Chapter 28

Aria POV

Aria scrambled around in her room for something to wear as she got ready to head out for Hollis. She didn't have any of her art classes. She just had to grade a lot of papers for Byron, because he had gone out of town that morning. She hoped that he had left behind his grading scale so that she could easily find it. She couldn't grade without it. She knew that she would be there for most of the day. She found herself reaching for a simple shirt, a pair of skinny jeans, and a pair of sufficient flats. She then added on a small amount of jewelry, which involved sterling silver heart shaped ear studs, the matching necklace that nestled between her ample breasts, and a loose fitting bracelet wrapped around her delicate wrist, before she moved over to her full length mirror as she got a good look at herself, toying with her hair. Not knowing whether or not to wear it up or down. She pouted sinfully at her reflection, running her dainty fingers through the fine softness. It was a hard choice.

She bit on her lip as she tried out different hair looks, the dark orange fingernail polish contrasting well with her long dark silky hair, and her beautiful pale skin. She wondered which style Ezra would prefer. Would he like it better down, or would he like it better up? She asked herself subjectively as her pearly white teeth sunk deeper into her bottom lip, before she released it. She tried out some more hairstyles, not liking any of them. She huffed, dragging her bottom lip in between her teeth as she chewed on it thoughtfully. She knew that Ezra loved her hair, but she didn't know how he loved it. She had just taken noticed of how he touched it, or sniffed the scent of hair. She didn't think her hair was such a big deal. Yeah, it was dark, long and silky, and naturally beautiful. But what did he see that she didn't? What intrigued him most about it? Was it the color? The softness? Or was it the essence of it? She didn't know. She was sure she wasn't the only woman he had been with captivating hair. If she remembered correctly Jamie had lovely hair. It had been long and straight. What was so special about her hair? Why did it always draw Ezra's eyes? Made him think it was the most beautiful thing in the entire world? She decided to brush it, then she fixed herself a bang in the front that hide her freshly arch brows, and then she held the back of hair back with a black butterfly hairclip, before going over to her vanity table to apply light make up, making the black eyeliner around her eyes appear darker to give her a more edgier look.

Aria couldn't stop thinking about her date with Ezra last night. She had enjoyed it immensely. She had never felt more alive with someone than she had last night. Ezra seemed to bring out a lighter side to her. To make her feel so many emotions all at once. Love, a sense of belonging and lust, fire as well as heat, sure of herself, and what she wanted with him. It had been such a rush. A tingling urge flowing throughout the veins of her body. Sparking every sensitive nerve inside of her. She had never felt freer. Uncomplicated. Unafraid. Unspeakably happy for the first time since Adam's death. She realized that he had always brought out these feelings in her. She just hadn't known until now. She didn't want to see until now. He made her happy. He considered her feelings. He made her want to experience a life with him. She knew that she would be happy with him. That they could have a wonderful life together. She knew that he would keep her safe. That he would put her needs before his. That he was a good man. He wasn't perfect, but he had flaws just like she did.

She felt that he would do anything for her. All she had to do was ask him. And she knew that she could always make him happy. That all she had to do was give him her heart. She never had more fun eating mountains of Chinese food and teaching someone how to roller skate. She couldn't believe that she had waited so long to call him Ezra. It felt so good to say it. The dynamics of their teacher and student relationship had changed so much. He wasn't going to be at Rosewood high school next school year. He wasn't going to be her teacher. It was going to be weird and getting some use to, but she was happy about it. They wouldn't have to hide their involvement. He was going to be at Hollis. The age of consent had changed. She was legally an adult. She hadn't known that he would be at Hollis for the summer. Who knew that fate could work in such a mysterious way? It was like it was meant to happen. Like they were meant to find each other at this moment in time when they were both ready. Willing. She couldn't believe that she hadn't run into him until yesterday. She couldn't believe that Byron hadn't said anything. She knew that she had changed. That she had grown. That she had gotten more mature.

