Chapter 125
Aria’s POV
My consciousness began to blur as waves of intense dizziness crashed over me.
I could only remember that the afterglow of my climax hadn’t yet faded, but suddenly my entire body felt like it was on fire, burning from the inside out.
“Aria p>
I heard Aiden calling my name, his voice seeming to drift from somewhere far away.
I wanted to respond, but found I could barely keep my eyes open, my throat parched and aching.
“So hot… Aiden… I feel awful I managed to whisper, my voice so hoarse it startled
even me.
I felt Aiden withdraw from inside me, then carefully gather me into his arms. The cool touch of his palm against my forehead provided a moment’s relief from the burning sensation.
“Hold on, I’m taking you to the hospital p>
He quickly pulled clothes from the closet, dressing me in an oversized T-shirt and sweatpants. I tried to dress myself, but my arms felt like limp noodles, completely useless.
I hooked my arms around Aiden’s neck, pressing my cheek against his solid chest. Even in this condition, I couldn’t help but notice how he carried me at such speed yet maintained steady breathing, his heartbeat strong and rhythmic.
Classic Aiden Carter-his physical condition was truly remarkable. No wonder he could be so enduring and powerful in bed… God, my mind was still wandering in that direction despite everything.
The journey passed in a haze of half-consciousness. I only remembered the car racing through the night, streetlights flashing past the windows. When I came to again, we were at the hospital emergency room entrance.
Aiden set me down on a waiting chair and headed to the registration desk to handle the paperwork.
Instinctively, I wanted to follow him, but he seemed to anticipate my thoughts. Like coaxing a child, he gently stroked my head. “Wait here for me p>
I suspected he added a whispered “good girl” at the end, though I had no concrete proof.
No one had coaxed me like this since I was ten years old. Even my father never touched my head this way. My already flushed face grew even hotter as I nodded obediently, sitting there watching Aiden walk toward the registration counter.
The hospital wasn’t busy at night, and Aiden returned quickly to sit beside me. I noticed a woman across from us kept staring at me, probably wondering what someone with such rosy cheeks was doing in the emergency room.
Her scrutiny made me uncomfortable, and I looked at Aiden with pitiful eyes. “Can I lean on your shoulder p>
Hearing my request, Aiden chuckled softly. “Ma’am, you weren’t nearly this polite earlier in the car and garage p>
Vivid, heated images flashed through my mind, so I simply closed my eyes and leaned against his shoulder, playing dead. Perhaps my “sickly” appearance was finally convincing the woman stopped staring at me but began appraising Aiden instead.
I felt a twinge of sourness in my chest.
Such a handsome man certainly deserved a few extra glances, but he was my man, even if our relationship was complicated as hell.
I pressed my lips together and tugged at Aiden’s hand. “What time is it p>
Aiden looked down at me and voluntarily extended his wrist with the watch. “Half past ten p>
“So late p>
“You’ll be called soon.” Aiden thought I was anxious because I felt unwell.
“Do you have meetings tomorrow morning p>
My head tilted, sliding from his shoulder to rest against his chest. In his rush to bring me to the hospital, Aiden was still wearing his pajamas, and from my angle, I could clearly see the lines of his chest muscles beneath the open collar. Under the dual influence of whatever I’d consumed and alcohol, desire stirred within me again.
I didn’t realize that while I was admiring the “scenery,” Aiden had noticed where my gaze had wandered. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Baby, don’t be so thirsty. This is a hospital p>
His words brought a sliver of rationality back, and I straightened up, looking toward the display screen beside the examination room door.
Just then, the announcement crackled over the speakers: “Number 018, Aria Jones, please report to Emergency Room 1 p>
“That’s you.” Aiden unclenched his fist and took my hand.
Aria’s POV
“Where are you experiencing discomfort?” The doctor looked up at me.
I instinctively glanced at Aiden, unsure how to begin. He immediately stepped in: “She had some alcoholic beverages, but we suspect someone may have slipped her something p>
The doctor frowned. “What specific symptoms is she experiencing p>
“Let your wife speak for herself p>
This time, Aiden remained silent as the doctor gestured for me to answer. As the guilty party, I had no choice but to soldier on: “I’m burning up all over, extremely thirsty, and can’t sleep at all p>
“What else?” The doctor continued probing while checking my heartbeat and breathing with a stethoscope.
I took a deep breath, my voice barely audible: “I… I can’t control my desire for… you know… those urges are incredibly intense. We already… but I still feel like it’s not enough p>
The doctor looked up at me, then at Aiden, before returning to his notes.
“Also,” Aiden suddenly added, his voice low and serious, “we were intimate earlier and she nearly passed out. That’s not normal, which is why we came to the hospital p>
My face burned like it was on fire, but I was grateful that Aiden had voiced what I couldn’t bring myself to say.
“It shouldn’t be anything serious,” the doctor set down his pen. “Let’s get an EKG, check your blood pressure, and run some blood work. While the drug’s effects are indeed excessive, it’s nothing major p>
I felt dazed as Aiden led me out of the examination room by the hand.
At the blood draw station, watching the nurse prepare the needle, I couldn’t bring myself to extend my arm.
“Scared?” Aiden studied my face.
I glanced at him without responding. How could possibly admit to such an embarrassing weakness? But needle looked terrifying, and my
body began frembling slightlyne
effects of the drugs and alcohol seemed to vanish instantly, leaving my mind unnaturally clear.
“Aria Jones p>
The nurse had called my name twice. I bit my lip and slowly extended my arm like a timid turtle retreating into its shell.
Just then, my head was pulled into a warm embrace, my senses filled with Aiden’s familiar woody scent.
“Don’t be afraid p>
He leaned down to enfold me in his arms, one hand steadying my arm while the other rolled up my sleeve My attention was completely absorbed by his presence barely registering the slight prick ommy wrist before hearing the nurse say, “All done p>
Aiden released me, and I looked up into those deep, dark eyes, my heartbeat inexplicably quickening: “Thank you, Aiden p>
God, was that my heart racing just now?
“Mm.” He responded simply, his Adam’s apple bobbing, then stood up. “The test
results will take half an hour. Let’s wait over there p>
I avoided his gaze and nodded silently, following him to the waiting area.
The heat in my body persisted, my thinking still slower than usual—the drug’s effects clearly hadn’t completely worn off. But I didn’t dare touch him inappropriately like I had in the car.
Unfortunately, just because I wasn’t making moves didn’t mean he wouldn’t.
Aiden pressed the back of his hand to my forehead, the cool touch making me shiver slightly. “I don’t have a fever, Aiden p>
“Still uncomfortable?” he asked.
I bit my lip, unsure how to answer. I silently vowed never to carelessly drink
beverages from strangers again!
“Would a hug help?” he suddenly asked.
I looked at him in surprise. Here I was trying to restrain myself, and he was tempting
me at a moment like this? Was this intentional? Had he noticed my racing heart
earlier?
Before I could sort out my thoughts, Aiden had already wrapped his arm around my shoulders, his other hand gently cradling my head. “Lean against me p>
I licked my dry lips. “Actually, it’s not that uncomfortable p>
“Really?” he responded while smoothing the stray hair by my cheek, his fingers
even caressing my lips.
My body was far too sensitive right
now. His touch made me itch all over, like electricity coursing through me.couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed him back slightly, looking at him almost pleadingly: “Aiden, please stop teasing me! I really can’t control myself p>