And again.
And again.
In that moment, out of all the others, I realize it’s not insanity that drives me to be stupid and reckless with her. It’s not insanity that brought me to Lunar Cove in the first place.
It’s obsession.
Addiction.
I’m a fucking addict.
A fiend for this pink-haired angel.
Unfortunately, for that affliction, there is no cure. Only abstinence, or indulgence, and I’d sooner give up my life as I know it than go a single day further without being able to taste her.
After a few moments of silence wherein we collect ourselves, we straighten on our feet and fix our clothing. My hand slides between her legs, finding the mixture of our pleasure as it seeps from her.
I dip a finger in, swirling the mess around her clit, then back over her entrance and past her asshole. “There,” I say, withdrawing and bringing the finger to my mouth, licking it clean. “In case you ever get the idea again that you’re somehow not my business. Let the cum drying on parts of you that only I get to see be a reminder.”
Her face flushes a deep fuchsia color as she rights her dress, then creeps over to the door. “God, what if he stayed for all of that?”
“Then he’s a pervert, and now he knows the score.”
She shoots me a dirty look. “He already knew the score, Aiden. You’re just an asshole.”
I don’t deny it—can’t, anyway—as she unlocks the door and goes to pull it open.
“Uh,” she says slowly, pulling on the brass doorknob. “It’s stuck?”
“Are you asking or telling me?”
She jiggles the metal, trying to turn it with no luck. “Oh, my god! We’re locked in!”
“No, we’re not. It just needs a little extra elbow grease.” Gently moving her out of the way, I wrap my fingers around the knob and twist as hard as I can.
Nothing happens.
Furrowing my brows, I try to turn it again, and still nothing happens. Bracing one hand against the frame, I lodge my foot into the wall and pull; it creaks on its hinges, but otherwise stays put.
“What the fuck?” I huff, my fist colliding with the wood. “Open up, you fucker.”
“God, I knew this was a bad idea.” Riley’s fists join mine, beating furiously. “Caleb! Open the fucking door!”
Silence comes from the other side, and confusion laces my nerves, putting me on edge.
Riley continues pounding, screeching at her friend and kicking with all her might. I back away, glancing at the small crack between the floor and the bottom of the door; crouching down, I flatten my palms on the tile and turn my head, looking for signs of movement outside.
Everything in the gallery is still, the shadows square and unmoving. I frown, pushing back to my feet, and grab Riley from behind.
“Why would Caleb lock us in here?”
Her hand freezes mid-knock, and she shrugs. “To be a dick? I don’t know, we did just turn his bathroom into an exhibitionist site.”
“Yeah, and I’m pretty sure he’d rather drag me out by my dick than trap you in here with me.” Jimmying the doorknob again, I shake my head, frustration lancing my skull.
“Get out of the way,” I tell her, rolling my shoulders and trying to loosen the muscles in my neck.
She scrambles a few steps, the backs of her calves hitting the toilet. “What are you doing?”
Without answering, I call out for Caleb one last time; silence continues to trickle in from the lobby, so I focus on the doorknob and lift my foot, aiming for the lock and pushing all of my weight into it.
The door flies open, bits of metal and wood splintering into the air as it knocks into the wall. One of the hinges pops free from the impact, and Riley screams, even though she’s clearly not in any fucking danger.
Just as I suspected, Caleb is nowhere to be found.
But someone else is.
“That seems so unnecessary,” Riley says as she exits the bathroom, smoothing her hands over her dress. She comes to a complete stop at my side, a small gasp falling from her lips as she takes in the petite, platinum blonde standing at the front of the shop, looking like she’s just seen a ghost.
“Mellie?”
40
I can’t tell if I’m choking on surprise, or the imprint of Aiden’s fingers pressing on the back of my tongue.
Like they’re still lodged there, I can feel them cutting off my air supply and debasing me in a way I didn’t think I would enjoy, given my past.
For some reason, though, it just feels right at his hands.
It shouldn’t, I know that. I know that he was awful to me when he showed up, and that the stalking was… well, illegal.
But I also know that no one’s ever made me feel quite as good as he has, either.
As beautiful.
Whole.
Maybe that’s not the answer to everything—I know the trauma can’t be reversed or healed by pretty words and forehead kisses.
They help, though.
It’s so much easier to navigate when you have someone standing by you.
Tearing my gaze from the disturbingly attractive man at my side, I focus my attention back on the front door, where Mellie Simmons stands.
Her skinny fingers wrap tight around the strap of the clutch hanging off her shoulder, her pale cheeks flushed pink—from the cold air outside, or what she possibly just overheard in the bathroom, I can’t be sure.
Or maybe it’s the fact that her former classmate is supposed to be dead, and yet here she stands, freshly fucked and being extremely obvious about it.
My mother’s voice is quieter these days, but she comes raring back with a vengeance as the silence ticks by, reminding me of what a disgrace I am.
As if sensing the tension lacing my muscles, Aiden shuffles closer to me and drapes his arm over my shoulders, tilting his head as he looks between us.
“Another Lunar Cove resident, I take it?” he asks, closing the distance to hold his hand out for her. “I’m guessing there’s a fifty-fifty chance you have any clue who I am.”
Mellie blinks, her dark eyes peeling off my frame and swinging to him. “You’re Aiden James. I… I cannot believe I’m standing in the same building as Aiden James right now. Holy shit.”
He smirks, lifting his chest. “So, you’re the percent that I like, then.”
“She’s not from here.” I shrug off his hold, trying to make this thing between us look more casual than it feels.
Her excitement dwindles, and we just stare at each other for a long stretch of time. Aiden shifts on his feet, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I’ll be honest,” he says. “I don’t understand what’s happening here.”
“Tell me about it.” Mellie’s voice is suddenly cold, so unlike the way it was in high school. “Last I saw her, Riley Kelly was walking away from our class at the airport after our NYC trip, and the next thing I know, she’s dead.” Her head cocks to the side, eyes hard. “Care to explain?”
“You recognize her even with the pink hair?”
My fist lashes out, catching Aiden in the abs, and he lets out a low chuckle. “I’m just saying, you didn’t really do that much to change.”
“Maybe not in person. But on paper?” Mellie frowns, adjusting her purse. “Totally legit. Then again, I guess when your family’s involved with the Mafia, you can manage arrangements like that.”