Having time apart from Ezra and having a lot of time to think made her see that she was in love with him. She couldn't even believe it herself, but she wasn't going to deny that she wasn't. It would be a lie. She would be lying to herself. She didn't want to lie to herself. She couldn't do that. Not to herself, or to Ezra. It would be wrong. She couldn't deny how she felt. She couldn't deny having another chance at being happy. At loving someone else. At having a life. She had always known that she had an attraction to him, and that she felt something for him, but now it had a name. It was love. It was so much clearer now. She saw it. Saw how she felt about him. How she saw him, and it felt great. She had always known deep down inside that she had loved him too and not just Adam. She had loved him first, but she had been so angry and hurt by what he had done to realize it. When had she fallen in love with him? When had it stop being a game to her? She answered her own questions. It had been the day she had found out he had left. She hadn't been able to place her feelings. Hadn't been able to understand them, but she had felt such devastation. If she hadn't been in love, then why had she felt that?

She wanted to tell him, but she didn't know if he felt the same way. She didn't know if he would believe her. She didn't know how to convince him. She didn't know what he would think, or what he would say. She feared his rejection. She needed him to know that all those times when she had told him that she loved Adam, that she had loved him too, but she just wasn't able to express it then. She had let her angry and hurt cloud her true feelings. She wanted to tell him that she wasn't able to breathe or think when he was in the same room as her. That every time he touched her, her body was set aflame. She couldn't run from it. Couldn't hide from it. She didn't want to. For once she wanted to act rationally on her feelings for him. To show him her love. She decided that when the right moment came along, that she would tell him that she was in love with him.

She pulled herself from her thoughts, swooping down to cradle Diana in her arms, and then she headed down the stairs to get her and Diana some breakfast. She delivered kisses to Diana's little nose, before putting her down on the kitchen floor. She was getting really big and heavy. She couldn't believe how fast Diana was growing with each passing day. She had her first vet appointment tomorrow afternoon. She continued gazing at her beautiful black feline, before Diana brushed up against her legs and meowed impatiently. She smiled down affectionately, knowing what her little Diana wanted. She crouched down to take a can of cat food from the bottom cabinet, then she used the can opener to open it up and dumped it out into Diana's little kitty dinner bowl, before she tossed it into the trash can, and then she headed over to the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water, pouring it out into the extra bowl beside Diana's feeding one.

Aria then went to go get her own breakfast, grabbing two Pop-tarts and put them into the toaster, then she reached up into the top cupboard to take down a plate and glass, then she went back over to the refrigerator to take out the pitcher of orange juice, and then she propped herself down onto the counter barstool, before crossing her legs and waited for her Pop-tarts to pop up as she poured herself a glass of juice. She thought about being married to Ezra. About what type of house they would live in and about how their lives will be. About their children together and how they would look. She knew they would be so beautiful. Copies of her and Ezra. She shook her head ridiculously. It was silly really. It was just wistful thinking on her part. She and Ezra had just gone out for the first time together last night. She shouldn't even be thinking about that. She didn't know what was wrong with her. They weren't even a couple yet. She didn't know what they were to each other. She knew what she wanted them to be, but she was unsure of what Ezra wanted. For all she knew he might just want to be in a relationship with her. He might not want to marry her. To live with her. To make a life with her, or to have kids with her. She bit on her lower lip, hating those thoughts. She wanted to give him his own family. They had been through a lot. So many things had kept them apart. She wanted so badly to be married and to have a family. To have a partner and husband who would challenge her. She knew that Ezra would give her that. She found that she didn't want those things if it couldn't be Ezra. He was who she wanted. Forever and Always. She got up to go get her Pop-tarts from out of the toaster, eating them quickly, before washing them down with some orange juice, and then she left out the house, but not before grabbing her big handbag from off the hallway table.

Aria used Byron's key to his office to get inside. She walked into the room, and then she closed the door behind her, spotting the many papers she had to grade piled high on Byron's desk. She sat her handbag down on the Traditional Button Tufted Burgundy sofa, then she looked inside his desk drawer to pull out his grading scale, and then she made herself comfortable behind his desk, reaching for the first paper to grade. Two hours in, she took a break from grading to head down to the professors' lounge to get a big of chips, candy bar, and a can soda from the vending machines, before walking back to Byron's office to finish marking the few remaining papers she had to do. Which in her case was still quite a lot. She had never been so bored in all her life, using her hand to stifle the third yawn that had spilt from her silken lips. She crossed and uncrossed her legs many times, moving restlessly around in her chair as she tried to keep herself from feeling boredom and to keep herself from fallen asleep. She even tried by getting up and going back down to the lounge for a cup of coffee, but that still didn't do the trick. She then rummaged through Byron's desk, never feeling so happy when she located a pack of Doublemint gum. She stuffed two sticks into her mouth, chewing graciously as she picked up her pen again.

