Somehow, I feel like I just lost even more ground in this battle of wills between us. I lift my chin. “There’s no deal, Aron. There was never a deal—”
“You flirt with the others, I remind you that you are mine. That is the deal.”
“I’m not sure I like this deal—”
“You act like you have a choice,” he tells me in that arrogant voice of his, and then pushes back out of the room.
Just like that, the conversation is done. And just like that, I can’t decide if I want to run after Aron and kiss him, or choke him.
55
Aron doesn’t come back into the room, so I guess we’re done. I fight back a blush—and irritation—as I move to a side table and give myself a quick bath to try to get rid of the sex smell. I adjust my clothing, fix my belt, and pace around the room until I’m sure my nipples won’t be taking out anyone’s eyes.
When I feel mostly like myself again, I emerge from the room.
Immediately, it feels like a mistake. Solat is by the door and does his best to pretend that I’m not here. Markos avoids eye contact, and Kerren’s face is tomato red. Vitar keeps clearing his throat. Only Yulenna seems calm, sewing in her seat, a tiny smile on her lips. I…guess we were louder than I thought. Oh man. I wonder if they heard Aron dirty talking to me? If they heard him slap my pussy and tell me that it belongs to him?
Awkward.
I take my seat next to Yulenna and pick up my sewing, but I can’t concentrate. I’m still all messed up from Aron’s claiming of me—because that’s what it was. I’m not sure how I’ll ever look Kerren or the others in the eye again.
“Give them time,” Yulenna murmurs, picking out a stitch.
It’s like she read my thoughts. “What?” I feign ignorance. “Time for what?”
“They have considered you one of them,” she says easily. “Another soldier in Aron’s army, of a sort. Now they realize that you serve him in an entirely different way.”
My cheeks get hot. I’m not sure if I’m offended at her “serving him” comments or if I’m baffled that it took Markos, Vitar, Kerren and Solat this long to figure out that Aron and I have a rather…tumultuous relationship. “And you? How do you feel about this?”
She shrugs, biting her thread off. “He’s a god. He takes what he wants, women included.”
And suddenly I’m no longer feeling secure in my position. I no longer feel like Aron’s Faith, because I remember his other Aspect—the Aron of Lies—slept with Yulenna. A lot.
“You don’t have to worry,” Yulenna says, and it’s like she’s reading my mind. “He’s never looked twice at me. For all that they’re Aspects of the same god, there are parts of them that are very, very different. This Aron sees no one but you.”
“Because I’m his anchor,” I agree, and the thought doesn’t sit easily with me.
“Mmm. Is that all it is?” Yulenna arches a brow at me.
I have no answers. I stare at her for a moment longer and then pick up my sewing. At least if my hands are busy I can pretend to be focused.
Right now, though, I can’t think of anything but Aron and his hands. Aron slapping my pussy and saying that it belongs to him. The heat in his eyes.
The hard length of his cock under his clothing…and the way he pushed me away.
We stay in Novoro for two more days after that, and during that time, I see very little of Aron. At first I think he’s avoiding me, but as Vitar and the others cycle through their guard duties, I realize that they’re spending time with Aron and the Novoran suppliers. I hear talk of mounts and blankets, tents and weapons. Food supplies. We’re preparing to leave, and I’m relieved.
Relieved, and a little frustrated.
After our torrid moment in my chamber, Aron’s only returned when I’m sleeping, and left before I woke each time. The only reason I know this is the vague realization as I sleep that someone’s next to me, and the indention of a large body in the blankets next to me when I wake. I know part of it is because he wants to “resist” me. It doesn’t mean my feelings aren’t hurt, though. Or that I don’t miss him.
Because I miss Aron terribly. Even though he’s arrogant and a jerk and impossible, he’s my friend and my