Crossing the Line

by Annabelle Eaton

  Chapter Nineteen

  Yes, he definitely said it. The L word. Aden loves me. Me! He’s waiting, staring at me hopefully. I know what he wants to hear and it’s what I want to say, but I’m dumbstruck, still trying to let it sink in that he loves me.

  He sits up, back straightening, panic flashes through his eyes, and I realise I really need to say something because he’s now thinking I don’t feel the same. “Shut up!” I exclaim. It’s not what I’d planned on saying, but it pretty much sums up how shocked I am.

  He laughs nervously. “So I tell you I love you, and you tell me to shut up?” I gulp. Yeah that could have gone better but he loves me! He doesn’t have to, we’re not related – thankfully – but he does. It’s his choice, and he’s chosen me. “Nothing to say? That’s not like you.”

  I narrow my eyes. “I have nothing to say to you now, you cocky arse!” He laughs again, but his posture relaxes in relief.

  “Millie,” he says warningly and lies down on his side, facing me. “Stop being stubborn and tell me how we both know you feel.”

  “Fine. I feel hungry. Wanna get some Chinese?” Aden rolls his eyes. “Chow mien?”

  “Millie, come on.” No way I’m going to come on. “You’re being a baby. I’ve said it. I’d do anything for you. I love you,” he repeats, making my heart melt. He’d do anything for me. I feel that love too. That I would do anything for you even suck your toe love. However, I’m not sold on the toe thing.

  I press my body against his and stare into his sexy blue eyes. “I love you too, Aden. You know that.”

  His face lights up and he looks so happy, carefree and young that it makes my heart leap. He strokes my cheek and tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I do know it, but it’s nice to hear.”

  “You suck.”

  His eyes gleam mischievously. “Yeah but you love me.”

  “Not anymore,” I mumble under my breath and his grin stretches. “Whatever. I’m tired.” I roll onto my back, scooting back so I’m still touching him and close my eyes. He might be a cocky arse, but he’s my cocky arse, and I like the feel of his body against mine.

  “You’re really going to sleep?” he asks. “We just said I love you for the first time, and you’re going to sleep?”

  “Yes.”

  “You know you’re breaking protocol, right?”

  I crack my eyes open. “What?”

  “I should be inside you by now.”

  I bite my lip. “Really?” He nods slowly, eyes darkening, and I feel his not so subtle erection press against my hip. “You’re like a randy schoolboy.”

  “I can’t help it, I’ve never been so attracted to anyone before, and I’ve never been in love before. You drive me crazy, and I don’t just mean sexually.” Is that half an insult? I’ve had people say I drive them crazy my whole life, and it’s never been a positive.

  “Do I drive you good crazy or bad crazy?”

  “You drive me incredible crazy,” he whispers in reply. Okay I can live with that. “So about that I love you sex?”

  I laugh and shake my head, discouraged. “You just had to ruin the moment. Goodnight, Aden.”

  He sighs and throws his arm over my stomach. “Night, Millie,” he says in my ear. He’s close, too close. His voice is low and husky, giving me goose bumps. I almost jump him as I feel his fingertips glide over my hip. I feel it right down to my toes. His touch is maddening. So I don’t lose the face by giving in, I picture him covered in huge boils and pink glitter. Then the image of him dancing in a red thong pops into my head, and I laugh. I’ve not told him that I’ve seen the video because he might delete it.

  “What,” Aden whispers.

  “Just thinking of you covered in glitter.”

  “Whatever floats your boat, baby.” He chuckles and nuzzles my hair. “So, are you really going to sleep? We both know you don’t want to.”

  “Actually, I do,” I correct, lying so badly I want to hit myself. “You’re not that irresistible, you know.”

  “Oh, I see…” he trails off playfully. My heart skips a beat. What the hell does he have planned? “So, if I was to…” He strokes between my breasts and down to my stomach. Oh shit he is not playing fair! I bite my lip, stifling a moan as warmth pools between my legs. “Hmm and what about…” His fingers graze lightly over my skin, trailing along my hipbone and heading down.

