Sweet Hatred
Chapter 42: Desires

Chapter 42: Desires

KAEL

Aria had been too quiet. It didn’t suit her. The anger in her eyes was dulled by something else—something she wasn’t ready to admit not even to herself.

She sat across from me, fingers tight around her glass, swirling the crimson liquid with a little too much focus—like she needed something to do with her hands. Like she needed the distraction and frankly I was ready to give her that distraction but—

I leaned against the counter, watching her. "Careful, firefly. You’re gripping that glass like you want to break it. Thinking about something?"

Her head snapped up, eyes cutting through me like a blade as expected but it wasn’t enough. "I was thinking about how peaceful my night would’ve been if you hadn’t dragged me here."

I chuckled, slow and deep, lifting my own glass to my lips. "Funny. Because I was thinking about how easily you let me drag you away."

She stiffened. Just a little. But I caught it. Amusement curled in my chest as I set my drink down, tilting my head. "I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who runs so fast from her own actions."

Aria’s jaw tightened. "It wasn’t that deep." She took a sip of her drink, feigning indifference.

I shifted closer, deliberate, watching the way her spine straightened, like she was bracing for something. "No? Then why do you look like you’re ready to strangle me just for bringing it up?"

"Because you’re acting like a goddamn virgin over something so insignificant."

I smirked, waiting for her patience to run out. "Maybe. But you still kissed me."

"To avoid murdering that son of bitch."

"Sure, sweetheart. Keep telling yourself that."

She leaned back in her seat, arms crossing, lips pursing around another sip. But I could see it—the way she avoided my gaze, the way her fingers tapped against the glass like her mind was somewhere else.

Definitely on that waste of space she was referring to—the fool who had no idea what he had lost. I finally remembered him from the report Niko gave with his picture in it.

And I hated it. That fiery rage of hers? It was supposed to be mine and mine alone. And yet, here she was, squandering it—wasting it—on some pathetic little wimp who could barely handle a scowl, let alone her fury. I didn’t hop on the jet back home for this.

"Aria." My tone dropped, no longer teasing.

She finally looked up, brows knitting together. "What?"

I studied her, eyes narrowing. "You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?"

A beat of silence.

She blinked. "Who?"

I scoffed, my jaw clenching. "Playing dumb doesn’t suit you firefly."

She set her glass down with just a little too much force. "That’s none of your goddamn business."

I stepped forward, heat simmering beneath my skin. "The hell it isn’t. You’re mine now remember? And we haven’t been keeping true to our agreement."

She exhaled sharply, frustration darkening her eyes. "You don’t own me, Kael."

That was it.

I moved before I even thought about it, shortening the distance between us around the cold marble. In one swift motion, I gripped the legs of her seat and yanked her forward.

She gasped, hands flying to the counter, steadying herself. "Are you fucking insane?"

I leaned down, crowding her space, voice dark and quiet. "It’s really easy to get on my nerves firefly and you’ve been doing that all night."

"Good." Her glare burned through me, but I saw the way her chest rose, just a little quicker than before. "Maybe now you’ll leave me alone."

I chuckled, low and amused. "Not a fucking chance."

My fingers trailed up her arm, slow, deliberate, watching as goosebumps chased my touch. She tensed, her breath coming sharper, but she didn’t pull away.

"You’re pathetic," she muttered, voice like venom.

"And you’re a coward." I dragged my fingers up to her chin, tilting it up until her gaze was locked with mine. "You kissed me, and now you’re pretending you didn’t like it, that you don’t want more."

She swallowed. "Stop being delusional."

I smiled, wicked and knowing. "Yet, you’re squeezing your thighs again right now."

Her face burned, and for the first time all night, she didn’t have a comeback.

I leaned in, my lips just ghosting her ear, my voice dipping into something darker. "You can call me every name in the book, firefly. But right now, the only thing I want?"

I pressed closer, my body firm against hers, relishing the way her breath hitched.

"Is for you to forget that bastard."

My fingers curled around the nape of her neck, my thumb grazing her pulse, feeling it race beneath my touch.

"And only focus on me."

She exhaled sharply, but her gaze flickered downward for a split second—to my lips. Caught you.

I smirked. "Be honest, Aria. You want this more than I do." My finger traced an invisible line down her chest, just barely brushing against the fabric of her shirt, enough to make her breath stutter but not enough to satisfy.

Her lips parted, a sharp retort forming—but I didn’t let her have it.

"You already seem to be having a hard time," I murmured against her skin, brushing the shell of her ear with my lips while unbuttoning her shirt.

I felt her shudder, the frustration in her body clashing with the need she didn’t want to acknowledge. She was fighting herself as much as she was fighting me. That only made me hungrier.

Her skirt had already ridden up slightly from the way her legs wrapped around me, her thighs flexing as if that would somehow stop the inevitable. My hands found her waist again, but this time, I didn’t pull her in. I just held her there, letting the warmth of my touch spread through the loose material of her shirt. Letting her ache for it.

She swallowed. I watched the movement, slow and deliberate, her jaw tight as if bracing herself. And then she her hand shot out, pushing against my chest.

"Do you want me to fucking tie your hands again?" I threatened, low, teasing, but with an edge of promise.

Her glare was instant, but there was something else flickering beneath it. Heat.

"You really are a control freak, aren’t you?" she bit out.

I hummed, tilting my head. "Control is all I’ve ever known, firefly."

Her breath caught. I let that hang between us before reaching up, slowly, deliberately, to tug my tie loose. The silk slipped from my collar and hit the floor between us. Aria’s eyes darted to it, then back to me, something wary yet electrified in her expression.

"Are we really doing this here?" she asked, her voice feigning casualness, but I could hear the strain behind it.

I dragged my mouth down the curve of her shoulder, letting my breath ghost over her heated skin. "Why not? Afraid you’ll make a mess?"

"Shut your fucking trap." Her fingers clenched into the fabric of my shirt, as if that would keep her from losing her grip on reality.

I exhaled a soft laugh, pressing one last open-mouthed kiss against the base of her throat before pulling back—just enough to watch her reaction. The rise and fall of her chest, the slight shake in her exhale, the way her lips parted, tongue flicking out as if trying to wet them without drawing attention to the action.

She was dying for more.

I could give it to her.

But I wasn’t going to.

Not yet.

Instead, I ran my knuckles down her side, featherlight, teasing the curve of her waist through the thin material of her shirt. Her muscles tensed beneath my touch, and her frustration only grew when she realized I wasn’t going further.

Her eyes snapped up to mine, blazing. "You must think you’re so good, don’t you?"

I grinned, leaning in until our lips were a breath apart. "I don’t think, firefly. I know."

"Count your days bastard."

"That’s my girl." I exhaled, my lips leaving a burning trail from her shoulder down to the swell of her chest. I could feel her heartbeat hammering beneath my touch, the erratic rhythm stoking the fire already raging in my veins.

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