She had stifled her fifth yawn, when she had finished grading the last paper in the huge stack on Byron's desk. She got up from behind the large oak desk, putting everything back into their rightful place, then she threw her trash away in the little garbage bin beside Byron's desk, and then she went over to the sofa to grab her handbag, turning around as the door to the office opened unsuspected. Her brown eyes clashed with black ones. She knew those eyes. They were beautiful and unusual. It was Channing. Her old boyfriend and Byron's assistant before her. He still was good looking and athletic looking, his glossy black hair undisturbed; before he ran a hand through it, ruffling it up a bit. She looked him over as he did the same, feeling a warm smile stretching her lips. She hadn't known that he was back. Byron hadn't mentioned it. It was so good to see him. She had wanted to spend some time with him before she had found out from Byron that he wouldn't be at Hollis for the summer. She had wanted to connect with an old friend. He had always been funny, laid back, and a very decent guy. She felt old memories of them together re-entering her mind, before she shook them away. It had been so long ago. Although their relationship had been great, she didn't want him in that way again. She didn't have any romantic feelings for him. The only emotion she felt towards him was a friendly one. She was in love with Ezra. She had never had strong feelings for him like she had felt with Adam and did with Ezra.

"What are you doing back?" Aria asked as she went over to hug him, feeling as his arms wrapped around her waist automatically. "Byron didn't mention to me that you were back already".

"I got done with my internship much sooner than I thought. And Byron didn't know," Channing said with a sheepish grin as he hugged her back, before stepping back to get another look at her. "You still look beautiful as always".

"Thanks," Aria said with a smile as she bit her bottom lip, letting her eyes roam over his face. He looked much older. More tired. "Why are you here? Did Byron leave a message for you to do something? I already graded those stack of papers over there on the desk.

"Yeah, he wanted me to work on constructing a syllabus for two of his classes, mail off some important letters and re-arrange his calendar, and punch all the grades into the computer," Channing told her as his obsidian eyes found hers again. He looked in deep thought for a moment, not knowing if he should bring up the next subject. "So, I heard what happen to Adam. I'm sorry. I didn't know him, but how are you holding up?"

She shook her head as she smiled up at him sadly as she tried to work pass the large lump in her throat as she tried to form words together.

"Even after two months it's still fresh in my mind," Aria admitted, blowing out a hard breath as she hugged herself, rubbing her hands up and down her shoulders. "I'm not going to lie, it's been hard, but I'm trying to get pass it with one step at a time. That's all I can do. I can't dwell on the fact that he's gone. If I do, then I'll never be able to move on. And I won't do that to myself. I have to keep living my life".

He nodded his head with understanding, before reaching out to squeeze her arm comfortingly. She smiled gratefully at his concern.

"Did they ever catch the guy that did it?" Channing asked softly, hating that she had been put through something like that.

"No," Aria said angrily through clenched teeth, wiping away the tears that had fallen without warning. This was the first time she had ever expressed being angry at the person responsible for Adam's death. "His still out there free to do it again to someone else. I'll truly be okay once they catch him".

The level of hate in her voice scared even her. She couldn't help it. She hated the guy that killed Adam so much. She would love it if he caught the same fate he had dealt out to Adam. She knew that it wasn't right wishing death on someone, but she didn't care. She never thought she could be capable of killing someone. That she could just take a human life, but she thought she could take the life of Adam's killer without feeling an ounce of remorse. But what would that solve? The voice in her head said. Nothing, Aria said inwardly.

"Well, if you need someone to vent to, I'm here," Channing said as he gave her a charming smile, giving her a quick hug, before he moved over to Byron's desk.

"I know," Aria said quietly, feeling the anger inside of herself dissipating as she gave him a small smile. Just talking to him made her feel somewhat okay. "I should get going. It was good to see you, Channing".

