Confusion Abounds

Who: Aiden and Jules
When: 7pmish
Where: Jules' house
Warning: NSFW

After checking in on Shannon, Aiden drove to Jules, eager to see her and see for himself that she was alright. He had been by Eury's the night before and found a mess. She hadn't been there, but by the looks of her apartment, he hadn't expected her to be. It was disconcerting and left him with massive confusion over what to do. He didn't know the first thing about trying to look for her, so he had been putting in some calls to people he knew, but everything was coming up empty. He was worried, and a bit sick to his stomach, thinking that something bad had happened to her. He fully intended on tracking down that guy - Ash - and asking him some questions, but until then, all he could do was worry.

Getting out of his car, Aiden finished his cigarette before walking up to Jules's door and knocking loudly.

Jules heard the knock and headed downstairs. She'd just gotten out of the shower and her hair was still up in a towel when she answered the door in a pair of shorts and a tank-top. The heat was on inside but it was freezing out and she shivered. "Come in." she told him and stepped back into the warmth of her house. "Didn't think you'd really come over." she admitted. "Glad you're alive though."

He stepped inside, thankful for the warmth of her house. Winter was going to be a bitch. "I told you I'd come over," Aiden told her a bit more tersely than he meant to. "I think eventually you're gonna have to learn to take me at my word. But I'm glad to see you're alive too. You didn't run into any trouble then?"

She furrowed her brow a little at that, lips parting as she looked at him half annoyed with his tone, but she didn't say anything. "Sorry..." she said softly, sitting down on the couch and pulling the towel off of her hair, slowly running it over the wet strands, then resting it in her lap. "No, I hid upstairs in the closet." she told him

Aiden sat down beside her and pulled off his hat to run his hand through his hair. "Good. The hospital was a fuckin' disaster, but if you read or watched the news, I'm sure you knew that." He leaned back against the cushions and managed a small smirk in her direction. "Told you I wouldn't get myself killed."

"Well at least you were right." she nodded, running her fingers through damp hair as she glanced back over at him. "So... why aren't you leaving?" she questioned. Jules looked different today. No make up, fresh out of the shower. It was an odd look for a normally very made up type of girl.

"Something else came up, and I'm tryin' to figure out what to do about it," Aiden admitted, reaching up to rub his eye. "I went by to see Eury before I left, but she's gone. Don't know what went down, but there was blood and... her cell phone was destroyed. Don't know what the fuck to do right now."

Jules blinked a bit at that, her lips parting in both surprise and worry, most for the sake of Aiden. "Oh my god." she said softly. "Do you think... that one of those things... Did you call the police?" she questioned.

"I don't know what I think," he admitted. "I don't think it was a werewolf..." Not with the mess Eury had found herself in. Not with the statue in her apartment. "The police, they won't know what to do. I feel like it's something I need to figure out myself. I think if she had left voluntarily she would have called me. I just don't know what to do first."

"Are you sure she would have called?" she questioned, toying with a strand of her hair, looping it around her index finger. "Never mind... of course she would have." she said softly, answering her own question. If she were going to leave, Jules would be sure to call Aiden. She assumed the same of Eury. She reached over and lightly ran her fingers across the back of his neck. "I'm sure you'll figure it out..." she whispered, hoping she sounded reassuring.

Aiden glanced at her, wondering if Eury would have called had she decided to take off again. But that point was moot, since her phone had been there and had been destroyed. The gesture of her fingers on his neck was comforting, but it didn't do much to ease the worry he felt for Eury. "I think I've got to at least try." He wondered if maybe her uncle had tracked her down and taken her. Or maybe someone had tried, and Eury had turned them into a statue and then left somewhere safer. Would she had called Aiden? Aiden reached up to take Jules hand from his neck, holding it in his. "Thanks for listenin' at least."

"Sorry..." she said as he took her hand, at first thinking she shouldn't have touched him, but he kept her hand in his and thanked her. "You're welcome." she said softly, looking down at their hands then back up at him. There was confusion in those blue eyes of hers. She wasn't sure how to feel about the whole thing. She hadn't cared for the woman, despite not knowing her, but she didn't want Aiden to be upset either. "You know I'm always here to listen... even if that's all I can do.."

"Yeah, I know." He released a slow breath and tried to think of his next step. He didn't really have one. It was driving him mad. "This is usually why I try not to attach myself to people in any capacity," Aiden said, more to himself than to her. "This shit always happens somehow, and I can't help but wonder if the aggravation is really worth it. Never thought it was before but now I'm sort of stuck and I don't know what to do about it."

She nodded a little. "Well, guess it's lucky for you that you haven't let yourself get attached to me." Jules said with a little smile. She was hoping to lighten the mood, but as soon as she spoke the words, she was fairly certain that maybe she was wrong. If he wasn't attached... he wouldn't be here checking on her. Holding her hand like he was at the moment. She didn't voice those thoughts however, merely looked at him.

Aiden's gaze locked with hers for a few moments before he looked away. He knew they both knew that wasn't entirely true, since yes, he was there. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have been. "You look nice without all the makeup," he said, aware that it was a strange and abrupt change in subject, but it was the truth, and it was the closest he could come to saying that she was wrong about not getting attached to her.

She blinked a little at that statement, having completely not expected it. "I... thank you." she said softly, blushing more than a little. She could feel her face burning practically. She lifted the hand that wasn't still in his and tucked damp strands of hair behind her ear. Then she moved her hand and caught his cheek, turning his face towards hers again. Her thumb lightly brushed across his skin and she smiled, despite her flushing cheeks. "That was really sweet." she said softly. "And ya know... getting attached isn't always a bad thing..."

He wondered if he was just really bad at complimenting women he knew longer than one night... they always seemed so surprised when he did it. Aiden looked at her again, his expression both amused and mildly skeptical. "Yeah? So why have I had shitty luck with it? I fuck up, or they fuck up and it's a massive mess of fuckery. I don't like complications, and I don't like aggravations either, and it seems getting attached causes both."

Jules sighed and shook her head, leaving her hand at his cheek to be sure he wouldn't turn away. "Sometimes there's complications. It's life, dollface. There's always complications. Always something fucking up. Someone fucking up. Something is always going wrong, but that's what makes it worth it right? When you do find someone and not as much stuff goes wrong. When even if stuff does go wrong it just... works itself out. You can't not get attached. The harder you try to fight something, the less likely you'll be able to win." She gave him a little smile and shrugged a bit. "Sorry for adding to your 'fuckery' as you call it but... I don't much mind being a part of your fucked up little world."

"I've lived just fine without complications over the last four years," he replied. And he really had. Living on the road, doing what made him happy. And then he had taken a break to visit Dorian. And then he'd met Eury. And then Shannon showed up. He was starting to think Marquette was just damned all around. "What about you?" Aiden asked pointedly. "Who've you been attached to in life that made you think that it was worth it?"

"You." she said before she could stop herself. The realization that the word had went from brain to vocal chords and slipped out before she'd had the chance to trap it back washed over her and she swallowed and looked away from him, releasing his face and his hand. She placed both of hers in her lap again, on that faintly damp towel and tried to keep her flush from taking over her entire body and not just her neck and cheeks. She pushed to switch the subject. "So you've checked on me now. I'm alive. What else is on Aiden's Agenda?" she asked, still looking at her hands.

