Chapter 27

Upon returning to the Hotel Palace, Klaus and Aurora planned to split up to look for Adelaide, but they didn't even need to put the plan into action. On the lawn, couples were dancing to the sound of a slow song, and Griffin and Adelaide were there, in the middle of the improvised dance floor. She intertwined her arms around his neck, while he placed his hands around her slender waist. They swayed gently, looking deeply into each other's eyes, enveloped by an intense passion.

Aurora grabbed her camera and took photos of the couple from various angles. She knew that Adelaide would love to have a photo as a keepsake. Still looking through the lens, she focused once again on her sister and the doctor. But just before she pressed the button to photograph them, the image went completely dark, and she realized that a hand had covered the lens.

"Hey!" Aurora pushed the object away from her face and looked at the man with seriousness. "What do you think you're doing?"

"We need to talk," Tristan replied.

"We don't. I have nothing else to discuss with you," Aurora retorted, putting the camera back in her bag and discreetly looking around to see where Klaus had gone.

"But I do," Tristan insisted.

"Then keep it to yourself," she said. Aurora tried to look away, but something in Tristan's expression intrigued her.

"I can't do that. We still have an unfinished matter, and you can't escape it. You gave your word," he argued.

She furrowed her brow slowly, not understanding where he was going with this. "I don't remember giving my word on any matter concerning you," she teased, seeing a guarded smile forming on his lips. "What are you hiding from me, Mr. Arrogant?"

"Do you remember the bet we made at Xavier's birthday?" he asked.

With a little effort, she recalled what it was about. Her lips parted; she wanted to speak up, but she had no arguments to retort.

"The deal was: if your sister got together with my brother, which is indeed happening, I would have one wish concerning you. Without restrictions," Tristan revealed.

Aurora felt trapped. Tristan had her in his hands, and her wicked and irresponsible subconscious seemed to enjoy that situation.

"What do you want?" she asked, trying to hide her anxiety.

He held her hand and pulled her into the hotel. They entered the elevator, which luckily was empty. Tristan pressed a specific button, and Aurora wondered about it, but it wasn't hard to deduce that he had planned it all beforehand. She had no doubt that he had booked one of the hotel rooms for the night.

Tristan turned to her right after the doors closed. Still holding her hands, he said in a serious tone, "A kiss. I want a kiss."

She was surprised and confused. He had the opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, without restrictions. And he decided to ask for a simple and harmless kiss?!

"Just that? Are you sure?" she asked, wanting to understand his true intentions.

Without saying a word, he brought his hand to her jawline and kissed her lips tenderly. Their tongues moved slowly, exploring each other gently. It was a sweet and unhurried kiss. Tristan had no ulterior motives, desperation, or eagerness, and that surprised Aurora.

The air was scarce in her lungs. They pulled away at a short distance, seeking for breath. Tristan rested his forehead against hers, letting out several sighs, keeping his eyes closed. Aurora took the opportunity to admire him, not feeling ashamed of her own feelings.

***

POV - (Point of View) Aurora Navarro

"He's not right for you. Tristan doesn't belong to any woman. Stay away." That's what my brain kept saying and repeating, but my heart completely ignored it.

"More?" I asked, trying to contain the anxiety consuming me.

"More," Tristan replied.

He kissed me again, savoring the ecstasy of having his lips on mine. His hands slid down my shoulders, glided over my arms, and found refuge on my back. I knew this was dangerous, but I couldn't pull away.

I would regret this tomorrow, but I didn't care. I preferred to regret something I did than something I didn't do.

The doors were opened, and they both walked blindly towards the room, not wanting to interrupt the kiss in any way. We were hungry for each other.

With great difficulty, we entered the room, and he pressed me against the closed door. Now, he was preoccupied with my neck, alternating between wet kisses and strong love bites that marked my skin. I gasped and pulled his hair, encouraging him not to stop.

During the caresses, Tristan noticed that I was wearing a necklace with a chain. He stopped what he was doing and carefully pulled the necklace, revealing the blue stone that had been hidden inside my dress all along.

"I thought you got rid of it," he said, looking into my eyes, sending shivers down my spine. He looked at me in a different way, not the usual womanizer or serious expression.

"He's too beautiful to be thrown away," I confessed.

His lips formed a somewhat mischievous smile. Without explanation, he stepped away from me and casually sat on the enormous bed.

"Undress," he said calmly, grabbing a bottle of champagne from the nearby dresser and pouring himself a glass.

I was paralyzed by his request. Does he want me to do a private "show"? What is this, after all? Some kind of punishment for lying to him?!

"I'm waiting," he warned, taking a sip of the drink.

A small smile appeared on my lips as I got an idea to tease him. So, I took off my heels and jewelry, leaving them on the bedside table. Then, I turned around, facing away from Tristan. My fingers reached the zipper of the dress at my back, and I slowly and torturously lowered it.

