Page 17 of Aiden

“What do you want?” I tap my foot impatiently.

“I... I didn’t mean what I said that night.” His desperate voice clouds my ears.

I question if he truly means it. Then I remember his words from last weekend, clear in my mind that’s fogged by alcohol. I turn on my heel and stomp away from him. A few steps away, I look back with the hardest glare I can manage.

“I just…” Unable to find the words for how over the situation I am, I sigh and muster up the courage to tell him just how I feel without making me sound like the wreck I am inside. “Don’t contact me anymore, Ian. There’s nothing more to say.”

“Em. Wait, baby.”

A bitter laugh escapes my lips. “Don’t call me that.”How dare he.“You don’t have that privilege anymore,” I hiss.

Turning on my heel, I make my way out to the exit.

Aiden

∞∞∞

I kick a stray beer can hard, the clank echoing loudly in the alleyway. I had to walk outside. I’m fucking fuming. One minute she’s grinding against me, making me hard, and the next, she’s talking to fucking Ian.

Why do I care so much is the real question. I’ve only known her for all but one week, but the connection I feel with her is something I’ve never experienced before. It isn’t merely sexual, it’s…primal.

I run my hands through my hair as I try to calm down. This isn’t her fault. That stupid fucking frat boy hurt her, took advantage of her. And she is drunk.

What am I doing out here?

This guy’s entire relationship with her was spent trying to get in her pants. She’s vulnerable right now. I don’t care if I need to stay away from her, I fucking can’t.

I turn back towards the club and see Emma stumbling towards me. She looks so delicious in that dress. I don’t usually give a fuck about girls.

But it’s different with her.

I feel a need to protect her.

Five

The palms of my hands slam against the cool metal door and it swings out easily. A breeze hits my skin as I step outside. I stumble forth on tipsy legs, looking around for Aiden. I spot him leaning against his car, broodily.

“Aiden?” I study his face quietly.

His emerald eyes twinkle in the moonlight, rage sparking in them until his gaze meets mine. His distant expression softens, his edges quite literally turning putty.

I wonder if what Ashley said is true.

He holds his arms out and I walk into his embrace. He snakes his arm around my waist, pulling me tightly against him while he rests against his car. He firmly holds me in place, as if he’s shielding me, protecting me from everything beyond him.

“Why did you come out here?”

“I don’t know. I mean if you wanted to flirt, be my guest,” He grumbles, contradicting himself when he pulls me closer.

I roll my eyes. “Ian wanted to talk, and I told him to never contact me again. But why do you care?” I wonder if he’ll admit he’s interested.

He has to feel this connection we have; I know I do. I’m doing things I never do, like chase angry guys outside of clubs when I think they’re upset with me. I even catch myself batting my eyelashes at this man.

Taking a deep breath, he tilts his face to meet mine. “Isn’t it obvious? I haven’t taken my eyes off you since I first saw you.” His confession sends a swirl of butterflies through my stomach. His strong hands tighten on my hip, causing chills to rake down my body.

“I only talked to him because I was worried you would hit him.” I mumble, looking away from his smoldering gaze.

He chuckles and lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his striking green eyes. “You don’t need to worry about that.”

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