That took him by surprise, and he merely stared at her, even after she pulled her hand from his face. Aiden didn't know how it made him feel, only that there was confusion mixed in there somewhere. He didn't do emotions well, which had been a constant issue whenever he'd been with Eury. He didn't want to say anything to hurt Jules, or make her angry, but he also knew saying nothing at all would be just as bad. "That's a nice thing to say," he began carefully, still watching her now flushed face. "I don't really know how to respond to it. I never really saw myself as the type of guy anyone would get attached to. I'm startin' to wonder if maybe you're just a masochist, and that's why you like hangin' around me," Aiden added with a faint smile.

She sighed. He hadn't taken the bait and turned the topic. Bastard. "I just feel safe around you. Maybe that doesn't make sense to you or whatever." she shrugged. "I'm used to guys coming in and out of my life and you kinda stayed. Maybe I just liked that. Fuck I don't know, can we talk about something else before I burst into flames? Seriously." she said. The words all came out a little rushed and blended together and she felt like she had just let him in on some tremendous secret. "I'm sorry." she practically whispered as she let her eyes trail back up to his. "Maybe I am just a masochist."

If Jules had known what he did for a living, and had been in danger, he could understand how she'd feel safe around him. But the truth was, she was probably misguided. He had a lot of enemies who'd love to see him - or anyone he cared about - dead. Aiden wasn't always the best person to have in one's life and he usually knew that before anyone else did. "Your skin is a little flushed," he teased lightly. "I'd hate to see you er, burst into flames." His eyes turned a bit more serious. "Do the guys who come in and out of your life have a choice? I tend to think if I'd slept with you when we first met, you probably wouldn't have given me a second thought the mornin' after." Truth be told, unless the sex was bloody fantastic, he wouldn't have thought about her either.

"No." she told him honestly. "They don't. And I probably wouldn't have so in all honesty for the first time in my life, I'm glad I didn't sleep with you." Jules said, a bit surprised at herself. "But at the same time I'm not because you have me questioning my whole entire way of life. Since we've been friends, talking and everything... I've slept with one person. One. I just... haven't wanted to. If that even makes sense, fuck I don't know. And god I'm so jealous and I'm never jealous but the thought of you fucking someone and knowing you wouldn't ever touch me like that... It just drives me completely out of my mind." She looked away from him again and back to her hands. Why are you even telling him this?

"Maybe I did somethin' indirectly to push you in that direction, but I don't think I'm the only thing makin' you question your way of life. Not that there's anythin' wrong with what you do, or how you live," he pointed out. "You're free to do whatever you want. And you know, I haven't... Eury and I only had sex once since she's been back." Not that he needed to tell Jules that, and Aiden wasn't entirely sure why he did. Maybe to make her feel better? Fuck if he knew. The whole thing confused him. Given the way things with Eury seemed to have gone, he should know better than to involve himself in any way with another woman. Aiden looked at her as she watched her hands, one eyebrow quirking curiously. "You think I'd never touch you?"

"Not like that." she told him, eyes still on those most interesting hands. "If you were going to, you probably would have already." she shrugged. "And I guess it doesn't matter. And I know there's nothing wrong with what I used to do, I just... I don't know." She reached one hand up and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"I haven't because of... well, a variety of reasons, Jules." She had to know that by now, right? "That doesn't mean that I didn't want to, or I haven't thought about it. I just happen to meet you at a point in my life where everythin' was fucked up in one sense or another. It's not you that keeps me from doin' anythin'."

"I know that." she sighed. "I don't think you don't... want to, I just know that you won't that's what I meant. There's just all this shit going on and you and me... well there's never going to be a 'you and me'. It's you and it's me and that's it."

He couldn't help the tiny smirk that tugged at his lips. "You do realize that it's been a really, really long time since there's been a 'me and anyone', don't you?" Probably not, since she didn't really know him. "It wasn't even 'Eury and me', Jules. I don't think either of us ever knew what that was. I don't really do this kind of thing because it doesn't fit with the kind of life I like to lead. That's part of the problem. Even if I slept with you, I couldn't guarantee that it'd be 'you and me' even then."

"I didn't mean like... I don't even know what I meant." she sighed, finally forcing herself to look up at him. "And you're confusing you just said you only had sex with her like once and you don't do relationships because of the life that you like to lead. Well, obviously that's not a 'fuck everyone' kinda lifestyle, so... what are you talking about?"

"I had sex with her once since she'd been back," Aiden corrected. He and Eury had plenty of sex before she'd left. "And I don't usually do relationships. I'd wanted to try it with her, and it hadn't worked out the way I thought it would. Or maybe it worked out the way I had expected... I don't know. I'm not too sure I want to try that again when it turned out to be nothing but a pain in the ass." Aiden sighed and ran a hand over his face wearily. "What do you want me to say? Or do?"

"Oh." she said, looking down again, for a moment, but then back up at him again trying to think of an answer for his question. "So you just want to not try it ever because it fucked up with her? Last I checked, I'm not Eury. I know what I want. And I can't tell you what to say or what to do. I want you to do what you want, Aiden. Whatever that is." She reached up to brush her fingers across his cheek. "So what is it you want?"

He wanted Eury to be okay. And he wanted Dorian to figure out the shit in his life. And his sister to move back to Ireland. And he wanted to get into his car and drive away from Marquette and go back to doing what he did best. A part of him wanted to rewind time several months and decide to go south rather than visiting Dorian here. Aiden reached up to take her hand in his again when she touched him. He stood and tugged at her hand to get her to stand with him. "I don't think you'd always like my answer to that question."

She stood up when he tugged her. "I never said I had to like the answer." she pointed out. "Just kinda wonder what you want sometimes. I don't know." she sighed, not pulling her hand back from him, but thinking that maybe it'd be easier for him if she did. She shouldn't want him. Shouldn't complicate his life like she was doing. But she did all the same. Though she was sure if she tried hard enough she could make him believe that she didn't. "I'm sorry I'm such a complication." she said. "Maybe it'd be easier if you didn't have to worry about me. I survived the werewolves. Think that I can take care of myself. So you don't have to worry about me anymore." Still, she hoped that he did.

"So then, I guess I should ask you the same question. What do you want? Do you want me to not check up on you? Or see you, or worry?" If she said yes, then he'd do what he could to leave her alone. But he wasn't stupid, and he was well aware of what she really wanted. And Aiden was pretty sure she liked being a complication in his life - it meant she was a part of it, even if it wasn't the rosiest situation.

She sighed and looked down for a long moment. Finally gathering up an answer and looking at him. "I don't want to mess up your life, but it doesn't mean that I don't want to be a part of it." she told him with a little shrug. "I would love to be what you want, Aiden. Really I would, but I'm not going to lie to myself and try and make myself believe that you're worrying or your friendship means anymore than that. Friendship. It's complicated and shitty timing and god sometimes I just wanna wrap my arms around your neck and kiss you and tell you that everything'll work out and that I'm worth it, but I don't really think that'd do anything but complicate things more and that maybe I'm not worth it but..." Jules shook her head and made an aggravated face. "God this sucks."

