Arching an eyebrow, I tickle her waist. “You think that’s a compliment, but as far as I know, being different from him is the bare minimum.”
Aleida cracks up. Shit, making her laugh is one of the top three best things in life. “True,” she says, nodding along. “He can take a long vacation, for all I care. I won’t miss the sound of his annoying voice as he orders me around.”
The thought of it makes my stomach churn. I hate how I allowed men to abuse her. “He won’t be a bother anymore,” I say, getting closer to her, lowering my voice. “I promise.”
Aleida looks up, arching an eyebrow. “How can you tell? He’d only stop being a bother if he either moved or died.”
She doesn’t need to know, so I say nothing. Aleida already has too many problems in life for me to add a new one. “Tell me more about your movie,” I ask.
“Don’t you want to watch it? If I keep talking, you won’t watch it.”
“It’s okay. I’d rather hear you talking.”
She laughs again. “No, you don’t.”
“I do.” And I lean closer. Her gravity is so powerful I can’t stay away. Maybe it’s the dim light, and how it’s only the two of us here. Maybe it’s how she looks at me, her eyes glinting mysteriously. “We could ditch the movie right now and you could tell me everything about it.”
Her lips curl into a smile, her eyes dropping to my lips. “You’re too good to me, Keegan.”
“I’m not good enough. You deserve all the best things in the world.”
Aleida puts her plate away and leans back, her head resting on my arm. I prop it behind her so she lies on the spot my shoulder meets my chest. Having her here is bliss. Her smell intoxicates me, and I get lost in the hues of her eyes.
So lost I don’t notice I’m leaning in until our noses meet. Aleida parts her lips and exhales. I swallow the taste of her breath on my tongue. Shit. I shouldn’t do this. She deserves better, someone much better than I am. And yet, I can’t stop moving, not when she looks at me like this. Not when she reaches up, hand on my chest, eyelids fluttering closed...
Our lips brush. Aleida whimpers. The sound of it shatters every sense in me and I collide my lips with hers, hand burying into her hair. Aleida’s body melts against me, her hand closing in a fist on my chest, and our hearts beat as one.
I devour her pretty lips, tongue sweeping over hers. She keeps up with the rhythm, the kiss growing more dangerous by the moment. Her taste is everything I’ve ever hoped for: sweet and intoxicating. I groan against her mouth, turning my body until I cage her in, both arms around her. Aleida kisses me back, small moans escaping her lips as she lets me eat her up.
Her body grows hot against mine. My cock pulses with every beat of my heart. Shit, she’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and she wants me. She doesn’t pull back, she doesn’t turn away. Aleida cups my jaw, rakes her nails down my shoulder, then attacks my mouth with desperate hunger. I give her the same treatment, letting her know with every part of me how hard I want her. How much I desire her.
She moves down the couch. I follow her, my body hovering over hers. Her eyes are cloudy with lust as she gives me a once-over. She says nothing, trembling with need, and I take that moment to look her up and down. Admire her full curves, how her chest heaves for me. I stroke her cheek as my lips trail kisses down her jaw and neck. Aleida arches her back off the couch, offering herself to me. My hand roams up her stomach and waist, my fingertips playing with the underside of her breast. She releases a shuddering breath. I grunt against her body, my cock so hard it’s painful. All I want is to bury myself inside her, feel her come around me, but in the back of my head I know this isn’t why I came back home.
The reason I came home is to keep her safe. To make sure she’s happy. And she can’t be happy with me.
Like a divine sign, my phone rings. I break the kiss, breathing against her lips as our gazes lock. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I check the number calling me. It’s like a cold shower. The number from the club, the reminder I have to leave tonight. I live another life in the evenings, in places Aleida wouldn’t want to see me.
If only she knew the things I do. She wouldn’t be kissing me like this right now.
I press our foreheads together, then kiss the corner of her mouth. Sitting back, I take deep breaths before I get to my feet. Aleida sits up, her eyes on me. There’s doubt and fear on her face. I can’t let her think I’m like the other guys. The men who used her, who pretended to like her.
“Sorry,” I say. “We shouldn’t—”
“I liked it,” she quickly adds. “Really liked it.”
Fuck. I shoot her a warning glance. She shouldn’t say that. She has no idea how hard I’m fighting against ripping her clothes off. “I have to leave,” I say, giving her no choice of arguing. “Sorry. We’ll finish the movie tomorrow.” And I turn my back on her and stride for the door.
“What? Now?” And she shoots to her feet, following me to the door. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”
Fuck. “No. You did the opposite of that.” And I leave the apartment as fast as I can. Another second in that place, with her flustered face and her bright eyes, and I’d send it all to hell. I’d fuck her, claim her as mine, and every other man who ever touched her would have to die before the weekend.
What Aleida doesn’t know is that I’m sick. I’m sick, and the possessiveness in me is corrupt, and I don’t give a shit. To keep her safe, I’d do anything.
Even if she’d forever hate me.
5
ALEIDA