Crossing the Line Read online

  Why has he never told me that? I knew the meetings were important, but I had no idea of all that other stuff he’s just said. I lean against the high-back chair and pout like a child. He should have told me all that.

  Everyone is deep in conversation while I pick at my food, wondering if I should just leave home now. No one involves me, not even Aden. Does he feel that he can’t talk to me about everything too?

  I pick up my asparagus and remember having it at a dinner party when I was five. Oliver was sitting beside me – for the last time – and we had a sword fight with it. To say Mum didn’t find it amusing would be a massive, humungous understatement.

  “What are you thinking about?” Aden asks quietly. I look up and see that I have his attention for the first time since he told me I was beautiful.

  “Stabbing you with my asparagus sword,” I reply, smirking.

  Aden’s eyebrows pull together and looks as if he’s trying hard to figure something out. Figure me out maybe. Well good luck with that one, buddy, Mum’s been trying to do that and she’s had a twenty-one year head start. “Can I ask why?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? Look at them.” He does and then looks back at me with raised eyebrows. “Never mind.” Does Aden think he can’t talk to me too? Is that why he didn’t tell me – his fucking PA for Christ sake – all the stuff about work?

  Aden turns back to the conversation, leaving me to my own thoughts. My thoughts right now being whether or not I should let my inner serial killer out. With Isabel’s shrill giggle piercing through me, I’m leaning towards yes.

  This night – officially named the night I’d like to burn – is never going to end. I feel like I’m in my own personal hell of the never-ending dinner party.

  Topics covered so far have been: Aden’s work, Isabel’s future dreams, Aden’s genes – yes he had to have a brace when he was thirteen, the Ford’s new landscaping of their massive garden, which I know will have Mum on the phone planning her own tomorrow, and now we’re up to holidays.

  I sit silently as they go on and on and on. Can you die of boredom? Aden doesn’t even seem to want to chop his arm off just to get out of here. Probably because it’s mostly about him, how amazing he is and how much initiative he has. His ego is going to be impossible to deal with.

  Just as I’m about to fall asleep in my chair, everyone stands. I look up hopeful. It is over? I look around a little dazed. “Are you alright, Amelie?” Colette asks. That’s a good question.

  I nod. “Fine, thank you.” She half smiles in return and turns back to Isabel. I wonder what she’ll think about me and Aden being together. It’s clear that she prefers Isabel – and Oliver and Harriet too – but is that just because she doesn’t know I’m interested in him? Who the hell am I kidding? I’m not sure I’m what women like my mum wants for their son.

  “Let’s go through to the drawing room,” Dad says and picks up two bottles of wine on the way through. What! Oh God this night really isn’t going to end, is it?

  “Do I have to?” I whisper to Mum.

  “Yes,” she hisses. Why the hell do I have to be there when I just sit in silence anyway? Aden subtly touches the small of my back as he waits at the door for me and Mum to go first. Warmth spreads through me at his touch. “Thank you, Aden.”

  “Meet me in your room in ten,” Aden says. I smile to myself and immediately turn left to go up to my room. Screw sitting around and pretending to be interested their dull conversations.

  I make my way to my room and sit down on the bed, chewing my lip as I consider talking to Aden about what’s going on rather than ripping his clothes off.

  “Hey,” he says with a cheeky smile that shows the dimple.

  “Hi,” I reply. Sex. Is that all he wants me for? No, he’s not like that. I know he wants more I just don’t understand why he holds things back that he has no problem telling my big sister.

  He sits down beside me and squeezes my leg. “What’s wrong?” His hand is distracting. My body instantly wakes at the contact.

  Talk first. “Why didn’t you tell me all that stuff?”

  “All what stuff?”

  “About the business.”

  His smirk makes me want to stab him with a real sword. “Amelie, after five seconds after officially meeting you I knew none of that stuff would matter to you or even go in.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “What did I say about the business?” Hmm, what did he say? Something about the investors injection of money meaning he can grow the business quicker and then something about seeing new bands? Aden smiles smugly. “Exactly. You couldn’t care less about all that stuff, Amelie.”

