{Chapter: 213 - Jessica's Mission And Love With Daisy}
Aiden didn't have the luxury of time. As much as he would've liked to dive headfirst into developing artificial intelligence and advanced programs himself, he had too many moving pieces across too many worlds. Delegation was no longer optional—it was strategic. Doing everything solo wasn't exactly his idea of a good time!
Jessica stood before him in the fighting arena, her figure tense, arms folded. Her expression was serious, but beneath that hard exterior, her eyes betrayed something softer, something only Aiden had ever been able to coax out of her.
"I'll find the people you mentioned," she said firmly, the tone of someone used to handling business on her own. "Charlie Andrews, Hana Gitelman, Micah Sanders—I'll track them down and get them to work."
Aiden smiled faintly at her determination. "I knew you'd get it done. I'm counting on you, Jessica."
She gave a nod, but her voice faltered just slightly. "You always say that like you mean more than just the mission."
"I always do," he replied, stepping closer to her.
The space between them shrank as his hand gently tilted her chin up. The woman known for keeping everyone at arm's length didn't pull back. Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, all her walls were gone.
"I wish you were really here," she whispered, voice trembling ever so slightly. "Not just a flicker of you in my head."
"This isn't just a dream," he said softly, brushing a strand of blonde hair away from her cheek. "It's real. You're just here… in spirit. Your body's still in your world, but your soul? It crossed the boundary to find me. And one day, when I've finished building what I need to… you won't just be visiting anymore. You'll be by my side. Permanently."
Jessica's eyes widened slightly. "You're serious…?"
He nodded. "I'm in a different world. One I'm shaping. You'll be part of it, not just as a visitor, but as someone who owns a piece of it. You and me—we're far from done."
Jessica swallowed hard. The cold, calculating woman known to snap necks without a flicker of remorse looked utterly undone by the gravity of his words. "I don't even know what to say…"
"Then don't," Aiden murmured, closing the distance between them.
His lips brushed against hers—not rough or f*rc€ful like many times before, but slow, full of promise. Her arms instinctively wrapped around him, and her fingers dug into his back as if trying to hold onto the moment, onto him, onto the reality he was offering.
"I hate when you disappear like that," she whispered when they finally pulled apart.
He smirked. "You're not the only one. But don't worry. I'll always come back to you."
Jessica gave a shaky exhale, struggling to compose herself. "Fine. Go do your world-building thing. I'll handle mine."
"That's my girl." He reached out, cupping her cheek one last time. "I'll check in soon. But for now… I'm sending you back."
She hesitated, just a beat, before nodding. "Just don't make me wait too long, Aiden."
He smiled. "Wouldn't dare."
With a wave of his hand, her figure shimmered—eyes still locked on his until the moment she vanished like smoke on the wind.
---
Back in the Marvel World.
Aiden stepped out of the fighting field with a sigh that carried both satisfaction and weariness.
Jessica was dangerous, no doubt. A walking hurricane. But she was also someone who'd been alone far too long. And somewhere between their wild encounters and their growing trust, she had started to melt for him. It was… addictive.
He made his way to his quarters on the ship and collapsed onto the bed. The stars outside blinked against the window, distant and unreachable.
Sleep claimed him soon after, but even in his dreams, Jessica's voice echoed softly, warm against his ear.
---
The next morning, the soft hum of the ship was the only sound filling the quiet room. Aiden stirred awake, stretching briefly before slipping out of his own quarters and making his way to Daisy's. Her door slid open with a faint hiss, revealing her curled up beneath the sheets, the blanket slipping just slightly off her shoulder to expose the smooth line of her collarbone.
She looked peaceful in sleep—unguarded. Her chest rose and fell in slow rhythm, and her lips were parted just slightly, as if she were dreaming of something pleasant.
Aiden smiled softly. He approached without a sound, lifted the blanket, and slid into the bed beside her. The mattress dipped with his weight, and Daisy stirred. He didn't say anything at first, simply wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her against him. Her body instinctively leaned into his warmth.
