Page 60 of Kiss Me Honey Hone

His silence would speak volumes, though.

Chapter fifteen

Then He Kissed Me

Aaron shivered.

Sure, it was cold. November’s bite had sunk its teeth into the air, and the encroaching darkness wrapped around him like a wet, suffocating mantle. But that wasn’t why he trembled. The weather was an excuse. Something external to blame.

Fuckingfeelings.

He hated emotions. How they seeped into his body like poison, worming under his skin, into his chest, and had him trembling like some fragile thing on the verge of a breakdown. Why should he even care? He didn’t. Not for him. Obviously. Because who the fuck washe? Why didhematter? He didn’t. And he felt like a massive twat for not seeing the signs earlier. For, once again, thinking he was impervious.

Fuck.

Taylor sure had fucked him now.

He clenched his hands into fists, nails digging into his palms. A surefire way to block out the shit through actual, physical pain. Not today, though. No matter how hard he tried to lock his body into stillness, the tremors got worse, and his frustration spiralled, feeding the storm raging inside.

Danger zone.

Burying his head in his knees, he curled into himself on the cold stone doorstep and did what Dr Riley had taught him during their sessions when he had these so-calledpanic attacks.As if some clinical label could strip them of their power. She’d explained the science of it, the whole fight-or-flight thing. And he was usually a fighter. Having been in more than a few scraps in his time because he couldn’t control what was happening to him. Lashing out, pushing back, staying upright no matter what was his forte. But now? His fight was gone. Leaving only a desperate need toflee.

Maybe it was because he now had somewhere he could flee to.

And so he was, once again, back here, pressing his forehead to his knees, forcing the world to shrink to nothing and focusing on his breathing.In. Out. In. Out.But each inhale scraped his lungs, and each exhale left him emptier than before. He tried counting backwards in threes, like Dr Riley taught him, but maths hadn’t ever been his strong point, so he stuck to twos instead. Didn’t help. The lyrics from his next-door neighbour’s latest grime track drifted into his mind, a song he’d heard so many times through the walls he could recite it in his sleep. He mouthed a few words, but the lyrics pissed him off with their relentless pursuit of unwarranted angst. So he switched to something softer. Something that felt like comfort. Likehome.

“Dream a little dream of me…”

The words faltered on his tongue as his mother’s voice echoed in his mind. That certainly wouldn’t help. Made itworse. Stirring memories he tried so desperately to bury. And besides, this was all herfault.

Then—headlights.

Harsh and sudden. The brightness seared into his closed eyes, cutting through the darkness like a beacon, and he shot his head up, heart jolting as the familiar gold Land Rover Discoveryscreeched onto the driveway, tyres crunching on gravel. He blinked, momentarily blinded by the lights, but he didn’t need to see who it was and he clutched the fabric of his jeans, caught between relief and dread.

Coming here might be the biggest mistake of his life.

Kenny wouldknow. He’d piece it together in seconds. Aaron had ransacked his office, dug through his private files, and inadvertently let Taylor see something he shouldn’t have seen.Child A.That name, that dark legacy, now splattered across the media like blood on snow. And it was all Aaron’s fault. Because he’d been so stupid as to look for something he should have left buried.

It wasn’t just him at risk here, though. It was Kenny. His reputation, his integrity, his career. All of it teetered on the edge because Aaron had betrayed his trust. And yet, despite the guilt clawing at his insides, he couldn’t help but come here to seek solace. To want his comfort and protection. Because, despite everything, Kenny had become his safety net.

As the Discovery rolled to a halt, Aaron’s stomach twisted so tight he thought he might vomit. The headlights dimmed, and the engine cut out. A long, suffocating silence followed, the kind that stretched time and magnified every second. Then Kenny stepped out of the car and their eyes met across the dimly lit porch. Aaron’s heart lurched. He should say sorry. Apologise for ruining his life. Ask for his forgiveness. Not to appease his guilt, but to make amends to Kenny. Because even though he pretended he didn’t care, it was all a lie. Hecaredabout Kenny.

Way more than he should. And way more than he expected to.

Aaron opened his mouth to speak, the apology clawing its way up his throat, but Kenny beat him to it.

“I’m so fucking sorry.” Kenny strode toward him and Aaron barely had time to process the words before Kenny was there, cupping his face in both hands. “Are you okay?”

Aaron’s guilt doubled as he took in the worry etched into Kenny’s face. The lines, the slight crease between his brows. They weren’t about Kenny’s reputation. Nor were they disappointment in him. Or the frustration that Aaron had once again brought his shit to his doorstep. They were forhim.There wasn’t a chance Aaron could resist leaning into that. Taking it for himself, even though he didn’t deserve it. He’d never had someone care for him. To check on him. It was addictive.

“I’m fine,” Aaron lied.

Kenny didn’t need his years of psychology to decipher the fib.

“I just…needed somewhere to be that wasn’t…there.”

Kenny curled a hand around the back of Aaron’s neck, fingers ghosting over his skin. “Get inside.” He then guided him around, opened the door, and let Aaron step into the house first.

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