Strange Love
/ Strange Love 68 History of a broken hear
The skies had already began to fade to dusk as she made her way down the shop-lined, wide sidewalks. {Such a long day already, and it's not even really began. There's still the gala tonight and I haven't heard a single thing from Xavier since I left the meeting this morning.} She let out another heavy sigh as she scanned the parking lot of the Villas. {His rental isn't here...} A heavy frown settled on her face as she continued to make her way toward the room.
Once inside Jos took a long shower and meticulously styled her hair and makeup. A soft knock sounded at the door right as she began to unzip her luggage. She tightened the tie of the extra fluffy hotel robe as she made her way to the door. "May I help you?" She said politely as she cracked the door slightly.
A delivery man stood at the entrance a small tablet in his hand. He glanced from its display to Jos. "Miss Joslyn Decker?"
Jos frowned, "Y-yes?"
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He clicked several buttons before holding the tablet out to her. "If you will just sign here on the line." He handed her a stylis before bending over and retrieving a package leaned against the wall. He handed her the large package as he took back the tablet. He nodded as he backed away from the door. "Have a nice day miss."
Jos had barely gotten the door shut, before another knock sounded. Without thinking she pulled it back open. "Did you forget-" Her breath caught with the realization it was not the delivery guy but instead the absolute last person she would want stand before in a bathrobe, alone in a hotel room. She quickly tried slamming the door shut, but he caught it and pushed it open.
"Relax kitten, I was sent here to drive you to the gala." He sent her a smoldering smile, meant to be reassuring but some how held quite the opposite effect.
Jos backed away from him holding the package tightly against her chest. "Wait outside then." She tightened her grip on the box as her hands began to tremble.
Areion fought the desire to pull her into his arms and pick up where they had left off all those years ago, instead he lowered his gaze and walked over to the edge of the bed instead. He carefully sat down on the edge and gathered his wits before looking back up at her. "I realize this is a bit... awkward for you, but I want... need to tell you my side of things." He gazed up at her a tender, silent plea.
Jos could feel her heartrate raise farther as she stare down at him, her mind struggling against itself. She let out a heavy sigh as she lowered the box to her side. "F-fine then. Say what you must then leave."
His lips turned up at the corners and his eyes sparkled as he met her gaze, "Thank you, Jos." His eyes darkened and his voice became husky, "but first you should probably put some clothes on."
Jos gasped and quickly brought the box back up her chest and clutched it tightly. She couldn't answer instead she just nodded and quickly made her way into the bathroom.
Areion chuckled, "Nice to see some things haven't changed." He whispered to himself. He scooted back against the headboard of the bed and crossed his legs as he looked around the room. "Not bad... not bad at all... Vamp boy has taste."
Jos Quickly sat the box down on the sink and opened it. Inside was a tiny letter sitting on top of tissue paper. She read it.
"Sorry I wasn't able to give this to you in person. The negotiations are taking longer than expected. I know you will look absolutely stunning in this dress, however. I can't wait to see you. Until tonight-Xavier."
Jos set the letter down and pulled the tissue back. Her breath caught, "It's beautiful." She whispered taking extra care removing it from the box. She carefully slipped it on and pulled up the delicate zipper at the side. She checked her reflection in the large mirror, dabbing at an invisible imperfection under her eye. She let out a heavy breath of air as she straighten from the sink and moved toward the door. She forced herself to turn the knob. {FUCK... FUCK... FUCK!!!} Her thoughts could only formulate the one word through her mounting anxiety.
Areion laughed loudly from the bed as he heard the door open. "Ah! There for a minute I thought you'd snuck out of a window in there or something-" His words died off as Jos stepped out into the small room. The playful smile fell away as he looked her up and down. She was in a tight fitting black dress that flared at the bottom with elaborate gold embroidery set in patterns along the flares. The top was a black lace material with the same golden embroideries with intricate beadwork running along the patterns with the concentration of it set around her breast to provide meager coverage to that area. He stood up slowly. "You... you look amazing..." He licked his dry lips.
She met his eyes forcing a cold stoicism she didn't feel as she watched him walk toward her. Her mind ran wild as he walked slowly toward her as if he was afraid she would run from the room at any moment... {As if I could even run at this moment.} She thought cynically to herself, cursing her weakness and vulnerability as she continued to stand there frozen in place only able to watch as he closed the distance between them.
Areion cupped her cheek, the anxiety she tried so hard to hide radiated from her troubled eyes. "You must know, kitten, hurting you was the absolute last thing I ever wanted to do." He trailed his had down her arm and took her hand and turned to lead her toward the edge of the bed.
Jos tugged oh his grip. "N-no..."
Areion frowned not looking in her direction, "I just want to talk to you, I promise I would never try to force myself on you." He sat down not even bothering to pull her down beside him, instead he took her other and gazed up into her turbulent aqua depth as he began the speech he'd practiced so may times in the past for the next time their paths would meet. The day she ran away from him he'd made a promise to her that he wouldn't chase after her... he'd also promised himself that if he was to ever meet her again by chance he wouldn't let the opportunity pass by so easily again. "Joslyn, I'm not here to ask for your forgiveness, to get you back, or to somehow mend a crushed ego. You need to know the truth, the whole truth... and maybe then both of us can move forward freely instead of having the constant ghost of a fucked up past looming over our love lives." He focused on where their hands met. "I was in the wrong. I hold equal blame to Orion but not in the way you assumed."
