Spike (Spark Series #2)

by Ryder, Jennifer

  All that stuff I’d read about “emotional intelligence” being a way in which we monitor our feelings and emotions, and then use them to guide our actions— right now I don’t feel intelligent at all.

  Maybe this will all blow over. Tara seemed to relax after I told her Aidan spoke to his father. Maybe it was that initial interaction between Aidan and his father she was concerned about.

  I guess I can’t be too upset with her that she cares for my boyfriend. As much as I don’t want to acknowledge it, Aidan had a past before me.

  Damn blinking cursor. Stop mocking me!

  Cassie’s probably right. Even though she had no idea what I was stressing over—because I lied to her too—it’s probably nothing.

  I look at the time on my laptop. I’ve been sitting here for half an hour. Maybe one day I’ll make a half-decent psychologist. In half an hour, I think I’ve convinced myself that I’m all worked up over nothing.

  The front door opens and shuts, heavy footsteps getting louder as they approach the door.

  The study door swings open. “Hey, beautiful,” Aidan says, leaning against the doorway. His shoulders drop as he lets out a loud breath. His smile barely meets his eyes. He’s dusty from head to toe, his hair is wild, and he hasn’t shaved for a week—but he’s just my kinda sexy.

  “Hey. Big day?” I ask, closing the lid of my laptop. I’ve had enough staring at the screen, and right now, a fix of Aidan is exactly what I need.

  “Fuckin’ understatement,” he says, raising his dark eyebrows. “I hope you don’t mind, but I picked up some Japanese for dinner. Thought we deserved a night off the pots and pans.”

  I walk over to him and link my hands behind his neck. “Perfect,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. I lean in and standing on tippy-toes, kiss his neck first, his earthy smell and the salty tang of sweat testimony to how hard he worked today. My mouth skims over his prickly jaw, and then I wrap my lips around his, savouring the softness as I taste.

  I need him to make me forget, to get my focus back on the things in my life that really matter, and the things I do have control over.

  I untuck the shirt from his jeans, and pull it over his head. My fingers glide over the smooth skin of his firm chest, his dark-pink nipples puckering with the touch.

  “Let’s get in the shower,” I say and kiss him on the lips.

  His mouth curls up on one side. “Yeah. Let’s,” he says, a cheeky glint in his eye.

  I start to unbutton my blouse, and create a trail of clothes as I walk to the bathroom. When I reach the shower, I turn to find Aidan naked behind me. He’s like a freakin’ sexy ninja. How he gets naked so quick and so stealth-like still baffles me.

  In silence, I let the water stream over me, tugging Aidan’s arm for him to join in. I take the soap bar and run it over Aidan’s chest, and down his arms. He grins, and tweaks my nipple between his thumb and finger, rolling it around. I move behind him and glide the soap across his shoulders, letting the bubbles flow down his body. I lather the bubbles between my hands, and put the bar down, and reach around his waist, following the curve of the muscles on his hip, down between his legs. I run my hand over his firm cock, letting the bubbles surround him before they slowly wash away. Aidan turns to face me and I wipe the water from my eyes.

  He leans me against the wall, pressing every part of his body he can against me. His erection rubs my stomach, and I move my body against him, savouring the heat and the skin-to-skin contact.

  “You want it here … or out there?” Aidan says, casual as ever.

  “Wherever you want me.”

  Aidan turns off the water, and gets out. He throws me a towel a second later, and I dip my head between my legs and shimmy the towel around my head. When I raise my head, Aidan has already left the bathroom. I run the towel over my body and then pin my hair in a messy bun.

  Covers thrown back, Aidan is lying back on the bed, hands behind his head. He flashes me his perfect teeth, and I suck on my bottom lip as I stalk my way over to the bed and kneel on the edge. I dot a few kisses up each leg, and when I reach the inside of his thigh, I run my tongue over his balls and up his length all the way to the tip. I continue my kisses over his stomach, his muscles flinching against my lips. I suck each nipple and tug with my teeth. A groan rumbles up his throat as his hands move to my hips.

  I position myself over him, and he grabs his cock, stroking the tip between my wet folds. I lower myself a little way at first, gradually taking him deeper and deeper before I slam down onto him, pushing the air from his lungs.

