Chapter 42 Pleasantly Distracted

Chapter 42 Pleasantly Distracted
Aellorah

My professor droned on, flicking through the slides projected on the screen, but I wasn’t paying attention. All day, I struggled to focus, anxiously waiting for my mother to text me. As I listened halfheartedly to the lecture, I noticed Killian leaning against the wall by the door, arms crossed.

Damn, Max had been serious about having someone with me at all times. I frowned as I contemplated what that meant: that Max had probably walked to class alone.

While it was reassuring to know someone was there when Max couldn’t be, it also made me worry about everyone’s safety. What if something happened to one of them—or all of them—because of me?

At the end of class, Max was waiting for us outside the hall. His piercing green eyes scanned the area, his tall frame exuding a calm, yet intense, vigilance. His features softened when I emerged with Killian at my side.

“There you are, Blackwood. Glad I didn’t have to send out a search party.” Max’s statement was only half joking, unease lingering in his gaze. Concern pricked at the edges of my consciousness, and I instinctively glanced around, ensuring we weren’t being watched. “You look a little distracted, baby,” he observed, tilting his head as he studied my face. “Everything okay?” His tone was light, but the tension in the air told me that we were all on edge.

“Uh, yeah,” I assured him, still staring down the corridor. There were more eyes on us than usual, perhaps because of the Instagram post, and it only added to my anxiousness.

“Hey, let’s ditch this scene for a bit, yeah?” Max suggested. “I could use some fresh air. Let’s skip your last class. We can go to the clinic afterward.”

“The clinic?” Killian asked, eyebrows rising.

“That is none of your business,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest, daring him to say another word. His lips sealed closed in a tight line, but his eyes continued to ask a hundred questions.

“I can’t focus today, anyway,” I agreed, turning to Max. “Do you want to go to Lakeside Park? We can buy a bag of seeds and feed the ducks?”

Max

The suggestion made my chest pinch, reminding me of just how sweet and innocent Aellorah was, even after all that she’d been through. A peaceful outing amidst nature’s serenity sounded far more appealing than attending class. I smiled at her. “That sounds perfect. The boys will shadow us, so we’ve all got each other’s backs.” I pulled her close, trying to be her calm before the storm we both knew was brewing.

“Fresh air, waterfowl, and quality time with the woman I adore—what more could a guy ask for?” I kissed her forehead, lips lingering against her soft skin.

The park was only a few blocks from campus, so I resolved to walk. Fresh air and sunlight would do us all good. The breeze was crisp, but the sun cast a glow of warmth over us as we walked hand-in-hand down the sidewalk. “I’ll go grab some birdseed,” I offered, gesturing toward the shopping center ahead of us. “Meet you by the duck pond?” Aellorah nodded, casting an anxious look at me. “Don’t worry, Hayden will come with me,” I assured her, watching her body sag with relief.

As Hayden and I crossed the parking lot, I glanced back at Aellorah. Killian and Jax were strolling beside her, maintaining their vigil and ensuring her safety. For some, the sight of their fiancée nestled between two men might cause a pang of jealousy, but all I felt was reassurance. My friends weren’t like other guys I knew; their loyalty was absolute. I trusted them with my life—and with Aellorah’s.

The weight of responsibility that rested on me eased with knowing I had such a loyal team of friends backing me up.

“You okay with all of this?” Hayden asked as we walked through the aisles of the pet store.

“Man, none of this is okay,” I replied stiffly. “But I have to be. I love her…”

“I know.” He paused and leaned against one of the shelves. “I’ve known you since we were twelve, and I’ve never seen you like this over a girl.” He smiled at me in understanding.

“She’s the one, Hayden. Fucked up as her past and family are…”

“I know,” he repeated. “It’s not just you. I see the way Aellorah looks at you—you’re her whole world.”

“Got it!” I grinned as I spotted a bag of bird feed on the bottom shelf. Snatching up the bag, I made my way toward the register. “Anyway, her mom has agreed to help us, so… With any luck, Aellorah’s family will wind up behind bars, and then she’ll be free.”

“Free to be disappointed by you for the rest of her life,” Hayden added, snorting with laughter as I punched him across the shoulder.

As we strode across the grass and into the park, I caught sight of Aellorah sitting beside the water. Jax and Killian were reclining on the grass a few paces behind her, allowing her space. I couldn’t help but admire the delicate beauty she embodied.

“Ready to unwind, Princess?” I asked, sinking onto the grass. She smiled up at me, smoky eyes glowing as she held out her hand expectantly. I passed her the ba,g and she leaned against me, using her teeth to tear through the plastic.

Aellorah plunged her hand into the bag and tossed out a handful of seeds along the shoreline. The ducks responded immediately, flocking to the edge of the water with eagerness.

As she leaned against me, the warmth of her body seeped into my skin, soothing the residual stress that had been weighing on me. I watched intently as the ducks swarmed around us, their quacks filling the air as they competed for the scattered seeds.

“Looks like we’ve got quite the audience, huh?” I mused, wrapping an arm around Aellorah’s shoulder and pulling her closer. “They seem pretty excited about our little snack fest.” She sighed in happy agreement.

We both reached for the bag in unison, our fingers brushing, sending a spark of electricity through me. My heart rate quickened, and my desire grew as we stared at one another.

The idyllic setting, the happiness in her eyes; Aellorah’s proximity, her scent, the softness of her body pressed to close—it was a potent combination that had my dick twitching in my jeans. I swallowed hard, trying to maintain control as I fought the urge to pull her into my lap and lose myself in her sweetness.