Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 103010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103010 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
There was a soft sigh on the other end of the line. Not one that sounded angry or frustrated, but just…unsure. “I’m sorry. I should have checked in with you before I had you do this.”
“What? No. This isn’t your fault.”
“It’s certainly not yours,” Aidan replied. “Maybe it’s no one’s fault, and it’s just something that happened, but I still feel responsible because you’re mine, are you not?”
Well…that helped. My thoughts quieted some, and my heart slowed.
“Do you want to take the cage off? If it’s a limit for you, or you’re reacting in a way we hadn’t anticipated, you can.”
“No,” rushed from my mouth. I hadn’t realized how much that wasn’t what I wanted until Aidan asked.
“Okay, so we have that piece figured out. And the second, which I should have started with, is no matter what happens or what you decide you want, you’re still mine, Finley. You will still serve me and still belong to me. If we have to adjust rules, we will, but your desires won’t make me turn away from you. Do you understand that?”
I leaned against the wall, and suddenly…suddenly it was all okay. I could breathe, and my pulse didn’t race. “Thank you, Sir. I needed to hear that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this morning, then. You’re being a very good boy right now—doing as I say and calling me when you’re struggling. That’s what I’m here for.”
“Thank you.” And now, that easily, I was starting to feel…confident. Strong. Sure.
“Do you want to spend time with Jordan? Get to know him? When we first spoke about it, you did.”
My eyes locked on the brown-haired boy sitting at the picnic table, waiting for me. The one who teased me about being good at English. “I do.”
“Then do it. You can do this, Finley. Do it and make me proud. And if it doesn’t work out, that’s okay. If he doesn’t turn out to be what you think, that’s okay. If he uses who you are against you in any way, or if that makes him decide he doesn’t want to be friends with you, that’s his loss and not yours. You are…you are incredible, my precious warrior.”
Oh God. My eyes were cloudy, and it felt like my heart was so big, it was going to make me burst. Aidan thinking me incredible made me feel that way. I wanted nothing more than to make him proud and to do what he said. “Thank you. I’m better now. I…” I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you. “I miss you.”
“You just saw me this morning.”
“I miss you still.”
He chuckled softly, but it sounded weird. “Silly boy. Now go make your Sir proud, and if you need me again, call me. And remember, his loss, okay?”
“Yes, Sir,” I replied, then ended the call. I felt stronger, stood taller, reveled in the weight between my legs as I walked back to Jordan.
He looked up at me and gave me a grin again. “Is everything okay?”
“It is now. That was…my boyfriend. I had to call him and talk to him real quick. I also wanted to see if we could hang out sometime. You can come to our place—mine and Aidan’s—and we can like, study or whatever.”
Jordan clutched his chest playfully. “Oh, you’re breaking my heart. I forgot you had a boyfriend.”
“I do. But we’re not like other couples. I mean, God, this is weird. I’m not saying I want to screw around with you. Oh fuck, I probably shouldn’t have said that. I just want to be friends, but we’ve considered…you know, but that’s not what this is about. I just want to study with you and get to know you and maybe be friends with you.”
A loud laugh jumped out of Jordan’s mouth, and I immediately took a step backward.
“No, no!” His eyes widened, looking panicked. “I wasn’t laughing at you. You’re just cute as hell, that’s all. I would love to be your friend, and I’ve also had threesomes and played around with other couples before, so I wouldn’t be opposed to that either. Or you know, if it was just you and me and your man doesn’t care. But if not, friends it is. I don’t think I can pass English without you.”
I smiled, feeling…good. Happy. Like this was something I needed outside of Aidan. That didn’t diminish who Aidan was for me and how much I needed him, but it was good to have this too. “Cool. That sounds good.”
“Put your number in my phone. And you’re sure your man doesn’t care?”
I shook my head. “He just wants me to be happy.” In a way, no one in my life ever had. All of this—Jordan, school, everything—was because of Aidan. I gave Jordan my number, and then he sent me a text saying hi.