In Sarah's apartment, Aiden is lying on the sofa in the living area. Sarah is on top of him, her head resting on his chest and she is listening to his heartbeat.
"What do you want to do for dinner. Do you want us to go out?" He was playing with a strand of her hair.
Sarah shook her head. "No, I'm not getting close to that door. I think it's cursed."
Aiden found her choice of words unusual. "Cursed? Why?"
"Today, every time I opened it misfortune found me. It must be some bad karma from previous life, and it caught up to me today." Sarah thought about King inviting himself in, stuff that she found out about Philip and Mimi, Hugo acting unreasonable, and then Aiden showing up with such a bad timing. "The whole day was just a big mess."
"You know, the bad luck might not be because of the door. But because you were not here." She moved her body up, so her head can rest on his shoulder. "Whatever the reason is, next time when you need to go somewhere, don't leave me behind. Take me with you."
"OK." He was not sure if that will be possible, but he felt it's the right thing to say. He would not mind if she comes with him. Everywhere.
"And for dinner... let's order something to be delivered."
"We can cook." He reminded her.
"I don't want to get up." Sarah pouted like a child. She held onto him tightly, as if she fears he will run away if she lets go.
He gave in and they ordered food.
Sarah didn't eat much, and she was unusually quiet during the whole evening. She still felt bad about what happened and was not sure how to cheer herself up. Sarah had a need to hold onto Aiden, she was feeling insecure.
...
They got ready for sleep and were in the bed. The room was dimly lit with a small night lamp on the side of the bed.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Aiden noticed that her spirit is low.
She looked him in the eyes, her eyes showed lingering anxiety. "I got scared."
"Of what?"
"That you will leave me." Her eyes started tearing up as she remembered when she held his hand and pulled him to come inside the apartment, but he didn't move. At that time thought flashed in her mind that he will leave her, and she felt her whole world collapsed.
"Silly…" He kissed her on the forehead. Aiden felt that her body is still stiff and looked into her eyes. He saw that she is serious. "How can I prove that I'm not going anywhere?"
"Remind me that I belong to you." Her eyes pleaded him to reassure her.
Aiden looked at her with a complex expression, thinking something. His eyes flashed for a moment, indicating that he knows what he wants to do. He got up from the bed and disappeared into the closet. Shortly after, he came back with a black night mask in his hands.
Sarah thought that it looks familiar. "Did you take that from my house?"
"I told you that we should pack this. So, I did." He smiled and slowly pulled mask over Sarah's eyes.
Sarah found herself in the dark and she panicked. "I want to see you!"
"You don't need eyes to see." She felt his breath on her cheek.
"But, how do I even know if it's you..."
"Don't worry, you will know it's me." His deep voice brushed her ear and her whole body shook.
Aiden slowly undressed her, without kissing or touching any sensitive spots. But her nerves were tense and almost violently reacted to every movement he made. Maybe because she knew what is coming.
When his warm fingers slipped off her underwear, she felt exposed. Temptation was rising in her, to pull the blanket or a bedsheet, anything, as long as it can cover her up. She could not tell what he is up to. What is his expression? It made her anxious, insecure. But she knew that he is there, next to her. Watching her. Maybe smiling?
Aiden observed her body and frowned. All the marks he left on her body when fury of jealousy consumed him were on display. 'So many…' His frown deepened. He felt guilt that he wronged her, he acted like a jerk. Yet here she is, eager to feel him again. Demanding his touch. He leaned over her with intention to kiss her and hesitated. Their lips were less than an inch away, and he hesitated. 'Am I worthy of her? She is so perfect, and me… I am not.'
Sarah didn't breathe when she felt his breath kissing her lips. She didn't want her breath to chase his away. Seconds passed and it felt like forever. She inhaled more than necessary though her mouth and smiled. She inhaled his breath. It felt so… intimate.
Aiden watched her lips as they stretched into a smile, welcoming him. He will be gentle. He needs to make up for last time. His lips brushed against hers and she inhaled deeply again. His tongue circled around her lips, and her lips parted. His tongue slipped into her mouth and slowly moved around, exploring, as if it's searching for something. Maybe for her soul.
Sarah never felt such a sensual kiss before. She felt as if the whole room is spinning. Her fingers gripped his hair and pulled him closer. Her body arched and touched his. That moment of skin-to-skin contact made her whole body shiver. He noticed, or maybe felt the same. In next moment, his hands were everywhere, touching her with urgency while she enjoyed sweetness of his kisses which relaxed her and made her tense at the same time.
Aiden reminded himself to be gentle, to take it slow. But her moans and kisses made very it very difficult not to rush, not to be greedy.
She felt Aiden going lower. Her body was eager to feel his lips, anywhere… everywhere. And he went right where she hoped. The sensation caused her to experience blackouts of intense pleasure between short moments of sanity. Without warning, sanity left her completely and she screamed as her body arched in ecstasy.
Sarah was still panting when she felt Aiden's body pressing on her. It felt extraordinary.
He teased her while not going in.
She thought that she will lose her mind. The only thing she was able to do is whimper. "Oh, Aiden..." Sweet spasms went through her as he moved. She was confident that she is about to lose her consciousness.
Only after her breathing stabilized, he removed the mask from her eyes. He leaned his forehead on hers, their noses touched. "You are mine.", he whispered.
"Yes, I am." She whispered back.
Sarah didn't feel insecure anymore. The only thing she felt while resting in his embrace was a sense of belonging.
...
Next few days passed in harmony between Sarah and Aiden.
She finished setting up all things for Eve in the apartment and was working on enhancing Eve's behavior. Sarah didn't see Hugo or King during this time, and she didn't miss any of them.
Aiden was spending time working on his laptop whenever he was not enjoying quality time with Sarah.
In a blink of an eye, it was New Year's Eve. Aiden and Sarah stayed in Sarah's apartment. At 9 PM they watched ball drop on Times Square through live stream, and at midnight watched fireworks in Fairfield through large glass windows in the living area. Shortly after midnight they had a video chat with JoAnna and Sophia, exchanging good wishes for New Year. Stella called, and Vivian also sent text wishing them all the best.
Sarah enjoyed every minute spent with Aiden and hoped that nothing gets between them ever again.
...
Next day, Sarah and Aiden were in the study room, both busy with their laptops.
Aiden was checking his email. "My brother can come on January 3rd and wants to know if you are available meet with him to discuss details of the position at White corp. If all works out, you will sign the contract."
"Oh!" Sarah forgot that she verbally accepted position in Aiden's team. "Do I need to prepare somehow?"
"No. He will do most of the talking, and you take it from there. He might ask you to do something to test your skills."
Sarah was nervous. "Will you be there?"
"If you want to." Aiden smiled thinking how cute she is when anxious.
She vigorously nodded.
"You mentioned that you don't manage employees. So, who will be my manager then?"
Aiden thought for a second before responding. "We are a bit unique. If you look at the corporate ladder, there is no one between us and the CEO."
"So, your brother will be my Boss?"
He laughed. "If you really need one, then yes." Aiden looked at her, waiting for a response to his first question. When he didn't get one then he repeated, "Will you meet him in two days?"
"Yes!" She nodded enthusiastically.
"Good, I'm letting him know that you will meet him for lunch. We can pick the place later." Aiden was happy to see that things are progressing well and that soon they can start working together.