by K E Osborn
Aiden watches me the entire ride home, but I keep staring out the window, not saying a word. The tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife. He places his hand on the seat between us, I think in hope I will take it, but instead, I shuffle closer to the window.
We arrive at the apartment, and I slowly ease out of the car and move away from Mike as quickly as I can.
He creases his brows at me. “Miss Taylor, are you all right?”
I nod and rush to the elevator, but it’s more of a shuffle, not even waiting for Aiden. He steps out of the car making his way over to me as I frantically push the button to call the elevator. Finally, the doors open, and I step in. Aiden hesitantly follows while Mike watches closely.
“It’s good to have you back, Miss Taylor.”
I nod in response and move sideways in the elevator away from Aiden as he continues his relentless staring at me.
“Stop it,” I whisper.
“Stop what?”
“You’re staring. It’s making me uncomfortable.”
His eyes glisten, but he looks away and sighs. “Jeni, I—”
“Don’t,” I say loudly, stopping him mid-sentence.
The doors open to the apartment, and as I step in, the table is still smashed, and the flowers are all over the floor. I gasp loudly as I look around the room.
Aiden instantly rushes in to clean up the mess. “I forgot Marissa’s on vacation. I was so worried about you I stayed at the hospital and didn’t have time to clean this shit up. I’m sorry.”
I don’t say anything and walk past him to the bedroom, feeling the emotion building. My eyes well with tears as I sit on the edge of the bed while memories of Jason walking out of the elevator fill my mind. A shiver takes over as Aiden approaches the bedroom. He stops in the doorway, blocking my only way out, and that single move causes my breathing to shallow, then his eyes meet mine. My breath catches, my adrenaline spiking.
“I think we should talk,” Aiden murmurs, walking into the dark room.
I freeze when he approaches me and continue to shake, the feeling overpowering.
Aiden senses my fear and stops walking, putting his hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you, Jeni. I never could.” He walks around to the chair opposite me. The move easing my nerves slightly.
“Jeni, talk to me, please?” he begs.
All I can do is look at him while tears fall down my cheeks.
“Jeni, don’t cry. I want to help. What can I do? Tell me. Anything, I’ll do anything,” he pleads with me. He moves forward, and I flinch so he pulls back. “Why don’t you want me to touch you?”
I hesitate. “Because… I’m afraid,” I whisper.
His body slumps. “You’re scared of me?” he asks, trying to understand the concept in his own mind. “Jeni, you’ve no reason, I love you more than anything in this world. I cherish you. Don’t you understand? I could never hurt you. Not ever.” He edges closer again, but I stand and take a step away from him. He stands too, his face is full of pain and hurt.
“Aiden… I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you love me,” he whispers.
All I can do is back away from him. He takes a step closer. My heart’s hammering in my chest as my flight instinct kicks in. My back hits the wall, and I freeze as he continues to walk toward me.
My breathing quickens, and panic sets in.
I turn my head away when he reaches me, but he pulls me to him in a massive hug. I lose it and freak out at the close proximity. I scream and cry as he continues to hold on tightly, so I bang my fists against his chest trying to escape his tight hold.
“Let. Me. Go,” I yell. “Let me go. Let me go,” I yell, struggling in his grasp.
His knees give way, and we both fall to the floor, and he starts to sob, distracting me from whatever the hell is going through my mind right now. I hear him saying something as he begins to rock me back and forth.
“I love you. I love you. I love you,” he mutters repeatedly.
I stop struggling and give in to the embrace, and he nuzzles into my neck.
“I can’t lose you,” he whispers into my ear.
Tears stream down our faces, but eventually he gently lets me go, and I scurry away from him.
He’s broken.
I’ve broken him.
I cry uncontrollably, not knowing why I am reacting this way toward Aiden, but then words start spewing from my mouth, and I have no idea where they come from. “Why weren’t you there?” I yell.
“Where?”
“Here? When Jason came in. You were only going to be five minutes. Why did you take so long? Why? Why didn’t you protect me? You said you would never let anyone hurt me,” I yell at him, and at that moment, it hits me.
I’m angry.
Angry with him for leaving when he did and not protecting me.
It’s a revelation to both him and me.
Except, I know it’s totally irrational, but I can’t seem to get my mind to stop the feelings.
I’m terrified I am going insane.
“I keep asking myself the same question, baby. All I want to do is protect and love you and keep you safe, and I failed. I know I did. I’ll make it up to you. I will prove that I love you beyond a shadow of a doubt and that we belong together. You know it’s true. Don’t you?”
I find the strength to stand and make my way past him and to the closet to grab a small suitcase.
“What are you doing?”
“I have to go. I can’t stay here. There are too many memories. I’m too confused,” I say piling clothes into the suitcase.
