by K E Osborn
He stiffens his posture and an intense, fevered look crosses his face. He leans in very close to me knocking my hand out of his way, his voice almost a whisper.
“Listen here, it’s not that I think little of you, it’s that I don’t think about you at all. Ever since you slimed your way into my son’s life, everything has turned sour for me. You’re like a noxious weed that keeps spreading her roots into everything, fucking up the path that I’ve laid out for my son since his birth. You’ll be his undoing and that’s on your shoulders not mine. If you really love him, let him be free of you and your tangled mess of a life.” He walks off leaving me in the kitchen deeply hurt.
I exhale and steady myself on the kitchen counter while I come to terms with everything he’s just said. I swallow a lump in my throat as I knew he hated me, but I guess I didn’t realize how much until now.
I should tell Aiden what he said, but I know he’ll get angry with Alistair, and who knows what could happen. I take Aiden’s coffee and walk out to his door. I knock.
“Come in.”
“I thought you might like some coffee.” I walk in and place the mug on his desk. He briefly looks up, smiles, and turns back to the computer. I turn to walk back to my desk.
“Sorry. Thank you, baby.”
“It’s all good,” I say, shutting his door. I don’t like not confiding in him. I’m conflicted and I feel like I am betraying him by not telling him, but at the same time I know that if I do tell him that it would cause too much anguish.
***
Alistair walks from his office and I see from the corner of my eyes he’s staring directly at me. I don’t look up while he approaches my desk.
His loud stern voice fires up. “Have you finished that proposal yet?”
“I’m finalizing the last of it now,” I say quietly.
Alistair throws his hands up in the air flexing his fingers in frustration. I flinch away from him and a smirk crosses his face while he watches me squirm.
“Get it done, I won’t tell you again,” he yells at me, his look is cold and hard and he pounds his fists on my desk loudly making me flinch again. I see another smirk cross his face; I think he knows he’s found a weakness because since the incident I’ve been jumping at loud noises and quick movements. I have a feeling now that he can see a weakness he’ll exploit it to its maximum potential. I turn back to my screen and keep typing.
He walks away with fluid cocky movements, almost a skip in his step. I notice Brielle watching me closely. She walks toward me as soon as he enters his office and closes the door.
“Jeni are you alright?”
I nod my head; no words seem to be coming from my mouth. I try to keep it together by thinking of Aiden and how much I love him but the memory of Jason’s pounding fists comes flooding back. My heart pounds dramatically and my jaw tightens as I feel the pain in my once fractured eye socket, the emotional turmoil of being helpless and the torment of blaming Aiden for not being there overwhelm me.
“Jeni? Jeni?” She touches my shoulder and I flinch away. She puts her hands up in a surrendering motion causing me to quickly snap out of it.
“I’m fine,” I say lying to her, trying to show her that her concern isn’t necessary.
“No you’re not, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. You’re barely holding it together. Jeni, talk to me, please?”
I swallow a lump down my throat and decide I should probably tell someone what’s going on and Bree is like a sister to me.
“When your father yells at me I relive it… the assault, over and over again. He’s so loud and obnoxious he frightens me.”
Bree face shows understanding; she strokes my hair and talks in a gentle tone.
“Does Aiden know?”
“No, and I don’t want him too. His relationship with his father is precarious at the best of times. It’s already fragile and in some ways it’s completely broken. I don’t want to damage his relationship with him any more than it already is. Please don’t say anything? Promise me, you won’t?” I beg her.
She hesitates before she responds. “I promise, but I have a condition.”
I raise my eyebrow.
“Jeni, you can’t walk around and be afraid of every man who makes sudden movements around you. Have you considered talking to someone about what happened?”
“Not really, but maybe I should. Do you think you could come with me?”
“Of course I’ll come with you. I’ll make an appointment and we’ll go during our lunch break, sound good?”
I nod in agreement and she pats me on the arm and then goes back to her desk. A sense of nervousness washes over me as I realize that maybe I do need some help.
