Consume my broken heart

Chapter 27

I eye him cautiously, his expression unreadable. He stood there almost on the verge of throwing himself under a car. What was he thinking? I can't imagine something happening to him because of me. This man is mysterious, tough as a solid wall, yet he has the urge to nurture, to care for people and doing ridiculous things for that matter.

"I'm sorry for tonight," Aiden spoke all of a sudden, his eyes traveling to my face, exploring every contour of it. I swallow hard and shift on my feet, not knowing what to say to him. I'm angry at him for interfering with my personal space, for not listening to me for once. However, I have made him suspicious by my hidden agenda with these men. Nobody would believe a strange person on his word. That's what I am, what we are, we are strangers to each other. He knows so little of me and I don't know him either.

The clouds above us break into a slumbering fight against each other. The sky lighting up with each strike, the thundering noise startling me. A few drops of rain land on my hair and face, before all hell breaks loose above us. "Fuck," Aiden mutters, but I could only smile. This day couldn't get any worse. The weather is only reflecting my fucked up day so far, the wind making its way through me, leaving goosebumps all over my arms.

"Grace?" I hear his voice from afar, but I ignore him, just enjoying mother nature at her most powerful side. "Grace?" He yells, taking my upper arm gently, pressing his warm hand against my cheek. The energy of the clouds absorbing me fully, giving me some kind of peace with myself, with this crazy day. It didn't end well, yet here I'm standing in a long black, sexy dress with a man I do trust and care deeply for, only he doesn't know.

"Grace? You're going to get sick if we stay here." His serious voice bringing me back to the present. To my surprise, he's standing so close to me our noses could almost touch. His hands cupping my face in a tender grip, the warmth of his hands giving me a soothing feeling. A feeling of relief and comfort hit me and I close my eyes for a moment, not bothering I'm already soaking wet from the rain.

With the rain, my terrible mood floods away. This moment in the rain makes me think back to that moment I was in his arms on the dancefloor before he told me he knew everything. My mind holds onto that memory. Although it seemed a moment of minutes, it felt longer. The way he was looking at me, making me almost forget why I was dancing with him in the first place. I'm disappointed it happened because it was a calculated gesture and nothing more. Sighing, and brushing of the feeling of disappointment I reluctantly open my eyes again, to find him staring at me with knitted brows, an amused grin on his face. How can he be so wrong and so good at the same time?

A shiver leaves my body, making Aiden jump in action. He tugs his arm around my waist without asking for permission, escorting me away from the exit, away from the building where my plan fell into pieces. The building where my rapist was drinking and enjoying the party.

"Fuck, Grace." Aiden chuckles as I see him glancing at me as we tried to run in the rain. I couldn't see a thing, yet I felt so free and wild. Aiden stops abruptly before pulling off his dressed, jet-black jacket that fitted him so well. He holds it over my head, sending me a small smile as he sees my goofy smile. I can't help it. He must think I'm mad or something. I don't even know where he's leading me, but I know I can trust him.

After running a little while we arrive at his car, again another one I haven't seen yet. "Who's this car from?" I ask him while we were seated, making the leather seats wet, drops of water running from my face. With force I hold my teeth together, trying to control the shivering from my wet body.

"Here," he shoves a sweater from the backseat, a black one doesn't surprise me at all. This man is addicted to black clothing. "Put it on." He orders me before starting the car and driving away. Without getting into a discussion with him, I obey and put the sweater over my dress. The smell of his masculine cologne greets me and I couldn't resist smelling at it one more time.

"It will get warmer in a minute. This car has a great warming system." He spoke reassuringly, turning further away in the direction of my house. "And to answer your first question, this is another car of mine as well." He adds and glimpses at me, his smile turning wider at the side of me wearing his sweater.

"What?" I ask under his overwhelming stare, feeling a bit out of place, feeling my cheeks flush under his admirable demeanor.

"Nothing," he spoke, clearing his throat as if he needed a drink to rinse his dry throat. He averts his gaze to concentrate on the road when I just realized something.

"Fuck," I mutter under my breath.

"What's wrong?" He asks in concern.

"I forgot my keys in Barbie's car. She's probably crashing at Rick's place and my parents have their monthly date somewhere in a hotel." I say, hoping to not give too much information about why my parents pay a chamber for one night at a hotel. That's what happens when you have grown children living under your roof and you still have an amazing sex life and wanting some privacy for once.

I let my head leaning against the leather seat, feeling so stupid and ignorant for forgetting the keys. "I'll have to c..." I continue, but Aiden cuts me off.

"If you want you can stay at my place for the night." He crashes the suggestion between us like a bomb. I nervously bite my lip and fidget his sweater. "You don't have to, Grace. I just wa.."

"No, thanks. It's fine if it doesn't bother you?" I ask him hesitantly, withdrawing my eyes from his too-perfect-shaped lips. A flush creeps up again. Why do I need to look at his lips? This night is making me insane, feeling almost like another person. I'm a control-freak, yet here I am in the car with Aiden because I forgot my car keys.

"Why would it bother me? Are you planning to kill me in my sleep or something, then yeah it would bother me a bit." Aiden chuckles.

"Who's judging who now huh!" I punch his arm lightly, probably feeling like a feather hitting his arm. My small hands could never damage him because he's so strong and broad built. I'm sure nobody could ever mentally or physically break him. He's the opposite of me. He's true to himself and he needs to be who he wants to be, what he wants to do with his life. Still, I don't know the entire story about him traveling here. This man is mysterious, it only draws me closer to him, eager to know every detail about him.

"We're here," I hear his soft voice, interrupting my traveling mind once again. I take the handle of the door and open it, knowing I was going to sleep at his place. I was doing this without looking back. What's the point of always looking back when the only way to live is now.