Chapter 30
Aurora
I sat with Ryker while Kaiden followed Owen outside, neither of us speaking to each other. I hadn’t expected either of them to show up today. The tension was suffocating, and Kaiden’s glare still lingered in my mind, making me feel like I’d been caught doing something wrong.
Owen and I had been talking a lot since he’d asked for my number. It was surprising, but he was good company. His constant texting had been keeping me sane over the past week. So, when he asked if he could come over, I didn’t think twice. I needed the company.
“Since when are you and Owen such good friends that you thought it was okay to invite him into my house?” Kaiden’s voice boomed as he stormed back inside.
Ryker stood abruptly, clearly sensing the brewing storm. “Yeah, that’s my cue. Good luck, Rory.” He hurried out the door, leaving me alone to face Kaiden.
“Well?” Kaiden demanded, his brow raised as he moved closer.
“I didn’t think you’d be back today,” I replied, trying to sound calm, though his presence made it difficult.
He laughed bitterly. “So that justifies bringing another man into my house? Tell me, Aurora, did you two fuck while I was gone?” His voice was low, laced with jealousy. I couldn’t tell if his words made me angry or oddly pleased.
“Sure,” I shot back with a smirk. “At least he could do what you couldn’t.”
His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. “So, because I didn’t fuck you, you decided to find someone else to scratch that itch? I didn’t realize you were such a slut.”
My hand moved before I could stop it, the sound of the slap echoing through the room. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” I said firmly, rising from the couch.
He touched his cheek where my hand had struck, his lips curling into a dangerous smile. “Your confidence is intriguing, Aurora, but let me remind you, I gave reasons to be confident, and I can take it away just as easily.” His voice dropped to a threatening whisper, sending a shiver down my spine.
“I don’t want to see you near Owen again,” he ordered, his tone sharp.
“And who are you to decide who I can see?” I scoffed, crossing my arms.
Kaiden laughed darkly, stepping closer until his breath brushed against my face. “Who am I?” he repeated mockingly. He gripped my chin tightly, forcing me to look at him. “I’m your owner, Aurora. I decide who you see, what you do, because you belong to me.”
His words sent a surge of anger through me, but I stayed silent as he released my chin with a rough push.
“If you disobey me, you’ll find out exactly what I’m capable of,” he warned, his voice chilling.
I glared at him, rebellion swirling in my chest. He didn’t want me, yet he wanted to control me? No. I wouldn’t let that happen.
“How have you been this past week?” Kaiden asked, his tone suddenly calm, as if the tension moments ago hadn’t existed. I was used to his mood swings by now, but it still caught me off guard.
“Great,” I replied curtly, sitting back down on the couch and pretending to focus on the show Owen and I had been watching.
Kaiden scoffed. “Clearly. You’ve gotten so comfortable that you’re inviting Owen over now.”
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“You invited Ariel over, so why can’t I do the same?” I shot back, meeting his gaze defiantly,
“Ariel is different!” he snapped. “You said Owen creeped you out, and now you’re suddenly bonding with him?”
“Well, turns out he’s nicer than I thought,” I replied coolly. “And I like him.”
Kaiden’s expression darkened. “You like him?” he repeated, his voice dangerously low.
I nodded, mostly to spite him. Watching his reaction was oddly satisfying.
“Do your feelings change that easily?” he asked, his voice laced with disdain, clear jab at my previous confession of love for him.
I opened my mouth to respond, but he raised a hand to silence me.
“I don’t care what you feel for him,” he said coldly. “Kill it. Stay away from him. That’s not a request.
I chewed on my inner lip, fully aware I had no intention of listening to Kaiden’s orders. My gaze trailed over him, and that’s when I noticed the silk robe he wore. Was that all he’d brought back from a business trip? But it wasn’t the robe itself that caught my attention. It was the crimson stain spreading across his abdomen.
Blood.
“What’s that?” I asked, panic rising as I shot up from the sofa and rushed toward him.
“It’s nothing of concern to you,” he dismissed, stepping back before I could reach him.
I narrowed my eyes, refusing to let it go. “Kaiden, let me see.” I stepped closer, reaching for the robe, but he grabbed my hand mid–air and yanked it away.
“I don’t know what you’re hoping to see, Aurora, but you’re not going to see me naked just yet,” he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
I felt my face heat at the realization. I hadn’t even thought about that. “I’m serious. Are you hurt?” I asked, the worry in my voice undeniable. The blood couldn’t be anything else.
“I’m fine!” he said, his tone sharp, brushing past me toward his room. I stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do, as he shut the door behind him.
Hours passed, and Kaiden still hadn’t come out of his room. I stayed on the sofa, keeping watch like some overly concerned babysitter. Dinner had come and gone, and I’d even tried yelling that I’d made food, but he hadn’t so much as react.
Normally, I won’t care much, but the memory of that bloodstain haunted me. He was hurt, and the possibility that he might pass out or worse–die, nagged at me. I couldn’t ignore it. He was an ass, but he was still my benefactor or owner, as he loved to call himself.
I walked to his door and knocked softly, shifting anxiously as I waited. Minutes passed before the door swung open, revealing Kaiden leaning against the frame, shirtless. His face was pale, beads of sweat clinging to his forehead.
“What do you want now, Aurora?” he mumbled, his voice low and strained. A quiet hiss escaped his lips as he adjusted his
stance.
My eyes dropped to his abdomen, where his hand pressed tightly against the source of the bleeding. His fingers were stained
crimson.
“Kaiden, are you okay?” I asked, stepping toward him.
