Page 81 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

“You don’t know the whole truth.”

It was one excuse after another with him. Excuses could go to hell.

“Then tell me.”

“You can’t handle it all in one go. Look at what happened today.”

“Why does it matter so fucking much? Me knowing everything.”

“It just does.”

I wanted to tear my hair out. What was the point in him showing me his box of toys? What more did I have to do to prove to him how much I wanted this? Wanted him.

“I don’t want to hear any more bullshit. I’ve laid my cards on the table. I am yours. All of me. What more do you want from me?”

Aiden opened his mouth and closed it again. The tension between us rippled and snapped. He felt so close but so far away. A deep fucking chasm lay between us and I couldn’t cross it. He wouldn’t let me.

“Fine. Not going to answer? Then I’m fucking done.”

I stormed out of the room. Emotions warred inside me. I wanted to cry. Scream. Rage. I wanted to hit him. Show him how much he kept hurting me. Why the fuck did it even hurt? My heart wasn’t built to withstand all these revelations. These feelings.

It cracked.

Fractured.

Disintegrated.

I slid down the wall outside his bedroom, trying to fight back the urge to cry. Had I not shed enough tears? Why was the world fucking doing this to me? Why did the one person who gave me the utmost joy and freedom also have the power to destroy me entirely?

The rumble of my stomach interrupted my thoughts. I’d barely eaten today. He’d promised me dinner, but after that shitshow, I doubted he remembered.

I hauled myself to my feet and shuffled into the kitchen. On automatic, I pulled things out of the fridge and cupboards. Stir fry would do. I wasn’t in the mood to be creative.

I just finished cutting up the veg when two hands rested either side of me on the kitchen counter. His breath dusted across my ear as he leant down towards me. I expected him to say something, instead, he nibbled my earlobe. I stiffened and melted at the same time.

I put the knife down, fully prepared to turn around and ask him what the hell he was doing when his tongue trailed down my neck. My knees buckled. I gripped the counter to steady myself.

“Aiden…”

“Shh. Shh. I know you’re angry with me. Let me make it up to you.”

What?The world spun around me.Aiden wanted to what?

“I’m making dinner.”

“It can wait.”

He pulled me away from the counter and directed me toward the kitchen table. Spinning me around to face him, he sat me on the table. There he resumed kissing my neck and nibbling my ear. He trailed his fingers up my inner thighs. I could hardly breathe. Heat coiled in my stomach, flooding my veins with fire.

He pressed down on my shoulder, forcing me to lie back and moved me higher up the table. He crawled over me, his eyes molten silver as he stared down at me.

“You’re so beautiful.”

His fingertips trailed down my sternum, brushing across my stomach. My breath caught and my heart stuttered. I was his instrument and he knew exactly how to play me. Fuck. How could we go from fighting each other to this so quickly? Was fighting just a part of foreplay? I didn’t have a clue. All I wanted was his hands on me.

“Give me time.”

He pushed my t-shirt up slightly, exposing my midriff.

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