Chapter 28 Tension and Vulnerability
Aria’s POV
I forced myself to focus on anything except his half-naked body. “I told her we met at a charity gala when I was still with Liam. That nothing happened then, but after my engagement ended, we reconnected at a business meeting.”
“And the pursuit?” he prompted, casually running the towel through his hair again, water droplets cascading down his sculpted chest.
“I may have embellished a bit,” I admitted, keeping my eyes firmly on his face. “Said you sent flowers, surprise lunches… even asked my father’s permission to court me properly.”
Aiden’s eyebrows shot up. “You painted me as some lovesick Victorian gentleman?”
“It seemed believable at the time,” I defended, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. “She was asking questions, and I panicked. What was I supposed to say? That we got married because you needed to fulfill your grandmother’s dying wish and I wanted revenge on my ex?”
He nodded, an amused smirk playing at his lips. The sight of him standing there, half-naked and still glistening with moisture, was becoming increasingly distracting.
“I should shower,” I announced abruptly, grabbing the silk pajamas Edward had thoughtfully provided and practically bolting for the bathroom.
Once safely behind the closed door, I leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. This was ridiculous. We were business partners, nothing more. The fact that my heart was racing like a teenager’s was simply… biology. Nothing personal.
The hot water helped calm my nerves as I washed away the day’s tension. I took longer than necessary, hoping Aiden would be asleep by the time I emerged. No such luck.
He was propped up against the headboard, reading something on his phone, still gloriously shirtless. The bedside lamp cast golden shadows across his sculpted torso, highlighting every ridge and plane of
muscle.
I padded quietly to the bed, phone in hand, when it vibrated with an incoming message. Lillian’s name
flashed on the screen.
“Hey, I heard that disgusting ex of yours showed up at your place?”
Before I could respond, a video attachment appeared. I opened it with a sinking feeling in my stomach. Some nosy neighbor had filmed Liam standing outside my building, calling my name, demanding I come down to talk to him.
“He’s gone now,” I typed quickly.
“Thank God. I was about to drive over and give him a piece of my mind,” Lillian replied.
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I couldn’t help but smile at my friend’s protective instinct. “Good thing you didn’t. You would’ve wasted
the trip.”
“Why? Where are you?”
I hesitated before replying: “At Aiden’s grandmother’s estate.”
Three dots appeared immediately, followed by a rapid-fire series of messages:
“WHAT???”
“OMG I KNEW IT!”
“The way he looks at you when you’re not watching…”
“Are you sharing a room???”
“A BED???”
Before I could shut down her wild speculations, another message popped up:
“Girl, he wants you. TAKE ADVANTAGE. You’re legally married-might as well enjoy the benefits. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Those hands…”
The last message was accompanied by a devil emoji that made my cheeks flame hot.
I gasped and dropped my phone like it had burned me. It clattered to the floor between us.
Realizing I wasn’t alone, I lunged forward to retrieve it-but Aiden was faster. His hand reached down and picked up my phone before I could get to it. My heart stopped as I wondered if he’d seen Lillian’s messages. I studied his face carefully for any reaction, but his expression remained neutral as he handed the phone back to me. I let out a small sigh of relief.
My phone buzzed again in my hand. Aiden’s eyes flicked down to the screen, and I knew without looking
that Lillian had sent something even more explicit.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
I shook my head quickly. “No, no. We should probably get some sleep.”
“We should sleep,” I said stiffly, placing my phone face-down on the nightstand. “It’s late.” 2
Aiden’s eyes glinted with amusement, but he mercifully didn’t press the issue. “Which side do you prefer?
“Left,” I answered automatically.
“Perfect. I take right.”
Of course we would be compatible in this too. I slid under the covers, staying as close to the edge as possible without risking falling off. Aiden reached over and turned off the lamp on his side, plunging the room into darkness save for the soft moonlight filtering through the curtains.
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I lay rigid, acutely aware of his presence mere inches away. The mattress shifted as he settled in, and I held my breath, praying for sleep to claim me quickly.
“Aria,” his voice came softly through the darkness.
“Yes?” I whispered, not trusting myself to speak normally.
“Thank you for today. My grandmother hasn’t been this happy in years.”
His sincerity caught me off guard. “I like her,” I admitted. “She’s nothing like I expected.”
“Few people see that side of her.”
Silence fell between us again, more comfortable this time. I felt myself beginning to relax, the tension slowly draining from my shoulders.
Just as I was finally drifting off, I felt the mattress dip as Aiden shifted position. His arm brushed against my back – just the lightest touch, but enough to send electricity racing across my skin.
I froze, not daring to move, not even sure if he was awake or asleep. His breathing remained steady and deep behind me.
My mind betrayed me then, conjuring vivid images of his body-those strong arms wrapped around me, those broad hands exploring my skin, that perfectly sculpted chest pressed against mine. Heat pooled low in my abdomen, and I bit my lip to suppress a whimper.
This was torture. I was lying next to possibly the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen, legally married to him, and yet completely off-limits. I shifted slightly, trying to create more distance between us without being obvious.
“Can’t sleep?” His deep voice nearly made me jump out of my skin.
“I-I thought you were asleep,” I stammered, grateful for the darkness hiding my flushed cheeks.
“Not quite,” he murmured, his voice rough with fatigue. “You’re very tense.”
“I’m not used to sharing a bed,” I confessed.
The mattress shifted again as he turned toward me. I could feel the heat radiating from his bare chest, just inches from my back.
“Relax,” he said softly. “I don’t bite… unless asked nicely. For example-take advantage of your legal right to ride him like-”
My heart stopped. “You… you saw the messages?”
“Hard to miss when they’re lighting up your screen like a Christmas tree.”
Mortification washed over me in a hot wave. “I’m so sorry. Lillian can be a bit…”
“Direct?” His voice held a hint of laughter.
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Chapter 28 Tension and Vulnerability
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The bed shifted again, and suddenly I could feel him closer, his hand on my shoulder, warm and strong.
“So,” his voice was lower now, rougher. “Do you want to find out if she’s right?”
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