A special gift for Aiden that he didn’t even ask for.
The red, sparkling top was perfect, and I knew it would wreck him. I grinned, checking my phone before hitting the Bedazzler again. Also—I still couldn’t find my hoodie that I’d left at work. If he moved it, he’s getting more than a Bedazzled top tonight. Would he really be so petty to be angry if I left a hoodie on his bike?
Wrecking Aiden really had a new meaning now.
He still wouldn’t admit to being the one in the woods that night. He wouldn’t admit to even being attracted to me, let alone having any feelings, but I knew there was something there.
There had to be.
I groaned, slamming the Bedazzler down again.
If that was how he wanted to play it, I’d make damn sure he regretted it.
I wasn’t interested in drinking and wasn’t interested in Syndicate in general. I wasn’t interested in anything other than getting under Aiden’s skin tonight—doing anything I could to bring out the side of him I saw at Hero’s party.
I had one or two things I thought might work and I was pulling out all the stunts tonight. I had done little things here and there for years and they always got under his skin—now it was time to bring it all.
I slammed the Bedazzler again.
I felt him before I saw him. I barely glanced over, seeing his large frame fill the door. I always knew when Aiden was around, when he was watching me. It was in the weight of his stare, the crackling energy that always seemed to cling to the space between us. It was a magnet, my body humming in desperation to reach out and touch him.
“Evie,” his voice came low, clipped.
I didn’t answer but slammed the Bedazzler down a little louder.
He leaned against the door, the setting sun catching the sharp angles of his jaw. That stupid leather jacket, that stupid look of effortless authority—it all pissed me off more.
I wasn’t even mad at him—I didn’t think I was ever mad at him—but my frustration was boiling over.
“Evie,” he snapped again.
I turned, giving him a sickly sweet smile, one that I knew would make him worry. “What?”
“Are you almost ready?” he asked.
“Five more minutes.”
“Five actual minutes or five Evie minutes?” He hadn’t moved from the doorway, and I shifted my body so he could see a small section of what I was working on.
“Do you even have to ask?”
“I really shouldn’t. What are you doing?”
“Being a pain in your ass again. But really, what else is new?”
“Not much. What’s wrong with you?”
“Wrong with me? Nothing. Just sitting here getting ready. Are you forced to take me with you tonight?”
He glanced down the hallway before stepping inside and closing the door. “What does that mean? You always go with me.”
“I know, but I’m wondering if I should stop. Maybe start riding more with Hero or Mason. Maybe ride my own bike more often—I need the practice.”
He cracked his knuckles, staring out my window and not even caring to glance down at me. “If you want to ride your own then do it, but if you want to ride with someone, it will be with me.”
“Is that really your decision?” I asked, my tone lighter now.
“No.” His eyes dropped down to me. “It’s Rook’s. He already said you’re with me tonight.”