I dry my eyes with a tissue. The last thing I want is for Aiden to see me like this or Alistair to see a weakness he can exploit further. I sigh a heavy heart felt sigh at my feelings of anguish. Alistair and Aiden come out of their offices when it reaches five p.m. Aiden is putting on his suit jacket as he exits his office and strides towards me. I pick up my bag and walk to meet him. Alistair walks to the elevator, trying to put on his suit jacket but struggles with his arm that’s still in the cast. He huffs and ends up holding onto it while he walks inside. The doors close and Bree starts laughing, really laughing.
“Did you see how much he was struggling with that jacket? It was hilarious. He’s so stubborn, he won’t ask for any help.”
We both laugh. Aiden takes my hand, and the three of us head to the elevator. Bree pushes the button, and we all step in.
“So when are you guys getting married?”
“September fourteenth,” Aiden says proudly with twinkling eyes and a big grin.
“Oh my God, there’s an actual date set? That’s so cool! Is it next year or the year after?”
“No, this September.”
“You’re planning a wedding for five months’ time?” she gasps, and places her hand over her mouth.
“Wow, you’re knocked up aren’t you?” Brielle says with a beaming smile.
Aiden and I both laugh.
“Well…,” I say, trying to scare Aiden. His turns his head quickly to look at me with his brows furrowed. His stature stiffens as he looks at me I can see his breathing quicken.
“Nah, just kidding,” I say, and Aiden relaxes. I almost feel bad. I shouldn’t have tricked him like that.
He grips onto my hand tightly. “Crazy lady.”
The doors open. He really has no idea how true those words are. I’m so mixed up; my emotions are all over the place. Being with Aiden is the only way I know how to function anymore, but being around his father stirs feelings and memories that I’d rather not have. The memory of ‘he who shall definitely not be named’ and how he attacked me still haunts my dreams. I don’t tell Aiden though, as I know he already feels guilty enough for not being there, and most of that guilt was probably brought on by me and my stupid brain deciding it was all Aiden’s fault. How wrong was I? There was nothing Aiden could have done to stop what he did to me that horrific day. I can’t tell Aiden about my fears because I can’t stand the fact that I made him feel the guilt that he carries with him every second of every day. I just can’t.
CHAPTER 6
Sarah’s standing in front of the fridge staring aimlessly into it. Aiden looks at me with an eyebrow raised as the sight of a perturbed Sarah is a sight not often seen. We walk past her and into the dining area.
“Hey, Sez.”
“Yeah I’m fine, just fine,” she says, obviously not listening to what I said as she continues to stare.
“Find anything you like?” I ask her.
She huffs. “No, and I’m starving. I’ve been studying all day and didn’t eat lunch,” she says with annoyance in her voice.
Aiden walks over to the fridge, closes it, while Sarah looks at him with her eyebrows raised and a frown on her face.
“It’s my turn to cook tonight, so sit, have some wine, and I’ll whip something up quickly,” Aiden says, show
ing me again how kind and generous he really is. It makes my heart flutter.
Sarah nods, walks over, and slumps down on the seat and crosses her arms.
“Is Chris going to be home for dinner?” Aiden asks, glancing at Sarah and her slouching posture.
Sarah huffs. “No.” She pouts out her bottom lip.
“Where is he?” I ask with a touch of concern.
“He’s helping his sister’s best friend move. The one who’s all over him all the time. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned her to you or not. But anyway, yeah, he’s helping her. The stupid idiot, she’s probably helping him out too, if you know what I mean.”
I shake my head at her. “You know Chris would never do anything. He’d never cheat on you, he loves you too much,” I say honestly, knowing in my heart that he would never stray from Sarah.
“Yeah, I know he’d never cheat, but he hasn’t even told me loves me yet.”
I notice Aiden look over and look directly at Sarah. His eyes dart around, and he’s biting his lip like he is trying to decide on whether to say something or not.
“Sarah, he loves you, I know he does. He’s worried that saying it will scare you off. Don’t tell him I told you though,” Aiden says, trying to ease her mind.
