Chapter 60
Aria’s POV
“Need something?” Aiden asked, his voice low and casual as water cascaded down his sculpted body.
His words snapped me back to reality. I’d been so hypnotized by his swimming that
I’d completely forgotten why I’d rushed out here in the first place.
“I was just ” I started, but he cut me off with a raised hand.
“Give me five minutes,” he said, reaching for a towel draped over a nearby chair. “Wait for me in the cabana p>
Without waiting for my response, he strode toward what must’ve been a changing room near the pool house. I made my way to the small cabana, settling myself onto one of the white cushioned benches. The folder I’d brought lay open on my lap as I continued skimming through the pages, trying to ignore how my heart was still racing from watching him in the water.
I’d barely finished reviewing the material when Aiden returned, now dressed in a plush bathrobe that clung to his still-damp body. He smelled clean and expensive, like high-end soap with a hint of chlorine. He sat beside me-close enough that I could feel heat radiating from him, but not quite touching.
“What part of the file confused you?” he asked directly, running a hand through his wet hair.
I flipped to page ten and jabbed my finger at the list. “This part right here. ‘Dislikes when women stand closer than half an arm’s length. Dislikes being touched without permission. Dislikes women who wear heavy perfume. Dislikes women who speak loudly I could keep going, but honestly, this could all be summarized as ‘dislikes women’ and save Lucas some ink p>
Aiden’s face remained impassive, but I swore the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “I don’t dislike women p>
Yeah right, who would believe that p>
I plastered on a smile, pretending to be confused. “But every single point seems to be saying women should basically stay away from you p>
“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood the purpose,” he said, leaning back slightly.
The movement caused his already loose bathrobe to part further at his chest, revealing a generous expanse of muscle. My mind unhelpfully flashed back to how those muscles felt under my hands earlier, and I felt heat rush to my face.
I quickly averted my gaze, only to accidentally meet his dark eyes instead. Feeling caught, my cheeks burned hotter.
“R-really?” I stammered. “What am I missing p>
“These rules,” he said, casually pulling his robe closed, “don’t apply to you. And furthermore”
I watched his hands adjusting the fabric, my face practically on fire now. “Furthermore what p>
God, I needed to change the subject before I embarrassed myself again. I wasn’t usually this…affected by someone’s body!
“You’re a woman,” he said, his dark eyes holding mine steadily. “I don’t dislike you. So clearly, I don’t dislike women p>
I blinked, processing his strange logic. Then suddenly it clicked. “Oh! I get it now. This is about me helping to keep other women away, right? I’m supposed to be the ‘sorry ladies, he’s taken’ shield p>
“You are Mrs. Carter,” he replied smoothly. “Isn’t that part of the role p>
“Right, right, of course,” I nodded quickly, feeling foolish for not understanding sooner. This was purely practical-just another aspect of our arrangement. “Absolutely. My bad p>
Aiden studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he asked, “Do you like wearing perfume p>
The sudden change of topic threw me completely off balance. “Um, not particularly?
I mean, I have some, but I don’t wear it daily p>
“You should,” he said, his voice dropping slightly lower. “It would suit you p>
I frowned, confused. “But it says right here,” I pointed at the file, “that you dislike strong perfumes p>
“Yours always smells good p>
“Oh… thanks,” I mumbled, but couldn’t shake the feeling he was implying something.
Wait-did I smell bad? Why was Aiden suggesting I use more perfume?
I discreetly lowered my head and sniffed. Nothing offensive there.
“What are you thinking?” his casual voice broke through my thoughts.
Still distracted by my smell-check, I answered without thinking: “I’m wondering if I smell bad or something p>
“Why would you think that?” he asked.
Again, my brain-to-mouth filter completely failed me. “Well, if I don’t smell bad, why suggest I wear more perfume p>
The second those words left my mouth, I froze completely. What was wrong with me? Was I still drunk from last night?
My brain seemed to be operating on a five-second delay! Who says things like that out loud?
My fingers nervously drummed against the wooden table, creating an awkward tapping sound that seemed to echo in the night air. “Sorry,” I mumbled, mortified. “That was… forget I asked that p>
Aiden looked at me, really looked at me, with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
Then he stood up, towering over me in the moonlight.
“Don’t overthink it. You’re the exception,” he said simply.
I stared up at him, my heart suddenly hammering in my chest. “What does that mean p>
“It means you’re my wife p>
The way he said it—so matter-of-factly yet somehow intimate—sent a rush of heat through my body.
Memories of what had happened in the car earlier came flooding back. His hands on me, my embarrassing begging, the way he’d looked at me with such hunger p>
I needed to leave. Now. Before I did something stupid again.
“I should go,” I stammered, hastily gathering the folder and standing up so quickly
that the bench scraped loudly against the stone floor.
In my haste to escape, I took a step backward without looking-and found nothing but air beneath my foot.
Time seemed to slow as I teetered on the edge for a fraction of a second before gravity won.
With a spectacular lack of grace, I tumbled backward into the pool, still clutching Aiden’s precious file to my chest.
The cool water swallowed me whole, and all I could think was: Great. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of Aiden-again.