The Girl He Craves

Sophie’s pov

I’m a bit lost for words. A bit startled. A bit dumbfounded. I’m not sure what I should say. Or what I

should do.

I’m lost.

I’m confused.

But my heart leaped, twice, three times. I draw air into my lungs and continued to stare into his stormy

gaze.

Was he speaking the truth?

The hard veil that had concealed all his emotions behind was torn. Vulnerability.

He was vulnerable.

Which meant, those words were true.

I gasped. Finally, my mind was working back, my body, my reaction. Late reaction, but can you blame

me?

For a second there I thought he had frozen me completely.

“Wha-t?” Stammering words…..

He takes a step forward, eating up any bit of space that was left between us. My wet hands are fisted

by my sides and my eyes have not left his face not once.

I want to see every emotion that crosses over. I needed to see them.

Because if there is one little flicker of dishonesty and lies, I would be shattered. My heart would not be

the same.

His thumb, so hot on my skin brushed over my cheek softly. His head dipped a little so our eyes would

be leveled and he whispered. “I’ve loved you for years Sophie Bell. Even as teenagers. I’ve loved you

since I first set my eyes on you.”

His words had me pulling in a shaky breath. My tongue is tied, but my heart beats like a drum in my

chest by his confession.

My brain is foggy though, I’m finding it difficult to hold air into my lungs. My knees are also weak, and I

fear I might topple to them soon if I don’t get a hold of my emotions.

Aiden’s eyes bored into my own, searching for anything.’ Please say something,” He whispered.

My breath hitches and then as I stared into his unwavering eyes, words finally formed on my tongue.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I asked in soft tone that was undoubtedly filled with curiosity and

doubt.

If he loved me this long, why did he wait now to tell me so? Why did he bully me in high school if he

loved me?

This wasn’t making any sense.

Aiden thumb brushed my jaw bone and he uttered. “Because I can’t keep it to myself anymore. They

told me to go slow with you Sophie, but every time I’m in your presence I can’t think properly and I fall

even harder. It’s impossible to breathe when you’re near. It’s impossible to think properly.”

His eyes are soft. Softer than they’ve ever been while staring

at me.

My heartbeat spikes in my chest and my stomach fluttered with tiny butterflies.

“Then why did you bully me all those years ago?” I asked, my eyes fogging.

If he had confessed this long ago, maybe then we wouldn’t have gone through so much. Maybe we

could’ve been together long before what happened. Maybe then…that tragedy wouldn’t have happened

in the first place.

I am a bit angry that he made me go through all this instead of confessing. Yet his confession had me

melting and my heartbeat rapid.

I didn’t know which emotion to latch on to.

Aiden sighs his gaze dimming with regret. “Because I loved you then but wanted to hate you. I was

angry at you. Those words you said to Mila that day…..it haunted me. I didn’t know they held so much

weight, but they did. And they turned me into a monster I’m not proud of, but want to get rid of.”

“Soph, those high school years weren’t the best and I wasn’t my best then. I was someone you

should’ve hated, hell loathed. I was a fucking bully. You had every right to hate me and keep hating me.

Those things I said to you and did were things I regret with my entire being. But there were times where

I thought I could change. Like the times with you.” His thumb brushing my cheeks tenderly.

“When we kissed, when I got to be with you, when we

conceived Ashton. Those days were the best. And sure

tragedy happened soon after, but I realize that was the karma I got for all those times bullying you and I

fully accepted that.” He stared into my eyes,

“I no longer hold resentment for what happened. I no longer blame you or myself for what happened. I

realized life is too short to hold such an emotion. I’ve wasted enough time as it is, I don’t want to waste

any longer. Which is why I’m confessing to you what I’ve failed to have courage to do years ago. I love

you Sophie,” He sighs shakily and continues.

“When I saw you that first time at Harrington.co, I had so many emotions running through me at once.

Resentment, longing, love….I hadn’t known which emotion to latch onto then. Sure I had planned for

revenge but I was stupid to think that I could go on with it when all I wanted was for you to love me.

Being with you were one of my dreams for years. I’m not going to waste any more time. I want you as

my woman Sophie. I’m not hiding my feelings any longer,” He breathed out and grabbed my hand.

My heart is beating so rapidly in my chest when he puts my opened palm on his chest where I could

feel his heartbeat as fast as mine. Perhaps even quicker.

Aiden eyes bored into mine, showing warmth and longing. The emotions had my breath hitching.

“I can no longer hide those feelings Sophie. I can no longer pretend that I have not loved you for years.

I’m tired of hiding, I’m tired of wasting time. I love you and I want to be with you. And it’s fine if you don’t

feel the same way…” He smiles shakily.

“I’ll make it my mission to make you fall in love with me too.

No matter how long it will take, you’ll always be worth it for me mama bear.”

Those tears that misted my eyes began to trickle down my cheeks. Aiden’s eyes shifted uneasily and

he began to panic.

“What’s wrong? Did I say something-

I shook my head and stood on my tip toes. I loop my arms around his neck and force him to bend

down.

His eyes are so warm, it makes my inside feel like goo.

“Aiden,” I whispered and seeing as words could not tell him how much his words meant to me, I

showed him. I pulled him all the way down and connected our lips.

He pull me against him, his hand on my waist gripping me almost possessively.

“What took you so long?” I whispered on his lips.