Chapter 21
Aurora
“So, you’re telling me Mr. Thane didn’t punish you for clubbing?” Layla asked, her voice thick with disbelief.
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“That’s what I’ve been trying to explain since you got here hours ago,” I said, tearing my eyes from the book in my hands to look at her.
“I just can’t wrap my head around it. He looked like he was ready to chop my head off that night, and yet he let you off the hook? Damn, that man is head over heels for you,” she declared, throwing her hands in the air.
I set the book down, fixing her with a pointed look. “No, he’s not,” I argued, the memory of how quickly he’d pushed me away after luring me in making my chest tighten.
“He is,” she countered, her grin widening. “Have you seen the way he looks at you? Like you’re the only girl in the world. I bet it’s only a matter of time before he makes a move on you.”
If only she knew how many moves he’d already made–enough to have me craving more, even when I knew it was all
wrong.
Her eyes narrowed, a spark of mischief lighting them. “Wait… he’s already made a move, hasn’t he?”
My cheeks burned, and I cursed my inability to keep my emotions off my face.
“You sneaky bitch!” she squealed, grabbing my hand. “Spill the details. Did you guys have sex?”
“No!” I blurted out, hating how disappointed I sounded. What was wrong with me, feeling upset that he hadn’t? Clearly, Layla had gotten into my head too much.
“Then what happened?” she pressed, clearly frustrated.
“We kissed.” The words came out short and clipped as I turned back to my book–or tried to.
Layla yanked the book from my hands. “That’s it?”
“What more were you expecting to hear?” I snapped, even though I knew exactly what she wanted me to say.
I bit my lip, memories flooding back. That kiss had stirred feelings I hadn’t even known I could have. Maybe it was because male attention wasn’t something I was used to. Or maybe because it was him.
“I guess you’ll just have to seduce him,” Layla said suddenly, her tone casual, like she was suggesting what to have for lunch.
“What?” I nearly shouted, my eyes widening as I tried to process her words.
“You heard me. Since he wants to play the gentleman, we’ll just have to push his limits,” she explained with a wicked grin.
“I’m sorry, but there is no way I’m doing that,” I shot back, grabbing my book from her hand.
“Come on, don’t tell me you don’t want him anymore,” she challenged, leaning closer.
I wanted him more than I cared to admit. From the moment I saw him, I’d been drawn to his cold, unreachable presence. didn’t make sense, really. I should have been drawn to someone like Ryker–kind, open, and understanding. But instead, 1 chose the tougher nut to crack.
“Fine,” Layla said, throwing up her hands. “I won’t force you to seduce him, but don’t complain when all you get is another
kiss.”
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“You’ve shifted from being my babysitter to try relationship counselor” I muttered, raising my eyes from the book I wasn’t reading
I’m not your babysitter anymore” she said, arching a brow. “Didn’t Mr. Thane tell you? He fired me.”
“What? Why?” I demanded, towing the book arade.
“Punishment for leading you to the club,” she said with a shrug, as if it were nothing
My heart sank as guilt flooded me. T’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gone with you”
She squeezed my hand, a smile tugging at her lips. “Don’t feel bad, Rory. I wasn’t really babysitting you, anyway. Taking money for a job I wasn’t actually doing? That felt worse. And besides..” She grinned. “We’re friends now, so it all worked out.”
Her words cased the sting, but not entirely. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all my fault.
“How do you plan on paying your father’s medical bills now?” I asked with concern. I learnt that Layla’s father was a cancer patient, stage 2 cancer which was why she was working so hard to be able to pay his medical bills.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Rory. Let’s just say Mr Thane pays quite a lot of money for just being your babysitter. He already covered my father’s medical bills as compensation” She beamed at me.
“He did?” I asked in surprise.
“Mr Thane is quite generous and kind though he looks cold” She says with a smile on her face. I agreed with her on that.
Our conversation was interrupted by the opening of the apartment and we both stared at my room door.
“Who do you think it could be?” Layla asked as she stood up from the bed, walking over to my door.
“Probably Kaiden.” I responded, pretending to not care, though my heart raced already with the thought.
She pulled the door open revealing Kaiden standing in front of my door.
“You are back, Mr Thane.” She beamed at him, almost looking dreamy.
“Yes I am. Didn’t think you will still here.” He responded coldly, looking past her. Our eyes locked for split minute, sending butterflies in my stomach.
“I was just leaving.” Layla said, stepping back to the room and grabbing her bag. She sent me a knowing wink.
“See you next time, Mr Thane.” She said as walked past him. He acknowledged her with a curt nod.