  Push him away! Just move your bloody hand and push him away. My hands do nothing but grip the sheets as I tilt my head back, breathing heavily in anticipation.

  Aden’s fingers reach their goal, and I gasp audibly, bucking my hips into his hand. Well this is happening now, and I don’t even care that he’s going to win. If he’s smug afterwards, I’m going to make him to sleep on the sofa. Or the shed, depending on how smug he is.

  Unable to control myself any longer, I shove him back with such force he gasps in shock. I use that as my chance and roll on top of him. He groans and grips hold of my hips, fingers digging into my skin as he pants. “I love it when you take control,” he growls, and if I didn’t know his eyes were blue I’d think they were black.

  “Me too, so shut up.” I kiss him hard, grinding myself against him. I’ve lost control completely, and I kind of love how he can make everything else disappear and the only thing that matter is the handful of orgasms I know he’s going to give me.

  I wake to Aden kissing my shoulder – not a bad way to wake up at all. “Good morning,” he whispers.

  “Mmm, morning.”

  “We need to get up soon.” I groan. Work. Wow I can’t even call in fake sick – ever! “Come on, get up. I’ll make you breakfast.” He hops out of bed as if it’s noon and goes makes his way to the bathroom for a shower. It must have been two in the morning before we got any sleep, how is he so awake? I feel like the living dead.

  When I hear the shower turn on I know I should get up, however, I wait until I hear it turn off before I force my arse up. I make my way to the bathroom and almost slam into Aden, who only has a towel around his waist and is still wet. My mouth pops open. Sweet Jesus, I must have done something really right in a past life.

  Aden chuckles and shakes his head as he walks out of the room. If I didn’t have his t-shirt on, he would be a big perv too.

  Okay time to wake up. It’s one of those days where I just want to go back to bed. My eyes are heavy, and I have dark circles under them. Perfect. Cold water. That’s the answer. That’ll wake me up. I run the tap, fill water in my hands and splash it over my face.

  “Shit,” I hiss, fanning my face as the cold water seems to almost burn. Bad idea. Fucking hell does his cold water come from Antarctica?

  The bathroom door flies open. “What?” he asks.

  “Cold,” I mutter and press a towel over my face as fanning it just makes it colder, obviously. “Tried to wake self up. Worked but cold.”

  “So you splash cold water on your face and then freak out because it’s cold?”

  “Correct,” I reply and remove the towel. “I need a hot water bottle for my face.”

  Aden smirks. “Right because I have hundreds of those lying around the place. Just get ready and try not to freeze your face again.”

  Smirking, smug bastard! I stick my middle finger up as he leaves the room but smile at the same time.

  After inhaling breakfast, we make our way to work. As he pulls up in front of the building, my heart sinks. I want to go back to chilling with Aden, naked. Going back to work after really enjoying the previous evening, even if you like your job, is like being made to sit through a Jedward concert. Painful.

  “We’ve got a lot to get through today so we’ll both need to work from my office,” Aden says as we make our way through the building. As soon as he steps into his office he turns serious, and I’m so far away from playful Aden that I want to throw a tantrum.

  Why did I tell him I want to get more involved in the business again? He’s explained everything, slowly, and in so much detail I want to shove him out of the w
indow. Women like the short answer when we ask how your day’s been or what you do for work.

  He stretches his arms, leaning back in his chair. “You look bored.”

  Side effect of being bored, right there. I smile because this is important to him and he’s important to me. “I’m not, I’m okay.”

  “Lets have a break and continue later.” Thank you! “I’ll just do this last one, and then we’ll go to lunch in half an hour,” he says nodding to the contract on his desk. I bet I could handle it myself now. “Could you make me a coffee please?”

  Do what? I narrow my eyes, hating that he’s bossing me around, even though he’s my boss. “Sure,” I reply tightly. I’m being pathetic. He asked for a coffee; he’s done that before and so have I. It’s just different now somehow.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not your slave.”

  “You’re my PA, Amelie. You’ve made me coffee every day since you started as I’ve done for you. I wasn’t aware that it’s an issue.”

