Chapter 282
Aria’s POV
Coming home with a necklace worth over three hundred thousand dollars had me smiling the entire ride back.
My thoughts were consumed with how Aiden had completely shut down Elena’s pathetic attempts at flirting. I’d completely forgotten how flustered I’d been earlier about whether I should even go out tonight.
Once inside our house, I was removing my earrings when it suddenly hit me—that conversation about “going out” had really been about something else entirely. My heartbeat immediately kicked into overdrive.
I placed my earrings in their case and caught a glimpse of my flushed face in the mirror. Great, I was blushing like a teenager.
I slapped my cheeks lightly, trying to get myself together. Just as I turned around, I spotted Aiden walking into our bedroom. My heart hammered against my ribs while he approached with a glass of water. I took it from him with slightly trembling fingers, focusing intensely on the bedspread to avoid eye contact.
After a few sips, I set the glass aside and glanced at my phone. “I’m going to take a shower, okay p>
“Go ahead,” he replied, picking up my discarded water glass and heading downstairs as he drank from it.
When I emerged from my shower, it was just after nine. Aiden wasn’t in the bedroom -probably working in his office. I grabbed my phone and started texting Lillian about my run-in with Elena at the auction.
Lillian, fresh off her overtime shift and full of righteous indignation, replied with
messages so colorful they’d need censoring in polite company.
“Did we even give her the time of day last time?” Lillian texted. “If I’d known she was that shameless, I would’ve told her exactly where to go p>
“I know, right? I couldn’t believe she had the nerve to ask,” I replied.
Lillian sent back a triumphant: “Well, Aiden saw through her act. She can’t keep playing the victim p>
Then she added: “Wait-I just thought of something! Since she brought up her mom this time, what if she actually brings her mother into this mess next p>
“That would be ridiculous, right?” I typed back.
“Hard to say. Elena seems determined to make your life difficult p>
I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head.
Mid-text, Aiden walked into the bedroom. He caught my eye and simply said, “Going to shower p>
I nodded, watching him disappear into the walk-in closet. When I looked back at my phone, my mind was definitely elsewhere. My fingers brushed against my warm cheek as I sent Lillian a quick message: “Gotta go, heading to bed p>
“It’s barely 9:10! I just got off work and you’re already going to bed?” she replied instantly.
“Fine, I get it. Married life is definitely more exciting than single life. Have fun, goodnight p>
Her knowing tone made my already warm face flush even hotter. I sent back some random emoji and set my phone aside, lying flat on my back.
Sleep. I should just sleep.
After a few minutes of staring at the ceiling, I reached for my phone again and opened G e. Two letters in, I deleted the search, mortified at what I’d been about to look up.
I switched to T r, hoping celebrity gossip would distract me. But the trending topics were boring, and I found myself opening the romance novel Lillian had sent me earlier.
It was a legitimate novel-nothing too explicit but it definitely had some steamy scenes. The character dynamic was particularly intoxicating: a rough construction worker paired with a prim and proper good girl. The sexual tension practically sizzled off the screen.
I’d only meant to kill time, but soon I was completely absorbed. I didn’t even notice Aiden had finished his shower until his deep voice rumbled right next to my ear: “What’s got my wife so captivated p>
I jumped, my phone slipping from my fingers onto the bedsheet. I snatched it back, quickly closing the e-reader app and returning to the home screen before shooting him a guilty glance. “Just reading a novel p>
“Reading on your phone isn’t good for your eyes. I’ll have Lucas get you a Kindle p>
I cringed slightly but nodded. “Thanks p>
Aiden studied me, his eyes never leaving my face. “What kind of novel? Any good p>
“Just some romance Lillian sent me. Nothing special-just killing time.” I fidgeted with the edge of the comforter, my tell when I’m lying.
Of course, Aiden caught it immediately. “You seemed pretty engrossed for something ‘nothing special,” he observed, his lips curving into a knowing smile.
Busted. My face burned. “I… happened to be at an interesting part p>
I pressed my lips together, desperate to change the subject before he could dig deeper. “It’s already 9:30. Lights out p>
Aiden raised an eyebrow but obliged, turning off the lamp.
The room plunged into darkness. My eyes hadn’t adjusted yet, and I could only see shapeless shadows. In the dark, my other senses heightened dramatically. My breathing seemed loud in my ears, as did his.
Unlike last night when I’d had liquid courage from the cocktail, I wasn’t feeling quite so bold. I bit my lip, contemplating how to initiate a goodnight kiss without seeming too eager.
Suddenly, the fresh scent of his body
wash enveloped me, and before I
could react, a strong arm wrapped
around my waist. In one smooth
motion he pulled me against his chest. “No cuddles tonight he murmured, his breath tickling my ear.
My face flamed, but thankfully, he couldn’t see it in the darkness. The cover of night
emboldened me. I responded with a soft “Mmm” and tilted my face upward.
As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I could make out his features more clearly now. Not perfect visibility, but enough to trace the strong lines of his face I stared openly at him my
hand resting on his arm, fighting the
urge to explore further.
I hadn’t exactly lied earlier-I really had been reading the most intense part of the
novel. After several chapters of the main characters dancing around each other,
they’d finally had their first physical encounter.
It had been set during a scorching
summer day. The male lead, shirtless and glistening with sweat his muscles rippling with barely contained power. The female lead in a thin sundress, accidentally
colliding with him-bronze skin. against creamy flesh, minimal clothing between them, the
oppressive heat p>
My mouth went dry just thinking about it.
“What’s on your mind, Mrs. Carter p>
Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t noticed his arm tightening around my waist. He lowered his head until our foreheads touched, his eyes gleaming darkly in the shadows.
His warm breath caressed my face as he surrounded me with his heat and scent,
his presence demanding and impossible to resist.
My breathing quickened. “N-nothing,” I stammered.
Even in the darkness, I couldn’t bring myself to meet his intense gaze.
A low, seductive chuckle rumbled from above me. “Thinking about what was in that
novel p>
I gasped, shocked. “How did you know p>
Had he seen what I was reading?
My mind went completely blank as my heart raced wildly.
Aiden brushed a strand of hair from my face before capturing my lips with his own.
He kissed me with practiced ease, his mouth moving expertly against mine as we melted together.
In this environment, with vision limited, every other sense became amplified. I felt
his cool lips contrasting with his hot tongue, the burning touch of his palm as it roamed my waist, and the increasingly heavy sound of his breathing.
Each ragged breath he took sent shivers down my spine, slowly unraveling my self-
control.