Xander helps me in getting Kim to the guest room. I tried to stop him, but he wasn’t hearing my protests.
As soon as he placed her on the bed, I kicked him out and turned the key.
After removing her shoes, I tuck Kim in and cover her with a sheet. She’s mumbling something that sounds like Ode to Joy by the time I shimmy out of my uniform and bra. I remain in boy shorts and my sleeveless T-shirt.
I lie next to Kim.
Exhaustion rears on my nerves endings, but for the life of me, I can’t fall asleep. The bed is comfy and the pillow seems to be filled with feathers. The guest room is as sterile as a hotel room. All white and prim with nothing personal in sight.
As I stare at the ceiling, all I keep thinking about is the chaos that happened today. Dr Khan then Silver then Jonathan King.
Aiden had to be the cherry on top by deciding to be a jerk.
I didn’t miss how he stood by the side of the door while I kicked Xander out.
I puff a frustrated breath and screw my lids shut.
Half an hour later, I still can’t sleep. I skim through Instagram and get bored soon after. I push the covers away and slip on a bathrobe before getting out.
The house is eerily calm as I make my way to the kitchen. The boys must’ve all left and Aiden is fast asleep.
On the counter, I find chips and whipped cream and even some untouched Hamburgers. I sit down on the stool and devour them all. The rich taste fills my mouth.
Aunt would kill me for this, but it’s been forever since I had my last junk meal. Maybe years? Uncle used to take me for a random junk meal occasionally — and in secret, but after my heart acted up in middle school, he stopped the habit altogether.
Half of me feels like a sinner, but the other half just enjoys this rare meal. Once done, I clean up the kitchen and head back to the room.
Then, a crazy idea comes to mind. I want to see where Aiden sleeps. It’s stupid after all what he’s done, but it’s not fair that he saw my room but I didn’t see his.
I go downstairs where I saw him head earlier and suppress a yelp whenever an automatic soft light goes on. It’s impossible to sneak about in this house.
A sound of splashing water comes from my right and I follow it like a curious kitten. I round the corner and stop in front of double glass doors.
On the other side, water glints under a closed dome. The indoor pool is completely dark aside from the soft white lights coming from within the water.
Aiden sits on the steps, half into the water and half above it. He’s not swimming or attempting to. He just sits there, his naked back rippling with tension and his arrow tattoos pointing at his sides.
The mere sight of water increases my breathing. My hands turn clammy and the itch to scrub them overwhelms me.
You can do this.
With one last deep breath, I open the door and slip inside.
Aiden’s head cocks to the side in my direction. His wet inky hair falls in a perfectly imperfect mess across his forehead. Droplets of water draw a path along the fine hairs of his chest and the rippled abs and to underneath his black boxer briefs. I find myself following them as if I’m enchanted.
I’m supposed to be mad at him, damn it.
“I was coming to get you.”
I halt a safe distance away from the water. “I locked the door.”
“Do you think a locked door will keep me away from what’s mine, sweetheart?”
“I’m mad at you. If I want you to stay out, you’ll stay out.”
“Sure thing.” He doesn’t seem to believe a word I say. “Now, remove that robe and come join me.”
“No way!” My shout borders on hysterical as I fist my hand into the robe.
He tilts his head further. “Saying ‘no’ doesn’t have to be your knee-jerk reaction to everything I ask.”
“It’s not that.” I motion vaguely at the pool. The bottom isn’t even visible. “Deep water scares me.”
His smokey gaze roams over me for a second as if he’s contemplating the information. “I’m on the steps. You won’t drown.”
“Still no.” I clutch the railings. “Besides, did you miss the part where I’m mad at you?”
“I’m mad at you, too. We can be mad at each other while you’re sitting on my lap.”
While my body is tempted by his offer, my gaze strays to the pool then away again. There’s no way I’m getting into the water. Hell, I can’t even look at it for more than a second without feeling something crawling along my skin.
“You can come willingly or I’ll drag you.”
I huff and turn to leave.
“Don’t run or I’ll feel the need to chase and conquer, sweetheart.”
