When I told Aiden I’m not his, I expected anger.
Hell, I expected his mean side.
Because that’s what bullies do, don’t they? When pushed, they push back.
Instead of letting go and showing his true self, his lips curve into a mocking smile. “That’s not what you were saying when you came all over my face. Twice.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor.
No.
He didn’t just say that.
Kim gasps from beside me and murmurs break all over the class. No one has the audacity to speak up in front of Aiden.
Ronan is the only one who laughs, nodding, “I second that. I heard the screams.”
Fuck my life.
Aiden opens his mouth again, but I silence him with a hand against his lips. Whatever he has to say will ruin me more than he already did.
If he appeared triumphant before, he looks absolutely smug now. He raises his brows in a silent dare, challenging me to deny it.
The bell rings and Mrs Stone comes into class. I let go of Aiden and plop into the seat in front of him because it’s the only one available. My movement are flustered as I retrieve my notebook and pens.
Warm breaths tickle my ear before Aiden’s smooth voice whispers, “Try denying that you’re mine again and I’ll fuck you in front of the lot of them to prove it.”
My eyes widen as I grip my pencil tighter. He disappears from my back all too soon as Mrs Stone continues her lecture.
I’m struggling to school my features and chase away whatever picture Aiden just painted in my head.
Damn him and his dirty mouth.
The space between my legs heat, and I rub them to chase the sensation away.
It doesn’t work.
On the contrary, the friction becomes unbearable, almost like when Aiden had his mouth on me, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin, his tongue and fingers thrusting in and out of me while —
“Miss Quinn?”
I startle at Mrs Stone’s voice and my cheeks feel on fire.
“Are you all right?” Mrs Stone’s voice sounds from above me.
“What?”
“You look flushed. Do you need medical care?”
“I’m fine.” I grip my pencil tighter, wishing the earth would open up and swallow me.
When she leaves, a low gravelly voice murmurs, “Certain memories coming back to you?”
“Shut up,” I hiss.
I don’t have to look behind me to see Aiden’s smug grin.
After the two morning classes, I gather my books, wave at Kim, and head to the locker room, opting to skip lunch.
Aunt told me to buy my special food from the grocery store, but I forgot this morning.
A tall frame steps in front of me before I round the corner to the locker room. I hate how my heart flutters upon seeing him. I hate how perfect he looks in the team’s jacket and how his long legs make him appear like a model.
I hate everything about him from the slight sway in his dark hair to the kissable lips to the sharp jawline that no eighteen years old should have.
“I hate you,” I tell him with all the pent up frustration I’ve been feeling this morning.
“I think you don’t, sweetheart, but you wish you did.” He reaches for me and pinches my cheek. “You’re adorable as fuck when you’re all flushed.”
He strokes a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture is so caring and gentle, it almost crumbles my defences.
Then I remember that he’s a sociopath and he could be doing this just so I’d let my guard down in front of him.
“Why do you never wear your hair down?” His fingers massage my skull like he’s fascinated with it.
“I just don’t like it.”
He tilts his head to the side. “Why?”
I don’t know myself.
And his caring act won’t distract me from his demonic soul.
I wiggle away from his hold. “What were you thinking about earlier?”
He goes back to stroking my hair like he can’t stop himself from doing it. “Earlier?”
“In class!”
“When Mrs Stone caught you fantasising?”
My cheeks heat and I turn my away. “That’s not true.”
“Liar.” His voice drips with a seductive drawl. “You were reliving last night, weren’t you? Was it the part where I had my tongue inside your hot, wet pussy while you screamed my name and —”
“Aiden!” I place a hand in front of his mouth. Mortification tugs at my stomach as I search around to see if anyone heard.
He removes my hand but doesn’t release it as he cocks his head to the side. “Why are you embarrassed about that?”
“Are you serious? Of course, I’d be embarrassed.”
“I fantasised about you all night, do you see me embarrassed about it?”
“You’re a different species.” I doubt he even knows what embarrassment means.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t turn this into a you versus me argument.”
“Then what is it about? Enlighten me.”
“Own your sexuality, Elsa.” He grips my hand in a possessive hold. “You sure as fuck have an abundance of it and I don’t plan to let it go to waste.”
“Stop being so crude. I’m supposed to focus in class.”
“So you were thinking about it.” He smirks. “Are you wet?”
“No.”
“Come on,” he pushes. “Admit it.”
“What if I am?” I cross my arms, all the pent up frustration rising to the surface. “What are you going to do about it? Fuck me at school and risk having both of us expelled? Oh, wait. Your father owns the school, so it doesn’t matter if you get caught. You can even get away with murder, right? I’ll be the one to be thrown out after they make it look like I seduced his majesty Aiden King. After all, you’re king and I’m a fucking nobody.”