  Arsehole. “You don’t think I care about what you do?” That’s what they all think, and I’m sick of it.

  “Maybe care is the wrong word. Are you interested in hearing about it?”

  “Of course I am.” He raises an eyebrow sceptically. “Okay it might not be the height of what excites Amelie, but I do want to know everything. I don’t understand why you don’t want to talk to me.”

  “Alright I’ll give you that. I suppose I’ve not gone into detail because things between us are different to the relationship I’d usually have with a PA. Sometimes I feel like there are other things we should talk about, like what we’re going to do that night.”

  “So we crossed that line and now there are grey areas.” I guess it’s half my fault too; I never asked. Isabel did.

  “Yeah I guess that’s a pretty accurate description. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you feel like I don’t want to talk to you.”

  I scoot closer and he holds his arm out, wrapping it around my waist. “I’m sorry I never asked, Aden. Can we try harder to keep things professional at work?”

  “I think we need to,” he replies.

  He kisses the side if my head, and it’s like a hotline to my groin. I pull back, and his eyes are smouldering. He’s looking at me as if he can see everything as if I’m everything. My breath catches in my throats and my heart soars. I love him. I really do love him, so much its winds me. How could I let myself fall in love with him so quickly? I’ve given him the power to break my heart.

  “We should get back before they come looking for us.” I say, not hearing my own words because I’m so consumed with the force my love for him has.

  “No boom boom?” he asks with a pouty lip. I burst out laughing and slap his chest. Boom boom now? What is he, fifteen?

  “Nope, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” I stand to leave my room, and he follows.

  “Screw tomorrow.” Aden grabs my arm and pushes me against the wall. I don’t even have time to be shocked as his lips instantly claim mine. He moans in the back of his throat as I slip my tongue in his mouth.

  I know I should stop this, but I can’t push him away. I want him too much. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I grip his hair, clamping myself to him. He lifts my dress up, and I’m lost. His finger brushes against my thong rubbing my clitoris. I dig my nails in his hair as my toes tingle.

  He pushes inside me, and I don’t even remember him undoing his trousers. I cry out into his mouth as he fills me. He feels so good I can barely stand it. His thumb rubs against me as he thrusts relentlessly. It’s as if he’s possessed; we’re possessed, neither of us able to get close enough but desperately trying to anyway.

  I feel him stretching me, forcing me towards and orgasm that I already know is going to turn me into jelly after.

  Aden groans in my ear and fingers dig into my thigh the way they usually do – I really like it. He doesn’t know he’s doing it and the closer he gets the more they cut into my flesh. It’s sexy as hell. “Millie.” He pants and I feel his breath on my neck, making me too hot. I’ll never get used to how incredible he feels.

  I close my eyes and surrender to his rhythm, matching him thrust for thrust. I’m building quickly. My toes curl, and my heart flies. His lips brush against the base of my neck as he kisses me, dragging his tongue along my s
kin.

  I want more. I need more. We’re not close enough, but we physically can’t get any closer. “Aden,” I call out, desperately. My body takes over and I throw my head back, gripping onto his shoulders and tightening my legs around his waist. “Please,” I beg, not sure myself what I want.

  “I know,” he whispers against my neck and places a hand on the small of my back. His lips find mine, and he thrusts harder. The hand now on my back holds me still while he pounds inside me. We’re lost, kissing wildly and clinging to each other for dear life.

  My body tightens and I know I’m going to come soon. Should I tell him I love him? I want to shout it out. He grunts and his tongue caresses mine, kissing me deeper. My toes curl, and I dig my nails in his back as I explode and convulse around him, moaning into his mouth.

  Mumbling something incoherent against my lips, he stills and lets go. Wow. I pant, lying on his shoulder when we stop kissing for air. I love him. I’m completely in love with him. What a fucking idiot I am.

