Page 33 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

“You seem to be apologising a lot to me.”

“I keep breaking your rules.”

He clutched me tighter. I tried and failed not to be affected by his presence around me.

“You can make it up to me.”

“How?”

“You know how to cook, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Make me dinner tonight and perhaps I’ll think about letting this slide.”

It was something I could do with ease. Did that mean he wasn’t going to put me back in the cell? I wanted to ask but pushing him any further was a bad idea.

“Okay. I can do that.”

He gently pried me off him, setting his hands on my shoulders as he stared down at me. His eyes were no longer as hard as steel. I didn’t really want him to let go of me. Wrapped up in his arms is where I felt safe. Completely stupid of me to ever think Aiden provided me with a place to hide from my memories. Hide from the reality of my situation. I was losing myself to him. I could feel it and it killed me.

Something about Aiden was so fucking heartrendingly beautiful and so broken at the same time, it had me in knots. I wanted to be the girl he needed to survive whatever it was that happened to him. To fix him. It was so fucked up. I couldn’t fix a man like Aiden, but it wouldn’t stop me trying.

“Get yourself breakfast, then you can stay in my bedroom today.”

“You’re not putting me in the cell?”

“Did you want to go back?”

“No. I really, really don’t want to go back in there.”

The thought of hallucinating my dad again made me shiver. The cell would only bring that shit back on.

“I don’t need you going batshit crazy on me again, so for now, you’re allowed out, but only where I say you go. Clear?”

I nodded. I’d pretty much agree to anything to stay out of those four walls. He pushed me towards the fridge. I opened it, looking through the contents to work out what I could make him later. An idea formed in my head.

“Aiden…”

“Hmm?”

“Will you get some things for me for tonight if I give you a list?”

“I suppose so.”

I knew he liked to eat healthy meals. I’d got used to it in the weeks I’d been with him. Not that eating healthy bothered me or anything. He certainly knew how to cook. Aiden took care of me and returning the favour only seemed fair.

When I closed the fridge after grabbing the milk, he stood next to me with his phone.

“Type it for me,” he said.

It was the first time I’d seen a phone in weeks. He watched me as I noted down what I thought I needed. Handing it back to him, I felt a stab of sadness. I wanted to talk to my friends. Just to know they were okay. He wouldn’t let me do that. I knew asking was futile.

I made myself some tea and cereal with him watching my every movement. Unnerving, but I understood he still didn’t really trust me. In all honesty, I could hardly blame him. We were still practically strangers even if we’d dry humped the fuck out of each other in his bed last night. The thought of it made my face burn all over again.

As if pulled by the thread of my thoughts, he walked over to me, put a hand under my chin and forced my face up towards him. He appraised me for the longest moment without speaking and when he did, I really wished I was anywhere else but right there with him.

“If you keep blushing like that every time you think about what I did to you last night, then I’m not going to be responsible for my actions.” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Tell me, Avery, if it’s not meaningless, then what is it?”

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