Aiden cocked his head curiously, studying her face. It would be so easy to just agree with her that this was too complicated for him and leave. But for some reason he felt compelled to stay and get the answers he wanted from her. He figured it would help him put some things into perspective. Or at least try to. "What exactly do you think I want you to be?"

"A friend?" she said with a shrug. "I don't know, really. Some girl that you occasionally check up on? Someone to listen? I don't know. I can't tell you that. You should be telling me what you want me to be..."

"It's not my right to tell you what to be," he countered. And even if he wanted to, he couldn't because he had no clue what it was he'd like her to be anyway. He just knew it was hard to be friends with a woman he wanted to sleep with. Which was probably why he wasn't friends with many women. "But if you were to tell me truthfully what you wanted here, it wouldn't be friendship." And god, why was he even having this conversation? These weren't conversations Aiden had, these were conversations he ran away from. As quickly as possible.

"I do want friendship." she countered. "I just want more than that too." she admitted. "It's hard to be friends with you, really, really hard to be friends. But I don't want to tell you that I don't want to be friends or that it's too complicated because then you're going to walk away and never walk back in..." she sighed. "I don't want that..."

"You think I'd leave and not come back if you said things were too complicated?" Aiden asked with a soft chuckle. "That's been my mantra since I've known you, Jules. The timin' is worth shit right now, but I don't think I'd leave and not come back to see you. I think we've been doin' all right with how things have been so far, haven't we?" He needed to try and find out what happened to Eury, among other things... he wasn't sure what were the wise decisions these days and what weren't.

"I think if I said things were too complicated and to not come back, you would." she told him with a nod. "Even if you knew I was lying through my teeth. And maybe we're not doing too bad, but... I don't know. I can't keep seeing you and wanting to make-out with you and not being able to. I feel like I'm going to spontaneously combust."

Despite the situation, Aiden couldn't help but laugh a bit. "You're not goin' to combust, love, trust me. Though I have to admit you're strokin' my ego, and I'm not entirely sure that's a wise thing to do." He reached up to brush a bit of her hair behind her ear. "I think it's just a case of wantin' what you can't have. You think you'd feel better then, if we had sex?"

"Yes." she said with a nod. "I think I would. I wouldn't be sitting around wondering." she sighed. "If you suck, it'd make things so much easier and even if you didn't then I'd at least know what it was I'd been missing out on this whole time and now you're touching me..." she muttered about his fingertips brushing her skin as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

Aiden chuckled again and dropped his hand from her face. "Yeah, well, it seems like I'm somewhere between a rock and a hard place here. If I sleep with you and it's great, then you're itch'll be scratched and you won't have to spontaneously combust or deal with my bullshit anymore. If I sleep with you and I suck - according to your standards - then it's easier for you to well... not deal with my bullshit anymore. So I guess I'm makin' the right choice leavin' you be in that sense."

"You're such a jerk." she muttered, glancing up at him and reaching out to take his hand and pull it up against her face again. She pressed his palm against her cheek and turned her head a bit to kiss his palm. "I don't think you'd suck. Just for clarification. Anyone that kisses like you..." she closed her eyes for a moment as he turned her head against his fingertips again. "Mmm... yeah, wouldn't suck." she whispered, blue eyes flickering up to catch his.

His eyes watched her lips kiss his palm before they reluctantly shifted back to her face. Aiden knew it was best to try and pretend he wasn't affected by it. But she was beautiful, and a woman, and her lips were pressed against his skin so... yeah, he was affected. "Are you sayin' that to see what flattery will get you?"

"Maybe." she said with a teasing little smile moving slowly across her lips. Her fingertips held his hand there against her face and he was so warm and she just wanted to push him back down on the couch and... but she couldn't. That would be wrong and complicate things more, but... god he was gorgeous. She tugged her lower lip between her teeth and just looked at him for a moment. "It's kinda the truth too. Just in case you were wondering."

"I wasn't wonderin', I know I don't suck," Aiden said teasingly. He slipped his free hand around the nape of her neck, under her damp hair and pulled her close to him. He closed the distance between them and brushed his lips against hers. He knew he probably should leave now, but rarely did he deny himself anything he wanted, and he wanted to kiss her.

He shouldn't have done that. But god had she wanted it. She kissed him back easily, tilting her head a bit to get a better angle against his mouth. She moved her hand away from his at her cheek and shifted it upwards to his cheek. The other followed and then they moved back wrapping around his neck and holding him against her. He tasted perfect and if she could have kissed him for hours she probably would have. At any rate, she wasn't going to let him go just yet.

When she released his hand, he dropped it to her hip, his fingers pressing into her gently as he kissed her. It would be so easy to just pick her up and take her upstairs to her bedroom. Or just push her against the wall and pull off her clothes. And it was what he wanted to do. Aiden rarely denied himself what he wanted. Only he was doing it now and he still wasn't sure why. All he knew was that he wanted to keep kissing her, so he did.

Jules was tired of denying herself, tired of him denying her, so she pulled away. Pulled away from the kiss and with all the force she could muster, pushed him back down on the couch and found her way into his lap. One leg on either side of his thighs and then her lips found his once more. It was just kissing right? Just a kiss. A lot of kisses. A trail of kisses, away from his lips and down his neck and back again. She could have pulled his his shirt off, could have let her fingertips dance down to his jeans and unhook that button, but she didn't. She let her arms move only to wrap around his neck as she kissed him. Waiting for him to stop her, to push her off. Feeling like it was coming, but silently hoping it wasn't.

He was surprised at her strength, but more surprised at the bold move. However, he wasn't complaining. His hands fell to her hips again and he held her against him, allowing his head to fall back against the couch and enjoy what she was doing. He shouldn't be enjoying it. He was a right bastard for enjoying it, but he was so fucking tired and done with being frustrated by shit in his life. His hands slid around to cup her ass and he pushed against her, slipping his tongue past her lips to taste her properly. He could enjoy it for a bit longer.

Oh, god. she thought to herself, but she wouldn't waste time thinking right now. He was kissing her back and touching her ass and pushing against her and... god. Jules' tongue found his just as he slid it past her lips, rolling lightly against it, dueling for the upper hand the control of the situation. Now that was a kiss. That was what she wanted, needed. Tension seemed to evaporate as her fingers slid through his hair, finding his hat and pulling it off, tossing it onto the couch and out of her way as her fingers curled around the strands.

Aiden found he was losing grip on the situation as a whole, and even though he knew he ought to stop, he didn't want to. He squeezed her ass again before sliding his hands up to brush under her tank top to touch her bare skin. It felt good and that's the only emotion he wanted to experience at the moment. Wrapping his arms around her, Aiden shifted them abruptly until he was pushing her back down onto the couch and settling himself on top of her, his mouth never leaving hers for a second.

Jules was surprised. More than surprised. She half expected him to be shifting her off of him but he didn't pull his lips from hers. Didn't move away from her at all. Moved on top of her. She was afraid to pull her lips from his for fear that he wouldn't kiss her again. The damp towel from her shower was beneath her on the couch, and she reached down long enough to pull it away and toss it to the floor. Her fingertips slowly inched beneath his shirt, sliding the material up, loving the warmth of his skin. Her legs wrapped around his waist, the feel of his weight pressing down against her sending little waves of heat rushing through her.

