High Stakes (A Deal With The Devil)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Aiden

I wrap Bella in my arms, stroking her hair whilst she falls to sleep. Things have shifted between us, and there’s no denying that what we just did, was far from fucking. We made love. And it doesn’t scare the shit out of me like I thought it would. If she wasn’t so exhausted, I’d do it all over again right now, because I can’t get enough of her.

We wake the following morning wrapped around each other. I’m easing my erection into her before she’s opened her eyes. She doesn’t protest, only groaning with pleasure as I take what I need .

There’s a knock on the bedroom door, and Cal pops his head round. I still and Aria half sits, looking flustered. Cal falters, “Sorry, I didn’t know he was here,” he mutters, his disapproval obvious in his expression.

I keep my cock buried inside of her, wishing the prick could see. “I’ll be out in a sec,” she says.

“I’ll put the kettle on,” he mutters, leaving.

I grip a handful of Bella’s hair, tugging her head back so my mouth is at her ear, “Does he often barge in here?” I ask, withdrawing slow and slamming back in. She gasps. “How many times has he come in here when you’re naked?”

“Aiden,” she pants, as I fuck her harder. Jealousy is driving me and I’m losing control, feeling the urge to mark her before she goes out there to speak to him. I push her onto her front, placing my legs either side of her thighs, watching my cock disappear into her. She shudders, groaning into her pillow. I follow, growling loud enough for him to hear.

I climb from her and she roles onto her back. Her cheeks are flushed pink, and she’s got a just fucked look about her that satisfies me. Cal will know that look, and he’ll know I’m the one that put it there.

“That was primal,” she remarks, sitting up .

I grab her round the waist and pull her back. “Who said we were finished?”

She bats my wandering hands away, laughing as I take her nipple in my mouth. “What’s gotten into you?”

I drop back, staring up at the ceiling. “What’s happening here?” I ask and she snuggles into my side.

“You’re asking me?” she asks with a laugh.

“I know what I want, Bella. I need to know if you want the same?”

“I like spending time with you,” she admits. “And I like how you are. I feel like this is the real you.”

“It is,” I reassure her. “Everything is out in the open now, no more lies.”

“I want to take it slow,” she whispers.

“A bit late for slow,” I tease.

“I mean, let’s not stick labels on this just yet. And I need you and Cal to be okay around one another.”

I groan. “I don’t like the guy, and can you blame me?”

She sighs, placing a kiss on my lips before sitting again. “Let me go talk to him. Take a shower and I’ll bring you coffee.”

It’s twenty long minutes before she returns and she gives me a sheepish smile, placing a coffee on the bedside table. I sit up and she slides into bed beside me. “There’s something I need to tell you.” I stiffen at her words. “But please let me just explain before you get angry.”

“Here we go,” I mutter. “Has lover boy kicked off cos we’re back together?”

She sighs, “We haven’t said we’re back together, Aiden. I said we’ll take it slow. Cal wasn’t the father of my baby.”

I take a second to process her words, “What?”

“He only said it because he could see I was upset when you and Laurie turned up. He was trying to rescue me, and it got out of hand.”

I get out of bed, staring in disbelief. “We said no more lies,” I snap.

“We did, and that’s why I went to check with Cal that he was okay for me to tell the truth.”

My brows pinch together. “Hold on, you wanted to check with Cal to see if you could expose the fucking lie?”

“I knew you’d get angry,” she mutters, shaking her head.

“So, who’s the father?” I demand.

“No one you know,” she says, her eyes pleading with me to calm down.

“I want his name, Bella. How many have there been since me? ”

“We don’t need to do this. It doesn’t have to be a big deal.”

I glare, anger pulsing through me. “How many?” I yell.

“One,” she cries.

“So you and Cal?” She shakes her head. “I fucking punched him,” I shout. “I thought he’d cheated on you.”

“If you’d have just told me about Laurie, I wouldn’t have been so shocked.”

“Don’t put this on me. I didn’t have to tell you shit,” I snap, “We weren’t together. I didn’t owe you an explanation.”

Her eyes widen, “Likewise.”

“This is different, Bella. You could have told me the second we started talking again. You’ve had loads of opportunities.”

She buries her face in her hands. “I know I should have.”

I scoff, “but you needed Cal’s permission, right?”

“I didn’t want this war to continue between you both,” she explains. “It was getting too much.”

I grab my jeans and pull them on. She watches in silence whilst I dress. “I need some time,” I mutter. The last twenty-four hours have been amazing, and I’m hurt she didn’t tell me everything.

“What about us?” she whispers .

“Like you’ve already pointed out, you want to take it slow.” And I storm out.

I find Raff in my office. He looks up in surprise. “Thought you weren’t coming in until late?”

“Yeah well, change of plan.”

He gets out of my chair, and I sit in his place. “Bella drama?” he guesses.

“That obvious?”

“Well, lately, it’s always Bella or Laurie.”

“Cal wasn’t the father of her baby.”

Raff laughs, “Shit, you punched him.”

“Right!”

“Why did they lie?”

I shrug. “She said it was a spur of the moment thing when she saw me with Laurie.”

“Who’s the father then?”

