Page 41 of Just a Bit Captivated

And right then, he knew with absolute certainty that this couldn’t continue.

He needed to get rid of Aiden, and soon.

While he still could.

Chapter Fourteen

Aiden was still trying to regain his breath when Zain rolled off him and said,“Go to your room.”

Lifting his eyelids, Aiden turned his head and studied him carefully. Had it been only a minute ago when the entire universe had shrunk to just them, to their bodies and Zain’s dark eyes fixed on him as though Aiden were the only thing in the world? Zain’s face was absolutely inscrutable now.

“I will, as soon as I get my legs working,” Aiden said, adopting a light tone. “They feel like jelly, so you’ll have to put up with me for a little while.”

Stretched out on his back, Zain stared at the ceiling. “I don’t have to put up with anything.”

Aiden smiled.“Someone is extra grumpy tonight,” he said, running his fingers over Zain’s hard chest and watching the muscles tense up at his touch.

Zain caught his fingers, forcing them to be still.

Aiden couldn’t look away from his pale hand covered by Zain’s hand. The sight made him feel funny. Zain had beautiful hands, with long fingers that seemed very elegant despite their size. They always fascinated him. Aiden wondered what it would feel like to kiss them, kiss those strong knuckles and then—

“I’m going to let you go.”

Aiden looked at Zain blankly.

“Wh—what?”

Zain’s face gave nothing away as he repeated,“I’m going to let you go.” His hand let go of Aiden’s and curled into a fist by his thigh.

Aiden blinked, feeling dazed. “I…I don’t understand.”

“What is there to understand?” Zain said, his expression blank.“Isn’t that what you wanted? To leave?”

“I…” Aiden laughed a little.“Of course I want it! But I don’t understand what brought this on!”

“I originally acquired you for my brother. Since you aren’t helping with him, I have no use for you.”

Aiden opened his mouth and then closed it.

That was… true.

Zain had no reason to keep him.

He tried to summon the elation he was supposed to feel, but all he could feel was confusion and something that felt uncomfortably close to panic.

“Okay,” he finally managed.“So you’ll just let me leave? Right now?”

Zain’s jaw tightened. He glowered at the opposite wall and didn’t say anything for a moment.

“Not right now,” he finally said, his voice a little clipped.“I need to arrange your trip home. You can hardly travel officially when you don’t have any ID and aren’t supposed to even be in this country.”

“I can go to the US Embassy and sort it out, I guess,” Aiden said, even though it felt surreal to imagine that he could just walk out of here and go to the embassy.

“No,” Zain said curtly.“There would be questions. I’ll get you out of the country myself. Until then, you’re not to contact your family.”

“Okay.”

Zain gave him a strange look.“Okay?” he repeated. “You’re not going to bitch and sulk over it?”

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