Consumed By Darkness

009~ TO ME

Leah,

My heart pounded loudly against my chest as I watched him approach, his gaze shamelessly raking down my body. It felt as though his hands were tracing every curve slowly, making the hairs on my neck stand on end.

When his eyes met mine again, I shivered.

"If you were trying to get my attention, doll, you've succeeded." he teased when he reached me.

I scoffed, tilting my head up slightly, meeting his gaze with a glare. "Bold of you to assume I was trying to get your attention."

He chuckled, the deep sound spreading goosebumps across my skin. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my face as he whispered, "Then whose attention were you trying to get, dressed like this?"

Caught off guard by the sudden proximity I took a step back quickly, my heart skipping a beat. He chuckled again, finding my reaction entertaining.

His eyes slowly trailed down my body again with an intensity that made me bite my lip. He made me uncomfortable in a dangerous but thrilling way.

"You look hot in that dress," he murmured. " So hot, I want to hide you from every man in this room who's having thoughts they shouldn't be."

"It's you I need hiding away from."

His grin widened, and before I could step back, he closed the gap between us. He gently lifted my chin with a single finger, making me look up into his darkened eyes.

"True. If you knew what I was thinking, doll," he whispered, and I inhaled sharply. "You'd be running for your life."

My breath quickened, the tension between us so f*****g thick. My eyes flickered to his lips briefly, but he noticed. His thumb brushed against my bottom lip as he asked, "Do you want me to kiss you?"

"That's new," my voice came out shaky. "Asking for permission before kissing me."

He smirked, leaning in, the tip of our noses brushing against each other. "Do you like it when I kiss you without asking?"

I made to slap his hands off when I was abruptly shoved aside. I stumbled back as a woman in a red dress slipped between us. I was glad she snapped me out of whatever voodoo Aiden was using on me, but did she have to push me that hard?

She trailed her fingers possessively down his torso. "Who is she?" She asked, not hiding her dislike for me.

His expression hardened. "Take your hands off me," he said, irritated.

She sucked in a breath. "There it is, that coldness that makes me weak." She glanced at me, smirking.

He tried to remove her hand, but she grabbed his tie instead yanked him down to her level, and pressed her lips against his.

Aiden didn't push her away as she kissed him. I stood there like a f*****g third wheel my mind reeling in shock, stunned by her boldness.

"Leah," someone tapped on my shoulder gently, pulling me out of the daze. I turned around to see Cole, a family friend of ours.

We hugged and exchanged pleasantries, and I took the opportunity to slip away into the crowd away from him.

My eyes followed the newly married couple as they danced. It brought back memories of my wedding. I was so certain then that my marriage would be the beginning of a blissful life. Three years later I am uncertain what our relationship was.

"Marriage won't stop her from sleeping around," one of the women at our table snickered and another quickly agreed.

I ignored them, taking a sip of the wine in my glass. I was sitting with four women from our high school. Bitter women.

If I wasn't trying to avoid a certain someone I wouldn't be here listening to them gossip and judge others.

I glanced around the room, my eyes searching for him. I spotted him, sitting four tables away. The woman from earlier sat close to him, her fingers brushing a strand of hair from his face as she smiled up at him.

"Get a hold of yourself, Leah!" I scored myself, downing the remaining wine in my glass.

I looked at him again, and this time, our eyes met. My heart skipped a beat as he smiled, raising his glass in my direction before taking a sip, his eyes never leaving mine.

My cheeks burned, and I quickly looked away.

I am so f****d.

"What do you think about a partner having a best friend from the opposite s*x?" One of the women dragged me back into an ongoing conversation.

I smiled awkwardly. "I don't know."

"Her husband doesn't have any female friends. We were all surprised when they started dating," someone else chimed in.

"Yeah, Liam and Matt were so close we thought they were dating. I mean, doesn't Liam look gay?" They all burst into laughter, but I couldn't bring myself to join in, clenching my fists offended.

As if that wasn't enough someone else added, "Liam must be a bottom. I can't picture Matt bending over for anyone."

My hand slammed down on the table in anger. The laughter died instantly, and they all turned to me startled. "I don't find what you're saying about my husband funny at all," I snapped, my eyes fixed on the woman who talked last.

They exchanged glances and murmured among themselves. The woman who started it forced a smile. "We were only joking. There's no need to take it seriously. You are acting like we struck a nerve."

The woman beside me scoffed and muttered, "She always ruins the moment."

I snatched her glass of wine from the table, and she flinched, thinking I was going to pour the drink on her. "Bitch."

I took a big gulp of the wine and slammed the glass back on the table. I then stood up and left.

I made my way to the restroom, furious. I dropped my purse beside the washbasin, gripping the edge tightly.

How dare they say such things about him and act like I was the one in the wrong?

"Do you need my help?" Aiden asked. I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe.

I almost forgot about him.

He stepped further into the room, the door closing behind him. He stood close, his hands moving to cup my face. I grabbed his arms. "Leave me alone," my voice trembled slightly.

He didn't let go. Instead, he forced me to look at him, his gaze making me shiver even in my anger. "Do you want me to deal with them?" He asked.

I knew he meant every word from how serious his expression was. "You just need to nod, and I will take care of them."

I bit my lip, trying to turn away, but his grip kept my face still. He used his thumb to pull my lip free. "I noticed you do this a lot when you are angry or nervous."

He leaned down, his lips hovering just a breath away from mine. "Which is it? Are you angry or nervous right now?"

My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last as I stared up at him. I turned my head to the side when he tried to kiss me. "I can't," I whispered.

"Why?"

"I'm married."

In an instant, he turned me, pushing me against the wall. His grip on my hip tightened as he pressed his body into mine. I gasped, feeling his arousal press against my stomach. "And?"

"I-I..." My breath hitched coming out ragged as his hand slid down my body, slowly, his rough touch burning every part of my skin he grazed. His fingers traced the length of my thigh through the slit in my dress, lifting it as he pulled my leg around his waist.

I am drunk.

"Mhm," a moan escaped my lips as he rubbed himself against me.

The friction sent sparks of pleasure through my body as he ground his hips slowly, and I held onto his shoulders whimpering.

"Is that the only thing standing in my way, doll?" His voice was a dark whisper against my ear.

I trembled, nails digging into the fabric of his suit as I cried out, "Yes."

I am drunk.