"You too," Channing smiled again as he walked over to open up the door for her, stepping aside to let her through. "We should go out sometime soon. We could go for drinks, talk. Whatever you want. I just want to help you get through this".

When she was about to protect, he held his hand up, silencing her.

"It wouldn't be a date, Aria. It would just be me helping out a friend, who I really care deeply about," Channing said with honesty, his glittering black eyes watching as her whole body relaxed as she thought about his offer. "You look like you could use another friend".

"Okay," Aria said once she saw that he wasn't trying to get back with her.

They hugged again, and then she left.

Aria drove to the Farmer's Market to get what she needed to cook for herself and Ezra, feeling the heat of the afternoon sun beat down on her as she got out of her car to head inside. Once inside, she took hold of a shopping cart to put her groceries in, then she pulled a piece of crumpled up paper from her handbag that listed the items she needed to get, before she walked over to the produce section. Her eyes skimmed the many number of fresh fruits and vegetables. She went about weighing and sniffing whatever she picked up to analyze. She threw the things she would need to make a salad with into her basket, reaching for a bag of white potatoes and onions as she left for the meat section. She already knew what type of meat she would serve as she put a pack of steaks into her cart, venturing down a little more to pick up turkey and ham lunchmeat to put into the salad, before heading down the spice aisle, stocking up on all the spices she would need to make her dinner, and then she headed towards the frozen food section, feeling happy with her choices so far. It was going to be her first time cooking steaks so she was very nervous, but she also felt confident in her skill at being a good cook. She basically sucked at making any type of dessert except for cookies, so she placed a peach cobbler, a tube of ice cream, and dinner rolls into her shopping basket, before going over to the dairy section. She briefly searched down her list to see what she didn't get, before locating those particular items on the shelves. She grabbed a carton of milk, a dozen of eggs and sticks of butter, and packs of shredded cheese, and then she treaded over to the drinks and wine aisle. She picked up cases of orange and Pepsi soda, before heading up to the front to the checkout counter. She paid, then she left out the grocery store and loaded her bags into the trunk, and then she got into her car and drove off towards Ezra's apartment.

She parked in Ezra's building parking garage, getting out to take her two brown shopping bags under her arms, then she held each case of soda in her hands, and then she made her trek up to Ezra's apartment. She used her foot to knock, waiting for Ezra to open up the door. She hummed underneath her breath as she shifted the bags in her arms around, trying with much success not to drop them. She was sure that he was already home from Hollis. She thought she had spied his car in the garage on her way up. And sure enough, the door opened up, displaying Ezra's glorious form. He smiled down at her, leaning towards her to kiss her lips softly, before taking the bags and cases of soda from her as he walked into the kitchen. She shut the door and followed him, appreciatively eyeing his muscular back and backside as she chewed on her bottom lip. She couldn't stop her eyes from roaming the rest of his form as he sat the bags on the countertops, and the two soda cases onto the floor. He was wearing a white shirt and gray sweatpants, and he was barefoot. She got started unpacking the bags with his help. She couldn't help bumping into his rock solid body, and he into her more softer one as they moved about the tiny kitchen. The space was very limited. It didn't feel unreal at all being there with him like this. She felt happy. He made her very happy. He made her forget about everything, including Adam's death.

"So, what are you whipping up for us?" Ezra asked her over his shoulder as he took down a shot glass from the top cabinet and poured himself a glass of scotch, before hoisting himself up onto the countertop to look at her as she unpacked the last bag.

"Steak and potatoes," Aria answered with a smile, turning to put the peach cobbler and tube of strawberry ice cream into the freezer until it came time for dessert.

"Sounds yummy," Ezra said with approval, before taking a sip of his scotch, grimacing before taking another one.

"I know," Aria laughed, giving herself some credit as she got out all the necessary pots and pans to cook with, before placing a large flying pan onto the stovetop. "How do you like your steak?"

"Medium rare," Ezra said as he tossed his drink back, and then he poured himself another glass, cradling the small glass in his hands as his eyes followed her around the kitchen as she moved around, collecting everything that she needed to get started.

"Me too," Aria smiled again, marinating the steaks with a combination of onions, green peppers and mushrooms, and a number of spices she had picked up at the store.

