Page 46 of Just a Bit Captivated

Aiden stopped by Zain’s chair—and hesitated. These days he usually just got into Zain’s lap and kissed him good morning; more often than not, they even had quick sex in some form. But this morning, he felt… weird. A little uncertain. Almost shy. Which was ridiculous, considering that he’d had this man’s cock in him several times a day for months.

“Hey,” he said again. He grimaced before laughing.“Okay, this is awkward. And ridiculous. Stop making it weird and say something!”

“Someone has to balance it out. You talk too much.”

Pouting exaggeratedly, Aiden dropped himself into Zain’s lap and put his head on his shoulder.“Let’s not make this weird,” he said, wrapping an arm around Zain’s waist and snuggling up to him. God. He smelled so good. Half a day of not having Zain’s attention on him had been… unsettling. And that was very unsettling in itself.

“I wasn’t aware there was any weirdness happening,” Zain said wryly.“Besides you forcing your clingy self on me.”

Aiden huffed.“You should be thanking me. You clearly weren’t hugged enough as a child.”

When Zain said nothing to that, Aiden lifted his head and looked at him.

“Oh,” he said softly, feeling like an idiot. Of course he hadn’t been hugged enough. Who would even hug him? His ill mother who probably hadn’t even recognized him in the last few years before her death? His neglectful, grief-stricken father? Or the numerous servants that would keep their distance from a sheikh?

Zain’s expression became tight.“Stop giving me that look.”

“What look?” Aiden said, cradling his face with his hands gently. Zain’s facial hair was a little prickly to the touch, but Aiden actually liked the texture of it. Loved it.

He could almost feel the frustration buzzing under Zain’s skin before Zain leaned forward and kissed him, hard and greedy, the kiss punishing in its intensity.

Aiden melted into it, hismind quickly turning into needy mush, all the weirdness of the incident forgotten.

Some time later—much later—once Aiden fixed his clothes, and was drowsing dreamily on Zain’s shoulder, he murmured,“So, I’ve been thinking.”

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

Aiden playfully slapped him on the chest. “Oh, shut up. Anyway, sinceyou’re letting me go soon, there’s no reason for me to stay locked up here, right? I’d like to get out, do some sightseeing. Can I go to Dubai?”

He felt Zain’s body tense up.“That’s not… wise.”

“Why not?” Aiden said, laying his hand against Zain’s pec and enjoying his steady heartbeat. Though, it actually wasn’t very steady at the moment.“Are you afraid I’ll run away?”

“I’m not afraid of that,” Zain said in a clipped voice.

“Right—because there’s nothing to be afraid of. Even if I do run off, it’ll be a win for you: you wouldn’t have to find a way to smuggle me out of the country without implicating yourself.”

“Yes,” Zain agreed flatly, but his muscles didn’t relax. His body felt hard and unyielding against Aiden, his arm like an iron band around his waist.

Aiden felt like purring in contentment. The tighter Zain held him, the better it felt.“Are you making some progress on that front, by the way?”

“Some.”

Aiden knew he should push Zain, because what kind of answer was that? But the truth was, he didn’t particularly want to talk about leaving while he was wrapped up in Zain’s arms. The mere idea made his chest a little tight and he squirmed closer to Zain. He didn’t want to think about it until he had to.

But there was something he did want to talk about. Something that had been on his mind for weeks—for months, actually, but Aiden couldn’t do anything about it before. He wasn’t sure he could do anything about it now, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask, right? His relationship with Zain was better now. Alotbetter. He felt…comfortablewith him, god help him.

“There were four girls sold at that auction,” Aiden said, his throat becoming tight as he thought about what might have happened to them. Zain might be a royal ass, but at least he wasn’t cruel. He wasn’t a rapist. He doubted the girls had been as lucky as him. “At least, they were supposed to be sold after me. I never found out what happened to them. Could you find out?”

Zain was silent for a moment.

“That auction was anonymous,” he said at last. But it wasn’t a no.

His heart beating faster, Aiden lifted his head and looked at him pleadingly. “But you could find out?”

Zain hesitated and then nodded.

“I could try,” he said.

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