Innocent Temptation

Chapter Thirteen: Did you Kiss him?

"YOU okay?" He asked, his deep voice making her shiver as he held her in his strong arms.

Aira swallowed, her heart raced like a wild horse and she wasn’t sure it was only because she was about to fall. She nodded, her voice catching as she said, “Yeah...thanks.”

She tried to slip out of his hold, but his hands kept holding her in their protective hold for a second too long. Time seemed to stretch, the world fading away until it was just the two of them. But then, as if realizing what he was doing, Mac released her abruptly and stepped back, running a hand through his hair. His expression turned stormy as he but out, “And, you said you can take care of yourself. You can’t even protect yourself from falling.”

Aira blinked, stunned by the sudden shift. “It was an accident. No need to yell at me like I’m a child.”

Mac’s jaw clenched. “I wouldn't have to yell if I didn't have to save your neck every time I am close by and you end up wanting to get personal with the floor.”

Aira bristled, crossing her arms defensively. “Well, sorry if I’m not as perfect as you are, and don't have a hard head on my shoulders that won't need protecting. And more importantly, I didn't ask for your help. You should've let me fall and break my fragile head open, then at least I wouldn't have to listen to you yell at me and pretend like you care.”

By the time she was finished with her verbal vomit, her cheeks were flushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. She turned away from him, ignoring the heat still lingering from their moment and the sudden empty feeling that gripped her when he remained silent.

The tense silence was broken by Cara’s sweet voice as she said, “Auntie Aira, are you fighting with Uncle Mac?”

Aira breathed through her anger and said, “No, munchkin.” She bent down to pick up the cage and walked to Aira. Taking Cara’s small hand in hers, she asked, “Where’s the new kitten, did you meet her?”

“Uncle Greg is trying to feed it,” Cara replied, forgetting about the tense encounter she had witnessed as she walked with Aira to where Greg was sitting cross legged in the front section of the shelter.

On seeing Aira, he asked, “Everything alright?”

Aira nodded and held up the cage. “I got it.”

Greg smiled at her but his smile dimmed when he took the cage from her hand and said, “You are hurt.”

She looked down and found that she had scratched her palm from the wooden ladder. Suddenly her hand was in a different set of hands, his grip gentle and firm as he inspected her palm. “I knew you are unable to take care of yourself.”

Aira snatched her hand away from between Mac’s and glared at him. “I can take care of myself just fine or if I can’t manage then Greg will help me, I don’t need you.”

His dark eyes flashed and he looked like he was about to blow up but then with a hard look at Greg, he just nodded and stepped back from her. “Cara, come on, we are leaving.”

“But, I want to watch the new kitten,” Cara replied, her small fingers softly reaching out to touch the kitten who eating from Greg’s hand.

“Cara. Now. We are getting late.”

Cara pouted and Aira wanted to snap at Mac for being so cold to the little girl when it was her he was displeased for reasons that was unknown to Aira herself. She said, “Cara, sweetheart, why don’t you go with your uncle. Tomorrow you can come visit again and we’ll let you name the kitten.”

“Really?” Cara’s eyes widened and a grin stretched on her adorable face. She said, “Can we name him black cat.”

Aira bit back a smile and said, “Why don't you think about it tonight and we’ll decide tomorrow.”

Cara agreed and then reluctantly walked to her uncle. Aira waved at her and promised to meet her tonight before her bedtime so they could decide on the kitten’s name.

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Two hours later…

Once again the feeling of being watched took hold of Aira and it didn’t go away until she was at the curb of her street where she paused and faced Greg who had decided to walk with her to her home instead of bringing his car when she had told him that she needed a walk. They had stopped midway for a cup of coffee, and for a few minutes she had even forgotten about the mountain of a man that was occupying space in her head and no matter how much she tried he wasn’t leaving her thoughts.

“Thankyou for walking me home and for the coffee, you really didn't have to.”

“I did it for me.” At her enquiring expression, he added, “If it’s not clear I like you and I enjoy being with you.”

“Oh.” Aira didn’t know what to say.

“Oh.” He repeated with a smile. Taking her hand in his, he placed a kiss at the back of her hand and said, “I will be patient, I can see I’ve surprised you.” He stepped closer and Aira sucked in a breath as he cupped her face. He said, “Mrs Weaver told me about your relationship with Mac or lack thereof,” Aira’s eyes widened as he continued, “But, I don't care if you once had a crush on him. I like you and I’ll be patient for you to like me back.”

Aira lîcked her lips, a nervous gesture, but when Greg’s eyes dropped to her mouth and suddenly she felt herself going cold. As if sensing her discomfort, he stepped back and gave her a soft smile. He asked, “Are you sure you’ll be fine walking alone from here?”