  I ride him harder and faster than I ever have before, not holding back for anything. Aidan takes my hand and places my fingers between my legs, moving over my clit in lazy circles, spreading my arousal. He moves his hands behind his head, letting me do all the work. Not that I mind. I’m in some kind of daze. I move my hands up to his chest, and squeeze his pecs to steady myself.

  “Touch yourself,” Aidan says.

  “What?” I mutter, almost out of breath, slowing down the pace.

  He takes my hand, and like before, runs my fingers over my swollen clit. I couldn’t do that in front of him. I want his hands on me, not mine.

  “I wanna watch you … see you make yourself come.” Somehow the inside of my cheek becomes appetizing, and I bite down as if that will help.

  “Don’t be shy, baby. Knock another one of my fantasies over. You’re gettin’ real good at it.”

  “And you wanna watch me do it?”

  “Yes. I. Do.” Aidan licks his lips.

  “Who am I to deny a man his fantasies?” I say, leaning down and whispering in his ear.

  Aidan moves his hand up my ribcage, sitting me upright. I move my fingers between my legs as I imagine Aidan would, except I can set the pace, the way I want it.

  I love Aidan’s work, but this is the best of both worlds. Moving my hand at just the right pace, up and down, in no time I fall apart, delicious waves of pleasure running right through me. Aidan grips my hips tight, lifting me and thrusting into me a few more times before he says my name almost inaudibly, pulsing deep inside.

  I slump on his chest, and slowly bring my hips to a stop. I kiss him hard, as if I’m taking that bit of calm from him that I’m so desperate for.

  “You’re an animal,” Aidan says, mumbling into my mouth.

  “Apparently so,” I say. “Aidan?”

  “Uh-huh?” he says, pushing long strands of my damp hair behind my ear.

  “I love you. More than anything.” Emotions I had tried to suppress seem to bubble up my throat, a tear close to spilling onto my cheek. With his hand behind my neck, he brings my face close to his, kisses me and holds me tight.

  “I love you too, baby girl,” he says with sincerity wrapped around each word.

  I snuggle my head on his chest, hiding my face so he can’t read what I’m afraid he’ll see.

  CHAPTER SIX

  * AIDAN *

  Eevie seems distracted lately. I wonder whether it has something to do with my dad contacting me? Or could it be to do with speaking to Tara? If one of Eevie’s ex-boyfriends rang me out of the blue, they’d be getting a pretty clear “fuck off” message from me.

  I know Eevie’s got a lot on her plate though, or maybe it’s because I’m travelling so much, but even the sex seems different. Like it’s an escape for her. Sometimes it’s like she’s trying to desperately crawl inside of me. Not that I mind, not at all. She’s just more emotional than usual. Must be nearly that time of the month.

  Tara’s call has been bugging the shit out of me. I’ve gotta deal with her. Why the hell she made a big deal out of speaking to Eevie, I don’t know. Is this some sick, twisted attempt to break us up? Shake us up and see what happens? Now I’m off-limits, is she trying to worm her way back in? There’s no fucking way she’s gonna ruin what Eevie and I have. No way.

  I never should’ve gotten involved with Tara. Like a hypo kid with ADHD, she always wanted my undivided attention, and would bitch an
d moan to anyone who’d listen when I was travelling. As if I could help having to travel? As if I’d quit my dream to sit around and spend time with her and her dead-shit druggo brother?

  Whether she knew it or not, her bitching always got back to me. In the end I just couldn’t trust her. And I don’t trust her now.

  That’s it. Before I drive myself bat-shit crazy, I’m having it out with her. If Tara’s trying to fuck shit up, then dammit if I’m gonna sit back and wait for it to unravel.

  I dial her number.

  “Aidan. Geez, my phone’s running hot,” she says.

  “What kinda shit are you tryin’ to pull, Tara?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” she says, and I imagine her fluttering her eyelashes, pulling a face like she’s all innocent. Far from it.

  “What’d ya say to Eevie?” I say, my teeth clenched.

  “I’m sure she told you, babe.” Don’t fucking call me babe.

