Page 86 of High Stakes

He drops down beside me, placing his hands behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. “From me?” I shrug. “Come on Bella, talk to me. No more secrets, remember.” The guilty feeling intensifies.

“I saw Laurie,” I mutter, and he turns his head to stare at me. “She came into the shop.” He pushes up on his elbows. “To rub my face in it mainly,” I add.

His brows pinch together, “Hold on, Laurie came into your shop?”

“Did you tell her I’d lost the baby?”

“Christ, No. Bella, why would I tell her that. I haven’t seen her since I left her at the hospital the morning of her scan.” He looks so sincere, that I find myselfbelieving him. “I mean, it’s obvious looking at you,” he adds, adding a sympathetic smile.

“I guess so,” I mutter.

“What else did she say?”

“That you were talking again. She gave the impression you were a thing.”

He groans, “And you believed her?”

“I didn’t know either way,” I say defensively.

“I spent last week with you,” he reminds me. “You think I had time to go and see her?” I shrug and he rolls over me, propping himself up on his elbows that lay either side of my head. “If you think I can fuck and walk away satisfied, within around half an hour, you’re wrong.” And he kisses me, not pulling away until I’m breathless. “I’m not interested in anyone else, Bella. Just you.”

“For now,” I mumble, hating how needy I sound.

“Laurie calls and texts constantly. She turned up three times to the club last week and I had her removed the second she tried to speak to me. We’re done. For good.”

“Not if the baby is yours,” I say.

“That baby is not mine. I always used protection, and her husband told me straight they’d been trying for a baby.”

“But you still want a paternity test.”

“Cos I can’t have her keep popping up in my life trying to convince me the kid is mine. And she’ll do that, just to come between us. The test will put an end to it all, and it’ll put your mind at rest.”

“I don’t want her turning up at my shop, Aiden,” I whisper, stroking my hand down his cheek.

He leans closer, kissing me again. “I’ll sort it.” This time, when he drops beside me, I notice the bulge in his jeans. He adjusts himself, smirking. “Sorry.”

“If you’re staying over, you need to undress,” I say, biting my lower lip.

He laughs, unbuttoning his jeans and lifting his backside to slide them off. “Don’t get any idea’s, I’m here to make sure you rest.”

I get out of bed, heading for my drawers where I grab a silk nightie, before heading for the bathroom, “I need to pee,” I say. When I return in just the nightie, Aiden stares wide eyed. “What?” I ask, innocently.

“It won’t work,” he says, narrowing his eyes, “I can see what you’re trying to do.”

I run my eyes over his bare chest. My first time wasn’t exactly perfect, and I want to try again. I slip into bed and turn out the bedside light, keeping my back to him. Aiden snuggles up behind me, wrapping me in his arms. His erection pokes my backside, and I shift closer. He hissesand I smile to myself. “Bella,” he grits out, placing a hand to my hip to still me.

“We spent weeks not having sex and just pleasing each other,” I remind him. “If you don’t want me, we can just-”

He leans over to kiss me hard, “I do want you, Bella. That’s not why I’m holding back. I don’t wanna hurt you,” he says, placing kisses over my face. “Now go to sleep.”

I smile. It’s nice he’s thinking about me like that, with concern and love. “I really feel fine,” I say. “Maybe if we take it slow?”

He groans. “You’re making this impossible.”

I grin, turning over and sliding my leg over him, before lifting myself to sit over him. I feel his stiff cock brush against me, and I shudder. “Can we just try?” I lean down to kiss him, making sure to rub against him. I slip my hand between us, easing him into me.

His fingers dig into my thighs, and he groans, “You’re so tight,” he murmurs.

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