I was a bit embarrassed, even though I knew he had my entire body memorized, but that didn't stop me from being bold. I let the dress slide down my body until it reached the floor. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Tristan put the glass aside, biting his lips as he admired me.

He was eager to feel me again, and it was impossible to resist the temptations. He jumped up and pulled me close by the waist, joining our bodies, but we both knew that this proximity wasn't enough. Tristan groaned softly as he felt the friction his already stiff member made with my buttocks. I teased him by moving my hips, and I could see how excited he was.

"Hm... Aurora..." he said, wild with desire, he turned me to face him and pressed me against his hip, firmly holding my buttocks. He pressed his lips against mine with such intensity that he silenced any moans or curses.

He laid me on the bed, feeling our hearts racing, but we didn't pay much attention to it. A mischievous smile formed on his lips as he ran his fingers over the thin fabric covering my arousal, which was already soaked. Shivers of pleasure ran through my body at that moment. I couldn't utter a single word due to the overwhelming excitement, so I focused more on taking action.

They exchanged kisses and helped each other undress until they were completely exposed. Both of them were desperate to feel that intimate connection, that they didn't even bother with foreplay.

Tristan spread Aurora's legs apart and penetrated her without warning, causing her to scratch his back mercilessly. They moaned as their movements intensified. Aurora wrapped her arms around Tristan's neck, while he buried his face in the curve of her neck, planting kisses there.

"Tristan..." she moaned in his ear, feeling the overwhelming pleasure. Even though she couldn't see his face, she knew he was smiling, satisfied to hear that.

They were so absorbed in that intimate moment that they forgot the possibility of someone hearing their noises. In fact, they forgot about the outside world altogether; nothing else mattered but each other's presence.

***

Adelaide and Griffin were still dancing in a very romantic atmosphere. Their bodies pressed close together, swaying to the sweet harmony.

He was attentively watching Adelaide, congratulating her on winning the award and the title of one of New York's top surgeons. As he realized he was talking too much and the doctor was staring at her, she lowered her gaze, smiling shyly.

"Griffin, stop it."

"Stop what?"

"You're looking at me as if I were the most interesting person in the world."

"In my eyes, you are," he said. She lifted her head, meeting his gaze, and something indecipherable appeared in her eyes. Affection? Comfort? Love? "Adelaide, to be honest, I don't want to be just a friend to you."

"Griffin..."

"I want to be the only one in your eyes, the only one with the right to protect you," he firmly held her hands. "I simply fell in love with you."

She felt immense joy at Griffin's beautiful words, but she couldn't express it. She remained paralyzed, shyness and surprise preventing her from acting.

Griffin, realizing that, took one hand from her waist and started caressing her cheek. She allowed herself to close her eyes, enjoying the touch. His gaze was on her rosy lips, and without hesitation, he leaned in to finally satisfy the desire to kiss her.

Klaus watched from a distance, eager for the kiss to happen, but the clock started striking midnight, bringing him back to reality.

"Damn it!" he cursed and ran towards the couple. He pulled Adelaide's arm, separating her from Griffin. "Sorry to interrupt the moment, but it's already midnight, Cinderella."

"What?!" they widened their eyes, and only then did Adelaide hear the chimes. She turned to Griffin, who looked visibly confused. "I'm sorry, but I have to go."

Griffin wanted to demand an explanation, but Adelaide and Klaus were already running towards the hotel. The doctor didn't stay still and ran in the same direction, determined not to let her go without knowing if his feelings would be reciprocated.

After passing through the reception, the two of them left the building and went down the stairs to the street. Klaus easily managed it, but Adelaide was struggling with her high heels. She almost tripped, but in return, she left one of her pairs of shoes behind. She opened the car door and got in, seeing that Klaus was already in the driver's seat. He stepped on the accelerator, and they drove away from the hotel.

It was almost two in the morning when Aurora and Tristan were sprawled on the hotel bed, side by side, with their bodies sweaty and satisfied.

He lay on his side and propped his head on his hand. Lost in thought, he gazed at the slightly flushed face of the girl.

"What are you thinking about?" Her low voice revealed her exhaustion.

"I'm thinking about making an agreement," Tristan replied.

"What kind of agreement?"

"We'll keep seeing each other as long as we still feel attracted to each other."

"That sounds suspicious to me." She sat up on the bed. "What are the restrictions?"

"If I want to meet you, you can't refuse under any circumstances."

"What if I'm at work? Or at college?"

"I don't care." His expression was serious. "I decide the time, the day, and the place. Of course, the same goes for you."

She let out a weak laugh, pondering the feeling he made her experience every time they were close. It was as if she were facing a threat that the world dared not approach, yet she was drawn to the danger.

"The agreement ends when it's no longer advantageous for either of us." He emphasized the end. He wanted to make it clear that if she lost interest first, he would have to leave her alone.

