Brutal Discoveries (17 page)

After having the worst night’s sleep I had in a long time, I woke before the sun had risen and decided to catch a cab home to shower and change.  I left Ella a note by her coffee pot and then left.  I needed fresh clothes and a hot shower, and possibly some cucumber slices to try and tame the puffy eyes I was sporting thanks to my crying.  The cab driver gave me a pitiful look as I slid into the backseat.  I was wearing last night’s clothes with remnants of last night’s makeup on my tear-stained face.  I knew without a doubt he supposed I was doing the walk of shame.  I didn’t bother to correct his unspoken assumption.  I just needed to get home. 

Twenty minutes later I was unlocking my front door and stepping inside.  I turned the lock behind me and headed straight for my shower.  I watched the stress and heartache of the night before disappear down the drain with the soapy water as I washed my body. 
If only life were that easy
.  Once I was done, I stepped out and pulled on a pair of sweats and a hoodie.  I needed comfort.  I needed sleep.  I needed my heart to stop crushing me.  Making a conscious decision not to wallow for a moment longer, I pulled on my apron and took some mixing bowls from my cupboard.  I decided to make a batch of rich, moist, gooey-in-the-center chocolate cupcakes.  It wasn’t until I closed the oven door and set the timer, that I decided to check my phone.  I turned it on and saw I had seven unread text messages and fifteen missed calls.  All from Aden.  The last missed call being just twenty minutes ago.

First, I pulled up the texts.

Baby, where are you?

Scarlett?

Scarlett, where the fuck are you?

You better not have left!

For fuck’s sake, Scarlett, it isn’t what you think.  At least let me know you’re safe.

Call me, or so help me god, I’ll turn your ass pink.

I’ve searched the bar and you’re not here.  You better be at your house when I get there.  Give me a chance to explain.  Christ, woman, you’re infuriating.

I deleted the texts and moved onto the four voice messages he had left.

“Sweetheart, you need to pick up your cell and at least tell me you’re safe.”

“Scarlett!  Fuck!”

“Baby, please give me a chance to explain.  It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“I get it.  I get you don’t want to talk to me.  But please, let me know you’re okay.  When you’re ready to give me a chance to explain, I’ll be waiting.  Just remember that I love you, baby.”

His soft sweet, gentle voice in the final message had my eyes burning and my throat constricting.  Damn him.  I tossed my phone on the counter and pulled the cupcakes from the oven.  Just as I set them down on the cooling rack, my hand went to my heart when a knock at the door startled me.

Shit.

Tiptoeing across my kitchen floor, I made it to the door and peeked through the peep hole.

“Scarlett!  Open up!” Aden bellowed as he banged on the door once more.

Shit.

“Scarlett, I know you’re there.  Open the hell up or I’ll bust this fucking door down,” he threatened.

“You wouldn’t dare!” I shouted back.  Then I clamped my hand over my mouth and thought what I complete idiot I was, because I had just given myself away.

“Open up, baby,” he said, and I could hear the grin in his voice.  Oh, he thought this was funny?  Well, screw him.

“Goodbye, Aden,” I smarted as I walked away.

“Bustin’ this door down, Scarlett,” I heard him yell as I continued walking at a quick pace through my house.  I reached my bedroom door and thought about hiding out in there, then I decided if Aden did as he promised, him finding me in the bedroom would mean there was a bed near us and I’d probably give in and have sex with him without even discussing last night.  So I walked out the back door and sat on my Adirondack chair.  I thought Aden would either give up and leave, or sit down on my porch and wait for me to surface.  What I did
not
expect to hear was the splintering of wood, followed by a crash.

Holy shit!
 

I stood up and marched into my home.

“You broke down my fucking door!” I screamed, my voice so shrill it hurt my ears.

“Yeah, and I gave you fair warning,” he snapped back.

“Well, did you maybe think I didn’t want to talk to you, and that’s why I didn’t let you in?”

