Love And Betrayal | ✔️

11. She's her own person

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Choose me or lose me.
I'm not a backup plan
and definitely not a second choice.

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BACK TO THE PRESENT. . .

"So," Aden drawls, that nauseatingly handsome smirk, still fixed on his face, "Are you done?"

Not expecting such an unexpected question, I blink a couple of times. "Er. . . what?"

The smirk on his face, if anything, just widens.

"Please. You were staring at me for nearly ten minutes."

"There's a vast difference between staring and glaring, Carter." I seethe, "You are twat, if you don't know that."

He throws his head back and laughs loudly. "Seriously Kiara, who even uses the word 'twat' anymore? Was that supposed to be insulting?"

"I do." I reply coldly, still doing my best to wriggle out of his grasp. "And yes, that was supposed to be insulting. But I'm not surprised you aren't offended. Nothing offends you nowadays, does it, Mr. Thick-skinned-jerk?"

"Your dictionary is weird."

"So is your face."

"Really? Let's be honest, this is a work of art." He remarks, unfazed my unending insults, "You were staring at this piece of perfection for ten minutes."

"Glaring!" I correct him, my temper rising.

"Sure, sweetheart. Whatever floats your boat."

My face heats up at the unconcealed amusement in his eyes, and I try to control myself from raising my hand and smacking his face. As tempting as that sounds, it's quite a difficult thing to do, considering the space between us is... negligible.

I muster up all the dignity left in me. "Let go of me or else—"

His face is suddenly drained of amusement, a darker and much more intense feeling replacing it. He moves closer to me, making my heart beat speed up faster than ever.

"Or else?"

I imagine what it'd be like to lean forward too, all rational thoughts quickly slipping away from me. To lose myself into the dark stormy abyss of his eyes. To give into the inexplicable urge to let everything go, and hold onto the only thing matters now.

He tilts his head slightly. I can feel his warm breath on my lips.

It's like I can almost hear him say. "Give up, Kiara. Stop fighting it and just surrender."

And for an insane moment, I almost want to do it.

"Or else, I'll punch the living daylights out of you, Carter."

The words hit me like a whiplash.

Standing at the door, is the formidable figure of Ashton Taylor. His hands fisted up, his face looking thunderous, he looks like Hercules out to kill.

My eyes widen a fraction before I pull away from Aden's hold, as though burnt by his touch. Even with the distance, I can feel his scorching gaze on me—unnerving and exciting at the same time.

Damn, I'm in trouble.

Ashton gives me a stern look, and I bite my lip, looking down embarrassed. When I promised him, I'd meant to keep my word. But what I'd nearly done now... terrible, it was terrible.