Chapter 325
Aria’s POV
I drove home with my mind racing. That casual comment I’d made to Lillian about talking to Aiden suddenly felt like an impossible task. What had seemed
straightforward over lunch now felt awkward and uncomfortable as I navigated through traffic.
By the time I entered our neighborhood, my heart was pounding against my ribs. The perfectly manicured lawns and elegant homes of our gated community usually calmed me, but not today.
Ten minutes later, I parked in the garage and walked through our garden toward the main entrance. The autumn flowers were in full bloom, their colors vivid against the perfectly trimmed hedges that Aiden insisted on maintaining.
Lucy poked her head out from the dining area as I entered. “Welcome home, Mrs. Carter p>
I nodded with a tight smile, grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen island, and headed upstairs. Dinner was still a while away, so I changed into more comfortable clothes and, not finding Aiden anywhere, drifted toward the music room. The piano always helped clear my thoughts.
I’d only been playing for about ninety minutes when Aiden appeared in the doorway, announcing dinner was ready. I played the final note, closed the piano lid, and looked up at him.
“Did you go out?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“Just in the study,” he replied with that soft expression that made my stomach flip. Without overthinking it, I walked over and wrapped my arms around his neck, tilting my face up to meet those dark eyes. “I thought you’d gone somewhere p>
Aiden’s hands found my waist with practiced ease, pulling me closer. “You’re home early today p>
I felt my cheeks flush. “Lillian said I should come home to have dinner with you p>
“So Mrs. Carter didn’t want to come home to me on her own?” His voice was teasing, but there was something in his eyes that made my pulse quicken.
“That’s not true!” I protested, feeling suddenly defensive.
He just looked at me with that half-smile that always made me feel like he could see right through me. I held his gaze for all of two seconds before looking away, my eyes landing on his lips instead.
Before I could think it through, I acted on impulse and leaned up to kiss him. The height difference meant I had to stand on my tiptoes, and I’d only intended a quick peck.
But Aiden had other ideas.
His arm tightened around my waist, his other hand cradling the back of my head, keeping me from pulling away. His lips parted against mine, teeth grazing my lower lip just enough to send a shiver down my spine. My knees weakened as his tongue slipped past my defenses.
The wet sounds of our kiss filled the quiet room, our breathing growing heavier by the second. My heart hammered in my chest like a wild, frantic drum.
His hand, no longer content to rest at my waist, slid beneath my loose top. Those warm fingers traced my spine before moving around to my front, making me gasp when they brushed against my breast.
“Aiden,” I breathed against his mouth as his thumb circled my nipple through the thin fabric of my bra. “We can’t… dinner p>
He pressed me against the piano, the keys making a discordant sound that matched the chaos in my mind. “Dinner can wait,” he murmured against my neck, his teeth scraping the sensitive skin there.
With tremendous effort, I pushed him back, adjusting my bra and tugging my shirt down. My face felt like it was on fire.
Looking at him—his perfectly composed expression despite the situation—just made me more frustrated. My eyes fixed on the exposed skin at his collar, and I found myself grinding my teeth.
Next time, I’m definitely going to bite him there.
Aiden noticed my stare and glanced
down at himself. His lips curved into that knowing smile I found both infuriating and irresistible. H unbuttoned his shirt further pulling
the collar aside. “Is this view better p>
My body burned even hotter. “I’m hungry!” I blurted out, practically running downstairs to escape.
I could hear him following behind me at a leisurely pace as we made our way to the
dining room. Lucy had just finished setting the table.
“Perfect timing,” she said cheerfully. “Dinner’s ready p>
I sat down, avoiding Aiden’s eyes. “I’m starving,” I told Lucy with a forced smile.
After Lucy returned to the kitchen,
the dining room felt enormous with just the two of us. Despite the- October chilloutside felt
overheated thinking about what had
just happened upstairs.
“How was the exclusive restaurant at lunch?” Aiden asked casually, placing a piece
of fish in my bowl.
I glanced up, relieved to see his expression was normal. “It was delicious. We
should go there sometime together p>
Just thinking about our earlier
encounter made my ears burn again.
Meanwhile, Aiden looked completely
unaffected. How did he always
manage that
that took a deep breath
trying to regain my composure.
Once I’d calmed down, I remembered the “important matter” I needed to discuss
with him. Any lingering desire immediately vanished, replaced by that uncomfortable feeling again.
I frowned slightly, staring at him while clutching my chopsticks.
Aiden looked up from the crab he was expertly shelling. “Am I that handsome?” he asked with a slight smile.
I blushed again. “That’s not it. I was just thinking about how to tell you what happened at lunch p>
His hands paused briefly. “What happened at lunch p>
No point in being subtle now. “I ran into Owen Duncan at the restaurant today. You
know, the guy who stopped me that night a few months ago p>
“I remember him,” Aiden interrupted, resuming his careful work on the crab. “What about him p>
With his eyes downcast, I couldn’t see how his expression had darkened slightly.
“He came over to say hello before our meal,” I explained, watching his skilled hands. “And when we finished eating and tried to pay, we found out he’d already settled our bill p>
Aiden placed the perfectly extracted crab meat on a small plate and passed it to me. He wiped his hands with a moist towel, movements deliberate and unhurried. “He paid for your meal p>
I nodded, biting my lip nervously. “I barely know him. It made me uncomfortable p>
To my relief, Aiden just smiled. “We’ll return the favor next time p>
I exhaled, tension draining from my shoulders. “That’s what I was thinking too p>
Eager to avoid any misunderstandings, I dropped the subject entirely, hoping we could move on to safer topics.