It’s only after my outburst that I realise how fantastic it feels to throw his words back at him. He used them to belittle me and put me in my place before, but now they’re smashed straight in his face.
I lift my chin, daring him to say anything.
His left eye twitches, but his expression remains unreadable. “Watch that mouth.”
“Or what?”
“Or I will fuck it.”
“Screw you, Aiden. Okay? You don’t get to push my buttons the entire time and only expect yes, your majesty. At your order, your majesty. What do you want next, your majesty? Should I lie down and spread my legs for you? Would you get me out of your system if I let you fuck me?”
I pant after my outburst.
I don’t even know what the hell is wrong with me, but I’m so pissed off about Silver’s words and his casual attitude. He’ll always get what he wants and eventually, he’ll get bored of me and leave.
I want him to leave now because I can feel my walls crumbling, and if I let him inside, he’ll just destroy me like he said the first time we met.
He’ll be the storm that only leaves havoc in its wake.
I’d rather take the bullying rather than lose myself to him.
“No.”
I gawk. “No?”
“Spreading your legs won’t get you out of my system. I love owning your body, but that’s not the only thing I’m interested in.”
“Then what else do you want?”
His voice drops in a haunting whisper. “Every. Fucking. Thing.”
My mouth parts open, but no words come out.
Ronan saves me when he slams into Aiden’s back. The latter holds his position as a grinning Ronan circles his shoulder with an arm.
“Yo, King! Time for lunch.”
Aiden cuts him a glare, but his voice is calm. “You’ve had a death wish since yesterday.”
“Oops, bad timing?” His inquisitive eyes bounce from me to Aiden.
The latter continues to glare at him. “Leave.”
“I’m wounded, mate.” He massages his chest. “Words like that trigger my abandonment issues.”
My eyes widen as I swallow. “You have abandonment issues?”
He nods, staring at Aiden from under his lashes. “And he keeps reminding me of them. Connard.”
“Hey!” I nudge Aiden. “That can scar him.”
He just watches me with amusement like he’s enjoying the show.
“I’m already taking therapy,” Ronan continues.
“Shut the fuck up or the only therapy you’ll take is for your broken nose.”
“Not the nose, King.” Ronan hides his nose. “This shit is aristocratic.”
“Not when I’m done with it.”
“Wait.” I stare between them with a dumbfounded expression. “You were joking?”
“You looked fucking adorable.” Aiden smiles.
“Uh.. go back.” Ronan stares at Aiden as if he grew an additional head. “Did you just say ‘adorable’?”
Aiden’s poker face returns.
“No, no, no… don’t close off. Come on, King.” He retrieves his phone. “Say it again, I need to get it on camera.”
Aiden stares at Ronan’s camera and mouths. “Fuck. You.”
Ronan flips him off as he tucks his phone in his pocket. Then he leans in to whisper. “I’ll give you one hundred if you record footage of when he says shit like that.”
“What?”
“Five hundred.”
I continue staring at him, too shocked to say anything.
“Okay, final offer. Nash and Knight will also pay five hundred each. That’s one point five thousand.”
Aiden barges between us, cutting off Ronan’s one-sided negotiation.
“Don’t you have some place to go to?” Aiden asks.
“Mais non. I’m good right here.” Ronan gives a Cheshire cat-like grin.
“Come eat with us, Ellie.”
“Ellie?” Aiden snaps.
“What? Kimmy calls you that, doesn’t she?”
“Don’t you call me Frozen?”
He lifts a shoulder. “I like Ellie better. Come on, let’s eat.”
“Pass.” I turn to leave.
A strong hand wraps around my arm and Aiden all but drags me to his side. “You’ll eat.”
He keeps a possessive arm around my waist as the three of us walk to the cafeteria.
If he thinks that he won this round, then he has another thing coming. The cafeteria doesn’t have my food and I won’t eat like I said.
My phone vibrates. I reach into my jacket.
Uncle J: I don’t think we’ll make it to the game this weekend. I’m buried with work. So sorry, Pumpkin.
My chest squeezes, but I manage to reply.
Elsa: It’s okay. I have to study anyway. You’ll miss me when I’m in Cambridge *fireworks emoji*
Uncle J: Don’t make me all emotional now. You’ll beat our records. Teamwork.
Elsa: Teamwork!
I’m not feeling the words as I type them.
Uncle J: Lock up tonight. We might come home late. There are vegetables in the fridge and your aunt says no ice cream.
Uncle J: We love you, Pumpkin.
Another lonely night.
Elsa: No problem! Take care of yourselves. I love you guys, too *heart emoji*
When I shove the phone back in my pocket, I feel eyes on me. I lift my head and Aiden is watching me intently with a tilted head. Did he read the texts?
