Page 7 of Twisted (Never After)

A sick feeling washes over my skin and pricks at my insides like needles when I think again about how I got off because he was there.

About how much I liked it.

It was only because he’s attractive. A temporary lapse in judgment, caused by the heightened senses of my arousal and the unfortunate picture- perfect features of Julian’s face.

A shot ofsomethingstrikes between my legs and my pussy spasms.

Dammit.

“When can I see you again?” Aidan whispers, leaning in and pressing his sweat- slicked forehead against mine.

Warmth spreads through my chest and I press my lips to his. “As soon as I can sneak away.”

I hate that it has to be this way with Aidan, hiding in dark corners and whispering promises of when and where. But the thought of even bringing it up to my father makes my hands clammy and my heart sink.

How do you tell a man you’re terrified of disappointing that you’ve been sneaking around beneath his nose with a boy who’s worked in your house for years?

He’d never be okay with it. He’s always been vocal in the past about me protecting myself from people without money because they’d be the first ones to try and take it from me. He wouldn’t understand that Aidan doesn’t care about any of that.

And honestly, disappointing my father is the least of my fears of what he would do. He could send Aidan away. Fire his mom. Leave them out on the streets with no job and no opportunities.

I’m under no illusion that Baba is an upstanding citizen. His morals are flimsy at best and nonexistent at worst. And I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to Aidan or his mother because of me.

Aidan’s jaw clenches, a tumultuous emotion flitting through his gaze. “Let me go to your father, Yas.”

Panic seizes my throat and makes my hands clammy, the way it does every time he brings it up. “N- no. Not yet.”

Aidan shoves himself back, jumping from the bed and rummaging through the pieces of clothing on the floor until he finds his pants, pulling them roughly up his thighs. I watch him in silence, the guilt feeling like a thousand boulders tied to my middle, dragging me down until I drown.

“He wanted me to meet a man tonight at our dinner,” I force out.

I’m not sure why I bring it up now or why I bring it up at all, other than maybe if I tell him this, then I won’t feel so bad about keeping what happened with Julian close to my chest.

It isn’t until he’s fully dressed, throwing his basic white T- shirt over his head, that he speaks again. “And…did you?”

I shake my head. “He never showed.”

Aidan sighs. “You can’t let your father control your life forever.”

A spike of rage flashes through me, and I lick my lips, turning my head to the side. “You don’t understand.”

“Because you won’t let me!” He spins to face me fully as his fists ball at his sides.

“He’ssick, Aidan!”

He scoffs. “Believe me, I know.”

My gaze softens as I stare at him, wishing I could wipe the hurt look from his face. But what Aidan’s asking isn’t something I can give.

Sighing, I run a shaky hand through my tangled hair, the thick, curly black pieces fighting against my fingers. “I don’t want to cause him any stress. It’s not good for him to be stressed.”

A little slice of anger wedges its sharp edges into my chest from having to verbalize it. Saying it out loud makes itreal, and I’m still trying to pretend that it’s not.

My dry tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. “I’ll tell him, okay? I just need time.”

Aidan stares at me, the smooth planes of his face drawn tight before he finally blows out a breath and walks over, sitting next to me. His hands cup my cheeks, and he wipes away the few stray tears I couldn’t keep in. “Princess, how much more time do youhave?”

His words smash through the grief like a wrecking ball, spreading the shattered pieces until they splinter my skin. “Don’t use his lung cancer as a weapon to get your way, Aidan.”