Having her legs wrapped around him had Aiden imagining what it would be like to have her legs wrapped around him with no clothes separating the both of them. It was a mental image that only spurred him to kiss her with a deeper sense of urgency. His hand moved to the hem of her tank top again and he yanked it up high enough to stroke his fingers over her stomach to her side again. He liked this particular position, as it let him feel her completely against him, let him push against her in just the right spots. He liked watching the way her lips turned pink and swollen from kissing him, and the way her cheeks were flushed with arousal. He could picture her naked perfectly in his mind and it made him wonder what she would feel like. His brain was too muddled at this point to reel in any of those thoughts, and he didn't care.

She didn't mind that at all, not a bit. She shifted her fingertips down to the hem of her shirt and slowly pulled the material up farther, parting her lips from his long enough to pull it off. Her bra was white, lacy and hopefully it'd be off soon. She flung the tank-top to the floor and let her lips find his once more, pressing urgently against them, hands finding the hem of his shirt again and pulling it up further. She ran her fingertips up his body slowly as she pulled that too off, parting her lips from his enough to remove it.

Aiden watched her remove her tank top, his gaze falling immediately to her breasts. Which were, unfortunately, covered by a bra, albeit a sexy one, but a bra nonetheless. When she began to tug his own shirt up, he allowed her to pull it off, not caring about the scars marring his body. She wasn't the first woman to see them, and he doubted she would be the last. Once his shirt was off, he bent back over her to recapture her lips, a small groan of arousal forming in his throat. His hands moved to her shoulders to grip the straps of her bra and pull them down. He hadn't come here with the intention of doing anything with her, not even a kiss, but somehow... there was no reason to stop and think about it now. He could kick himself in the ass later if it was a mistake - but even if it was, he was going to damn sure enjoy it.

She let him pull the straps downwards, lifting up enough to let her fingers find the fastenings behind her. If he wanted her bra off, damn it, it could come off. She let him finish removing it, her lips never leaving his. Jules' lips parted and she lightly bit his lower lip, giving it a little tug. The sound of him groaning had moisture practically soaking her thong beneath her shorts. She wasn't going to take the time to pull away to look at him, but feel him? That she had time for. Fingertips traced every line and curve in his body. Each rise and fall, the muscles as they flexed ever so slightly. Even if she was blind she'd be able to know that he was gorgeous. Scarred, which confused her, but stopping to ask? Not happening.

He was grateful that she hadn't pulled away to examine the scars more closely. They were faded now, although he had a welt or two that had never fully gone away. Some women wanted to stop mid-sex and ask about them, or annoy him with unnecessary concern. He liked that Jules simply touched, seemingly unbothered. Aiden slipped an arm under her to lift her up against him, wanting to feel her chest pressed against his. As much as he would have loved to just take her there, the couch wasn't his ideal location. He and Eury had first had sex on her couch, and right now any thoughts of Eury would no doubt be a douse of cold water on the entire situation. "We're going upstairs," he told her hoarsely, lifting himself off of her to stand and pull her with him.

Jules loved the feel of his body pressed tight against hers. His arm slipped beneath her and his mouth still pressed to her mouth. And then he was moving away again and he was pulling away from her again. Great. He's going to stop... But he didn't stop, he told her they were moving upstairs and that was just perfectly okay with her. Better than okay. She nodded and lifted herself off the couch, deciding to really close the deal and be sure he'd follow her up those stairs. She slid her shorts off and discarded them by the couch. The lacy white thong leaving little to the imagination as she headed towards the stairs, turning to look over her shoulder at him. She held a hand out, beckoning him with one finger. "Come on then." she breathed out, voice taking on a low seductive tone.

She hadn't needed to take off her shorts to make sure he followed - he would have if she'd been wearing multiple layers of clothes. Not that it wasn't nice to see her nearly naked, because she looked fucking sexy as hell sauntering around in that tiny scrap of material. Aiden followed and did his best not to toss her down on the stairs and have his way with her. That didn't mean he kept his hands to himself, however. He latched his hands onto her hips and kissed along her shoulder, making it a slow and somewhat clumsy climb to the top, but it seemed to work out okay.

She let out a light little moan at the feel of his lips on her shoulder and once she was at the top of the stairs, she turned around to face him. Fingertips of one hand found the waistline of his pants and pulled him along into her bedroom, flicking the light on as she ran her free hand up his chest to his neck. She pulled his mouth to hers once more, pressing her lips against his. God he tasted amazing. Of course kissing could be done with just the mouth and it freed up her hands. Freed them up enough to slide over his shoulders and down to his hands, pulling them up and pressing them against her chest. She wanted him to touch her. He'd left her hot and bothered practically every time he'd seen her since the night they met and she'd be damned if she didn't get as much as possible from him before he pulled away and hauled ass down those stairs.

Aiden brushed his fingertips across her breasts, his tongue dueling with hers for possession of her mouth. He wanted her - had wanted her - since they met, but now he was aware he wasn't going to do anything to stop himself from taking her. What virile, hot blooded man could walk away from a gorgeous, willing, nearly naked woman standing in front of him anyway? Aiden quickly gathered her to him and lifted her to carry her over to her bed. He tried his best to set her down gracefully, but that would have required him to break their kiss, which he really had no intention of doing, so they sort of tumbled down onto the mattress together. He braced himself over her and began to trail kisses down to her throat. He had a feeling he wasn't going to be able to take his time and savor her like he wanted to, with the way his body was already impatient and aching.

She let out a soft little whimper of a sound as his lips found her throat. She could care less if he'd thrown her to the bed, her body already calling for him with every single fiber of her being. "Mmm... Aiden..." she murmured, her fingertips brushing through his hair as he pressed those perfect, skillful lips against the tender flesh of her throat. A moment or two of sifting through his hair and letting him kiss her neck and those fingers shifted again to slide down his back and slowly back up, lightly dragging her fingernails across his skin.

She had teased him with this enough times since they'd met that Aiden ignored the calls of his body to just unzip, tear that tiny scrap of material from her body and thrust so that he could touch her properly - at least for a few heated moments. He moved his lips down her body, his tongue flicking out to lick her skin before he pulled a taut nipple into his mouth. His hands gripped the material of her thong against her hips, jerking it down her thighs just enough that he could slip his hand between her legs without any restriction. It was an instant ego boost to feel just how wet she was for him. The woman was a hot one, there was no denying that.

"Oh fuck." she moaned out as soon as his lips and tongue found her nipple, tugging it into his mouth. Her chest arched upwards against that warm, wet feeling. Eyes closing, one hand grasping at the bedspread beneath her, the other in his hair once more tugging at the strands. Then he was jerking her thong down and his hands... fingers... "Oh... Aiden... nnng..." she moaned out, hips rolling upwards against those skillful digits. He was driving her mad with every tiny little movement. His tongue and fingers working together to send her past the brink of insanity.

He nipped at her with his teeth before lifting his head up to watch her face as his fingers stroked her. It was exactly what he wanted - to drive her mad, to get her writhing and calling out his name. Aiden knew he should get up and decide to leave now, a twisted sort of revenge for all the teasing she had thrown at him in the past. But he was pretty sure he didn't have that kind of iron will to pull away. Instead he slipped his hand from between her thighs and moved back to pull her thong the rest of the way off. He dropped it onto her floor before climbing off the bed to unbuckle his belt and take off his jeans, his eyes never leaving her body for a second. "Condom," he grounded out, knowing once he was on top of her again he wasn't going to be able to think about that.

