Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 212

Chapter 212

Aiden

Hearing those words from him—words I never imagined would come—hit me harder than I expected.

Oh, Micah… it’s too little, far too late. I would have given anything to have him back in the months after his betrayal shattered me, after everything we had built together over so many years.

I shook my head slowly, keeping my voice low and steady despite the dull ache settling deep in my chest. “You don’t love me, Micah. Honestly, I don’t think either of us really understood what love was back then. And now? I’m not convinced you do either.”

He shook his head, a stubborn denial in his eyes. “I know how I feel. And I know you still care about me, Sir. Please, don’t shut me out this time.”

“This time?” I said bitterly. “You’re the one who walked away.”

“And now I’m back,” he said quietly.

“And you think that makes everything simple?”

“I believe it could be simple—if you’d stop making it more complicated than it needs to be.”

“Micah—”

He leaned forward, his gaze sharp and intense. “Let me be your sub again, Sir. Please. I’m not asking to be your lover—though, God, I’d want that—but I just want to serve you. You said you needed a distraction… well, I’m plenty distracting.” A small, teasing smile curved his lips. “And very entertaining, Sir. Train me, teach me, use me… just don’t push me away.”

I let out a slow breath, the tension easing just a little. “You’re still impossible.”

“You love that about me.”

“Why don’t you find another Master?” I asked softly. “Any Dom would be lucky to have you—and could give himself to you in ways I can’t.”

He laughed, but it was short and without joy. “I tried.”

“In New York?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I thought maybe I could fill the emptiness. I thought maybe I could unlearn how much I missed you.”

“And?”

“It wasn’t a good experience.” The playfulness drained from his voice. “He took discipline, power, dominance to places that didn’t feel safe anymore. He called it control. Said he was teaching me limits. What he really meant was breaking me.”

I froze. “Micah…”

His jaw clenched tightly. “He hurt me, Sir. Once, during a private scene. When I begged him to stop, he left me tied up in a basement all weekend while he went out of town. No food. No light. Just ropes and endless time.”

“Jesus Christ. Micah… I’m so—”

His mouth twitched into a knowing smirk. “The football guy?”

“Noah,” I said, voice low. “Yes.”

Micah blinked, then leaned forward with a slow, understanding grin. “Then why aren’t you with him?”

“That’s none of your business.”

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Just asking.”

“You said the other night you’d lost him,” I continued, quieter now but firm. “Did you get him back?”

“No, I didn’t,” I snapped. “But that doesn’t mean I’m over him, Micah. Or that he’s over me.”

Micah frowned, confusion flickering across his face. “Then I don’t get it. How have you lost him if neither of you are over the other?”

I stopped, jaw tight. “He… he got engaged.”

Micah froze. His eyes widened for a moment before he let out a low whistle. “Holy shit… yeah, that would do it.” He leaned back, folding his arms. “So technically, there’s no one else.”

“Micah, I don’t care about technicalities.” My voice cut sharp through the air. “The fact is, I can’t give you what you’re asking for. End of story.”