Chapter 32

Ashley.

I walked towards the elevator, I could feel the tension building in my chest. It felt like I came here and now I was leaving without the reason I was here.

My steps felt heavy,  I needed to talk to Aiden, to apologize properly for everything that had happened. I had rehearsed my words countless times in my head while I sat with Zoe but the man himself didn't want to talk to me.

Just as I reached the elevator, Aiden walked out of his office. My heart skipped a beat, he was walking towards me. My face brightened with hope that he was giving me a chance to talk to him.

“Aiden,” I called softly, hoping he would stop. “Can we talk?”

He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable, and then looked away. Without a word, he brushed past me, his shoulder barely grazing mine. The coldness of his dismissal cut deeper than any harsh words could have.

I swallowed hard, refusing to let the tears well up. I had to try again. I stepped into the elevator, my hand reaching for the 'close door' button when Aiden stepped in after me.

“Aiden, please,” I started, my voice trembling. “I just want to—”

Before I could finish, he pressed the button for 'stop' and then abruptly walked out as soon as the doors started to close. He decided to take the stairs instead.

The doors shut with a definitive thud, and the elevator began its descent. I stood there, staring at the metal doors, feeling the sting of rejection sear through me. The tears I had been holding back threatened to spill over, but I clenched my fists and fought to keep them at bay.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, I rushed out, my vision blurring as the tears finally broke free. I hurried to the parking lot which took a lot of time because I parked my car far away.

By the time I reached my car, I was barely holding it together.

I slid into the driver's seat and closed the door, the small space immediately welcoming me. That’s when I let go. The sobs came in waves, wracking my body as I clutched the steering wheel. The pain of Aiden’s dismissal was too much to bear.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered through my tears, though there was no one there to hear it. “I’m so sorry.”

Minutes passed, maybe hours—I wasn’t sure. My tears eventually slowed, leaving a hollow ache in their wake. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I couldn’t stay here forever. I needed to go home, to find some semblance of comfort in familiar surroundings.

Wiping my face with the back of my hand, I started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. The drive home was a blur.

When I finally parked in my driveway, I just sat there for a moment, the weight of the day pressing down on me. I took a few deep breaths before stepping out of the car, my legs feeling unsteady as I made my way to the front door.

I dropped my keys on the table and sank onto the couch, pulling a blanket around me. The tears started again, softer this time as I Iet it all out.

I thought of Aiden’s face, the cold detachment in his eyes, and the way he had brushed past me without a second thought. The pain of that moment was still fresh, and it was hard to think that the same person who was pleading with me to see him was the same person who treated me like I was invisible.

I checked the time and sighed when I realized Logan would soon be home, he would be suspicious if he found me crying for no reason.

I headed to the bathroom to freshen up and clean up so he wouldn't find it off.

The sound of the front door closing announced Logan's return. I glanced up from the kitchen table, where I had been staring blankly at my phone. He walked in, his smile brightening the room.

"Hey, what's for dinner?" he asked, dropping his keys on the counter.

I shrugged, trying to muster a smile. "I hadn't really thought about it."

Logan’s brow furrowed as he looked at me. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, hoping he wouldn’t press further.

He walked over and took a seat next to me, his eyes searching my face. "You sure about that?"

"Yeah, just a long day," I said, forcing a casual tone.

Logan didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he pulled out his phone and tapped a few buttons. "How about we order pizza? You can never go wrong with pizza."

I nodded, grateful that he was letting it go. "Pizza sounds good."

While we waited for the delivery, Logan suggested watching a movie. I agreed, though my mind was miles away. I couldn’t stop thinking about Aiden and the encounter earlier. It gnawed at me, the way he had brushed past me without a word. The pain was still raw.

We settled on the couch, the glow of the TV casting soft shadows in the room. Logan had chosen a comedy, something light to lift the mood, but I could barely focus on it. The pizza arrived, and we ate in relative silence, the movie providing a backdrop to my swirling thoughts.

Logan nudged me with his elbow. "Hey, you're really out of it tonight. Want to talk about it?"

I shook my head, chewing on a slice of pizza. "It's nothing, really."

He sighed but didn’t push further. We continued watching, though my mind kept drifting back to Aiden. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to know if Logan had spoken to him.

"Logan," I began hesitantly, "did you...did you talk to Aiden recently?"

He glanced at me, his brow furrowing again. "Why do you ask?"

I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's just that... he hasn’t bothered me in a while, and I was wondering if you did something."

Logan smiled to himself, a small, almost imperceptible grin. "No, I didn’t do anything. But I’m glad he’s leaving you alone."

I nodded, trying to process his words. Was he telling the truth? I decided not to press further, not wanting to arouse his suspicion.

