Lo dropped me back to my feet, and as I hit the floor, I felt his hand on my ass. For a moment, I was shocked, but then I realized he had just put something in my back pocket. I glanced at Aiden, and I saw him look between us quickly. He didn’t look angry at his friend’s familiarity, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes.
Aiden walked the visitors to the door. As soon as they were gone, I excused myself to the bathroom and checked my pocket. There was a business card in it that read “Flux Security Services.” It had both Lo and Mo’s names on it along with Lo’s phone number. I took a deep breath and wondered just what Lo meant about Aiden being more fragile than he seemed. Fragile in what way? Mentally? Physically? Were Lo’s words a warning for me to get away from Aiden? That didn’t seem right—they were obviously good friends. Fragile was such an odd word to use. It seemed like he was telling me not to hurt Aiden, not that he was dangerous in some way.
Lo had also said Aiden could be scary.
What had Aiden talked to Mo about? What was their business? Aiden hadn’t said anything about security, just sales. Then again, if you are a drug dealer, you would need your own security around.
No. I wasn’t going to think that way. I didn’t want to know. If I knew—if I knew for sure—I’d have to get out. I couldn’t stay around if I knew that’s what he really did. As long as I didn’t know, I could pretend his business was perfectly legitimate.
What legitimate business in sales required a private conversation between him and a security guy?
“You think too much,” I told myself in the mirror as I washed my hands. “You’re having a good time. Why can’t you just leave it alone?”
I already knew the answer to that question; I just didn’t want to admit it.
It didn’t matter that I had only known him for a few days—I wanted him. I knew I did. I wanted to feel his mouth on mine again. I wanted to be wrapped up in his arms as we sat on the beach. I wanted him to roll me over and take me in the sand. As long as I continued to force myself to believe he wasn’t a criminal, then I could let whatever happened, happen.
Aiden had brought me to this beautiful setting. He’d cooked for me. He’d encouraged me to do something I never would have tried on my own, and I had loved every second of it. He’d been a perfect gentleman.
There was no reason for me to be suspicious.
Satisfied with my reasoning, I brushed my teeth and left the bathroom. I quickly changed into my pajamas and then went to find Aiden, who was sitting at the kitchen table, looking at his phone.
“I was going to go ahead and go to bed,” I said, giving him a little smile. I hoped he would get the idea from my tone of voice, but I wasn’t really sure what tone I should use.
“It is late,” he said without looking up from his phone.
So much for subtle hints.
I stood there for a second, wondering if I should just go sit myself down in his lap and make the first move, but he spoke before I had the chance.
“Hey, listen,” Aiden said as he finally looked up, “I have a little work to catch up on. I’ll probably be up for a while.”
“Oh, okay,” I said. I tried to smile, but I didn’t think it came off well. His eyes were unfocused, and he seemed lost in thought. “I hope I’m not keeping you from things you need to do.”
“You aren’t.” Aiden shook his head slowly before he actually looked at me. I watched his eyes dart down my body briefly before he smiled again. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be up in time to make you breakfast.”
Breakfast was the furthest thing from my mind. Still, I didn’t want to bother him when he had other things to do, so all thoughts of trying to seduce him left my head as I said goodnight and went back to the bedroom alone.
/>
I climbed into bed and lay there for the longest time, trying to decide if I had lost my mind or not. Trying to fall asleep without Aiden in the bed proved to be more difficult that it had been when he was there. It was probably just because of the bed I was in, but it felt strange not to have him beside me though we had only spent the one night together.
Well, one that I remembered.
I sighed. Sleep was not coming, and I felt the need to pee again. I shoved myself out of the bed and padded down the hallway.
“I don’t give a shit!”
I stopped in my tracks. Aiden was on the phone in the next room.
“It’s nothing but bullshit. They knew what they were getting into, and now they’re being pussies about it…no, I’m not going to hold back—not anymore!”
I wondered if the beat of my heart was audible as I leaned against the wall and tried not to breathe as I listened to the one-sided conversation.
“I can’t right now…no…I’ve kind of got myself into a complicated thing this week.” The chair squeaked as Aiden leaned back.
I stayed still and silent as I continued to listen, wondering if I was the complication Aiden mentioned.