by Kent, Rina
My head spins. “Why?”
“Because I fucking said so.”
“I’m sorry, your majesty, but I don’t do things because you fucking said so.”
“Elsa…” He growls, deep and low.
“Tell me why.”
“This is one of the times where you just say yes and don’t argue with me.”
“Or what?”
His metallic eyes turn calculative. “Or I’ll get Reed drunk and let Knight take her home.”
“You… wouldn’t.”
“Watch me.” He brushes past me into a room.
My heart skips a beat.
I just provoked the ugly, monstrous side of Aiden. The side who doesn’t care who he hurts as long as he gets what he wants.
For him, Kim is just a means to an end — which is me. He used her before and will use her again to prove he can make me agree to whatever he wishes.
He knows how much Kim means to me and that I won’t hesitate to protect her.
What he doesn’t know is that two can play this game.
This time, Aiden isn’t going to win.
Chapter Forty-Two
I should’ve known that this night will be a disaster the moment Cole and Kim walked into the theatre room together.
Or when Xander’s jaw ticked.
Or when Aiden watched the scene with cold calculation.
We all sit facing the huge TV that occupies the entire wall. Hell, it’s the same size as cinemas’ screens. The leather sofas can easily swallow a person. There’s even a place to put hamburgers, chips, and beer.
Kim and I settle for soda. I ignore the fact that Aiden snatches the regular coke and thrusts a diet coke in my hands. I told him before that diet coke is only lower on calories but isn’t healthy. However, I let it go this time.
If there’s anything I learnt from being with Aiden, then it’s to pick my battles.
Right now, the most important battle is to know what the hell he has planned for Kim.
When I tried to slide in beside her, Aiden dragged me and sat me between his parted thighs.
He’s all around me and surrounding me. His chest hovers inches away from my back, but I can taste his scent mixed with the after-shower gel. Every breath I take is filled with his overpowering presence. He seeps under my skin and settles in my core with a harsh wave of lust. Aiden isn’t even touching me, but he doesn’t need to. It’s like he owned me since the first touch.
The air ripples with the promise of his skin on mine. I clench my thighs together and focus on the screen.
Today, Arsenal plays the most important games of the season in the European Champions League. If I were with Uncle, we’d be hotblooded Gunners cheering our hearts out like Xander and Ronan.
They jump like rabbits on crack, shouting and even kicking imaginary balls. They even speak in thick cockney accents that posh folks shouldn’t even have heard of. It must be due to mingling with other football fans.
I wonder if Aiden can speak cockney, too.
The theatre room fills with fan cheers, the commentators’ enthusiasm and Xander and Ronan’s fanatic madness.
Cole and Aiden are the calm types of audience. Cole says some ooh and aah’s, but he never moves from his position.
Kim sits beside me and Aiden with Cole on her other side, drinking her second — or third — beer.
She might be an Elites’ fan, but she doesn’t care much for the Premier League.
While Ronan and Xander shout, curse, and throw chips and snacks everywhere, Kim watches them with keen interest like they’re the game.
In a way, they make an entertaining show. When Arsenal is on the run, they kick balls with them. They throw imaginary free kicks and bump shoulders when something good happens.
I’m laughing by the time they sing along fan chants in an off-tune. Kim laughs, too, with her eyes half drooping. When she finishes her beer, Aiden pushes another one into her hand and she accepts it with a sloppy smile.
I cut him a glare. “Are you trying to get her drunk?”
His cold gaze remains on the screen, but he doesn’t appear all that interested in the game. “She’s already there.”
“Aiden.” My voice lowers as I half-turn so my back rests against his bent thigh. “What are you doing?”
His metallic gaze slides to me in a slow, predatory way. Just like that, Aiden’s loathsome, psycho side comes out to play. Just because I overlook his nature sometimes doesn’t mean it disappears.
“Do you agree to what I said earlier?”
“Not until you tell me why.” I thin my lips in a line to avoid lashing out on him and causing a scene.
“Wrong answer.” And just like that, his attention shifts back to the game.
I push away from him, but he traps my elbow in a deathly grip, forbidding my escape.
With a frustrated sigh, I scoot closer to Kim as much as his clutch allows.
Her navy blue striped dress reaches the middle of her thighs and is bunched at the bottom. A flush covers her cheeks and her pupils dilate. She’s definitely at the drunk stage.
I try to snatch her beer away. God knows what Aiden has put in it. I want to think that he wouldn’t hurt Kim and that he’s not the type to drug women, but he’s a psycho demon who doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants.
Kim isn’t a person to him. She’s just a means to an end.
She pulls her beer closer to her chest and pouts as if I wanted to take her favourite toy.
“Kim. Come on, you drunk enough.”
“Nah-uh,” she slurs. “I’m totally sober, Ellie.”
For the next few minutes, I try and fail miserably in breaking her up with her beer.
Aiden watches with that emotionless coldness that I want to slap off his face.
I don’t know how he figured out how Kim becomes wild when she’s drunk, but he’s using it for his advantage.
The first half of the game ends with nil to nil. Xander and Ronan finally sit down. Ronan devours chips like a starved soldier at war while Xander throws hard glances in Kim’s direction.
When the European Anthem plays, she staggers on unsteady feet and sings her heart out with it. In slurred German. I knew she has German classes, but I didn’t know she’s this fluent.
