High Stakes (A Deal With The Devil)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Bella

It’s not possible , I can’t orgasm anymore. I’m breathless and sweating as I squirm, gripping Aiden’s head between my legs as his tongue works its magic. He hasn’t given me a break since my last orgasm not five minutes ago. I’m not sure where I start, and he ends. “No more,” I groan, “I can’t take anymore.”

“Remember what happened last time you said that?”

I shudder, and he grips my thighs, holding me still as another orgasm rolls through me. He waits for me to still before dropping beside me and turning on to his side. He throws a leg over me and drags me closer. “Sleep, you’ll need your strength for tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” I whisper, sleepily.

“We’re spending the day doing that all again.” I groan and he sniggers. “But this time, you’re gonna let me fuck your mouth.”

Aiden’s true to his word. We spend Saturday hardly leaving the bedroom. When we’re not wrapped in one another watching movies, we’re exploring each other with our mouths. And around mid-afternoon, we order food and sit in bed naked, eating. It’s nice to have him to myself and I can’t help but picture us having a future.

I drop the last piece of chicken into the box and wipe my mouth with a napkin. “I’ve enjoyed today,” I say, and he eyes me warily.

“Yeah, it’s been fun,” he says, gathering the leftovers and stuffing it into a bag.

“Fun,” I repeat, feeling like a bucket of ice has been thrown at me.

He forces a smile, “Yeah. That’s what this is, right? Fun.” He must read the disappointment on my face, and he sighs, grabbing my hand. “Bella, I like you, and right now I’m enjoying this. But if you’re asking me to hand out the girlfriend title, I can’t.”

I nod stiffly, withdrawing my hand. He hasn’t made any promises, this is all on me. He turns away, throwing his legs over the edge of the bed. I can feel him slipping away so I say, “For the record, I’m glad I’m not your girlfriend.”

He glances over his shoulder with a smirk. “Yeah?” I nod, “I’m free to explore what orgasms feel like with normal human men.” I grin, and he spins around fast, diving on top of me and pinning my arms above my head.

“Normal human men?” he queries.

I nod innocently. “Men that aren’t robots with a constant hard on.” I laugh. I feel him relax.

He kisses me hard. “You can look, but you will be sorely disappointed in what you find, young Isabella.” he says in his best Drogo accent.

I giggle as he moves down my body, licking my nipple. “It’s unfair to keep my virgin body to yourself.” I groan, and he lifts his head slightly to meet my gaze.

“I haven’t finished with it yet,” he grins.

After a good hour in the shower, washing each other’s body, I lay on the bed wrapped in my towel, watching Aiden get dressed. “You work too hard,” I tell him.

He grins, “I took the day off,” he reminds me.

“Aria is coming over to watch movies,” I say, stretching out and yawning.

I watch as he sprays aftershave, patting it into his skin. I love his scent. I run my eyes over his body. He looks good in a suit, and I find myself smiling. He catches it. “What are you smiling about?” he asks, checking his hair in the mirror by the door.

“Just thinking how lucky I am,” I say without thinking.

He pauses mid hair sort, and eyes me through the reflection in the mirror. “Just remember what I said earlier, Bella, this isn’t a relationship.”

I laugh to cover how mortified I feel. “I was kidding.”

“I don’t want you seeing more into this, Bella,” he says firmly. “I’ve made it clear.”

“Jesus,” I hiss, “I get the message.”

He gives a stiff nod, “Good.” And then he leans down to place a kiss on my head. “Enjoy your night with Aria.”

I settle down on the couch once he’s left and sketch some wedding cake ideas. It’s one of my favourite things to do and since the stress of looking after my dad has lessened, I’ve felt a lot more relaxed and able to create.

Almost an hour later, I hear the bell from the elevator, announcing Aria’s arrival. I get up to unlatch the door so she can come straight in and am just about to sit back down when I hear a loud bang followed quickly by a man yelling. I rush to the door and poke my head out, to see Aria and JP. He’s glaring angrily and she’s missing a shoe. “What’s going on?” I ask, pulling the door open wider.

“Your friend is fucking crazy,” states JP, holding up Aria’s shoe. “Missed my head by an inch.”

“You’re lucky, I don’t usually miss. And for the record, I hate you,” she shouts, “So stop following me around and giving me your bullshit excuses.”