“Don’t give a fuck,” he roared.  “You’re sitting here filling your own head with fuck knows what kinda bullshit instead of giving me five fucking minutes to explain.”

“Don’t you yell at me!” I shrieked back.  “YOU left me at that table! YOU walked away with another woman!  YOU
kissed
another woman!”

He advanced on me and I immediately stepped back until I was against the wall.  He caged me in.  I narrowed my eyes as I met his blazing indigo depths.

“Yeah? Is that what you think, Scarlett?” he sneered.  “You’re not even gonna give me five minutes to explain?”

“No.”  My resolve was crumbling with his presence invading my space so my one worded answer was weak.  “Aden, step back.” I pushed against his chest but it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t move an inch.  I really needed him to step back so I could think clearly without his scent clouding my mind.

“No,” he responded firmly.

It was then a thought hit me and I narrowed my eyes at him.  “
You
have a
key!
” I pointed my finger at him.

“Yeah, I do, but it’s at my place with my other set of keys,” he bit back shortly.  “Didn’t think I’d need my fucking key, seeing as you’re home.”

“You’re such an asshole,” I snipped.  Unconsciously, I found my eyes searching his face, particularly his mouth area, for any remnants of red lipstick. 
Ugh!
 

“Yeah, babe, and I’m the asshole who’s giving you one more chance to let me explain before I get creative,” he threatened.

“You wouldn’t.”

“One more chance, Scarlett,” he warned.

“Go to hell, Aden,” I shouted.

He stepped back and for a split second I thought I had gotten my way.  Then his shoulder collided with my stomach and he lifted me up and tossed me over his shoulder.

“Aden
fucking
West!” I screamed.  “Put me down right now.” I pounded his back as he walked through my house with me hanging upside down over him.  “Aden!” he hoisted me up and then I was falling through the air until my back collided with the softness of my bed.  Before I had a chance to open my mouth and yell at him some more, Aden was straddling me.  He lifted my hands above my head and tied them to my bedframe with something soft, possibly a tie.  Then he quickly moved down and secured my legs. I looked down and saw he it was ties he was using.  I hadn’t seen him wear a tie before, so I idly wondered where he got them from.  Then I remembered I was tied to my fucking bed.  I thrashed about, snarling at him to let me go.

“Damn, baby, you look fucking hot.”  His words made my traitorous stomach dip.

“Untie me right now,” I growled, giving him the stink eye.

The bastard just chuckled at me.  Casually sitting on the end of my bed, he rubbed my foot.  “Now, be a good girl and listen.”

“Screw you.” I tugged against the unforgiving restraints and growled when they didn’t budge an inch.

“Don’t struggle, baby.  Just listen, give me a chance to explain, and I’ll let you go,” he said calmly.

“Fair warning, Aden,” I spat sarcastically, “I’m going to slap you fair across the face the minute you set me free.”

“You’re so sexy when you’re mad.  Maybe I’ll forgo explaining and just eat your pussy instead.”

As angry as I was at him, my womb still pulsed.  Why did he have such an effect on me?  Maybe he had secretly hypnotized my body and mind with some voodoo magic or something?  The thought made me want to burst out laughing, as I pictured Aden dressed up in wizard clothing with a big cape and a pointy black felt hat erected on his head, waving a wand with sparkly stars dangling from it.

“Something funny?” he growled.

“Do you moonlight as a wizard?” I blurted right before I commenced uncontrollable giggling.  He waited silently until my laughing had stopped, and then launched right into explaining his actions the night before. 

“Stella and I had a thing,” he began.

“Yeah, figured,” I grumbled as a shooting pain pierced my heart.  Aden gave me a pointed look for interrupting him before he continued.

