Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Theo
TWO MONTHS LATER
I look down at my watch; it's been twenty-five minutes. Aria usually takes thirty minutes in the shower when doing her aftercare routine. If she is going to have a warm towel when she gets out, I need to throw it in the dryer now. I head into the closet and pull one of the pink, plush bath towels off the shelf and toss it in the dryer. I should have just enough time to grab her drink from the kitchen and one of the Ferrero Rocher I had delivered. I had to have Enzo procure some after seeing how sad she was when she realized we didn’t have any more.
Working the magic he always does, a large box of little chocolate candies was delivered to my door.
As I make it upstairs, I hear the water turn off in the shower.
Fuck, she’s done early. I grab the towel from the dryer, throw her robe in, and walk it over to the glass shower entrance.
I hand her her towel and love the sound of the soft moan she lets out when she feels the warmth snuggled around her hands.
“Your drink is on the counter.” I kiss the top of her head, and she wraps herself in the towel.
I swear, if you had told me a few months ago that not only would I meet someone and feel comfortable enough to bring her home, but she would live with me and have hot pink and blue things strewn all over my house, I would have thought you were crazy.
But seeing how happy it all makes Aria has definitely made them some of my favorite things I have ever purchased.
Once she's wrapped up, I pull her into a hug, resting my chin on the top of her head.
“Anything else I can get you?”
“I wish we had candy,” she says, laying her wet hair on my chest.
“Look on the counter.” Her eyes shoot to where her cup is, and I can see the moment her eyes find the little gold wrapper.
“How did you—” she asks with the biggest smile on her face.
“If a golden chocolate is part of your aftercare, I will always have golden chocolate for aftercare.
Now get dressed so you can pick what we're going to watch.” I smack her ass as she walks into the closet.
I lean against the counter as I wipe away the water she left on my chest. Tossing the towel onto the counter, I can't help but just relax into our new normal.
We have found a rhythm and routine. She has integrated herself into my life so well.
It helps that the Court has been fairly quiet, not needing to pull me away on anything.
I will have to figure out how to let her in on that part of my life somehow, but for now, I am just focusing on keeping us happy.
Aria walks out of the closet in a pair of black shorts and a crop top, letting me see all the places that marks from this morning are forming. I trace the line on her thigh where a bruise is starting to show.
Noticing where my attention is, she leans forward onto the counter, giving me a full view of several marks beginning to show below and on her ass.
My hands grip her hips and pull her back into me, leaning down so my chest is touching her back.
I rake my teeth down her neck, gently sinking them into her shoulder. She arches back into me at the pain.
“Such a good girl,” I whisper as I kiss where my teeth just left imprints in her skin, then up her neck.
“Let's go.” Pulling away from her, I head into the closet and pull her robe from the dryer.
I hand it to her, then head out to the living room to turn on the TV.
I make it most of the way until I hear banging on my front door.
I pull out my phone to see missed calls from Enzo. This can't be good.
Right after the knocks, I can hear muffled shouting from the foyer. Sounds like security is shouting at somebody who is not supposed to be here. Aria makes her way to the living room, hearing the commotion.
“What’s going on?” There’s a tremble in her voice that I have heard before. I quickly walk to her side and help her finish wrapping herself in the plush robe.
“It's nothing,” I try to reassure. “Security is outside handling it.
Let's get you comfortable, and then I will go check on what's going on.” She listens, but isn't convinced.
How the fuck somebody was able to get all the way up to the penthouse doors without permission is inexcusable.
Enzo did call, but I need to know who fucked up and let this happen.
Aria sits in her spot on the couch, and I make my way to the door. I am able to start making out some of the things being said.
“You don't belong here!”
“You need to leave.”
“I have every right to be here!” a female voice that almost sounds familiar screams.
“Ma’am, you are trespassing.”
It’s a woman. What woman would be ballsy enough to show up at my door? I swing the door open, knowing the odds are in my favor if this gets physical.
Once I see who is standing in front of me, I freeze.
One of the security guards immediately begins to apologize.
“We are so sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Reeves. She snuck into the stairwell after we told her you weren't allowing guests," he quickly rattles off. I just raise my hand, telling him to stop. I don't want excuses right now.
Right now, the only thing I need to know is why my ex-fiancée is standing in my doorway.
“Alana?” I ask.
“Where is she?” she shouts.
“That's none of your business.” My arms cross across my chest. She is unwelcome, but not a danger.
“She’s my daughter.” I can't help but laugh. They may be biologically related, but that woman was never a mother to Aria.
“She is an adult.”
“Where is she?”
“Why do you care?”
We shout back and forth at each other until the only voice I care about interrupts.
“Mom?”