? There you go again...? he murmured against my neck, his breath igniting every nerve in my body. ?Playing the innocent mouse, when really, you're a cunning little fox begging for release. ?
Sophie Cruz, a compassionate and skilled physical the...
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(Theme Song of the Chapter: wRoNg - Zayn ft. Kehlani)
Aiden◆Accardi
FEELINGS WERE A prison—an unrelenting, inescapable cell. I figured that out early on. Emotions had no real purpose except to trap, to weaken, to control. So, I learned to shut them out, to strip myself of their weight. And for the most part, I succeeded.
But now, standing on the balcony behind the house, I felt the chains tighten again. Sophie dove into the pool below, her laughter blending with the voices of her friends. My heart betrayed me, hammering against my ribs like it was trying to break free. I clenched my fists exhaling slowly.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
No guests. That's what I told her several weeks ago when I first hired her; it was one of my 4 rules to her. But when she brought up the idea yesterday to bring some of her friends over, oddly I couldn't say no.
Why didn't I just tell her no?
That sunny and sweet smile on her face as she giggled with her friends was the answer I needed.
I wanted to see her happy.
Especially after the dinner with her grandmother ended with her so upset about her mom.
I tried to convince myself the extra time we were spending together was merely strategic, but I wasn't sure if that was all true anymore.
It was a strategy.
Keeping her close to watch her.
But why did I feel that strange, hollow void whenever our sessions ended? Whenever her hands stilled against my skin, the absence settled as heavy as loss.
There was no denying that my feelings toward Sophie now surpassed a surface level interest. It was possibly more than like. More than the erotic desire to conquer her very being.
It was worry, it was reminiscence, it was the quiet wondering if she was okay. I cared for her.
Which is why, instead of viewing her as a mere strategic vice, I was seeing her as a precious constant, someone unconditionally valuable.
Remember, value is only attributed to use.
But Sophie was an exception—she could be a princess that never lifted a finger, and I would gladly be at her service.
I watched Matteo's goofy-ass hop into the pool with the others. He and Sophie's purple-haired friend were getting awfully close. After his hundredth, and hopefully final, breakup with his batshit crazy ex-fiancé, it was nice to see him hitting it off with someone else.
"Capo, you're missing out! Walter's bringing out the Bacardi!" he called up, shooting his head back to look at me on the balcony.
I let out a quick, low chuckle before my eyes met Sophie's curious ones; she had a small grin playing on her lips as she waited for my response.