"Yeah, me too," I said quietly, turning my attention back to the TV.

I should be happy he was leaving me alone, I should be fucking elated but why do I feel sour at that?

I shook my head, I wasn't normal at all. No normal person would be sad over their stalker finally quitting.

The movie played on, and despite my efforts to focus, my thoughts kept circling back to Aiden. Why had he suddenly stopped? What had changed? Logan’s calm assurance only added to my confusion.

As the credits rolled, I realized Logan had fallen asleep. His head was tilted back, mouth slightly open, his breathing deep and even. I watched him for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt for not being entirely honest with him.

Quietly, I got up and cleared away the pizza boxes, tossing them into the trash. I turned off the TV and made sure the living room was tidy before heading to the bedroom.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sleep eluded me, my mind replaying the events of the day over and over. Aiden's cold dismissal, Logan's seemingly nonchalant response... none of it made sense.

I turned on my side, trying to find a comfortable position.

Eventually, I gave up on trying to sleep and slipped out of bed. I made my way to the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water. The cool liquid did little to calm my restless mind.

I leaned against the counter, closing my eyes. The memory of Aiden’s indifferent gaze haunted me. What had I done to make him so distant? And why did Logan’s reassurance feel so hollow?

The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and relentless. I knew I wouldn’t find peace tonight. The silence of the house felt oppressive, something I have never found an issue with until today.

Everything was pissing me off, my inability to get him off my mind and then the guilt I was feeling too. I was thinking of another man while I already had one.

As I stood there, lost in thought, I realized that this uncertainty was something I had to confront. I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine when it clearly wasn’t. But how? And where did I even start?

I snapped out of it and walked towards a sleeping Logan to wake him up, I tapped him lightly and he woke up.

He took one look at me and shook his head, "I fell asleep, didn't I?"

I forced a smile, "every single time,"

"I am sorry, baby."

"Don't be," I kissed his cheek. Mostly to assure him that nothing was going on.

"Come on, let's go to bed,"

We walked towards the bedroom where Logan cuddled me, it didn't take long for his soft snores to fill the room and I was back where I was.

Wide-eyed and unable to sleep. I turned and turned yet nothing was walking. I don't know how long I kept doing that but I finally lulled into sleep.

Just like every other wet dream, mine started out with me in the sexiest lingerie I have ever worn. I was sitting on a sofa with a smile directed at the person I was looking out.

A man walked towards me and his fingers trailed up my lace bra, my breath caught in my throat. His hand gripped my throat suddenly and my eyes widened.

My eyes were closed so I couldn't see his face, he leaned down and bit the shell of my ear before moving to my throat where he licked it.

I moaned and dropped my head back to give him more access, his scent wrapped around my senses and I Inhaled him.

He lowered his lips to mine and started kissing me, it was gentle or imploring. He commanded the kiss with how possessive and hard he took my lips.

I gasped and he swallowed the sound before biting down on my lips, the metallic taste of blood filled my lips but it didn't stop him. He kissed me while his hands found their way to my ass before lifting me to my feet. He squeezed my ass, his erection digging into me.

I couldn't help myself as I rubbed against him, I opened my eyes and they widened when I saw none other than Aiden.

My treacherous body surged and my lips parted as I took him in. His hand went between my legs and parted my thighs for him.

Slowly guiding me towards the same sofa I vacated, he placed my leg there and knelt before me. I tensed in anticipation as he slid my lace to the side, his tongue licked me from clit to entrance eliciting a shudder from me. He dove in, attacking my pussy like a madman.

My hand dug into his hair and pulled him closer, riding his face and moaning loudly. He took it like a gentleman.

Adding a finger in me, he curved it just to hit that point before his tongue went back to working me into a frenzy.

"Oh God, yes." I moaned as I gripped his hair.

He groaned before letting go of me. He slid my panties down before placing it in his pocket as he spun me.

My chest hit the sofa as my ass remained high in the air, my leg was propped up on the arm of the sofa.

He gave no warning before he drove into me in one thrust. I screamed, my pussy felt full and stretched out.

I struggled to adjust to his size but he was just too big, his finger came back to my clit to butter me up and slowly he slid in all the way. I heard him groan.

His fingers dug into my hips as he withdrew all the way before slamming back in. My waist hit the sofa again and again as he kept to pounding into me.

My moans had turned to screaming as he took me roughly, his finger furiously rubbing my clit. I kept chanting his name as a chorus as a blinding light flashed across my vision as I came.

I jolted awake, my cheeks red with mortification at the kind of dream that was. It was intense and it felt so real.

My body was still high from that pleasure, I moved away from Logan when I looked down with a frown.

My thighs were wet and sticky, I reached down to touch it and it dawned on me that I had an orgasm in my dream.