Crossing the Line

by Annabelle Eaton

  Of course, I’m sitting next to Amanda on the plane. Her phone has been switched off so at least I won’t hear her and Carla telling each other to hang up again. After the fifth time, I wanted to launch the damn thing at the wall.

  “Buckle up,” Amanda says, grinning as she makes a big show of clicking the seat belt in. She’s a funny kind of thirtysomething. I smile and do the same – though less dramatically. This is going to be a long flight, and I swear if I have to sit here and listen to her chattering about her relationship the whole time I’m pushing her out of the plane. I hate happy couples. And men.

  Aden and Richard are next to us, but we’re separated by the isle. Since Amanda’s annoying ‘you so love someone’ we haven’t spoken. Feeling confident and brave, I turn my head. He smiles as we make eye contact. All right that’s not so bad

  “You okay?” he asks a little awkwardly.

  I chew on my lip for a second. “Yeah, you?”

  “Yeah.”

  Okay perhaps it is so bad. Think of something to say. Not something embarrassing but something normal, intelligent even. “So the plane goes pretty fast, huh?” I hold my breath. Why do I even bother?

  Aden is clearly fighting a smile. Arse. “Yeah, it goes very fast, Amelie,” he replies. The teasing tone in his voice makes me want to shove him out right after Amanda. I look forward and close my eyes. Why can’t I just be normal? I need a bank of small talk to pick from rather than spilling out the most embarrassing, random crap.

  Half an hour into the flight and Amanda is fast asleep. Richard disappeared to the bar a while ago, leaving me and Aden alone. “Come sit with me,” Aden says, reaching his hand out. I want to say no and throw my vodka and coke in his gorgeous face, but I make the mistake of looking into those blue eyes. My traitorous heart skips a beat, and I immediately get up. He scoots over to his dad’s seat as I sit in his. Laying his head on the back of the chair he stares at me.

  “What?”

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispers.

  My stupid heart leaps and my breath catches in my throat. “Are you drunk?”

  He smiles. “No. I’m sorry for everything.”

  “What? You are drunk, aren’t you?”

  “Millie, I’ve had one beer.” He’s using Millie a lot more now. “I’m sorry for confusing our relationship.”

  I gasp, faking shock. “We’re in a relationship?”

  Aden rolls his eyes and sighs. “You know what I mean. I’m not sure how to explain how you make me feel.” A smirk pulls at his lips. “Well when you’re not making me laugh.” Great, glad my fuck ups amuse him so much. “But mostly you make me want to take you away and never let you go, to leave the suffocating lives our parents want us to lead and be completely free.” I can’t speak. Something is wrong with my vocal chords because I cannot physically speak. Am I dreaming? Have I fallen asleep too? I look around, trying to see if anything looks dream like, besides what he’s saying to me. “What are you looking for?” Aden asks, frowning.

  “The troll.”

  “The troll?” he repeats slowly. “And why would you be looking for a troll?”

  “He’s always in my dreams,” I explain. Oh no. I’m not dreaming. I look back at Aden, grimacing.

  “So I basically bare all, tell you how I feel and all you do is search for your imaginary troll?”

  I hold my finger up. “Dream troll. He’s not imaginary; I’m not five.” Yes, I fully understand that my explanation does not make the situation any better, but if he’s going to tease me he may as well have the facts. A lot of people have something in their dreams that they see a lot, a person or a thing. Mine is a troll. Sorry but I have no control over it.

  “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

  “Good! Anyway, where were we?”

  He snorts once. “Really? You want me to continue?”

  I nod, leaning a tiny bit closer to him. There is nothing I want more than for him to continue. “Yes. Sorry, you have my full attention now.”

  “I think the moment’s gone, Millie.”

  I put my hand on his hard, muscular forearm – for my own kicks. It works; a jolt of electricity passes through my whole body, paying extra attention down south. “Please, Aden.” He sighs and captures my hand in his own.

  “I like you, Amelie. I like you a lot more than I should. I know it’s not really a good idea to start anything, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”

  “You’re confusing as hell, you know that.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be. It’s just, I’ve worked so hard to get the business to where it is and, unfortunately, reputation is hugely important.”

