Page 30 of High Stakes

I might not have had sex, but I’ve never known anyone to come away looking like they’ve wrestled with a tiger.She clearly marked him for my benefit.

He turns to face me, folding his arms. “It was Laurie,” he states, and I stare blankly until he adds, “The call you got last night. She called you from my phone and led me to have that conversation knowing it was recording to your voicemail.”

“But she didn’t force you to cuss me out like that,” I point out.

“No,” he admits, staring at the floor. “That was me being a prick.”

“Glad we cleared that up,” I mutter, heading on towards my room.

“I’m sorry,” he calls out and I turn back to find him in the doorway. “Again.”

“Me too,” I say, “Sorry I ever thought we could be friends.”

“We are friends,” he argues.

I smirk, continuing to my room, “Not anymore, Aiden. I’m moving out.” And I slam my door.

Aiden

I groan, burying my head in my hands and scrubbing them down my exhausted face. “Fuck you, Jake,” I say out loud. “I bet you’re loving this.”

The deal was I spend two months getting to know her.Two fucking months.I can’t even manage a few weeks. She’s tying me up in knots and making me think and feel shit I haven’t had to deal with for so long. Like guilt. Why the hell do I feel guilty about last night? Laurie is what I know. She grounds me. Yet I spent the night fucking her and thinking of Bella. Yet my guilt is all with Bella. I fucked someone else, knowing it would upset her. Knowing it would push her further away, when it’s the last thing I need to be doing. And every second we spend fighting, is more time wasted. Time I could be spending having her fall in love with me, so she hands over the v-card, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Bella, it’s that she won’t part with that, unless she’s in love.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I’m heading after her. I shove her bedroom door open, and she spins to face me. I take in her white laced underwear, letting it momentarily steal my breath. I wasn’t prepared to walk in and find her half naked.

“What the hell are you doing?” she demands.

“I don’t know,” I mutter, frowning. “Following my heart for once?” And I close the gap between us. She tips her head back to look at me and I run my fingers through her hair and slam my lips to hers. The kiss is bruising, desperate even, as I sweep my tongue into her mouth.Fuck she tastes good.

Bella

I hold onto his broad shoulders to stop myself from collapsing. The kiss is rough and demanding and it sends shock waves through my body. He grips my neck with one hand and his other is in my hair, gently tugging at the roots and causing a delicious sting. He trails wet kisses along my jaw line and down my neck, before resting his forehead against mine and looking me in the eye. “My favourite view,” he almost whispers, “Is that cute pink flush on your cheeks and your swollen lips, right after I’ve kissed you.” He adds another chaste kiss on my lips. “I want you to stay while we figure this out,” he adds. “Please.” And then he releases me and leaves.

I stare wide eyed at the closed door, frozen there for at least a minute before I carefully raise my hand to my face and tentatively run my fingers over my lips. He’s right, they are swollen.

I fall into a restless sleep. Aiden fills my dreams and at one point, I even feel like he’s here, in my room.

I wake with a start, and the sunshine blinds me as it streams through a gap in the curtains. I sit slightly, looking around in confusion.This isn’t my room.I glance to my left and almost jump from the bed when I see Aiden fast asleep beside me.

I carefully lift the sheet, wincing when I realise, I’m just in a t-shirt. But in my defence, I didn’t expect to be carried into Aiden’s bed in the middle of the night. I slide to the edge of the bed, trying not to wake him.

“Where are you going?” he asks, and I jump in fright as his deep voice rumbles through me. I glance back and see his eyes remain closed.

“How did I get in here?”

“I carried you.”

I frown, “I thought I was dreaming,” I mutter.

He sniggers, “At least you didn’t think it was a nightmare.”

“Why, Aiden?” I ask, my voice exasperated.

“I needed to see if it felt right.” When I don’t reply, he sighs, “Having you in my bed.”

I scoff, “Like a fucking interview?”

“Like a trial,” he says, opening one eye. “Now, can we enjoy the last five minutes in peace before my alarm goes off, I don’t do talking first thing.”

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