I spend a few days at the hospital.
The sheer number of tests exhaust me and I can’t even complain.
Dad and Aunt stand next to me like grim reapers, not allowing me to say anything.
Turns out Aiden is a lot worse than them when it comes to my health.
He’s been there for every test, wheeling me from one department to the other. When I told him I could walk, he ignored me and continued his path.
At night, though, he’d sneak inside my room, spread my legs, and eat me for dinner. He said I’m too weak to be fucked, but he can still relax me with his tongue.
Relax me. As if.
I had to cover my face with the pillow so Dad and Aunt don’t hear my moans of pleasure from the other side of the room.
Aiden is a sex God. He doesn’t have to stimulate me for long and I’m soon screaming his name.
His dislocated shoulder has been healed. Since they removed the sling, he doesn’t allow anyone else to touch me. Not even the nurses.
One of them told me he has it bad, and I kind of agree.
I never thought I would like this side of Aiden, but I do. My chest flutters at witnessing his care and concern for me. It makes me feel special and loved.
This is Aiden after all. He never shows this side to anyone, not even his family.
When Levi and Astrid visited me yesterday, they kept asking me what type of voodoo spell I used.
Everyone else came by as well. Knox and Teal were waiting outside that first day I woke up and spent the night.
Today, they’re here again with the three horsemen and Kim.
Aiden lurks in the corner, cutting an apple for me, his face calm. However, the darkness beneath the surface radiates off him in waves. I can feel it without looking at him.
I know exactly why his demons are contemplating to come out and play.
Aiden is possessive — like over the top. He’s not so pleased that Ronan, Xander, and Knox are sitting on the bed, surrounding me, laughing and jesting about mundane things.
If it were up to Aiden, they’d all be thrown out — except for Kim and Teal. Actually, even the girls are debatable.
However, since he knows I’m happy about their company, he’s trying to control that side of him.
Thus far, he’s succeeding.
I act oblivious as I listen to Knox tell me about their last game and his ‘heroic’ performance.
“I’m telling you, Ellie.” Knox points at himself. “I’m Elites new ace striker.”
“Sorry, mate.” Xander grins, showcasing his charming dimples. “That position is already taken by me.”
“Screw both of you.” Ronan physically shoves them out of the way and takes my hand in his. “Do you know how worried I was, Ellie? I didn’t throw a party for an entire week.”
“Some commitment from the devil,” Teal mutters from her seat next to Cole.
They’re the only calm people in this place.
Teal’s T-shirt for the day reads, I’d agree with you, but we’d both be wrong.
Ronan doesn’t pay her attention and continues in his overly dramatic speech. “Bah alors, Ellie. You can’t get hurt when we’re going to get married.”
“Do you want to meet your maker, Astor?” Aiden’s sombre tone shoots towards us like sharp knives.
I suppress a smile with the back of my hand.
Ronan cocks his head as if deep in thoughts. “No?”
He leans over and takes both mine and Kim’s hands in his. “Seriously, though. I’ve been praying you survive and King doesn’t so we can have that threesome we agreed about.”
“I heard that,” Aiden says from above him.
“Remove your fucking hand.” Xander’s lighthearted mood vanishes as he glares at Ronan.
Kim blushes something fierce before she pulls her hand from Ronan’s.
Aiden smiles at Ronan, but there’s no humour whatsoever in it. “Isn’t that your dominant hand, Astor? It would be a shame if it somehow didn’t work tomorrow.”
Woah. Aiden can be really scary if he chooses to.
“Sick fucker,” Ronan whines, dropping my hand.
I catch Cole’s lips moving in my peripheral vision. ‘Pussy,’ he mouths at Ronan.
“Fais chier, connard.” The latter flips him the finger.
Cole just smiles. He’s like a cat toying with a mouse.
A hunter with a prey.
He sets the trap and sits back to watch his prey being caught.
