Aiden's POVI followed Lily out of the car, trailing her with my hands in my pocket. The sight of her storming into the house, all stiff and stoic, put an amused smile on my face.Finally, we got into the house, and she immediately made a beeline for the staircase. "Where are you going?" I called out.She turned to face me, arms folded. "To my bedroom.""I think you mean, my bedroom?" I slowly walked towards her, my hands still buried in my pockets. She licked her lips, and a lurch of desire happened in my groin. "You're about to give me some crap about owning this house and everything in it, aren't you?" "It is technically my bedroom though." God, how I enjoyed teasing this tough woman."It's not if you don't sleep in it." She grumbled. I could sense the subtlety beneath her voice, the need to pursue a totally different topic. I could also sense the question behind her words, aching to be asked.Why did I leave her in the room after sex, not once, but twice? Why did I refuse to sl
Aiden's POVI pulled back—with a little bit of effort. "Strip," I commanded.This time, she asked no questions. Pulling the dress over her head, all that was left between us was her bra and my clothes.I jerked my head towards the bed. "Go there, and lie down. Do not move."Lily didn't need to be told twice. She moved to the bed and lay on the soft surface placidly, looking up at me. I stood, staring at this goddess of a woman that lay before me, ready for my taking.I slowly began unbuttoning my shirt, all the while smiling languidly at her. She knew I was teasing her. You can't resist me, her eyes seemed to be saying, but I didn't care. I could tease her all I wanted. I only wanted my body on hers, wanted to fill her up with my member, and that was all I cared about.That was what I tried to assure me that I cared about, but as she lay there, it ignited other unfamiliar feelings deep within me. Was this mere attraction, or something entirely different?I tugged my shirt off my well-
CHAPTER NINETEENAiden's POVWhen I woke the next morning, I was surprised to find myself in the plush, leather chair in my study.With a start, I sat up and looked around, running my fingers through my hair. It took me a moment to realize I'd slept off while working.My eyes glazed over the pile of files on my table. I saw the bills that needed to be paid, the receipts from transactions, and all the rest of the useless debris that made up each of my days as the leader of a mafia gang.I smiled bitterly. Lily was right, after all. When I wasn't fucking her, I somehow found my way into this study and worked myself to sleep. I hadn't even been to my bedroom, or anywhere else in this house in ages.I rearranged the sheaf of papers, then stood from my desk. I glanced down, noting my wrinkled dress trousers, and the blue shirt that I'd worn to the hospital, unbuttoned all the way down. My tie was loose, hanging off my neck, and I was barefoot."What a mess!" I muttered to myself. I padded
Aiden's POVMy heart lurched at the sound of those numbers. Nine hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money!I sighed, rubbing my eyes with the heel of my hands. "And what can we do to prevent this?""We're on our own, boss," Joe replied, his face grim now. "We have to figure out how to clear those goods before we lose any more money."A moment of silence passed before Joe continued. "You shouldn't have angered Ricardo, boss. Not even for her—"I buried my face deep into my hands. "I'm so surprised that I don't even care about the repercussions. I did what felt right at that moment, and I won't ever change that for the world."Joe eyed me suspiciously. "What was that you said about not caring about Lily Collins again...?"A third knock came at the door, and I glanced at it. Joe turned his head to look as well, and he muttered. "Who could it be? Are you expecting anyone? Or perhaps, it's Cook again."I shook my head in confusion. "Come in!" I called out.The door opened slowly and wit
Lily's POVMr Blackwood's eyes bored into mine as he spoke, and my heart spiraled into my throat. His blue eyes, like glaciers set into his head, darkened as he breathed into my face.I felt trapped. Trapped in the cage that was his eyes. With his arms curved around me, I felt like I was a deer, caught in the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Only this time, the headlights were his eyes. My bones felt like useless pieces of wood, and my skin felt as though they were nothing but molten lava. A small part of my head screamed to push forward and take his luscious lips in mine, but I held myself back.Mr Blackwood didn't like to be touched first, I repeated over and over in my head. It was absurd, the number of times I had to remind myself of that.With a small grunt, Aiden Blackwood pushed away from the door, his biceps tightening as he did so. He did not meet my eyes as he spoke again."Go. Wear whatever you like to go and see your brother. But never, ever enter my bedroom again." He
Lily's POVI padded down the hallway, my steps echoing faintly against the polished floors. Oddly, my clothes felt comfortable enough, and I was grateful for them.Quickly, I approached the front door, hoping to get to the hospital and head straight for a boutique as well. Mr Blackwood's dress clothes and the blue dress he'd bought for me yesterday were the only pieces of clothing I had to my name—it was either that or walking around the house naked.I approached the front door and pulled the handle, opening the door. I dashed outside, and the first thing I noticed was a well-dressed chauffeur standing outside, leaning casually against a black luxury car.A chauffeur was the last thing I was expecting. At most, I was hoping to take a bus downtown. Well at least, he didn't make Joe pick up today to monitor me. The chauffeur was a middle-aged man, balding at the middle of his head. He had a genial smile and a warm disposition, and I immediately wondered just how much this man could tel
Lily's POVThe monitor connected to his failing heart continued to beep steadily, giving life to my brother.I stared at its green screen, wondering how long it would keep Lucas up. Deep in my heart, I prayed for him to be well again."Please," I whispered, holding onto his hand for dear life. If it would change anything, I would pray to all the gods I knew to bring Lucas back to me.The details of his heart failure was still unclear to me. When he'd been rushed to the hospital, all the doctor had told me was that Lucas had narrowly survived a bullet shot to his heart. The bullet had merely grazed the organ, but even the grazing was still fatal enough to give him heart failure.Ever since then, he'd been on life support. Kind, elderly Doctor Hilton, who had been the resident doctor in Beth Israel hospital, had told me that he would need a transplant, and fast too."Please, God," I whispered. Lucas was seventeen going on eighteen. He had barely lived his life!Deep within me, an uncont
Lily's POVI wasted no time in darting away from the aisle. Heart thudding in my chest, I leaned against the wall, trying to steady the erratic organ. I felt as though I was a criminal, running away from justice.He hadn't seen me, thank God, or I knew he would have come barrelling down the aisle, wanting to talk to me.Memories of that day at the hospital came pouring back. I remembered the way that Ricardo man had looked at me, his eyes boring into my skin as though he wanted nothing more than to peel my clothes off my body.At that point and now, I craved so much for Mr Blackwood's protection.But even then, I remembered how Mr Blackwood had frozen on his feet, as though Ricardo had immobilized him. I remember the fear that had flickered between his eyes on that day at the hospital, and I knew that Mr Blackwood had been genuinely scared.Perhaps Ricardo was the only man who could scare him so.Finally, when my heart had stopped beating a tattoo against my ribcage, I let out a loud