Page 87 of Tempting the President
I looked at his thick black hair, at how they shone under the lights, and I had to clench my fists tighter to prevent me from reaching out to him. I looked at his face, and I could only wonder if he had really been this beautiful all the time. Those green eyes, those high, carved cheekbones, those thin perfect lips – had he really been this gorgeous? Or was it because I knew now I was in love with him that everything felt so different?
“Aria?” It was Bobby speaking, but her voice reached me like she was far away. Right now, all that existed for me was Kellion.
“I’m going to leave you two—-”
When her words sank in, I jerked.No. I didn’t want to be alone to him.Panicking, I tore my gaze off Kellion and found Bobby already walking to the door. I hurried towards her and managed to catch the older girl just as she was opening the door.
She turned to me and I shook my head at her.Please. Please don’t leave me—-
“Aria, listen.” Her voice was gentle, so beautifully gentle it didn’t sound like her, and I wanted to cry because of it.This, I thought painfully,this was the kind of voice I wished Amelie had. I didn’t give a damn if she had the voice of a siren. I had wanted this kind of voice, one that would have made me feel like I was cared for.
“I wouldn’t have helped him if he had hurt you.”
I shook my head more vigorously.No, Kellion hadn’t hurt me. But—-
She took my hand, and her voice became even gentler as she spoke. “But right now...I think right now...you’re the one hurting yourself.”
KELLION
For a long moment, Kellion didn’t move from where he was. Even with Bobby already gone, he forced himself to stay still, not wanting Aria to feel crowded. But when she moved, when she reached for the knob and he knew she also intended to leave—-
He moved, too.
He would do anything for her, give anything to her except that.
He pushed the door shut just as it opened, his hand slamming against it as he stood behind her, trapping Aria between his body and the door.
“Please...let...me...go.” Her voice was wisp-thin and brittle, and he knew she wasn’t speaking like before. Wasn’t speaking because she wanted him to smile.
“I’d appreciate if you could give me a moment of your time,terataki.” When she didn’t say anything, he said hoarsely, “Just one moment of your time.” He spun her around, but still she didn’t meet his gaze, her body remaining stiff and her arms glued to her side to prevent any parts of their bodies coming into contact.
Lifting his hand from the door, he reached for her hands with his, flinching at how cold and clammy they felt. It was a sign that she was scared. That she was hurting. And that was all his fault, too.
“Baby, look at me.Please.”
He didn’t really expect her to heed him, but after one long moment, he saw her slowly raise her head, relief and pain both washing over him as their gazes met.
That she was following him was also a result of his selfishness, of Kellion’s thoughtless decision to break her glass house. Aria had trusted him to be there for her. But when she had needed to hold his hand, he had been holding someone else’s.
The realization tore him apart, and he heard himself saying tautly, “I’m sorry.” He tightened his hold on her hands. “I would never have left...I never thought that something like that would happen to you.” He swallowed convulsively.
Slowly, Aria shook her head. “I...don’t...blame...you.”
He said grimly, “You should.”
She shook her head just once. “I...don’t.”
His lips twisted. “Still adorably stubborn.” He saw her eyes widen, knew it was because the words were tender but his voice had been savage.
Yeah, well, fuck, that was how she made him feel right now. Torn in different directions, trying to make sense of the hundreds of emotions that had hit him the moment Kellion had seen her face.
His knuckles brushing against her cheek, he said roughly, “Do you know how I felt when I read your message? When you told me you didn’t want to see me again?”
“Sorry.” This time, she was the one who held his hand tightly. “Never...wanted...to...hurt...you.” Her lip started to tremble, and Aria’s teeth sank into her lower lip.
Gazing at Aria’s face, Kellion heard himself say, “If you don’t want to hurt me, then say you’ll stay with me forever.” The moment the words were out, he didn’t know who seemed more surprised, Aria or himself. But it was beginning to dawn on him that he meant every word.
He watched Aria bite her lip harder. “I...can’t.”
