The world seems a little tilted, like a funhouse meant to make you dizzy. I can’t get my footing, thrown off by it all, but I don’t fight.
At least for now, Aiden is distracted. I don’t mind being ferried around at his side. I can deal with it for now, maybe get some answers later.
Finally, it’s time to leave. I’m tired by the time we go back down the elevator, leaving his brothers behind to finish up whatever business they need to.
Aiden doesn’t speak when we get into the limo. I expect him to say something, anything, even a word to the driver—but the partition is up and Aiden is just as shut off.
Finally, I can’t hold back anymore. I turn to look at him.
“Why the hell did you get so upset?”
Aiden glances at me. He still has that stormy look in his eyes, his jaw twitching like he’s holding back an entire monologue.
I don’t get an immediate answer, so I shake my head and ask again. “You’re way more pissed than you were when I had lunch with Noah. What’s the deal with you and Dmitri?”
Again, he doesn’t speak.
I can’t figure it out. Aiden was pissed when I had lunch with Noah, but it wasn’t like this. He wasn’t squaring up to Noah, looking for all the world like he’d rip his throat out with his hands.
Sure, Noah didn’t touch me, but it couldn’t just be that.
I try to think of an answer. All I can think of is the way Aiden spoke about Willow, the way he talked about how she’d changed.
Is that why he hates Dmitri?
I wonder if he feels the way I did about Willow, if he sees the same kind of young woman that needs protection and help.
Or is it something else he sees? Feels?
I feel shitty even thinking about it that way.
“I’m serious,” I say, pushing. “What the hell is the bad blood?”
Instead of answering, he growls out, “Don’t ever speak to Dmitri again.”
Something flares inside me. He won’t answer any of my questions, but he’s willing to order me around? It doesn’t matter that I don’t care to speak to Dmitri anyway. This is different.
I lift my chin. “Why the fuck not?”
Aiden turns suddenly, moving like lightning as he grabs me and pulls me across the seats, hauling me onto his lap. He stares at me, his eyes dark and anger clear in his eyes.
“Because if I see him touch you again, I’ll fucking kill him.”
My breath catches in my throat. I know he’s serious. The vehemence in his voice is powerful. I fully believe that Aiden is one bad move away from full-out killing Dmitri.
I stare back at him, dizzy. The realization of what he wants to do is almost as powerful as the question ringing in my head.
Why?
Something in Aiden’s eyes makes me certain that he’s telling the truth. He hates Dmitri, and even more than that, he hates Dmitri touching me. This goes beyond just a simple feud though.
The sound of my breathing is loud to my ears. Our gazes stay locked, as if neither of us can look away. We’re stuck here, bodies close, the crackling energy that’s been building up since the gala filling the limo.
I feel Aiden’s hand slide over my thigh, right at the slit in my dress.
I don’t even look down. I can’t.
My body burns. My pulse roars in my ears, rising to meet Aiden’s touch. My throat feels dry. He leaves a burning path behind his hand as it slides farther up my leg.