  He pulls out and sets me down on my feet, kissing my forehead. I smooth dress and hair. “Couldn’t wait, huh?” I tease. It’s pure luck that no one came upstairs and caught us. That would have been beyond embarrassing, and I would have to move to Hawaii, dye my hair red and changed my name to Martha.

  Aden smirks and shrugs one shoulder. “No, never can with you. There’s something about you, Amelie. You drive me wild. I want to be inside you all the fucking time.” Well that sounds good to me. I step forward into his embrace. “You’re so beautiful, Millie.” And you’re hot as hell. “A friend from college, Marcus, is having a barbeque tomorrow. Come with me and meet my friends. I want to be able show you off to some people at least.”

  I pull back, beaming at him. I didn’t expect that. “Okay, I’d love that.” Wow, we’re going to be a real couple tomorrow. No holding back or hiding. I want to do a cartwheel after I’ve been to the bathroom to deal with the little swimmers issue I’m going to have very soon.

  Aden strokes my cheek. “See you downstairs, babe.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  I wake up way too early. Six in the morning on a Sunday just shouldn’t exist. I roll onto my back, now wide-awake. There’s no way I can go back to sleep, today is the day me and Aden get to just be me and Aden. I’m also looking forward to seeing how he around his friends.

  I squeal in excitement and grab my phone, dialling his number. He answers on like the fifth ring, and I have a feeling I’m his wake up call. “Millie, what’s up? Are you okay?”

  “Hey. Yeah, I’m fine. Listen, what should I wear today?” I want to make a good impression. “Is it casual or…?” Silence. I can barely even hear him breathe. “You there?”

  “Are you serious, Amelie?” Whoa he called me Amelie. He’s mad.

  “I need to know what to wear.”

  “Casual. Don’t call before nine on a Sunday,” he mumbles and hangs up. Wow, and I thought I was a bad morning person.

  I get out of bed and head straight to my closet. Okay, casual. Smart casual or just regular casual? Can I call Aden again? Well he’s awake now so why not.

  “This better be good,” he says down the phone.

  Ginning at his sleepy, grumpy voice, I pull out a red shirt and decide instantly I don’t want that one. “Just one more quick question. Is it smart casual or just casual?”

  Silence again. “What’s the difference? They’re not going to care what you wear.” The phone cuts off again. Waking him up is fun, and I have to throw my phone on the bed to stop myself calling again.

  Right, smart casual. I don’t want to look like a tramp, but then I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard. Jesus it’s impossible to choose something to meet the friends for the first time. It’s times like this I wish I had a normal family and could ask Isabel’s opinion, maybe even Mum’s too.

  In the end, I decide on dark denim skinny jeans, a light peach loose fitting tank top and black leather jacket. I look fine. Not too dressed up but not like a hobo either. Before I can second-guess my choice, I run a bath.

  As the bath fills with hot water, I start to worry about his friends not liking me. I mean they’re nothing like my family, so there’s a good possibility they won’t but I really want to get on with them. Will it matter to Aden if they don’t like me? I don’t think it would, but it’d be awkward for him, I’m sure.

  I sink beneath the hot water that’s going to make me look like a lobster and the lavender scented bubbles and close my eyes. Baths are calming, so this is a good idea. I need to relax and stop worrying so much. Everything is going to be fine.

  After I’ve washed my body and my hair, I step out and wrap a fluffy towel around my body and walk back into my room. “Amelie?” Mum shouts through my door.

  “Yeah?”

  “Your father and I are now leaving for your grandparents’ for a few nights. We’ll see you on Tuesday.”

  “Okay, have a nice time,” I call back. “And say hi to Grandma and Grandad.”

  “I’ll say hello for you. Goodbye, Amelie.”

  “See ya.” Ha, she will definitely be shaking her head at my use of ‘ya’. So I’m free until Tuesday. Just me and Isabel, who is less stick up arse-ish with Mum and Dad gone. Maybe I should try corrupting her while they’re away? She needs a proper life and to have some real fun.