He touches my arm, and I flinch.
I spin around and stare into his eyes. “I can’t be with you.”
He holds my arm softly. “Jeni…”
I shake my arm and push his chest, making him step backward.
“Jeni, please,” he begs.
I continue packing and make my way to the ensuite. Every step is an effort for me.
“Jeni, we need to talk about this. You don’t have to leave. We will get counseling. I’ll sleep on the sofa. Anything. Just don’t leave.”
“I have to. I can’t stay here.”
“Then we’ll go somewhere else. We can go on a vacation, just you and me, anywhere you want to go. We can go back to Vienna. Or to the beachside cottage. Anywhere, baby. You name it.”
“No,” I respond simply.
He looks around the room frantically searching for something to help him with his plight. “What about us? What does this mean?”
“There is no us right now.” I move back into the bedroom, and he follows like a lost puppy.
“I’m sorry, I wish I was quicker. I’ll regret that for the rest of my life.”
“Wishing never gets you anywhere. It doesn’t change the fact that you weren’t here.”
“I’ll always love you. Don’t leave. I can’t do this without you.” His eyes are full of tears.
“You’ll have to learn.” I zip up my luggage and shuffle out of the bedroom.
He follows me to the elevator with a look of panic and yet, somehow, defeat.
“I tried, Aiden. I did. But I can’t bear to be near you at the moment, and I definitely can’t be here in this apartment. There’s too many memories...”
“So, there’s hope, then? You’ll come back after you’ve had some time?”
“I don’t know… all I do know is I can’t be with you right now.”
“So, maybe later?”
I shrug.
He exhales, and his eyes brighten as I step toward him. I take my engagement ring off and place it in his hand. A tear forms in my eye, and it slowly rolls down my cheek.
He looks at the ring and then back at me.
My breath catches as I step back toward the elevator and press the button. “Goodbye, Aiden.”
He drops to his knees, the sight breaking my heart as he clutches my ring to his chest, and the doors start to close. I scrunch my eyes tight to rid myself of the image. I
t hurts too damn much to witness.
“Don’t do this. I love you. Jeni. Do you still love me?”
There’s only one answer, but it won’t change the outcome.
“I do.”
in
All of Me –The Trust Me Series Book Three
Click here to purchase
BLURB
Sometimes you have to give all or nothing…
Aiden O’Connell—exonerated, determined, steadfast, and brokenhearted.
I tried to stand by him. I failed. After the attack, my mind altered. I couldn’t see anything but my ex—all men are the same.
Our love now gone.
Everything is harder.
His father totally out of control, I have signs of PTSD, and an unexpected death makes everything change in ways we couldn’t have predicted.
Life with Aiden was never meant to be easy, but now maybe it can move forward for us both…
From International Bestselling Author, K E Osborn, comes, All of Me Book Three in the Trust Me Series (previously published in 2014). This series has been re-edited with new content and a new cover.
Complete Me – The Trust Me Series Book Four
Click here to purchase
PREFER A STANDALONE BOOK?
Without Exception
BLURB
Alex Scott is an asshole!
He’s rude, obnoxious, and hell-bent on evicting me from the tattoo studio my parents and I worked so hard to perfect. It’s not just a shop to me, this place holds life, it affirms love, it contains memories, and when my world fell to pieces twelve months ago, it’s what kept me from doing the same.
But through the darkness, there’s one shining light. A client. Xander. He’s secretive, he comes and goes whenever he pleases, but our connection is obvious. However, his identity remains a mystery.
While Alex Scott’s constant emailing regarding my eviction is driving me crazy, at the same time Xander’s sweeping me off my feet. The two men couldn’t be more polar opposite. One’s a brooding warmonger, hungry for action. The other’s a kind, sweet, caring soul who’s only out to look after my autistic brother and me.
Conflict - Betrayal - Lust - Angst
Without exception, my heart will break, but who will be the man to put it back together again?
IS AN MC SERIES MORE YOUR STYLE?
Resistance – The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 1
BLURB
Life can alter in the blink of an eye.
My club – constantly under siege by the Italian mafia.
My city – in a war lasting two generations caused by our fathers.
Yet, in amongst the turmoil, I met her.
In a froyo store.
This sassy woman who’s ready to throw down and defend her friends against my brothers and me.
But we aren’t the enemies in this story, and little did she know our chance encounter would set us along a different path.
This story isn’t full of partying and fun – it’s chaos, carnage, deception, and lies.
War – it’s brutal.
Can you resist?
In this gritty MC romance, it’s a fight for their city, their club, and above all, their women. Enter the world of Chicago Defiance MC by internationally bestselling author, KE Osborn.