“She didn’t tell me.”

Raff sits opposite me. “Do you think you know him?”

I frown, “I do now.”

He grins, “Just weird she won’t say.”

I shrug, “I didn’t really push her to be honest. I just wanted to get out of there. She said I didn’t know him. ”

“Unless you do and that’s why she won’t say.”

“She only knows you and JP,” I point out.

“And you,” he adds. I stare, waiting for him to continue. “What if it was yours?”

I scoff, “Don’t be ridiculous. She’d have just told me.”

“Would she?” he asks. “She saw you with Laurie, why would she announce it after that?”

“I mean before that, she’d have called me when she found out.”

“She was really angry and upset, Aiden. I’m not convinced she’d tell you. How far along was she?” I shrug, realising I’ve never actually asked her. “Don’t you think you should find out?”

I groan, scrubbing my hands over my face. “She’ll never tell me now, I’ve just walked out because she lied about Cal.”

“So go to the source of the lie. Ask Cal, it’s the least he owes you.”

Cal is in the park. He wasn’t hard to find seeing as he conducts most of his sessions here. I wait for him to finish up with his client before heading over. He eyes me warily, maybe expecting another punch, instead, I hold out my hand for him to shake. After a few seconds, he grips it firmly. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I shouldn’t have hit you. My feelings towards you came from a jealous place,” I admit. “And now Bella’s finally explained everything, I realise I was out of order.”

He nods, “I appreciate your apology.”

I hand him the bottle of water I purchased from the hut on the park, and he takes it gratefully. I take a seat on a nearby bench, cupping my coffee. “I just can’t get my head around it all.”

He sits beside me, “Yeah, it’s a lot.”

“And I realised I never even asked her how far along she was,” I admit, I give my head a sad shake. “I was so pissed she lied, I just walked out.”

“Bella hates lies,” he tells me. “And I shouldn’t have forced that on her. I just saw her struggling when she was faced with you and Laurie together,” he sighs heavily, “She’d already been through so much.”

“Thanks to me,” I mutter.

“Which is why she didn’t want to tell you when she found out.” He takes a mouthful of water. “Me and Aria said she should tell you the truth. But you really hurt her, Aiden. ”

“I know,” I mutter.

“And she said you didn’t want to be a father, that you weren’t ready.” I stiffen at his words, but he continues, not noticing. “But I’m glad she finally told you. Now you can start a fresh with no lies standing in the way.”

I get to my feet, rage pulsing through me. “Thanks for the chat. I should go and see Bella now.” And I stride off in the direction of the shop.

Bella

My heart feels heavy. I thought telling Aiden part of the truth, might ease the guilt that’s eating into me. It didn’t. And now he’s ignoring my calls, angry because I lied about Cal. Imagine how he would have reacted knowing the truth.

The shop door opens, and I glance up to find Aiden standing there. He still looks pissed, so I move around the counter, towards him. “I can’t do this now, Aiden,” I snap. “We’ll talk later.”

He scoffs, “How far along were you?”

His words stop me in my tracks, and I frown in confusion. “Huh?”

“I never asked you how far along you were.”

My heart thuds hard in my chest. “What does it matter now? ”

He sniggers and I’m instantly on high alert. “Oh, it matters, Bella.”

“Where’s this going?” I almost whisper, anxiety gripping me tightly.

He steps further into the shop, turning the sign in the window to closed. “Is there anything else you’d like to tell me, Bella?” he asks, moving to the conjoining door that leads to Aria’s shop, and locking it.

I back away, going behind the counter to put distance between us. “No.” His eyes finally land on me, and anger is raging in them. It makes me want to run and hide, but I stand my ground. “What’s going on?” I ask.

“I’ve been so fucking stupid,” he mutters, and I swallow the lump in my throat. “I didn’t even think for one second it could be mine.” Fuck. “Out of everyone, I never thought you’d lie about something so important.”

“Aiden . . . I-”

“So, I went to see Cal. My world tilts, “And he told me the truth.”

“I can explain,” I mutter feebly.

He slams his hand on the countertop, and I jump in fright. “I can’t wait to hear it,” he grits out.

“I was upset . . . I was really depressed and . . .” Tears slip down my cheeks. “I didn’t mean to lie.”

“But you did, didn’t you, Bella,” he spits the words. “Over and over. You let me run around after you, all the while hiding the fact that it was my baby you lost.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “I lay with you while you cried. My heart broke for your loss,” he yells. “Not knowing it was my loss too.”

I sob, my shoulders shaking. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry you got caught.”

“You didn’t want kids,” I remind him. “You told me that.”

“I wouldn’t have said that if I knew the truth.”

“I was hurting,” I cry desperately. “I wasn’t thinking straight and then it just became easier to let you think it was Cal’s baby.”

“You’ve had the moral high ground all this time,” he says with disgust, “And it turns out you’re a deceiving, lying little bitch, too.”

I shake my head in denial, unable to speak through my tears. “You wouldn’t even look at me when I hurt you. You made me feel like I was the evilest man on the planet. And then you do this. Was it punishment?”

“No.”

“Did you want to pay me back for what I did?”

“No.”