  When I’m dressed, have my face on and tamed my unruly hair, I head downstairs to eat something. I need to settle the butterflies in my stomach. I know I don’t have much hope of Aden’s parents genuinely liking me, but I have a chance with his friends, and I’m terrified I’ll pull me and ruin it.

  Isabel is sitting at the table eating a bowl of muesli and sipping a mug of coffee when I walk in. “Morning,” she says, giving me a smile.

  I grab a banana as it’s all I can face eating. “Morning.” As she tucks into her breakfast with a happy little grin, I feel guilty. Aden is mine and yet I’m feeling guilty.

  She’s happy because she thinks things between her and Aden are going to go somewhere. As much as her mini mum-ness annoys the hell out of me I don’t want her to get hurt.

  “Isabel,” I start, gulping as I don’t know what to say. She glances up, waiting. “How is everything?” You fucking wuss, Amelie!

  “Great, thank you.” No, it’s not. “Can I ask you something? You work with Aden, does he ever say anything?”

  “Yes, he often talks.” I wince. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have said that. “Sorry. No, he’s never mentioned you to me.” Well, he has, but it’s not the type of thing she needs to hear.

  “Oh, okay then.”

  Just say it, Amelie. “Look, Isabel… I…”

  “You?” she prompts

  “I don’t think Aden is interested in you like that,” I blurt out.

  Her face falls and turns into a frown. “What? Why do you say that?”

  Because he’s mine, bitch! “Has he asked you out? Tried to kiss you? Given you any indication that he’s interested?”

  Isabel sighs. “Amelie, Aden isn’t like the boys you hang around with.” Ouch. “He’s a gentleman. Jumping into bed with someone isn’t his style. He has style.” Don’t tell her, don’t tell her, don’t tell her. The urge to shout it out is overwhelming. Aden Ford is no gentleman – in that respect anyway.

  “He’s a guy, Isabel,” I mutter through clenched teeth, and she rolls her eyes. Cow. “Fine then. I was just trying to help, so you don’t end up feeling like an idiot. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake, Amelie. Why can’t you just be happy for me, or anyone else for that matter? I don’t understand why you feel the need to sabotage everyone else’s happiness.”

  “Sabotage? You’re being a little dramatic.”

  She stands up, and for a second it looks like she’s going to offer me outside. “No, I don’t think I am. The things you just said are to put me off. You hate this life; we all know that, but I don’t. This is what I want. Aden is a great match for me. He’s inte
lligent, successful, and good-looking and has good sense of humour.”

  “Do you actually like him or is it because he has money?”

  Taking a deep breath, she picks up her bowl. “Yes, I have feelings for him too, not that it’s any of your business.”

  Feelings? She has feelings for him. My heart sinks. This isn’t going to end well. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Isabel is an annoying, delusional, shallow cow, but she’s still my sister. I don’t want her to humiliated when it comes out the guy she likes is with me.

  My mobile vibrates in my pocket, making me jump. “Hello?” I say, without looking at the caller ID. What am I going to do?

  “Hey, Millie.” Aden’s voice makes my heart do a little jump.

  I smile. “Hey. You’ve cheered up then?” Isabel watches me with curiosity all over her face. Oh, God, don’t say Aden’s name while you’re on the phone.

  “Woken up,” he says. “Are you nearly ready to come over?”

  Already? “I thought I was meeting you in an hour?”

  “Change of plans, I want you now.”

  “Hmm really?”

  “Not for that, pervert…. I miss you,” he says quietly as if he’s admitting some embarrassing secret.

  I bite my lip, doing a dance in my head. “I’m sorry what was that?”

  “Amelie,” he says warningly. “I miss you. You’re not missing me?”

  “Hmm, might be.”

  “You’re being strange, well stranger.”

  If Isabel wasn’t standing in the room, I would have freaked at him. Stranger? “Mmm?”

  “Someone’s there.” Oh, well done Einstein! “Just answer yes or no, do you miss me?”

  You have no idea how much. “Yes.” He’ll be smirking now. “Anyway, I need to go. I’ll see you later.”