She decided not to interrupt. They'd spend time together once they got home; now, his relationship with the others was more important than giving Aria his undivided attention.
She found her mother on the deck and decided to spend a little time with her, and the group of people gathered around.
Aria greeted her neighbors, her peers, and her acquaintances.
They all had questions. What happened? How did you get there? Why? Where? How? What? When?
Aria felt like her tongue would dry up and fall off; that's how much talking she did. But every time she wanted to snap, she reminded herself of how important this was. How the least she could do was answer their questions.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed when she finally got the chance to sneak off and make her way back to Lex's and her room.
She felt drained, but she stayed awake. She found an old book on one of the shelves and spent the next few hours reading.
When she heard the door open, she practically bounced with excitement.
"Hey," Lex said, standing in the doorway. "I was hoping I'd find you here."
She moved out of the way to let him in, and he flopped down on the bed.
She sat down next to him.
"I can't stay long," he said, running a hand down her back.
"Why?"
"I have a few more things to attend to. I'm supposed to meet Hunt and some guy named Sam on the deck in fifteen minutes. I just came by to check on you."
"Oh, well. I'm fine. Just trying to stay awake to get back on a regular sleeping schedule."
"I know things are a little hectic now," he said, "But I promise I'll make time for you once we get home."
"Wow," she said, rolling her eyes at him. "Thank you so much."
"Shut up," he said, poking her in the side. "You know what I mean."
She smiled at him before laying down on her back. "So what do you think?" she asked.
"Well, it might be too soon to tell...but they don't seem that bad. I mean, they're all being civil, so I guess we're off to a good start? And none of them have tried to kill me yet, so I'll take that as a good sign?"
"Yeah," she said, laughing a little. "That is a good sign."
He turned on his side, putting a hand on her stomach. He looked at her for a few minutes before slowly dragging his hand down.
"No," she said, grabbing his hand once he'd reached the top of her pants. "Don't even think about it."
"What? Why?"
"Because I know what you're trying to do. You said you only had a few minutes. Now you have less. You're just trying to tease me before you leave."
"And you don't like that? Me teasing you?"
"No, I don't."
"Really? Then why'd you tease me earlier?"
"That's different!"
"Yeah?" he said, scooting over to place his lips on her neck. "How so?"
"I-I was just looking at you," she said, stuttering a little when he bit her ear.
"Yes, but it was the way you were looking at me. It drives me a little mad, you know?"
Aria closed her eyes, feeling the heat gather in her belly. It was a little embarrassing; how turned on she'd already gotten by that point.
"I have a few minutes," he said, kissing her neck again. "Let me touch you."
"O-okay," she agreed, letting go of his hand and spreading her legs.
He didn't waste a second before unbuttoning her pants and sticking his hand in her underwear.
"Someone's a little turned on," he said, feeling how wet she was.
"Shut up," she said, focusing on how his fingers lazily traced up and down her folds.
"You like that?" he asked.
"Mhmm," she mumbled, wishing he'd hurry up and stop teasing her.
When he slid a finger inside of her, she gasped and gripped his bicep.
"Lex," she whispered as he took the finger out and pushed it back in.
"Yeah?"
"More"
"Okay," he said, giving her another finger.
"Faster," she sighed. Her breaths were becoming rapid and shallow, her muscles growing rigid.
"You know," he mumbled in her ear, his voice deep and gravely, "When I saw you that night, the night you took the palace back? You looked so....so fucking good. So strong, standing in front of all those people with that gun in your hand."
He slid his fingers out and brought them up to her clit, rubbing it gently at first.
"I don't think I'd ever been so turned on by you than when I saw you that night. It took all of my strength, all of my will power not to fuck you right then and there."
He pressed down harder, going faster and faster.
"And last night? With that nightgown? Fuck. You ruined me."
He kissed her, biting down on her lower lip before shoving his tongue into her mouth.
She came with his name on her lips.
"See?" he said afterward, "I didn't tease you. I'm growing as a person."
Chapter 54
She didn't see him for the rest of the trip.
But as much as she'd wanted to, she knew they both had more important things to worry about.
When they reached land, Aria was surprised to find out that about 150 people would be staying on the ship.
"It'll provide shelter," Hunt said, "There's a source of fresh water nearby. They'll have food. Lex's men will stay with them. Most of them are either too young, too old, or too weak to help. So we'll keep them here until we build homes of our own."
"The rest of you," Lex yelled from the front of the group, "Will be brought to the palace. I will let you rest first, but we will begin building homes as soon as possible. My people will help. Shelter is the first necessity we will tackle."
The trip back was a little tricky due to the cold. But excitement was in the air. It seemed like her people had finally accepted the fact that this place was real. That they wouldn't have to fight to survive any longer.
When they finally, finally reached the palace, Aria felt