"What can I do?" Ezra asked eagerly, wanting to help out as he put down his shot glass.

"You can make the toss salad," Aria said as she walked up to him bewitchingly to stand in between his legs and kissed him fervidly, before reaching over to pick up his shot glass and took a sip of his scotch, coughing and grimacing as she placed the glass back down, and then she handed him what he would need. "I also brought eggs and turkey and ham lunchmeat to go inside the salad".

"As it so happens, I make a killer salad," Ezra grinned over at her as he jumped down from the counter and took a big knife from the kitchen drawer, and then he got to work on cutting up lettuces, tomatoes and onions, green peppers, and cucumbers.

"You're really good at that," Aria said admiringly as she watched as he masterfully sliced everything up so efficiently, before taking out four eggs and putting them into the pot of boiling water, and then she got started peeling the white potatoes.

"Thanks," Ezra smiled as he chopped up his last onion and tomato, looking over to examine Aria's progress as she cut up potatoes, and then she put them into a much bigger boiling pot of hot water. "And you're pretty good yourself with the way you are cutting up those white potatoes".

"I'm flattered, but no. You're obviously better at it than I am," Aria said smiling, biting on her bottom lip as she watched his hands, before she pulled her eyes away to get started on making the vinaigrette dressing for the toss salad. "Can you chop up some parsley please?"

"Sure," Ezra said as he reached across her to take out the parsley, and then he began to chop it up, his muscles straining in his arms. "Did you always like to cook?"

"Yeah. I grew a nix for it as I watched Ella and two of the greats like Paula Dean, and Tyler Florence," Aria said happily as she whisked all the ingredients together to make the vinaigrette into a medium sized bowl, then she covered the top with plastic wrap, and then she placed it into the refrigerator, and then she sliced up two sticks of butter, before moving around him to retrieve the salt and pepper. "Let's talk about you. Where did you learn how to chop like that?"

"I remember you telling that," Ezra recalled as he pulled down a bowl from the cupboard to threw his salad into, then he grabbed the pot of boiled eggs and shredded cheese, slice turkey and ham, and then he mixed all of it into the bowl, before topping it off with extra onions, tomatoes and cheese, and lunchmeat. "And one of my uncles' owned a restaurant. He used to take his son and me to work with him sometimes and he showed us the ropes, allowing us to help out in the kitchen. I loved it. You see my father has three older brothers. He was the youngest. All of my uncles are married. I have three aunts. How many uncles and aunts do you have?"

"Wow, you have a big family. What do your other two uncles do?" Aria asked as she drained the water with the white potatoes, then she mashed them up and added more salt and pepper, and butter, milk, before mixing it together on top the stove again. "And I have two of each".

"One is a banker, and the other one works on Wall Street as a stock broker," Ezra said as he watched her avidly as she stirred up the mashed potatoes before leaving them on low to cook, before frying up the steaks. "What else can I do?"

"You can set the table," Aria instructed him without taking her eyes off the sizzling frying pan in front of her. "And then could you put some can sodas into the refrigerator?"

He got down two plates and some silverware, before he walked over to set about fixing the table.

"Done," Ezra said as he came back into the kitchen, taking some sodas out of the cases to store into the refrigerator, then he got down two wine glasses from the top cupboard, and then he retrieved a bottle of Merlot from his liquor cabinet down below. "I brought this the other day at the store. I thought we could have it tonight. What else do you want me to do?"

"Tasty," Aria said as she smacked her lips, taking her eyes off the steaks as she turned them over to look over at him, and then she sprinkled the chopped parsley into the mashed potatoes. "I happen to like wine very much. Me and the girls would sneak into Spencer's parents liquor stash all the time. I can't believe we never got caught. And you can get the dinner rolls down from the freezer and put them into the oven, but don't forget to smear butter on the top first".

"You guys were very mischievous," Ezra laughed as he did what she ordered, and then he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as she leaned back into him as she used a fork to flip the steaks over again. "Everything smells really good. I can't wait to taste it".