Those teeth nearly made her fall over the edge, but she held back. Bit back that release. He moved and pulled her thong free from her body, letting it fall to the floor. Her eyes were on him the entire time. Piercing blue pools had drowned out into stormy seas. "Side... side table." she said, pointing towards the nightstand. A flicker of Gabe and his freaking out about the gun had a little smirk drifting across her face. She doubted that Aiden would freak over the gun like the boy had - he'd already seen it after all - so she kept her mouth shut about it. The safety was on anyway.

Once his jeans and boxers were discarded, Aiden turned toward the side table and yanked the drawer open. He saw the gun, but didn't so much as flinch at the sight of it. He had a lot worse in the trunk of his car. He was more focused on finding something else. Grabbing a condom, he returned to the bed and crawled over her, settling between her legs while his mouth sought hers. He didn't mind quickies - even fully clothed quickies - but there was something about feeling a woman completely bare against him that completely unraveled him. Jules was smooth and soft and her skin was heated and flushed. She was damn near close to perfection.

She pulled her legs up a bit, feet planted against the comforter and knees up. She leaned forward long enough to catch his lips as he found himself a comfortable position between her thighs. His form was etched into her mind at this point. Every square inch of him carved into her memory to be revisited whenever she pleased. He was gorgeous. Even the little imperfections. The scars and marks, though she knew not where they were from, just seemed to draw her to him more. She wanted him. Wanted him with every single particle in her body.

Aiden could feel her heat against him and there was the instinctual urge to simply shift a little and roll his hips forward. He could only imagine what she would feel like. Pulling from her lips, Aiden tore the condom open with his teeth - much easier than fumbling with the package with his fingers - and lifted himself off of her just enough to reach between them and slip the condom on, flinging the small package somewhere off the bed. When he settled back upon her, he reached back to grip her thigh. "Wrap your legs around me," Aiden demanded, his voice still hoarse.

Jules bit her bottom lip and did as he said. Damn he was sexy. The way he ripped the condom open made her even wetter and the way he demanded her to do things? She was practically puddy in his hands. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, locking her ankles together and looking up at him wantingly. She could feel his hardness between her thighs. She wanted him inside of her and she wanted him now. She arched her back and rolled her hips teasingly against him.

He found no reason to hesitate and the minute her legs wrapped around his waist, he pushed into her with one smooth stroke. Her body closed around him, hot and wet, and drew a ragged breath from his lips. He braced himself above her on his elbows and immediately began to thrust against her. Aiden wished he could have found the willpower to move slow and draw the entire experience out, but he had been wanting and waiting for far too long to think about anything else now but making her scream.

Making her scream wasn't a hard feat. Not when he was touching her like that. "Oh... fuck... Aiden..." she practically yelled as he entered her and picked up a rhythm. She tightened her muscles against him each time he pulled his hips away from hers, adding to the pressure surrounding the hard rod inside her. Her fingertips were all over his body, pulling her against him tighter. One winding through his hair, the other sliding down his back, nails digging into the skin. Her lips found his neck and between moans and screams and the occasional uttering of his name, she'd lightly bite him.

He let his eyes fall shut under the weight of pleasure pulsing through his body and allowed himself to simply enjoy the sensations rather than let his mind start to think about what he was doing. He'd told Dorian several times before - starting in college - that he had a severe weakness for beautiful women. He sometimes found it a curse, since it always seemed to fuck up his life in some way. But right now, he didn't care. Aiden plunged into her body again and again, groaning loudly as he quickened his pace, wanting to do nothing more than possess her. He lifted one hand to her hair and he tugged her head back, his mouth crushing hers.

She screamed when he tugged her hair, the sound muffled against his lips. It wasn't a scream of pain, but one of pleasure. She kissed him back, eagerly, hips rolling upwards against his with each thrust he made, keeping up with his pace. She still tightened her muscles each time he moved out of her, practically locking him in once per thrust. She'd been right, he didn't suck. In fact, as good as she'd thought it'd be, it was better. Perhaps because of the wait. Perhaps because she got to know him first. Perhaps because she actually liked him, despite his flaws. For whatever reason, he felt good. Spectacular.

Unable to keep his hands still for long, Aiden released her hair, though his tongue continued to plunder her mouth. He stroked his fingers over her body, his hand moving to squeeze her breast gently before he plucked at the hardened nipple, rolling it between his fingers. His teeth bit into her lower lip before he had to pull away from her mouth to suck in some oxygen. Fuck, but she felt good. He loved that she seemed as eager as he was, that she moved so wantonly beneath him, lifted her hips to meet his thrusts. There was nothing sexier than a woman who clearly enjoyed sex.

Enjoyed it she did. If there was a word she could think of to use at that moment that meant more than enjoyed, she would have. Loved perhaps. Loved the way he felt inside her. Loved the way he moved. Loved his hands moving across her body so expertly. He knew what he was doing. Knew how to satisfy himself amidst satisfying her. She groaned loudly when he bit into her lower lip and then pulled away from her mouth. And those eyes. She wished she could capture that look he had in his eyes as he moved against her. The lust filled need and urgency that was expressed in them. "Harder." she whispered. "Fuck me harder." She knew what she wanted and she wasn't afraid to ask him for it.

She didn't need to tell him twice. The words sent violent shivers down his spine and Aiden immediately made a grab for her hands, holding her arms up on either side of her head with his own. He knew if she continued to touch him the way she had been, he was sure he wouldn't be able to last as long as he'd like to. Aiden watched her face and began to thrust into her harder, his jaw clenching under the effort. It felt so fucking good, that every nerve in his body seemed to be on fire. He couldn't get deep enough and with a low growl, he lowered his mouth to hers again, kissing her with a harsh intensity he couldn't exactly contain.

Now that was the ticket. "Fuck..." she grunted through a flurry of groans and screams and shuddering breaths. Her head fell back against the blankets and she watched him as he pounded against her. The way his jaw tightened and the bit of sweat forming on his brow and again, that look in his eyes. Just watching him, even if she couldn't feel him could have sent her crashing over the edge. Not just yet though. She wasn't ready just yet. His lips crushed against hers with a rumbling, almost animalistic growl. The noise was met with a moan of her own, fingers locking with his as he held them down against the bed.

Aiden fingers tightened around hers and he found he could no longer keep his eyes locked upon her face. Everything felt too good and he gave way to the sensations, allowing his body to take over. He released a loud curse in Gaelic, delving deeper into her body with every thrust. Wanting to feel her shatter around him, Aiden released one of her hands and slipped it between their bodies, his fingers seeking her clit to stroke her firmly, his hand's movements keeping pace with his thrusting hips. He was getting close, but he was determined to wait until she fell over the peak.

She had no idea what he'd said but fuck it sounded sexy. And then his fingertips were flickering across her clit and that was it. She couldn't hold back any longer. It was over for her. Muscles clenched around him and she cursed out as well, the word coming through almost as a scream as her head fell back against the blankets and her body twitched and rocked upwards and tightened more against him.

