Page 15

Chapter 15

Scarlett

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Theresa says, dumping a handful of clothes on my lap. “Not that I mind lending you my things, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the reason you want them.”

Without replying, I lift a pair of red leggings. It’s made of sheer material, definitely more revealing than the one she lent me yesterday.

Theresa swipes the leggings away so she can see my face. “Especially when I’ve been on your case about lending you my stuff.”

“I want them now, isn’t that what matters?” I ask.

“You want to entice the asshole that almost ruined your life and that’s not okay. What’s also not okay is you hanging out with him.”

“You make it sound like we’re friends. I’m only doing him a favor.” What that favor is, no one can know. Not even my sister, who I usually tell everything.

“As long as it doesn’t come back to bite your ass.” She points at me. “And as long as you don’t fall for him.”

That comment earns her a snort. I gather the clothes and rise from her living room couch. “As if.”

“As if what?”

“Even if I have a thing for Aiden, he would never look twice at a girl like me.” It doesn’t matter that I made him hard yesterday. He was only a hot-blooded guy responding to touch.

“You’re selling yourself short,” she admonishes me. “Aiden would be lucky if a girl like you looked twice at him.”

I snort again. “You’ve always been my biggest cheerleader, but that’s way too much. We both know I’m not in Aiden’s league.”

“What, because you’re broke? Oh, please. You’re way smarter than him. Full stop.”

Theresa huffs with surprise when I suddenly throw my arms around her. “What’s that for?”

“For lifting me up whenever I put myself down. Thank you.”

She kisses my cheek before we part. I ruffle her hair that is as thick and long as mine. “I love you,” she whispers. “I’m always going to lift you up. Always remember, you’re not alone.”

“I know.”

“Although, sometimes you act like you are. This burden you’re carrying, it’s all of ours to share. Never forget that.”

“I won’t.”

“And always watch your back.” Her expression suddenly gets quite serious. “You say Aiden has turned over a new leaf, but my gut feeling says be careful. Things might not be what they seem.”

“Are you friends with Tabitha?” I ask jokingly and she frowns.

“Who?”

“A girl from school. We’re friends, kinda-ish. She’s a fake fortune teller who always senses evil around me.”

“She might be right. Who knows?” My sister shrugs. “It wouldn’t hurt to stay on guard.”

“I’m always on guard,” I reply, grabbing up the pile of clothes again. It’s almost one o’clock. “See you when I get back, sis.”

Making the two-minute journey home, I hurry through a shower, then slip on the red leggings and a tank top. Theresa is wrong; I’m not trying to entice Aiden, but I can’t deny how good it felt when he looked at me like that.

Just for a split second, I imagined Aiden being attracted to me.

He’s not. What I saw wasn’t longing; it was surprise that I wasn’t wearing loose-fitting clothes. Now that I’m dressed in something similar to yesterday, he won’t be surprised.

His driver arrives on time and when he drops me off at the Hunters’ magnificent estate, I find the butler waiting on the front steps. Right away, he directs me to the guest house and my face burns as I remember Mrs. Hunter’s cutting remarks yesterday. I lied when I told Aiden it didn’t hurt. I will never get used to people looking down at me.

Aiden throws the front door open and my thoughts come to an abrupt halt. What the hell is he wearing?

“Are those booty shorts?” I ask, holding back a laugh.

It takes a moment to realize that not only is he not answering, his eyes are busy taking me in. That expression on his face is definitely not surprise, and my body’s response to that look is certainly not PG. When his loaded gaze stops between my thighs, it takes everything in my power not to press them together. A guy’s look shouldn’t turn me on this much.

I clear my throat. “Are we going to stand here staring each other down, or are we getting down to business?”

Aiden’s expression clears. “Yeah, sure.” He steps aside so I can enter, and I head across the living room and onto the balcony. Like yesterday, the temperature is a nice seventy, warm and breezy. I’m not a strong swimmer but even the pool looks inviting.

As I throw a towel over the massage bed, Aiden’s hands go to his waist. “No need to take those off,” I say. “They’re literally up your ass, anyway.”

He chuckles softly and I realize how much I like laughing Aiden. He’s very approachable. I squeeze a generous amount of muscle relaxer into my palm as he assumes the position on his stomach.

Aiden is unusually quiet during the fifteen-minute massage and I can’t believe I’m disappointed that he doesn’t get hard for me again. He sits up sleepily when I’m done, ruffling his thick hair.

“Care for a swim?” he asks, grinning at me slyly.

“What? No,” I scoff, reaching for the heating pad.