Ronan is speculating about the next game’s line-up, but Aiden isn’t paying him the slightest attention. His thumb grazes the small of my back. A shiver blooms over my skin at the intimacy of the gesture.
Why do people say that physical contact doesn’t matter? Why do they assume that emotions grow in some alien place?
Physical touch always plays a part.
I know better because Aiden’s touch has been screwing me over since that day he broke the invisible ‘no-touching’ rule.
We head straight to the football team’s table — of course. Aiden removes his hand so he can sit me beside him.
Xander grins at me, both his dimples on display. It seems genuine enough, so I return a tentative smile.
Aiden cuts us a glare so harsh, I decide to focus on my backpack. Xander’s grin just widens. Aiden places both hands on my shoulders. “From today onwards, Elsa will be eating with us.”
Hell no.
I move to stand up, but he leans over to whisper, “Stay still or I’ll tell them how many times I took you last night.”
“You didn’t take me,” I hiss so only he can hear.
He raises an eyebrow. “They don’t know that.”
I bite my lower lip to stop myself from screaming.
Why does he have this ability to royally piss me off?
None of the team members says anything about the new eating arrangement. I don’t expect them to. He’s King after all. His word is a royal decree.
Ronan waggles his eyebrows. “Welcome aboard, Ellie.”
“I’m hurt, Frozen.” Xander scoots closer. “Aren’t we a couple?”
Aiden’s grip on my shoulders tightens, but I don’t have to look back to see his pissed off face.
I don’t know why Xander keeps provoking Aiden. He must know how much of a crazed devil he can be.
“Hey, Knight…” Aiden’s voice drifts in clear menace. “If you say things like that again, I’ll be saying things you won’t like.”
The dimples disappear from Xander’s face and he narrows his eyes before throwing his fork on his pasta plate. “Fuck you, King.”
“Wait. What things?” Ronan stares between them. “Seriously, I’m tired of being left in the dark. Why doesn’t anyone tell me anything around here?”
“Because you have a big mouth?” Cole says.
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do.” Everyone at the table agrees.
Ronan launches into a long argument about all the secrets he kept for them — by spilling them.
It’s amusing to watch him being a bit of a drama queen with Xander provoking him and Cole trying to shut him up.
With one last squeeze to my shoulder, Aiden strides to where they serve the food.
“Are you sure you want to be with a stage five-creeper like him?” Xander slides to my side, grinning, and appearing unaffected by Aiden’s threat. “I’m always here if you change your mind.”
He starts to inch closer, but Cole steps between us. He gives Xander a knowing look. Some sort of a secret conversation goes on between them. Xander rolls his eyes and focuses back on his food.
“Stop provoking King, Knight.” One of the football team’s players, the goalkeeper, says. “We’re going to screw up the championship if our ace strikers continue being at each other’s throats.”
A few of his teammates give me a condescending look as if I’m the source of this entire chaos.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” I square my shoulders. “I didn’t ask for either of their attention. If you can keep your ace striker the hell away from me, I’d appreciate it.”
Silence falls on the table except for Xander who grins, showcasing his dimples. “No wonder she’s the best friend.”
“You think anyone can tell King anything?” Ronan shakes his head with a sly smile. “I mean, you’re the one he called adorable.”
“He… did?” the goalkeeper asks.
“I swear to God, I’m not shitting you. I still have the creeps, for real!” Ronan says. “Come on, Ellie. Record it for us next time.”
I can’t help but suppress a smile.
The football players who used to give me harsh stares are now watching me with… awe?
Cole clears his throat. “Knock it off, Ro.”
“Naw, come on, Captain. Don’t kill the fun.” Ronan stands on his chair. “I’m opening the auction with five hundred. Who’ll add?”
They each start adding numbers like in a real auction.
Huh.
The rich kids sure do it differently.
Cole shakes his head and opens a book. The Anatomy of Evil.
Hmm. Who knew a football player would be interested in such books? I’m stereotyping, though.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” Cole asks without paying me much attention. “You can have mine.”
“She doesn’t eat that.” Aiden’s voice sounds from behind me, and I hate the chills that shoot down my spine because of his presence.
He pushes Cole aside and sits beside me, holding out two plates. One has pasta. The tray he slides in front of me has salad and non-gluten pasta.
“Where did you get this from?” I look up at him. “The cafeteria doesn’t have this type of food.”
“They do now.”
They do now.
Just like that, he makes it happen.
I don’t want to be impressed that he brought me my first special meal at school, but I am. This is the most thoughtful thing anyone but my aunt and uncle has done for me. He remembered and he made it happen.
I peek at him from beneath my eyelashes.
Being on Aiden King’s good side is heaven. His bad side is complete hell.
It’s time to choose on which side to fall.
