Chapter Nine #2
“Times Square. John whirled around and grabbed him by his collar. Cassian was only thirteen, so Dominic and I came running.”
“Thirteen?” When he nods, I swallow hard. “Wow.”
At thirteen I was riding bikes, taking dance lessons and going on summer road trips with my parents. I once thought Aiden’s current lifestyle and mine were eons apart. But I realize now I had my own type of privilege, my own luxuries I took for granted.
“We came running up. Dominic was big even then. He got in front of John and tried to distract him while I pulled Cassian away. But John wouldn’t let go of Cassian.
He told us we had a choice. Either come with him and get a hot meal, or he’d call the police.
I didn’t want to go, but it was January.
Tourists were scarce, which meant wallets were, too. So we went.”
“Where did he take you?”
“The Empire Steak House on 49th.”
My jaw drops. “Isn’t that the place with a gold-crusted steak?”
“It is, although I ordered a double rack of lamb, lobster bisque and baked clams.” When I laugh, Aiden smiles slightly. “I ate every bite, but I was testing him. I didn’t know if he was a creep or just someone trying to rack up his good deed for the day.
“We spent nearly three hours there that first time. Cassian did most of the talking. But John coaxed Dominic and me into talking, too. For nearly three months we met John for dinner. Every Tuesday night. He’d let us order whatever we wanted.
But I still didn’t trust him. Why would a man like him be interested in three screwed-up teenagers the world had forgotten? ”
“So why did you?” I ask softly.
“Cassian trusted him. Dominic had even started to thaw. And the food was good. But around March, Cassian got sick. Really sick. Dominic and I scrounged up enough money for a taxi and managed to get the three of us to the address on the business card John had given us. A town house in the West Village. We stumbled out of the taxi and up the stairs with Cassian’s arms draped over our shoulders.
John answered the door himself and called an ambulance.
Dominic and I protested, but John just said ‘You three are moving in here. That’s not negotiable. ’”
It sounds like a kid’s version of Cinderella. “Did you ever ask him why?”
Emotion flickers in his eyes, but it vanishes just as quickly before I can discern what it was.
“No. He told us that he’d been down on his luck in his youth and someone gave him a chance. He wanted to do the same.”
“And then he adopted you. All three of you.”
I’ve met Dominic and Cassian when they’ve dropped by the office, sometimes for business, sometimes to take Aiden out for dinner.
Dominic is an icier version of Aiden while Cassian is pure charm.
I can’t help but smile at the thought of them running around a luxurious town house after surviving such a hard life on the streets.
“Yes, two years after we moved in. John paid for our college degrees. When we graduated, he gave us each a lease on an apartment for a year and one hundred thousand dollars and said the rest was up to us. We wouldn’t get any more help from him.
” Pride fills his voice. “We made it. All three of us. Cassian runs his shipping company. Dominic heads up his own private security firm.”
“And you have Hawke Financial.”
“I do.”
“Thank you, Aiden. For sharing.”
A shutter drops over his face, as if he’s just realized everything he’s confided. I set down my glass and quickly move to my phone. I tap the screen and a delicate melody starts to play, followed soon after by a swell as more instruments join in. He needs a distraction.
“We’ll start with the box step.”
He sets down his champagne with a sigh and stands next to me. He watches my movements, mimics my footwork.
“Good. Now, time to add the partner.”
I turn and step in front of him. He’s still dressed in his white dress shirt and black suit pants, although he left the suit jacket behind. My gaze lingers on the base of his throat and the dark hair curling toward the top of his chest.
I look up. Aiden’s watching me. One corner of his mouth is tilted up. He knows I was ogling him. But I suddenly don’t know what to do. I want him. Not just as a fantasy but him. Not for forever, I quickly remind myself. Just for now.
But I’m scared. The weight has eased, but the fear still lingers.
“Tell me what to do, Seraphina.”
My lips part as my gaze drifts down to his mouth. I love the way he says my name, the emphasis he puts on the last syllable. It makes my name sound magical, sensual.
“You put your right hand on my shoulder blade.”
He reaches around and places his hand as instructed.
My dress is held up by tiny straps and dips in the back, so his palm settles almost completely against my bare skin.
I arch toward him, my breasts grazing his chest before I catch myself and pull back.
I’m feeling just like I did during the photo shoot, this delicious pressure building inside me and I can’t do anything to stop it. Each touch only makes me want him more.
And this time, there’s no one else here. Just Aiden and me on the moonlit terrace of a Mediterranean villa.
“And the other hand?” he asks in a deep voice that ends on a faint rasp, as if he almost couldn’t get the words out.
I hold out my arm. “We hold hands at shoulder level.”
He takes hold of my left hand, his fingers wrapping around mine in a tight grip that is nothing like what a proper waltz position should be and everything I want.
“Now we dance.”
My words come out on a whisper, nearly drowned out by the music. We move slowly at first, then a little quicker in time to the music. All the while he keeps his gaze locked on me.
“Is that it?”
I can’t help but grin. “We could add a turn.”
He pulls me tight against his chest and executes a sudden spin. I cling to him, caught up in the whirlwind of the turn, the press of his hand against my back, his body against mine.
We stop. The music is still playing, but it sounds so far away, lost beneath the buzzing in my ears, the thudding of my heart, the shallowness of our breaths mingling.
He brings our joined hands up to his lips, brushes his mouth over my knuckles.
“I want you. And you want me.”
“I do,” I breathe.
He hesitates. “I can’t offer more, Seraphina.”
My desire dips. He’s reaffirming our agreement. Once our engagement is over, we’ll go back to the way things were.
Is that even possible?
I don’t know if it is with everything that’s already happened between us. Which means I should take everything that’s being offered while I still can. Finally discover if my dreams match reality.
“Make love to me, Aiden.”