Chapter 10.

           I didn't know why I was here or why I had even bothered saying yes to going out, but here I was.

The lights shone brightly above me and even though adrenaline was pumping through my veins, I just couldn't keep the worry and the image of Aaron out of my mind.

I thought back to this afternoon, the time we spent together. I didn't ever want it to end but it had to. Why was it so hard to stay away from him when all I wanted was to get back beneath him?

I desired him so much it killed me.

"Are you okay?" Sarah asked me. Her bright eyes were solely on me and I panicked for a little while, thinking she knew exactly what I was thinking. If she did, I was done for and so was my career.

"I'm good." I nodded my head. She narrowed her eyes but pushed over a cocktail until it was before me on the table. She gave me that look, the look that told me to drink it or else.

I grabbed the glass and I downed the cocktail all in one. I hoped it would chill me out just enough to let me enjoy my night out. I was here, I might aswell enjoy it after all.

"Damn, Chloe." She whistled. "Anyone would think you were going through a mid life crisis."

Little did she know just how much my life was a crisis.

All I could do was smile.

The night went on and I downed too many cocktails. I was tipsy before I knew it and weirdly, I felt much better. The worry had vanished within and I was ready to finish the night properly.

Sarah was already on the dance floor and I decided to go and join her. I found her in the midsts of a busy crowd and took hold of her. Once she knew I was finally up and ready, she took a hold of me back and started to dance wildly. I laughed.

"Dance." She sounded bossy but I didn't mind at all. I needed a bossy friend to get me out of my shell.

I started to dance, I started to forget about everything and everyone as the music blasted around me. The music took a hold of me and I was grateful that it could.

I didn't pay any attention to Sarah but I could feel her body moving close to mine. The dance floor was alive with other bodies dancing to the music and I didn't pay them any attention either.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands grip my waist. I froze. I hadn't expected it.

My eyes flickered to Sarah and she was already looking my way. She wiggled her eyes suggestively and smirked.

I couldn't stop now, I had to keep going.

I continued to dance with the man stood behind me. It felt wrong, too wrong but I didn't want to worry about that.

I didn't want to think of God damned Aaron King.

It was easier said than done, but I tried, I tried with everything I had in me.

All I could think about was the way Aaron touched me, the way his hands felt against my skin. He paid attention to what I liked, he kept asking me if I was okay. He was so sweet, too sweet. I thought about the way he moved against my body, the way he made me feel. This man didn't make me feel that way, he couldn't.

I continued to dance against his body, though, because I felt I had to. I wasn't ever going to sleep with Aaron again, so to get over, what do you do? You get under.

I shook my head at the thought, could I ever really go through with that? I wasn't a one night stand girl, I had never ever done that before.

Well, until Aaron, but that was in the afternoon so a one night stand isn't the correct term, is it?

"Do you want a drink?" I heard his voice hit my ear and his breath too. I nodded my head before I could talk myself out of it.

He pulled me out of the crowd on the dance floor and pulled me to the bar. This time, I could see him. He had blonde hair, cut short against his head and a nice lean body. He was nice but he wasn't Aaron.

Dammit, I needed to stop with the whole Aaron thing.

"What you drinking?" He asked. He looked hopeful and all I could do was look at him.

"Vodka and lemonade?" It sounded like a question. Why was I awkward?

He chuckled but turned to the bar to order the drinks. I watched him as he conversed, he seemed nice enough.

Once the drinks were ordered, he turned to look at me again. He started to ask basic questions and I answered them confidently. He was an intent listener and I actually did feel comfortable and safe around him.

He gave me my drink once it was made and I thanked him profusely for the drink.

"You're cute." He smiled. All I could do was blush his way.

It kind of felt nice to be complimented. I didn't get it too often and it felt great. My ego was definitely being lifted from the ground.

He moved his body closer to mine. He looked to me, his glass pressing his lips, ready to take a drink. However, his eyes went wide and he leaned his head back with a groan.

"What's wrong?" I asked, toying with my own glass.

"I forgot to ask your name." He said sheepishly. I hadn't even noticed, weirdly.

"It's Chloe." I stated.

"Lovely." He replied. "I'm Lewis."

Lewis then went on to talk about his hometown, in the city. I found myself entertained by the way he talked, his passion. I hadn't realised so much time had passed.

His body was getting closer and closer to my own, until I could feel him beside me, his warmth radiating my own body.

"You really do look lovely." He stated as he looked me up and down. I wore a simple black dress and Sarah did my makeup. I did look good, better than usual.

"Thank you." I looked at his outfit. He wore a black pair of skinny jeans and a plain grey shirt. He looked good too.

Lewis continued to look at me, I didn't know where to look. It was unnerving but also quite nice. He seemed to like me.

Suddenly, Lewis started to move forward, his face inching forward to mine. I watched him move, my heart starting to beat. What was he doing? What was I doing?

I couldn't kiss this man. I couldn't kiss this man because the man I really wanted was in jail. I had had him earlier on in the day and this was just not right.