“How do you know? Did he say something to you?” Sarah asks, sitting up with a faint hint of a smile.
“Yeah, he said that in the beginning of your relationship you told him that saying I love you too quickly would scare you off. He has no idea how to tell you that he loves you, and believe me when I tell you he does. He’s terrified because the last thing he wants to do is to scare you off.”
Sarah’s face lights up. “Oh my God, he loves me?”
She gets up out of her chair and runs to the living room. “This calls for a dance party,” she says turning on the TV to the music channel and starts dancing around the room.
“Was that true?” I ask.
“Yeah, he was telling me the other day after the snail incident.”
“Is it any wonder I’ve fallen for you so hard? It was nice of you to tell her like that,” I say, looking at the face of the man I love so deeply. And I think with that little bit of kindness he just showed to my best friend, I fall in love with him just a little bit more.
“What can I say? I’m a nice kind guy.”
“Do you need a hand with dinner?”
“I know where you can put your hand, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with dinner.” He raises his eyebrows insinuatingly.
“Aiden!” I say while I slap his chest. He looks down at me with an all-encompassing smile, and I can’t help but smile back at him. I love it when he’s being cheeky.
***
I eat the last mouthful of my dinner as Chris opens and walks through the front door toward us.
“Hey guys.”
Sarah jumps up from her seat so quickly it falls to the floor. She runs to him, jumps, and wraps her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
“I missed you too, babe,” he says leaning in for a kiss. Sarah pulls away and looks him directly in the eyes. Chris cocks his head to one side and furrows his brow. Before he knows it, she’s blurting out.
“I love you, Chris Starke.”
Chris’ face lights up. “You don’t know how good it is to hear you say that. I’ve been waiting for what seems like forever to say, I love you, Sarah Carlisle.” Chris leans in and kisses her passionately. He tightens his hold on her and carries her to their bedroom. She giggles all the way down the hall.
We chuckle as they leave, and I feel overwhelming happiness for my best friends who have finally acknowledged their love for each other.
“I remember when you first said you loved me,” I say, smiling at the memory.
“It was the day you had a meltdown, and I had to come back to calm you down, because you knew you loved me and the emotion was a bit overwhelming,” he says with a smirk.
I scrunch my face in pretend anger. I can’t believe he brought that up!
“Oh, baby, you know how cute you look when you pretend to be angry.” He laughs. “It was the best moment of my life, besides you agreeing to marry me… both times.”
We both exhale at the fond memories we have of both proposals. He kisses my forehead then rests his on mine.
“I think the dishes can wait till tomorrow, don’t you,” I say, raising my eyebrows seductively.
“Absolutely,” he says. He leans down, picks me up, dangles me over his shoulder, and carries me to the bedroom. On the way, he slaps me on my ass, and throws me on the bed. I giggle as I bounce on the mattress involuntarily. He rips off his shirt, showing his gorgeous chiseled chest and moves towards the edge of the bed. Kneeling over me, his knees either side of my legs, he makes his way up the bed to me, leaning down and kissing my collarbone. I inhale at his touch and close my eyes, enjoying the wonderful feelings that are all Aiden.
He kisses from my collarbone to my neck, then across my jaw and up along my cheek to my wanting lips while pressing his weight down on me. One of my hands finds his hair, and the other grips tightly onto his bare shoulder blade. His kiss is forceful and it’s so seductively enticing as his tongue intertwines with mine. Suddenly I feel him pull back; he lifts my tank top of over my head as a smirk crosses his face when he sees my black lacy see through bra. Leaning down, he kisses my chest just above my bra, he moves his hand underneath my back; I arch up to make it easier for him. With one hand, he unclips my bra strap with ease, removing it and freeing my breasts. He moves down and gently blows on my nipple, sucking it in slightly and then blowing on it again. It sends a tingle down my spine. He sucks again harder, twirling his tongue around it, then blowing on it again. My core reacts in its usual way, making my insides ignite with a fiery passion. Taking the other nipple in his mouth, he sucks it hard, and then kisses from my breast down to my stomach and over the top of my pants. He looks up at me and grins that cheeky grin while he traces circles along the top of my pants. Gently he puts his fingers down the waistband catching my panties and tugs on them. I get the hint and lift my hips so he can pull my pants and underwear off with ease, and he throws them to the floor. He stands up and pulls down his pants freeing his large erection. I lick my lips and decide to take full advantage. I sit up abruptly taking him by surprise and take him fully into my mouth.