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
Penance – The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 2
Deviance – The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 3
Sufferance - The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 4
Acceptance - The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 5
Balance - The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 6
Defiance - The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 7
Allegiance - The Chicago Defiance MC Series Book 8
The Chicago Defiance MC Series Box Set – Books 1-8
LIKE YOUR BOOKS IN AUDIO?
Resistance – The Chicago Defiance MC Series Audiobook 1
Penance – The Chicago Defiance MC Series Audiobook 2
Deviance – The Chicago Defiance MC Series Audiobook 3
ANOTHER MC SERIES YOU MAY LIKE
The Houston Defiance MC Series
Click here to view the series link
Explosive – Book One
BLURB
I couldn’t walk away.
It’s not who I am.
The moment I saw Rayne broken and bloodied, I knew I wasn’t leaving without her.
As the president of the Houston Defiance MC, my job is to protect. And there’s no taming the rage building inside my body, screaming at me to shield her from the husband who’s beating her day in and day out.
Taking her was never in my plans, but plans change.
I don’t care if she’s married.
Or that her husband’s a cop.
Our connection is explosive, it’s dangerous, it’s intoxicating.
And I’m fast being swept up in her storm.
It’s something I can’t ignore.
I thought the enemy was clear, and I was ready to fight.
But maybe there’s a threat we didn’t see coming?
Maybe there’s someone closer to us than we ever could have imagined.
Someone who could be the destruction of us both.
ANOTHER MC SERIES YOU MAY LIKE
Steel - Satan’s Savages MC Series Book 1
#1 Bestseller in Amazon Categories Erotic Thrillers and Erotic Suspense
BLURB
My name is Steel.
A Marauder Japanese Steel Knife is my weapon of choice.
I’m a hard-core, callous, biker in the Satan’s Savages MC.
I wasn’t meant to fall for someone like her.
My name is Willow.
I’m a kindergarten teacher.
I’m kind and gentle, but I’m sick of living the simple life.
I need something different.
She is sassy.
He is cocky.
They are drawn together by fate.
But together they could lose it all.
Willow isn’t meant for my world. So when she’s thrust into it, can she accept who I am? Will my brothers welcome her as a part of the brotherhood? Or will I have to protect her from the brothers I’ve grown to love?
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
Flame – Satan’s Savages MC Series Book 2
Stealth – Satan’s Savages MC Series Book 3
Crazed – Satan’s Savages MC Series Book 4
Sharp – Satan’s Savages MC Series Book 5
Steeling Christmas – Satan’s Savages MC Series Book 6
Satan’s Savages Series Box Set
A spin-off from the Satan’s Savages MC Series
Shattered- The Shattered Heart Series Book 1
Healed – The Shattered Heart Series Book 2
The Shattered Heart Series Box Set
PREFER ROCK STAR BOOKS
Pulse – The Luminous Rock Series Book 1
Breathe – The Luminous Rock Series Book 2
The Luminous Rock Series Box Set
BLURB
Thump.
That’s what my heart did when I saw her.
The vivacious lead singer of the world-famous band, Luminous.
Effa’s bubbly, quirky, and she’s about to rock my world.
Working for the all-female rock group, life should be a breeze though it’s anything but. What with me leaving someone behind in a life and death struggle, Effa having difficulties with backing band stalkers, and general on the road drama, our lives together are anything but normal.
Lines are blurred, jealousy flares, times are tense, and revenge is best served cold.
Effa sets my pulse racing, and she’s going to change everything.
Pick – The Recoil Rock Series Book 1
Plucker – The Recoil Rock Series Book 2
Snare – The Recoil Rock Series Book 3
Fret – The Recoil Rock Series Book 4
The Recoil Series Box Set
BLURB
&
nbsp; Danger.
Death.
Fear.
Loss.
Four words that can change the course of your life.
Even fame and fortune can’t save you from chaos.
The rockers from Recoil have done it tough.
The lead singer, Danger, deserted them at their peak of fame for the woman he loved.
But when that crashed and burned, Danger longed for the success he knew he could have with his band.
But reforming and going on tour isn’t as clean cut as it may first seem.
The press will hound you and those you bring into the fold.
You might not see eye to eye with the people you hire.
And when their tour ends dramatically, what’s left after the music ends?
Chaos.
Heartache.
Misunderstandings.
Surprises.
When boundaries are tested will these four rockers find what they truly desire?
Will they find their happiness in music, life... love?
The Recoil Rock Series.
CO-AUTHORED BOOKS BY ADDISON JANE AND KE OSBORN
Deceit – The Vindicated Series Book 1
Liberate – The Vindicated Series Book 2
Revive – The Vindicated Series Book 3
On a more serious note:
