Chapter 40
Aiden’s POV
“I’m thinking about how to seduce you p>
Her words hit me like a physical blow. The car suddenly felt too small, too hot. I stared at her, watching her mortified expression bloom across her face as she realized what she’d said aloud.
“Is that so?” I kept my voice deliberately neutral, though every muscle in my body had tensed.
Aria looked away quickly, her fingers nervously playing with the hem of her dress. “I didn’t mean to say that. Please forget it p>
Forget it? Not a fucking chance.
I reached for the button that raised the privacy partition between us and the driver, pressing it without hesitation. The soft mechanical hum filled the silence as the barrier rose.
“Aria,” I said, my voice dropping lower than usual. “Look at me p>
She hesitated, those wide eyes eventually turning back to meet mine – eyes that had been haunting my thoughts for weeks now.
“Tell me what you just said again.” I needed to hear it once more, to be sure this wasn’t my imagination playing cruel tricks.
Her lips parted slightly, her breathing noticeably faster. “I… I said I was thinking about how to seduce you p>
I moved closer, eliminating the distance between us on the leather seat. “And why would you want to do that p>
She swallowed hard, her throat working against the tension. “Because… I want you to want me p>
The raw honesty in her confession hit me hard. This woman had no idea what she was doing to me.
“What makes you think I don’t already?” I murmured, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, allowing my fingers to linger against her warm skin. I could feel her pulse jump beneath my touch.
Her eyes widened at my words, disbelief and hope fighting for dominance in her expression.
I traced my thumb across her bottom lip, watching as her eyes fluttered closed. “Do you have any idea how fucking hard it’s been to keep my hands off you p>
A small sound escaped her throat – half gasp, half moan – sending a jolt of desire straight through me.
“Then why did you?” she whispered suddenly, her voice breaking slightly.
“That night… at your grandmother’s estate. You were… I could feel that you wanted me, but you pushed me away. It hurt p>
The vulnerability in her voice made me pause. I hadn’t considered how my rejection might have affected her.
“I didn’t want to take advantage of you,” I said, my voice rough with restraint.
“You were upset about that asshole ex of yours. I don’t want to be something you regret in the morning, little wife p>
Her eyes softened at my explanation. “I wouldn’t have regretted it p>
That was all I needed to hear. In one fluid motion, I pulled her onto my lap, her dress riding up as she straddled me.
The shock on her face quickly melted into something else – desire, raw and unmistakable.
“Is this what you want?” I growled, my hands gripping her hips firmly.
She nodded, breathless.
“Words,” I demanded. “I need to hear you say it p>
“You,” she whispered. “I want you, Aiden p>
I crashed my lips against hers, swallowing her gasp of surprise. This wasn’t the accidental brush from earlier – this was deliberate, hungry, demanding.
She responded instantly, her body melting against mine as her arms wound around my neck. Her lips were soft but eager, opening under mine as I deepened the kiss.
I slid one hand up her back, tangling in her hair to angle her head just right. With my other hand, I gripped her hip, guiding her against me so she could feel exactly what she was doing to me.
She moaned into my mouth, the sound driving me wild. I broke the kiss only to trail my lips down the elegant column of her throat, tasting her skin, breathing in her scent.
“Aiden,” she gasped, her fingers digging into my shoulders.
I bit down gently on the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, and she shuddered against me. My hands found the zipper at the back of her dress, slowly dragging it down.
“Tell me to stop,” I murmured against her skin. “Tell me now if this isn’t what you want p>
She pulled back slightly, her eyes dark with desire as they met mine. “Don’t you dare stop p>
The back of her dress loosened, and I pushed it down to reveal the lace of her bra. Black lace against her creamy skin – the sight nearly undid me.
I traced my finger along the edge of the fabric, watching as goosebumps rose on her skin. “So beautiful,” I growled.
She trembled under my touch, her body responding to every movement of my fingers. I cupped her breast through the lace, rubbing my thumb over her nipple until it hardened beneath my touch.
Her head fell back with a moan, exposing more of her throat to my hungry mouth. I took full advantage, nipping and sucking at her delicate skin.
The car suddenly slowed, and I realized with frustration that we were approaching the mansion gates. We had minutes – seconds – before we’d have to stop.
“Aiden,” she whispered, clearly having the same realization. Her eyes were wild, her lips swollen from my kisses.
“This isn’t over,” I promised, my voice rough with desire. “Not by a long shot p>
I helped her adjust her dress, zipping it back up with reluctant fingers. She slid back
to her seat just as the car pulled to a stop in front of the house.
Her chest was still rising and falling rapidly, her hair slightly mussed from my hands. She looked thoroughly kissed and impossibly desirable.
“Tonight,” I told her, my voice low enough that only she could hear. “I’m going to finish what we started p>
The driver opened the door, and I stepped out first, offering my hand to help her from the car. As she took it, our eyes locked, and the promise between us was clear.
No more pretending. No more holding back.
Tonight, I would make her mine in every way that mattered.