He brushes it away, then swings his legs over the bed. “We’re going for a swim.”

“Did you hear what I just said? I’m not going in,” I argue.

Without another word, he walks toward the pool and as he gets to the edge, his fingers pull up the hem of his shirt, hauling it over his head.

Holy guacamole.

He releases the shirt, but my eyes are locked on his torso. Holy shit, he’s gorgeous. There’s not an ounce of fat anywhere. Thick chest, arms rippling with muscles, a flat stomach that looks so hard, I’d probably break my hand if I punched that area. My tongue would probably burn if I licked that spot.

But my dirty mind wants me to.

A mischievous grin flashes as he steps backward. “Last chance to change your mind, Scar.”

He sinks into the water with a deep, exaggerated sigh. “God, this feels good. So warm. So soothing.”

It does look inviting. “Even if I wanted to get in, I don’t have extra clothes, anyway,” I point out.

“You’re wearing underwear, aren’t you?”

“You must be joking. I’m not stripping down to my undergarments.”

Aiden covers his eyes with one hand. “Go on. I won’t look.”

I scoff.

“Better yet, I’ll turn around.”

After staring at his back for a moment, debating on how this could possibly go wrong, I nod. “Fine, but no peeking.”

“Hand to God.”

With my eyes still on his back, I hurry out of my clothes, glad that I’m wearing panties and a bra that are the same color. I breathe a similar sigh to Aiden’s when I sink my body into the water. It’s definitely warm and soothing.

“You can turn around,” I say.

Aiden turns with mild curiosity on his face as he looks at me. “Feels good, right?”

“Amazing,” I reply, gently bouncing.

“So…” His fingers flick upward, prompting me.

I roll my eyes. “You were right.”

“Ha. I need to have that printed and framed. The smartest girl at Hempton thinks I’m right,” he grins.

His comment triggers a smile that won’t leave my face. To hide it, I dive away from him, treading water for several lengths before I remember what I’m wearing. I quickly stand and submerge myself again, then I realize he’s watching me.

“You have a beautiful body, Scarlett.”

The unexpected compliment makes my heart skip a beat. “Don’t say that.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s not true.” I glance down at my figure under the water. “I’m like a five on my best day.”

Aiden wades closer to me. “Is that why you wear those baggy clothes, because you think you’re a five?”

I first met Aiden in Calculus III last year, so he has no clue that I was overweight. “I lost fifty pounds after an appendectomy two years ago.”

“Wow.” He stares down at me with wonder. “I had no clue an appendectomy makes you lose weight.”

“It doesn’t. I just lost my appetite for a while afterward, which did wonders for me, I guess. Only, my parents couldn’t afford to buy new stuff, so I wore what I had.”

Telling him that I felt more comfortable hiding under those clothes would start a conversation I don’t want to have. I’ve heard enough about my insecurities from Theresa. Besides, I’d never want to be that vulnerable with a guy I like.

Whoa.

I bounce away from Aiden as realization hits me like a ton of bricks.

“Scarlett.” I hear him coming behind me. “That’s nothing to be ashamed about.”

“I’m not ashamed, Aiden, but that’s easy for you to say. You were born swimming in money.”

“If you think that means my life is perfect, think again,” he throws back defensively. “Swimming in money but living in hell.”

“Hell?” I whirl on him, not realizing until now how close he is. “Hell is living from paycheck to paycheck. Hell is being the breadwinner of a family and losing your job. Living in a cramped house with barely enough heat in the winter. Studying like crazy to get your family out of poverty, but meeting roadblocks everywhere, specifically rich, entitled guys who want revenge for something I didn’t do.”

“I apologized for that—”

“Oh, bravo.” I clap. “Do you want a cookie?”

Aiden stares silently at me, the remorse on his face simmering my unexpected anger. I sigh. “I forgave you, Aiden. It’s just still a sore spot for me.”

He nods. “I understand and I wasn’t trying to compare my life to yours. I know how terrible things are for you.”

I scoff with light amusement. “Yeah, stalker.”

Aiden chuckles. “Best extracurricular job I’ve ever had.”

Six simple words, but for some reason, my heartbeat trips. Maybe it’s that low, husky tone or the flash of emotion in his eyes as he speaks. His smile fades as he reaches up to touch my face. I jerk my head away.

“What are you doing?”

“There’s something on your face,” he replies.

I pat my left cheek. “What?”

“A little white thing.” He points to the right side and I swipe it.

“Still there,” he announces.

My eyes narrow at him. “Fine. You get it.”