“Fuck, baby,” he exhales, while I gently withdraw and then cover his erection with my lips, twirling my tongue around his tip and then moving up and down his shaft, bobbing slowly and looking up at him through my lashes seductively. His breathing increases, and his hips start to move in reaction.
“Oh yes, just like that. Don’t stop”
I move him deeper into my mouth and sheath my teeth with my lips. He starts to moan and places his hands on my head, gripping my hair. I move up and down, twirling my tongue around him with each movement. He reacts accordingly; his breathing increases while his large erection slides effortlessly in and out deeply into my mouth. He moans loudly, and then he jolts, pulling himself out of my mouth.
“I don’t want to come like that,” he says softly, pushing me onto the bed. Dropping to his knees, he pulls my legs so I’m right on the edge of the bed.
He gently kisses my inner thigh and down to my knee and then up the other thigh as he makes his way in between my legs.
“Relax, baby,” he says, instantly calming me. I’m not sure why I’m so nervous, it’s not like this is my first time. I just want him to enjoy himself as much as I do.
He finally reaches the top of my folds, and I breathe in heavily, relaxing at his touch. Slowly, tantalizingly slowly, he moves his tongue around my clitoris. I jump at his touch and grasp at the sheets. Twirling his tongue round and round, the feeling becomes intense when he slides two fingers into me, pushing in and out while his tongue continues driving me crazy with pleasure. My breathing is erratic, and the feeling overwhelms me. I start to moan loudly, my hand reaches down to grasp his hair holding his head to me. I feel it the
heat in my core starting to rise within me.
“Oooh,” I call out.
He gently blows on my clitoris, and then sucks hard, as his fingers move in and out of me, sending me over the edge. I come apart around him, screaming in pleasure.
Kissing my thigh, he moves up to my lips. “You taste so good.”
I move up the bed, and he crawls over me, spreading my legs with his knee and moving in between them. I can taste myself on his lips as he gently kisses me.
He looks at me with his beautiful blue sparkling eyes full of lust while he enters me. Moving deeply into me, he exhales when our pelvises touch. My hands find their way to his shoulder blades when he puts his full weight on me, moving his hips in a circular motion and thrusting hard and fast. He continues his rhythm making me moan loudly as he thrusts, rotates and thrusts again. Our breathing becomes erratic when he quickens his pace.
“I. Love. You,” he says through staggered breaths after each thrust. All I can do is moan in response. Leaning down, he kisses me feverishly. Our lips continue to touch as he makes love to me.
“Ooh, Aiden,” I murmur. I open my eyes to see those lust filled gorgeous bright blue eyes are looking directly at me. It serves only to heighten the emotion while he thrusts into me again, and then he kisses me forcefully. Our breathing is fast and unsteady. I feel it, the heat rising again, causing me to grasp handfuls of his hair. Knowing what’s coming, he smiles and then kisses me. My breathing hitches, and I moan loudly into Aiden’s mouth. He thrusts into me deeply one more time, sending me into a full climactic orgasm, my muscles clenching tightly around him. I grip into his shoulder, blades scratching him with my nails as he moans loudly.
He continues to thrust, his rhythm faster and faster. His face clenches in that way that I love, and my head falls back as he unloads into me, calling my name while we climax together. He puts his weight on me as we fall from our high, our breathing slows, and he buries his head into my neck.
Once our breathing returns to normal, he lifts his head and then gently kisses my nose.
“Wow, that was…” I say softly as words fail me. He kisses me gently.