  “And having an affair with your PA isn’t good for the image,” I snap, pulling my hand away. Why the hell does it have to be him? Why someone in my family’s circle? All that matters to them is appearance and what everyone else thinks.

  “Amelie, I didn’t mean it like that.” He grabs my arm before I can move. “Please just hear me out.” I sit back, folding my arms over my chest. This had better be good. “I didn’t say you weren’t worth it so don’t start thinking that. I built this up from nothing, sure my father’s business is linked, but he has nothing to do with mine. I’m damn proud of where it’s going, and I don’t want to screw it up.” Did he or did he not basically just say I’m not worth screwing it up then? “Us having an affair as you put it, won’t be good for not only my reputation but the company’s-”

  “You’re contradicting yourself.” Oh my God what’s wrong with him?

  “Will you bloody let me finish? Jesus you’re so frustrating!” He laughs a little and places his hand on my knee. “What I’m trying to say is I want us to do this properly. No affair, just me and you. Out in the open. Come one a date with me?” Wow. Did I hear that right? He wants to go on a date? I’ll admit; I didn’t see that coming. His lips press against mine for a second, sending my heart into a frenzy again. “Come on a date with me?”

  I smile and my body busts alive, throbbing painfully. “I’ll go on a date with you if you come to the bathroom with me.”

  Aden’s face lights up like a kid’s on Christmas and then falls. “But I don’t have any condoms.”

  “I have the injection.”

  “Then you’ve got yourself a deal,” he mumbles, slamming his lips on mine in a desperate kiss.

  Chapter Eleven

  Aden kicks the door shut, picks me up, hitching my skirt at the same time, and slams me down on the freezing cold sink. I gasp, digging my nails into his shoulder. “God that’s cold!”

  His lips crash down on mine, and I could be sitting on a block of fucking ice for all I care. We’re like wild animals attacking each other. He rubs himself against me, and I moan at the throbbing sensation between my legs.

  “I need you,” he grows through gritted teeth. My underwear is pulled to the side by his fumbling hands. Wow he’s wasting no time. I stare at his lust filled face with an open mouth. His desperation is so bloody hot my body is in flames.

  With one quick, smooth movement, he plunges himself inside me, gripping my hips. Digging my nails in his shoulders, I bite my lip, muffling the deep cry as he fills me completely. The walls of the bathroom are paper-thin, so I try to keep quiet.

  It feels too good; every thrust shoots me higher and higher, and I feel myself tightening around his thick cock already. I moan against the crook of his neck as feel his fingers bite into my skin. I love it when he loses control.

  “Fuck,” he hisses in return as my teeth scrape his skin. He likes the biting. It’s necessary.

  Very quickly, he picks up the pace until he’s pounding into me relentlessly – it’s maddening. I glide my hand up his shirt and over the slick sweat on his toned back.

  “Millie,” he calls through clenched teeth, and I tilt my head up, my lips finding his instantly. He kisses me deeply, his tongue wrestling mine for dominance. I know I won’t win, but because I can barely breathe. I give in, handing myself over as my bod
y reaches the top of the mountain.

  Aden’s deep, throaty moan is the sexiest noises I have ever heard. I pant into his mouth; still kissing him like it’s our last kiss. He angles his hips upwards, and I gasp, biting down on his bottom lip as he hits the right spot deep inside.

  “Oh God,” I mumble against his lips, and I’m falling, spiralling as my orgasm takes over of my body. Aden follows shortly after, thrusting hard ones last time and then stills, pouring into me.

  The kiss changes and it’s almost too sweet. One of his hands leaves my thigh to tangle in my hair. It’s different this time. Before sex was sex, but now it’s something else. He’s different too; more tender after. Whatever it is I like it. Aden slowly lifts me and slides out.

  He’s staring into my eyes, and neither of us says a word; the only sound I hear is our heavy breathing. Aden presses his lips to mine and then gives me the most breath-taking smile it makes my heart flutter.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, his eyes widen and a blush tints his cheeks. I grin. He isn’t supposed to say that aloud.

