Chapter 27
Aiden lay on his back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had his phone connected to a Blue Tooth speaker, a playlist queued up, the volume loud in an attempt to block out the thoughts in his head. Unfortunately, the attempt was failing miserably. He kept going over the fight with Mike, the entire scene stuck on a Technicolor loop. Mike hadn’t called him cold like Steve had. But saying he’d be able to bounce-back quickly was nearly as bad, insinuating that his feelings for Mike didn’t run deep. And they did! He cared for Mike, obviously. More than anyone else he’d ever dated in fact. But what the hell was he supposed to think after Mike flung his offer to help him back in his face?
Aiden knew what he wanted in a relationship. He wanted a man comfortable enough in his manhood or psyche or whatever to allow himself to be the submissive one. If Mike couldn’t do that, then there was no point in continuing on with their relationship, falling more in lo— growing closer when they were doomed to clash over such a major issue again and again. Aiden thumped his fist against the mattress. Why was it so damn hard to find a man who would let him take care of them?
His phone rang, interrupting the music and his frustrated brooding. Aiden hoped it wasn’t Caleb calling him to go save a citizen in danger. He wasn’t feeling very heroic at the moment. Flopping on to his side, he reached out to grab his cell from the nightstand and look at the screen. It was his mom. Aiden knew why she was calling. With a resigned sigh, he swiped the green button to accept the call.
“Hello, Mom.”
“Hello, sweetheart. I’m calling to verify that you’ll be at the party tonight.”
“Yes. I’ll be there.”
“And you already have your suit? Or do I need to make a call and have it couriered over?”
“I have my suit. Picked it up a few days ago.” He didn’t fault his mother for checking in. Halima Begovic-Saliette liked to stay on top of things. That trait had helped her rise to the top in an extremely competitive industry.
“All right. Well, if you need anything, buzz the house and someone will help you.”
“I should be fine but thanks for the offer.”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon.”
They hung up and Aiden returned to his previous position.
He wasn’t exactly thrilled about this party—the guests weren’t the type he ran with—but it was important to his parents. It was important to his father because it helped to raise money for the St. Louis Metropolitan ballet, the company where he’d performed for years as the male principal. And it was important to his mother because it gave her a chance to reinforce her status amongst St. Louis’s elite.
That type of life wasn’t for him. Aiden wasn’t foolish enough to say he didn’t care about money. But he didn’t need to be on the near stratospheric economic level of his parents or be seen as important by the city’s movers and shakers. He simply wanted to dance, live comfortably, kick ass as Stardust, and have a gorgeous, strong and sweet submissive kneeling at his feet. Except he didn’t want just anyone. When he pictured a man kneeling before him, it was Mike’s broad shoulders and soft brown hair and those bright green eyes staring up at him with adoration that came to mind. Too bad Mike didn’t want the same thing.
Aiden rolled off the bed. It was time to get ready and laying there feeling sorry for himself wasn’t helping. He went to the walk-in closet and retrieved the garment bag that held his custom suit. He’d already showered and shaved, so he pulled on a pair of square-cut briefs and black dress socks. After that, he unzipped the bag and began dressing.
Once Aiden finished getting ready, he checked himself over in the mirror. His look for the evening was probably flashier than anything anyone at the party would be wearing but he didn’t believe in dimming his shine. The suit was slim cut, fitting close to his body. The jacket was a standout piece, brushed satin in antique gold with black velvet lapels. He wore a black dress shirt beneath the jacket and his pants and J-Boots were black as well. A skinny gold tie, a tiny gold lace rose pinned to the left lapel, and diamond and gold earrings flashing at his ears completed the look. His long black hair was loose, blow dried, and flat ironed until it hung in a smooth curtain down his back. For makeup he’d applied concealer to cover any blemishes, liner and gray shadow to give himself a smokey eye, and a quick swipe of clear lip gloss.
No, Aiden didn’t believe in dimming his shine. And since he was about to be among the people who’d literally rejected him for shining too bright, he perversely wanted to sparkle even more.
Confident in his appearance, Aiden left the guest house and made his way to his parents’ mansion. The path was more brightly lit than usual. The fountain was on tonight, water arcing and splashing around the rearing Clydesdale. A line of cars dropped off guests before valets took the luxury vehicles away to be parked off-site. All of the windows in the house were lit—giving the mansion an inviting glow.
Aiden walked inside. It was decorated in the same style as all of the other parties his parents hosted a few times each year—extravagant yet tasteful. Tonight, the event planner had utilized warm fall colors of amber and mulberry for the decorations.
Spying his parents, Aiden went over to them to say hello. They looked amazing together as always. His mom wore her chestnut brown hair in an elegant upsweep, the style framing the fine bone structure that he’d inherited from her. Delicate sapphire and pearl drop earrings swung at her ears, matching the massive cocktail ring worn on her right hand. Her indigo blue dress had a velvet empire bodice with a bias-cut satin skirt.
His father had coordinated with his wife, in a dark blue brocade suit jacket. He’d never been one to subscribe to the all-black style. Aiden and his father were alike in that way—their artistic personalities demanding they wear something richer than the standard black jacket common for evening wear. The senior Saliette had styled his short, silver-laced black hair back from his forehead, which showcased his dark eyes and the elegantly arched eyebrows he’d passed on to his sons.
“Ah, here’s our little black sheep,” his father said before pulling Aiden into a hug.
“Where is your date?” his mother asked after brushing past his cheek with an air kiss.
Aiden flinched slightly before smoothing his expression and answering calmly. “We broke up.” Unfortunately, his mother knew him too well and caught the millisecond of turmoil he’d revealed.
“You seem bothered by it.”
“Aren’t I usually?”
“Actually? No.”
Halima gently touched his arm—a look of concern on her face.
“If you need to talk...”
