Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(18)
I wanted to look away and I knew that I should but my eyes wouldn’t cooperate; they were glued to him as he strolled into the room. My eyes slowly moved over his tall, powerful and incredibly gorgeous frame. He was so hot that he could make a * cum just by looking at it! And there on his arm was a stunningly beautiful red-head. There was a unique beauty about her; and she wore the same air of affluence as the man whose arm she was possessively clutching.
Allen and Michelle Lane were also in close proximity. It seemed they appeared alongside the Raines whenever the chance presented itself. I skimmed his entourage, looking for his mother or father. His father was reportedly on the mend and working part time in the Chicago office. I wondered what that meant for Aiden. Would he retain the position of President and CEO of Raine Industries? He couldn’t resume his alias in the circles in which he traveled now because the news of his undercover probing into Raine Industries had flooded all news channels and media outlets. You’d have to practically live under a rock to not know what had transpired at Raine Industries.
I looked away just as Aiden spotted me. I wasn’t the only one getting an eyeful; I glanced up at Kellan and saw that he had been watching my prolonged survey of Aiden. I turned away from Kellan’s inquisitive eyes and nervously scanned the room pondering how I would possibly manage this night.
The orchestra began playing and several splendidly dressed couples made their way to the dancing area. Waiters were circling the room taking drink orders and distributing drinks. I needed one ... or two. I turned back toward the others as the conversations commenced. My subliminal message must have been loud and clear because a waiter was approaching our group. I noticed Raina eyeing him too. I was about to reach for a drink, as was she, but stopped short when her expression changed; I followed her gaze. It was Aiden; he was coming this way. He’d barely been in the room five seconds and he was already strapped and ready to cause problems. I quickly turned to Kellan and asked him to dance. We eased into the small crowd of dancers and started gliding to the gentle sounds of Franz Schubert’s Serenade.
Everything felt awkward now. I didn’t know what to say. Should I ignore it or should I address what I knew he was piecing together. I looked at the other dancers, the orchestra, and the waiters … anything but Kellan. I felt his eyes burning into me. I knew he had questions. Questions that I would eventually have to answer if I wanted an honest relationship with him.
“Mind if I cut in?”
Aiden was standing behind Kellan. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed his approach.
“That’s up to the lady,” Kellan said.
“Aria, will you do me the honor?” Aiden asked.
He noticed my hesitation. “I promise not to bite,” he said.
I sighed. “Fine, but just one.”
“Whatever you want,” he replied, as he reached for my hand.
I placed my hand in his and his touch literally sent chills throughout my body. This was a bad idea. I looked toward Kellan offering a silent plea for his rescue but Aiden tactfully moved me from Kellan’s reach.
“You’re starting to make running from me a new art form,” he said, peering down at me.
“I’m certain I don’t know what you mean.”
“And I’m certain that you do,” he replied. “It’s just a dance Aria, nothing to be afraid of.”
I knew all too well that nothing was that simple when it came to Aiden.
“Don’t flatter yourself … at least not any more than you already do. There may be a few things I fear but you’re certainly not one of them.”
He leaned down towards me, drowning me in his rich scent, “Are you sure about that?” he whispered.
And just like that Virginia awoke from her hibernation, the gentle throbbing between my legs nearly causing my stumble. “What happened to this being just a dance?” I asked.
He responded by sweeping me into his arms, taking my breath way; I was still apprehensive but Virginia reveled in the elation of his proximity. We slid easily across the floor, his graceful movements taking me on an enchanted flight. Being in his arms like this felt right somehow; I was more comfortable than I would have liked. The conflicting emotions were consuming me. I craved his touch, yet it hurt to be this close. I wanted to run; yet I wanted to melt into him.
“I heard good things from Chicago,” he said, changing the subject.
“Did you expect anything less?” I asked.
“I can’t say that I did but in the future, you should take heed to my suggestions and trust that I know what’s best.”
“This is my job, not yours and I will not go along blindly with everything you say. I’m not one of your corporate neophytes who think you’re all-knowing.”
“It would appear I struck a nerve. That was not my intent. I only want what’s best for you. You know that, right?”
“Aiden, can we just dance in silence?”
The last time I’d danced with him, it resulted in him f*cking me against the wall of a dark room on a yacht. I looked up when he didn’t answer. I was prepared to denounce anything inappropriate that he may have had in mind but I lost my words; my resolve weakened as soon as his eyes captured mine. His dark green eyes were as breathtaking and spellbinding as a thick blanket of stars; enchanting anyone who fell under his gaze. His eyes, just as his temperament, were strangely mercurial. At times, they were a brilliant emerald green, inviting you into his amazing world. And there were times when they were hooded with lust as they morphed into two dark smoldering pools of liquid green and then there were the times when he was angry, spitting green bolts of flashing fire.