Touched (The Untouched Trilogy #2)(61)

“And the other rooms?”

“To be honest, I tend to stick with only a few so I’m not sure but there are an assortment of rooms – home offices, workshops, libraries, solariums, sports courts, game rooms, entertainment dens, wine cellars, butler pantries, three kitchens, sauna retreats and staff quarters. I’ll show you around when we get settled.”

His mention of a kitchen made me think of the story of his mom running him from the kitchen as a child. I was anxious to see it and hopefully meet the person responsible for his culinary skills.

The car stopped in the crest of the circular drive and Aiden opened the door. He reached for my hand and assisted me out of the car. Hand-in-hand, we walked up the steps to the vast double doors. When we reached the door, he looked at me. “Are you ready?”

“I suppose,” I replied, nervously. He planted a chaste kiss on my lips and opened the door.

We stepped inside and I gasped as I took in the palatial elegance of the Raine family home. Aiden looked down at me, a reassuring smile gracing his lips. He continued to hold my hand and led me to what I would think was the drawing room. It was massive; there was enough space to easily host the social event of the year. My attention was immediately drawn to the flames dancing in the ornate carved fireplace in the middle of the room. Several feet to the left, there was a grand staircase that spiraled toward the uppermost section of the second floor. Beautiful mosaic-tile floors encased the stairs on either side. The room was embellished with sharply arched windows that led to a vaulted ceiling from which an elegant crystal chandelier hung.

“Aiden!” his mother exclaimed, as she rushed in and quickly embraced him, her dancing eyes instantly froze as they rested upon my face. “Aria, I didn’t know you were joining Aiden. Hello dear,” she said.

“Hi Mrs. Raine,” I replied. I coaxed a smile into making an appearance.

“Please call me Sienna. Mrs. Raine is Connor’s mother,” she replied, with a brittle smile.

“If you’ll call me Aria instead of dear, I’ll call you Sienna,” I replied.

Her smile froze and Aiden looked at me. “Your name is as beautiful as you are,” I added, in an attempt to soften my request. Despite my disdain for her, I had to admit she was a beautiful woman. Her hair, the same dark brown as Aiden’s, made her appear younger than her years, undoubtedly the handy work of a very expensive stylist. Her green eyes weren’t dark like Aiden’s; they were an icy green and they were a-gleam with delight as she doted on her son. Her thinly plucked eyebrows were perfectly arched. She was exquisitely dressed; the embodiment of distinction and beauty. Did she dress like that just to sit around the house?

She looked at me and I was sure she was silently cursing me. The iciness of her eyes mirrored her cold demeanor. “Your father is resting in the study. He’ll be pleased to see you.”

“Clark, can you get their bags. You can place Aiden’s things in his room and Miss Cason will be in the guest room closest to the stairs on the second floor,” Sienna instructed.

“Hello Clark,” Aiden said.

“Hello Mr. Aiden,” Clark replied.

“You can place Miss Aria’s things in my room too,” Aiden said, disputing his mother’s instructions.

“Yes sir,” he replied, and looked at Sienna for approval.

“Thank you Clark. That will be all,” she said, as she looked at me and back at Aiden.

Shit. Way to add more fuel to the fire Aiden. “It’s fine Aiden. I can stay in the guest room,” I said, flinging a warning look that he ignored.

“Aria, I want you to be comfortable. You and I both know that you would be most comfortable with me. Besides, my mother knows that I’m an adult who does adult things, which means she is more than aware that we have seen each other naked by now.”

Did he just say that? As if she didn’t have enough reason to dislike me. Why would he do that?

“Aiden! Don’t be crass,” Sienna exclaimed, reproving his openness.

He smiled at me and laughed at Sienna. “Mother, please assure Aria that her sharing a room with me is fine.”

“Of course, I didn’t want to assume but now that Aiden has more than verified the state of your relationship, I’m somewhat embarrassed,” she said, looking at me.

“I’m sorry. I would have thought he would have told you that I was coming and we could have avoided the awkwardness,” I said, tossing daggers his way. Sienna was probably thinking I was a whore who gave it up at the drop of a hat. Well … that was true when it came to her son. Even still, I didn’t want her thinking any less of me than she already did.

“I thought I heard voices out here. Well, hello son and Miss Cason, so happy that you’re here. It gives me the opportunity to congratulate you on your promotion and to also apologize for my part in the deception regarding Aiden’s identity,” said Connor.

“Thank you on both counts,” I said.

“Dad, the identity thing is water under the bridge so do a favor for your son and don’t mention that anymore. You have no idea of the amount of torture I endured and the degree of beseeching I extended to garner this gorgeous woman’s forgiveness.”

“I can certainly understand that,” Connor said, looking at me approvingly. “Consider it forgotten,” Connor said.

I smiled at him noting his obvious resemblance to his son. Between Sienna and Connor I couldn’t tell which one to most attribute Aiden’s beauty. Connor had distinct cheekbones and an angular jaw, his skin was rather pale; perhaps due to his recent illness. His curls were dark brown with a touch of gray at the edges and intermixed within the crown of his head. You could easily see that at one time, he’d been in excellent shape. I doubt it ever rivaled Aiden’s, however.