Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Noah

The first vibration came quietly, almost like a subtle warning—just enough to make my spine tense up. My hand trembled slightly, causing the champagne flute I was holding to quiver. Lexie chuckled nearby, thinking I was reacting to a joke she’d just told.

I drew in a shaky breath and forced a smile. Okay, I told myself. I can handle this. Just breathe.

But when I dared to glance across the room, Aiden’s gaze was already fixed on me. His eyes were narrowed, sharp and calculating. Slowly, he lifted a finger to his lips, signaling silence—shh. And just like that, the buzzing stopped. Relief flooded through me so intensely I almost sagged against the wall.

Then, without warning, he did it again. This time the pulses were stronger, faster, making my thighs twitch involuntarily and my knees weaken beneath me. I bit back a curse, lips twitching into a laugh I didn’t really mean. Lexie instinctively moved closer, slipping her arm through mine, and as if on cue, the vibrations intensified.

“You son of a—” I thought, jaw aching from the forced grin. My chest burned with the effort it took to act normal.

I risked another look. Aiden hadn’t even turned his head; he was still chatting casually with William and two other men in suits. But from the corner of his eye, he was watching me, and that smirk—oh, that wicked, private smirk—made my skin crawl.

Lexie leaned into me, warm and soft against my side, just as the plug pulsed harder, steady and relentless. My body went stiff, nearly spilling champagne down the front of my shirt.

She looked up at me with a sweet smile that felt like a knife slicing through me. “Noah, are you okay? You look a little flushed.”

“Uh—I’m fine,” I stammered, my voice cracking like a teenager’s. Sweat prickled beneath my collar, and my skin felt like it was on fire. I tried to take another casual sip of champagne, hoping to mask my discomfort, but then came a long, merciless surge. The glass shook violently, bubbles spilling over the rim.

My vision blurred for a moment. I laughed too loudly, heat spreading up my neck, my body jerking as if I’d stepped on a live wire.

Lexie cocked her head, concern flickering in her eyes. “You sure?”

“I just—excuse me, I need to use the bathroom,” I blurted, setting the glass down hurriedly before it could slip from my grasp. I dashed toward the hallway, heart pounding wildly, desperate to escape before I humiliated myself any further.

I took a moment to breathe, counting the seconds, willing my hands to stop trembling. Maybe I could walk back in, paste on that fake smile again, and pretend none of this had happened. Maybe Aiden would have mercy and keep the toy off for the rest of the night.

When I finally opened the door, Lexie was waiting, pulling me toward a balcony that overlooked perfectly manicured gardens and twinkling lights. The cool night air was a welcome relief compared to the burning heat on my cheeks.

She leaned in close, her voice sweet and soothing. “You’re doing great. I can tell you’re nervous, but just relax. Tonight’s supposed to be fun—I promise.” She hooked her hand through my elbow and guided me toward a small circle of her friends.

As she laughed, the plug thrummed again—tiny, intermittent pulses that made me jump slightly and clamp my thighs together. I felt utterly ridiculous, yet somehow electric.

Across the lawn, Aiden’s gaze found me again. He was deliberate, tapping a few keys on his phone, eyes gleaming like a man who held a private joke at someone else’s expense. He didn’t even need to smile. He had the whole room, the joke, the remote control—and I was trapped in this damn cage, unable to come no matter how much he tormented me. I was definitely not going to forgive him for this.

A storm of emotions churned inside me. I wanted to punch something. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to disappear into a hole. My feelings were a chaotic riot, impossible to contain.