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He ducked his head near my ear, his voice raw and husky as he spoke.

"Let me show you that I care."

****************

"What?" I breathed; my mouth agape. Aaron moved closer; his lips a fraction away from mine. I ignored the urge to close the gap, choosing rather to concentrate on the words coming out of his mouth.

"Let me take care of you, Lexi." He spoke in a tantalisingly slow manner, stroking my jawbone with his index finger.

Speechless, that's what I was. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. So, I did the only thing I could do.

I nodded.

I woke up, feeling the heat of the sun hit my face. Shielding my face, I sat up slowly and drank water from a glass by the bedside.

I looked up at the sky- it must have been around noon. I rubbed my eyes as I surveyed the small guest room.

"Aaron, where are you taking me?" I muttered feeling all too aware as he stood behind me.

"Upstairs." He breathed, kissing my hair. I breathed loudly, trying to control myself. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, he immediately went to open a door and- before I knew it- Aaron's lips were back on mine.

I looked at the clock. I was right- it was just past noon. I tugged a hand through my rough hair, grimacing at the 'birds-nest' feel to it. I seriously needed a shower right now. Turning to my left, I gasped when I saw Aaron sleeping. I had forgotten he was there.

The blanket stopped at his waist- his toned back on display as he was sleeping on his stomach. He looked effortlessly beautiful- his hair dark and tousled; his eyelashes unnaturally long and a content smile on his face.

"Why are you smiling at me like that?" I asked Aaron in a breathless whisper.

Aaron lay his forehead against mine, a beautiful smile across his face. He stroked a finger down my cheek.

"Because you're gorgeous."

I blushed underneath him, turning my face away from his gaze. The butterflies in my stomach had felt like they'd intensified, feeling more like a herd of elephants were using my stomach as their personal trampoline.

I heard Aaron laugh.

"You're cute when you blush." He teased; his hand made patterns on my waist as he spoke.

"Shut up." I muttered defensively, fanning my cheeks to calm them down. Sometimes, I hated how easily I blushed.

Aaron's laugh pierced the room yet again. He turned my face, so I was facing him and drew in closer.

"Make me." He dared with a dark eyebrow raised. I raised an eyebrow in response, accepting his challenge as I pulled his face to mine and kissed him.

I mean, a challenge is a challenge right?

Grabbing my phone off the table, I cursed when I saw all the messages from both Mom and Dad. I mean, I had promised to be home earlier. I typed in a response to both of them, explaining how I was fine and how me and my friend had accidentally dozed off whilst completing a project. Feeling content with that, I began to get up and make my way to the bathroom.

Aaron ducked his head and began kissing the crook of my neck. His hands found mine and he held them, placing them onto his back, inside his shirt. I gasped, feeling shy at the intimate skin contact. Hesitantly, I stroked his back and looked down at his back when my fingers felt something unusual. A cut, of probably 4/5 inches, lay visible on his smooth skin. I stroked along his skin, feeling the cut. Aaron hissed at the contact.

"How'd it happen?" I muttered quietly.

Aaron continued his ministrations on my neck.

"A fight. Guy had a knife." He said simply, tugging his hands through my hair.

I grunted, but my obsession of safety overpowered my heart.

"That's dangerous. You shouldn't be doing that." I reprimanded him, trying to get him off me.

Aaron hummed against my neck in response.

"Okay." He said, biting down on my neck and, with that, any means to move him away were forgotten.

I treaded lightly, making sure to keep the noise to a minimum. I clenched my eyes shut, feeling slightly lightheaded. It was probably from the lack of sleep I had in the night. Sighing, I walked around, looking for my shoes to wear.

"How are you so beautiful?" Aaron muttered and my innate urges made me want to cower away. My paranoia and insecurities made it difficult to believe him. But, not this time.

I wouldn't let the insecurities take over again. More than anything or anyone, my insecurities had stopped me from having a better time. Using my illness as a scapegoat, I had thrown away all the things that meant the most to me, letting my insecurities take the reign. Things like swimming, friends, beauty and now Aaron were things I had chosen to ignore. Well, not anymore.

"Lexi?" I felt Aaron's hand on my shoulder. Clearing my thoughts, I turned to see Aaron looking at me in concern. Mustering my courage, I pulled him by his collars to sit on the edge of the bed and settled my self in his lap.

Aaron's look of concern was quick to change to one that was more foreign than familiar- lust. With a lustful gaze, his dark eyes roamed my face. I withdrew my hands away from me and entwined them around his neck, allowing the insecurities to fade with every lustful stare.

Aaron's gaze returned to my eyes and his face loomed over me- his lips dangerously close to mine.

"I know I've said it before, but you're beautiful." Aaron muttered, his voice a mixture of lust and awe. I blushed.

"You make me feel beautiful." I blurted out, but- honestly- it was the absolute truth. Whenever I was around Aaron, I felt different.