“Do I look okay to you?” he snapped, moving aside to let me in.
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Chapter 30
I entered, watching as he shut the door and staggered toward the bed. He sat down heavily, leaning back slightly as if every movement pained him.
I followed, my eyes locking on the bandage wrapped around his abdomen. It was soaked through with blood.
“How did this happen?” I asked, standing in front of him.
“I didn’t let you in here so you could interrogate me,” he retorted, glaring up at me as he peeled his hand away from the wound.
The sight made my stomach twist. Though I wasn’t an expert, it was unmistakably a bullet wound.
I knelt instinctively, leaning closer to get a better look. I reached out, fingers trembling, but he caught my wrist with a firm grip.
“Don’t touch it,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Help me stitch it.”
“I don’t know how to do that,” I admitted, panic creeping into my voice.
“I’ll teach you,” he said with a faint smile, but I shook my head in protest.
“We need to go to the hospital,” I argued, but he immediately shook his head.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said firmly. “So you have two choices, either help me stitch this up or stand there and watch me bleed to death.” His tone was dismissive, like his life meant nothing to him.
“How can you joke about dying like that?” I snapped, tears welling in my eyes at the thought.
He chuckled softly, though it was pained. “Good to know you still care enough to cry over me,” he teased, wiping away a tear before it fell.
“The medical box is in my wardrobe,” he added, motioning toward the closet.
I hesitated but eventually stood, pulling the box from its place and setting it on the floor beside him. Sitting down again, I opened the box, my hands shaking as I took in the tools inside. I glanced up at him, unsure where to start.
“Disinfect the wound first,” he instructed, his voice steady despite the pain.
“Good girl,” Kaiden murmured, his voice low and approving. “Now, grab the needle and thread.”
I did as he instructed, my hands trembling as I worked. Surprisingly, I managed to stitch him up without faltering, though my heart was pounding the entire time. When I was done, I wrapped a fresh bandage around his abdomen, securing it as tightly as I could.
“See? I didn’t bleed to death, now did I, love?“he teased, his smirk irritatingly smug as I stood back to look at him.
“I don’t like you joking about dying,” I said firmly, crossing my arms as his smile widened.
“I won’t be dying anytime soon, Aurora. You’ve got nothing to worry about,” he replied softly. Before I could respond, he pulled me into his lap, catching me completely off guard.
“Kaiden, your wound-”
“My wound is fine. You sitting on my lap isn’t going to tear it open,” he cut me off, his tone reassuring.
I hesitated, torn between concern and the unexpected intimacy. “But how did you get shot?” I asked again, my voice quieter
this time.
“You can’t handle the truth,” he said, his expression hardening. “So stop asking.”
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“How do you know I can’t handle it?” I challenged, narrowing my eyes at him. “Are you in some sort of mafia? Or maybe-”
He silenced me by capturing my lips in a kiss, stunning me by the act. I blinked my eyes, recovering from the shock as I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me. Our lips moved together in a sync and what started out as a soft kiss, soon turned rough with our lips intertwined.
“Fuck, I missed you.” He whispered against my lips, pulling away so we could both catch our breath.
“I missed you too.” I admitted, my body hot from the kiss. He smirked at me before claiming my lips again, this time deeper..
Without breaking the kiss, I felt him stand up, my body hitting the soft bed. His lips trailed down kisses on my neck, nibbling on the sensitive area around it. A moan escaped my lips, and I could feel him smile against my neck. He moved to my exposed collarbone, leaving torturous kisses around it, that had sounds falling out of my lips.
He pulled away from the kiss, and I was sure he was going to stop just as he always did when we got to this point, but he surprised me by lifting my shirt up and pulling it over my head.
“Relax love. I won’t hurt you.” He whispered when my breath turned unsteady torn between anticipation and fear.
I nodded meekly, but it didn’t calm my raising heart. Maybe he was right when he said I wasn’t ready.
“Should I fuck you…” He trailed, his lips brushing the swell of my breast over my bra, “Or not?” He asked unhooking my bra.
“Kaiden…” I moaned when his teeth grazed the swell of my breast
“Yes love.” He responded teasingly, pulling the bra off my breast completely.
“Answer me, Aurora.” He commanded, biting my nipples without warning, and sending a jolt of pleasure to me than pain I had expected.
“Fuck…” I whispered, clouded with pleasure as he nibble on my breast lightly.
“Tell me to stop now.” He commanded against my nipple, I couldn’t tell if he was teasing me or was honest about asking him to stop. I could feel his hard on pressed against my thigh lightly.
I whined when he pulled away from me suddenly, just when I was enjoying it.
“Kaiden.” I called out, lowly. I wanted to yell at him for continuously frustrating me, but when I stared at his expression on his face and then looked at the bandage which had a small stain of blood, I realized why he stopped.
“Did I hurt you?” I asked, the anger evaporating replaced with guilt.
“It’s fine baby, let’s go to bed okay?” He said softly, his voice calm yet tired.
I moved to grab my shirt but he stopped me.
“I want you naked.” He said darkly, surprising me by the possessiveness. I bite my lips nervously, before pulling my shorts off my body as he watched me like a predator.
“Stop.” He ordered as my hands reached for the band of my panties, to pull it off.
I froze, looking at him in confusion, but he stood and moved behind me, his presence towering over me. His hand slid to my waist, pulling me against him as his hardened length pressed against me through the fabric of his robe.
“Sleep, love.” He commanded softly, his hot breath fanning my ears as I shut my eyes close, letting the darkness consume
- me.
