The Wayne's villa was quiet as evening deepened into night. Inside the expansive parlor, the television hummed softly, casting a warm, flickering glow across the room. Aaron and Natalia sat close together on the large couch, his arm wrapped comfortably around her shoulders, creating an easy rhythm of shared silence and light conversation.
"It's going to be Silas's birthday soon. I wonder how he's going to celebrate it," Aaron said, glancing down at her.
Natalia paused, turning the thought over in her mind. She wondered if he would throw a large party or do something entirely different. "I wonder if Silas wants a birthday party with his friends."
"I think I'll ask him about that," Aaron replied.
They drifted back to watching the screen, trading casual remarks, though Aaron's thoughts lingered on his brother. Knowing Silas was still nursing a quiet heartbreak from his recent breakup, Aaron wanted to make sure his upcoming twenty-ninth birthday brought him comfort rather than obligation.
Some days later, Aaron sat at his desk in the home study. Across the room, Silas stood by the tall window, looking out over the blooming flowers in the back garden, his phone pressed to his ear.
"I was wondering how you've been," Aaron said.
"I'm doing well, fine. How about you, Natalia, and the kids?" Silas asked.
"They're good. Marcus is starting swimming classes," Aaron replied with a faint smile.
"That's nice. Natalia loves swimming; Marcus is going to love it too."
"Yes, and she's teaching him herself. Natalia didn't want an instructor—she insists she can teach herself, and she's already quite good at it."
Silas chuckled softly. "That sounds perfect."
"It is," Aaron agreed before steering the conversation gently toward the upcoming milestone. "I was thinking about your birthday next month. Are you planning on throwing a party?"
Silas fell silent for a moment, looking out at the lawn. "I've been thinking about it, and honestly, I don't think I want to throw a big party."
"Well, what do you want? I can help you set it up. How do you want it celebrated?" Aaron asked.
"I was thinking of keeping it simple. Just Mum, Dad, and you guys—just the family."
"That's great. I'm sure Mum would love nothing more than to celebrate with you."
"I think so too," Silas murmured. "I just want to spend time with the people closest to me."
"Then that's what we'll do," Aaron said, his voice steady and supportive. "It's your birthday, however you want it, we'll be there."
"Thanks, Aaron."
Aaron raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by his brother's habitual gratitude. "For what?"
"For asking. For caring." Silas said happily.
"I'll always care about you. You're welcome." Aaron said his voice tender and warm.
After a few more minutes of easy conversation, they said their goodbyes. Aaron hung up, a satisfied smile lingering on his face, ready to share the news with his wife.
Later that evening, as Aaron and Natalia walked together toward the kitchen, he shared what his brother had said.
"How does Silas want to throw his birthday?" Natalia asked cheerfully, ticking ideas off in her head. "Maybe hosting it with a DJ, some cocktail drinks, friends, good food, and dessert?"
Aaron smirked. "Nope. That's not what he wants at all."
Natalia stopped, looking at him in surprise. "He doesn't?"
"He'd rather keep it quiet. He just wants to celebrate with the family."
A soft, genuine smile broke across her face. "That's actually a really good idea."
"It is," Aaron agreed, his gaze softening as he looked down at her.
While Natalia's mind immediately began racing with thoughts of family gatherings and the perfect birthday gift for Silas, Aaron was entirely distracted by her. The warm, cheerful light in her brown eyes and the animated way her expression shifted made his chest bloomed with affection. He wanted nothing more than to pull her closer.
Noticing the intensity of his gaze, Natalia tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What are you thinking about?" She asked.
"Silas's gift," Aaron said, closing the distance between them until only a breath remained. "I think I know what he'd actually like."
Her eyes brightened with immediate interest. "So, what does he like?"
Aaron smiled, stepping even closer. "If I tell you... can I touch you?"
Natalia's breath hitched. A sudden rush of heat bloomed low in her belly, her cheeks flushing pink. She opened her mouth to protest on instinct, but her determination to get the information won out.
"yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Aaron's smile widened, a mixture of amusement and fondness in his eyes. He hadn't actually expected her to agree. "Silas has a growing collection of fine red wines. A good bottle would go a long way."
Natalia blinked, her analytical mind instantly processing the suggestion. "Okay," she murmured, already mentally adding it to her shopping list as she began to turn away.
Aaron caught her by the wrist, pulling her back before she could take a step. "Where are you going, Talia?"
She looked back over her shoulder, confused. "I was going to write it down so I wouldn't forget."
Aaron's smirk deepened as he wrapped both arms securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest. "We made a deal. I get to touch you—remember?"
Natalia let out a soft breath, her heart instantly hammering against her ribs as she looked up into his dark, steady eyes. All thoughts of wine and shopping lists evaporated completely.
"I didn't forget," she whispered.
"Good," Aaron murmured, his lips brushing dangerously close to her ear, his voice dropping to a low, rough cadence that made her whole body melt. "Because I don't just want to touch you, Natalia, I want to do more " he said his body warm and Natalia face heated up feeling horny by his words.
The door clicked shut behind them, locking out the quiet hum of the rest of the house and leaving them in the soft, shadowed intimacy of their room. The air between them felt charged, thick with the anticipation that had been building all evening.
Aaron stood before her, his gaze intense yet tender as his hands found her waist, pulling her flush against him. Natalia's breath hitched, her hands instinctively resting against his chest, feeling the steady, heavy beat of his heart beneath her palms. There was no rush, no urgency—only a deep, resonant longing that had only grown stronger with every year they had shared together.
"Talia," he murmured, his voice a low, rough caress against her skin as his lips brushed her temple, tracing down to the sensitive curve of her jaw.
She let out a soft sigh, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shoulders, completely surrendering to the warmth of his embrace. When his lips finally met hers, the kiss was deep and unhurried, a quiet conversation spoken in the language of touch and familiarity. It was a kiss filled with years of devotion, holding the weight of a love that only deepened with time.
He lifted her effortlessly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face briefly in the crook of his shoulder as he carried her the short distance to the bed. The mattress dipped softly beneath her weight as he laid her down, following her down so that his body hovered over hers, sheltering her from the rest of the world.
Aaron propped himself up on one elbow, his free hand gently cupping her cheek, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone with infinite care. Her brown eyes looked up at him, shining with complete trust and an answering desire that made his chest tighten.
"You drive me crazy, you know that?" he whispered, his smile soft and affectionate before his lips descended to capture hers once more.
Every touch was deliberate, a celebration of the bond they shared. As his hands mapped the contours of her waist and sides, Natalia arched slightly into his touch, her breath mingling with his. The physical closeness felt like coming home—a quiet sanctuary where the rest of the world simply fell away.
Slowly, carefully, Aaron shed his remaining clothes, his eyes never leaving hers, maintaining that unbreakable connection even as the space between them vanished entirely. When he joined her, the movement was tender, grounded in a profound sense of love and mutual surrender. Natalia gasped softly, her hands sliding up his back, pulling him closer, needing to feel every beat of his heart against hers.
It wasn't just passion that drove them; it was the quiet history they had built, the unspoken understanding of two people who knew each other's souls as well as their own skin. In the quiet dark of the room, lit only by the faint glow of the nightlight, their movements fell into a natural, harmonious rhythm. Every touch was an echo of devotion, every sigh a testament to how deeply they cherished one another.
They moved together with a seamless grace, wrapped in each other's warmth, losing track of time in the steady, rising tide of their shared emotion. And when the final, breathless wave of release washed over them, leaving them tangled in the sheets and breathing in unison, Aaron pulled her securely against his side. He pressed a lingering kiss into her hair, holding her close as the quiet of the night settled back around them.