Desired by All and He Threw Away 76

The bell above the cafe door jingles as i step into the afternoon light. sunlight spills across the sidewalk golden and soft brushing against my skin like warmth i dont deserve. 

the street smells faintly of roasted coffee and exhaust city sounds pulsing around me horns chatter. a bus groaning somewhere down the block.im to hail a taxi when hear it. 

“Taylor?” 

that voice stops me cold. 

its warm and familiar threaded with the easy charm that once heard before over lunch.for a second i think ive imagined it.but when i turn hes there- Liam. 

he stands a few feet away hands shoved into his pockets a hesitant grin tugging at his mouth.his hair’s longer now darker at the edges and the sunlight catches the roughness of stubble along his jaw. 

he looks older sharper but his eyes those soft amber–flecked eyes- are exactly as i remember them. 

“didnt expect to see you here,” he says walking closer. “youstill take your coffee with too much sugar?” 

a surprised laugh escapes before i can stop it. “You remember that?” 

“how could i forget?” he says smiling. 

the sound of his voice sends a strange ache through me. nostalgia maybe. Or regret.the space between us fills with something unspoken a ghost of what could have been. 

he tilts his head toward the cafe. “Come on. My treat. Just coffee.” 

Just coffee.i tell myself its harmless. A cup, a conversation. Nothing more. 

inside the café hums with quiet life.the hiss of steaming milk the murmur of soft conversations the rhythmic clink of spoons against porcelain.the air is warm and heavy with the scent of cinnamon and roasted beans. 

we find a table by the window sunlight spilling across the wood like a pale river. 

“so” he says leaning back fingers curled around his mug. “what have you been up to? Last I heard, you were working for… someone famous?” 

I smile faintly. “Something like that. It’s complicated.” 

“When is it not?” he says with a dry laugh. ” you seem like someone who love complicated things.” 

i shake my head grinning despite myself.” thats not true.” 

“Sure it is. From the times we use to spoke online I knew You never liked simple things. You wanted things that challenged you.” he looks down swirling the coffee in his cup. ” you challenged me too you know.” 

theres weight in his tone something that makes my chest tighten.i dont know what to say so i take a sip instead.the coffee’s bitter too hot but i barely taste it. 

(( 

you look good Taylor,” Liam says after a pause his voice softer now. “Really good.” 

“thanks,” i manage though my throat feels thick. 

for a moment its almost easy like stepping into an old photograph.the kind that makes you forget time passed at all.but then the air shifts.something prickles at the edge of my awareness a feeling before i even look. 

Chapter 26 

+25 Bonus 

i glance toward the window and freeze. 

Aiden. 

he stands on the other side of the glass gaze locked on me.fils expression is unreadable perfectly calm on the surface but i know that look too well, there is tension there buried and dangerous like a tide just before it breaks. 

my pulse stutters. 

he doesnt move right away.the world narrows to the reflection of his eyes on mine–cold glass separating us yet somehow it feels like hes right here inside my head.then slowly and deliberately he pushes open the door. 

the cafe goes quiet. 

“Taylor,” he says his voice smooth, controlled. ” i didnt expect to find you here.” 

Liam straightens surprise flickering across his face. “hey man-” 

Aiden’s eyes never leave mine. ” we have somewhere to be,” he says evenly.the words arent loud but they carry a weight that leaves no space for argument.Liam glances between us confusion tightening his jaw. ” i didnt realize you were – ” 

i cut him off forcing a smile that feels too small. ” i should go it was good seeing you again Liam“he nods slowly but his eyes linger searching mine for something i cant give him. 

Aiden’s hand slides to the small of my back light but firm.the touch sends a shock through me- possessive deliberate unmistakable.i follow him out every step too aware of the people watching of Liam’s silence behind me. 

outside the air feels colder.the sunlight’s harsher now sharp against my skin. 

Aiden doesnt speak until we reach the car.the door slams cutting off the world outside.the silence is heavy pressing only broken by the faint ticking of the cooling engine. 

his hands grip the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles have turned white. 

finally he speaks. ” you need to be more careful about who youre seen with.” his tone is low clipped each word precise and deliberate. 

i turn to the window watching the sunlight ripple across passing cars. ” no one knows about us,” i say quietly.” why does it matter?” 

“because it does.” 

the words are sharp enough to draw blood. 

i turn to him anger flaring. “you dont get to tell me who i can talk to Aiden.” 

his gaze shifts to me then- steady unblinking dark. ” i dont?” 

something in the way he says it steals the air from my lungs.he leans in slightly and the air inside the car changes.the space between us grows charged electric. 

he moves slowly the kind of slow that feels like a challenge can smell the faint trace of his cologne- something clean and dark cedar and smoke–timage of my hand between my legs last night while thinking about him start to replay in my head and it sends heat crawling up my neck his breath ghosts against my cheek close enough to feel but not quite touching. 

“remember the terms of our agreement,” he murmurs voice like velvet stretched over steel. 

the words slide through me part warning part promise. 

Chapter 79 

+25 Bonus 

my pulse skips.every inch of distance disappears until the world is reduced to the sound of our breathing the tension coiling tight enough to snap.the air tastes metallic charged.his nearness is a kind of gravity i cant fight pulling me toward the edge of something reckless and familiar. 

i hate that he has this effect on me- that one look one word can unravel everything i have built to keep myself steady. 

he searches my face eyes flicking over my mouth my throat back to my eyes. i cant read him. I never can. 

“Aiden…” my voice comes out softer than i intend. 

but before i can finish his phone rings. 

the sharp sound slices through the tension like glass shattering. 

he exhales frustrated and pulls back. The loss of heat is instant, jarring. he stares at the screen jaw tightening. 

“What?” his tone shifts colder all business now. A pause. “When?” 

something in his expression changes as he listens- his composure faltering eyes darkening the muscle in his jaw ticking once. 

he ends the call and stares ahead knuckles flexing around the phone. 

“What happened?” I ask quietly. 

he doesnt look at me. ” somethings wrong.” 

the words hang between us heavy and uncertain.the quiet hum of the city seeps through the windshield the sunlight dimming as clouds roll over the sky. 

and just like that the collision of our worlds takes another turn. 

D 

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