Page 143 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

“Okay, so this is your proper present,” Aiden said.

He handed me the present I’d read the label off before. The light in his darkness. I opened it carefully. Inside was a box and in that box lay a silver necklace. Hanging off the chain was the letter A. I put a hand to my mouth. Holy shit. So simple yet it meant the fucking world to me.

Underneath the necklace was a business card. I looked it over. It had an intricate rose design on it which reminded me of Aiden’s tattoos.

Ben Andrews. Tattoo artist.

Aiden had written something on the back.

I want you to meet my best friend. And perhaps you’ll let him ink you too.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

I nodded, unable to speak. He was letting me in. That was what this meant. He took the necklace from my hand and secured it around my neck. He fingered the A.

“A reminder that you’re mine. Now and always.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

I put down the box, curled my hand around his neck and kissed him. He’d really made my Christmas perfect. My heart threatened to burst from my chest. Shit. I totally adored this man. Broken parts and all. All of him was perfect to me.

He cupped my face when I pulled away, staring at me intently.

“Can I open mine now?”

I nodded. I’d spent a lot of time perfecting it. I desperately wanted him to like it. I twisted my hands in my lap as he got up and went over to where it was leaning against the window. He turned it over and carefully undid the wrapping paper. I tried not to flinch when he pulled it off and flipped it back around. He set the canvas down on the floor and took a step back.

He said nothing. I couldn’t see his expression from where I was sitting.

I’d painted us as angels. Aiden had black wings. He stood before me, cupping my cheek with one hand. I knelt on the floor, my white wings flared out behind me. One of my hands rested on his. It was simple, yet I’d spent forever painting the feathers on our wings. Making sure to get the details just right. I’d even taken the time to try my best to replicate his tattoos as I’d depicted him shirtless.

“Aiden…?”

He knelt down on the floor and reached out, touching my wings. He ran his fingers over them before he traced the outline of his own wings.

“It’s…”

I didn’t prompt him to continue. My hands shook.

Does he like it?

I couldn’t tell. I wished he’d look at me.

“Avery… I don’t have any words.” His voice was quiet.

I crawled over to him. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder when I drew level with him.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

I looked up at him. His eyes shone with admiration.

“You do?”

“I’m going to hang it above the bed.”

When he’d told me I was the light in his darkness, I’d known I wanted to paint us this way. I wanted so much for him to understand the depth of my affections. Explaining it in words was impossible.

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