Aaron smiled, before kissing me feverishly, his slender hands grabbed each side of my waist, pulling me more into him and I wrapped my arms around his neck, playing with his chain.

Putting my hair up in a bun, I washed my face. I looked in the mirror and smiled at myself. I felt more confident.

"Mhmm." Aaron hummed in his sleep, making my smile disappear because that was when all the memories came flooding in.

Aaron returned to my lips, placing one hand on my cheek whilst his other hand slid down the length of my body and squeezed my waist. In response, I tugged his hair hard.

"Avalon." Aaron moaned into my neck and that's the moment when I pulled away.

Thinking back at the memory, I felt so stupid. I was willing to lose one thing, I was so reluctant to keep, to a boy who's heart belonged to another. I washed my face again, feeling dirty. Tears stung at my eyes as I watched Aaron sleep with a smile on his face.

After that incident, I had made the excuse that I needed to use the bathroom and, after a few more kisses, Aaron had let me go. He smiled, saying he'd wait for me and I responded with a half-hearted smile.

Yet, I wasn't going to let his wait be satisfied. I stayed in the bathroom for 1 maybe 2 hours in despair until I was sure he was asleep.

When I came out the bathroom, Aaron was sound asleep just like I had hoped. I lay in the bed beside him, making sure to keep a safe distance and- after an achingly long while- I fell asleep myself.

Tears stung at my eyes yet again. Every touch and every stare meant nothing to him. I was an idiot to believe he would be calling me beautiful; he would stare at me like that. I was an idiot.

An idiot to be falling for the playboy.

******************

It was a cold day as I walked on the street towards my house. The wind blew so hard, it could be heard. I covered my ears which were on the verge of receiving frost-bite from the harsh cold. I had left him there and left without even so much as a message.

I thought back to last night, feeling embarrassed yet again. How could I expose myself like that to him?

'You make me feel beautiful.'

I cursed at myself for saying that to him. What would he think of me now? It was bad enough that he had seen me exposed in a physical way, but allowing him entrance into my thoughts and emotions made me feel more vulnerable than ever.

"Alex!" A voice called from the distance, interrupting my thoughts. I turned to see Elliot jogging towards me- a big smile on his face.

"Hey." I greeted as Elliot reached me, but I was in no mood for company. I made sure not to blink too much, in fear that the tears would escape. Elliot's smile widened at my greeting.

"Hey!" He greeted back, pulling me in for a hug. I hugged him back tightly. I needed a hug right now. I inhaled his smell- coffee beans. Elliot pulled back after a while, digging a hand through his chestnut brown hair.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned him, trying to make conversation. Elliot gestured towards the park across the street.

"I took my little brother there to play since mom was out at work. I was just helping him on the slide when I saw you across the street, so I thought I'd pay you a visit." He said, shrugging his shoulders. I smiled at this. He didn't have to talk to me, but he wanted to. He didn't have any ulterior motive behind it like some people.

I stroked his arm.

"Thanks, Eli. You're really sweet. If only all guys were sweet like you." I edged out, giving away more than I should have. Elliot didn't pay heed to this and just laughed slightly.

"If I'm so sweet then why am I still single?" He poised jokingly and I shook my head at his words.

"Any girl will be lucky to have a boyfriend like you." I said, the pain inflicted by Aaron still engrained into my mind.

Elliot smiled teasingly, making dimples form in his cheeks.

"That's nice of you to say, but I haven't had many girlfriends. I've only had one and I caught her sleeping with another guy." Elliot frowned slightly at the end, making me move forward slightly.

I held his hand as a form of comfort, pulling him closer.

"Well, that was a stupid move on her part because you're absolutely amazing."

Elliot looked at me- a small smile on his face.

"You mean that?" He questioned. I nodded vigorously because I did. He was amazing and I admired how caring he was.

Elliot looked down at the ground for the umpteenth time since I've known him.

"Your boyfriend is a lucky guy." He ground out, an indecipherable tone to his voice.

My thoughts returned back to Aaron. The feel of his lips; the look in his eyes.

'"Avalon." Aaron moaned into my neck.'

I shook my head.

"He's not my boyfriend." I ground out darkly before I could even control it.

Elliot raised an eyebrow yet there a curious glint in his eyes.

"What about the guy who dropped you inside the classroom. You both looked pretty cosy." He challenged, folding his arms.

I laughed almost bitterly.

"That was nothing. Trust me." I told him and I knew I was telling the truth- it was nothing.

Nothing at all.

Elliot stayed silent for a moment as he assessed the truth in my words. He then smiled, a glimmer of relief in his eyes.

"Good because I had been meaning to do something for a very long time." He whispered and- with that- he was leaning in. With hesitation, I moved in slightly yet there was doubt on my mind. Should I be doing this?

'"Avalon." Aaron moaned into my neck.'

I pulled Elliot's neck in, closing the gap between us and our lips met sweetly.

I wouldn't fall for the playboy. Ever.

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