His thumb brushes softly across my cheek and then he drops his hand. “Now it’s gone.”

“Liar. There was nothing in the first place,” I joke.

He gasps loudly. “You take that back.”

“No,” I say, backing off.

“Take it back, Scar.”

I love how he says my name; low and firm, with just a touch of sultriness. “Make me.”

Wrong choice of words. I screech when he suddenly sweeps me up, then dumps me in the water. My body hits the pool floor before I kick back to the surface, sucking in a lungful of air.

“Holy shit. Did I—?”

The concern on his face gets wiped out by a heavy splash of water. “Yeah, take that!” I laugh, dousing him with another splash. Aiden wipes the water off his face, then lunges at me with a loud growl that has me diving backward to escape him. Not good enough. He lands beside me and his arm slips around the small of my back as he keeps stroking with the other arm, taking me with him.

Laughing, I wriggle out of his grasp, but then he doubles back and comes after me. My shrieks fill the air as I push my legs through the water, desperately trying to escape his outstretched arms.

I’m not fast enough.

He grabs my waist and swings me around. “You’re going to pay for that.”

My giggling suddenly stops. Pressed to his front, it’s hard to ignore what I feel against my spine. I should ease away and pretend his erection isn’t poking me, but I don’t move. At least, I don’t move away .

Aiden breathes harshly into my ear as I rock myself, just slightly. His arms tighten around me. A sweet ache settles between my thighs and I almost entertain the urge to touch myself.

Or beg him to touch me there.

“Scarlett,” Aiden breathes, that sexy whisper making me moan softly. I throw my head back, wanting to do more than lean into him. That crazy thought of turning around, capturing those thick pink lips, it gets stronger.

“You’re messing with my head, my—” His hands move across my stomach as he sucks my earlobe. Jesus . Pleasure dances in my stomach. Pushing up on my tiptoes, I grind my ass on his cock.

“Fuck.” Aiden grinds right back, kissing down my neck, nibbling my shoulders. The ache intensifies between my legs and I give in, stroking myself. Aiden’s hand soon joins mine, caressing that sweet spot with me until I lose myself, begging him not to stop.

But he does stop, only long enough to lift me. My legs wrap around his middle as he takes my lips for a kiss that makes my brain short circuit. With my eyes closed, my arms looping his neck, I let him tongue-fuck my mouth. My ass hits the edge of the pool deck as he assaults me with that skillful tongue, growling softly, every stroke making my pussy clench with need. He soothes that sweet pain with his cock, grinding into my center until I grip the edge of the deck and move with him. As my pelvic floor tightens, priming for a climax, I kiss him back hard and deep. Aiden groans, fisting my hair, crushing my clit with each hard, deliberate thrust of his hips. I throw my head back, breathing harshly. He kisses the base of my throat as my body welcomes the best climax I’ve ever experienced.

Still panting, my head drops on his shoulder. “Oh my God,” I breathe, not from the waves of pleasure still running through my body, but the gravity of what we just did. It wasn’t actual sex, but close enough. I did exactly what Theresa warned me against. I let my guard down.

Aiden runs his fingers through my hair, planting a kiss on my forehead that makes my heart ache. “Beautiful.”

With an inward groan, I ease him away and slide back into the water.

“Scar.”

“I need to go, Aiden,” I reply, quickly treading water to the balcony. “Please tell your driver I’m ready.”

He doesn’t reply, but I’m sure he heard loud and clear. Water swooshes, alerting me that he’s close behind. I hurry out of the pool and wrap a towel around me, then grab my clothes off the floor.

“Bathroom?”

“Are we going to talk about what just happened?” Aiden asks.

“There’s nothing to talk about. Your secret is safe with me, Aiden,” I reply sharply. “The Wolves won’t know you dry humped the enemy in your pool. Your Mom won’t find out you got hot and heavy with the girl from the other side of the tracks.”

An emotion resembling relief crosses his face, making my heart hurt. Yeah, I called it. He wants to ensure I keep my mouth shut.

“Where’s your bathroom?” I ask again.

He seems about to say something more, but then he jerks his head to the side. “Down the hall, first door on the right. It’s an ensuite.”

I stomp into the room and slam the door much harder than I should. I’m not mad at Aiden. He’s a guy. Guys do stupid things when their dicks are hard and there’s a willing woman opening up for them. Me, I should know better.

As I take the wet underwear off and slip on my dry clothes, I start rebuilding the wall around myself. It matters not that Aiden is no longer my bully. I still can’t trust him. Not with my body, certainly not with my heart.