A few seconds passed before Daisy blinked groggily, brows furrowed as she felt the shift on the bed. Her lashes fluttered open, revealing sleep-hazed eyes.
"Mmm... what—?" she murmured, still half-dreaming.
"Don't worry," Aiden whispered close to her ear, brushing her hair gently aside. "It's just me. Go back to sleep."
Even in her half-conscious state, a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Without protest, she shifted fully into his embrace, burying her face into the crook of his neck. His presence, firm and grounding, calmed her in ways she couldn't explain. It was warmth, safety, something she hadn't allowed herself to feel in a long time.
She recognized his scent before his face—clean, masculine, uniquely him. With a tired smile, she turned in his arms and rested her cheek against his chest, letting the warmth of his body pull her back into slumber.
Eventually, her breath evened out again. Aiden stayed still, watching her quietly. He traced light circles on her back with his fingertips, his touch tender, almost reverent.
About an hour later, she woke again—this time more alert. Her bare leg had tangled with his sometime during sleep, and now she found herself tucked flush against his side, fingers instinctively resting over his toned abs.
"How... do you always do that?" she asked groggily, stretching a little, her tank top riding up just enough to reveal the soft skin of her waist. "You just show up out of nowhere like some sexy teleporting menace."
Aiden grinned. "Teleporting menace? I like that."
"I didn't say it was a bad thing." She ran a hand down his stomach lazily. "I just haven't figured out if you're a dream, or just a really persistent fantasy."
"Let's say I'm both. But with a few extra tricks."
He leaned in and stole a kiss, slow and teasing. Daisy responded with a quiet moan, her fingers gripping lightly at his side. He pulled her in closer, and their bodies pressed together, heat rising between them.
Aiden chuckled softly, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "Well, I did pick up a rather useful ability. Time and space... they're not as rigid as people think."
Daisy propped herself up on one elbow, her curiosity piqued. "Wait, really? Like one of those in comics stuff?"
"Exactly like that," he replied with a wink. "Except I like to think I do it with a little more style."
Daisy rolled her eyes, but a smile played at her lips. "Modest, as always."
He leaned in, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You love it."
"Seriously though... time and space? That's a hell of a party trick," she murmured against his lips.
"Comes in handy," he said, voice deepening. "Especially when I want to sneak into your bed without anyone noticing."
"You're such a perv," she said with a laugh, but her eyes were darkening now, her body pressing more eagerly against his.
"And yet," he whispered, sliding a hand down to rest on the curve of her ass, "you never tell me to stop."
Before she could reply, his lips were on hers—slow, lingering, and filled with the kind of intimacy that made her toes curl. Her hands moved instinctively to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart beneath her palm. He deepened the kiss gradually, exploring her lips with the ease of someone who had already memorized every curve, every sigh she made.
When they finally parted, Daisy was breathless, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "You're terrible," she murmured.
"But you still kissed me back," Aiden teased, brushing his nose against hers.
Their lips met again, more hungrily this time. His fingers roamed over her soft skin, slipping under her top as their kiss deepened. Daisy gasped as he rolled on top of her, their hips aligning perfectly.
"Yeah, well... I like terrible in you," she whispered, before burying her face in his neck again.
He laughed, his chest vibrating gently beneath her. "You're already awake," he murmured against her neck, voice husky, "so how about a little morning cardio?"
"Mmh... You better keep up, time-travel b*y," she whispered back, fingers tangling in his hair.
He chuckled low in his throat, kissing a trail down her collarbone. "Challenge accepted."
"You know you looked adorable earlier sleeping." Aiden said, watching her closely.
Daisy's breath catches. She should be embarrassed, maybe even ashamed. But instead, a different kind of heat pools inside her.
She didn't answer. She just bit her lip, shifting slightly under his gaze. Aiden's smirk deepens.