"Thanks. And we were," Aria said proudly, laughing softly as she turned off the steaks, and then she turned around in his arms, reaching up to link her arms around his neck, before bringing her lips up to his. She still couldn't believe this was happening as her pulse quickened up, letting out a shuddering breath as she kissed him deeper. They were totally being domestic right now. He kissed her back, thrusting his tongue into her mouth as she moaned wonderfully at the sensation he was causing to erupt in the pit of her stomach. She pulled back, fighting for air as she stared amazing up into his gorgeous blue eyes. Everything about him excited her as she moved herself from out of his arms to cut the pot with the mashed potatoes off. She didn't want them to burn. She tucked her bottom lip in between her teeth as she nervously avoided his eyes and closeness. "I hope you don't mind, but I got a store brought peach cobbler for our dessert. I'm awful at making cakes and pies. I'm only good at making cookies".

He watched her closely, before moving over to her again as he took her in his arms, titling her chin up to look into her eyes, sensing a change in her behavior.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Ezra asked her softly as one of his hands held the base of her neck and his other one stayed around her slim waist. "You seem far away right now. Did I do anything wrong?"

"Nothing," Aria whispered as her eyes stared into his intensely, before fluttering close, and then she opened them back up again to continue staring into the depths of his remarkable blue eyes, biting on her bottom lip at the same time. "And you didn't do anything wrong. This just feels….right. Good. I can't help feeling happy when I'm with you. But, there's a little voice at the back of my head saying it's wrong. And then there's Adam. I don't want to feel guilty. It's like I'm betraying him somehow".

"Then don't be," Ezra said as his eyes penetrated hers as he stroked the back of her neck, his beautiful masculine mouth hovering closely to hers. "Be here with me. Enjoy this with me. This isn't wrong. Us right now, isn't wrong. Feeling this. Having this. Isn't wrong".

"Okay," Aria said short-winded, giving herself over to his kiss as his mouth crushed down on hers in the most sensible way as she opened her mouth up to massage her tongue with his, hearing as he groaned deep within his throat at her response. After what felt like minutes, she broke off their kiss. "We should eat".

"I agree," Ezra said against her soft mouth as he pulled away from her completely, going over to take the dinner rolls out of the oven.

He then balanced the bowl of mashed potatoes, and frying pan with the steaks along with the red bottle of wine and dinner rolls, before making his way over to the table. She followed closely behind him, but not before grabbing the bowl of salad, the vinaigrette dressing, and the two wine glasses, feeling slightly light-headed. After they had finished eating, they retired to his office as he played some of his old records on his record player he had gotten at an auction. They both sat comfortably on his couch as they sipped their red wine and listened to jazz and country music flowing out the loud speaker. She scooted closer over to him as he re-filled her glass with more red wine, and then he re-filled his own glass, before he placed the bottle back down on the floor. Everything felt perfect. Everything had turned out great. Dinner at been good. Sitting there so closely with him felt amazing. She never felt more soothing. She was staring at nothing in particular, when she happened to look over at him to find him watching her. She blushed, feeling a warmness start in between her thighs as she gifted him with a sexy smirk. Why was he staring? Why was he looking at her like that? She couldn't look away. He couldn't either. The air got thick with sexual tension. She couldn't breathe. She felt funny. Dizzy like she was getting ready to faint. His eyes were just so intense. Mesmerizing. Beautiful. When she couldn't take the weight of his eyes anymore, she looked off somewhere else. She felt her heart beating fast inside of her chest as she got herself under control. He finally broke the silence between them.

"Dinner was great," Ezra complimented her as he let his finger trace her bottom lip as it puckered up in response. She gasped, her eyes coming back to his. "You are a fantastic cook. I could really get use to your cooking".

"Thanks," Aria said as she wrapped her hand around his wrist, loving the feel of his finger caressing her bottom lip as her eyes glazed over with need. "And I don't mind cooking for you. I actually love it".

She pulled her face away to sip so more of her champagne, letting the wonderful flavors savory on her tongue.

"I want to go out with you again tomorrow," Ezra said as he professed his desire, before putting down his wine glass. "I love spending time with you. I like having you here. I like being here with you like this. I want more of these moments with you, Aria".

Aria saw the desire in his eyes. Heard the need in his voice. She found that she couldn't deny him.

"I want that too," Aria said hoarsely, putting down her own wine glass as her eyes held his in her gaze, before she fell silent.

