Chapter 226
Aria’s POV
In our bedroom, I went straight to the walk-in closet and grabbed my favorite silk nightgown before heading to the bathroom. The hot water felt heavenly against my skin as I washed away the day’s exertions.
After shampooing my hair, I took extra time blow-drying it to semi-dryness. When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in my silky nightgown that fell just mid- thigh, Aiden wasn’t in the bedroom.
I moved to the vanity, pumping some moisturizer into my palm and patting it onto my face while wandering toward the door. The bedroom was empty too.
Maybe he was waiting in the garden?
As I stepped out of the bedroom, movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. Through the glass doors, I could see someone standing on the balcony. Aiden’s loose white shirt billowed slightly in the breeze, his back to me as he gazed outward.
Suddenly his words from downstairs clicked into place: “Tonight’s moon looked particularly beautiful. I wanted to admire it with Mrs. Carter p>
The moon was just an excuse. He wanted me.
My heart raced as heat pooled low in my belly. I walked toward him, my bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him from behind, pressing my body against his back. “Aiden,” I breathed against his shoulder.
I rested my cheek against his broad back, feeling his muscles tense beneath my touch. “I missed you today,” I confessed, my voice soft but deliberate. “A little bit p>
Aiden made a low sound in his throat, somewhere between a chuckle and a groan. He took my hands in his and turned to face me. “What a coincidence,” he said, his voice deeper than usual. “I missed you too p>
He shifted to face me, one arm snaking around my waist while his other hand came up to my face. His thumb gently brushed the corner of my mouth, where I’d had a small cut yesterday. “Still hurt?” he asked.
“Not at all,” I replied with a little smirk. “It never really did p>
“Hmm,” he hummed, but his fingers didn’t leave my lips. Instead, they traced the outline slowly, deliberately.
I could feel every ridge of his fingerprint against my sensitive skin. The sensation made my mouth go dry, my breathing shallow. I instinctively licked my lips, catching the edge of his finger with my tongue.
“I need water,” I said, gently pushing his hand away before I lost control completely.
Aiden’s dark eyes burned into mine for a long moment before he turned and walked inside to retrieve the water glass from the bedroom. I watched him move-the confident stride, the way his shirt stretched across his shoulders with each step.
When he returned, I was genuinely thirsty. I took the glass and drank deeply, draining half of it in one go before sipping more slowly.
Aiden leaned against the balcony railing, watching me with that intense gaze that never failed to make my skin tingle. “Want more?” he asked, his voice carrying a double meaning that wasn’t lost on me.
I shook my head and set the glass down on the small table beside us. Moving to stand next to him, I gazed up at the glowing orb in the sky. “The moon really is beautiful tonight p>
Instead of responding, Aiden pulled me into his arms, his hand firmly at the small of my back. “If it doesn’t hurt anymore,” he murmured, “then kissing shouldn’t hurt either, right p>
Before I could respond, his cool lips descended on mine. His arms tightened around my waist as he leaned down, his mouth claiming mine inch by inch.
The kiss started gentle—like slipping into a warm bath, so pleasurable I lost track of time. My head spun as oxygen became scarce, our breathing mingling in the narrow space between us.
Suddenly, Aiden’s gentle exploration transformed into something hungrier. His grip on my waist tightened almost painfully, pulling me so close I felt molded against every hard plane of his body.
The change startled a moan from my throat. “Aiden I gasped against his lips.
He pulled back immediately, his breathing ragged. Those usually cool dark eyes had transformed, burning with raw desire that threatened to consume me whole.
My heart hammered against my ribs as he stared at me like that. It was too much— too intense. I raised my hand to cover his eyes. “Don’t look at me like that,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
Like he wanted to devour me. Like I was prey.
Aiden wrapped both arms around me, pressing me against his chest. “Mrs. Carter knows exactly how to drive me crazy,” he murmured into my hair. “You tease me first, then tell me not to look at you p>
His body was hard against mine, his arousal evident through our thin layers of clothing. The night air suddenly felt electrified around us.
I buried my face against his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart match my own. My cheeks burned not from embarrassment, but from anticipation.