The elevator pings again and Aiden storms out looking furious. “What the fuck was that, Aria?” he demands. My breath catches in my throat when Laurie steps out behind him, placing a manicured hand on his arm. She looks amazing and it makes me want to scratch her eyes out. I also want to run back inside and hide, seeing as I am wearing one of Aiden’s t-shirts that just about covers my backside, and my hair is piled up on my head in a messy bun .

“Calm down, Aide,” she soothes, and I see the way he takes a deep breath as if to calm himself.

“Aria, my VIP area is a mess, what the hell are you playing at?” he asks more calmly, and Laurie rubs his arm as if to praise him. I roll my eyes in annoyance.

“Why don’t we ask your friend?” spits Aria, glaring at JP. “Tell them,” she snaps, “Tell them how you can’t keep your dick in your pants.”

Aiden turns to JP. “I warned you this would happen,” he growls.

JP shrugs, “The woman’s a fucking nut job. I’m sick of her drama, just bar her from the club, and get her out of my sight,” he snaps.

Aria grabs a vase of plastic flowers from the table in the foyer, launching it in his direction. It smashes into pieces, the flowers flying across the marble floor. The air is charged with anger and JP closes the gap between the pair. I rush out, squeezing between them, “Calm down,” I demand.

“Sort your crazy bitch of a friend out,” he yells.

“You’re a complete bastard,” she screams, breaking down in floods of tears. JP steps back and I turn, grabbing Aria and pulling her into my arms.

“She needs to go, now,” snaps Aiden, glaring at me .

“I agree, look at the mess she’s made,” Laurie agrees, “I’ve told you before to stop inviting waifs and strays into your home, Aiden.”

“It’s gonna be okay,” I whisper, soothingly as I rub Aria’s back. “Aiden, I can’t kick her out in this state,” I add.

“Well, you know where the door is,” snaps Laurie.

“You want me to leave, Aiden?” I ask, arching a brow. It’s a risk, he might throw it all in my face and tell me to get out.

“Isabella, this isn’t up for discussion. I have to ban Aria; she’s trashed my VIP area.”

“And she ruined my Saint Laurent bags,” Laurie chips in, “The one you got me for Christmas,” she says, adding a pout. She brings her eyes to me, “You heard him, it’s not up for discussion. Pack your bags.” There’s a gleeful twinkle in her eye.

“That’s not what I meant,” says Aiden, but I’m already heading back into the apartment with Aria tucked under my arm.

“Shit, Bells,” she whispers, “I can’t get you kicked out. I’ll go,” Aria whispers.

“I’m calling his bluff,” I mutter.

“Let’s hope he isn’t calling yours,” she replies, wiping her eyes .

Aiden follows and I smile to myself, “Bella, I didn’t mean for you to leave,” he repeats more clearly.

“I’ll stay with Aria. I have some viewings for apartments next week anyway,” I tell him, going into my bedroom and grabbing the bag from under my bed. Aria sits down, biting on her lower lip with worry as she watches me. Aiden places his hands on his hips and then Laurie appears in the doorway.

“It’s for the best, Aiden,” she tells him soothingly. “Then we won’t have to sneak around in hotels because I can come here.”

I scoff, stuffing some clothes into my bag whilst Aiden watches helplessly. “You wouldn’t have to sneak around if you just left your husband,” I point out, my voice laced with sarcasm.

“You wouldn’t even be here if he didn’t want your virginity so badly.” she counters.

I laugh. “And how does that feel, to know I have something you gave away long ago?”

“At least I can please him,” she cries, curling her hands into fists with anger.

“So can I and I don’t even have to open my legs,” I yell.

“Enough,” Aiden shouts.

I take a calming breath, “Please go and fetch my things from your room,” I tell him, giving Laurie a smug smile.

“You’re not fucking leaving,” he snaps, “Aria, I’m billing you for the damage to my club. And you’re barred for the next month.”

“Aiden,” Laurie argues, with outrage.

“And you,” he hisses, pointing a finger in her face, “Don’t own me. You left, Laurie. Not me. So, stop fucking acting like my wife cos thankfully, you saved me from that hassle.”

He turns on his heel and marches out. Laurie stamps her foot, rushing after him and I turn to Aria, smiling. “I knew that would work,” I whisper, feeling smug that Aiden put Laurie in her place.

