12 - You Belong To Me Aria

ARIA’S POV

I went back home with my heart pounding in my chest and the goose bumps still fresh on my skin from Kyle’s touch and his words that brought me to a state I had deemed forbidden.

*Then don’t*

His words replayed over and over again in my head

*You belong to me Aria*

I screamed internally, willing his voice to disappear from my thoughts and leave me alone. It was hard – so hard to control myself not with our sexual history looming over us. I wanted him, that was a fact I wasn’t going to deny, that I couldn’t deny no matter how much I wanted to but I could run from it – far, far away and the only way to do that was to totally avoid him if not I didn’t think I’d be able to control myself and I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let him reel me back into his dangerous orbit and once again leave me desperate an gasping for me while he smirked and said in that husky voice of his.

*You belong to me Aria*

No I don’t fucking belong to you Kyle Hart – I banish you from my thoughts and I command you to stay banished.

When I got home, I met Shawn on his study table and bent over his laptop. When I stepped in, he shot me look, his eyes clouded with suspicion.

“You’ve never worked this late before.” he said.

“My job has never been threatened before.” I echoed back. I stopped in front of the kitchen sink to drink a glass of water and Shawn still had his eyes on me.

“There’s food in the microwave.” he said and I nodded, not sure what else to say. I wanted to go up to him and take him in my arms, kiss his curly hair and tell him how much I loved him but Kyle’s scent was still on me like it had been ingrained into my flesh and I didn’t want to taint Shawn with it

“I’m going to take a shower.” I announced and left to the bathroom.

Later that night after I had settled in for bed and already half asleep, Shawn joined me on the bed and he called out.

“Are you still awake?”

I stayed silent, pretending to be fast asleep. Then I felt him place a hand on my shoulder, his breath fanning my ears as I turned away from him.

“I love you Aria, I’ll make everything right, I promise baby.” he whispered to me and I felt something twitch in my heart. Was it guilt or was it remorse? Or worse still, was it pity?

You belong to me Aria – Kyle’s words rang in my ears – loud and clear and I shut my eyes even tighter to will it away.

When I met Shawn, I was a broken mess. Exactly 6 months after my father died and Kyle dumped me, he was the lawyer working my father’s case until they were no more leads to follow and it ran cold. But, he stayed by my side, he held my hands and helped me see a brighter side to life. In a way, I’d say he saved my life and I owed him that, I had chosen to be with him because he was safe, not reckless and unpredictable like Kyle. He knew what he wanted, he had his life planned out and I was included in it. He offered the security I needed, the reassurance I craved at the time and held him close for two years after that for that one reason – the security he provided.

*You belong to me Aria*

Those words plagued my mind all through the night till the next morning, and while I sipped the coffee Shawn brewed, also while he kissed me goodbye with his hands loosely placed on my waist but I stiffened with guilt and he sensed my unease.

“Are you okay?” he asked “You seem – ”

“Stressed/” I completed for him “It’s just with the presentation and all.”

“How about I take you out on a date after work today? Just me, you and we could order the lobster.”

“Hmm the lobster.” I sounded patronizing and then I kissed him full in the mouth, constantly reminding myself why I moved to California.

“It’s a date then.” he kissed my cheek finally and then dashed out the door.

Time flew by at work, and I tried to stay focused at work but somehow my mind always drifted to the previous night – Kyle’s hands on my skin, his lips kissing that special spot on my neck.

Stay focused Aria!

It was a losing battle already as I could feel the familiar hotness rising from within my stomach as the sultry thoughts fluttered in and out. I tripped in and out of awareness just until I decided pack up my things ready to leave work and I discovered my father’s necklace wasn’t in my bag.

I froze. Where was it?

I racked my brain, suddenly uncertain about putting it in my bag the night before. Immediately, I sprang up from my desk in a panic and I decided to head back to the office library where I had last had it. They were a few people seated there when I got into the room and they all stared at me strangely while I searched frantically around but it was nowhere to be found. Confusion and panic set at the same time in my brain, that was the last thing I had of my father, the last thing he handed to me just before he was murdered and I couldn’t afford to lose it.

I had only set my eyes on Kyle just once throughout that day and he had winked at me, sending butterflies to my stomach but that moment I needed him, I needed to know if he had seen the necklace or better still if he had it with him. I checked his office and it was empty.

“Oh shit!” I muttered to myself as I took the elevator back down to run to the parking lot just in case he was just leaving but on getting there I froze at the sight before me. My heart thundered in my chest when I saw Kyle and Shawn staring at each other, not blinking and not saying a word either.

Oh Shit!