Heat and Anger
1195 Words
~Joan~
“Hey, you want to go for a walk?” I asked, sitting on the bed next to Rhoda, who had pulled the blanket over herself like it might shield her from the world.
She stared at me for a second before shaking her head, her lips pressed into a tight line.
Her bad mood was starting to affect me. We were supposed to have fun —not the jail kind of fun—but the kind where we could let loose and just be ourselves. Then Aaron had to ruin everything.
“Come on, Peach, you can’t be like this all day,” I nudged her lightly, trying to draw her out. She pursed her lips, the same way she always did when weighing her next words.
“He froze my accounts, Jo. I’m so mad at him right now,” she muttered, her voice low and bitter.
I blinked. “Permission to kill him?” I teased, and for the first time all day, she laughed—a soft sound, but enough to loosen the pressure in my chest.
“Unfortunately, no. I still love him,” she said with a shrug, sitting up abruptly. “Besides, he’s the only family I’ve got left.”
“But I could still make him pay,” she added, her eyes lighting up with the kind of mischief that always led to trouble.
I shook my head quickly. “As much as I’d love to torment him, we can’t. He’s not the kind of person you mess with. Doing that won’t make him unfreeze your accounts anytime soon.”
Her shoulders sagged, the fight in her dimming. And honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
Aaron wasn’t just controlling; he was dangerous. It didn’t take much for him to ruin someone’s life. He had the skills—tech wizard, cyber security expert, all of it.
A single press of a button, and everything you’d worked for—reputation, career, fame—could vanish.
“Dress up. Let’s take a walk around the city to clear your head. You could even meet up with Lucas if you want,” I suggested, keeping my tone light.
She sighed but looked at me sideways, her expression softening. “Lucas is a good idea, but…” she paused, peering at me through her lashes.
“I can’t leave you alone with Aaron. The both of you together…” She trailed off, and my heart stuttered for a beat.
She knew? Did Aaron tell her?
“...is a disaster waiting to happen,” she finished, shaking her head.
Relief flooded me so fast I felt guilty for it. I shouldn’t keep secrets from her, especially not this one.
I should tell her I’d slept with her brother. But I knew what it would change between us, and I didn’t want that.
“Then come on,” I said, forcing confidence I didn’t feel into my voice. “Let’s take a walk.”
Once we were dressed casually, we headed to the living room, where Aaron stood leaning against the counter.
He was wearing black—again—simple pants and a T-shirt that clung just enough to outline his biceps. What was it with him and black? Dark and broody suited him a little too well.
His phone was pressed to his ear, but his eyes sharpened the moment they landed on us. That gaze. It was impossible to ignore. Rhoda did her best, striding straight to the door like he wasn’t even there.
I followed, pretending I couldn’t feel his eyes on me, even as every nerve in my body was aware of him.
Just when I thought I could escape New York and all the problems it came with, I walked right into a bigger one.
Because there was no way in hell I was lusting after Aaron after what happened. No way. If someone had told me a week ago I’d sleep with him, I’d have laughed in their face.
But, here we were.
“And where are you going?” Aaron’s voice cut through the air, low and commanding, as we reached the door. Rhoda didn’t stop. She twisted the knob and opened it, one foot already out.
“Take one step out, and your accounts stay frozen for three months,” he said flatly. I gritted my teeth. He was impossible.
Rhoda froze mid-step, muttering under her breath. I turned to face him, crossing my arms.
“We’re going out. We’ll be back soon. No need for the threats,” I snapped, meeting his dark gaze with as much defiance as I could muster.
He grabbed his keys from the counter, his movements calm but deliberate. I narrowed my eyes.
“The last time you two went out together, you ended up in jail,” he said, his tone all too casual. “I’m coming with you.”
Rhoda groaned. “We’re fine. We don’t need you watching over us like some overbearing mother hen.”
Aaron didn’t flinch. He was already moving toward us.
"The fact that you keep saying ‘we’ tells me you’re up to no good," he retorted, his tone sharp.
I bit back a curse. God, this man was infuriating.
"What is it, Aaron? Do you have nothing better to do, or do you just enjoy spending time with us?" I asked.
“Actually, I do have better things to do, but keeping an eye on you two happens to be one of them."
He rubbed his jaw, his fingers brushing over the day-old stubble that somehow made him look even more dangerous.
Rhoda huffed. "Fine. We’re not going anywhere," she said, clearly trying to discourage him.
"Best decision," Aaron replied dryly, not moving an inch.
Rhoda scoffed loudly, before stomping out the door in frustration. I stayed where I was, glaring at him.
“You’re annoying. I hope you know that,” I bit out.
His lips tilted, just enough to hint at a smirk. “Nice to know. I wouldn’t want you getting the wrong idea that I’m fun.”
He glanced past me toward the door, then let his gaze settle on me again.
“Now, move, Kitten. You don’t want to keep Rhoda waiting, do you?” the command wasn't at all subtle.
I stood my ground, my pulse hammering in my chest.
“You know what? f**k. You.”
His eyes darkened, and before I could react, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me flush against him.
My breath hitched as his voice dropped to a low, dangerous whisper.
“Speak to me like that again, and I’ll bend you over and s***k that attitude out of you.”
Heat flushed through me in all the wrong places. He let me go as abruptly as he’d grabbed me, tipping his head toward the door.
“Now, move.”
My teeth clenched as I stomped off, painfully aware of his eyes on me.
My heart thundered in my chest, equal parts anger and something else I didn’t want to name.
One thing was certain: Aaron Thompson was going to be the death of me.
- Writer
