Page 40 of High Stakes

He glances over his shoulder with a smirk. “Yeah?” I nod, “I’m free to explore what orgasms feel like with normal human men.” I grin, and he spins around fast, diving on top of me and pinning my arms above my head.

“Normal human men?” he queries.

I nod innocently. “Men that aren’t robots with a constant hard on.” I laugh. I feel him relax.

He kisses me hard. “You can look, but you will be sorely disappointed in what you find, young Isabella.” he says in his best Drogo accent.

I giggle as he moves down my body, licking my nipple. “It’s unfair to keep my virgin body to yourself.” I groan, and he lifts his head slightly to meet my gaze.

“I haven’t finished with it yet,” he grins.

After a good hour in the shower, washing each other’s body, I lay on the bed wrapped in my towel, watching Aiden get dressed. “You work too hard,” I tell him.

He grins, “I took the day off,” he reminds me.

“Aria is coming over to watch movies,” I say, stretching out and yawning.

I watch as he sprays aftershave, patting it into his skin. I love his scent. I run my eyes over his body. He looks good in a suit, and I find myself smiling. He catches it. “What are you smiling about?” he asks, checking his hair in the mirror by the door.

“Just thinking how lucky I am,” I say without thinking.

He pauses mid hair sort, and eyes me through the reflection in the mirror. “Just remember what I said earlier, Bella, this isn’t a relationship.”

I laugh to cover how mortified I feel. “I was kidding.”

“I don’t want you seeing more into this, Bella,” he says firmly. “I’ve made it clear.”

“Jesus,” I hiss, “I get the message.”

He gives a stiff nod, “Good.” And then he leans down to place a kiss on my head. “Enjoy your night with Aria.”

I settle down on the couch once he’s left and sketch some wedding cake ideas. It’s one of my favourite things to do and since the stress of looking after my dad has lessened, I’ve felt a lot more relaxed and able to create.

Almost an hour later, I hear the bell from the elevator, announcing Aria’s arrival. I get up to unlatch the door so she can come straight in and am just about to sit back down when I hear a loud bang followed quickly by a man yelling. I rush to the door and poke my head out, to see Aria and JP. He’s glaring angrily and she’s missing a shoe. “What’s going on?” I ask, pulling the door open wider.

“Your friend is fucking crazy,” states JP, holding up Aria’s shoe. “Missed my head by an inch.”

“You’re lucky, I don’t usually miss. And for the record, I hate you,” she shouts, “So stop following me around and giving me your bullshit excuses.”

The elevator pings again and Aiden storms out looking furious. “What the fuck was that, Aria?” he demands. My breath catches in my throat when Laurie steps out behind him, placing a manicured hand on his arm. She looks amazing and it makes me want to scratch her eyes out. I also want to run back inside and hide, seeing as I am wearing one of Aiden’s t-shirts that just about covers my backside, and my hair is piled up on my head in a messy bun.

“Calm down, Aide,” she soothes, and I see the way he takes a deep breath as if to calm himself.

“Aria, my VIP area is a mess, what the hell are you playing at?” he asks more calmly, and Laurie rubs his arm as if to praise him. I roll my eyes in annoyance.

“Why don’t we ask your friend?” spits Aria, glaring at JP. “Tell them,” she snaps, “Tell them how you can’t keep your dick in your pants.”

Aiden turns to JP. “I warned you this would happen,” he growls.

JP shrugs, “The woman’s a fucking nut job. I’m sick of her drama, just bar her from the club, and get her out of my sight,” he snaps.

Aria grabs a vase of plastic flowers from the table in the foyer, launching it in his direction. It smashes into pieces, the flowers flying across the marble floor. The air is charged with anger and JP closes the gap between the pair. I rush out, squeezing between them, “Calm down,” I demand.

“Sort your crazy bitch of a friend out,” he yells.

“You’re a complete bastard,” she screams, breaking down in floods of tears. JP steps back and I turn, grabbing Aria and pulling her into my arms.

“She needs to go, now,” snaps Aiden, glaring at me.

---