Page 29 of Sinners MC: A MC Anthology

I rolled my eyes. “So, you brought me here for what? Another kiss? You did all of this just for another kiss?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. But even I don’t know why I brought you here. I was going to have a peaceful sleep in my garage, but no?”

“Wait, wait, wait. The garage? Is that where you live now?”

His jaw clenched, as if he didn’t want me to discover where he lived, while he rubbed his hands together.

“Aiden. You live in a garage now?” I asked again, placing my hand on his shoulder.

He nodded with his gaze fixed on the sparkling water.

“Why?” I barely whispered.

“I didn’t have a job, and I had funeral expenses and bills to pay after mom died. So, one of my friends hitched me with the motorbike race. It’s easy money, and I got to pay my bills. And I work part-time at the garage, which is owned by my friend’s dad. Luckily, he had a spare room. So, yeah, I technically live there now,” he explained. With each word, my heart tore apart bit by bit.

I squeezed his shoulder gently as consolation, scooting closer to him.

Surprisingly, he let me as he found solace with my touch.

All this time, I’d kept asking myself where he was living.

He didn’t tell anyone about it, but from the despair reflecting on his face, it was clear that it was the first time he’d opened up to someone. And that was the progress I was looking for.

I placed my other hand on his with my head resting on his shoulder. His body became still and rigid, but as I kept rubbing his hand, I felt his body relaxing eventually.

“Why do you risk your life in that arena?” I whispered.

He sighed before muttering his answer. “It’s not just the thrill and adrenaline that excites me, but the power I feel every time I control the moment. My mom’s death was out of my hands, and I felt weak and hopeless,” his voice broke a little as he cleared his throat, “but whenever I get in that arena, I control my life there. That’s when I feel powerful…I feel like I have a purpose in life.”

“But is this control really worth risking your life?”

He chuckled coldly. “It’s not like my sudden death would shatter someone.”

I pulled away instantly, feeling offended and hurt from his words.

“That’s not true. What about me?”

He narrowed his eyes, giving me a stern look. “What about you?”

“If something ever happened to you, I would be shattered. I won’t lose you, ever.”

His jaw ticked as I felt the rage brewing in his eyes. “Oh yeah? Where were you when my mom’s death shattered me?”

This was my chance. I could tell him now where I was and what happened. But the anger oozing from his tone made me shrink in fear. I knew if I told him now then he wouldn’t be able to process it well. The truth might hurt him, or worse, break him deep down, and I wasn’t ready to face either.

“I think we should head back,” I whispered as I made a move to get up, but I was abruptly pulled back as he made me sit on his lap, caging my body with his. His big hand cupped my jaw, keeping my gaze trained on him only.

“Not so fast. You better answer me or I will make you,” he warned.

I writhed and struggled in his hold, but he pressed me tighter against him.

“The more you move, the more you risk both of us falling in this freezing water. So, if you’re not interested in catching a fever, I suggest you stop moving,” he growled against my neck, sending shivers down my spine.

I looked over my shoulder to realize we both were at the very edge of the pier. I stopped immediately, feeling my skin burning from his scorching gaze.

“I can’t tell you…but I want you to know that I’m really sorry for what happened,” I murmured, meaning each and every word from the bottom of my heart.

Aiden leaned closer, running his nose along the pulse point of my neck, as I felt it pulsing faster and faster. He inhaled deeply, as if savoring my floral scent, before placing a tender kiss on the spot, making me arch back my neck.

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