Chapter 254
Aria’s POV
We pulled into the driveway at five o’clock. I watched as Aiden opened the back door of the car, and suddenly remembered the shopping bags I’d left there.
I instinctively reached for them, but Aiden caught my movement and raised an eyebrow. “Afraid I’ll damage something p>
My cheeks warmed slightly. “No, not at all p>
He flashed me that disarming smile. “What did you buy p>
I pointed to one of the bags in his hand. “A little gift for you, actually p>
Feeling suddenly self-conscious, I added, “Just something small p>
After all, I couldn’t exactly afford anything extravagant for a man who had everything.
Aiden’s eyebrow arched as he lifted one of the bags. “This one p>
He was holding two similarly sized bags – one containing a necklace I’d bought for myself (nothing expensive, just something pretty that caught my eye), and the other holding his gift.
I shook my head. “The other one p>
“Let’s open it inside.” His warm fingers entwined with mine, tugging me gently toward the house.
“Okay.” I nodded, suddenly nervous. Would he like the gift? Would he think it was cheap or thoughtless? After all the extravagant presents he’d given me over time, this was my first gift to him.
My mind raced with doubts as we walked into the house. I was so lost in thought that Aiden had to call my name twice before I realized I was standing there with one shoe on and one shoe off.
“Where’s your mind wandering?” he asked.
My ears burned as I quickly bent down to remove my other shoe. I could hear Eleanor bustling around in the kitchen preparing dinner while Aiden led me upstairs.
We settled on the sofa in the sitting area outside the bedroom. Aiden set my necklace on the coffee table and pulled out the box containing his gift. I watched his face intently as he opened it, my eyes widening with anticipation.
He removed the tie clip from its box, his dark eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn’t quite read. “A tie clip,” he stated simply.
I nodded, searching his expression for any clue to his reaction. His face remained frustratingly neutral.
God, maybe he hated it. My lips pressed together before I added, “I just saw it and thought it might suit you, so I bought it p>
I didn’t dare admit I’d spent hours searching for something perfect, only to end up with something that now seemed inadequate.
Aiden examined the tie clip for a moment longer. “I love it, darling. Thank you p>
I blinked, uncertain. “Really p>
He made a soft clicking sound with his tongue. “Why would I lie about that p>
“It’s not that,” I stammered. “If you don’t like it, it’s really okay. I know it’s not anything special p>
“Anything my wife chooses for me is special,” he interrupted, carefully returning the tie clip to its box. Then, to my surprise, he took out his phone and snapped a picture of it.
“Are you posting that?” I asked, curiosity piquing.
Aiden glanced at me with knowing eyes. “Doesn’t my wife think I don’t appreciate her gift p>
I looked away, caught in my insecurity.
Instead of pressing the point, he simply smiled. “Just watch p>
Then he opened his social media app on his phone, his fingers moving confidently across the screen.
Aiden’s POV
I stared at my phone as it suddenly lit up with notifications from our long-silent group
chat. Ryan had commented on something. Clicking into the app, I discovered Thomas had posted a photo.
Ryan’s message was just a question mark.
“Thomas, what the hell is that?” Ryan typed.
Ethan jumped in: “A tie clip p>
“Ha! Since when do you get excited about tie clips?” Ryan replied with obvious
sarcasm.
I was typing a careful response: “Is today some special occasion p>
My seemingly random question clearly confused everyone.
Ryan tagged me: “@Aiden, did someone steal your phone? Can’t you check a
calendar if you’re wondering about holidays p>
“Then why did my wife give me a gift?” I replied simply.
I could practically feel the silence as Michael started typing, then stopped.
Bad timing!
Ryan went quiet.
Ethan finally responded: “Alright, we get it! Enough already p>
I exited the chat without further comment and posted the same photo to my social
media with the caption: “Thank you, Mrs. Carter p>
The post had barely gone live when Ryan, still nursing his wounded ego,
commented: “Yes, yes, we GET IT. Your wife gave you a gift p>
Aria sat beside me, witnessing my entire smug display. Her cheeks had flushed an adorable shade of pink.
I couldn’t resist asking, “Did you see that p>
She met my eyes briefly, clearly embarrassed. “I did p>
Yes, yes, I know you really like it!
The mixture of embarrassment and satisfaction on her face was captivating. I could almost see the bubbles of emotion rising within her-that delightful combination of shyness and pleasure.
Her carefully selected gift had hit its mark perfectly. The pride in her eyes reminded me of how she looked when accomplishing something significant. That satisfaction of effort well spent.
“I’ll buy you other gifts in the future,” she promised softly.
I felt my lips curve into a smile. “Then I thank Mrs. Carter in advance p>
I held her gaze, my eyes never leaving hers. “Would you like a hug p>
Aria hesitated for just a moment, looking up at me with those expressive eyes before nodding. “Yes p>
I swallowed hard, my Adam’s apple bobbing visibly as I reached for her, pulling her onto my lap in one smooth motion.
Leaning back against the couch, I
brought her with me, her body
following mine as she tumbled
against my chest. The familiar scent of her shampoo mixed with he natural fragrance filled my nostrils, grounding and intoxicating me simultaneously.
She wrapped her arms around my waist, nestling herself against me until she found
the perfect position, tucked securely against my body.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, she lifted her head unexpectedly.
I instinctively lowered mine, our eyes meeting in perfect synchronicity.
“Would you like to kiss me, Aiden?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as
a blush crept across her cheeks.
“Absolutely p>
How could I not? I wanted to pull her so deeply into me that we’d become inseparable.
I reached up, gently tilting her chin with my fingers before lowering my mouth to capture those soft lips with mine.
My wife, from her youth until now, had always maintained that innocent sweetness that drove me wild.
I wasn’t too early in her life, nor too late—just perfectly timed to hold her in my arms
like this.
If someday she could remember that she once gave me this same warmth and comfort, nothing would make me happier.
This kiss was gentler than any we’d shared before. I felt Aria practically melting in
my arms, surrendering completely.
Her heart raced against mine, and all
I could hear was the sound of our
heavy breathing intertwining. Her breath quickened to match mine, creating the illusion that we were truly becoming one.
When I finally released her lips, she collapsed against me, boneless and breathless
in my arms.
She panted softly as I held her, my heartbeat strong and steady against her ear. Gradually, her heartbeat synchronized with mine, reinforcing that magical feeling of connection between us.
Neither of us spoke. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a brilliant glow across the floor behind the couch, creating an almost fairytale-like atmosphere.
I stroked her long hair, bending to press a tender kiss to the top of her head. “Mrs. Carter is even more adorable than I imagined p>
My hands traveled down her back,
tracing the delicate curve of her spine. Every touch sent electricity through my fingertips. The way she responded arching slightly breath catching-told me everythingl needed to know about what she wanted.
“Aria,” I whispered against her ear, my voice deeper than usual. “I want you p>