Chapter 320
Aria’s pov
I felt Aiden’s chest rumble with quiet laughter as his arms wrapped securely around
me. My body seemed to fit perfectly against his—like two puzzle pieces designed to connect.
“Let’s get you inside,” he murmured, his voice deeper than usual. His warm breath tickled my ear, sending a delicious shiver down my spine.
Once we stepped through the door, a strange boldness overtook me. Maybe it was the “fruit and sparkles” finally hitting my system, or maybe it was just Aiden’s proximity—his scent, his warmth, the way his eyes followed my every move. Whatever it was, I felt absolutely unstoppable.
“I think I need a shower,” I announced suddenly, kicking off my heels. They clattered against the marble floor, the sound echoing through our spacious entryway.
Aiden raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of amusement and something darker, hungrier. “Do you now p>
“Mmhmm.” I nodded emphatically, feeling my hair bounce around my shoulders. “Care to join me p>
His eyes widened slightly-just for a fraction of a second-but long enough for me to catch his surprise. I wasn’t usually this forward. The look quickly morphed into something else, something that made my heart race and my skin tingle with anticipation.
“Aria,” he said, my name a warning on his lips.
I ignored it, turning on my heel and heading for the stairs. “Your loss,” I called over my shoulder, trying to sound nonchalant despite the nervous flutter in my stomach.
I’d barely made it halfway up when I heard his footsteps behind me, quick and determined. Then his arms were around my waist, lifting me effortlessly.
“You’re playing with fire, Mrs. Carter,” he whispered against my neck, his lips grazing my sensitive skin.
“Maybe I want to get burned,” I retorted, surprising myself with my boldness.
He carried me the rest of the way up the stairs, his grip firm yet gentle. Once in our bedroom, he set me down in the bathroom, his dark eyes never leaving mine as he reached past me to turn on the faucet. Water thundered into our oversized tub, steam quickly filling the space between us.
“Bath or shower?” he asked, his voice husky.
“Bath,” I decided immediately, reaching for the buttons on his shirt. My fingers fumbled slightly, betraying my nervousness despite my outward confidence. “Definitely bath p>
Aiden stood perfectly still, watching me through hooded eyes as I struggled with his buttons. When I finally got the last one undone, pushing the shirt off his broad shoulders, I couldn’t help but admire the view. His chest was sculpted perfection— all hard planes and defined muscles.
“Like what you see?” he teased, echoing my earlier thoughts.
I nodded, suddenly feeling shy despite my earlier boldness. “Always have p>
While the tub continued to fill, Aiden’s hands moved to the zipper of my dress, slowly dragging it down my back. The cool air against my exposed skin made me shiver-or maybe it was the intensity in his gaze as he pushed the fabric off my shoulders, letting it pool at my feet.
Aiden reached behind me to test the water temperature, then added some bath salts from the crystal container on the edge of the tub. His movements deliberate, his eyes never leaving mine.
Once the tub was full, he stepped in first, extending his hand to help me. The water was perfect-hot but not scalding, enveloping our bodies in soothing warmth as I settled between his legs, my back against his chest.
“This is nice,” I sighed, leaning my head back against his shoulder.
“Just nice?” he challenged, his hands sliding up my sides, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
I turned my head to look at him, our faces inches apart. “More than nice,” I amended, my voice barely above a whisper.
His lips curved into that half-smile that always made my stomach flip. “I can make it
better,” he promised, his hands continuing their exploration of my body.
And oh, he did. His touch was
magical, knowing exactly where and how to caress me to draw out the most delicious sensations. His fingerstraced patterns on my skin, from my shoulders down
to my
thighs, gradually becoming more
purposeful, more focused.
When his hand finally slipped between my legs, I gasped, arching against him.
“Aiden,” I breathed, the water sloshing around us.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his lips at my ear. “Just feel, Aria. Just feel p>
And I did. I surrendered completely to the sensations, to the pleasure building inside me with each skilled touch. Water spilled over the edges of the tub as moved against his hand, chasing the release that seemed just out of reach.
Suddenly impatient, I turned in his arms, straddling his lap. Water cascaded down
my body as I rose above him, my hands on his shoulders for balance. His eyes
darkened at my boldness, his hands gripping my hips.
“Aria,” he growled, a warning and a plea.
“I want you,” I said simply, honestly. “Now p>
No more words were needed. We moved together, finding our rhythm despite the challenges of our watery environment. Every thrust, every touch, every kiss drove me higher, the pleasure so intense it was almost unbearable.
Aiden’s control began to slip as we moved faster, his grip tightening, his breathing becoming ragged. “Aria,” he groaned against my neck, the sound vibrating through
me.
It was that-the raw need in his
1.n
voice-that pushed me over the edge. I cried out his name as waves of pleasure crashed over me, holding onto him like he was my anchor in a storm. He followed
moments later, his body tensing beneath mine.
As we came down from our high, Aiden held me close, his heartbeat strong and steady against my cheek. The water had cooled considerably, but I couldn’t bring myself to move just yet, too content in his arms.
“We should probably drain this and refill,” he murmured eventually, pressing a kiss
to my temple. “Half the water ended up on the floor anyway p>
I looked around, noticing for the first time the puddles all around our tub. A laugh bubbled up from my chest. “Oops p>
His answering laugh was warm and genuine. “Worth it,” he declared, tucking a strand of wet hair behind my ear. “Definitely worth it p>
But before I could examine that feeling too closely, Aiden was standing up, lifting me
with him. “Round two in the shower?” he suggested with a wicked grin.
And really, how could I possibly say no to that?