“Welcome home.” I said breaking the silence after Layla left. He didn’t respond instead he walked inside the room, glancing around it as though it was his first time inside.
“Did you miss me?” He asked in a light tone. Seems he was back to the playful him.
“No, I didn’t. I was with Layla to miss you.” I lied, breaking eye contact.
A small, knowing smirk tugged at his lips. He could always read me too well. Without a word, he moved closer, the bed dipping as he sat down beside me.
The tension between us thickened as he leaned in, his face inches from mine. My heart raced, but I turned away at the last second, putting distance between us. I refuse to keep allowing him mess with my mental reasoning.
His exhale brushed against my skin, warm and tinged with frustration. His calm exterior cracked as anger flashed in his eyes. “What exactly do you want, Aurora?” he snapped, his voice sharp as he grabbed my chin, his fingers pressing hard enough to
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Chapter 21
make me wince.
“You’re hurting me, Kaiden,” I whispered, the pain sharp enough to draw tears to my eyes.
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“You wanted me last night,” he growled, his nails digging into my skin, “and now you’re avoiding me like I’m some kind of plague. What the fuck do you humans even want?”
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I bit back a retort, the sting of his grip silencing me. My mind raced, flashes of my past surfacing–memories of my father’s unrelenting anger, his refusal to listen until I collapsed.
“Please, Kaiden,” I pleaded softly, shutting my eyes. “Let go.”
His grip loosened almost instantly, the anger in his expression melting into something raw and self–loathing.
“I hurt you,” he muttered, his voice thick with disgust. “I fucking hurt you.”
His eyes flickered, torn between regret and something darker. He stood abruptly, running a hand through his hair. “Ryker was right,” he said bitterly, a hollow laugh escaping his lips.
“Ryker was right about what?” I asked, standing as well.
He yanked his hand away when I reached for him. “Don’t touch me, Aurora. I don’t want to do more damage,” he said coldly, his voice trembling.
“You didn’t mean to hurt me,” I said gently, ignoring his warning as I cupped his face. He didn’t pull away this time. “See? I’m fine,” I added with a small smile, though the ache in my jaw told a different story.
“No you are not fine.” He responded dismissively, pushing my hands away as he eyes locked on my face, particularly staring at wound on my
face.
“Kaiden-
“Don’t, Aurora.” He warned coldly as I tried to reach for him again. I ignored his warning and caressed his face without thinking, I closed the gap between us.
His lips didn’t respond for a second, as if stunned by my boldness, he sighed in my mouth before wrapping his hands around my waist.
His lips moved against my lips, almost knocking my senses off from the intensity of the kiss. He moved his hands to my hair, tugging it softly. He moved his lips to my neck, trailing kisses around it.
A moan escaped my lips, when he nibbled the sensitive area around my neck. I whined from lost of touch when he pulled away from me.
“You’re driving me crazy, love.” He whispered, his eyes filled with lust as he stared at me, caressing my face.
“You shouldn’t be tempting me so much, Aurora.” He said lowly, tracing the sides of my face with his fingers. “If you tempt me too much, I’m not sure how long I can hold out.” He added seductively.
“Then don’t resist.” I said confidently, staring straight in his eyes.
“Careful what you ask for, love. You might not live to regret it.” He warned,
his eyes
darkened.
What did he mean by that?
I was not given the time to process his words, because he claimed my lips again but this time more rougher than the first.
I gasped when he pushed me on the bed softly, my body shivered in excitement from the way he watched me like a predator.
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He creeped on the bed slowly, tracing my exposed legs with his hands without breaking eye contact, my short floral skirt 1 wore leaving line to imagination
His fingers inced higher with deliberate slowness, pausing at my pant area, causing my breathing to turn frantic with antipation and fear
He witdrew his fingers slowly, “I need to stop now, Aurora” He muttered, though he seemed reluctant.
“Why?” I asked out of breath from the adrenaline popping in my veins.
He didn’t respond, instead he hovered over my body, shutting my mental reasoning with another kiss that spoke different
emotions
“I don’t want to hurt you, love.” He mumbled against my lips.
“Why do you keep saying that?” I asked softly, searching his face for answers he seemed unwilling to share.
Kaiden’s eyes flickered with something I couldn’t understand. He didn’t respond but pulled away and settled beside me on the bed. Gently, he lifted my head, guiding it to rest on his chest.
“Let’s just go to bed, love,” he said quietly, his fingers weaving through my hair in soothing strokes.
I shut my eyes, surrendering to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Despite the unanswered questions swirling in my mind. I allowed myself to bask in the comfort of his presence.
B
