Chapter 23
Aden has barely said a word since his cryptic response about recognizing the man in the photo with my dad. He’s been in a weird mood in general, and I’d complain except for the fact that this mood resulted in him demanding a guest room and something he called “condom jewelry.”
I don’t know what that is, but I’m definitely interested.
“Here.” Analise hands me a box of small fabric-covered objects.
I pull out a circular one that’s the size of a bracelet. It has the weight of metal, but the entire thing is wrapped in fabric. The box contains an assortment of similar items in various shapes and sizes.
“They’re iron,” she explains. “They won’t hurt him, just dull the effects of the connection so you can control it better. You can experiment to see how much you need and what’s most comfortable. For example, when we want to be with Matteo, I wear one on my ankle, but Luca needs two or three, due to the strength of their connection.”
“It’s because Matteo loves me more,” Luca tells us with a straight face.
Analise shoots him a mock glare. “You just have more body mass and more points of contact since you’re closer to the same size.”
“That’s your theory. Mine is that he loves me more.” He grins and pretend flinches when she lifts her hand. But instead of smacking him, she tucks her arm through his and drags him toward the door.
“Anyway, we’ll leave you alone. Let us know if you need anything.”
“Thanks. For everything,” I say.
They return a wave and close the door behind them.
“Thoughts?” I ask Aden once we’re alone.
He still has a stony, unreadable expression on his face, reminiscent to what he wore while fighting Rob. Memories of their confrontation heats my body with lust once more. Watching Aden so effortlessly dismantle the lesser man was a sight to behold. Even weakened from the iron, Aden was so dominant, Rob had to cheat to match him.
“It’s a good idea.” He picks up one of the objects and weighs it in his hand.
“It doesn’t hurt?”
He shakes his head. “I feel a slight drain of energy, but the fabric is shielding the iron, so it doesn’t burn. It should work.”
He grips his shirt at his upper back and tugs it over his head. After tossing it on the floor, he unbuttons his pants and shoves them down.
While my body is enjoying the surprise striptease, the rest of me isn’t so sure.
“In a hurry?” I ask as he steps out of his pants.
“Aren’t you? The quicker I get to full strength, the quicker we can find your father and finish this.”
Unbelievable.
I cross my arms and return a sour look.
“What?” he asks.
“I’m not your human battery. You can’t just use me for a quick charge when you need it.”
He winces, his brow softening slightly. “Shit, Gabi. I’m sorry. I know you’re not.”
He reaches for me, and I shrink back with a glare. “I love you, Aden, but I don’t like how you dictate our contact. It’s always here’s how much I need, but no more. What about what I need?”
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I know. Again, I’m sorry. That whole thing about The Shadow and the Demon Militia was a lot for me. I’ll tell you more eventually. I just… can’t right now.”
“It was a lot for me too.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
He draws me into his arms, and the feel of his warm, bare skin soothes any remaining tension.
“It’s hard to find out the person you loved most in this world is a monster,” I say.
His lips rest on my hair as his arms tighten around me. “It’s also hard when the person you love most in this world has been hurt by that monster.”
“You’re angry,” I observe, running my palms over the tense muscles of his back and shoulders.
“Of course I’m angry. I’m fucking livid.”
The simmering rage in his tone sends a prickle of fear through me. He needs to be in fight-mode, but not to the point of reckless fury. I have to draw him out of his head, especially if he’s not going to let me into it.
I lean back to soak up the anger in his gaze. “Can I ask you something? I’ve been wondering about this for a while.”
His forehead creases at my grave tone.
“Sure. What is it?”
“Are you Greek or Roman?”
He stares at me, his lips parting slightly.
“What?” he laughs out.
I lift a brow. “The Greeks and Romans both had Apollos, right? Which one are you?”
A smile cracks through his stony exterior as he shakes his head. “Neither. I can’t control how humans perceive me. I’m a lot of things to a lot of people.”
“Huh. Well, you should know that you’re not Apollo to me.”
Another smile spreads on his lips as I brush a lock of blond hair from his face. “No? Then who am I?”
“Mine.”
I tangle my fingers in his curls and drag him in for a soft kiss. He breathes a sigh and deepens it.
It only takes a second for the sparks on my lips to erupt into flames. His mouth is a drug as it caresses mine. Gentle one moment, demanding the next. He cups my face to guide our kiss, and I’m already desperate to feel his hot skin and hard body stroking mine. I want him so much, I’m afraid of what will happen if he stops us again.
His lips drag fire along my jaw and down my neck. I gasp at the surges shooting through me with each nip and suck.
“You taste so fucking good,” he growls against my skin.
He tugs down the sleeve of my shirt to kiss along my shoulder, then gets frustrated and tears it off completely. So, fucking hot.
I moan as he slides his mouth over my exposed collarbone. “You tore my shirt like it was nothing,” I say through another gasp.
“You’ll be borrowing one from Analise anyway.”
“But how are you so strong?”
He pulls back to give me an irritated look.
“What, it’s a legitimate question,” I return defensively.
He stares at me before shaking his head. “Yes. I’m really fucking strong, Gabi. I’m a lot of things you haven’t seen or experienced yet. Can we stop talking now?”
