Page 87 of Tainted Gifts
I'm not yet brave enough to remove my contacts and reveal to the world my little secret. My mother wasn't a beloved hero that saved the world, so I doubt they'll be as accepting of me, though they would probably fear me more. That could play well into my hand.
Nope. Still not taking out my contacts.
Aria's sweet laugh escapes as she politely shakes the hand of one of the men singing her praises for her beauty. The fucking commander smiles down at her, acting as though he's proud to have her hanging on him like the girl he shouldn't have.
Once her pain is gone and she doesn't need him anymore, I may very well kidnap her and force her to take a vacation. I have to get her away from him.
He kisses the top of her head before running his fingers through her hair, and then he nods to one of the men as though he's agreeing. Then he and Aria become lost in a gaze that makes me sick. I would kill to have her look at me like that. She will. One day. I hope.
She shakes another man's hand before tugging at Jase's shirt, forcing him to lean down and let her whisper into his ear. I wish I could fucking hear what she is saying.
He whispers something back, and she giggles in response. Air finds my lungs when she excuses herself and leaves all of them standing in their circle. My eyes follow her as she disappears between some of the buildings, heading down an alleyway.
I duck down an alley as well, ready to meet her in the middle of the vacant lot behind here. I have to find a way to connect with her. Talk to her. That's never been my strong suit. Conversation has been overrated in all of my previous relationships, but apparently it's something she wants.
Everything I say seems forced or just... weird. Then it's always followed by an awkward silence when there's nothing for her to really say back.
Hey, Aria, can we head to the fields? There's a bald patch in the grass I want to show you. I made it myself.
I really, really suck at this.
I roll my eyes at my own foolish self. If I'm finding myself to be boring and ridiculously odd, then what will she think?
Aria, do you want to watch a movie? We could get a room together and try to spend more than five seconds alone.
That just sounds desperate.
Line after line rolls through my head as I emerge to find the vacant lot. I see her leaning against the backside of the hotel, talking on the phone as she plays with the ends of her hair.
I can't hear who she's talking to because they're apparently using nothing more than a whisper, but I'm sure it's Araya when Aria asks how the kids are. I patiently await my opportunity. I'm afraid she'll wave me off if I interrupt.
I feel a little like a creepy stalker hiding in the shadows like this, but I'm a man on the ledge at this point. I'll do anything.
Then he shows up... that fucking full blood. He rounds the corner and his lips find hers despite the phone call she's in the middle of. She smiles against the kiss, making me sick as I stand there and watch through the looking glass at the love that should be mine.
She murmurs farewells into the phone before dropping it to the ground and putting her arms around his neck to bring him into a deeper kiss.
I really wish I had been the one to interrupt the call now.
It's not like I didn't know this was happening. I figured as much. I knew it was him seducing her instead of the seductive air in that hotel room. I'm surprised I'm not feeling the burn of her seduction right now.
She kisses him harder when his hand slides to the bottom of her ass to pull her closer, and my teeth try to break when I clench them too tightly. This is torture, but I can't lose my cool.
I start to walk away, save myself from the misery, when he pulls something out of his pocket. It's her mother-fucking panties. Fuck no.
That's a line he shouldn't have crossed. He put her in jeopardy just to fuck her before her forty-eight hour period was over. He just wants her to keep needing him. That selfish son of a bitch.
She just giggles, laughing as she takes them from him, and he starts kissing her again when she tries to pull them on. I get a brief glance of the body that's supposed to be mine when her skirt rises up higher for her to pull her lacy underwear into place.
He jerks her to him before sliding her against the wall, and his grin grows as he reads her mind. I can't watch this. He's already fucked her up. How fucking dare he!
Before I realize what I'm doing, I've already released the first purple streak of burning hot electricity.
Chapter
Aria
Jase is violently ripped from me, scaring the shit out of me, before I understand what just happened. I dive to the ground to check on Jase just before Kellan reaches us in a blur.
