Page 34 of Their Deviant Love
“I’ll show you to Connor’s room,” Patty says.
Connor was supposed to show me around, but after he gave me the gift in the office, we got distracted. On his father’s desk. And then Aisling and Levi turned up.
“Thank you,” I tell Patty. I still want to hurt him, and Connor and I will have words when he comes back because him goingout without someone who has his back completely is just plain stupid. And Connor is anything but stupid.
This whole him needing to protect me bullshit has to stop. I’m not a damsel. I don’t need babysitters. Do I appreciate the concern? Sure. I also don’t love being alone at the moment, so it does help having other people here. Especially Levi, because he’s familiar and reminds me of home.
When Patty stops at a door, Aisling digs into her bag and pulls out a pair of shorts and a sports bra. “It should fit. Might be a tad tight. Your boobs are bigger than mine.”
“I’ll make it work. Thank you.” I open the door, walk in, and shut it behind me.
This room is very similar to Connor’s space back in New York. The one I broke into to leave him little reminders of me when he thought he could forget me. If I had a lipstick, I’d go and draw on the mirror, just toremind himof how far we’ve come since then.
I strip out of the skirt and top I’m wearing and continue into the bathroom. I know Levi is waiting, but he can wait longer. I want a shower.
I turn on the water and wait for it to heat up as I look around the bathroom. Spotting a window, I walk over to check that it’s locked. It is.
I don’t stay in the shower long. The anxiety is making me jumpy, and I really need to just not be alone, I think. Scratch that. What I need is Connor but he’s not here.
Once I’m dressed, I look down at myself. The shorts barely cover my ass and the sports bra—well, it does make my cleavage look amazing. So I pick up my phone, snap a selfie, and send it to the number Connor programmed for me.
Me:
Going to the gym to spar with Levi.
Connor messages back almost instantly.
Connor:
Put on a shirt. I have plenty in the drawers behind you.
I laugh. I had a feeling he wouldn’t like me wearing this to the gym. Another message comes in.
Connor:
Kick his ass for me too, princess.
That message makes me smile even more. That’s the Connor I fell in love with. The one who doesn’t treat me like I’m breakable.
Feeling a little better after messaging with Connor, I walk out of the room and find Patty waiting for me. “You good?” he asks.
“I’m ready to wipe that stupid smile off my cousin’s face,” I tell him.
“Good, it’s been a long time coming,” Patty says. We walk in silence, me following his lead down two different halls and him lost to his thoughts. “Just so you know, I would do anything for Connor. He is my best friend.”
“He shouldn’t be out there doing God knows what alone,” I say. “I don’t want to even think of what could happen.”
“Yeah, and I don’t want to think about what he will do if something happens to you. He needs you, Aurora. This, taking over this fucked-up family, isn’t an easy task.”
“I know,” I say. Because it’s not easy for any new boss to come in, especially one as young as Connor.
When we get to the gym, which is on the ground floor and not the basement like I was dreading it would be, Levi is already on the mats. “Took you long enough. I was starting to think you chickened out.”
I look around the room. “Me?” I point to my chest. “As if.” I laugh. “Patty, you should probably call a doctor. Levi is going to need one once I’m finished with him.”
Patty looks from me to Levi, and then back to me. “Really? He’s your cousin.”
“I’m not going to kill him. Just make him hurt.” I smirk and stretch out my arms and legs.