  “I don’t want you ringin’ again. I’m not a part of your life anymore.” Thank Christ.

  “I just want you to be happy, Aidan.”

  “I am happy, Tara, and I love Eevie, so just let us be.” I disconnect the call before her words aggravate me any further. What I ever saw in her, I don’t know. Let’s call it a weak moment.

  Why is Tara interfering now? When we broke up, she acted like it was a relief, so why is she getting involved now?

  ****

  “Hey, Mum,” I reply, trying hard not to let my voice give away that I’m not in the mood to chat.

  “Can you talk at the moment?” she asks, her voice wavering. I hope she’s not gonna ask about building that bookcase again. I‘m so strapped for time, but I hate telling her no.

  “Yeah, I just got home.” I lean against the kitchen bench.

  “I just thought you should know I had a call from Tara the other day.”

  What in the name of fuck is Tara’s problem? Can’t she leave me and my family alone?

  “What the fff … what did she want?” I hold back on the swearing, even though I wanna let loose. Mum will only remind me that she didn’t raise a boy with a foul mouth.

  “She wanted to know how to contact Eevie. Why would she want to, Aidan?” she asks, her tone almost accusatory, as if I’ve done something wrong.

  “I dunno.” I don’t wanna tell her about the calls I’ve already had with Tara. “What did you tell her?”

  “That I didn’t have any details.”

  “Good. Well, I’ve sorted it. I don’t want her anywhere near Eevie. Let me know if she rings again.”

  “You know, I never really liked that Tara girl, Aidan. She’s a snake in the grass.” Ain’t that the truth.

  “I know, Mum. I promise you, I want nothin’ to do with her.”

  “Well, that’s good. So, how’s Eevie? Is she looking after my boy?”

  I can’t help but smile. Is she ever. “She’s perfect. You know I haven’t eaten this well since I lived at home.”

  “So you don’t feel like you’ve rushed into things?”

  “No, Mum. Definitely not.”

  “She’s good for you, sweetheart.”

  “Yeah. She is.”

  “It’s just all happened pretty quickly. That’s all.”

  Mum’s such a worrywart sometimes. “You know when I want somethin’, Mum, I don’t muck around,” I say.

  The front door creaks as it opens and closes, and Eevie walks into the kitchen. Her hair is kinda messy, and dark circles sit beneath her eyes. The poor girl looks exhausted. Her eyes light up when she sees me, and she manages a smile. She mouths “hi” when she sees I’m on the phone.

  Mum laughs softly. “Yes, Aidan. I know. Alright, well, I’ve got to go. Frank’s home, and we’re going for a run before dinner,” Mum says.

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you later then.”

  “Bye, sweetheart. Don’t be a stranger. Please. It’s been a while since you visited.”

  Yeah, yeah. “I know, I’ll see you soon. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Eevie slumps onto the couch and puts her feet up on the coffee table. “Hey. What’d your mum say?” she asks.

  Shit. I can’t say anything about Tara. “She was wondering how my new living arrangements were goin’. She asked me if I think I rushed into it.”

  Eevie’s face drops. “Oh.”

  Shit. I shouldn’t have said that. Nice goin’, Aidan.

  I pull Eevie into my arms and kiss her soft lips. “No, baby. Nothin’ to worry ‘bout. Mum probably thinks it all happened a bit soon, but she didn’t know we’d practically lived together for a few months after you were in hospital. She’s happy that I’m happy. You know what mothers are like. She’s always been over-protective.”

  “We should have your mum and Frank over for dinner. It’d be nice to cook for them.” Good idea. Two birds with one stone—keep Mum happy by seeing her, but also get her to see how happy we are, and know that she has nothing to worry about. And maybe then she can stop fussing over her boy.

  “Yeah. Mum would love that. I’ll give her a call during the week.”

  ****

  * EEVIE *

  It’s only eight pm, and Aidan’s already gone to bed. He was exhausted and has an early start tomorrow. As much as I’d love to join him, I need to get some work done.

  After a couple of hours of study, I’m ready to crash. Big time. Just before I shut down my laptop, I remember to check my email. Hopefully, Ally from uni has sent me those links she promised for research for my next assignment.