“It ended around a month before I first walked into the bakery and saw your sweet ass behind the counter.  Not gonna lie, she was good for a good time.  Then I met you and found out my perception of a good time had been severely lacking.  We didn’t have a relationship or anything that was going anywhere.  She was a girl I fucked a total of three times, and each of those times was nothing more than a booty call.  I didn’t stay the night at her pad after we’d fucked.  Plain and simple, we’d fuck, I’d leave.  Last night I was awkward as fuck and felt like I’d be put on the spot with her showing up.  Then she started sprouting shit and I didn’t want
you
upset.  So I removed her from you, took her away from the crowds and told her in no uncertain terms, I’d never be back for her pussy again because I’d found the fucking honey pot.  She put her lips on me and I immediately pushed her back and stalked back to the table.  You can imagine my fucking fury when I found you gone.  Gone from the table, gone from the premises, fucking
gone.
  You didn’t answer my calls, you didn’t reply to my texts, and if it wasn’t for Ella sending me a courtesy text late last night telling me you were staying at her place, I wouldn’t have had a fuck of a clue where you were,” he growled the last part.

Damn Ella. 
Traitor.

“Are you done?” I snapped, but honestly, my resolve had started to weaken from his explanation.

“No.”

My eyes darted to his as he stood and moved his body over mine.  His eyes were focused on my face, his hand cupping my cheek.  “I get you being upset, baby, but you’ve got to trust me. I pushed her right off and came back for you.  Me walking away with her wasn’t conducive to me
choosing
her over you.”  I hated the way he seemed to be able to read my mind.  “Do you believe me?”

“Yes,” I found myself whispering to his softly asked question.

“Do you forgive me?” he asked just as gently.

“Yes,” I murmured.

“Good.”  He smirked and then I noticed a sexy glint appear in his eyes.  “Then it’s time for makeup sex.”  He stood, walked over to my window and took a deep purple and gold scarf from the hanger there.  As he stalked back toward me, his molten gaze never left my body.  My blood started to heat, thrumming with eager sexual energy.  His knee hit the bed and he leaned over me to place the scarf over my eyes like a blindfold.  My senses were immediately heightened.  Being unable to see meant I had to rely solely on my hearing.  I could hear my breaths, coming in short, sharp puffs.  I could hear Aden as he tugged his pants down his legs and removed his shirt.  My body was on high alert, waiting for him to speak or touch me.  I ached for him in the most erotic way.

“Aden,” I whispered, my voice sounding husky to even my own ears.

“Shh,” he replied.  His fingers skated up my leg, leaving a trail of burning desire in their wake.  My stomach clenched in anticipation as he neared the apex of my thighs, but in a move that left me wanting, he removed his hand and repeated the torturous process on my other leg.  Again, just before he reached my throbbing sex, he removed his hand.  Next, he started at my wrist.  As light as a feather, but as hot as lava, he made his way up my arm, over my shoulder, across my collarbone and then down to circle under my breasts, only to stop short of brushing over my pebbled nipples.

One by one, he ever so slowly popped the buttons on my shirt until the fabric fell apart, exposing my white lace bra underneath.  He reached under me and unhooked it so he could lift the cups up onto my chest, leaving me bare to him.

“Please,” I crooned, needing him desperately.

“Be patient.”  As he spoke the words, his warm puffs of air skated across my breasts and I arched upward, frantic for him to stop teasing me.

When he leisurely touched my stomach, my womb curled and I exhaled heavily.  Ever so lightly, he gripped the waistband of my pants before tugging them down until the top of my panties was revealed.

“Stay still.”  His voice held a tone of warning.

He deftly untied on of my ankles so he could remove my jeans and panties, leaving them hanging around my ankle that was still tied to the bed.  Then he tied my ankle again.

“You look so fucking beautiful, Scarlett,” he rasped.  I imagined him eyeing my bare, wet pussy hungrily as he said the words and my stomach tightened.

“I need you.  Please, baby,” I begged shamelessly.

“Do you want my mouth or my cock?” he asked.  I thought it was a trick question.  I wanted both, and I wanted them immediately.  “Scarlett?”

“M-mouth,” I panted.

“Where?”

“On my pussy,” I moaned.