Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66062 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
***
Next night he’d half expected to find Zain’s door locked, but it wasn’t. Then again, installing a lock to keep Aiden out would be the equivalent of admitting that Aiden was significant enough to get under his skin, so of course that arrogant dick wouldn’t do it.
That played right into Aiden’s hands.
He hadn’t seen Zain at all that day—his helicopter had left very early in the morning and returned well after supper—and Aiden was… antsy. He couldn’t wait to see him. He couldn’t put his plan into action if the villain wasn’t there, after all.
Zain was sleeping on his back this time, his long, muscular arm stretched across the empty space beside him.
Aiden scowled once again at his perfect physique—he somehow looked arrogant even in his sleep, the dick—before walking over and climbing into the bed again. But Zain’s arm prevented him from lying down. After a moment’s thought, Aiden crouched beside him and poked him in his smooth chest. Did he wax it? Or was he naturally smooth? Aiden had kind of thought that with such an abundance of facial hair Zain would be hairy all over, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Aiden moved his fingers to Zain’s arm to check if he had hair there. He did.
“Out,” Zain said, without opening his eyes.
“You’re getting repetitive, you know,” Aiden said, turning on the lamp on the nightstand. “So, does your brother prefer to top or bottom?”
Zain sighed. It was the most long-suffering sigh Aiden had ever heard in his life. It made him grin. He knew he’d won.
“Probably the latter,” Zain said, his eyes still closed. “I once walked in on him having his asshole licked.”
Aiden pulled a face. Just imagining Jordan walking in while someone ate his ass made him extremely uncomfortable. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s a bottom though. Some tops like having their asses eaten.”
Zain’s expression became pinched. Clearly it wasn’t a topic he ever wanted to contemplate or talk about. “Gadiel’s never had to lift a finger to get anything in his life. I can bet you anything that he’s the type to lie there and order someone to pleasure him. Topping would be too much effort for such a spoiled brat.”
“It’s kind of weird that you care so much about him when your opinion of him is so low.”
“He’s my brother,” Zain said, as if that explained everything.
Maybe it did.
“Hmm,” Aiden said, drumming his fingers thoughtfully.
“Stop groping me.”
Startled, Aiden looked down. His fingers were on Zain’s—very hard—stomach.
Snatching his hand away, Aiden flushed. “I wasn’t—I wasn’t groping you, you conceited dick! I was thinking.”
“Go think in your room.”
“No.”
Aiden grinned when he heard Zain sigh through his gritted teeth. Seriously, annoying Zain was his favorite thing in the world.
“Can I ask you something?” Aiden said. “How are you so okay with your brother being gay? I thought it was taboo in Islam.”
“I wouldn’t say I’m okay with it. But I know better than to think it’s something that I can change.”
“But it is taboo in Islam, right?”
Zain finally opened his eyes and regarded him for a moment. “There are many things that are taboo in Islam, including consensual sex between a man and a woman who aren’t married. But realistically, few men remain virgins until marriage—unless they marry very early. I’m certainly not a virgin. I may not be happy about Gadiel’s behavior, but shunning my brother for doing something taboo would be the height of hypocrisy.”
I’m certainly not a virgin.
Wetting his lips, Aiden glanced at Zain’s virile, strong body. He didn’t doubt that for a moment. A man like this wouldn’t be a virgin. Women of every religion, age, and race probably flocked to him.
“That’s surprisingly reasonable of you,” Aiden said.
Zain’s eyes narrowed. “Surprisingly? Just because I’m a Muslim?”
“Because you’re a dick,” Aiden said, huffing. “Don’t bring religion and prejudice into it. I have nothing against Islam. I’m not religious myself, but I’m a firm believer that everyone should believe what they want to believe. I didn’t expect you to be reasonable because normally you act like you know better than everyone else.”
“I’m many things, but I try not to be a hypocrite,” Zain said, closing his eyes again. His lips curled into something unamused. “By Muslim standards, I’m a sinner of the worst kind. I’ve done enough to end up in Jahannam in the afterlife.”
Aiden looked at him curiously. “And it doesn’t bother you?”
Zain gave a sleepy shrug. “Sometimes it does, but I’m not the most devoted Muslim out there. I’m not a firm believer in everything the Quran says. My religious education was… spotty at best. Let’s just say I was disillusioned early about the necessity of following everything the Quran says. Children learn by example.”
Aiden stared at him, now burning with curiosity. “What do you mean?”
“I thought you were here to learn about Gadiel, not me,” Zain said, very dryly. “I’m going back to sleep. If you don’t leave within the next fifteen seconds, you’ll be locked up in your room again.”