There’s a slight shift in his features before that infuriating poker face slips back on. “I know what?”
“Tell me, Aiden, please.” I grind against his erection, rubbing my arse cheeks all over him. “I’ll do anything.”
“Stop.” He grips my arm hard, causing me to whimper. “I won’t fuck you when you’re like this.”
“When I’m like what?” Frustration and the fear of the unknown claw at my chest and I just snap. “A mess? A fucking maniac? I hurt my aunt in the hospital, Aiden! The wound I left in her wrist is so deep, I can’t look her in the eyes without feeling like a monster. I scratched you the other time and I almost bashed Silver’s head to the pavement just now. I keep escalating with no way to stop it and you’re refusing to fucking tell me what happened!”
Harsh breaths heave out of me after my outburst. I try to push off him, but he grips me by the shoulder and keeps me pinned to his lap.
“Do you think you’ll feel better if you know the truth?” He grinds out every word.
“Of course!”
“Believe me, sweetheart, it’ll be a lot fucking worse.”
“Let me be the judge of that. It’s my life, Aiden. Mine! I’m tired of people making the decision for me. Let me screw up on my own! I’ll take responsibility for it all.”
He throws the towel away, wraps a tight arm around my waist, and stands up.
I’m thrown over the bed before I can think about what’s happening. Aiden lunges at me and rips my shirt open. I gasp as buttons fly everywhere. The sound dies in my throat when I stare at his crazed expression.
He’s about to snap.
And I’m the one who drove him to the edge.
“You want to know, huh?” He grips the middle of the bra and yanks it open.
I cry out, but it’s not only out of surprise. No. His brute strength always got me in a knot whether I like to admit it or not.
He hovers over me, straddling my stomach with his knees, and grabs a breast in his harsh hand. His fingers dig into the flesh, and my limbs shake.
As if possible, his eyes darken more.
It’s like he’s not with me.
I’m losing him to his demons.
“A-Aiden?”
His free hand squeezes my throat, killing my words and my air. When I try to speak again, he tightens his grip. Barely a few breaths reach my lungs.
“Let’s start with this scar.” His voice is calm. The frightening type of calm. “Do you know the story behind this fucking scar, hmm?”
I squirm, clawing at his hands.
He squeezes harder, cutting off the small air supply I have left. “Stay. Fucking. Still.”
If I continue fighting, it’ll be a war of physical strength and I won’t win in that.
Smarter, not stronger.
I let my arms fall on either side of me.
Just like that, Aiden slowly eases his clutch on my neck, but he doesn’t completely release it.
I gulp in sharp intakes of air and watch him closely.
Aiden massages my throat and the pulse point with an obsessive interest before his metal eyes slide down to my breast.