  Pressing my lips to his, I kiss him for a second. Yes, I want to tease the crap out of him, but I really, really don’t want to ruin the moment. Things like that don’t happen to me much. Only a handful of people in my life take me as I am and not try to change anything.

  “We should get back out there,” I say, running my fingers through my hair where Aden’s hand messed it up.

  Aden grins, resting his hands on my hips. “You might want to give it a minute, you’ve got that post-orgasm glow.”

  I don’t give it a minute. I slap his chest and spin around, opening the door. There stand three people, waiting in line. Fabulous. Holding my head high, even though I just want to bash it against the wall, I walk past them and back to my seat. I don’t care that the people sitting closer to the toilet are watching our walk of shame. I’m not ashamed of the ridiculous attraction I feel to him. Would’ve been nice if they weren’t there, though.

  I slip back in my seat and grin to myself. I’m now a member of the mile high club. Mother will be proud. Aden sits beside me, and the grin on his face rivals that of a teen who’s just lost their virginity.

  The airport is big, and I’m tired. I’ve had enough and just want to be home now. My arse is still sore from Aden slamming me down on that sink. I bet it’s going to bruise. Aden will be kissing it better later.

  “Come on, Millie,” Aden says, smirking back at me as I lag behind.

  Walking around in what seem like circles, I’m ready to kill someone. Where the fuck are our fucking suitcases! “Where are we going?” I snap to Aden when Richard and Amanda are standing at the help desk. We must have taken a wrong turn, following a group of half-drunk lads weekend arseholes when we got off the plane. We should have hung back a bit.

  “You’re cranky when you’re tired, huh?” he jokes.

  I stare at him blankly. “Shut up and find the damn cases.” Aden’s eyebrows twitch and his eyes flicker over my body. He likes it when I’m tired and snappy? He has issues. “Aden. Bags!”

  He holds his hands up, smirking again, and I no longer find it cute or sexy, not it’s just plain annoying. “Chill out.” Grabbing my hand, he pulls me towards his dad. We haven’t held hands or done anything in front of anyone else so it surprises me he’s doing it now. I tuck our hands behind me so if anyone sees us it will just look like we’re walking closely together.

  I try to get his attention to ask what’s gotten into him but just as we approach the desk his hand drops from mine. I can’t help feeling disappointed, even though I understand why we have to keep us secret for now. If I weren’t about to die from exhaustion, I’d question why he did it just for those four seconds.

  We eventually find our cases, after being instructed to walk back the way we came and take a right, and make our way to find taxi. I haven’t spoken to Aden since he dropped my hand, and, stupidly, I’m still hurt. His eyes are on me the whole time, though.

  I’ve lucked out. My room and Aden’s are both on the fifth floor, one above Richard and Amanda’s rooms. I fall against Aden’s chest as the lift closes behind his dad and the woman that’s already on her second call to her girlfriend. His arms immediately snake around my back and he buries his head in my hair, breathing deeply.

  “What was that about earlier?” I ask.

  He sighs into my hair. “Starting something with an employee is frowned upon. A lot actually. I want to wait and see how things go before everyone knows. Millie, I’ve worked so hard to get the company where it is today.” I know this. What I didn’t know is that he’s also waiting because he doesn’t know if we’re going to work. His faith in us is heart-warming!

  “So you want to wait to see if you get bored of me or not?”

  He laughs and rolls his eyes. I don’t find this particularly funny. “The other way actually. Don’t look for things that aren’t there. I’m not ashamed of you. I just need to be careful for a while. I want to know that we’re going somewhere, and you’re not going to run for the hills first. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I reply feeling like I’ve just been run over by a bus. He’s worried that I’ll leave, fat chance of that.

  “Stay in my room tonight.” He makes it sound like a question. He’s not sure if I still want to be here.

  Nodding against his chest, I grip is shirt. It scares me how much I already feel for him. We haven’t even known each other long, and he’s my boss, yet he has the power to pretty much break my heart.

  God I’m so stupid for letting that happen. Could no-strings sex really ever work or are strings always gonna creep up and wrap themselves around your neck? My thoughts are ended when Aden starts walking forwards, making me walk back.

