Page 35 of High Stakes

Bella

The days blur past. I go to work each day, with Aiden insisting he drive me and pick me up. He takes me to dinner every evening before dropping me back at the apartment, and then he continues working, getting home in the early hours to find me curled up asleep in his bed.

Sometimes he wakes me, snuggling up and pressing his erection against my backside, and other times, he lets me sleep, only waking me in the morning in the exactsame way.

He lets me touch him and explore his body. And I enjoy it, but I’m always left frustrated, a sentence I never thought I’d say, especially because Aiden is clearly experienced. He doesn’t so much as place a finger below my waist unless it’s to grip my backside while he kisses me. And those kisses,fuck,they’re amazing. But damn I want them to trail down my body to settle the ache I have constantly between my legs.

We’re locking up on Friday when Aiden pulls up outside the shop. “What the fuck,” I mutter, “I told him not to pick me up because we were going for a drink.”

He gets out the car. “Don’t tell us, you were passing,” says Aria, sarcastically. It’s the excuse he always uses.

He grins, “I’m working at Tremos from five,” he replies, “It makes sense to drop you both there.”

“What if we weren’t drinking in Tremos?” asks Aria.

“Free drinks all night and the VIP area, why would you go anywhere else?”

I glance her way, knowing he’s already won her over. She claps her hands in delight, “Deal. But we’ll need to change.”

I’m sure Bella has something for you to wear,” he relies, opening the car door for us both to get in.

I apply a coat of lip gloss. “If it wasn’t free and a guy rolled u to drive me home like that, you’d totally say I should watch out because he’s a walking red flag.”

Aria laughs, “Aiden is a walking red flag, but let’s face it, you’re waiting for his pole so what’s the point in arguing.”

My cheeks redden. “I am not,” I cry.

Her eyes widen, “Bullshit. You’re so frustrated, even the cakes are suffering.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The way you whip the frosting until it’s so stiff, it’s practically cement.”

I narrow my eyes playfully. “How can I be frustrated when I don’t even know what there is to be frustrated about?”

“I don’t know why you don’t just ask him to get you off.”

“Because it’s embarrassing.”

“He’s having all the fun here, Bella. I’m not saying fuck him, not unless you want to. But the guy needs to hand out the odd orgasm or what’s the point?”

“He’s letting me take things slow.”

She fixes me with a glare, “There’s slow and then there’s you and Aiden.” She opens my wardrobe and flicks through the dresses I have hanging up. She finds one she likes and pulls it from the hanger, slipping it on and checking herself out in the mirror. Aria looks good in anything; she can get away with the worst fashion and make it look on trend. “What you need to do is step up your game.”

“I’m not you,” I remind her, “I don’t play games.”

She begins looking through the dresses again, “I’m talking short,” she says, not bothering to acknowledge my comment. “With little to no underwear.” She pulls out a red number I’ve never worn. I got it in a sale even though I hate anything too revealing. It just called to me. “This,” she says, grinning.

“No way.”

“Yes. With heels, what’s the highest you have?”

“Aria, no.”

“Bella, do you want him on his knees or not?”

I shudder at the thought, and she giggles, throwing the dress my way. “It’s so clingy,” I complain.

---