Page 18 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

When Aiden stood, my breath caught in my throat. Shit. He was in a dark grey suit, just like I asked, with a white shirt and a grey tie. He looked mouth-wateringly good. The days spent apart only fuelled my innate need for this man.

He walked over to me and unbuttoned my coat before flipping down my hood. He slipped the coat off my shoulders and set it down in the booth. Then he really looked at me.

The dress James had got for me was navy with a plunging neckline, floor length with a large slit up my right leg. I’d braided my hair down one side and had a smattering of makeup on. His eyes roamed over every inch of me, heat burning in those silver depths.

“You look stunning,” he said, his deep voice low and seductive.

I felt my cheeks heat up. The way he was looking at me should really be reserved for when we were alone. James was standing right behind us.

Aiden took my hand and placed a kiss on my knuckles before helping me into the booth. My skin prickled at the contact. He slid in opposite me. I felt a little disappointed he was so far away. I wanted him close. I just wanted Aiden full stop.

“Thank you for doing this,” I said, only just about able to trust myself to speak.

“And your waiter for this evening… Yours truly,” James said, taking a bow.

“Really?”

“Yes, after all, you’re technically a missing person.”

He tapped his nose. Aiden gave him a look which said, ‘go away before I make you’. James grinned and retreated.

“So how exactly did the two of you swing this?” I asked.

“It’s all about who you know and how much money you’re willing to spend, princess.”

That nickname again. Why did it make me feel all giddy inside?

Stop acting like a stupid girl whose crush just told her, he likes her.

I wasn’t quite sure what to say. This whole thing felt strange. When I’d asked him for an actual date, I didn’t really think he’d go through with it. I hadn’t been sure Aiden was actually serious about this relationship thing with me. It seemed he was determined to prove that to me.

I picked up the menu. It was all very fancy. I ate out a lot in upper-end restaurants when I was with my parents, but with James and Gert, we mostly just made trips to Nandos.

James came over and took our order for drinks and food a few minutes later. I looked around at the booth, still feeling more than a little awkward. This place so wasn’t an us place. I kind of saw Aiden and me in the back of some shitty bar whilst the music blared too loudly and we had to shout to hear each other talk.

“Um, so… god, I don’t know how to do this, Aiden. This is way, way fancy and not really you and me, right?”

He smiled.

“I thought you wanted a real date.”

“I know. It’s just now we’re here and I haven’t seen you in days, it feels weird.”

I reached across the table, putting my hand out to him. He hesitated for a moment before entwining my fingers with his. That simple touch steadied me. His palm radiated heat, seeping into mine.

“There’s a lot we should really talk about,” I continued. “The thing is I don’t know where to start.”

“We can start with I’m really sorry for what happened. It wasn’t until you left that I realised how fucked up all of the shit I’d asked you to do was. I’ve been so focused on revenge, I didn’t think about what it might be doing to you or how it would completely destroy what we have. This thing between us, it’s real. I know that now. I never meant to hurt you, Avery. I’m just not good at this stuff.”

James returned with drinks. He raised an eyebrow when he put down a beer for Aiden and a gin and tonic for me.

“I’ll just be here,” he said, pointing behind me.

I nodded and he disappeared from view. I fiddled with the glass.

“I know you didn’t mean to. I want to put that behind us. I forgive you, okay?”

He nodded, squeezing my hand. I really had forgiven him. Whether that was stupid or not, I no longer cared. All I wanted was the man in front of me.

---