Page 30 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)
Never had I met a more gentle, sincere man than War. He touched parts of my heart and soul that had been dusty and closed off to men—no, make that people in general.
Our plan was for him to establish the Aries Alliance as I wrapped up business at EFU. Although Tiffany and my therapist agreed it wasn’t healthy for me to stay in a toxic place, I had an exit plan that involved twice-a-week therapy sessions that supported those impacted by the ongoing abuse there.
A week after War’s resignation, President Fields and his chief of staff resigned too.
Other guilty parties listed in the report also left their positions.
To my satisfaction, Mrs. Redmond’s abuser didn’t receive the coveted title of emeritus faculty he had been jockeying for with his inner circle university cronies.
As expected, EFU wasn’t repentant and dug in even more to cover up their lies. As Tiffany and my therapist reminded me, that wasn’t my problem anymore. If they wanted to move like that, one day they would have to answer to a power higher than War and me.
Fortunately, people left me alone long enough for me to close out several projects and make sure that my supervisees were placed in labs with mentors who supported their needs adequately.
Within three months, War and I set up shop in a renovated four-thousand-square-foot warehouse in Downtown Ember Falls. It was close enough for me to see the library from our southeast window.
We had made our relationship official, being exclusive and referring to each other as partners in justice and life.
Although I reveled in having a boyfriend, I wasn’t ready to dive into marriage.
Hell, I wasn’t sure I’d ever hang up my bachelorette title.
War seemed to be fine with that. Like me, a monogamous relationship with mind-blowing sex was perfect for us.
As we did every Friday, War and I ate lunch in the small conference room of our Aries Alliance headquarters. Without shame, I took in his muscular form.
“This is a lot different from that first day in my office, huh?” He lifted a forkful of homemade chicken salad to his mouth and chewed.
I finished my bite of Caesar salad and smiled.
“It is. If you’ve taught me nothing else, I know for sure that you can never judge a book by its cover.”
“I couldn’t have done this without you. Scar. You’re the glue that pulled this, and us, together. So many people are blessed by you every day. Thank you for being obedient to your call.”
“If I’m the glue, you’re the one who offered the pieces that need to be held together. We’re a perfect team. In and out of the bedroom.” I wagged my eyebrows.
War looked at his watch.
“We have fifteen more minutes before lunchtime’s over, so how’d you like for me to show you how perfect we are?”
As had also become our habit, we ended our Friday business meetings with a quick romp in our new space. There was something about that fire and irreverence that kept me on my toes and reminded me never to get caught up in the status quo.
I pulled an extra-large condom out of my purse as War drew the shades and locked the door. As we undressed and gave each other quick kisses, I smiled.
I never thought I’d find a partner who accepted everything about me that others said was too fiery or arrogant. In my weakness, War pulled out exactly what I needed to thrive, not merely survive. For that, I was grateful.