meet you, Aria.” He smiled, his dark eyes lighting up as he took hold of my hand and placed the other on top, shaking it.
My eyes caught the tattoo on his hand. Two hundred and sixteen. It wasn’t a tattoo you’d find from a tattoo shop here; it looked like someone had done it at home.
“Yes, this is a much better setting than the office,” I said.
“Soran, gyan,” a woman’s voice called.
I looked past Soran to see a woman walking towards us.
Her hair was loosely covered by a headscarf, but you could make out that it was thick, glossy, and tinted a deep red through the black in the light.
Her eyes were a warm chestnut brown, but there was a spark of fire in them, and she must have been around five foot four with a petite figure.
“There you are.” She smiled at him and then met my eyes.
“This is Aria,” Sebastian introduced me. “This is Berevan, Soran’s wife.”
“?hawakant zor jwanin,” she said, and pulled me in.
Her embrace was welcoming, like how a mum’s would be, and her floral perfume hit my nose.
It wasn’t overpowering; it was a delicate smell of lavender, with hints of jasmine and rose.
“Sebastian, I knew she’d be beautiful, but her eyes are stunning,” she added as she pulled away.
“Thank you. It’s really nice to meet you.” I smiled.
Soran clapped his hands together. “Now introductions are out of the way, we feast.”
Sebastian pulled my chair out, and I sat down. He rested his hand on my thigh, and that instant heat he always brought hit my core.
As Berevan poured glasses of water for everyone, her sleeve rose, revealing scars up her arm.
They looked like they’d been there for years—like she’d been burnt.
My eyes flicked to my covered wrist, where mine sat.
A reminder of how far I had come. How much stronger I was and how I wasn’t afraid anymore.
“Have you had Kurdish food before, Aria?” Berevan asked.
“No, I haven’t, but it smells lovely in here. I can’t wait to try it.”
“Sebastian keeps her locked away under the stairs,” Serfina teased.
“Oh, Serfina.” Berevan laughed. “Sebastian loves her. You can see it in the way he looks at her.”
My cheeks flushed at the comment, and Sebastian kissed my head, then started talking to Hayden and Soran.
“Tomorrow is Newroz. I made you and Serfina your dresses,” Berevan said.
A smile spread across Serfina’s face. “I can’t wait to see it. They’re always so beautiful.”
“Ah, yes, Newroz,” Soran said. “I never got the chance earlier to explain the history of it to Aria properly.”
Sebastian leaned into my ear and whispered, “He does this all the time.”
“Does what?” I whispered back.
Sebastian smiled. “Tells us stories.”
Berevan swatted Soran. “We don’t need to hear it.”
He chuckled to himself.
Sebastian wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my head.
Just then, the servers appeared with trays of food, and the table was soon filled with an array of rice, various styles of lamb and chicken, and stuffed vegetables. Different salads soon followed, along with bowls of soups and that bread I’d smelled the minute I walked in.
“Nyx, try this. It’s my favourite.”
Sebastian placed some of the stuffed vegetables on my plate, and a hint of sourness hit my nose.
“What is it?”
“It’s called dolma. They hollow out different vegetables and stuff them with different spices and lemon crystals. You’ll love it, I promise.” I took a mouthful, and the flavours burst onto my tongue. The sourness wasn’t overpowering but worked well with the tomato and other spices.
“Sebastian, have some sultanas.” Hayden chuckled, piling a load on his plate.
Sebastian looked up with an exaggerated outraged expression. He hated sultanas. Then he grabbed a few and threw them at Hayden’s head. Hayden went to throw them back when Serfina narrowed her eyes at him.
“You two are worse than my nephews,” Berevan said.
“I’m with you on that one,” Serfina agreed.
Sebastian sat there, trying not to burst out laughing, and Hayden covered his mouth with his hand.
I couldn’t help but try to hold my own laughter back. These two had always been like this.
“You love us, really, Serfina.” Sebastian smirked.
“Him”—she pointed at Hayden—“yes.” Then, she pointed at Sebastian. “You’re debatable,” she teased, sticking her tongue out at him.
Letting out a silent laugh, I couldn’t help but look around at everyone at the table. This was everything I’d never had in Leeds, and I was so grateful that Berevan and Soran felt like family already.
“Sebastian,” I giggled as he kissed down my neck, his stubble prickling my skin.
“Why are you wearing so many layers?”
He roamed his hands around my body, pulling my coat off as he backed me into the foyer of our house.
“To stop you from getting in,” I teased.
He stopped and rubbed his chin, looking my body up and down, and his eyes turned primal, burning deep into my skin as if he were marking me. My body caught fire, sending that heat to my core.
“Guess I’m ripping it off.”
“Oh my God, don’t you dare—this jumper dress is my favourite.” I tried to keep my face serious, and I slowly started to back away.
“Don’t make me chase you, Nyx.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
He shook his head, silently laughing to himself, then stepped forward. I let out a half-laugh, half-scream and bolted for the stairs. My breathing was heavy as I darted into the bedroom, placing my hand on my heart to try to steady it.
