Page 113 of Tempting the President

I shook my head weakly. Don’t say it, please don’t say it. Whatever it was, I was sure it wouldn’t be good.

“You didn’t really think this was over?”

Chapter Twenty

Dear Ashton,

Just because I’m looking at the clock doesn’t mean I’m excited.

I’m just extra aware of the time. You agree with me, right?

Love, Your Big Sis

KELLION

HE GAZED AT ARIA FORthe longest time, lying on his side next to her on her broken bed.

Five days.

They had been locked here inside her room for five days, spending most of their time making love. They’d sleep for a few hours, browse through videos on YouTube, have food delivered by one of Kellion’s bodyguards, but most of the time had been spent exploring each other’s bodies.

And yet—-

He still couldn’t get enough of her, was more than content looking his fill of her. Like him, she had slept naked, Aria having given up the thought of going to bed with her clothes on by the third night. If she had kept it up, she would have ended with all her pajamas ripped into pieces.

She was lying on her back, her face turned towards him. Unable to help it, Kellion let his fingers graze on Aria’s smooth bare back, down, down, down until his fingers were dipping under thecovers and curving on one rear cheek. He squeezed, loving the pert fullness of her bottom. Aria stirred at his touch but didn’t wake up. That she was tired was an understatement. Unlike him, this had been her first bout of sex – a marathon by all counts, and Kellion had to give her props for lasting this long. Although shy and inhibited at first, she had been as insatiable as he was and wonderfully adventurous, willing to do whatever he asked of her.

Looking at her, just looking at Aria’s sleeping face, and Kellion’s heart felt strangely filled, the burden of invisibility gradually being lifted off his shoulders.

Even when she was asleep, she made him feel like he existed, made him feel he was wanted.

Behind him, Kellion’s phone played a special tune, one that had him stiffening.

Jack.

For a moment, he remained still, guilt leaving a vile taste in his mouth. The next second, he was moving away, the taste becoming viler as the distance between him and Aria grew. Slowly, he reached for his phone.

Jack: Are you free to talk?

Kellion: What’s wrong?

Jack: It’s Eugene. He lied to me again. I don’t think I can take it anymore.

Kellion: Then don’t. Leave him.

Jack: I wish I could, but I just...please, can we talk? Can you come here?

His fingers stilled, indecision making Kellion’s teeth clench hard. She was asking for help. She needed help. It was not wrong, it was not a betrayal for Kellion to help Jack.

So why did it feel like it was?

His emotions deteriorated into chaos, and he found himself looking at Aria. Histerataki,someone real, someone who was with him, someone who sawhim.She wasn’t just in his mind, she was in his heart, but her presence was overshadowed by memories, and all of them were of Jack.

“Kellion?”

He stiffened, the sleepy voice behind him making the guilt inside him worsen. At the same time, he felt ashamed, prompting him to type a reply to Jack.

Kellion: I’m sorry. I can’t come.