Chapter 4 TEMPTING CURVES!

AIDEN'S POV:

As the lady squatted in front of me, I couldn't help but stare. Her back was turned, facing me, and I couldn't help but stare at her figure. The curves of her body weren't possible to ignore, and they seemed to stare back at me in the most unexpected way.

"What are you doing?" I asked, trying to make sense of what was unfolding in front of me.

"I'm looking for this," she said innocently, her eyes flicking back to meet mine as she adjusted her glasses. But there was a stark contrast between her calm expression and the thoughts racing through my mind.

"Take this analgesic after you've eaten; it will help ease the pain. At first, I thought the wound was deep, but after cleaning it, it appears to be more superficial," she added, handing me the pill.

"Oh," I muttered, as the pain in my arm began to fade almost immediately with the healing process kicking in. That wasn't entirely my blood, baby girl, I thought to myself. I didn't want to scare her, of course.

"I ate something before I was... robbed," I said quietly, as memories of the attack swirled in my mind.

"Oh," she replied, her tone soft. "How about you?"

"What?" she asked, looking at me with confusion.

"Aren't you hungry?" I asked.

"No, I'm not," she said quickly, but a low rumble from her stomach suggested otherwise.

"Uhmm... I'm watching my weight,, I'm done eating for the day, " she replied with a faint smile, though there was a brief, sad flicker in her eyes.

I almost replied, but the words caught in my throat. "But you're not..." I started, but then a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Excuse me," she said, standing and walking toward the door. I laid my head back against the cushion, but the inner frame was broken, so my head sank into the fabric, making it difficult to get comfortable. With my eyes closed, I drifted into thought, my mind returning to the attack. Those people weren't wolves but humans. Who sent them? I'd make sure to track them down since I'd seen the face of one of the men. But then, the sound of raised voices outside broke my concentration.

"Oh, now you're coming back at night, so I wouldn't see, right?" a man's voice sneered.

"Mr. Wilson, I haven't been paid yet, but as soon as I do, I'll make sure the rent is settled," she said, her voice quieter, almost apologetic.

"The same excuses every day," the man snapped back, his tone harsh. "No wonder your mother warned me about you. She said I shouldn't let you in, said you were a lazy, good-for-nothing. But I ignored her, and now look!"

I wasn't involved in their conversation, but it was hard not to overhear. I closed my eyes again, trying to ignore them.

"Mr. Landlord, have I ever owed you rent since I moved in?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with frustration.

"Mia," the man said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Now you've gotten bold enough to talk back?"

I sat up slightly, the name striking me like a jolt. Mia? That was her name? It fit. She looked like a Mia.

"I only owe you for last month, but since the start of this month, you've been coming by my door every other day, reminding me about my rent, reminding me of my mother's warnings," she snapped, her voice rising slightly. "Would you just let me breathe?"

"How dare you speak to me like that, you daughter of a nobody!" the man roared. In an instant, I was on my feet, moving toward the door. I grabbed his hand, tightening my grip until he groaned in pain.

"Let him go," Mia said urgently, her hand on my arm.

"That really hurt," the man muttered, wincing. I didn't loosen my grip at first, but with Mia's calm request, I finally let go, though my anger was still bubbling.

"Never raise your hand to a woman," I said coldly, giving him one last glare before releasing him entirely.

"You even brought a man to my house by this time of the night? By tomorrow, you'll pack your things and leave," the man growled.

I stepped forward, the anger in me flaring. "What did you just say?" I asked, my voice low but full of menace as I closed the distance between us. But before I could take another step, the man turned and bolted, fear evident in his face.

Mia watched him flee, and when she turned to look at me, I half-expected her to be angry, but instead, she gave me a look of approval. A surprising, proud look.

"Thanks," she said, sitting back down on the couch. I blinked, unsure of how to respond, but I said nothing.

"Since you don't want to eat, I'll put this away in the fridge," she said as she got up and walked to the kitchen.

I stretched my arm, feeling the pain almost entirely gone now. The wound was healing faster than I had expected, and I knew that would make Mia start asking questions soon.

"Uhmm..." she said, holding a pillow and blanket in her arms. She laid them carefully on the couch. "My room's a bit messy, but you can sleep in there. I'll take the couch."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her generosity. "Why would you offer a stranger your bed and make yourself uncomfortable on the couch?"

She shot me a glance, a small, teasing smile on her lips. "Clearly, the couch is too short for someone your height. That's the only reason. Don't get too flattered," she replied, though something in her voice told me that wasn't the only reason. She was just being kind.

"Okay, I'm not flattered," I said, though I wasn't quite buying her reasoning. "I'll be fine here."

"No, I won't allow that," she insisted, crossing her arms.

"I don't want to go into your room," I said firmly. "I'll be fine right here."

She paused, studying me for a moment, then sighed. "Okay. If you need anything, my bedroom is just there." She said it innocently, but my mind had a way of its own, completely misinterpreting her words.

"And the bathroom's through that door," she said, gesturing toward the door in the corner of her sitting room. I nodded.

"Goodnight," she said, fixing her glasses once more and biting her lip in the process.

I didn't answer, sinking deeper into the couch, attempting to ease into comfort. But as she reached the door to her bedroom, something pulled my gaze back to the curvy girl, unable to look away.