The Incubus Under my Bed

Chapter 10

“But if you go too far with David, I don’t think I can.”

“Are you judging me?” she asked allowing her anger to win out in the end. She hated everything about herself at this point and time. She wasn’t Aria. She didn’t know who was looking back at her in the mirror every day. She hated how she was hurting people. She hated how much she wanted David. But she also hated how she was developing feelings for Henrí when she was so certain not that long ago that there could never be a man, she’d love more than David. “You think I want to be in love with my professor? You think it’s fun to think about kissing a marry man? I teach his kids in Sunday school. I’ve had tea with his wife. She buys me Christmas gifts and cards for my birthday. You think I want this Henrí? You think I want to be labeled a home wrecking w***e for the rest of my life?”

“Then trust me Aria. Let me help you,” he said caressing her face.

“By f*****g the feelings away. No.”

“I never said I would do that.”

“I know well enough by now that everything with us leads to you pinning me again some surface,” she yelled.

“You know what Aria, if that’s what you believe fine, but don’t come crying to me when you’re the one walking around with a scarlet letter branded on your chest, and he just walks away,” Henrí said being completely done with the lack of trust she had. All he needed was for her to believe he wanted to help her. He didn’t need a declaration of love, of for her to jump his bone. He just wanted an in for their relationship to be something special. Something real like Stella insisted it was.

-IUMB-

“Aria, can we break?” David asked as Aria watched some coded video of participants. “I brought your favorite,” he said grabbing his lunch box and smiling at her.

Aria flashed him a sweet smile and paused the video. “Peanut butter and honey on twelve grain?” she asked.

“Maybe there’s only one way we can really be sure,” he smiled at her.

“And how is that?” she asked.

“By eating it of course,” he said taking out a sandwich for her.

“Thanks,” she said taking her sandwich and unwrapping it. David watched as she looked down at her food. She was really quiet today, and he figured it had something to do with Henrí. He was surprised she had no Dr. Remy horror story to share, or a family update. He asked her a few questions and got very direct answers.

“You like it?” he asked.

Aria was trying hard to focus on her work, but Henrí had said something she never thought to hear in a million years. He loved her. And how did she feel about him. She didn’t even know him. He was arragont and condicending and controlling. But he made her feel alive. “I always do?” she smiled up at him. The moment he smiled back she nodded and turned back to the monitor. “We should work on both, if we ever hope to input this data,” she laughed. If she loved Henrí what did that mean about her feelings for David. Could he sense there was something between me and Henrí?

He placed his hand on hers. “It can wait Aria.”

Her heart raced as she looked in his eyes. She quickly looked for an escape he was far too close for her keep focus. “I’m going to go to the thing the bathroom-thing,” she said standing up. David stood in her way.

The research lab was small so both of them standing with the pulled-out chairs left little breathing room. David ran his fingertips up her arms and slowly closed in on her until their bodies were pressed together. David could sense her thoughts were wild and her emotions were all over the place once his skin made contact with hers. “He told you?”

“He who?” she asked hoping they would talk for a lot longer if she acted clueless.

“Henrí, did Henrí tell you?” he asked already getting a little flustered with her. Aria didn’t know where this conversation was going, but she knew she didn’t want to see it through.

“No, he didn’t tell me anything. Is there something I should know?” she asked.

“Obviously, you know something, because you’re treating me like I have the plague. It’s nice to know what brother you like best,” he smiled.

Aria’s heart sped. David was Henrí’s brother. Was he an incubus too? What did that mean about her feelings for him? Was any of this real? “Did you say brother?” she asked.

“He didn’t tell you?” David asked feeling dumb.

“Nnn-no you aren’t his brother. You aren't..,” she said backing away from him. Was he controlling her emotions? Was Henrí doing all of this for entertainment. Where they conspiring together?

“I am,” he said.

“You can’t be an incubus. I-I can’t deal with that. I can’t love you and your married, and a father, and my professor, and now you’re a f*****g incubus too, and Henrí’s brother. What the f**k,” she laughed and cried at the same time. “I need to go,” she said grabbing her coat.

“Aria, just calm down.”

“I had s*x with your brother. He told me he loved me, and I-I could only think about how much I think I love you. You can’t happen to me David,” she yelled. "I don't do this. This isn't me. This isn't me," she repeated as he placed his forehead on hers and calmed her sobs.