Page 17 of Liberating Love

When he pulls in front of my apartment building, I reach for the door handle, but Delaney puts his hand on my knee to stop me from jumping out and running away like the coward I am.

“Aiden?” His voice is that deep, soft tone again, and I find myself drawn to it, turning to look into those green eyes. He smiles gently. “If you, um, want to go out to dinner sometime, call me, okay? I won’t say no.”

My brow furrows, because what the hell is he saying to me right now?

“Or if you ever need anything, you have my number, yeah?”

I’m not sure how to take that, so after a moment’s hesitation, I simply nod and start to push the door open. When I climb out, I turn back to find him watching me, and I somehow manage to mutter, “Thanks for the ride,” then blush when that sexy grin appears on his face because I know exactly what he’s thinking—when I’d ridden him at the hotel that first night. Because apparently we’re both lust-crazed. And somehow I know he’s thinking about me doing it again. Goddammit. No.

“Anytime, Freckles,” he says with a wink.

Somehow I manage to not die of embarrassment as I practically run into my apartment building. I’m too scared to turn back, but I know Delaney watches me until I’m safe inside.

* * *

“Alright,that’s it! What’s with you, Aiden?” Drix’s booming voice startles me as he plops into the chair beside me in the breakroom at the station.

“Well, hello to you, too. Could you be any louder?” It’s early, I need coffee, and I don’t want to talk to Drix or any of our friends. In fact, for the past two weeks, I’ve been doing a pretty damn good job of avoiding them—except Jovany since I’ve been working with him. Drix has apparently found my hiding spot, though. He and Jameson never come in here in the mornings, so I thought I was safe. Ugh.

Drix scowls at me. “Where the hell have you been?”

“Busy.”

“Too busy to return a text?”

“Yes.”

His brow furrows, probably because I’m being incredibly rude, but I can’t handle this right now. Drix leans forward with his elbows on the table, trying to catch my eye as he asks, “What’s wrong, Aiden? You look like you haven’t slept a wink since the last time I saw you.”

“Gee, thanks for pointing out how shitty I look.” When he scowls again, I rub my hands over my face and mutter, “Shit. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. Wanna talk about it?”

“No.”

He sighs and leans back in his chair. “Look, I know I’m not the best with the whole”—he circles his hand in the air—“talking thing.” I snort, and he ignores me. “But I want you to know that I’m here if you need anything. Okay, man?”

After a beat, I say, “Thanks.”

He nods. “Holds and Gav are worried about you.” He sighs. “We’re all worried about you. If you don’t want to talk to me, maybe you can talk to one of them.”

“You really want to know what’s going on?” I don’t know why I ask. It’s not like I can tell him. …Right?

“Yeah, I do.”

I can’t tell him, I know I can’t. I mean, right? No. No, I shouldn’t. No one can know.

I stare at him for several seconds before abruptly standing and pacing the room, Drix’s eyes following my every move. I can’t talk to him, not about this. There’s no way that would go down okay. That would be… a terrible idea.

But… I haven’t been able to tellanyoneabout this. I’ve been dealing with it on my own because all my friends know Delaney; I don’t have friends outside of our group. The only other person I talk to is my mother, and I sure as hell can’t tell her. So will it really be that bad if I tell Drix? He can help me, can’t he? At least I’d have someone else to talk to about this, because fuck if I can’t stop thinking about Delaney. It’s like every waking minute, he’s on my mind, and even when I’m asleep, he’s invading my dreams.

Because it was the hottest sex I’ve ever had. That’s it, just the sex.

And I’ll never admit to anyone that I also think about how sweet and caring he was when he was cleaning me up or when he offered me a ride home or awkwardly tried to ask me to dinner or when he made me laugh at the hotel in between rounds. No, it’s ridiculous to even think about those things. It was hot sex. That’s it.

“I slept with someone,” I blurt before I fully decide to say it.Shit.My cheeks instantly flush. Damn my pale skin.

“Oh-okay,” Drix says. His eyes are on me, but I don’t dare look at him. “I take it from your pacing that it was bad?”

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