Aira looked down the quiet street. She had stopped here to say goodbye to Greg because she didn't wanted her neighbours to see her with him and speculate. In a small town the gossip are quick to spread and she didn't want to be the new hot topic to be discussed around the town.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” She said, “No one is going to kidnàp me here.”

He shook his head. “Don't say such things, you never know when something like that could become a reality.”

She blinked at him, taken aback. But relaxed when he laughed and gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. Just side effect of watching too many crime shows.”

She shook her head and said, “I’ll meet you tomorrow, bye.”

When he waited for her to reach her home, she turned around to wave at him to leave and once he was gone she sighed to herself and despite not wanting to her mind went to the man who had glared at her before leaving the shelter. She didn't know what to make of his actions, he had been nothing but snappy, abrupt and as cold as before but something seemed to be lurking in his dark eyes that she hadn’t seen before or maybe didn't ever pay attention to. But now, it was saying her think and doing something to her heart and body.

Aira was in front of her house and reaching for the latch on the gate when strong fingers grabbed her arm and whirled her around. She opened her mouth to scream but a huge palm pressed on half her face, covering her mouth to stop her.

Breathing hard with panic mounting, she blinked up at her attacker and was shocked to her core to find Mac looming over her. She mumbled against his palm angrily. But he just stared down at her, his dark eyes looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

“It’s almost nine in the evening, where were you?”

She glared at him and then bit down on his palm. He didn’t show if it hurt him but eventually he removed his hand. Taking in a deep breath, she snapped at him, “Are you mad? You scared me.”

“You didn't answer my question.”

She tried to calm herself but it was impossible to do so in front of this brute. She gritted out, “You are not my father to question me like this and what do you care where I went and with whom?”

“You were with him all this time? The shelter closes at seven-thirty, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, I was with him. Now, what?”

If it was possible, he looked more angry as he took a step closer to her. She stepped back and her back came flush with the brick wall dividing their houses. She began, “Mac, what—"

He didn’t let her finish as he placed his palm near her head on the wall, almost caging her in and dipped his head down as he asked, his voice gravely and threatening, “Did you kiss him?”

For a moment, a memory of another time being this helpless flashed in her mind. But he overpowered that memory when she took in a shuddering breath and breathed his scent of coffee beans and a musky scent that seemed similar to the wet earth.

“What?” she managed on a whisper.

“Did you or did you not kiss him?”

“Not that it’s any of your business— what are you doing?!” She squeaked, her heart racing her in her chest as his hand dropped to the curve of her neck and shoulder and his thumb pressed on her throbbing pulse.

“Answer me,” He demanded, his huge body almost engulfing hers as she felt the heat of him surrounding her and the mountain size of him dwarfing her. His body hard against her soft one and making her toes curl in her shoes.

She felt equal part warm and cold, a little scared and… an emotion, she didn't know how to identify except it was as same as the one she often felt when she read her books with dark heroes who take without any hesitation. “Mac, you are scaring me….” She whispered when her skin felt like it will catch fire if he didn't step back or do something.

As if realising what he was doing, as if coming out of a dream like state that he was in, he cursed and stepped back from her. “I am sorry.” He looked away from her, taking another step back.

When he’d have walked away from her, she stopped him by grabbing his shirt. She asked, “Mac…” She chewed on her bottom lip, her face turning red as she looked at his handsomely rugged face. And, unlike how a cold shiver had gripped her when Greg had looked at her, this time under Mac’s gaze, warmth settled in her belly. She said, “If you have something so say to me then say it.”

For a brief moment, she thought he was about to reveal what was going on in his mind but then he shook his head and replied, “Nothing. You can fûck whoever you want, I don’t care.” A gasp left her lips, and pain etched on her features. He sighed, if she didn’t know better she’d think it was regret that painted his face but it couldn’t be, because it wasn’t t first time he had insulted her like this. “Aira, I—”

She pushed past him and said, “Enough. I see that you are still that same cold heartless man that you were eight years ago, nothing has changed. You still think that you can insult me however you want without actually knowing me.”

“Aira—"

“No.” She blinked her eyes to get rid of the moisture that gathered despite her efforts and said, “Your hateful indifference and your insulting words were the reasons I had to leave, but now, listen to me, I don’t care what you think of me or what you say or even when you treat me like I don’t matter a bit to you, I won’t care for your opinion and I’ll be with whoever I want to be and kiss and fûck whoever I want. It’s none of your business, Macalister.”

And with that this time she was the one to give him her back as she disappeared inside her house, leaving him standing there.

That night mac didn’t come back home because he knew if he stayed in his bedroom and saw her through the window he might end up doing something they both wouldn’t he able to come back from.

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A. Gupta

Feeling bad for Aira....

Thankyou for all your comments, makes me excited for the next chapter and I look forward to read them with each new chapter!!