Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(48)

The last time I’d agreed to any type of relationship with Aiden, he’d told me that I wouldn’t regret it. The part of me that was stepping into unchartered waters with him couldn’t help but wonder if I would regret it this time, especially now that the stakes were much higher.





CHAPTER FOURTEEN

It was our last night at Aiden’s. It was time to start our new lives; my sisters and I would be going home tomorrow. Of course, Aiden objected but I made him understand that it was time. He and I spent the better part of the day working on The Writer. It was great to finally do some work and it was that much better working alongside him again. He worked with such keen insight and vigor ... it was fascinating to watch.

The day passed by much too quickly. Dianna brought our lunch to the study and we ate as we worked. We were unaware of the time when Allison checked on us for dinner. We’d made some pertinent modifications to our roll-out strategy that I was anxious to share with the team.

After dinner, we watched a movie. When the credits began, I turned toward him to see that he was watching me.

“You look tired. How about we get you to bed?” he said.

I hope by bed, he meant f*cked because it had been all I could think about since last night. I was sure I was using it as a diversion, but for now it worked because I didn’t want to walk around buried in grief.

We said goodnight and went to his bedroom. He went to the bathroom as I went to place my phone on the charger.

“Aria, I’ve started your bath. Come,” he said, extending a hand to me.

“You’re so amazing, do you know that?”

“That’s the word on the street.” he said, smiling.

“Ugh. I forgot.”

“Forgot what?” he asked.

“That I can’t give you any compliments.”

“Why is that?” he asked, as he unbuttoned my shirt.

“Because you don’t take them well.”

“Quite the contrary, I take them very well. I never disagree.”

“Exactly, you treat it like I’m stating the obvious. You are not all that, you know.”

“Sure I am. A guy would have to be all that to get your attention.”

He reached behind me to unbutton my bra, which he did with ease. I wondered how many of those he’d unbuttoned.

“I can undress myself you know,” I said, as he unbuttoned my pants and reached for my zipper.

“I know but I wanted the pleasure of doing it for you. You wouldn’t deny me that would you?” He placed his hands between my jeans and my thighs easing the jeans down my legs.

I stepped out of them and he looked up at me. “Damn, I love seeing you like this.”

He reached up to my waist and slid my panties down. “You are so beautiful Aria.”

His eyes were fixated on the space between my thighs. “Are you referring to me as a whole or just one particular part of my body?” I asked. The way he looked at me was making me wet; I wanted to pounce on him. But I had a feeling he had something special planned for tonight so I was content to let it all play out; he probably would have made it happen that way anyway.

“Although my eyes were lingering on one specific area, yes I do mean you as a whole. Now let’s get you in the tub.”



*****



The next morning seemed different than any morning I could remember. I was nervous, excited and in spite of the grief, I was happy. I felt Mom’s presence. I felt her approval of the choices I’d made as of late. Aiden and I had finished breakfast with everyone and went to his study for a game of chess before I headed home. It was my move.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were rich?” I asked.

“If you’re referring to the Raine billions, it’s not my money, it’s my parents’.”

“ Same difference,” I replied.

“If you say so.”

“But you know … you’re not really what I would think a billionaire’s son to be.”

“Oh. And how should a billionaire’s son be?” he asked, playfully.

“You’re very down to earth, well, at least when you want to be. You’re not as prudish as I would expect. You don’t act spoiled, well for the most part anyway. You’re very domesticated and you’re very, very dirty.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I do partake of some of what this life offers but I don’t consistently lavish myself in it. That’s just not who I am.”

“I love that about you,” I said.

“I love lots of things about you. Wait, why do you say I’m domesticated? Is it because I can cook? It was just the one meal.”

“And the breakfast,” I said. “I recall you saying there was a story behind that.”

“Sort of. We grew up with staff so, of course, we had cooks and what not. As a child I bored of everything quite easily and I had a thirst for knowledge of any type. We didn’t venture into the kitchen very much because our meals were always prepared for us but I wanted to know how so I was often in the kitchen watching and talking to the staff. Mother would often find me there and run me out.”

“So if you were often in the kitchen, I’m sure you can cook more than the one meal.”

He smiled. “Yes.”