Chapter 6 ~ That Is

• Leah
• "Do you need help changing?" Aiden teased, his eyes on my chest.
• Fucking, stupid pervert.
• My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse. "No. Get out."
• He leaned against the doorframe, smirking. "But I also need to change. You don't want me catching a cold, do you?"
• "Then get another room."
• "The bathroom will do," he said, brushing past me.
• He took off his coat and dropped it carelessly onto the floor, and then his fingers moved to his shirt buttons. "The faster you change, the earlier I get out of your hair. And don't even think about running. My men are right outside the door."
• I chewed the inside of my cheek as I watched him disappear into the bathroom.
• After standing for what felt like hours, I reluctantly pulled the yellow sundress from one of the shopping bags and eyed it. My nose scrunched when I saw the red lacy panties tucked inside.
• The size was even right.
• Creepy motherfucker.
• I glanced at the bathroom door for the hundredth time to make sure he wasn't coming out before quickly slipping out of my wet dress and panties entirely.
• I had just reached for the new dress draped over the chair when the door suddenly groaned open.
• My heart jumped in my throat as I turned quickly, holding the dress to my chest.
• "What is wrong with you?" I almost screamed.
• "My bad. Didn't think you would still be dressing," he said, stepping out of the bathroom, damp hair pushed back from his face, not looking the least bit sorry.
• I watched, mouth suddenly dry, as drops of water trailed over the hard lines of his tattooed chest before disappearing beneath the towel hanging low on his hips. I tore my gaze away, heat rushing to my neck.
• Damn him.
• "Well, I'm. Get out."
• He didn't, instead, he stood there watching me like a fucking prey. Then he suddenly stepped closer, the air shifting with him.
• "Don't..." I warned, taking a small step back.
• My heart pounded wildly as his gaze locked with mine, dark and unreadable.
• He kept coming slowly until he was close enough that I could feel the heat rolling off him, and my fingers tightened around the fabric of my dress.
• I held my breath when he lifted a hand.
• But instead of touching me, he bent down beside me, his shoulder brushing the bare skin of my thigh and sending unwanted sparks through me straight to a place they had no business going, as he reached behind me.
• He straightened with the second shopping bag in his hand, a smirk curling his lips. "Forgot to take my clothes."
• I didn't believe him for a second.
• His eyes flickered over my face.
• "You looked like you were expecting something else, doll."
• "Fuck you," I managed with a shaky voice.
• His gaze moved past me. "You know there's a mirror behind you, right?"
• Heat rushed to my face as I turned just enough to realise he had a clear view of my bare back.
• Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
• I stared anywhere but at him, wishing the floor would just open and swallow me.
• Shouldn't he have pretended not to notice?
• My gaze slipped downward before I could stop it, catching the unmistakable strain beneath the towel.
• Heat climbed higher as I fought not to squirm.
• He chuckled softly, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from my shoulder.
• "Stop," I whispered.
• "Stop what?"
• "Whatever you're doing."
• "You don't like it?"
• "No," I said too quickly.
• His thumb dragged slowly over my lips before lifting my chin up. "Really?"
• "Yes."
• His mouth curved in a wicked smile. "Liar."
• "I don't." I held his eyes.
• For a second, something dark flashed in his eyes, like he was fighting the urge to test that answer for himself. Then he drew in a sharp breath and stepped back.
• "Next time then," he said, almost to himself, before turning away.
• "This should be the last time we meet," I said after him.
• He paused at the door, glancing over his shoulder with a knowing smirk. "We both know that would be impossible, doll."
• *************
• I ran the sponge over my shoulder and then down the length of my arm, my mind drifting to his large hands.
• I shivered, goosebumps spreading across my skin as the thought of those rough hands gliding slowly over me invaded my thoughts.
• Sighing, I stared at the ceiling.
• "I am fucked."
• Leaning forward, I scrubbed harder, reminding myself that I was supposed to be washing him off, not fantasising about how his hands would feel on my body.
• The phone on the dresser rang just as I was about to climb into bed.
• "Liam," I called out but there was no answer.
• "Where is he?"
• I picked it up just as it stopped ringing and vibrated in my hand with a message. I was about to glance at the screen when the phone was suddenly snatched from my hand.
• "What the fuck are you doing snooping through my phone?"
• "I wasn't snopping," I said through clenched teeth, anger flaring at his accusation.
• He hissed, scrolling through his phone.
• "Don't fucking touch my phone again," he warned, voice tight.
• "Why are you acting like it's such a big deal?" I shot back. "Are you hiding something?"
• That made him stop and glare up at me. "What did you just say?"
• Something in his expression made my confidence dip.
• "Nothing," I muttered, forcing myself to look away.
• "Annoying bitch."
• My chest tightened as I turned back to him.
• "Why would you call me that just because I touched your phone?" My voice cracked despite my effort to keep it steady.
• Why are you being unnecessarily mean to me?
• His phone rang again, he ignored me and left the room as he answered the call.
• Lying in bed, I waited for him but he didn't come back for what felt like hours.
• The door finally creaked open and my heart hammered as I heard him move around the room. I stayed still, pretending to be asleep as he climbed in beside me.
• Minutes passed, but I couldn't muster up the courage to say a word, afraid of setting him off like I always do.
• I turned on my side to face his back. He was right there, but it felt like he was miles away.
• Ever since the nightdress issue, he had been distant, always turning every conversation we had into a fight.
• I bit my lip, hesitating before scooting closer. My heart pounded as I wrapped my arms around him from behind.
• He tensed immediately, but didn't pull away. Taking that as permission, I pressed closer, his warmth seeping into my skin as I rested my forehead against his back.
• "I'm sorry," I whispered.
• I didn't even know what for, but I would've apologised for anything it it meant getting back the man I knew before all the fighting.
• "I am trying to sleep, Leah," he said sharply, and I held him tighter. "If you don't stop, I'll leave the bed."
• My heart shattered.
• "Please..." I sniffed, clinging to him.
• He pulled my arms off him with a sharp hiss and stood up.
• Kneeling on the bed with tears streaming down my cheeks, I watched him reach for the doorknob.
• The words I usually kept as thoughts spilt out before I could stop them. "Are you seeing someone else?"
• He paused, his back still turned to me, and for an agonising moment, the room was filled with nothing but the sound of my sobs.
• "Please talk to me, Liam," I cried, gripping my nightdress. "I've thought hard and long on what the problem is, and I can't seem to think of anything but that. Or do you not love me anymore?"
• I couldn't tell which was more painful, the thought of him seeing someone else or the possibility that he no longer loved me.
• Yet guilt twisted in my chest, reminding me I had let another man kiss me... and I had wanted it.