Arias and Diana managed to exit the gala and reach the car with minimal attention from reporters. During the ride back, Diana, now tipsy and more subdued than her usual rowdy self, began to express concerns about finding a place to stay. Arias quickly reassured her that he had already prepared a room for her at the hotel where he was staying.
By the ti they arrived, Diana was barely able to stand straight, clearly in need of rest. Arias carried her to her room and placed her gently on the bed, ready to call it a night himself. But just as he was about to leave, Diana, in a drunken stupor, jumped on his back.
"Hiya! Never turn your back on your opponent," she yelled playfully, despite her inebriated state.
Arias easily shook her off and tossed her back onto the bed, but her playful deanor quickly shifted to one of curiosity as sothing clicked in her mind. "Now that I think about it, you are very strong. Earlier, when I wanted to punch Steven Trevor with all my might, you were able to restrain ."
Although drunk and speaking carelessly, Diana had inadvertently touched on a critical point. Arias hadn't even considered how easily he had restrained her earlier. It had been such a negligible act in the grand sche of things that he hadn't given it any thought. But now that Diana had brought it up, he realized the potential implications. He had successfully brought her to his side, but trust was still fragile, and any misstep could unravel the connection he was building.
He needed to tread carefully. Revealing his true power too soon could jeopardize everything, especially since Diana's trust and support were not yet fully solidified. With that in mind, he quickly brushed off her question.
"You're tired, Diana. Get so sleep," he said, waving lightly as he turned to leave. But before he could take another step, Diana launched herself at him again, this ti tackling him to the ground. She was clearly more interested in getting answers than resting.
Diana stared down at him, her eyes narrowed, refusing to let the matter go. Even in her drunken state, it was clear that this was important to her. Arias realized he couldn't simply dismiss her concerns; doing so might plant seeds of doubt that could grow into a larger issue later on.
He took a deep breath and decided to address her directly, without fully revealing his hand. "Okay, fine, maybe I did hold back a little. But listen, Diana, despite us being friends, I need to know that I can trust you before revealing my greatest secrets. I'm sure you have secrets about yourself or your people that you cannot reveal carelessly, and that's fine. Because friends understand each other's circumstances, so please understand mine."
Arias spoke gently, maintaining eye contact with Diana. His tone carried a hint of regret, as if the situation pained him, and his words were carefully chosen to evoke empathy. He was subtly planting the idea that she was the one being unreasonable, which would likely lead her to feel guilty for pressing the issue.
Diana's resolve began to waver. Arias's words made sense, and the guilt she felt for being stubborn began to take hold. She realized she was being unfair, pressing him for answers when she herself had secrets she wouldn't easily share.
"I'm sorry," Diana muttered, her voice tinged with genuine regret. "It was rude of to dig into your personal matters..."
Arias smiled warmly, his hands gently resting on her waist as he subtly rubbed them, offering comfort. "It's fine, Diana. I know you ant no harm."
Diana returned his smile, feeling reassured by his understanding. The gentle touch of his hands didn't raise any alarms for her; Arias had been casually touching her waist throughout the evening, and she had grown accustod to it. What had initially felt odd now seed perfectly natural, thanks to Arias's careful conditioning.
With the matter settled, Arias prepared to take his leave, sensing that Diana was no longer pressing for answers. However, he saw an opportunity to deepen the bond between them and decided to take a small risk.
"I was planning to take a soak in my jacuzzi before sleeping to relax," he said casually. "You should do the sa. Or, if you prefer, you could join . In so cultures, bathing together is considered a way to strengthen bonds."
Arias's offer was carefully crafted. He wasn't outright asking her to join him, but he presented the option in a way that seed harmless and even culturally significant. The worst-case scenario was that she would decline, but even that would give him valuable insight into how comfortable she was with him.
Diana didn't ponder long. The alcohol had lowered her inhibitions, and the idea of bathing together didn't seem inappropriate to her, given her upbringing. In Themyscira, it was common for Amazons to bathe together, so the concept wasn't foreign to her.
"I would like to join you, then. We can continue sharing stories," she agreed, her voice light and carefree.
Arias had successfully baited her. The only real anxiety Diana felt was from the realization that this would be her first ti revealing her naked body to a man. However, Arias's calm and carefree deanor made her feel as though she was overthinking it.
Once they reached the jacuzzi in his suite, Arias began undressing without a word. Diana followed suit, removing her dress and accessories, baring her naked body to a man for the first ti. Arias, now fully undressed as well, noticed her slight nervousness and decided to lighten the mood with a joke.
"What do you think? If I were a woman, would I qualify to be an Amazon?" he asked while flexing his muscles in a mock display of strength.
Diana laughed, her tension lting away. "You are fit, yes, but it takes more than that to be an Amazon."
With her initial anxiety forgotten, Diana and Arias settled into the jacuzzi, continuing their conversation from earlier. Arias maintained eye contact, never letting his gaze wander, focusing on making Diana feel completely comfortable with him. He knew that patience was key; he had no need to rush things. With ti, Diana would grow more accustod to him, and eventually, he would be able to steer their relationship in the direction he desired.
After over an hour of relaxed conversation, Arias decided it was ti to end the evening. The conversation was becoming more interesting, but he wanted Diana to go to sleep thinking about it, subconsciously craving more. It was a simple tactic, but an effective one—leave them wanting more.
Arias stood up, signaling the end of their soak. "It's getting late. We should both get so rest. We can continue our conversation tomorrow."
Diana, now fully at ease with Arias, nodded in agreent. "Yes, tomorrow. Thank you for tonight, Arias. I had a lot of fun."
Arias smiled warmly, helping her out of the jacuzzi. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. Goodnight, Diana."
"Goodnight, Arias," Diana replied, a small smile on her lips as she watched him leave the room.
As Arias left, he felt a deep sense of satisfaction. The night had gone exactly as planned, and he had successfully deepened his connection with Diana without revealing too much too soon. Everything was falling into place, just as he had intended.
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