Page 105 of Plaything

With an apology prepared, I opened my mouth to speak, but she’d beaten me to the punch.

“Do you have Midol, Aiden?” She cocked an eyebrow at me. Fuck, I struck a nerve. She had every right to be upset with me. Dominic owed me big time, whether he knew it or not, I’d thrown myself in front of the bus for him.

I cringed. “No.” That really didn’t help my case; it just made me look like more of an asshole.

She smirked, leaning back and crossing her arms as she eyed me. She was trying to look intimidating, but I couldn’t help but think she looked adorable. “Thanks for offering to pick some up. Get some ice cream while you’re out, too.”

Relief washed over me at her terms. I knew I wasn’t quite forgiven, but she was letting me off easy. Truth be told, I’d do anything she asked me to in return for that stupid ass comment I made. I smiled, “Dairy-free? Any flavor requests?” I stood up and immediately started walking to the front door. “You look beautiful today. Is that a new sweatshirt?” I added for good humor, placing a kiss on the top of her head as I passed.

My ass kissing worked as she cracked a small smile. “Neapolitan!” She called after me.

I grabbed my coat and put it on. “Anything for you, Doll!” I joked before leaving the house.

I was lucky she wasn’t harsher. She could have made it a three-day argument. Instead, I was sent to the store for Midol and ice cream.

With a bag of pills, two quarts of ice cream, an orchid I was sure she wouldn’t be able to neglect and kill, and a heating pad, I walked back into the house. Truthfully, I was going to get her a heating pad weeks ago—the girl was constantly cold. I couldn’t blame her in this igloo of a house.

Upon entering, I found her soundly asleep on the couch, her head resting on Niko’s thighs. He was gently toying with her long hair, his eyes filled with a deep look of contentment and adoration. He was so lost in her that he hadn’t noticed me enter.

I had to stop to take in the sight. A sudden realization of how perfect my life was washed over me. For years, I’d craved and wished for everything I had in this moment: a fulfilling, purposeful career, a home full of good memories, friends who would be at my side no matter how badly I messed up, and a gorgeous woman who challenged me.

Of course, there were minor issues, but right now, my life was as perfect as it had ever been. I spent so much time in everyone else’s head that I rarely spent time in mine. Moments like these are the ones that I cherished, and I didn’t want to take them for granted.

The only thing that broke me from the sight was the slowly melting ice cream that needed to be refrigerated. Trying to be as quiet as possible, I put the ice cream in the freezer and the orchids on the counter for her to find tomorrow.

“Thank you.” I turned to the dining room at the sound of Dominic’s voice, seeing him still sitting at the table with a fresh cup of coffee. There was noticeable relief in his voice, and I knew I’d made the right decision to interrupt. I knew it wasn’t my place to make that decision for him, but I knew him. I knew it was too soon for him to share that piece of himself.

“You’re welcome.” I leaned my lower back against the counter’s edge while crossing my arms. “What happened?” I asked, probably prying more than I should.

“When she ran out of the woods, she had the same horrified expression she had the other night when her dad was here,” he recalled. “You were all in the kitchen—you didn’t see how scared she looked either time.” There was a far-off look in his eyes, “It reminded me of when I was a kid; I used to look at my dad the same way.”

My eyes softened, my shoulders fell, and my chest ached for the man. He was trying to empathize with her. I’d only met Dominic’s father a handful of times when I was a teenager. Every interaction I’d had with him was present, but even in my youth, I’d taken note of how uncomfortable Dominic always was around him. That was why Wyatt and I never went to Dominic’s house—he never wanted to be home.

There were several kinds of abuse one could endure. Odette had grown up with severe mental abuse from her father. Reesia got stuck with physical abuse from both of her parents. Dominic suffered in silence for years as his father sexually abused him.

“I wasn’t thinking,” he broke out of his trance, meeting my eyes. He sighed, “Whatever the dream was, it was about her dad,” he said confidently as if he’d known it was eating at me.

I nodded but hoped he was wrong. I smirked down at the cup of coffee, “When do you sleep, man?” I changed the subject.

He returned the smirk, “When everything’s graded.”

With a chuckle, I kicked off the counter, ready to go to bed. “You’ll sleep when you’re retired, then?” I joked. There were always assignments to grade; I had a never-ending pile. “I have to go in early—I’ll bring her into your room in the morning,” I smiled at him.

Taking my leave, I prepared myself for the challenge of getting her out of Niko’s arms without waking her.

Chapter Fifteen

Odette

“Babydoll?” Aiden’s soft tone barely woke me. It was his third or fourth attempt at waking me. He must have stepped away to shower before trying again. I could smell his aftershave, and it did nothing to aid him in getting me out of his bed.

“Carrying it is,” he chuckled. His arms slithered under my body, hoisting me up into his arms bridal style.

Peeking my eyes open, I watched him walk down the long hall, nearing Dominic’s room. “What time is it?” I asked, noticing the dark windows. No sunlight or dawn could be seen.

The hall was freezing cold like the house always was. Sleeping next to Aiden, I was warm and cozy throughout the night, but the chill in the house was a harsh wake-up call.

“Almost 5:30. I’ve got a meeting before classes begin,” he explained the early start. I fought a groan at the daybreak, and Aiden must have noticed my disdain. “You can go back to sleep. I just didn’t want to leave you to freeze to death,” he joked.

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