𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aiyden's fast heartbeat thumped against my chest and I had long closed my eyes, neither one of us making any plans to get up. He was still panting a little from his orgasm and I was grateful to take a second to breathe too.

It was short-lived though, because a few seconds later he pulled out of me with a hiss and walked away to trash the condom.

I immediately felt cold and empty without his body pressed against me, but I pushed the feeling away and slowly sat up. Only then did I get a chance to study the interior of Aiyden's home.

All the walls were an off-white color, and the deep brown furniture and wooden details gave the space something incredibly warm. On the wall opposite me hung a flatscreen tv and the cabinet was only halfway closed, revealing a game console that was perfectly stored inside.

I smirked at the device but quickly diverted my eyes when I heard footsteps. Aiyden had returned to the room and he held out his hand. "Come on."

Excitement fluttered in my stomach as I placed my palm in his and I tried to push back a blush that was threatening to take over my face as I followed him up the stairs.

He led me to a small bathroom and turned on the shower, leaving me alone for another minute as he presumably went to grab some towels or clothing. I took that opportunity to empty my bladder and just unlocked the door again when Aiyden returned.

"Let me know if it's too hot." He gestured to the shower and I nodded, opening the glass sliding door and stepping in.

Every part of my body had been engulfed in heat not minutes ago, but this shower was definitely not warm enough for my liking. "It's actually a little cold."

He chuckled as he stepped in with me, closing the door behind him and reaching for the knob to change the temperature.

We settled on something in between mine and his preference, and Aiyden had gotten some shower gel in his hands that he was currently rubbing over my shoulders. I sighed and closed my eyes, enjoying his large hands on my skin and the post-orgasmic high I was riding.

"Remember when you ran into me on campus, Halloween night?" he asked and my eyes shot back open. I hummed in response but my heart was threatening to jump out of my chest as I waited for him to go on.

"I had left some files on my desk that I needed for my lawyer, so I went to grab them. I wasn't even supposed to be in town but we had a deadline that next day."

His hands slid over my shoulders to my neck and started to rub the tense muscles at the base of my scalp. If he was trying to distract me it was only half working.

"Then I even had to miss the last game because of this stupid divorce."

I remembered my worries from that day when I didn't see him on the field, and pieces started to fall into place.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Aiyden sighed before he responded. "You asked me what I was doing on campus that night, and I guess I just don't want you to think that I..." The words got stuck in his throat and I heard the pain in his voice.

I turned around to face him, wrapping my hands around his neck and looking into his dark brown eyes. "I don't think you're the killer."

His shoulders seemed to relax and I offered him a smile, moving to rest my cheek on his chest.

I trusted him. No, it went further than that. I couldn't describe the feeling, couldn't express it in words anyway, and I swallowed at the gravity of what I was slowly realizing.

We continued our shower in silence and after he had taken me twice more, we managed to stumble into bed.

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