Chapter 233
Aria’s POV
The silence behind me was worrying. Maybe I’d pushed it too far with the jet ski. I immediately slowed down, bringing us about a hundred meters from shore.
Out here, our section of water was peaceful and calm, far from the bustling activity happening a kilometer away.
I stopped completely and glanced back at Aiden. “Was I going too fast p>
With his helmet on, I couldn’t make out his expression.
“I thought you liked it fast, Mrs. Carter,” he replied, his voice low and delicious in my
ear.
I felt my cheeks flush. “You could’ve told me if it was too much p>
“It’s fine. I like whatever you like p>
“Really p>
“When have I ever lied to you p>
He hadn’t. Ever.
My lips curved into a smile. “Aiden, I want to give you a little gift p>
“Oh p>
I glanced up at the drone tracking our movements for safety purposes but didn’t explain further. “Hold on tight, okay p>
The next second, I gunned the engine, sending us flying across the water again, waves rippling outward from our path.
“Aiden!” I called out against the wind.
“Yes p>
“I love you so much p>
With no spectators around, my courage soared.
Not satisfied with just once, I repeated myself louder: “I love you so much, Aiden! So, so much p>
My voice carried through the sea breeze, sweet and clear like an ice pop melting away summer heat.
I felt his arms tighten around my waist. He raised his voice to be heard over the wind: “What a coincidence. I happen to love my wife very much too p>
My heart pounded wildly as I took us around in several loops before finally steering back to shore.
When Aiden emerged from changing out of his wetsuit, he noticed I wasn’t right behind him.
He walked to one side, gazing out at the vast ocean.
I caught him smiling to himself, probably thinking about my windswept confession.
By the time he spotted me, I was already running back from the rental shack.
Aiden raised an eyebrow and walked toward me. “Where did you run off to p>
My face was flushed from the heat as I proudly held up my phone. “I went to get your gift p>
“What gift p>
Suddenly feeling shy, I mumbled, “I’ll send it to you p>
Aiden arched his eyebrow slightly as I tapped on my phone. Moments later, he received the video I’d sent.
It was about a minute long, footage from the drone that had captured us on the jet ski. I stood beside him, watching as he viewed it, feeling my ears grow hot.
“So where’s the gift?” he asked when it ended.
I blinked in surprise. “You… you didn’t notice p>
“Notice what p>
His response made me grab his phone back frantically. “Look again! See how the waves form a heart shape? I drew a heart for you p>
“I see it now,” he murmured, pulling me close. “I have a little gift for you too p>
“What is it p>
Instead of answering, he tilted my chin up and showed me with his actions.
The gift was a kiss that pulled me into his powerful embrace. Suddenly I was drowning in his masculine
scent. His usual cedar fragrancenet
normally so cool and refreshing, now felt like an intoxicating drug making my head spin.
Aiden’s kiss trapped me like an inescapable net. The sound of waves crashing
against rocks mingled with his slightly quickened breathing.
My heart had never beaten this fast before The oxygen in my lungs was being stolen away breath by breath. felt like a fish out of water, dry and burning under a scorching sun.
My rational mind fought for control as his lips finally released mine, only to move to
the spot behind my ear where he took my earlobe between his teeth.
A shiver ran through my entire body. I heard the wet sound as he pulled away, and my face burned crimson.
Aiden looked down at me. “Thank you for the gift, Mrs. Carter p>
Breathing heavily, I glanced up at him. “People might see us p>
Drones were everywhere because of the competition. Even though they were far away, there was still a chance that tourists might capture something unintended.
I couldn’t believe Aiden would kiss me like that in public!
Just thinking about that kiss made my face flush even more. I quickly changed the subject: “Let’s head over to the competition area p>
Aiden brushed aside a strand of hair that the sea breeze had blown across my face. His lips curved upward. “Whatever you say p>
As we were leaving, we passed another couple.
Still feeling flustered, I wasn’t watching where I was going and stumbled into a small hole in all hole in the sand pitched forward, But Aiden caught me around the waist and
pulled me back.
I crashed against his solid chest, my heart racing again.
He tapped my forehead lightly. “Watch where you’re going, Mrs. Carter p>
Red-faced, I lowered my head and murmured, “I will p>
We’d both done something inappropriate, yet Aiden seemed so unbothered by it.
How could he be so thick-skinned?
As if reading my thoughts, he clicked his tongue softly. “We’re legally married. There’s nothing to be afraid of p>
I looked up into his amused dark eyes and pressed my lips together. “It’s not a good influence on minors p>
Aiden was quiet for a moment. “My wife makes an excellent point p>
I changed the subject again, suddenly remembering something important. I stopped abruptly and turned to face him. “Wait! Aiden, did you know I was JJ all along p>
He twirled the umbrella he was carrying. “What do you think p>
I stared at him in disbelief. “When did you find out p>
Again, he dodged my question. “Care to guess? Guess correctly and you’ll get a reward p>
The memory of his “little gift” from earlier made my face heat up, and I looked away.
“Was it before or after we got married p>
This time he answered directly: “Before p>
My eyes widened. I felt like I’d just uncovered some incredible secret. “So you knew
me long before, is that it p>