Chapter 26
Visha
What better way of pissing me off than seeing Aiden flirting with women while claiming to want my Aoi.
That fucker.
“If you glare harder, you might manage to dig a hole through his skull,” Liv mocks. “Why are you even staring at him? He’s your love rival not your sworn enemy.”
My head snaps toward her when she leans back in the velvet booth, party lights flashing around us. “Just look at him wrapped around these chicks while chasing my man. How can he say that he likes Aoi when he’s frolicking with women in my brother’s club? It’s pissing me the fuck off.”
She laughs and takes a sip of her Sex On The Beach. “He’s barely paying attention to them. Just look at how bored he looks despite his fake flashy smirk.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s the principle. He shouldn’t be in a club with random women if he cares about Aoi,” I retort, downing the rest of my Pornstar Martini. “He doesn’t deserve him.”
“Maybe he’s trying to move on from Aoi, so he won’t stand in your way?”
I scoff, almost laughing at the absurdity of her words. “Aiden wouldn’t be caught dead doing something that isn’t in his interest.”
My annoying best friend laughs her ass off but suddenly stops and throws her straw in my face to snatch my attention away from the bane of my existence. “Liv, what the fuck?”
“Shut the fuck up and look who just walked in, arms linked with three gorgeous women!” she whisper-yells.
“Who the fuck-” My jaw drops, and I gawk at the most ravishing man who ever walked the earth as he heads toward the bar with three ladies giggling around him. “No fucking way.”
“I’ll be damned.” She whistles. “Seems Aiden isn’t the only womanizer.”
My body moves on its own, and the next second I’m walking up to them, my heart beating furiously in my chest as a smile spreads over my face.
Aoi. My divine Aoi.
“Now that you’re single, you can have all the fun in the world!” a pretty, Black woman with copper and blonde dreadlocks says while she tugs on Aoi’s arm.
Single?
If it isn’t my lucky day.
Although I’m not sure I appreciate her clinging to my man. Guess I’m going to have to show her and her friends that I’m Aoi’s future fucking husband and they better back the fuck off.
Who even are they? Wait, now that I look closer, I think I’ve seen them before.
The girl clinging to his arm stops jumping when she notices me. She pokes Aoi’s arm, and he turns to face the reason behind her abrupt halt.
“Andrew? What are you doing here?” he asks, cheeks peachy and eyes sparkling.
“He’s Andrew?” the woman wonders with a smirk. “Well shit. When you said handsome, I didn’t expect him to be a literal snack!”
He spoke about me and called me handsome?
Fuck, I’m going to blush. I fucking love him.
Just looking at that shy smile on his face makes me want to kiss him all over and give him the world.
“Sally, get your ass here,” a blonde woman orders, pulling her friend backwards. “Leave him be and come order your drink.”
The light brown skinned woman with sharp blue eyes and a golden nose ring glares at me as she huffs and pulls her two friends toward the bar.
Jeez, she definitely hates me.
What did Aoi say about me for her to be so hostile? Was I really being delusional when thinking he was warming up to me?
“I’m out with my best friend,” I reply, smiling as his eyes glaze over my figure with subtle desire. Visha, keep it in your pants for fuck’s sake. This isn’t the moment to get hard. “Did I do something wrong?”
He chuckles and leans into me. “You’re good. They just don’t like men much.”
I nod and let my gaze drift to his delicious and plump lips, begging to be tasted, but I force my eyes to focus on his gorgeous sapphires. “Perfectly understandable.”
The dark-skinned woman who seems to loathe me, calls out to Aoi and asks him what he wants, to which he says to order whatever. His attention is back on me a second later as if he can’t keep his eyes off me for long.
And fuck does it make my stomach flutter.
“Put it on my tab,” I say, holding his gaze until he’s forced to look at the woman whom her friend called Sally earlier who’s jumping giddily next to him.
“Wow, are you rich or something?” she whistles, eyes wide. “Whatever. Men who aren’t scared to empty their pockets are cool.”
The blonde woman, whose attire is more masculine than the other two, nods at Aoi. “Amira said she’s going to take a booth. I’ll take Sally, the yapper, with me so you two can talk in peace. Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay, thank you.”
She gives me a mean once-over and walks away with Sally hooked around her arm. The latter waves at me gleefully before recomposing herself.
I’m glad Bellami has made it a rule that the music in his club cannot be blasted to the point people can’t even hear each other talk. That way I can listen to Aoi’s melodic voice without having to shout.
“You have nice friends.”
He chuckles and scratches the back of his nape. “Yeah, they’re the absolute best. By the way, I can afford a few drinks, you know? I don’t need you to pay for us.”
“No respectable gentleman would ever let his beloved pay for anything.”
“Beloved?”
“Does the term bother you?” I ask, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat.
He shakes his head, wetting his lips. “Quite the opposite.”
“Really?”
“Why’re you so surprised?”
I chuckle nervously, losing myself in his eyes. “I sort of expected you to tell me to ‘respectfully fuck off’.”
He shrugs. “I’m feeling charitable today.”
“Fuck, you’re something else,” I groan, grinning foolishly.
“I didn’t think I’d meet you here,” he says, looking out of place and yet in his element under the party lights as music plays from the speakers.
“I didn’t expect you to leave me on Read again, but surprisingly, you did,” I tease, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear.
His eyes don’t leave mine as he bites his lower lip, and I swear I must have an iron resolve for not jumping his bones right now.