"What do you want?" Ezra asked her, his voice so thick and rough and indescribable as he peered at her beautiful face closely, sensing that she wanted something from him. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you. I want to make love to you," Aria said boldly, getting up off the couch to unbutton and unzip and remove her skinny jeans along with her panties as she stepped out of both, before sitting back down beside him, turning her body fully towards his.

His eyes were darker than ever as he nodded his head mechanically, running a hand through his thick hair, and then he lifted off the couch to roll down his briefs and sweatpants, pulling her over onto his lap as her thighs straddled either side of him. He then positioned his hard cock at her wet hot center, then he took her mouth with his hungrily and plunged his cock upwards inside of her, and then she slid all the way down onto him at the same time. They both moaned, breathing hard. Erratically. They began to move together. First slow, but then faster. She started to circulate her hips on him as he thrusted up. Deep and hard. Thrust after thrust he went even deeper inside of her as she moaned against his mouth as her tongue wrestled with his playfully as she grabbed onto the back of the couch behind his head for support as his hands gripped her hips as he brought her down onto him repeatedly. He tore his mouth away from hers as he pumped up into her, kissing down her pale neck and her full breasts through her shirt, before his mouth found hers again. She felt herself climaxing much quicker as did he. She held him close as she felt his cum rushing up inside of her, moaning and groaning again as he came once more inside of her. They stayed glue like that for a few more seconds, breathing rather heavily until she got up from off of him.

Then she walked out of his office to his bedroom, knowing that he was following her as she discarded the reminder of her clothing. She climbed on top of his king sized bed, stretching lazily on it as she watched as he pulled his shirt over his head and tore off the rest of his clothes as he stalked towards her. He came down upon her, working his way down to open her thighs as he kissed her soaked pussy lips, then he kissed the top of her mound, before kissing his way up her body, stopping to play inside of her navel, and then he grasped both of breasts in his hands, his thumbs skating across the dark tips, before he sucked and licked them, kissing circles around her breasts, before sliding back up her body as he weaseled his way in between her creamy thighs. He pushed hard inside of her, feeling herself stretch around him as she arched up towards him. She was still wet with her cum and filled with his semen as she lifted herself up off the bed to meet his urgent thrusts. He pumped so hard and fast into her, swallowing her cries with his mouth as he pounded harshly into her. She could only scream as she pulled him down tighter onto her, wrapping her legs around his waist as her hands raked down his shoulders, chest, and taut stomach.

She bit her bottom lip hard as he pushed in and out of her again and again, drawing blood inside of her mouth as she thrusted her hips upwards, and then downwards again. Repeating the cycle. She felt her whole body shaking, desperately needing release. She kept moaning his name softly as he kept hitting every sensitive spot inside of her, pounding her into the soft bed. She squeezed her inner walls around him, hugging him tight as he slowed his thrusts down, getting ready to explode inside of her as he pulled all the way out, and then he thrusted back in. He then did it again, causing her to scream and her inner walls to constrict around him as she soared towards completion as so many orgasms seeped through her, feeling a slight tingling sensation go through her fingertips and toes as she called out his name brokenly, her throat feeling raw and sore. He pushed into her three more times, before she felt his cum pouring deep inside of her as his body collapsed on top of hers. As he steadied his breathing, he moved from off of her to lie down beside her. She moved closer to him, curling up into his side as she stared into his face. One of his arms was thrown across his eyes as his chest rose and fell.

"Do you want dessert?" Aria asked breathlessly, knowing that it was an odd question to ask him after what they had just done, but she was hungry all over again.

"Yeah," Ezra said laughing as he took his arm from off his eyes, leaning over to kiss her mouth leisurely, before pulling her up from the bed as they both got dress again.

Aria got down the tube of strawberry ice cream and took it over to the dining table, and then she headed back into the kitchen to get two small bowls, two spoons, and two forks for her and Ezra as he got the peach cobbler out of the oven, then he grabbed a knife, before going over to join her at the table.

"Do you like animals?" Aria randomly asked him as she scooped them both out great portions of strawberry ice cream, before she picked up her spoon to taste some, swinging her leg across his.

It felt so naturally. Not new or awkward at all.

"I like them just fine," Ezra said subtly, cutting them both a slice of pie, before picking up his fork to try it.