  There are a couple of emails from eBay, but nothing from Ally. There is, however, an email from a random Hotmail address, made up of letters and numbers. From the sender’s address it appears to be junk mail, but the subject heading is clear.

  Attention: Genevieve Lawson

  Huh?

  I open it up.

  If you don’t want these pretty portraits splashed all over the

  Internet, you’ll listen to me when I call. Keep this to

  yourself and no one will get hurt.

  The air is suddenly crushed from my lungs and my heart sinks in my chest. I open up the first of at least ten attachments, and gasp as I take in a full-screen photo of Aidan and I having sex. My fingers freeze over the keyboard, my jaw going slack. There is no mistaking that this is the two of us. We’re both naked, and I’m straddled over Aidan’s lap, hair wild and nipples hard. I’m either close, or in the middle of an orgasm. Fuck.

  I bury my eyes into the heels of my hands. Surely I’m dreaming. The weight on my chest grows heavier, making it increasingly hard to breathe.

  I close the attachment, and look at the rest. Some pictures are blurrier than others, but if anyone who knew me saw these, they would recognise me. Some pictures are from Aidan’s place—on the couch and in his bedroom, and some are from my bedroom at my old apartment. Apparently up on the second floor, with blinds partially closed, I was a target. Even with the secluded courtyard here, someone has gotten in. Someone has been stalking me.

  How long have they been watching?

  If ever there was a time when my world was going to crumble, this is it.

  How did they get my email address? I didn’t think it was so easy for people to get that information. I open up Facebook. Damn security settings. I had it set so anyone could see my profile, including my email address. Dumb, dumb, dumb Eevie! Immediately I change it to only be viewed by friends. There’s enough info in my profile for someone to know that I’m dating Aidan, where I went to school … God! I never thought this stuff was out there, but now I realise I should’ve been more careful.

  They said they’d contact me by phone. I stare at my mobile on the desk. When are they going to call? Am I supposed to answer it at all hours? Are they going to ring me at work? They could have already discovered where I work from my Facebook profile. Crap.

  Who are they planning on hurting if I talk? Me? Aidan? My family?

  I’ve always been good at keeping secrets, but I
’m a bad liar. No, wait; I’ve already lied to Aidan about Tara. The problem is, that people can read me like a book. I can’t hide the way I feel, especially from Aidan.

  I sit at the desk for another hour before finally plucking up the courage to charge my phone and go to bed. Not that I think I’ll be able to sleep. I slip into the crisp white sheets beside Aidan, who is dead to the world. I couldn’t be more relieved. If he saw my face right now, he would know something was up.

  I silence myself as my tears fall, using the sheets to mop them up. I want to tell Aidan, ask him what I should do. But I don’t think I can. Would it be worth the risk?

  ****

  I slept through my alarm, which is not like me at all. I didn’t even hear Aidan leave this morning. It took forever to fall asleep, and now, with my head pounding and my eyes stinging, I want to fall into a coma. No one can blackmail me if I’m in a coma right?

  Danuta will blast me if I’m late. She hates tardiness. I shower and dress in five minutes flat, and slam the front door behind me as I rush out of the house. When I open my car door, my phone rings. It burns a hole in my handbag with each loud shrill. I fumble around and answer it without looking at the display.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey baby, you finally made it out of bed, huh?”

  I breathe out with relief at hearing the sweet tones of Aidan’s voice. “Hey, yeah, I’m just on my way to work now.”

  “You must have had a fair bit of stuff to get through. I didn’t even hear you come to bed.”

  “Yeah, the next week or so is gonna be pretty intense.” I lie through my teeth. Well, partially. I have study, but it won’t be nearly as busy as I just made out.

  “Don’t overdo it. I missed my snuggles. ”

  “Yeah, me too. I’d better go, otherwise I’ll be late.”

  “Sure.”

  “Aidan … I love you.” We rarely say it over the phone unless he is away, but today I can’t help it. Last night when I was trying to sleep, a million thoughts of someone watching him flashed through my mind. If the photos were devastating enough, having anything happen to Aidan would be my worst nightmare.