He’s just like Aiden. If not a little more unhinged. I still have no idea why he left his prestigious college back in the States to join us here.
“Yes, actually.” He flops into a chair, his arms hanging off the edge. “See, Aiden. I don’t have to prove it to you because we’re not under legal obligation. I can choose to prove it, but it’s only voluntary.”
“When does voluntary end and the obligation start?” Aiden shoots back.
They go on and on. The audience are watching two titans clash with gaped mouths. Even the president doesn’t dare to say anything.
Me, on the other hand? I’m done watching two sociopaths trying to outsmart one another.
As Asher goes on and on about legal texts and whatnot, I squeeze Aiden’s hand and whisper, “I’m tired. Let’s go home.”
He doesn’t even stop to consider it.
Still clutching my hand, he stands, taking me up with him and effectively cutting off Asher. “My wife needs to rest.”
“Loser,” Asher mutters.
Aiden smirks. “I’m taking a rain check.”
“I’ll be here,” Asher calls to our backs as we head to the door. “Now, where was I?”
He launches into a long, one-sided argument.
“Why are you even friends with him?” I ask as soon as we’re alone.
“Because he’s fun, sweetheart. We need fun people who aren’t politically correct.”
“You mean sociopaths.”
“Every society needs old-fashioned villains.” He grins down at me, then his brows crease. “Why are you tired?”
“I’m—”
Before I can say anything, he slams his palm on the middle of my chest.
“Aiden!” I watch our surroundings. I know he’s just checking my heartbeat — like he does every day. Actually, he sometimes sleeps with his head on my heart to make sure it’s working properly.
“I told you to check my wrist pulse when we’re in public,” I whisper. “People are watching.”
“Fuck people. I’ll check my wife’s pulse any way I like.” He removes his hand and places two fingers on my neck. “Hmm. Your pulse is fine.”
“It is,” I say as we step into the cold air.
“Then what is it? Do you feel chest tightness?”
“No.”
“Palpitations?”
I shake my head.
Aiden is strict as fuck when it comes to my health. He’s more religious about my appointments than I am. He’s continuously studying about heart conditions like doctors with degrees.
He’s even considering taking a second course in medicine.
No kidding, he really is.
He steps in front of me, buttons my coat to my chin, removes his scarf and ties it snugly around my neck.
It smells of him, clean and masculine. I take a deep inhale, breathing him into my lungs.
Aiden takes my cold hand in his and blows warm air into them before he places them in my pockets.
I watch him with a smile on my face. This side of Aiden always gets me in a knot. He’s so caring and attentive, I actually have nightmares about a life without him.
He’s become such a constant I can’t breathe without anymore.
Forget love and adoration, Aiden is fucking air to me. He’s everything I want in life and more. For that reason alone, I move onto my tiptoes and plant a kiss on his lips.
He grins with boyish charm.
Aiden likes it when I surprise him with kisses or when I demand pleasure. He says it turns him on more than anything else.
“Come on, it’s cold.” He pulls on my cheek. “I need to get my wife home.”
Right. Home.
Our place is about a fifteen minutes’ drive from campus.
We spend it talking about classes while Aiden has his hand up my thigh. I’m lucky to be wearing jeans; if I was in a skirt, he’d be bringing me to orgasm by now.
Aiden is still Aiden. Boundless and shameless.
He drives me crazy. I swear I fall for him a little more every day. I fall in love with how he prepares breakfast for me every morning. How he takes me on a run and watches my heart rate through it. How he carries me to bed from my desk every night when I fall asleep on it. How he fucks me as if he can’t get enough of me.
I love his attentiveness and his protectiveness. Hell, I even love his possessiveness sometimes.
I love all of him.
We arrive at our place.
It’s a two-storey house with a small garden I take care of. Aiden bought the land next to us for our one-year anniversary. He said it’s a gift so I can build my first house.
Our actual house.
I’ve been going crazy since then, coming up with a thousand and one ideas. I’m even contemplating combining the two lands and having a blast with it.
For now, we live in a cosy house with an antique feel to it.
As soon as we’re inside, I stop to remove my coat. Aiden yanks off his jacket and jogs to the kitchen — for my meds, no doubt.
I study our house, the wooden flooring and the dark decor.
A tinge of arousal hits me at the memory of Aiden taking me in every corner of this house. On the sofa, against the counter, and even on the floor near the entrance.
This place is filled with so many heart-warming memories.
After hanging the coat and scarf onto the hook on the wall, I tiptoe towards the kitchen. Aiden stands at the counter fussing with pills. He still reads the label every time. There’s no risk of error with him.
I wrap my arms around him from behind and rub my cheek against his back.
Aiden might not be a football player anymore — except for the occasional games now and then — but his physique is still hard and toned.
We go on runs together and he works out when he has insomnia, although it’s become rare since our marriage.
“What do you want most in the world, Aiden?”
“You.” He doesn’t even miss a beat.
I smile. “What else?”
“You healthy and happy and fucking mine.”
God. This man will be the death of me.
“What else?”
“That’s all.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes.” He spins around and hands me the pills with a glass of water.
I swallow the meds as he watches me intently. I watch him, too. His tousled, inky hair, the mole on the corner of his metal eyes, and the hint of his arrow tattoos as the sleeve of his shirt bunches up.
He clutches my elbow. “Let’s get you some rest.”
I squirm free. “I’m not tired.”
He raises an eyebrow and tilts his head. “If you’re not tired, I’ll fuck you in the shower like yesterday. I like it when you are horny, climbing up my body and clawing at my back.”
“There’s a reason for that.”
“Whatever it is, I like the reason. Let’s repeat it today.” He grins and goes back to fiddling with the pills.
I take a deep breath. Okay, here goes.
“Aiden?”
“Hmm, sweetheart?”
“I’m pregnant. Six weeks, to be exact.”
He freezes, the bottle of pills half-suspended in his hands.
Aiden wanted a kid three years ago, but he completely backed off when Dr Albert said it could be a danger to my life at that stage.