I bite back a grin. It’s not my fault he’s so adorable when he’s irritated. He’s downright irresistible when he begs. I’m guessing he’s used to having things on his terms. Maybe that’s why I love challenging him so much.
With a coy look, I step out of his arms.
His surprise morphs into hot lust when I reach behind me to unclasp my bra. He doesn’t move as I take another step toward the bed.
I undo the button on my jeans.
His hungry gaze is already devouring my bare breasts and body as I slowly step out of them. All I’m wearing now are lace panties that have never made me feel as sexy as I do right now.
“Damn, Gabi,” he breathes out, scanning me from head-to-toe.
Heat spreads through my chest and up my neck. The vixen in me fades into shy intrigue at the awe in his expression. There’s something incredibly satisfying about being the woman who can bring a man—a god—like Aden to his knees.
For my part, I allow my gaze every indulgence as it scours him. His skin is as flawless and sun kissed as ever. His arms, shoulders, pectorals, abs—every inch of him is hard slopes and cut grooves.
He’s fucking perfection. And he’s fucking mine.
“Pick one,” I command without looking away from him.
His brow furrows, and I motion toward the box from Analise and Luca, still resting on the bed. “They said to experiment, so let’s experiment. Pick one.”
Flames erupt in his eyes, and he moves to retrieve the box. Just watching him sift through the contents to decide which piece to play with is making me hot all over.
He removes a large, thin crescent-shaped object wrapped in faux leather.
“What do you think this is?” he asks, studying it with a puzzled expression.
It’s too big for a wrist or ankle, and the large opening means it wouldn’t stay on anyway. It looks like a bracelet for a giant. Or…
“I know what it is,” I say, almost giddy as I reach for it. This might be my new favorite sex game.
He hands it over, and I return a sultry grin.
His confusion continues until I slide it around my neck like a choker.
His eyes go wide with appreciation as I step back to model my new jewelry.
“Fuck, yes,” he says. “That one.”
“Yeah?” I spin playfully to show off my new look.
I feel like a goddess beneath his ravenous stare, so I guess it’s appropriate that I’m about to fuck a god.
I don’t even finish my show before he’s backing me onto the bed. His hard cock is straining at the fabric of his boxer briefs as he presses into me. I’m already needy and desperate to touch him.
But he doesn’t give me the chance when his electric tongue skims my nipple, sending a shockwave through me. I collapse into the sheets, squirming as his tongue continues its gentle strokes. When he finally adds a quick suck, I’m lost. The weight of his hard body crowds me against the sheets, and I moan as he runs his palms up my arms to lock them above my head.
Stretched out and bare, my body is his to play with, but I’m the one who’s winning this game. I feel it in the desperation of his kisses, see it in the longing on his beautiful face.
He holds my wrists in one hand, while the other grazes down my body and molds between my legs. I buck into his touch, writhing to meet the careful strokes of his fingers.
“More,” I gasp out.
His lips find mine again for a dirty kiss as his fingertips slip beneath the lace of my panties to find my entrance. Once, twice, again. In and out he plunges until I’m moaning and bucking against his hand.
“Aden. Now,” I plead.
His grin should be criminal when he unleashes it on me.
He shoves down his underwear to free his cock, and I feel the hard heat of him between my legs. My hips lift to rub against him, straining to pull him in.
A surge of electricity sears through me when he positions the tip at my entrance. It feels so good, it takes my breath away. He releases my wrists to rebalance his weight, and I use the freedom to draw his head down for a hungry kiss.
The sparks become flames when his thick heat spreads me open, sinking deep. I cry out from the first thrust. The electric shock of the second feels like it’s stroking every cell inside me. Again, and again, the static charge builds, hot and buzzing.
Fire rages. Stars streak around and through me as our bodies grind together in perfect harmony.
Every sensitive nerve hums with pleasure. Faster, harder, deeper until I can’t take it anymore.
I want to explode. I have to.
“Are you okay?” The rasp in his voice drives me wild.
All I can do is moan a yes.
His hips move with a steady roll that somehow massages and drives deep at the same time. I lock my ankles behind his thighs, spreading myself wide.
Giving everything.
Taking everything.
Feeling every damn thing on a different plane.
I’m not sure we’re still in the human realm, but I don’t care as the pressure swells and…
“Ah!” I cry out as my hips jerk from an eruption of pleasure. It surges from my core to the rest of my body. Tingling and warm. Exhilarating and depleting at the same time.
Aden tenses with his own release, murmuring a phrase I don’t understand.
I wrap my arms around his, clinging hard as we chase the aftershocks of euphoria still buzzing through our bodies.
“Fuck, Gabi,” he exhales as he rests his forehead on my shoulder.
My lips twist in a smirk I’ve seen on him so many times. “I’m that good, huh?”
He lifts his head, and his smile sends an overwhelming rush of love through me.
“We’re that good. You and me. I’ve never experienced anything like that before. Have you?”
I don’t even bother trying to tease him with a denial. I’m sure the evidence is all over my face and still sparking from my skin.
“What did you say when you came?” I ask, brushing his cheek.
He tilts his head, studying me with wide eyes. “Hold on. You heard that?”
“I heard something, but I didn’t understand it.”
His expression turns to awe as he leans down and presses a gentle kiss to my lips.
“I said I love you,” he says softly.
“In what language?”
“My own.”