  “It wasn’t.” Back then but now we’re together and I don’t like being told what to do by someone I’m seeing. Or anyone for that matter.

  “We still have to work together or are you saying that you can’t now?”

  “Would that change your mind about me?”

  He cocks his head to the side. “You think I would rather have you as a PA than girlfriend?” I shrug. “Millie, I love you, and you suck as a PA.”

  “I’ve never been a PA before,” I reply, “so it’s your fault. You should have taught me better.”

  “I’ll give you that one, and I apologise, you don’t suck, but remember I’m new to this too. I’ve always done things for myself.” Then get your own damn coffee! “You need to tell me if there’s things you’re unsure of. If you don’t tell me, then how am I supposed to know?”

  “You’re my boyfriend.”

  “And that means I should know what you’re thinking? Millie, half the time you don’t even know what you’re thinking.” Bastard. It is the truth, though. “Promise you’ll talk to me if you have a problem?” I nod and grab his mug. “Oh you’re making it then?”

  “Yes.” I smile and then add under my breath, “With salt.”

  Aden goes straight back to going through the contract; eyes down and lips slightly pursed. I love his deep in concentration expression.

  “Good morning, Amelie,” Richard says, leaning against the kitchen counter, rummaging in the biscuit tin. “How are you?”

  “I’m great, thanks. And you?”

  “I’m well. The pot’s fresh.” He nods to the amazing smelling coffee that’s filling the whole kitchen. Fresh coffee is one of the best smells, along with freshly cut grass, Aden’s hair and the rest of Aden. “So I had an interesting conversation with your father last night.” Oh fan-fucking-tastic. “May I ask when you were planning on announcing your relationship?”

  I open my mouth and close it again as I realise I am not at all prepared for this conversation. Taking a deep breath, I put down the mugs and turn to him. “Look I’m sorry you heard it second hand. Aden should have told you himself. We weren’t ready to announce it so soon.”

  He nods his head. “I understand why you want to wait, but you’re right, my son should have told me.” Oh God, Aden doesn’t know his dad knows about us yet. “Is he busy at lunch?” he asks. We’re going out for lunch. Well if his dad wants to talk to him, then there is no way I’m telling him Aden’s busy. As of right now I’m fending for myself because there’s no way I’m telling Richard no.

  “He’s free. Would you like me to book you two a table somewhere?”

  He nods “Thank you. One o’clock reservation.”

  “Okay.” He nods again and walks out with his black coffee. Got to have milk in it, Richard.

  Aden laughs as I walk back in and close the door awkwardly with my foot. “Thanks for the help,” I mutter dryly as he sits watching me. Well I have something that is going to wipe that smile off his face. “You’re having lunch with your dad today.”

  He turns his nose up, frowning. “What? Since when?” I sit down and open a new tab on the Internet, searching local restaurants. “Amelie,” he prompts, using my full name, so I know he’s serious.

  “Since my dad told him about us and he questioned me about it in the kitchen.”

  He groans. “Great, can’t wait. I was looking forward to having you for lunch.”

  “Dirty bugger.”

  He laughs, almost spitting coffee out of his mouth. “Dirty bugger?”

  I narrow my eyes. “Shut up, Aden. That Mexican place sound good to you?”

  “Sure,” he replies less than enthusiastically.

  What am I going to do for lunch now? McDonalds alone? No, that’s way too sad. Will. We’re each other’s back up for most things. I grab my phone and send him a quick text.

  “Texting during work hours, huh?” Aden says, faking authority.

  “Yes, you can fire me if it’s a problem.”

  “And what would you do if I did.”

  “Find another job with a hotter boss.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see him glare.

  “No, you won’t. You love me.”

  “Whatever.”

  Will replies straight away, telling me that he’ll make a reservation and meet me outside my building. As much as I was also looking forward to spending the hour with Aden I can’t wait to catch up with Will, and I have a feeling he’s going to love hearing about how everyone found out about me and Aden.

