Desired by All and He Threw Away 44

The room feels smaller this afternoon.Maybe its the way the blinds are half closed letting strips of late sunlight 

crawl across the floor. 

or maybe its because Aiden’s sitting on the massage table with his knee exposed and im kneeling in front of him close enough to feel the heat from his skin. 

the hum of the air conditioner fills the silence giving a low and steady sound that some how makes everything else feel louder even our breathing the rustle of my uniform and the quiet rhythm of my heartbeat pressing against my ribs. 

he doesnt say a word as i slip my hands beneath the ice pack. the cold burns my fingertips but i keep them steady pressing gently around the swollen joint. 

his skin is so warm and smooth in some places taut in others where the muscle tightens under my touch.Every small shift of his leg draws my focus every twitch every breath. 

i swallow hard and try to remind myself that this is routine. This is work. I have done this a hundred times before. 

so why does it suddenly feel like im trespassing? 

“you have been pushing it again, ” i murmur keeping my voice calm. “the swelling’s worse than it was last week.” 

Aiden’s eyes flicker down to me sharp and unreadable. “maybe” he says his tone low almost thoughtful. ” or maybe Ive just had other things on my mind.” 

i glance up surprised by the faint smile ghosting across his mouth. its the kind of smile that makes you question whether its meant to tease or test.the air between us is thickens and heavy with something that feels dangerously close to understanding. 

“other things,” i echo softly trying to keep my voice neutral. “Like what?” 

he doesnt answer right away.Instead he exhales slowly his eyes narrowing a little as if hes weighing what to say. “Strategy,” he finally says. “Its time we stop reacting and start planning.” 

his shift in tone pulls me back to focus. i nod once setting the ice pack aside and brushing condensation from my fingers.“Planning,” i repeat trying to sound as composed as he looks. “what kind of strategy are we talking 

about?” 

Aiden leans back slightly on the table the motion controlled but deliberate. His expression turns serious that familiar focus settling in. “we keep digging into Dylan’s past,” he says. “there is more there than hes let people 

see. 

if we can uncover what he is hiding like anything personal professional, whatever- then we can start weakening his influence before he has a chance to use it again.” 

i shift to sit on the small stool beside him listening carefully.his voice is calm but theres a quiet edge beneath it 

like steel beneath silk. 

1/3 

Chapter 44 

+25 Bonus 

— 

the fake 

“and in the meantime,” he continues “we use what we already have.People are still obsessed with us- relationship, the rumors and the drama.lets use it.Let them think we are closer than we are.Let them talk about that instead of the scandal.” 

he says it so casually but the words hit harder than i expect. 

Closer than we are. 

the phrase sits in my chest like a spark waiting for air. 

i nod slowly pretending to jot mental notes even though my thoughts keep slipping. “So we… lean into the image?” 

“Exactly.“his gaze drifts toward me again steady and unreadable. “We control the story.if they want a headline we give them one. Just not the one they expect.” 

i look down at his knee again mostly to avoid that look. “and youre sure that will work?” 

Aiden’s lips curve into a faint smile. “It already is.” 

i glance up before i can stop myself.he’s closer than before- just enough that i can see the way the light hits the flecks of gray in his eyes.my breath catches and suddenly the silence between us feels charged alive. 

for a second neither of us moves. Then he tilts his head slightly the corner of his mouth lifting. ” you are thinking too much again,” he says softly. 

“Im not,” i lie but my voice betrays me. 

His gaze lingers and something in it makes my pulse stumble. i should step back. i should say something professional something to cut through this fog of warmth and awareness. 

but my thoughts have scattered somewhere between his voice and the faint scent of mint oil hanging in the air. 

“Taylor,” he says his tone quieter now. “You are shaking.” 

i glance down realizing my fingers are trembling slightly where they rest near his leg. i pull them back quickly laughing under my breath to hide it. “Its just the temperature in here,” i say forcing a lightness i really dont feel. “its warm.” 

Aiden raises a brow amusement flickering in his eyes. “Is it?” 

the question hangs between us teasing and harmless on the surface but i can feel the weight behind it.He knows exactly what hes doing. 

i push myself to stand needing distance, “you should ice it again tonight,” i say briskly reaching for the file on the counter. “And stay off it as much as you can. The swelling wont disappear overnight.” 

He nods once but doesnt look away, “Youre blushing.” 

my head snaps toward him heat crawling up my neck. “Im not.” 

“Yes you are,” he says the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “why is your face so red?” 

“its-“i stop searching for an excuse that doesnt sound ridiculous.. “the air conditioning is probably broken 

2/3 

Chapter 44 

+25 Bonus 

again. 

>> 

“Hmm.“his tone is skeptical amused. “Right.” 

i turn back to the file pretending to write something down though the words blur uselessly on the page, my mind refuses to cooperate.All i can hear is the steady sound of his breathing slow and calm like hes in complete control of himself while Im struggling to find mine. 

the room feels even smaller now the air thicker somehow.My heart wont settle, i can still feel where my hands had touched his skin–blike the warmth hasnt left my palms. 

i take a quiet breath forcing myself to focus. “i will send you a message later about the follow up session,” i say, finally turning back to him. “We will keep up the recovery schedule and i will update you once i have looked over the scans again. 

oh i almost forgot tomorrow i will be coming to monitor you while your doing your warm up,” 

he studies me for a moment his expression unreadable then nods. “Alright.” 

the silence that follows isnt awkward- its something else.Something suspended between us fragile but charged. 

i move toward the door my hand brushing against the handle cool against my skin.For a moment i think about saying thank you- for defending me for standing up when no one else would- but the words stick.Gratitude feels too small for everything that is tangled between us now. 

Instead i just glance over my shoulder. 

Aiden’s still sitting there his posture relaxed but his eyes track me with quiet precision.he gives that same faint knowing smirk. 

(( 

no problem, your doing a good here Taylor dont let these good for nothings dim you light” he says. 

my throat tightens. “Thanks” 

And then i open the door.The hallway air rushes in cooler sharper and i step through it closing the door softly behind me. 

but even as i walk away i can still feel it- the warmth the tension the unspoken current that lingers like static against my skin.whatever this is between us its no longer something i can ignore.