Forbidden Temptation My Mafia Fiance's Alpha Father (Brooklyn and Aden)

Chapter 40 Brooklyn

I gasp, my eyes going wide, and then-instantly, like flipping a light switch-I come back to myself.

"Get away from me!" I shout, putting my hands up against his chest and shoving him. "You make me sick!" Aden doesn't react like I think he will.

His once furious, dangerous face now erupts in laughter. Like he's actually entertained.

Still, his body is solid against my attempts to shove him off me. As if he's making sure I know that when he does, it will be his choice.

Eventually, Aden takes a step back, letting me push past him and dash across the room.

I spin when I get to my desk, leaning back against it, my breath coming fast.

Aden stands calmly by the door, watching me, one eyebrow cocked upwards.

God, I hate him.

My lips curl back a little as I sneer at him, this horrible man, torturing me after-after what he did to those people in the basement-

"Oh, come on, Brooklyn," he purrs, putting his hands in his pockets. "You were the one who was so curious to see what was going on in the basement, even after I told you to leave. You should be brave enough to admit that you wanted to see it, that you liked it."

"I did not," I say, fighting the instinct to stomp my foot like a child. "I went down to get my phone-"I scramble at the pockets of my jeans, producing it as if it's evidence and tossing it on the desk. "I definitely didn't want to see anything that was going on in that room-"

"Brooklyn," he says, his voice light and tempting, almost sing-song. "I saw you. I saw you crouched down, peering into the room. You weren't just passing by. You stopped. You opened the door so that you could watch me."

I snap my mouth shut, staring at him.

He's right, of course. I was tempted. I did look. God, seriously, what was wrong with me back there?

He laughs softly again, at the expression of guilt on my face.

Slowly, he takes three steps towards me. "If you're going to be in my house, you'll follow my rules. Was I not clear about that before?"

Quickly, I nod. I've known since the moment I walked into this house that Aden's will is law. I watch him as he slowly takes two more steps in my direction.

"If you don't follow my rules," he says, coming ever closer, "you will be punished. Do you want me to punish you?"

I don't move-don't answer.

Yes, Lena growls. Yes we do.

I silence her.

A perverse part of me considers the question. Actually considers whether -

"No," I say quickly. "No. I'm sorry, Aden. I won't disobey you again."

Aden shakes his head in disappointment, a little closer now than he was a second ago.

Fear rises in me, but so does anger. Why is he still coming closer? I promised him I wouldn't do it again. What else does he want from me?

"It doesn't work that way," he says, prowling. "You broke the rules once. You just told me you did. Now, you have to take your medicine."

He's only feet from me now. I lean back against the desk, desperate for even a few more inches of space. Then, I see him smile, just a tiny thing at the corner of his mouth and realize

Screw him. He's enjoying this.

Something in me snaps. I stand up straight.

"Don't you come any closer to me," I hiss the words from between my teeth.

Aden continues to draw nearer, ignoring my warning.

He isn't just enjoying this. He loves it. Gets off on it. Likes pinning me back in the corner.

He's already gotten everything he needs-my apology, my promise that I won't do it again. And yet, he's pushing...

"Why shouldn't I?" Aden says softly, almost a whisper. "What are you going to do to me" his eyes flick over me as he says it, "-if I take one. More. Step?"

He's bearing down on me, his face again inches from mine.

"Are you going to run again?" he asks, so softly only I can hear. "Because you know I'll just catch you."

My heartbeat ratchets up as I look up at him, at his powerful face, the complete control in his eyes. "Unless you want to be caught."

I can't take my eyes off of his lips. His chiseled jawline, when he says it.

Then, I do the only thing I can think of.

I tilt my head back and scream.

Surprisingly, Aden flinches at this, taking a step back.

I stare at him as I run out of breath, my eyes wide, a pinch of joy lighting in me as I realize that I actually rattled him. Just a little.

Building on the effort, I throw my head back again, taking a deep breath, getting ready to let it all out when he grabs me-

"God dammit," he growls, slapping a hand across my mouth and pulling me to him so that my left shoulder is crunched against his chest. "What are you trying to do to me!?"