Page 119 of Ramshackle
I squeeze my thighs at the resounding throb of emptiness there.
What was last night? Or…this morning? Whenever the fuck that was. Was he just trying to “help” me out of some obligation? Giving me a distraction and helping me go to sleep? Was that it?
My heart sinks into a pit in my stomach.
This is better. I should still be angry with the way he treated me before…right?
He’s done nothing but look out for me since I came back, though. And he apologized...but is that enough?
Why can’t I get over him? We would never work out anyway. All we do is fight and butt heads.
It shouldn’t bother me.
This is fine.
It’s okay that he doesn’t think of me like that. I should just be grateful he doesn’t hate me anymore.
Aiden lightly pinches the sides of my face, drawing it up until I look at him. “Stop. Whatever it is you’re thinking, stop.”
Right.
I’m not upset.
I’m not…
“What is it?” he demands, and my falling gaze snaps back to his.
“It’s nothing,” I lie. His eyes narrow, and I know he’s not going to let me get away with only that, so I add, “I’m just feeling a little guilty. I came to tell you to get some sleep, and then youended up…taking care of me. Which…I’m guessing was all that was. Because I know you don’t think of me that way. But…I don’t think we should do that again, as…hot as that was,” I finish with a hollow chuckle.
He grabs me, slamming our lips together so fast and hard that I taste blood. It doesn’t stop him from thrusting his tongue against mine. Or devouring me from the inside. His kiss is bold and controlling as he holds me by the back of my head. I couldn’t escape if I wanted to. He takes what he wants like he’s been waiting for this and knows exactly what he wants.
I’m too stunned to do anything but reciprocate, following his lead and sinking into the kiss as wings flutter and fill my chest. I’m brought back to the library on the island where I had my first kiss.
Where his kiss was just as all-consuming then as it is now, and it sends a hot wire of desire straight to my cunt.
His fingers dig into my hair and grip tight. My head is tugged back, our kiss breaking just as quickly as it started, and I’m left gasping for air.
“You’re maddening,” he murmurs with a husky edge to his silky voice. I try to move my head, but his hold keeps me exactly where I am. “You can’t make up your damn mind. Do you want me, or do you hate me? I can’t figure it out anymore.”
I open my mouth to answer, but the tightening hold in my hair warns me he’s not finished.
“Because for as long as we’ve known one another, I’ve wanted you. I’velovedyou.”
I struggle to shake my head. “That’s not true. You abandoned me on the island—”
“I didn’t.”
I freeze, oxygen stilling in my lungs.
“Ibrought you to Tara’s boat. I made her promise me that she would bring you home to your Grams, and then I saw yourboat driving away from shore. I see now that trusting her was a mistake, but I didn’t leave you with GE. You were supposed to be safe.”
“Then why...why did you fight me so hard when you saw me again?” I demand, my chest twisting itself in knots.
“To get the truth! If you were with your Grams, I shouldn’t have seen you again. I had to assume you chose to leave home and safety to get back to GE. I couldn’t trust you because you told us that you killed Vera and were with GE. From what I knew, you betrayed us. And it was my fault for being too busy falling for you to notice.” He draws a slow breath, his voice quieting. “Then you came back into our lives, and I knew. If I let you back in, there would be no turning back. Even if you were bad…even if you worshipped the Devil himself, I would follow you to the depths of hell.”
“And…where do you stand now?” I ask, my voice faint and breathless. But I have to know. Did he let me back in? Or is he still keeping his distance? Will he push me away again?
Aiden pulls me into him, answering me with a kiss.