“I never said stop,” I whispered, lifting my face to meet his gaze directly this time. “I just needed a moment p>
His eyes widened slightly, then darkened with renewed hunger. In one fluid motion, Aiden lifted me onto the wide balcony railing, his hands firm on my hips to keep me secure. The cool stone pressed against my thighs as he stepped between my legs.
“Sure about that?” he asked, his voice rough with desire. “Because once I start, I won’t stop until you’re screaming my name p>
I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. “Promises, promises,” I
taunted, running my fingers through his hair.
Aiden growled actually
growled before capturing my mouth in a kiss that bordered on violent. His tongue thrust between my lips claiming every inch of me. One band slid up my thigh, pushing my nightgown higher until his fingers found the edge of my panties.
“Already wet for me,” he murmured against my lips as his fingers slid beneath the fabric. “Always so ready p>
I gasped as he circled my clit with practiced precision. “Fuck, Aiden,” I moaned, arching into his touch.
He chuckled darkly. “That’s exactly what I intend to do p>
With his free hand, he yanked my nightgown up and over my head, tossing it aside. The night air caressed my naked breasts, making my npples harden into tight peaks. Arden wasted no time lowering his mouth to them, sucking and biting until I was writhing against him.
“Someone might see,” I gasped, though our balcony overlooked only our private gardens.
“Let them,” he growled, his fingers never stopping their relentless assault on my most sensitive spot. “Let them see how beautiful you look when you come for me p>
I fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. Growing impatient, I simply yanked, sending buttons flying as I pushed the fabric from his shoulders.
Aiden’s chest was a work of art perfectly sculpted muscle under smooth skin. I ran my nails down his pecs, feeling him shudder under my touch.
“You’re going to pay for that shirt,” he warned, though his voice held amusement along with desire.
“Put it on my tab,” I shot back, reaching for his belt.
As I unbuckled it, Aiden slipped two fingers inside me, making me cry out. My head
fell back as he pumped them in and out, his thumb still circling my clit.
“Aiden, please,” I begged, my hips moving rhythmically against his hand. “I need you inside me p>
He withdrew his fingers, bringing them to his mouth to taste me. The sight was so erotic I nearly came on the spot.
“Turn around,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
I obeyed, carefully pivoting on the balcony railing until I faced outward, the moonlit garden spread before me. Aiden’s hands gripped my waist, steadying me as I bent forward slightly, my palms flat on the stone.
I heard the sound of his zipper, then felt the blunt head of his cock pressing against
my entrance. In one powerful thrust, he buried himself to the hilt, filling me completely.
“God, Aria,” he groaned, his fingers digging into my hips. “You feel fucking perfect p>
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t
think-could only feel as he began to
move, each thrust pushing me
closer to the edge. The position was
dangerously exposed, incredibly
thrilling The cool night air
contrasted with the heat of our bodies, heightening every sensation.
Aiden leaned forward, covering my back with his chest as he continued to pound into me. One hand snaked around to play with my clit while the other cupped my breast, pinching and rolling my nipple between his fingers. “Harder,” I demanded, pushing back against him. “Make me feel it tomorrow p>
He obliged, his hips snapping against mine with bruising force. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoed in the night air, punctuated by our shared moans and gasps.
I felt the familiar tension building, that exquisite pressure coiling tighter and tighter low in my belly. “I’m close,” I warned, my voice breaking.
Aiden growled in my ear, his fingers working my clit faster. “Let me feel you squeeze my cock p>
His dirty talk pushed me over the edge. I came with a scream, my inner walls clamping down on him as waves of pleasure crashed through me. My vision blurred, stars exploding behind my eyelids as my body convulsed in ecstasy.
Aiden continued thrusting through my orgasm, prolonging it until I was trembling and oversensitive. Only then did he allow himself release, burying himself deep inside me with a final powerful thrust as he groaned my name.
For several moments, we stayed like that, panting and joined, the cool night air gradually bringing us back to reality. Aiden’s arms wrapped protectively around me, ensuring I wouldn’t fall as we both recovered.