“Nyx, you’re being a bad girl tonight,” Sebastian growled as he appeared at the door.
“Oh yeah.” I lifted the dress over my head, then wiggled the tights down. “Why don’t you show me how bad I’ve been?”
I unclipped my bra and let it slowly fall to the ground, then stepped out of my lace knickers.
His eyes darkened as goose bumps ran over my skin.
His eyes never left me as he slowly made his way over, as if he were stalking his prey.
He ran his hands up my neck, resting on my jaw, his fingertips disappearing under my hair.
“You have no idea what I’m going to do to you,” he whispered in my ear.
My breath hitched, his voice vibrating through me. My arousal was going into full meltdown from his words. Then his lips hit mine, kissing me like it was the first time seeing me after years of being apart. The tip of his tongue brushed against my lips, and they parted, allowing him to enter.
My body was weak, begging for him to take me.
I found his shirt buttons, undid them, and slid it off.
I looked up, meeting his bright blues, running my hands over his bare chest and feeling his heart beating fast. His thumb grazed my bottom lip, then he guided me to the bed and sat me on the edge.
Our eyes never left each other’s. I ran my hand over the bulge of his strained cock, and he let out a groan.
I unbuckled his belt, pulling his trousers down, his hard length leaking pre-cum, sending heat rushing straight to my core.
Placing my hand around it, I slowly started to stroke, the tip of my tongue licking what he’d already released for me.
His body trembled. “Fuck, Nyx.”
He bit his lip as his hands cradled the back of my head, his fingers wrapping around my hair, and he started to thrust gently as I took every inch of him in my mouth.
His breathing became shallow, his eyes filled with pure, primal desire as they fixed on mine, watching me slide my mouth back and forth.
He let out a low growl as that sweet taste of pre-cum dripped on my tongue. I knew he was holding back, trying not to fully let go. He soon withdrew his cock from my mouth and placed me further on the bed, positioning himself between my legs.
“I’ve been desperate to taste you all day.”
My pulse quickened, sparks going off in all directions in my core, aching for him to take me.
He planted soft, delicate kisses on my lower stomach, sending shivers down my spine.
His warm breath fanned my pussy as he started placing teasing kisses on my inner thigh.
My body quivered from his touch, that intoxicating heat between us burning through.
“Look at you, all ready for me to start cleaning that beautiful mess you’ve already made,” he growled.
“Please,” I breathed out, my hands gripping the sheets.
He ran the tip of his tongue over my slit. “You taste so good. Don’t move.” Then he started kissing the other thigh.
I could feel myself getting closer to the edge, my breathing getting heavier as I arched my hips to bring myself closer to him, but he grabbed them, stopping me.
“Do as you’re told, Nyx.” He bit my thigh, and I caught my breath.
“Sebastian,” I begged, desperate to feel his tongue on me.
“Are you going to be a good girl for me?”
My heart was pounding, my breathing getting faster as my lips parted, about to respond, when he flicked his tongue over my clit, forcing a moan from my mouth instead.
“Are you going to be a good girl, Nyx?”
“Yes,” I breathed out, tightening my grip on the sheets.
“That’s my girl.”
He grabbed my hips, pulling me down. The base of his tongue hit my pussy, and he groaned as he started enjoying his addiction.
“Fuck,” I panted as electricity shot through my whole body, setting everything alive.
I gripped his hair tightly and started rolling my hips against his tongue, wanting to feel every little bit.
“Come for me.”
My moans were intense, my body starting to tremble as that sweet ecstasy flooded my veins. My orgasm hit, stars covering my eyes, toppling me over the edge as I fully let everything go.
“Sebastian,” I screamed.
My knees shook as I tried to clamp them together, but Sebastian held them steady as he carried on cleaning my arousal up, gently teasing my sensitive clit, causing my nerves to overload.
“Fuck. You’re so fucking beautiful.”
I rose, straddling him, wrapping my arms around his neck and crashing my lips to his, wanting to taste myself on him.
He shifted my body, then slammed me down on his cock, stretching me out to take him all.
That intense feeling hit my core, pure pleasure running through it as the heat started to rise again.
He ran his hands up my back, gripping my shoulders and laying me down, leaving his arms behind me.
I wrapped my legs around his waist as he started thrusting deep into me, his fingers digging into my skin.
He bit my lip as moans escaped, our bodies flush, not allowing the heat to escape between us. I could feel everything rising as he started moving faster, harder into me.
“Come all over my dick for me,” he growled against my lips.
Everything came flooding through as I fell over the edge, completely giving in to him. Bliss surged through my body as stars clouded my eyes again, my pussy tightening around him.
“Fuck, Aria,” he groaned between our kisses as his body started to jerk next to mine, him spilling everything into me.
He gently moved the hair from my face and kissed my forehead, then slowly withdrew and shifted, pulling me into his embrace.
Tonight was everything we needed. Time together with people that we cared about. It made me feel more hopeful about things. That we were going to get back to normal. He’d let me in with the other people in his life, and I couldn’t wait to share more with him.