“Does Aira know?” he demands. When I don’t reply, he laughs. It’s cold and empty. “Of course she fucking does. She made JP grovel for his forgiveness, and she kept this from him.”

“It’s not her fault,” I mutter. “This is all on me.”

“Do you know the worst part?” he asks. “Not the fact you lapped up all the attention while I ran around after you. Not the way you had me grovelling for your forgiveness. Not even the way I let you call all the shots just so you’ll give me a chance. It’s that I didn’t even see this coming. It’s the fact you knew what Laurie did, and how that hurt me, and you were doing the exact same thing. Lying to get what you wanted.”

“It wasn’t the same,” I cry.

“She lied to keep me, you lied to keep me away. And once the problem was gone, you reeled me back in.”

“That’s not how it was.”

“Then tell me,” he yells, “Tell me how it was, Bella. Because it feels like you got everything you wanted. The shop. The baby. And now that hasn’t worked out, you’ve come for a second try?”

I shake my head, confused by his words. “What are you talking about.”

He slams a packet on the table. “Take it,” he hisses .

“What is it?”

“The morning after pill.”

My frown deepens. “I’m on the contraceptive pill.”

“You said that before and you got pregnant.”

“I’d fucked up a few times, missing them or getting sick. I didn’t get pregnant on purpose, Aiden.”

“Maybe not last time.”

“You think that’s what I want now?”

“I couldn’t work out how you went from hating me, to climbing back into bed with me,” he sneers. I slap him hard, immediately crying out as the pain burns my hand. I hold it to my chest, my tears falling faster. His jaw tightens and his eyes blade with anger. “Take the fucking pill and prove me wrong.”

“Where did you get it?” I sniffle, picking the packet up.

“I have a doctor friend, he’s good in emergencies like this.”

I arch a brow, “You use him often do you?”

“All the damn time. I just never thought I’d need him with you.” I pop the pill from the packet and swallow it, taking my bottle of water and washing it down. Aiden grabs my chin, “Open,” he orders. I do, sticking my tongue out. He shoves me away in disgust. He reminds me of how he was before, and I’m struggling to see who the real Aiden is anymore. “We are over, Bella,” he says firmly and my heart stutters. “Don’t contact me, don’t turn up where I am, and don’t come in any of my bars or clubs. If you do, I’ll have you removed immediately.”

I stare open mouthed. “You’re not even gonna talk about it?”

“There’s nothing to say. You lied over and over, even when we agreed to no more lies. I can’t even stand to look at you, Bella. We’re done.” And he turns around, and leaves.

I send Aria a text explaining I’m sick and heading home. She’s busy and doesn’t rush round to see me. Which is a good thing, because I’m a mess.

I get home, drop my things by the door and go straight to my room where I crawl into bed, and close my eyes.

This morning, I felt happy. For the first time in months, things were looking up. And even after Aiden stormed out, I didn’t think it would end like this. I thought he needed time to cool off. The venom in his words and the hatred in his eyes, haunt me. My throat tightens and I make a grab for the waste bin, emptying the contents of my stomach. How many times am I going to let Aiden Tremos affect me like this ?

A few hours pass before I hear Cal call my name. “In here,” I mutter.

He pushes the bedroom door open and winces, “It stinks in here,” he states. I point to the wastebin, not bothering to give an explanation. He screws his nose up. “You have a visitor.”

My heart leaps and I jump out of bed, rushing into the living room, my heart sinking when I see JP holding a box. He gives me a sad smile, letting me know that he knows. He places the box on the couch. “He asked me to drop this round.”

I lift the lid and see my things from his apartment. Cal lingers in the doorway, “What’s going on?”

“He said to keep anything he’s left here, or throw it, whatever,” JP adds.

I nod stiffly. I only have a t-shirt and now I’m wondering if he did that on purpose, never leaving anything so he wouldn’t have to face me when it all came to an end.

“Bella, what’s going on?” Cal repeats.

“He also asked me to give you this,” he says, holding out a brown envelope. His face is full of guilt as I take it. “I think once he cools off, he’ll rethink this, but right now, he’s angry and there’s no talking sense into him.”

I open the envelope. It’s a solicitors business card with a name scrawled on the back. “What’s this? ”

JP shifts uncomfortably. “He wants half the shop.”

I inhale sharply, gripping the back of the couch to stop myself collapsing. “No,” I whisper.

“Why would he do that?” Cal demands, wrapping his arm under my arm and supporting me to sit down.

“The guy on the card is your point of contact if you have any questions.”

“I have plenty of questions,” I manage to say.

“Aiden won’t see you,” JP confirms.

“He’s a coward,” I whisper.

“He’s upset and angry. It’s best you go through the contact than approach him yourself” JP warns. “And if you need anything, call me,” he adds, turning to leave. “For what it’s worth. I’m sorry it ended like this; I thought you were it for him.” And he leaves.

I choke on a sob and Cal crouches before me. “Bella, talk to me.”

“You told him about the baby,” I say through tears.

He frowns, “He said you told him?”

I shake my head and his eyes widen. “Oh shit. Bella I’m so sorry. He made me think you’d told him.”

I force a sad smile, “It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I should have.”