Aiden forced his eyes open long enough to watch her come. He moaned with the feel of her body clenching around him, and he had to admit it was one of the sexiest things he'd ever experienced. He continued to move inside of her, riding out her orgasm until his own rose inside of him and took over. He tensed, a flurry of groans escaping his lips as he pushed deep inside of her and found sweet release. After a few pulsing moments, he lowered himself to her, resting his forehead on her shoulder while he waited for his blood to cool and his heart to return to a normal pace.

Her breathing was much more rushed than normal, her heart pounding against her ribcage. He was so warm against her though, She moved the hand that wasn't still twined around his down to slowly brush through his hair, moving gently through the slightly damp strands. She bit her lower lip and said not a word just yet. Staying silent, like this, was good for right now at least. She'd let him say something first.

Truth be told, Aiden didn't really want to talk. He knew what talking after sex could lead to, and he saw no reason to spoil the moment. Still, he felt like he might be crushing her, so he rolled to his side onto his back and lifted a hand to brush his hair from his forehead. As much as he wanted to just fall asleep, or maybe grab his clothes and get dressed, Aiden stayed where he was and waited a couple more minutes before opening his eyes and turning his face to look at her. "So the itch has been scratched. Now what?"

Jules wasn't really sure what to say to him. She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth again and just looked at him for a moment before shrugging her shoulder a little. "Hungry?" she asked with a little smile. For some reason she couldn't help but feel a little shy now that his body wasn't covering hers, which for Juliana Martinez was and odd feeling. She flushed a little just thinking about him looking at her, cheeks taking on a rosy tone.

"A little," he admitted, although he wasn't sure he could move just yet. He was feeling tired and lazy and satisfied. Aiden wasn't feeling self conscious whatsoever, and he wasn't sure he'd believe her if she said she was. Not after the way she behaved with him in the past, the way she sauntered about in that thong, playing every bit the seductress. "Are you blushing?" Aiden cocked an eyebrow and lifted his head a few inches off the bed to look at her.

"No." she said a bit to quick as she turned her face away from him and sat up on the bed. "Why would you even ask?" she questioned, though the fire in her cheeks, slowly moving down her neck would explain his reasoning for asking. What the hell is wrong with you? she thought to herself. He's seen you naked. You just had sex with him for crying out loud.

"Because your face is pinker than it was a few moments ago - red, even." He snickered and sat up with her, reaching out to push her drying hair away from her face. "I would have never taken you for a blusher, Jules. Are you feelin' self conscious now, or somethin'?"

Him pushing her hair from her face made her cheeks go even pinker. Jules bit her bottom lip and folded her arms across her chest. "I don't know." she said after a moment. "I'm not usually a blusher. I do this all the time. Well, not all the time, but enough that I shouldn't be blushing like an idiot." she muttered, glancing up at him again.

Aiden smiled smugly and fell back on her bed, his arms folded underneath his head. He stretched lazily, a man more than satisfied. "I 'spose I just have that affect on women. They don't realize what a wanton sex goddess they could be until they're with me... then they can't handle all that ecstasy when it's over. Makes sense."

"Oh you're a dick." she muttered turning her head to head to face him. "I seem to remember you making a lot of your own noise, thank you very much."

"Yeah, but I already know how good I am in bed," he pointed out, grinning cheekily at the look on her face. "You don't see me laying here blushing like a virgin, do ya?" He was goading her, of course, but it was all in jest. He saw no reason for her to be embarrassed or self-conscious and was curious about her behavior now.

"I am not 'blushing like a virgin'." she told him, shaking her head. "It's just... weird." she told him. "You're the first guy since like... high school that I've slept with because I liked them. That I got to know beforehand is all. It's... different."

He looked at her for a moment before nodding once. "Yeah. So you feel weird because we've talked a few times before fuckin'?" Aiden pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the bed, working on discarding the condom. "Is it different in a good or bad way?"

She bit her bottom lip and just sat there for a moment. "Well I didn't mean for you to put it like that." she practically whispered. "And it's not a bad thing, I'm just not used to it and I know that I'm going to see you again... well, I know I want to see you again. I don't have that... urge to kick you out of my house ya know? And maybe that's confusing or whatever but usually I just make the person leave... or give them til morning but with you... Well I don't really want you to leave just yet."

Aiden stood from her bed to throw the used condom away. "I don't have to leave just yet," he told her, not commenting on everything else she'd said. He didn't really know how to respond to it. "But I can't stay all night." Rarely did he ever sleep over with a woman. That felt more intimate than the sex itself.

Jules wasn't dumb. She knew why he didn't say anything else. Why he didn't comment on anything else. Knew why he wouldn't spend the night. At least she thought she did. He didn't want it to feel or seem like he was attached to her. The only problem with that was that somewhere, deep down under a bunch of denial was the simple fact that maybe she wished he was. "Okay." she said after a moment. Hoping her voice didn't sound too disappointed, she got up from the bed and forced herself back into her confident shell. Heading over to the dresser and picking up her brush to work it through long dark strands.

Aiden wasn't dumb either, and he could hear the disappointment in her voice when she agreed. He could see it radiating off of her when she stood and walked over to the dresser. Sighing, Aiden picked up his boxers and jeans and began to pull them on. "I told you not to expect much from me, Jules. This is what it is, and I can't make it anything more than that right now."

She pulled her hair back into a messy bun and turned her head to look at him over her shoulder. "I'm well aware of that." she told him with a shrug. "I don't expect you to make it anymore than that." Jules said. "Look, I don't expect anything. I really don't. Just promise me that this isn't going to change anything. Make you weird around me." she said. "That you're not going to be like another conquest. We can still... be the same... friends, right?"

He tugged his jeans up, but didn't bother with buttoning them just yet. "Sweetheart, I'm no one's conquest," Aiden said simply before turning to sit back down on her bed and watch her. "And it's not goin' to change to anythin', okay? As long as you don't let it." He found no reason to feel weird around her, or behave that way. They weren't necessarily friends. He didn't know what they were. But he didn't feel any differently now that they'd had sex.

Jules smiled and shook her head. "I'm not going to let it." she told him. "I honestly needed that. And you were right. You don't suck. Course, me. I sometimes do." she smirked a little at him in the reflection of her mirror as she pulled a drawer open and pulled out a pair of silky black panties and a matching bra. She lay the bra down on the dresser top and pulled the panties into place.

He cocked an eyebrow at her comment and chuckled. "Definitely good to know... I think." Now he had the mental image of her on her knees in front of him. Fantastic. He watched her dress before motioning toward her. "C'mere a minute, will you? I don't think there's any reason to cover yourself up right away, is there?"

She turned her head to look at him over her shoulder again, before turning her body as well and taking slow steps towards him. "You were the one that got dressed first, sexy." she murmured. She reached him at that point and let the fingertips of one hand dance upwards across his chest. "Okay, I'm here. Now what?" she whispered.

"So the blush and shyness is gone now, huh?" He grinned at the change in her demeanor and reached out to take hold of her hips. "You really seem to know your role... when to be a sex kitten, when to play innocent. Is that with every aspect of your life, or just sex?"

"So you think it's all a role?" she asked with a little smirk, sliding her fingertips back down to the front of his jeans, but since they were still unbuttoned, she hooked her fingertips in the elastic of his boxers. "It wasn't shyness or innocence." she smiled. "It was the simple fact that your eyes on my body make my skin feel on fire." she whispered. "And you didn't answer my question." she added. "I'm here... now what?"

