Double and a half date —pt 1

December 4th, 2019

(Caines, Terres Somnia)

James: So she shut you down?

Zoey came up to James and wiped away a bit of cream off of the corner of his mouth and stuck her finger into her mouth. James grinned at her.

Aaron: Okay, that's really gross. Save the foreplay for the 23 hours of the day during which I'm not looking at your faces.

Aaron picked up his tablet as he started pacing again.

Aaron: And no, I shut me down. It just felt like she was one upping me or something.

Zoey: The cream's from the cake we just had. Get your mind out of the gutter.

The blush on her cheeks said otherwise. James looked at Zoey's red face and he took a deep breath, wrestling with the words he was about to say.

James: You talk to him. He's freaking out that his new play thing is owning his ass. I'm going to finish up with dinner.

James got up, kissed his wife on the cheek and left for the kitchen.

Aaron: Dinner? He cooks?

Zoey: He does. He's pretty good too.

Aaron: Naturally.

Zoey: Ron, do you like Aria?

Aaron's face scrunched up in denial.

Aaron: What? Of course not. This is all about getting CC and Bart hitched, period.

Zoey: I spoke to Bart last night and they're doing just fine. More than fine from the sounds of it.

An exasperated Aaron raised his hands up into the air.

Aaron: That's because they haven't been to the palace since Aria got here. CC's probably freaked out about seeing her again.

Zoey: She's not a porcelain doll, Aaron. She can handle an ex-girlfriend.

At that wording, Aaron stopped pacing.

Aaron: Bart told you that? He actually said that they were a thing?

Zoey: It's complicated.

Aaron: What the hell does that mean!

Zoey threw a look over her shoulder, pulling the tablet closer to her face as she bent forward.

Zoey: Do you know why I fell in love with you?

Aaron: Zo, you aren't changing your mind, are you? I mean it's a little late, but—

Zoey: Forget it. You're on your own.

Aaron: Okay, okay. Goodness, you and James are so touchy. I'm listening.

Zoey: The Aaron I met that first day wasn't trying to pull a fast one. He wasn't just trying to get into my pants.

Aaron: Speak for yourself.

In answer to Aaron's amused smirk, Zoey gave him a frustrated glare.

Zoey: If you want her to really like you, there can't be any tricks. You gotta give a little to get some.

Aaron snapped his fingers, a light bulb going off above his head.

Aaron: That's it! She has to like me! Like actual feelings and shit. Usually women just like me anyway, but she's going to need some work. That way even after I sleep with her she'll still have a reason to come back, leaving Bart and CC in the clear. Problem solved.

Zoey: That's not exactly—"

Aaron: Thanks Zo. Got to go. Love you guys.

Aaron ended the call.

Zoey:... what I said.

James chuckled, adoration coloring his facial features as he leaned against the door frame, watching Zoey sigh. He walked over and laid his head down in her lap. He looked up at her as she stroked his hair with a worried look on her face.

James: Dinner is ready.

Zoey: Maybe we should go home after all.

James shook the can of whipped cream in his hand up and down.

James: You worry too much. So he has a little crush. Big deal. You said it yourself. Bart and CC are fine. What's the worst that could happen?

Zoey: Now, they're fine now. I have a bad feeling about this. This woman is going to eat him alive.

James: Speaking of.

James filled her mouth up with cream before shoving his tongue into it, pulling her mouth down onto his as he kissed her hungrily.

James: I think we've indulged my brother enough. Phone call ban is back on.

Zoey: But Jamie—

She let out a little purr against his lips.

James: No buts, wifey. Do you have any idea how many things you are wearing right now? Takes too much time to get to you these days.

He sunk one knee into the sofa, brought his face back up to hers then let his other knee come down on the other side of her, straddling her. She pouted.

Zoey: But you made dinner and I dressed up and everything.

James: Oh I noticed, believe me I did.

He growled, pulling the spaghetti straps down her shoulders, his lips following his hands, leaving behind feather light kisses in their wake.

When the kisses, light little licks and nips at her neck and collarbone had gotten her all worked up, he got up and walked back out the way he'd come in.

He turned back around at the door, a smirk on his face as he watched her compose herself while staring daggers at him.

James: You coming? I made dinner, you know.

Meanwhile, back at the palace, Aaron was making dinner plans of his own. He didn't know if Aria would come, since he'd sent the invitation, yes a physical invitation, a bit late and it was already eight. Who was he kidding? He didn't know if she would come even if she did have advance notice.

Ten minutes after the appointed time, Aaron heard the clicking of heels. Aria wore a black dress with an off shoulder neckline, the same diamond necklace as yesterday around her neck. Her hair was styled into perfect elegant locks. The heels were blood red.

Her outfit was more conservative than the things she'd been wearing around him of late, but that just made him want to take it off more. He shook his head. He had to remember that there would be none of that, not until she begged for it.

Since the moment he laid eyes on her, they'd been ice cold. He endeavored to change that. Aaron had had dinner set up in the most underused place in the palace hoping for privacy. He'd had the rose maze garden lined with candles to light the way so that she could find him easily.