Page 56 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Sighing, I didn’t take my coat off as I went through into the kitchen at the back. I dug around in the boiler cupboard, turning it on and then adjusted the thermostat. Next, I went into my bedroom, changing my work clothes for warm pyjamas and a dressing gown, stuffing my feet into my novelty sheep slippers. Not particularly sexy, but I was too cold to care much about my appearance.

I had an entirely new wardrobe courtesy of Aiden. It felt strange to see all my old clothes. It just felt plain wrong to be in here in the first place. I wanted to be back at Aiden’s where everything smelt of him and I felt safe. There was no point lamenting over the fact I had to stay in my own home.

Walking across the hallway, I went into my studio, running my hands over the various half-finished drawings on my desk. I looked at my easel where the painting I’d been working on before Aiden took me sat. It was a half-finished portrait of my dad. Seeing it brought tears to my eyes. I’d started it for his birthday which would’ve been next week.

I had no idea what to do with it. Finishing it seemed wrong but leaving it here would be a painful reminder of the man I had mixed feelings about. I turned away, clicked the light off, walked out of the room and shut the door. That was something I didn’t want to deal with.

I went back into the kitchen and almost jumped out of my skin. Standing at the patio doors, half hidden in shadow was Aiden. I knew it was him from the way my heart thumped uncontrollably and the gleam of his silver eyes. I unlocked the door and stood aside for him. He walked in, dumped a bag down by the door and set two more on the kitchen counter.

“Shit it’s cold in here,” he muttered.

“The boiler was turned off. It’ll warm up soon.”

I shut the patio doors and locked them again. Him coming through the back had been unexpected, but with the house being watched, I could understand why.

He gave me a half smile. I promptly bundled myself up in his arms, resting my head against his solid chest. Neither of us moved or said anything for several minutes. The tension in my limbs faded away. Aiden made the world seem right again. His presence calmed me.

“Did you watch my conversation with Frazier?” I asked, unable to hold back the question.

“Yes. You didn’t tell me about your cousin before.”

“Frazier put me on the spot, but it’s the right decision. He knows the industry and business. Plus, I’m eighty per cent sure he’s aware of the other side of things.”

I pulled away from him, going over to the shopping bags he’d brought and started pulling out things. Last time we were here, we’d emptied my fridge out, so it was bare. I noted he’d bought me stuff he knew I liked to cook.

“Angling for Mexican tonight?” I asked, holding up the soft taco shells he’d bought.

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he grabbed me by the waist and pressed me against the counter. Untying my dressing gown, his hands slipped under my t-shirt. His fingers were like ice on my skin. I shuddered.

“I don’t trust anyone in your family. Don’t let your guard down.”

He bit down on my earlobe.

“And I don’t want dinner right now, princess. I want you.”

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