He met her eyes again noting that some of the anxiety and anger had dissipated and was now replaced by a flood of question and curiosity. "I tracked Orion to your island and found him in quite the state. He told me about this beautiful little monster he'd rescued." He smiled warmly up at her rubbing his thumbs fondly over her knuckles, "He told me so much about you and I could see the love in his eyes as he spoke, when he told me that you had declared your love for him his face suddenly saddened. At the time I couldn't understand. I just kept asking why not... anyways one thing led to another and he asked me to take over for him, until you were ready..." He stood pulling her hands against his chest. "I assumed he told you. You never said his name... or mine..." He shrugged. "I fell in love with you... the way you responded so sweetly to the slightest of touches during training... your timid, shy demeaner, your tiny angelic voice on the rare occasion you did speak..." He released one hand and brought it to her cheek.
Jos closed her eyes tightly fighting back tears a hot blush setting her face on fire. "You need to stop... we need to leave..."
Arei smiled down at her, "Yes, you're right... just let me finish." He waited for her eyes to open once again, this time he did guide her down with him when he sat back down on the bed. "The night when you came to me, I honestly thought you knew... I though Orion had told you from the beginning... I thought YOU would be able to tell the difference from the second you saw me... and when you came to me I didn't want to question it..." He breathed out heavily, "I'd love to blame it on alcohol, but if I'm honest..." His eyes burnt into hers, "I wouldn't have question it... wouldn't have said anything that would risk you being mine... even for a night..." He released her hands and stood, running his hands through his hair. He focused his eyes on the floor at her feet. "When Orion walked in that next night, all my worst fears were answered. I realized in that instant it wasn't me you wanted... wasn't me you'd meant to give yourself to..." He risked a glance back up at her, she was staring at him in a state of total shock. He couldn't help the nervous laugh that escaped as he ran his hands through his hair. "I tried to tell you all this that day on the beach..." he sent her a wide smile that only faintly hinted of the pains it tried to hide. "I spent every day since then wondering if things would have been different if I would have just introduced myself properly that first day we met... If I would have asked the questions burning in the back of my mind each and every time you smiled up at me with those twinkling childlike eyes when I would call you kitten..." He let out a heavy sigh as he watched a tiny tear break past the liner of her eyes. He extended his index finger and carefully brushed it away. "Now none of that, kitten. We can't have you ruining your makeup." He smiled brightly down at her as he took her hand with the same hand he had just wiped away the tear with. "You're right though, we really should be leaving... We have a party to attend after all."
Jos didn't fight his grip on her hand, didn't argue, didn't say a word as he slowed only long enough to grab her tiny back and head out the door. He led her to the passenger side gently held her hand as she lowered herself down into the car. He smiled warmly down at her as he released her and closed the door. Jos fought the hyperventilation that over took her body. Lucky for her he didn't get in the car, instead he leaned against the hood his back to her and smoked a cigarette. Her mind raced as she tried to process all of what he had just told her, what it would have meant hearing those words then, what it meant to her now. She let the memories of their time together replay in her mind, forcing herself to think back over all the training she'd received during that time... {Was there a difference?} She thought of the cold Orion of the first two and a half years of her training. He kept himself at a distance from her at all times, caring but distant... Then she thought of the Orion of the last six months of her training. It had been like day and night. At the time she had convinced herself the difference had came from his acceptance of her confession... that it was his way of saying it back... Her mind instantly went to Russ and how he had expressed his love to her so many times... how his text still waited unread on her phone most likely expressing his love for her... and here she was ignoring it again, repeating the same mistakes she had made all those years ago... {He's right I had known all along he was not Orion. I only lied to myself that it was still the man I loved... that some how he had finally came around and now magically loved me too...} Her frown deepened as she thought back over the many times afterwards this man before her tried to talk to her, tell her the truth... {And I ignored him... I didn't give him a chance. I was too busy focused on my own hurt... my own pain... to see his... and I've done the exact same thing to Russ... I'm doing the exact same thing to Xavier...}
The drivers door opened and Areion slowly lowered himself into the car without saying a word.
"I'm sorry." Jos's voice was only a tiny whisper but he heard her. She watched as his lips turned up at the corners into a sad smile.
"But it still doesn't change anything does it?" He asked his eyes focused intensely on the lite gauges of the dashboard.
Joslyn watched the gentle light reflect off his profile for several minutes as she thought over his question before she finally answered. For the first time in what seemed like a lifetime Joslyn answered a question with confidence, with certainty. She finally knew what she wanted, what she must do... "No... no it doesn't. I'm sorry, but I'm in love with someone else."
He huffed out a sarcastic laugh, "The vampire?"
Joslyn replied without hesitation. "No, Russell Boosilis…" She looked him directly in the eyes as she continued. "And as soon as this Gala is over tonight I'm going to tell him. If he can forgive my stupidity of the past few weeks then I'll fly home tonight if I can and fight to make it work."
Aerion sent her a sad smile. He reached across the car and pulled her head over across the arm rest, careful not to mess up her beautifully arranged hair. He placed a light kiss to the top of her head. "I hope I works out for you, kitten, I truly do." He released her and began driving.
Chapter end
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