  For the final twenty minutes, I sat beside Aden, watching him work. He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth when he’s concentrating hard on something for a while. It’s sexy as hell.

  When Aden’s dad knocks on the door, he gets straight up, stroking my cheek in replace of a goodbye. He wants it over with. I wait a few minutes and then make my own way down stairs to meet Will. My phone rings as I reach the lift.

  Mum’s name flashes on the screen. She rarely calls me. What’s wrong? “Hello, Mum.” My voice is filled with that usual dread as I wait for her to say whatever it is she’s going to. I don’t even think I do a good job of hiding it, but she probably won’t notice.

  “Amelie, hello. Your father and I have been talking, and we’ve decided that we should sit down with Aden’s parents before your father’s birthday.” Oh you’ve decided, have you? I’m just about to tell her to shove it when she speaks up again. “I have to go, the upholsters are here. I’ll speak to the Ford’s this afternoon. Goodbye.”

  As usual I’ve just been run over by a truck. Actually being run over would probably be more pleasant. Sighing deeply, I make my way down to the front entrance. Okay then.

  “Hey,” Will says, his grin stretching. Not even his cheerfulness can make me smile. “Uh-oh. What’s wrong?”

  “Love. Work. Parents. Rich snobs. Cold face. Lack of sleep.” I sigh. “It’s been a long day, and it’s only one o’clock.”

  Will laughs and opens his car door. “Could be worse.”

  “How?”

  “You could be me right now.”

  I raise my eyebrows. What’s going on with him? I suddenly feel like the shittest friend. I didn’t even know anything was going on with him. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. I was just trying to make you feel better.

  “Oh ha ha. Can you at least make something up?”

  “I’ve been made homeless. I’m sexually confused again and in love with a badger. I make love to cars and have caught every sexual transmitted disease known to man.”

  I shrug and try to stifle a smile. “I’d still trade.”

  Will drives to the restaurant and my eyes widen as he parks outside the same place I booked for Aden and Richard. Is someone up there just having fun with my life? “We can’t go in there.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because that’s where Aden and his dad are eating.”

  His face lights up and he gets out of the car. “Really? Jackpot! Come on, this should
be fun.”

  “Lets just go somewhere else,” I say, planting my feet into the floor as he tries pulling me inside. “I’m pretty sure this place has questionable hygiene.”

  “Nice try,” he replies and pushes me through the door. I want to scream rape so some hero will come and take Will down, but I spot Aden and Richard sitting in a booth near the far wall. If they look up, they’ll see me. I panic, drop to the floor and crawl behind an oversized plant

  I look back up at Will. He’s staring at me with his mouth wide open in shock. “Get down,” I hiss, waving at him to follow me.

  “Can I help you, sir?” a waiter asks.

  Will blinks heavily, looking bewildered. “Um. Table for two please.”

  The waiter nods and grabbed two menus. “If you’ll just follow me, sir, I’ll show you to your seat. Will your guest be joining you soon?”

  “Yes, she will.” His eyes flick to me, and he gives me a get-the-fuck-off-the-fucking-floor-now look, waving his arm for me to follow. No way I’m getting up until I know where our table is. I point to the other side of the restaurant. If we’re in a booth, he shouldn’t be able to see.

  I stand up and turn to follow as I see Will getting settled across the room to Aden and come face-to-face with another waitress. She smiles awkwardly, and I’m not sure if she’s amused or scared.

  “Good afternoon,” I say politely and walk past her. Just as I’m about to sit at the table, I glance at Aden. He raises his eyebrows as we make eye contact. Yeah he saw the whole thing. Great.

  “Why were you even hiding?” Will asks, laughing behind his menu. Oh. Why did I hide? If they notice me, I could have just said a quick hello. Well isn’t that just bloody perfect?

  Chapter Twenty

  “Millie, will you stop hiding,” Will hisses, pulling the menu from in front of my face.

  Out of the corner of my eye I can see the sexy bastard smirk at me. I hope you choke on your steak. I take a deep breath and decide to keep my head up and not be embarrassed about making a complete idiot out of myself. I should be used to that by now anyway.