I couldn't pretend I wanted someone else. I couldn't push myself to do such a thing.

"I'm sorry." I said, before grabbing my things and rushing off in the opposite direction. I grabbed Sarah on the dance floor and pulled her to the exit of the club.

"What's up?" She asked, shocked at my movement. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, he's coming on to me." I said as soon as we were outside. "I don't want him." I felt stupid, I felt annoyed that I couldn't go through with it. My body just didn't want him.

"Who?" Sarah asked, her face a picture of confusion.

"Lewis- the man who I was dancing with." She nodded her head in knowledge. "I want to go home."

The alcohol had started to wear off and I wasn't feeling too great.

Sarah said she wanted to go home too. She was exhausted after dancing for hours and I didn't blame her. We both hailed a taxi and made our way home.

The taxi was full of silence and I reveled in it. I needed the silence to think. I knew it was bad for me but I just couldn't cope without strategising what I was going to do next.

I wanted to kick myself. Why couldn't I get on someone else? I knew I couldn't have Aaron anymore, never again. It was all just too dangerous, but why did that mean I couldn't get under somebody else?

Had that man really effected me that much?

Just as I had asked myself the question, the taxi stopped outside of my apartment. Sarah and I both got out as she was sleeping at mine. We both had work tomorrow and this was a stupid idea but that was just life.

As soon as we got indoors, we both stripped out of our clothes, our makeup and got straight in to bed.

Luckily, now, I was too tired to think.

||

I had woken up late. I rushed to put on my clothes and I felt horrible because I was too late to shower away the night before.

As soon as I was dressed, Sarah and I rushed to work, after our alarms had decided not to work.

God, what a morning already.

Once we got to work, we were given out daily orders.

"Don't forget to clean the cells." The sheriff said. My eyes widened.

"You can do that." I pointed to Sarah before she could tell me that was my job. Sarah shook her head.

"No, you're doing it." She pointed back. I groaned. "You have to, I can't, I've got weekly meeting this morning."

My shoulders slumped. I didn't want to see him, I didn't want to see him and be effected. I just wanted everything to be the way it was before.

"Fine." I huffed. I grabbed my utensils from the cupboard and made my way to the corridor of the cells I had to clean. Hopefully, as it was breakfast, he wouldn't be in his cell.

Once I got to his cell, I unlocked the door and opened it with caution. Inside, I couldn't see anyone. I sighed in relief and got to work.

I pulled the two beds back to check for contraband . I looked all around the cell. I then proceeded to clean the cell floors.

Just as I was doing that, however, the cell door swung open. I jumped and the mop almost tipped before me.

"Easy, Chloe." His voice made me stand still. Everything stopped and the hairs on my neck stood to attention.

Damn you, Aaron.

"I'll be out of your hair soon." It was all I could say. I couldn't even look at him, scared he'd persuade me to get in to bed with him again. Scared I'd just want to jump his bones.

Aaron didn't speak but I could feel his body getting closer and closer to my own.

"Don't." I said weakly. I couldn't handle it.

Aaron stopped as soon as my words were out.

"Did you go out last night?" Aaron's edging voice hit me. I turned to look at him, quickly. How the hell did he know? I started to panic. How did he know?

"What-"

"You smell of alcohol." Aaron looked to me, matter of factly. He was so observant. "You either got drunk at home or in a club."

"I went to a club with Sarah." I replied back honestly. Aaron didn't say a word but his eyes bored mine. I couldn't grasp the look on his face, he was so like a closed book.

"Tell me, did you get off with someone else?" He asked. His voice was starting to sound irritated, even though his face was blank.

"No." I said. I couldn't look him in the eye, I didn't know why. Do I tell him that I nearly did? That I wanted to but couldn't because of him?

"Are you sure?" Aaron stepped closer again. No, not here, not now.

"I didn't." I said. I looked in to his stormy eyes. "I mean, I nearly did, but I didn't."

"What do you mean nearly?" He asked, he seemed to be controlling himself. "Did you want him?"

"I wanted to want him but I couldn't. I didn't want him. He tried to kiss me and I couldn't do it." My words seemed rushed. I didn't know why I was so nervous to tell him.

Aaron didn't reply, he just looked at me.

"Say something." I demanded. His silence was something I hated. What was he thinking? I didn't know if he didn't tell me. I couldn't read him.

"I don't know what to say." His voice was low and quiet. "There's nothing I can say."

Suddenly, my body was against the brick wall behind me and Aaron had me pinned against it.

"Do you want to kiss me?" He breathed. "Tell me now, when I move closer do you want to run?"

I shook my head, my mouth agape. Any body could walk in and I would lose my job. This could hurt Aaron too.

"Aaron-"

"They want you but I want you fucking more." He growled. "I fucking hate this."

Soon, he moved away from my body and laid a hand to his head. He turned away from my body, as if he couldn't look at me.

"I've got to go." I said, panicked.

"Go." Was his only response. "Go before I lose my shit."

I left, I left quicker than I ever could.

Aaron was going to be the death of me.