I’m beginning to learn Cole only shows the tip of the iceberg to the world. There’s a whole lot of secrecy and darkness underneath the surface.
I can only imagine what it feels like to be his enemy.
Shivers.
After a while of joking and jesting — and Aiden sulking on the side — they stand to leave, promising to visit when I get discharged tomorrow.
“You don’t have to come.” Aiden shoves every one out of the door. He pauses at Xander. “You and I need to talk.”
Xander’s ocean eyes snap back to Kim who’s still standing beside me.
She pales, her hands digging into her skirt before she pulls at the sleeves of her pullover. She’s been doing that a lot since she came in.
Actually, she’s been having this wild gaze for a few days now.
Kim smiles, but she sucks at faking them. The grimace falls way too soon as she leans in to kiss me.
“Are you okay?” I clutch her hand.
“When you’re out,” she gulps. “I’ll tell you everything.”
“Okay.”
She hugs me again, sniffing in my neck. “I’m lucky to have you in my life, Ellie.”
“So am I, Kim.”
Xander doesn’t leave. He stands by the side of the door, slightly blocking it. He doesn’t attempt to give way and Kim has to stop.
“Can you move?” she snaps without looking at him.
“No.” He stares at the top of her green hair, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Just move out of the way, Xan—”
“Don’t say my fucking name.” He cuts her off.
Kim’s face reddens as she slams her shoulder into his shoulder and brushes past him.
He nods at Aiden and then follows her.
Aiden continues to watch down the hall with that calculative look before he shuts the door and joins me.
The mattress shifts as he sits beside me and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“What the hell was that all about?” I ask him. “Why did you tell Xander you needed to talk?”
“It’s for Reed’s sake.”
“K-Kim? Is she in danger?”
“Not yet.”
“Not yet?”
“I know how much she means to you.” He sighs. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Hear her side of the story first.” He strokes my hair back. “And then we’ll talk, okay?”
I nod slowly. As much as I want Aiden to tell me everything, Kim is my best friend. I need to hear what the hell is wrong from her.
Aiden retrieves the plate of the cut apples and places it in front of me. He’s back to sulking, but he still feeds me the slices.
I try to tell him that I can use my hands, but he’s not listening.
I take a bite and munch on it slowly. I study his profile as I eat. The strong jawline, the metal eyes and the dark strands I’m itching to ruffle up.
He’s mine.
All mine.
The thought fills me with a strange type of empowerment.
This boy who told me he’d destroy me is now my number one protector and carer. He would do anything to make me happy.
Turns out his plan with Agnus was about the Rhodes deal. Aiden and Dad’s right hand somehow convinced Tristan Rhodes he could get better results if he hired both King Enterprises and Steel Corporation in their respective field – King for imports and exports, Steel for copper and their mass productions.
Jonathan and Dad, ex-friends and rivals, are now partners.
This deal brought a certain type of peace to their strained relationship. I don’t have to worry about Jonathan anymore either.
Levi told me about the threat Aiden made against Jonathan. If he comes near me or interferes in our relationship again, Aiden will leave him without an heir.
I never wanted Aiden to go against his father, but the fact that he’s doing it for me makes me feel all fuzzy inside.
“Are you still mad about earlier?” I ask after the third bite.
“Hmm. So you knew I was mad.”
Oops.
He removes the hospital table and lowers himself atop of me. Before I can blink, Aiden grabs both my wrists and pins them onto the pillow over my head. “Was it fun, sweetheart?”
“Maybe.” I bite my lower lip, my heart hammering so loud, I’m sure he can hear it.
This side of Aiden is my addiction and my damnation.
I love his intensity and his madness.
I’m in love with his dark mind and twisted soul.
“Looks like I need to remind you who you belong to. Isn’t that right?”
I remain motionless, excitement and thrill filling me to the core.
His free hand caresses my bottom lip. “Answer me.”
“Yes.”
And then his lips claim mine.
