Free Crossing the Line by Annabelle Eaton

only spoken
to a few people, so this evening isn’t that hideous. It also helps that the
good-looking bartender is plying me with drinks and making me laugh. The only
problem with a drink appearing as soon as you take your last sip is the need to
wee every five seconds.
    If I’m lucky, I can make it to the toilet
and back by the time Mr Cocktail finishes my Mojito. Yes, I’ve moved on. Mixing
alcohol is the only way I’m getting through this one. I flush with
embarrassment every time Isabel is introduced to yet another eligible bachelor.
    I turn to walk towards the bathroom and
slam into someone, spilling their drink. My eyes widen. Shit. I hear my Mum
gasp from somewhere in the room and know it’s only a matter of time before she
appears. Biting my lip, I slowly look up, and my eyes widen further as I see
Aden smirking down at me. He’s here.
    “Aden, I’m so sorry,” Mum says
apologetically, scowling at me out of the corner of her eye.
    “It’s fine, Elizabeth, no harm done,” he
replies smoothly.
    “I’ll get someone to clean that up. I can
have your jacket cleaned up-”
    Aden shakes his head. “Honestly, that won’t
be necessary. There’s only a drop.” I can see he’s trying not to laugh and
avoiding eye contact with me. I want to hit him.
    Mum makes her exit to find someone to mop
up the three drops that had spilt on the floor. I wince as he finally looks at
me again. “I really am sorry,” I say, laughing quietly.
    He laughs too and shrugs. “I expect nothing
less, Millie.” His voice is low and seductive. Just the way he says my name
makes my knees go weak. I lick my lips as my body heats up.
    “How come you’re here?”
    “Got bored and knew this would cheer me
up.” He means I would cheer him up by doing something stupid. I hate him. “Do
you want to get a drink?”
    I want to be mad at him, but he’s saving me
from a slow and painful death, so I let it go. “Definitely. I just need the
bathroom first.” I nod to the bar. “Mine is the seat on the right.” He laughs,
nodding his head and making his way to the bar.
    Once I’ve been to the toilet and reapplied
a layer of lip-gloss, I make my way back to find Aden and hopefully get drunk
with him. “What are you two so happy about?” I ask Mum and Harriet as I pass
them in the corridor outside the bathroom, smiling like idiots.
    “We’ve found a lovely man for Isabel, and
they seem to be getting along well,” Mum says proudly, pointing to something in
the corner of the room. My heart stops. Isabel is sitting in my seat talking to
my Aden. Panic courses through my veins. No, this is not right. Aden is the man
they’ve ‘found’ for my sister.
    What the hell am I going to do if he likes
her too? Does he even want someone like Isabel? Is that why he’s happy to keep
things between us casual? I think I’m going to be sick. Is Isabel going to be
the one digging her nails into his sexy muscular back now? Oh God, what if they
get married and have kids?
    “Millie?” I shake my head and look up at
Aden. When did he get here? My eyes flick to where he was standing with Isabel.
She is there with Mum and Harriet now. Had I mentally checked out for a while
there? “Are you okay?”
    No. “I’m fine. I think you’re the chosen
one,” I say, laughing awkwardly as I continue to panic.
    He rolls his eyes. “Ah, one of those parties
then. Don’t you get one?”
    “No way,” I reply, scrunching my nose up.
It doesn’t pass me that he hasn’t actually said anything about being ‘the one’
and it isn’t helping with the almost hyperventilating thing.
    “So,” he whispers, stepping closer to me
with a wicked glint in his eye. “Wanna give me the tour?” I can’t help but smile.
Oh hell yes I do!
    We slip away upstairs, almost running we’re
so eager. I lock my bedroom door behind us, and he grabs me, slamming his lips
down on mine as he pushes me back to my bed.

 
    Chapter Six

 
 
    Aden unzips my dress and yanks it