  We walk past my hotel room – what a waste of money that is – and arrive at his. Aden quickly swipes the card and opens the door. “I’m tired,” I whine, dragging the word out and stumbling to the bed, flopping down. “I need to sleep.”

  “You really think you’re getting any sleep tonight?” Aden asks, grinning as his eyes darken.

  “No, I know I’m sleeping, and if you try to wake me up I’ll scratch your balls off,” I mumble.

  Aden chuckles and probably makes some face, but I can’t see because my face is now pressed in the pillow. “Kinky.” I don’t have the energy to argue that I am, in fact, deadly serious. I like my sleep. I need my sleep. If he’s going to start… something with me, then he needs to learn not to fuck with my sleep. After a few seconds, he sighs, finally realising I’m not joking, and Aden Junior is staying in his boxers. For tonight anyway.

  My shoes suddenly disappear off my feet, and I’m flipped onto my back. His hands land on the waistband of my skirt. “Aden, I’m tired.”

  “Yeah, I got that. I’m just helping you get ready for bed.”

  “Such a gentlemen,” I reply, rubbing my eyes. Aden chuckles and kisses the inside of my knee as he slowly slides my skirt over my knees. “Aden,” I moan breathlessly. By the time he’s kissed his way to the top of my thigh I’m awake and gripping the sheets. His mouth opens, and this tongue grazes my skin. I throb in anticipation of having his mouth on me, his tongue driving me wild.

  “Right, I’m going to bed,” Aden says and sits up. What!

  I bolt up and glare at him. “What the…?”

  “Now I thought you were tired, Millie,” he teases as he pulls his shirt off, exposing that toned, muscular chest. Gulping, I reach my hand out and trace the contours of his muscles. My fingertips glide over his skin greedily.

  “Oh we’re having sex,” I say, pushing myself up on my knees as he removes his trousers and boxers. “Lay down.” I pull off my top and unclasp my bra, letting it fall onto the bed.

  “I feel like a piece of meat, Millie.”

  “So.” I grab his hand and pull him onto the bed. “No more talking.” I shove him down, run my nails down his chest and grip his erection.

  It’s safe to say that, after our exercise, I’m well a
nd truly fucked – figuratively and literally. I roll beside Aden and curl into his chest. “Night then,” Aden replies sarcastically.

  “Mmm hmm, night, Aden.”

  I’m woken in the morning by Aden kissing his way down my chest. I tangle my hands in his hair and moan as he captures my nipple between his lips. This is the best anyone has ever woken me up before. Even better than the day I was woken up with a phone call from my mum saying her and Dad are on their way to a last minute weeklong trip to Venice.

  “I don’t want to go to the stupid meeting today,” I whisper breathlessly, arching my back into his mouth. He flicks his tongue over my nipple and moves to the other one. I moan again. “Aden.”

  “Neither do I but I have to.”

  I groan and suddenly gasp as his finger slides inside me. Jesus! Closing my eyes to absorb the pleasure, I thrust my hips to meet his rhythm. “What time do we need to leave?” I ask, praying he says at least two hours so we can spend longer in bed.

  “Twenty minutes.”

  My eyes fly open, and I push myself up on my elbows. “What?”

  “Shh,” he whispers against my skin. “I’m going to make you come quick, and then we’re going to get ready.”

  All the air leaves my lungs in a lust filled rush. I lay back as Aden adds a finger and rubs my clitoris with his thumb. He’s right; this is going to be quick. My body tightens. I pant, bucking my hips onto his hand harder and grip the sheets so tight my knuckles turn white.

  “Shit,” I hiss and arch my back again as his teeth nips my breast. “Oh God.” My body explodes around his fingers, and I cry out incoherently as my orgasm rips through me.

  “Okay fifteen minutes,” Aden says, getting off me.

  “Crap!” I swing my legs over the bed and walk like I need the toilet towards the bathroom to have a quick shower.

  He laughs. The bastard laughs. Bet he won’t find it funny when I turn up at his important meeting looking like a tramp. I turn the shower on and nothing happens. “Aden,” I scream.