chapter four

WE GET TO STAY

ARIA

Who the fuck was he? And how did he have such a huge dick at his command?

I wondered all these things in my head as I reached home. I realized that the lights were off so that meant my father was either out, or he was sleeping. There was no way to know for sure because he kept his car in the garage at night. Either way, I decided I was going to be careful. Think of it as sneaking into my own damn house at nine o'clock.

I punched in the password and I heard the main lock fall back. Then I turned the door knob and pushed my way into the house. Everywhere was dark.

I dismissed turning on the lights then brought out my phone and activated its flashlight. I raised my phone to light the way and there he was.

My dad.

Sitting on the couch with a cup of something in his hand. He squinted at the light and said, "Take that off my face."

I immediately hid my phone light behind me, my heart beating fast already.

"Turn the lights on."

I did. He dropped the cup he was holding and interlocked his fingers. "Where have you been, Aria"

I wondered what I should say. "I went out."

"I know you went out. I'm asking where, Aria."

"To.. To a party."

"To a party?" he asked, looking at me as if I had just lost my mind.

"I got invited, dad. And I didn't get drunk."

"You know what time is, and how long you've been out for?"

Yeah, I was aware that I had spent all day staying out. I didn't want to get back home so my dad could remind me that we had to leave the next day. The party didn't start early but what the hell was I doing sulking at home?

And that sexual experience in the restroom with Nico? That must have gone on for almost an hour. Just thinking about it gave me goosebumps.

"I asked you a question, Aria," my dad said, bringing my thoughts back to the present.

"Yeah, yeah, dad," I went to seat beside him. "I stayed out late and I'm sorry. I just lost track of time."

"You are my daughter, Aria. And I know you better than anyone. You didn't just lose track of time. That's something I've taught you to be very conscious about."

Spot on.

"So you were with a boy, weren't you?" he guessed.

I was with one hell of a man, dad. But I can't tell you about it and I definitely cannot tell you what I was doing with him. Because you would kill me if you knew.

"I was with friends, dad," I said to him.

He sighed. "We still have to leave tomorrow, you know right?"

I didn't want I hear any of that. I just wanted to sleep and dream peacefully. "I know, dad. Please don't remind me."

He took his cup and got to his feet. "See you in the morning then. Sweet dreams."

And I had them. Coupled with wet ones too. Nico Velden had come into my life and taken it with a wave of shock. He left me entirely breathless and wanting more of him.

I took out the card he had pushed right into my leather, making sure it stopped at my mound. He patted it and said, "Keep this card close to you, lovely one. So when next your pussy needs to be smashed to a pulp, you'll know who to call."

I kept the card in a drawer, and fell in my bed. I could not stop thinking about him.

***

The next morning, my dad woke me up. His knocking was incessant and I wondered why.

When I opened the door, he said, "Morning. I've got news. Freshen up and come downstairs."

"Now? Why?"

"Oh, you're going to like this one."

Fifteen minutes later, I was downstairs. He sat at the dining, papers on the table before him. I checked the coffee jug, found it quarter-filled, and poured myself a cup.

"You're the only teenager I know that likes coffee," he told me.

"I got that from my detective dad. What's with the wake up call?"

"It's about my transfer."

I said nothing. Just sat and waited for him to go on.

He held up a paper. "This was my transfer letter I got three days back. It specified that my new branch would be in West Virginia."

I said nothing still.

He held up another paper. "Now, this one? Came in this morning. I had to print it so I could be sure of what I was seeing."

"We get to go elsewhere?" I asked.

"Actually, we get to stay."

I studied his face to see if he was joking. As if he had read my mind, he said, "I'm not joking, Aria. You finally get your wish. We'll be staying in Stonehaven longer than expected. You get to keep your friends, and that boy you were with last night."

I grinned. So elated I was that I went to hug him. He chuckled and hugged me back.

"You do know this isn't any of my doing, right?" he said.

"I know. Did they give you any reason why you'll be staying?"

"Yeah, they actually did. Said there a case they want me to work on ASAP. I'll be at the Division by nine to meet the briefing. Something like this could be serious, Aria."

"Dad, I'm sure you'll handle it just fine."

That news actually made my day. In fact, I swallowed all my coffee just to chase sleep out of my fucking eyes for good. Then I called Emma and broke the news to her.

"Oh, that's good. So, how was the party last night? You literally disappeared on me for almost an hour, Ari."

Gosh, I couldn't tell her who had kept me for that long.

"I didn't want you to see me after what happened."

"You mean the part where your nipples turned on you?" she laughed. "Come on, Ari. Nico has that effect on ladies. So did he find you again?"

"No."

"No?"

"He didn't, Emma."

"Well, because I didn't see you and I didn't see him. So I figured..."

"He did not fuck me, Emma."

"Okay. So, we hanging out today?"

I looked at the card that was now sitting on my dresser. "Nah, Emma. I have somewhere else I need to be."