A part of me wants to do just that and see his reaction, but for today, I’m a coward. And he’s right, we’re both mad at each other and I hate it.
I hate that we’re not close when this is my first visit to his house.
I open the robe and hang it on the railing, remaining in a sleeveless white T-shirt and boy shorts. My steps are cautious as I approach the pool where Aiden awaits me with a furrowed brow.
“How about we go to your room?” I ask as a last resort.
“Next time.”
Once I’m within reach, Aiden clasps his hand around my wrist and tugs me down. I yelp as I splash in the water to my middle. I land on his lap facing deep, dark water.
My heart slams in my chest, wanting out. Needing out. I feel the colour drain from my face as I continue staring at the water.
This isn’t real. It isn’t real.
“Hey,” Aiden’s hands snake along my neck. I turn around so my knees are on each side of his thighs on the steps and my chest is flush against his. I wrap my arms around his neck and hide my face in the crook of his shoulders, breathing heavily into his skin.
“Talk to me,” Aiden’s fingers dig into my hair and he undoes my bun, letting my hair fall to my shoulders.
“I hate it.” My voice trembles. “I hate so much water.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I wish I knew.”
“Then let’s talk about something else.”
I open my eyes the slightest bit, my breathing still ragged. “Like what?”
“Like how you celebrated with the guys earlier when I was sitting right there.”
I chuckle. “Are you being jealous right now?”
“I’m stating facts.”
“Right.” I jab his shoulders. “Besides, I didn’t agree to be your girlfriend yet.”
His arms tighten around my waist in a vice-like grip. “Titles don’t matter, the only thing that matters is that you’re mine. Stop acting like you aren’t.”
“And you stop making me distrust you.” I palm his cheeks. “I want to trust you, Aiden, I really do, so help me out.”
With me on top of him, he plunges in the water. I shriek when I’m drowned to my neck.
“Damn it, Aiden. This isn’t the way to help me trust you.”
“Shhh.” he soothes as my limbs shake. “Trust me.”
I hold onto him with all my might because if I don’t, I’ll be left to the merciless water.
“Aiden…” I warn.
“Just imagine that it’s only us here.”
“I can’t.” The water is about to swallow me. Those hands will keep me down. I won’t be able to breathe or —
Aiden’s lips press against mine in a slow, dominant kiss. His fingers thread into my hair as he continues his relentless exploration.
Fear is the least of my worries as he trails his lips to the hollow of my throat then to my transparent rosy nipple through the soaked white cloth. He bites down on the hard tip, and I moan, my head tipping back.
He divides his attention between my two breasts; sucking, biting, and teasing.
His free hand pulls my boy shorts down until he finds my aching pussy. My head falls on his shoulder where the water barely reaches his collarbone.
His fingers find my folds and he rubs up and down before thrusting inside me with two fingers at the same time.
“Oh, God,” I breathe into him.
“Relax,” he rasps into my ear, working me faster.
I mentally order my body to loosen the tension.
Then, Aiden is kissing me again and it’s like an aphrodisiac. I thread my fingers into the back of his wet hair as I kiss him back with complete abandon.
A different tension builds inside me and I let go. I cave into Aiden and come in a wordless cry.
But he’s not done.
No.
He backs me against the edge of the pool. My back hits the cold tiles and he wraps my legs around his waist as he thrusts inside me.
I gasp, holding onto his shoulders. He kisses me wildly and with untamed frenzy as he pounds into me. My arse hits the tiles with each of his merciless thrusts. The water intensifies the friction at one second and takes it away the next. It’s like a game.
“Aiden…” My nails dig into the rippling muscles of his back.
“What is it, sweetheart?” he grunts against my mouth.
“I… I…”
He wraps his hand around my throat, and something inside me cracks.
I come at the same time as his thrusts turn wild. He pulls almost completely out of me and then pushes back in.
When he softens inside me, I hide my face in his neck, tears rimming my eyes.
Aiden just took a scary place and turned it into a happy place.
I palm his cheeks and kiss him as he carries me out with my legs wrapped around his waist.