Ronan puts a hand on his heart and places the bowl of chips up as if it’s a cup and sings along. In gibberish.
Cole chuckles “Well, what the hell.”
He stands so Kim is between him and Ronan and sings Ode de Joy in a more perfect German than Kim’s — though it’s probably because he’s not dead drunk like her.
“Don’t kill my vibe, Captain!” Ronan throws a chip at him. “Sing in the gibberish version we all know.”
I laugh both at his silliness and at Kim’s easy smile and slurred words. It’s worth it if she’s having a good time.
I attempt to stand and join them, but Aiden grabs my arm and stares at a solemn-faced Xander. “Hey, Knight. Maybe you should take Reed home before her parents worry.”
“No!” I shout at the same time as the song cuts off.
All eyes turn to me as if I’m the maniac who just suggested that Xander, Kim’s archenemy, should drop her home.
My cheeks heat as I cut Aiden a harsh glare, he would’ve been flamed or even embarrassed if he were anywhere near a human being status.
I jerk to my feet and pull him outside of the room. I’m surprised he follows without a word.
“Don’t move, Kim,” I tell her and address Xander. “And don’t touch her.”
Cole nods in my direction as if in assurance. I don’t know why I trust him, but I do.
Ronan seems oblivious to the whole mess, busy stuffing his mouth with chips and snacks.
Once we’re outside, I slam the door shut and walk into Aiden’s space. “Stop using Kim to force me into doing things.”
“And if I say no?” He’s cool, so cool, it makes my temper hit the roof.
“Kim is my best friend.”
“I
know that.”
“Then how can you suggest to send her home with her tormentor? What if he hurts her? Are you going to take responsibility for that?”
“I don’t take responsibility for other people’s shit. Besides, if Knight wanted to hurt her, he would’ve done that years ago, not now.”
“That’s not the point!”
“Then what is?”
“If you want my trust, you can’t use my best friend’s wellbeing to threaten me. That’ll make me trust you less not more.”
“If you agreed, I wouldn’t have used this method. Stay away from Jonathan and I’ll stay away from Reed. It’s an easy bargain.”
The fact that he insists on that makes me more curious about King Enterprises’ tycoon. However, I’m not curious to the point of risking Kim’s wellbeing.
Aiden knows he got me where it hurts.
“Fine!” I slam my shoulder against his arm as I go back inside, seething with pent-up anger.
I clutch Kim’s elbow, halting her drinking competition with Ronan. “We’re leaving.”
“Naww,” she whines. “Look, Ron is teaching me how to take shots.”
“Ron?” Xander scoffs, his shoulders crowding with tension.
“Come on, Kim.” I drag her, but she might as well have turned into stone.
“I’m staying.” She squirms free and goes back to Ronan as if he’s holding baby Jesus instead of a bottle of beer.
My attempts are futile no matter how much I try. It’s impossible to control Kim when she’s drunk.
Aiden smirks at me from his sitting position beside Cole.
Dickhead.
During the second half, Kim is cheering with Ronan non-stop.
“Why do you say Gunners?” she asks him.
“Because it’s Arsenal, babe!”
That earns him a smack at the nape from Xander.
Ignoring Aiden’s attempts to get me to sit between his legs, I join Kim, Ronan, and Xander. After two beers, I loosen enough to cheer for the team. The game is too exciting and fast-paced not to enjoy it.
When Arsenal scores, the four of us pull each other in a group hug. Cole cheers from the background, and a strong hand grabs me by the collar of my shirt. I wiggle Aiden off and continue celebrating.
I’m so mad at him right now. The least he can do is to not ruin the game for me.
There are still fifteen minutes in the game when Kim collapses on one of the chairs, snoring softly. I move her to a comfortable position and return to watch the rest of the game.
Ronan, Xander and I argue about the substitute players that came in the second half.
The game ends one to nil. We could’ve done better but we’re on the way to the championship.
I celebrate with Ronan and Xan and even Cole who joined us near the end by singing ‘We are the champions’.
A phone rings. Kim’s.
I fish into her pocket. Her mum.
Shit.
She’ll ground Kim if she returns home in this state. I dig my teeth in my bottom lip as I contemplate a solution.
“Spend the night.” Aiden quips from behind me. I startle and that only makes him push into my back more.
“What? No.” It comes out more surprised rather than cold.
“Just spend the night with Reed.” He sighs heavily. “Don’t make everything so difficult.”
My options are limited. I can ask Aiden to drive us the small distance to Kim’s house and have her grounded. He can drive us to my home and put Kim in a bad light in front of Aunt and Uncle.
“Fine, but I’m locking the door.”
I take the phone outside where there isn’t noise and answer Kim’s mum. I tell her Kim is spending the night with me and that she’s already fast asleep. She agrees without questions. Then I call Uncle and after geeking about Arsenal’s win, I tell him I’m spending the night at Kim’s.
Weird. It doesn’t feel bad to lie to Aunt and Uncle anymore.
When I return inside to where the guys — except for Aiden — are celebrating, my spine jerks upright. He’s watching me with an unreadable gleam that resembles the first day we met.
I’m definitely locking the door tonight.
Chapter Forty-Three
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’ do
esn’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.
