Page 53 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

Aiden looked down at me.

“What do you mean you never did what they wanted?”

“They expected me to be like all the other rich kids my age. Wanting expensive clothes, falling out of clubs at three in the morning, stealing their alcohol stash, having wild parties, but none of that seemed fun to me. I preferred quiet nights in with James and Gert watching old movies or drawing.”

His other hand rested in his lap. I reached out and entwined my fingers with his. I thought he might pull away, but he didn’t.

“And how did they take that? Their only daughter being a good kid.”

“Not well. Mum kind of understood, but Dad? Not so much. Expectations in my family are high. I never lived up to the Daniels name. Sure, I’ve been photographed when I tried to be what they wanted, but it’s all so fake. It’s not the real me. The one who wants to be left alone to make art rather than be the heiress to a billion-pound company that I’m realising is not all it seems.”

He didn’t reply immediately. His fingers tangled in my hair, running down my neck.

“Would you like it if I bought you supplies so you can draw more? You’d have to show me what you need.”

I turned my head up towards him. His expression was neutral.

“You’d do that for me?”

“If it’s what you need to be happier here, then yes.”

Did he want me to be happy here? I wasn’t sure I knew what happiness was anymore. I’d be happy if he continued treating me like this rather than resorting to the cold, heartless Aiden who terrified me to my very core. The one who’d thrown me back in the cell earlier.

“Am I allowed to say thank you?”

That brought a smile to his lips. When he genuinely smiled, it made my heart ache.

“You’re allowed.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“It depends on what it is.”

“What does this say?”

I pointed at the tattoo on his arm. The text I couldn’t decipher.

“It’s Latin.Nemo Sine Vitio Est. It means no one is without fault.”

The fact he’d even explained it surprised me. So much so, I didn’t want to press him any further. To ask why that phrase specifically. It was true. Everyone was at fault for something in this world. I just wanted to know what it meant to him.

“All my tattoos are by the same artist,” he continued. “I don’t trust anyone else.”

“They’re very talented.”

“He is. Perhaps one day I’ll allow you to meet him.”

That made my heart stop. Aiden allowing me to meet someone in his life. It seemed surreal, but he’d said it. Did I mean something to him? Today had brought on too many revelations. Ones about my family and ones about him.

I ran my fingers over the words down his inner arm. I wasn’t sure when he’d decided to allow me to touch him, but I never wanted to stop. Aiden felt so real. Such a tangible thing in my life when all else had been torn away.

I ached for him. Craved him. Desired him. The thoughts from earlier blared in my head. The strong, self-assured man who owned me, claiming me as his. Branding himself into my skin. Cementing us together so deep, neither of us would be able to function without the other.

I felt the pulsating need in my stomach and lower. My body simply reacted to his like it was starving for his presence. His touch. It needed his fingers. His mouth. His cock. It didn’t want anyone else.

Correction.

I didn’t want anyone else. I couldn’t use my body’s reaction to him as an excuse or a justification. I had to own what I wanted.

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