“Would you believe me if I said that I freaked out again?” he mutters sheepishly, and I cup his cheek, stroking it with my thumb. “I was going to text you back, but then I got busy with work and the girls so...”
“I’d wait an unimaginable time for you to reply.” I’ve waited ten years for a chance to be so close to him. A few hours won’t change much. “Don’t worry about it.”
The smirk spreading over his lips sends my better judgment out of the window as I grin and lean next to his ear. “If you keep looking at me like that, I might just steal you from your friends and hide you in my penthouse forever.”
Did I take it too far? What face is he making?
I lean away to observe his reaction, and Mother of God, my pants are suddenly way too tight.
Oh fuck.
I’m so unbelievably fucked.
His lips are parted while his eyes awe at me with so much lust I nearly throw him over my shoulder and bring him home with me. His hand glides over my covered abs with liquid delight, then he shakes his head.
“You’re playing with fire, Andrew,” he says breathlessly, and I know he’s holding back from kissing me. “You’ll burn yourself if you’re not more careful.”
“Maybe I enjoy a bit of heat,” I taunt and watch as his nostrils flare and eyes fog up, but that is soon replaced by surprise when an annoying voice approaches from behind me.
“Aoi, baby. What are you doing here? Stalking me?” Aiden cockily asks, pushing past me and hugging Aoi like it’s his right. “I knew you’d miss me.”
“Arrogant much?” he shoots back with a playful smile that turns my stomach into knots.
Aiden detaches himself from him and smirks like an asshole. “Admit it. You couldn’t wait to see me.” He glances at me. “Oh, Andrew’s here, too? Didn’t notice you.”
Motherfucker. He knew I was here. That’s the whole reason why that jackass even interrupted our moment. If it weren’t for my Paradise standing beside me, I’d have cussed the jerk out.
“Might wanna get your eyes checked,” I mumble, and to my purest delight Aoi chuckles.
Yep, I’m marrying him one day.
“How about you go play with kids your age? The adults are talking.” Aiden laughs condescendingly, leaning his elbow on Aoi’s shoulder. “Oh, did I hit a nerve?”
“Don’t be rude.” Aoi swats his arm off and cocks a brow at him. “Who said you could get comfortable? Both of you are acting like immature children. Grow up, will you?”
I gape at him in disbelief. “What did I do? I can’t believe you’re taking his side,” I mutter, tilting my head the way I used to when I was young.
“Acting cute won’t work on me.” He smiles before glancing at my lips, disregarding Aiden for a few beats. “I have to get back to my friends now. Been away for too long.”
But it did work. See? You’re looking at me.
“Of course. Thank you for indulging me.” I lean over his ear and murmur, “If I asked you to stay, would you?”
Aoi’s hand lands on my chest and my heart hammers furiously under his touch, lighting me aflame. He gently pushes me away and I almost curse myself for getting ahead of myself until I see the look in his eyes that shoots straight to my dick. “Don’t ask me.”
“Why not?” I taunt, ignoring Aiden’s glare.
He licks his lips and glances at the booth where his friends are chatting around drinks. “Guess, pretty boy.” Then he turns to Aiden. “It was nice bumping into you here, but I really have to go now.”
He wants me–at least to fuck me–but he keeps looking for reasons to run. Ways to make me chase him until he’s ready to let me in.
Aiden wraps his arms around Aoi’s waist, and as he lets that bastard’s body press against him I feel jealousy clench my gut. Aoi hesitates at first, then he momentarily hugs him back before detaching himself from Aiden.
I bite my lip when he glances at me and his fingers brush against mine as he swiftly heads back to his friends’ booth.
Fuck, he’s so sneaky about it and I’m sure it was intentional.
Aiden and I stand next to each other. I don’t bother addressing him as I push past him, but his hand lands on my bicep, gripping it tightly. “You haven’t told him the truth yet, Visha.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I grit out, my body screaming with revolt and disgust from his touch. “This is none of your fucking business. I’m the one who decides when to tell him, so keep your mouth shut and your fingers out of my business.”
“You arrogant bastard.” He lets go of my arm and smirks. “Guess we’ll see who he picks in the end.”
“Fuck you,” I snap. “This isn’t a competition. Maybe for you this doesn’t matter and it’s just a simple game to entertain you. But I love him, and I won’t let you ruin my chances because you’re an asshole.”
Fuck him and everyone else who wants to get in my way. I’ve waited ten fucking years for this opportunity, and there is no way in hell I’m going to let some jerk ruin it.
I’ll tell Aoi the truth soon. I will, but not now. Not when our bond is still so fragile.
Slumping back into the velvet booth, I exhale harshly when Liv says, “Took you long enough. Guess Aiden isn’t over him, hmm?”
“I’m fucked, aren’t I? Man, I love him so much. Just a few words exchanged and I’m already wishing I could steal him away, and lock him up so I can have him all for myself.”
She laughs and points her index finger at me. “You’ve been fucked since the day I met you. He’s always been on your mind. Guess you were right.”
“About what?”
“Your crush never ended, even after so many years apart.” She tugs her purple bustier dress back into place and checks the state of her black nail polish. “I’m amazed.”
“Let’s hope he will be, too,” I mutter, transfixed on him in a booth with his friends.
He laughs without a worry in the world, and I catch myself sprouting seeds of jealousy. I shouldn’t be but the idea that he can laugh like that with others, but not with me, makes me want to rip my heart out and throw it off a bridge.