by Brianna West
What?
Aidan swallowed visibly, the muscles in his arms hardening. “You mean…”
“I’m in love with him,” Conall confirmed, the words the final blow, taking the wind clear out of me.
He was in love with me? I couldn’t comprehend it. And in those few short but incredibly long minutes, I felt torn knowing that Conall had suffered much of the same way I had. He may have acted differently than I had, but it was essentially that he’d done what he could to realize his love. It wasn’t truly that I forgave it as much as I understood it. However, betraying Aidan as he had, I didn’t know how to truly feel.
Of course, it wasn’t for me to decide. I’d support whatever decision Aidan made because, knowing his past now as I did, I couldn’t fault him for not wanting to forgive Conall.
Aidan’s low growl echoed as he sifted through his hair with clear irritation. “I thought as much. Bloody fucking hell.”
“But the better man won,” Conall said, smiling despondently. “I couldn’t have lost to a better person, Aidan. My tactics, I realize now, were selfish and could have only led to ruin. Carl deserves someone who puts his needs first, and I selfishly thought of mine only.”
The words came as a surprise to both of us, and I could see that Conall meant every single one of them. It was hard to forgive what he’d done intentionally, but when someone apologized so genuinely, it was hard not to forgive them as well.
“I mean it when I say that I’m happy that he chose you,” Conall said, voice tempered. “You are a better man than I could ever hope to be. Through everything, you’ve become a class gent. I can only hope to be half the man you are in the future, and I hope that someday you might forgive this silly sod for his betrayal.”
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I couldn’t say one damn word as the two stared at each other for long, silent minutes. Then, as if coming out of a silent conversation, Aidan nodded and offered a hand to the other man. Conall’s eyes danced with emotion before he took the proffered hand and shook it. The two men regarded one another as if nothing had transpired between them and, while not entirely happy with the portions of the conversation that were somehow being left out, I was glad that it seemed they’d ended the battle amicably.
I couldn’t be happier that Aidan felt genuinely relieved to forgive Conall, and even through the myriad of emotions the were-bear mix was feeling, the intense relief was what he felt most.
“Right. I should go,” Conall said, fixing his jacket and straightening his posture. “I’m due for an assignment in the morning, and I’ve lots to do before then.”
“As long as you actually work, Old Man,” Aidan taunted, grinning for the first time since he’d come out of the bathroom.
Conall’s smile grew impish. “I always work.”
“Don’t be a stranger,” I cut in, drawing Conall’s eyes to where I stood. “Laura’s found someone a hundred times more obnoxious than you are, and I’m sure even she’d be glad to see you over him any day.”
Conall laughed heartily. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Of course, it means you think I’m obnoxious, too.”
“Naturally,” I countered snidely.
Aidan’s expression had softened during the exchange, but he put an arm around me as if to silently claim I was his. It was an act of unconscious jealousy I’d noticed he’d do whenever he felt like someone was making any sort of pass at me, especially Laura. So, I could only smile about it rather than be angry. It was adorable, and I’d definitely tease him for it later.
When we’d said our goodbyes and Conall had disappeared, I finally breathed a deep sigh of relief. It had gone surprisingly smooth for how intense the entire ordeal had been, and for the depth of betrayal I knew Aidan felt. I was grateful that Aidan managed to listen rather than react, and I was thankful to finally have a resolution for the large man who clearly missed his friend and previous team leader.
“So…” Aidan started as I fixed a kink in my shirt, “How about it?”
Confused, I looked up at the massive man from underneath his arm, which he hadn’t removed yet. “About what?”
Aidan clicked his tongue, sighing as if exasperated. “About bloody living with me, for fuck’s sake.”
My heart started with his sweet smile. “Oh, I don’t know.”
Aidan’s mouth twitched, and I nearly laughed as I peered up at him, cool and indifferent. “Are you taking the piss? Of course you bloody well want to live with me!”
“Debatable. You snore so loud it shakes the damn house.”
Aidan’s expression had me fighting hard to keep my face from breaking out into a wide smile. Laughter bubbled in my chest as he scratched his head, suddenly anxious. Half-naked as he was, it was damn near impossible not to laugh.
“I can…erm, there’s tonics I can try,” Aidan suggested quietly, his adorable expression nearly too much for me to take. The big man had never looked so small.
“And you’re insatiable. I’d never sleep,” I added, reveling in his intensifying anxiety showing on his face.
Aidan clicked his tongue, fidgeting until he turned towards me and took me by the shoulders, the towel around his hips dropping and exposing him entirely. “Bloody fucking hell. I’ll calm it down, yeah? I can keep it to once a day.”
I was going to laugh, I just knew it.
“Once a day is calming it down?” I taunted, eyeing him reproachfully.
Aidan cursed under his breath. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, fine! Six times a week, yeah? That’s my final offer.”
I kissed him on the mouth, laughing. “I would’ve said yes without any of that.”
Aidan snarled, but he wrapped me in his arms, fusing his naked body with my clothed one, and sighed with exasperation. “Oi, you were taking the piss, Cheeky Tiger.” Aidan’s mouth covered mine roughly before he beamed his beautiful smile down at me. “But I bloody love you, anyway.”
The End.
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