"Any other stipulations?" She shook her head.

"My turn. I don't want you to be involved with other guys during the term of our agreement."

"Then you can't do the same with other women, to be fair."

"No chance."

Her expression turned sour. She was starting to think that this agreement might be a bad idea.

"Forget this conversation." She got up and began to put on her underwear.

"Look at it from my perspective. I don't want to sleep with you, fearing that another guy did the job a few hours ago."

"And what about me?" She pointed to herself, getting irritated. "Tristan, either you settle for just me for a while, or no deal!"

He smiled with restrained desire and sat at the edge of the bed, covering his nudity with the blanket.

"Do you know that I like it when you call me that?" He pulled her body closer, making her sit on his lap.

"Don't play games!"

He became thoughtful. He was intrigued; in fact, everything about her intrigued him. The way she confronted him and seduced him... she was a mix of a femme fatale with attitude and a shy and confused girl, which was surprising and admirable in his eyes.

"We have a deal." His response surprised both him and the young woman. Getting attached to a woman was against his ethics. "You should feel privileged. In addition to having my body, you have permission to call me by that nickname, which I hate."

"I know. You made that clear every time I called you Mr. Arrogant or Mr. Arrogant." She smiled, reminiscing about the night they met. "By the way, what actually happened between you and Genevieve at the company party?"

"We spent a night together. After that, she came after me and teased me in many ways, but I wasn't that interested. Sometimes I allowed her to give me some attention, but it didn't go beyond that."

Aurora felt a slight discomfort with what he was saying, but at the same time, she felt good knowing that she was the only one with privileges.

"When I heard about the party, I didn't want to go without a date, so I invited her," he continued without averting his gaze from hers. "You already know the rest. Genevieve ended up with another guy, and after being caught, she came after me saying she loved me."

The young woman shivered inside at the dark tone Tristan used at the end of the sentence. It didn't take a genius to be sure that he didn't believe in love or had ever come close to feeling it.

"Did you hear about me meeting Genevieve at the mall?" he changed the subject to improve the tense atmosphere.

"I heard that you guys had a fight."

"We didn't fight; she inserted herself into a civilized discussion between me and Violet, who, coincidentally, is your secretary's younger sister."

"That's not what I saw in the video." She laughed, thinking about Thomas and his flaw, or maybe quality, of spreading gossip so quickly. "You know, you're a strong girl."

"Ah, sure!" she replied sarcastically. "I lift weights at the gym four times a week!"

"I'm not talking about that. Strength doesn't always mean brutality." He moved his face closer to her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her skin while firmly holding her thighs. "Shall we stop talking?"

"What do you suggest?" she asked, aware of his intentions.

He looked at her with desire-filled eyes and directed his mouth toward hers, brushing his lips against hers in a tempting and provocative manner. She knew what would come next from those caresses, so she interrupted him.

"I can't spend the night here. I have to go home."

"Tell them you're sleeping at Xavier's sister's place."

"It's better not to. I feel like she's starting to suspect that lie."

"So come up with another one." Tristan spoke as if it were simple, but it wasn't, not for Aurora, who hated lying.

Seeing that he wouldn't change her mind, he sighed in disapproval but vowed to himself that he would punish her soon in bed.

In a few minutes, they gathered their clothes from the floor and got dressed. Tristan looked at Aurora and noticed her difficulty in putting on the necklace he had given her.

"Let me do it." He gently took the necklace from her hand and turned the girl around to face her back. She pushed her hair to the side, exposing more of her neck. Tristan fastened the jewelry and finally placed a lingering kiss on her neck, feeling her shiver. "Come on, I'll take you home."

He opened the door and waited for Aurora to leave first. She, somewhat distracted, exited the room with Tristan following.

On the way to her apartment, she thought that something had changed. She felt her hands sweating every time she looked at Tristan driving beside her.

Upon arriving at the building where she lived, she got out of the car in such a hurry that she didn't even respond when Tristan said, "Good night." She took the elevator and pressed the floor of her apartment repeatedly, even though she knew it wouldn't make it arrive faster. In a few minutes – which felt like an eternity to her – the doors opened, and she quickly entered her home. Her heart was beating so hard it felt like it might jump out of her mouth at any moment.

The young woman went to her room and threw herself on the bed without wondering why Adelaide wasn't home. For a second, she thought Adelaide was still with Griffin, so she didn't pay much attention.

Aurora found herself thinking about Tristan and all his irritatingly attractive characteristics.

She didn't know how long she had been there, thinking about that man, but she knew it had been a long time.

Before falling asleep, she realized that she was feeling a strong attraction to Tristan, and it wasn't just physical.

"I can't give in to these thoughts," Aurora thought, closing her eyes. "I can't make the same mistake as Genevieve. I simply can't allow myself to fall in love with Tristan Callahan."