"I think you can play a role when you feel you need to," Aiden told her. He grinned up at her, though kept his hands on her hips. "Now? Now I just appreciate staring at your body, soak up every curve and memorize it so I can mentally take it with me when I leave." Which would have to be soon. He had phone calls to make, and a sister to check up on.

"Ah, planning on putting me in your spankbank?" she questioned with a little smirk. She slipped her hand past that bit of elastic around his body and let soft fingers brush across his cock. "So you just want to look at me, then?"

"I think you're the first woman I've ever heard say the word 'spankbank' without lookin' completely repulsed," Aiden said, laughing. He reached down and gripped her wrist when she touched him, pulling her hand from his boxer shirts. "And yeah, I want to look at you. Men ought to know when to appreciate the female form."

She was surprised that he pulled her hand from his boxers, but she tried not to let that show on her face. She wasn't sure whether to be angry or upset or feel like he didn't want her. But he had wanted her. He'd had her. Right there on that bed just moments before. "Okay." she said, putting on a smile for him. "Let's make it a game then, love. Tell me what you see when you look at me."

"Why do we have to make it a game?" He wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her down to him, rolling his body so that she was back on the bed and he was half covering her. "Don't you ever let yourself step away from the games and seduction? Or are you afraid that'd make you too vulnerable?" His lips quirked into a knowing grin. They had more in common than he realized.

She bit her bottom lip and looked up at him. He'd surprised her when he pulled her against him and then rolled slightly over her. And then he was asking her questions that she wasn't sure she wanted to answer. She shrugged a little. "Games are easier." she finally said. "Seduction I can handle. Being vulnerable? Not so much. But see, I think you know a lot about that, huh?" she asked, a hand moving to rest at his cheek. "No one asks that kind of question unless they know from experience."

"Yeah, but see I don't feel the need to play games," Aiden countered. "What you see is what you get. I seduce women because I want to get laid. You seduce men because it's the only way you believe you're ever goin' to get affection that you think maybe you don't deserve." He cocked an eyebrow at her curiously. "Or maybe I'm readin' too much into it, and you seduce men simply because you're bored by everythin' else."

Her eyes went a little wide at his assessment of her. And maybe just a bit at his explanation of himself. "I'm not bored." she told him. And maybe he was more right about her than she really wanted to admit. Was she really that easy to read? "So that's your reasoning is getting laid?" she asked. "Is that your reason every time you have sex?" Jules tried hard not to feel like he'd just slept with her for the sake of the sex and not because she mattered. She shouldn't be upset by that. She did it all the time with men, why be hurt when it was done to her?

"Most of the time it is," he answered honestly. Aiden saw no reason to lie. Maybe with other women he'd pour on the Irish charm and make them think his world revolved around them, but with some women it was different. Some women got the honest truth. And it was usually women he respected more. "I've been sexually active since I was fourteen, Jules. There hasn't been many instances where I've had sex with a woman because it meant something beyond the physical aspect. I mean, what's the reasonin' behind why you do it?"

"Depends on the person." she said finally. "I didn't have sex til I was sixteen. And it was because I thought I was in love. And it was fine. Til that summer when college came around for him and that was more important." she explained. She shrugged a little and put on a smile. "After that, it didn't matter so much anymore. It wasn't this big huge thing that I was supposed to put so much into. If I wanted to get off, I went out and I got myself laid and that works for me."

"Then we're not so different, are we?" And he honestly didn't see anything wrong with how she wanted to live her life. Women who could admit that they liked sex scored more points in his book than those who tried to play coy and make every sexual encounter something it wasn't. "Admittedly, sometimes I like to make it a game. Thicken my accent a bit, pour on the charm and pretend it's something that it's not... mostly for her than for myself. And sometimes it's just about enjoying the act itself and getting off. Nothin' wrong with that."

"Not so different." she told him, shaking her head. She still hadn't moved her hand from his cheek and he hadn't pulled away from her just yet, so she made use of it and pulled him a little closer so she could press a little kiss against his lips. "Just for the record. I didn't fuck you just because I wanted to get off." she admitted. "And I didn't do it because I like you either. Find me an odd mixture of the two and maybe that's why." Jules smiled. "And also, for the record, I wouldn't have believed your accent if it was any thicker. You must bang some dumb chicks."

"I do," Aiden said with a laugh. "But I usually don't go to bed with them for their intelligence. And I think you slept with me because I'm irresistible. You don't have to like someone when they've got what I've got," he said jokingly before dipping down to kiss her again. Aiden pulled away from her and stood from the bed. "I think I've got to get goin'."

"Why'd you sleep with me?" she asked suddenly as he pulled away from her and got up. She leaned forward a bit, propping herself up with her elbows. "Honestly?" she added on. "Was it part of the game? Just because? A random release? Or maybe just something misguided that you're going to regret as soon as you hit that door?" She really didn't want him to regret her. Didn't want that at all. Why would she? But she wasn't going to pretend that she meant something to him when she was fairly certain she didn't.

Aiden zipped his pants and glanced at her, buying time as he thought about the best way to answer that question. The truth was sort of jumbled in his mind and he didn't feel up to trying to work through it just yet. "An odd mixture of all of those things?" he suggested, raking his hands through his hair once he was, well... partially dressed. His shirt was still downstairs. Aiden sighed and turned to face her completely. "It was somethin' we both wanted. I don't think I'm in the right frame of mind to overanalyze it right now, Jules. Like you said, it's not changin' anythin' between us, right?"

Jules sighed, not bothering to hide her disappointment as she got up from the bed and went back to the dresser, pulling on her bra and then sifting through the drawers to find a shirt. "Doesn't change anything." she told him as she pulled it on over her head and straightened it. She suddenly wanted to be clothed. She didn't want him to regret her and yet their was part of her - a large part at this point - that was almost certain he would. "Just... pretend it didn't happen." she said finally, turning her head a little so she could look at him. "Makes it easier that way, right? Less complicated. Then when things work out with Eury... well, she can't be angry now can she?" She forced a smile, but it didn't make it to her eyes. She wasn't used to feeling the way she was feeling at that moment. Feeling as though she had no control in a situation. Feeling like what she wanted just wasn't going to happen.

"I'm not goin' to pretend it didn't happen. Why would I do that?" Aiden shook his head, trying not to react to the mention of Eury. He sighed and watched her get dressed, though he didn't cross her. "What's wrong? I'm startin' to feel like you want somethin' else from me, Jules. It's not like I haven't seen that look before. I don't want to lie to you, which tells me that you might actually mean somethin' more than a normal one night stand. I'm bein' as honest as I can be, because that's what you deserve. But I don't want you makin' me feel guilty for it."

Her smile disappeared entirely then. She just stared at him for a minute or two. "Nothing's wrong I just..." Jules paused and bit her lip and looked down at the dresser. Silence filled that space between them for a moment or two before she turned around to face him. "I don't want to be the reason that you and Eury don't work out. I don't want to be the one that fucked up what you want, regardless of what I want. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. I'm not trying to make you do anything, Aiden. So yeah, maybe I do wish you'd feel about me like you feel about her, but you don't and I get that and that's fine and I really should stop talking before I fuck this up any worse than in already is..." she muttered, letting out a breath and closing her eyes. She rubbed the bridge of her nose and shrugged. "Don't feel guilty, okay? That's not what I want. You don't deserve that..."