Aiden

I get as far as the living room before Laurie grabs my arm and I spin to face her. She’s angry, her entire face is red, and her fists are curled into tight balls. “She’s sleeping in your bedroom?” she hisses.

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” I snap.

“You do when you’re crawling back into my bed.”

“I haven’t been in your bed since I started . . .” I pause, not knowing what to say. Bella appears, leaning in the doorway.

“I don’t want to cause any trouble,” she says, folding her arms .

Laurie stands in front of me and places her hands on my chest. “It makes more sense if she stays with her friend, look at the trouble it’s causing just having her here. You keep telling me there’s nothing between you, so why do you want her to stay.”

I can’t look away from Bella. I hate the sadness I see in her eyes. I have two more weeks. Just two. “We all just need to take a breath,” I say.

Bella’s expression changes to disappointment and my heart aches. “I’m leaving,” she whispers, going back into the bedroom.

“Fuck,” I mutter, following . . . again.

“Why?” I ask.

“I’m not okay with it,” she says, shrugging. “I thought I could be, but I’m not.”

Laurie huffs, “Let her go, Aiden. I’m free tonight, I can stay over.”

“Don’t you see?” asks Bella, “You say you can’t commit, and you don’t want to settle down, but that’s what you’re doing with her. You’re second best to her husband, yet you hang around waiting for his scraps. You’re putting your life on hold for her.”

“I’m not,” I mutter, and Jakes words come flooding back. ‘ She uses you. She keeps you dangling so she can call when she’s bored.’

“It’s fine,” cries Bella, “I don’t care. If you want to be with her, then be with her. But stop forcing me to stick around.”

“I haven’t forced you,” I almost whisper.

“I sleep in your bed, not by choice but because you carry me in here if I even try to go into my own room. I can’t bathe or shower unless you’re in there with me,” she argues, counting each point on her fingers. “You insist on taking me to work and picking me up. You won’t let another man near me without having him frog marched out of your club. I can’t wear anything too revealing because it sends you over the edge. You wrap me in your arms every single night, and you do delicious things to my body.” She takes an unsteady breath, “You’re doing all the things a boyfriend would, Aiden.”

“Except sleep with you,” cuts in Laurie, “But he comes to me for that,” she adds smugly, and I clench my jaw in anger.

Before I can demand she leaves, Bella rushes at her, grabbing a fistful of hair and yanking her head down. “Fuck you,” she screams, and Aria laughs, clapping.

“Jesus,” I hiss, pulling them apart. I hold Bella around the waist.

Laurie touches her hair, shock evident on her face. “She attacked me,” she screeches. “Like an ally cat. ”

“Laurie just go,” I snap.

She glares at me. “You’re kicking me out?”

“You heard him,” yells Bella. “Get the fuck out.”

“Aria, you too,” I snap.

I wait for them both to leave before kicking the door closed and releasing Bella. She grabs some more clothes, stuffing them in her bag. I snatch it, pulling them all out and emptying them on the floor. “Will you stop packing,” I shout. “I don’t understand what’s happening. This was between JP and Aria, and now somehow, you’re leaving. When we spoke about this being fun, you said you were fine with it.”

“I thought I was. Turns out seeing her with you like that, turns me into a lunatic. It did the same to you when you saw another man touch me,” she points out.

I nod. “It did,” I admit. “But not because I’m in love with you, Bella. It’s because I’m selfish and I don’t want another man to touch what I want.” There, I’ve said it.

She shakes her head in disgust and picks some clothes up from the floor. “You’re a bastard.”

I still her hands and pull her towards me. “I haven’t pretended I’m not. I was a bastard last night when you let me do all of those things to you. I was still a bastard today when you were sucking my cock, and I will still be a bastard tonight when I go and fuck Laurie or some other desperate bitch.”

“Fuck you, Aiden. Stay the hell away from me.”

“Until later when you’re in my bed,” I snap, “Because let’s face it, you aren’t going anywhere. You have nowhere to go, and you thought that by putting me in that position with Laurie, you’d be able to force my hand,” I hiss. She stares down at the ground. “It’s backfired, because you don’t want to leave any more than I want you to. So do us both a favour and stop the dramatics, Bella, because I didn’t change the fucking rules.”

I leave the room, slamming the door. Aria looks up from her mobile. “She might need you,” I mutter, and she rolls her eyes.

“Fucking men,” she snaps, stomping past me.