Page 75 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Thirteen

Avery

Laying here curled up against Aiden’s side on James’ sofa bed, I felt as though the world wouldn’t stop spinning out of control. I wished we were at home in Aiden’s bed. It’s where I felt completely safe. Everywhere else there were threats and people out to get me. Not that long ago I had no idea how much darkness existed in the world. Now, it’s all I saw. Lurking in every corner of every room I stepped into. Biding its time. Waiting to strike.

My hand around Aiden’s waist tightened. He’d been so good to me this evening. Making sure I had everything I could want or need. He even stopped James complaining about watching what he described as a ‘puke inducing’ romantic comedy. I needed something to take my mind off the almost rape and discovering a mystery person was after me.

“Can’t sleep, princess?” Aiden whispered.

I shook my head, knowing he’d feel it against his skin where I was resting on his shoulder. He shifted, his hand coming up and stroking my cheek as he looked down at me.

“Do you need anything?”

“No. Thinking is bad but it’s all I can seem to do.”

I lifted my hand from his waist and traced the outline of Tezcatlipoca, the lord of the night. Aiden’s tattoos still fascinated me. Such beautiful lines. Ben was so talented. I wanted a piece of his artwork on my skin. The A on my neck was only the start. I hadn’t broached the subject of another tattoo with Aiden, but I was sure he’d be on board with it.

“Isn’t Skye’s baby due soon?” I asked.

If he was surprised by me changing the subject, he didn’t show it.

“Yeah, two weeks, I think. Why do you ask?”

“I’d like to meet her and well… I want to ask Ben something.”

“We’ll go see them after the baby comes. What do you want to ask him?”

I should’ve known he’d be curious. I liked his best friend. When he’d come back to the flat with us after the tattoo session, he’d spent half the time ribbing Aiden. I loved watching them interact. It was clear as day how close they were. Brothers in arms.

I looked down at my fingers where they were still tracing the outline of his tattoo, not wanting to meet his eyes.

“I wanted to know if he could design something for me.”

“You want another tattoo?”

I nodded. His fingers fell to my neck, tracing the line of the A behind my ear.

“What did you have in mind?”

I had an idea. Not just for one. I wanted a few. Perhaps discussing them all with Aiden would take my mind off the horrors of the day.

“A pair of wings on my wrist, a flock of birds across my shoulder and something else, but that’s what I want to talk to Ben about. I want to see what he comes up with.”

He took my hand, turning it upwards so the palm was facing him. His fingers brushed over my inner wrist, stirring my senses with his gentle touch.

“Birds for your name, right? An aviary on Avery.”

I smiled. As much as I despised my parents for what they’d done, my name was something I couldn’t change. I didn’t want to. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. The birds would represent my freedom. The freedom he’d given me.

“And wings for my angel.”

I kissed his chest. He really was my angel. He might be dark and twisted, but I loved those parts of him as much as I loved the gentle, caring man he was inside. The sides of him only I got to see. Times like this when it was just me and him without any of the other bullshit going on.

He cupped my face again, tipping it up so he could kiss me. His lips were gentle, not in any way demanding like he usually was. I sighed into it, reaching up and curling my hand around his neck, drawing him closer. It was like a switch flipped. The innocent kiss turned into something else. Aiden’s arm around me tightened, his hand falling from my waist to cup my behind, squeezing the flesh gently. His other hand moved from my face. He trailed his fingers down my sternum, sending sparks running up my back. Desire burnt in my veins.

I pulled away, suddenly struck by the fact we were in James’ flat and fucking was not an option. The heady cocktail of lust in Aiden’s grey eyes gave me heart palpitations.

“Not here,” I whispered.

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