He quirked an eyebrow, faking a move to start the engine. It was enough sign for me to understand that he wouldn’t stop his bullshit until I came down. Rolling my eyes, I shut the window and grabbed my keys before making my way downstairs.
I tiptoed as quietly as possible, with anxiety rushing down my spine. Aiden was waiting for me on his bike with his arms crossed, along with his smug smile plastered on his face.
Oh, how I wished I could slap that smug smile away.
I strode toward him with anger radiating from my body. “Cute nightdress,” he muttered, gazing at me from head to toe with a pleased smile.
That’s when I realized I was in my pale pink t-shirt and shorts along with my flats. I shook my head, getting back to my point.
“What the hell are you doing here? And what are you, five years old for pulling such stupid stunt?”
He kept smiling as his eyes never left mine.
“You look so sexy when you’re pissed off. I like it.” He winked at me.
“Well, I don’t like it, so go away and leave me alone.”
I turned around to leave, but he abruptly grabbed my elbow, bringing me close to him as his hard chest collided with my back. His breath tickled my earlobe, making my skin prickle.
“The minute you get inside the building, I will rev my bike again, and this time I’ll make sure everyone wakes up,” he whispered against my ear, making my breath hitch.
“But if you come with me, then I will be a gentleman. I promise.”
Was he for real?
I looked over my shoulder, glaring at him. “Go to hell. I’m not going anywhere with you,” I hissed.
Suddenly, he twirled me around and wrapped his arm around me, engulfing me tightly against his body.
“Okay. We both can stay here and wake up your friends.” He delivered his threat with an innocent tone.
Grinning, he opened his mouth like he was about to scream. On instinct, I put my hand on his mouth to stop him from being any dumber than he already was.
“Okay! Okay! I’ll go with you. Stop being such an asshole!” I hissed.
He kissed my palm, making me pull away immediately. He winked at me again and nodded to the back of the seat.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He simply looked at me with no response. Rolling my eyes, I got on the seat and wrapped my hands around his waist, holding onto him for dear life.
I’d seen him riding his motorbike a lot of times, and I knew the speed he usually traveled. Plus, I had no interest in dying so soon. As if he could sense the worry within me, he muttered, “I won’t let anything happen to you. I will drive safely, don’t worry.”
Just his words made my body relax instantly. How did he do that? How could such simple words affect me so much?
Aiden rode off slowly down the driveway and out onto the street, and then he gunned it onto the highway.
The wind tossed my hair about, tearing my ponytail loose from the band’s grip. Not caring, I pulled off the hair band, letting my hair free even though I knew in the end it would turn into a bird’s nest. But I didn’t give a damn.
We drove down the highway with the bike’s headlight the only source of light as we hit the countryside. I had no idea where we were off to, and while the fact would have normally made me paranoid, at this moment as long as I was in Aiden’s presence, I didn’t care.
He may not be himself nowadays, but deep down I knew my Aiden would always be there somewhere to protect me. At this moment, I wanted to be free like the wind with him.
For an hour, we rode until he finally got off the highway, tramped down a country road, and stopped at a little barn with a lake on the opposite side. The moonlight glittered on the water like crystals.
Aiden got off the bike, and I followed suit, while combing my hair with my fingers. I didn’t need a mirror to see the bird’s nest on my head.
“Come on,” he said.
“Where?”
“You know you will get your answers when you follow me.”
I crossed my arms. “Or you could just tell me.”
“Where’s the fun in that? Now come on.”
I swallowed and followed him toward the wooden pier on the shore of the lake. I took a moment, taking in the dark yet beautiful sight around me. The chirping of the crickets and pitter patter of the water made the night even more peaceful. Even though the cold wind was soothing, it still made me shiver, urging me to rub my hands on either side of my arms. I heard the rustling of clothing from beside me and found Aiden taking off his jacket and wrapping it around me.
“Thanks.”
He nodded in acknowledgment. Meanwhile my eyes raked down his masculine physique, his tanned, muscular arms illuminated from the moonlight. Oh God.
My gaze went further up, seeing the bulge of his abs hugging his t-shirt. I’d witnessed this sight many times but seeing it closer made things more intense.
“Check me out all you want,” he muttered, even though he was facing the lake.
My cheeks heated. Shit.
“I wasn’t checking you out,” I said quickly, looking around.
He snorted before he sat on the edge of the pier with his legs dangling.
I joined him, pulling his jacket around me. There was silence for a few moments before I broke it.
“What are we doing here?” I asked him.
He shook his head with a sigh. “Wish I knew.”
“What does that mean?” I frowned.
“It means since the night we kissed, something just…changed. Here I was trying to ignore you, and the minute we kissed I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
He ran a hand over his face before looking at me. “I vowed to myself I’d hate you, but that one single kiss is changing me. It’s urging me day and night to have more of you.”
“Well, you were the one who demanded it,” I protested.
“Yeah right, as if you were giving your all to fight me off. Don’t blame this all on me. You were there, too.”
“You forced me,” I hissed.
“As far as I remember, you enjoyed it. You were craving it as much as I was,” he retorted, knowing full well I had no answer for that one.
I rolled my eyes. “So, you brought me here for what? Another kiss? You did all of this just for another kiss?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. But even I don’t know why I brought you here. I was going to have a peaceful sleep in my garage, but no―”
“Wait, wait, wait. The garage? Is that where you live now?”
His jaw clenched, as if he didn’t want me to discover where he lived, while he rubbed his hands together.
“Aiden. You live in a garage now?” I asked again, placing my hand on his shoulder.
He nodded with his gaze fixed on the sparkling water.
“Why?” I barely whispered.
“I didn’t have a job, and I had funeral expenses and bills to pay after mom died. So, one of my friends hitched me with the motorbike race. It’s easy money, and I got to pay my bills. And I work part-time at the garage, which is owned by my friend’s dad. Luckily, he had a spare room. So, yeah, I technically live there now,” he explained. With each word, my heart tore apart bit by bit.
I squeezed his shoulder gently as consolation, scooting closer to him.
Surprisingly, he let me as he found solace with my touch.