"I thought I'd be holding this drink all night. Finally, we can eat." Ariya couldn't figure out why Alvin's attitude toward Talon had changed so much, but at least she didn't have to feel awkward being stuck between Talon and her parents. Feeling relieved, she started to eat.
Alvin deliberately put on a stern face and knocked Ariya's fork out of her hand. "Hey, Ariya! What's the matter with you? Talon should be the one to start the meal. Let me remind you, from now on, no more slacking on house chores like laundry and cooking—you need to pull your weight!"
Ariya's mouth dropped open. The sudden change in her father's attitude was too much for her to process. She stared at Alvin in disbelief. 'Did he really just say that?'
Even Talon felt Alvin was going too far and awkwardly tried to smooth things over. "That's really not necessary. I'm home most of the time anyway, and I don't mind doing these things. There's no need for so many rules during a meal. What difference does it make who starts eating first?"
Alvin wasn't backing down and continued to yell at Ariya, "No, it's not okay! Rules are rules. You see how considerate Talon is? From now on, you better take good care of him. If you don't, I'll punish you!"
"Fine!" Ariya sighed, drawing out the words. She couldn't embarrass Alvin in front of everyone.
The five of them happily sat around the table and enjoyed the meal. Alvin, who couldn't hold his liquor nearly as well as Talon, was already flushed red after a few drinks. He put his arm around Talon, talking excitedly about work. They were getting so chummy it seemed like they were about to become best friends.
The meal stretched on for over two hours, and by the end, Alvin was completely out of it. Norah dragged him to Talon's room, shaking her head.
"Ariya, your father and I will be sleeping here tonight. The old man's too drunk to even make it home. Don't mind us—go get some rest. I'll take care of him!"
"Mom, but... that's Talon's room. Where's he supposed to sleep?" Ariya was confused. The house had five bedrooms, with Maisy, Azureblade, and Nightwing taking three. That left one for her and one for Talon.
"What kind of question is that? You and Talon are married—of course, you'll share one room! It's still early, but you two should head to bed and work on giving me a grandchild!" Norah shot her daughter a look.
'A grandchild? Wow, Mom, way to sell me out,' Ariya couldn't help but think to herself.
"Ariya, did your mom just tell me to give her a grandchild?" Talon asked, closing the door behind them.
"You... no... don't..." Ariya saw the desire burning in Talon's eyes, and her cheeks flushed red. She quickly jumped into bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Talon swallowed hard. He'd never been in this kind of situation before and wasn't sure what to do. He walked over to the bed and gently grabbed Ariya's ankle. Ariya trembled, her heart racing faster than it ever had before, her breathing becoming shallow.
The sound of Ariya's breathing seemed to encourage Talon, and he couldn't help but take off his shoes and climb into bed with her. He pulled back the blanket, revealing Ariya's flushed face, her soft lips parting slightly like cherries, looking irresistibly inviting.
Although Ariya had refused Talon, it wasn't with any real conviction. At her age, especially now that she had a daughter, her desires were still strong. Now that Talon was back, she couldn't possibly suppress the fire burning inside her. Almost unconsciously, she slipped her foot between Talon's thighs and began gently rubbing against him.
"Talon... I'm... I'm a little scared... Can you be gentle this time? Not like the first time, I can't handle that... My parents are here... Please, take it easy..." Ariya bit down hard on her lip, staring at Talon's face as she panted softly.
Ariya's words were like a shot of adrenaline to Talon. A fire blazed in his mind, and he couldn't hold back anymore. His hand moved from her ankle, caressing her thigh. Ariya was shaking like a leaf, her body trembling uncontrollably. She tried to push him away, but she was too weak to stop him.
Talon's eyes were bloodshot with desire as he fumbled with Ariya's tights, finding them annoyingly unnecessary. Ariya clung to him tightly. "Talon, I... aside from that one time with you, I haven't done anything in all these years. I'm scared..."
"I know." Talon's arm wrapped around Ariya, while his other hand slid under her clothes. When he touched her skin, smooth like milk, he shivered. He undid the buttons of her shirt, revealing her skin, now flushed pink.
Suddenly, Ariya felt a cool sensation on her lips. Talon's slightly alcohol-flavored kiss landed on her mouth, and she awkwardly responded. She wasn't sure how long they kissed, but soon her movements became more natural. She stopped tugging at her tights, now fully prepared for what was coming. She was already overwhelmed with desire.
Talon pulled off Ariya's clothes, and she trembled violently, ready to fully become his woman. Just as Talon was about to remove the last of her clothing and take the final step, Ariya's phone rang.
Talon frowned. 'Who's calling at such a critical moment?' Ariya froze too, looking at Talon with some dissatisfaction. Talon leaned over her, and Ariya whispered softly in his ear, "Just... give it to me..." Talon felt a surge of energy as he prepared to remove her final piece of clothing. But then, the phone rang again.