"Look, if things don't work out between Eury and I..." She was gone, so how was he suppose to know what the hell was happening anyway? "You have nothin' to do with Eury and me," Aiden said, rephrasing a bit. "I guess I'm just confused with what you want. You wanted to sleep with me, and now we've slept together. Now you're disappointed it's not more than that? I feel like there's somethin' more here on your side, and you're doin' everythin' you can to hide it. And it's confusin' the hell out of me."

"You're confused?" she questioned. "How do you think I feel? I'm not like this. This isn't me. I don't... I don't do this. I don't usually give a fuck what the guy thinks of me. I don't question his intentions. I don't care if he walks out and never comes back in. I don't. I just don't and you... god." Jules sighed and brushed a loose strand of hair that had fallen from her messy bun behind her ear and let out and annoyed little noise. "I like you and I really don't want to." she told him finally. "I don't know why I like you I just know that it's complicated and never going to work out and I really need to get the fuck over it."

He stared at her for a moment while she spoke before he inhaled deeply and released the breath slowly. "Why can't it just be what it is? Why can't we just... why's it have to be anythin' huge, Jules? If you like me, then you like me. Why's that a bad thing? We barely know one another. You're already thinkin' about things workin' out, and... you're used to doin' what you want, and livin' in the moment, right? Why change that now?"

"I never said it had to be huge. I just..." she sighed again and leaned back against the dresser. "I don't know, Aiden..." she said softly. "I just don't ever like anyone. I don't know how it works. I don't know what I'm supposed to feel or think or anything. I haven't even had a boyfriend since high school. It's just me and a random guy ocassionally and I don't want this to be some huge thing and... it's going to be because I opened my big fat mouth instead of just letting things be."

"You're allowed to like me," Aiden pointed out. "I like you too, otherwise I wouldn't have come over here at all. I'm not... really boyfriend material. For anyone. If that's what you're lookin' for, I can't deliver. All I can tell you is that I enjoy your company, and I'm attracted to you. That's all I got for now." He scratched the nape of his neck and looked at her. "If that's good enough for you, then great. If it's not then... I'll keep my distance."

"You'd really keep your distance?" she asked him, wondering if he really had it in him to be able to. Wondering if he would want to. Not that she really wanted him to try, but maybe that would be better.

"If you wanted me to," Aiden said with a nod, crossing his arms. "Or if I thought it was best for the both of us... if you were beginnin' to want more than I was willin' to give. Things are already complicated, neither of us need them gettin' worse." He felt he was pretty sure he could stay away if that were the case. He could always find shit to occupy his mind and his time.

"Do you think it's best?" she asked him. Of course she didn't want him to disappear from her life. She was just getting used to him being around. She didn't want him not around. "Aiden..." she said before giving him much of a chance to answer. "I like you. I don't know why sometimes because god you can be such a dick, but fact is I do. I don't know if I want more. Maybe I do, maybe I don't. Maybe I have no clue what I want. What I do know is what I don't want. I don't want you to walk out regretting what we did. I don't want you to walk out regretting me. And I don't want you to disappear. But I also don't want to complicate things for you. You have enough on your plate without a big dose of stupid from me. So you do what you think is right. Don't worry about me. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself."

Aiden honestly didn't know what the hell was going on anymore. He felt like she was playing him somehow, but then again that was just his general mistrust of people starting to seep through. He didn't like games like these, where he felt pulled in different directions. He always avoided that. Still, he couldn't see why she was making everything so... complicated. There was that word again. "Jules, get out of your head... you're thinkin' way too much about this stuff. You like me, that's fine. I like you too. You're not gonna be somethin' I regret, all right? I wouldn't have fucked you if I didn't want to do it. I'm not disappearin' either. Just..." He sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, trying hard not to become exasperated. "Stop analyzin' everythin'. Just go with it, okay? Enjoy it while it lasts. It doesn't have to be this difficult."

"You're right." she said with a nod. "I am making everything way more fucking complicated than it needs to be." she murmured as she walked towards him, reaching up to take his hands and pull them away from his face. She let them rest on her hips and slid her own hands to hook around his neck. "I like you. You like me. No complications. No strings. Easy right?" she smiled. "We'll roll with it. Whatever happens happens, and whatever doesn't doesn't and that's fine. So... later this week... dinner?" she offered. "Consolation for me being a crazy mess? I'll wear something skimpy so long as you promise to wait til after dinner to ravage me." she smiled.

Aiden looked at her warily, wondering if she was being sincere. It seemed like an abrupt change from a few moments ago, but it was much easier to deal with now. "Yeah, should be easy." Should be. "Dinner sounds good... just let me know when, okay? And if you need anythin' you know you can call."

"I know." she told him. "How bout Halloween?" she smirked. "Too afraid to come see me on the spooky night? We can watch movies or something. Horror movies of course and you can't laugh at me if I act like a total girl."

"Halloween might not be the best night for me," Aiden admitted. "With the way things have been around town lately, and with Halloween being... well, Halloween, it might be best for me to be out and keepin' an eye on things. How about Thursday night, given the the town doesn't blow up in the mean time?"

"Okay." she smiled. This time no disappointment showing in her voice. "Just be warned if I'm alone on Halloween and creepiness is all about, I might call you for protection." she teased. Well, half teased. If a monster jumped out at her on Halloween, she damn well would call Aiden.

"I guess I can do that," Aiden agreed, leaning down to kiss her. It seemed like she had those brief moments of woman-crazy, but what woman didn't? He just needed to watch his step and not let himself get in over his head. "If I don't hear from you, I'll assume everything is okay and I'll be over Thursday."

"Assume I'm alright." she smiled. "Door'll be open for ya. So... red, black or blue?" she asked, with a slightly raised brow and a little smirk. She was curious as to which skimpy little dress she'd be wearing that night.

"Surprise me," Aiden said. He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose before pulling away. "You want to see me to the door?" He still had to get his shirt and stuff from downstairs. And he needed a cigarette. Badly.

"Mhm." she nodded, not bothering with shorts for the moment. She could walk around in a shirt, panties showing. She knew he wouldn't disapprove. "Come on, you."

No, Aiden didn't disapprove. He was always of the mind that attractive women should walk around with as little clothes possible. He followed her downstairs and went for his shirt and hat. "You gonna be okay tonight?"

She smiled at him when he asked that. "Yeah, Aiden. I'll be alright." Jules said. "Thursday. Don't forget. If I get dressed up and you don't show, I'll have your ass. Don't think I won't." she grinned. "Come hungry. For a little Hispanic Cuisine. Maybe a little Hispanic chica too." she winked.

He slipped on his shirt and yanked his hat down over his head before grabbing his jacket. "Don't worry, I won't forget. Hispanic cuisine sounds good." He leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Hispanic woman sounds even better." He headed to the door, eager for a cigarette. "Lock your doors, love."

She smiled as he left, shutting the door and locking it behind him, just in case he was listening for that little click. Aiden. What a mess she was letting herself get into, but truth be told, she didn't much care. He was worth the confusion. At least she thought he was.