"Then why don't you have any?" Aria questioned him innocently, one of her beautifully arched brows rose as she licked her spoon, before she scooped up more of her ice cream.

"I just don't have the time or the patience. I stay busy," Ezra explained to her agilely, eating some of his own ice cream as his other hand stroked her leg resting in his lap.

She felt herself panting slightly from his caresses.

"Those are just quick thought-out excuses, Ezra," Aria said laughing as she shook her head at him. "And they are not really good ones".

"I know. I guess to me I find that taking care of a dog or a cat is too much responsibility when I'm not here as much," Ezra said as he used his finger to wipe the little ice cream she had left at the corner of her mouth. She gasped, tugging on her bottom lip with her teeth. "And I feel much comfortable taking care of a goldfish. There's not that much responsibility".

"What if you had help?" Aria suggested casually as she got up from the table to get the chocolate syrup and whipped cream she had seen in his top cupboard earlier, and then she sat back down beside him, her leg resuming its pervious place on his lap.

"Are you offering?" Ezra asked with an entertaining smile as looked over at her, taking another bite of his pie.

"I could be," Aria said teasingly, before biting on her bottom lip as she brought her foot up intentionally to massage his crotch with it, feeling as he grew hard under her ministrations.

He hissed, his eyes darkening as he groaned.

"I'll give it some thought," Ezra said harshly, his hand going down to stop her foot movements as another amusing smile lifted his mouth. "How about you? Do you like animals?"

"I love them," Aria said as matter of fact, pouring chocolate syrup over her ice cream. She got some on her fingers. She licked them, removing the chocolate. "I have a cat. Her name is Diana. She's black and gorgeous. She has the most beautiful big copper eyes I have ever seen. She was Adam's last gift to me. He nodded stilly, getting up to go get the red bottle of wine and their glasses. "Does it bother you when I bring his name up? If it does I won't. The last thing I want is to make you uneasy, or make you think that you have to compete with him".

She watched his beautiful face closely, her eyes feasting on the shape of his eyes, nose and mouth, and chin. He was so attractive. And he was hers. Was he hers? She was his. She never would have thought that her English teacher would one day be her lover. Would be the man she had fallen in love with.

"No," he said after a while, coming back over to sit back down beside her as he stared deeply into her eyes. "Aria, I knew that you loved Adam. You guys were in a meaningful relationship. It was serious between you two. There were no illusions about that. I don't expect you to erase the history you had with him. Just like I can't erase the history I had with Jamiee".

She sat down her spoon, before planting herself in his lap, her arms going around his neck as she gazed down into his blue eyes, her fingers coming up to stroke behind his ears. She was making a habit out of this. She couldn't help it though. She loved being on his lap. Loved being so very close to him. Loved having his arms around her. His fingers gripping her waist so tightly as though he was afraid that she might take off any minute. As though she might regret everything.

"I'm glad that it doesn't. That you can understand," Aria said softly, biting on her bottom lip again as her eyes dropped down towards his mouth, before she kissed him so gently and slowly.

It was like he couldn't help himself. He had to kiss her back as he molded his mouth to hers, his tongue finding solace with hers. She couldn't help gasping against his mouth. Couldn't help running her fingers though his hair. Couldn't help moving around as she fought to get closer still. Couldn't help feeling a crazy intense shock go through her body as he bit her bottom lip, sucking on the luscious flesh. Couldn't help moaning as he whispered her name like a prayer in between kisses. Over and over. The deep baritone of his voice making her so unbelievably wet and causing the throbbing ache between her things to maximize in strength. She wanted him.

"Stay here with me tonight," Ezra said hoarsely, pulling back from the kiss.

"Okay," Aria breathed against his lips as she nodded her head frenziedly.

There was no need for her to think about it.

"I want you," Ezra croaked with need against her silken mouth, which was swollen from his kisses as he got up with her in his arms.

She squeaked against his lips, laughing and kissing him as she wrapped her legs around him securely as he headed towards his bedroom.

There you have it. I loved this chapter so much. I had a lot of fun writing it. To me, Aria has never been more real and clear. Did you love it? Review and let me know! I really hope that this chapter receives more reviews than my last one. And only two more chapters left in this wonderful story guys : (.