14.
~ Everything she had ever loved about Arthur suddenly came back to her as he lowered her down into his neatly made bed. His well trained hands going over her body as his lips tasted hers. His fingers lacing up her blouse. Resting protectively over her belly as she knew he was thinking of the child growing within.
She let herself become lost in a fevered moment of want. She had missed Arthur too much these past few weeks. His lean body over hers as he made her feel cherished and loved. The only difference now was his voice was harsh to the point of desperate.
"You know this is my baby." He growled into her ear. She realized vaguely that she was nodding. Her breathing coming in sharp little gasps as her body melded with his.
"Yes." She panted as his hand wandered up to her breasts, freeing them from the lacy cage of her bra.
He seemed appeased by her admission. A confession to a truth she was only half sure of.
His mouth finding hers as if a switch had been flipped. His ravishing of her body animal like now. Almost the same way Eames had been. Suddenly, the courtly lover she had known was gone. Replaced by the man who would not be refused. Her body was helpless as he easily pulled her clothing off her. His lips kissing her all over. When they reached her breasts she gasped at the sudden contact on her sensitive nipples.
"Be gentle." She whispered, her eyes wide and afraid.
Arthur nodded and was careful to avoid bringing her any discomfort. She couldn't help but remember how it was with Eames. That if the Forger had been there, he would have sadistically tormented her nipples. Making her cry out from the sheer pleasure and pain it brought her.
Not Arthur. The Point Man loved her and was respectful to her. He gently caressed her body as if she were in a truly delicate state. Like her body was made of glass as he made love to her. His lips littering her face with tiny kisses as he rode her. Her body relaxing under his beautiful care.
All the while he kept repeating:
"It's mine. I know it's mine." As if he was possessed by an idea, one that refused to let him believe any other possibility.
~ "I'm glad your going to keep it." Arthur said as the Architect was cradled in his arms. His flesh pressed as close to hers as possible. She loved the feel of warm skin on hers. The Point Man had been much more affectionate then ever before.
She kept silent and still as he went on.
"I've wanted this. For so long." He whispered. His lips nuzzling her ear. "Once we have our baby, our family will be complete." He said with a contented little smile.
She bit her lips and felt nervous. She wanted desperately to ask what if. What if it was Eames'? What if, on the off chance, it was Cobb's? What if she didn't want to be with Arthur? What if she wanted to be with Cobb?
She said nothing at all as Arthur delighted in his plans for her baby.
"So do you want a boy or a girl?" He asked. Fully satiated from their lovemaking. He was a happy and proud expectant father.
"Um. Healthy." She said at last. Her voice sounding strange. He smiled and rolled her under him. Brushing back her hair and looking at her.
"I knew you would come around. That you would see reason." He said happily. "When were in a home of our own, you'll fell a lot better."
"Leave Cobb? The Children?" She asked. Her mind finally taking hold of what Arthur was saying. She was shocked.
"We're going to have a family of our own. We can't do that if your still playing house with Cobb." He said. The Extractor's name sounded dirty when he said it.
"Arthur, I love Cobb. I love the children. I don't want to leave them." She tried to explain.
"We need to be a family now." He told her. "I know you want to be with me." He said in an annoying self assured way. His hands moving protectively to her belly again. His lips finding hers and kissing her.
She couldn't help herself, she gave into him again. Her flesh weak to the man she loved.
One of the men she loved.
~ Later that evening, Ariadne was in her solitary little room. She didn't bother with the lights. Preferring to sit on her bed in darkness. Arthur was in his room pretending, for Cobb's sake, like they were still fighting. She had told the Extractor she wanted to go to bed early and he understood. Even giving her a hug and whispering sweet things to her, asking if she wanted him to come to her again tonight.
She only smiled at him and left him without an answer.
By the light of her cell phone, she dialed Eames. She took a deep breath of courage.
"Ariadne?" Came his voice after just two rings.
"Yeah, Hi." She said sounding breathless and happy. Her whole body trembling.
"You never texted me back, I was worried." Eames said. His voice sounding concerned. Her heart broke a little at the idea of Eames being worried over her.
"I thought... I thought we needed some space." Ariadne said lamely.
"I guess." He said. His voice sounding comforting over the phone. "How are you doing?"
"I.. I'm fine." She lied. She suddenly couldn't bring herself to tell him. If Eames knew about the pregnancy, he would rush back to her. He had a new life. One where he didn't want her or this baby. The Forger would only complicate an already complicated world.
"You don't sound fine." He said. His voice comforting over the distance between them.
"I miss you." She admitted lamely. "I just..."
"I miss you too." He said warmly. "If you want me to come home, just say the word."
"I thought you had a new girlfriend." Ariadne said sadly.
"Ariadne... that wasn't true. I just wanted you to decide to be with me." Eames said. She had to smile softly despite realizing the Eames had lied to her.
"Do you want to come back home?" She asked. Her teeth biting into her bottom lip.
"Only if I can have all of you." Eames said.
"Eames..." She said feeling like her heart was ripping in two.
Cobb wanted her. She knew he would be an excellent father to her baby, no matter the paternity.
Arthur wanted her. Wanted a child desperately. But would he still want her and the baby if it wasn't his?
Would Eames turn tail and run if it was his? Leaving her all alone?
"What is it?" He asked desperately. "Tell me what's wrong. You could always talk to me."
She hung up on him. The connection between them severed as she fought back a new wave of terror.