Chapter 32
AIDEN
Buttoning up my cuffs, I take one last look in the mirror, I’m such a gorgeous bastard, she can’t say no. She better not say no. I swear, I’m not above hog-tying her and dragging her peachy arse to the nearest courthouse if I have to.
She said champagne goes with everything, so a champagne ring is exactly what she’s getting.
I pull the tiny black box out of my pocket, flipping it open.
The diamond-encrusted champagne sapphire sparkles in the light.
I look over my shoulder to make sure Katie isn’t lurking nearby. I can’t wait to see her face tonight.
Snapping the box shut, I stuff it into my pocket and turn in time to hear her swearing at her heels.
“Bug?” I call out into the hallway, trying to get her attention and hoping that she doesn’t fire one of those stilettos at my head.
“Jesus,” I have no words for how beautiful she looks. Her hair is blown out with high, voluminous curls; her eyes shine brighter than the diamond ring in my pocket; and that dress hugs her in all the right places.
“This,” she says, holding up the offending shoe. “Is a bastard!”
My teeth roll over my bottom lip as I approach, forcing myself to think pure thoughts and not get distracted by how perfect her tits look in that dusty blue, low-cut, satin gown.
Taking the silver stiletto from her hand, I smile and say, “Allow me.” Dropping to my knee, I lift her leg and carefully slip the shoe onto her foot, admiring the way her silken skin feels against my fingertips.
Securing the strap on her left ankle, I then reach for the other shoe, dangling from her long, manicured fingers.
“You smell divine.” I press my lips against her ankle as I fasten the second stiletto in place, then stand up before I give in to the temptation of devouring her on the landing and forgetting all about dinner.
Her perfume wafts around me, I cannot help but inhale her intoxicating scent. She not only looks like dessert; she smells like it too.
“How do I look?” Katie’s anxious eyes lock on mine as she smooths down her gown. “Is this too much? Should I change?”
“I think blue is my new favourite colour.” Unable to tear my gaze away from her, I grab her hand in mine and pull her closer, feeling her warm breath kiss the column of my neck. “You look stunning, bug. Devastatingly beautiful. You don’t need to change a thing.”
She blushes, such an innocent grin lighting up her face.
“I have something for you.” Leading her into the bedroom, I grab the long black box from the bedside locker and pull it open, revealing a delicate silver necklace.
“Aiden,” Katie reaches out, her fingers trembling slightly as they trace the design. “You didn’t have to…”
“No,” I admit, plucking the necklace from its silk lining. “But I wanted to. Turn around.”
Katie turns, and I place the necklace around her neck. I catch her reflection in the mirror as I fasten it in place. “We need to leave,” I whisper lowly in her ear. “Or else I’m going to tear that dress off you right now and fuck you on every surface in the house.”
Katie’s breath hitches, she smiles into the mirror.
“I wouldn’t mind that,” she teases, turning back to face me.
God, she’s been insatiable since we finally worked her orgasms out of her.
I can admit, I’m just as addicted. Seeing her come for me is like a drug; I can’t get enough of it.
Knowing I’m the only man to ever give her to that level of pleasure is a high I never want to come down from.
Looking at her cherub face, you wouldn’t think that this woman is capable of taking a life.
You wouldn’t think that she has a dark side to match my own, but I’ve seen what she’s capable of.
I’ve witnessed her in all of her macabre glory; the second she plunged the scalpel into Carl’s chest without mercy, was the very second I realised that this is the girl of my darkest dreams. I’d be a fool to miss the chance to claim her fully.
Her heart is mine. Her body is mine; the only thing left for me to claim is her soul, and I will stop at nothing to possess it.
Bringing her knuckles to my lips, the haunting aroma of her perfume lures me in like a moth to a flame. “Let’s go.”
Lacing our fingers together, I lead her down the staircase, grab her coat from the hook, and hold it out for her to slip into.
There is a slight chill in the air as I lead her past my car to the waiting Rolls-Royce Phantom I hired out for the evening.
I open her door while the driver stands at attention, deliberately not making a move to assist her as per our understanding.
No one touches my bug but me.
I slide in beside her and reach for the champagne chilling in the backseat cooler, pouring us each a glass before instructing the driver to take us to the restaurant.
“Wow,” Katie breathes, taking in the luxurious interior of the car. “What did I do to deserve this?”
“Do I have to have a reason to spoil my girl?” Snaking my arm around her waist, I pull her closer as the car begins to move.
Fuck me, that perfume is going to be the death of me.
She’s so perfect, so effortlessly elegant.
The makeup artist kept it all-natural to enhance her beauty, not mask it, though I can tell with a glance that there are several freckles hidden beneath the foundation.
I know how many she has—one hundred and twenty-three, to be exact.
That’s just on her face. Only thirty-two are obvious; the rest blend in so seamlessly with her skin that you’d never know they were there.
I’ve memorised their placement, and I love each one as if it were a constellation on her skin.
I can tell you every part of my girl, including how many swirls are in each fingertip; her left hand has right looped prints; and her right handed prints and left looped.
I don’t need any forensic analysis to identify her.
She is mine, I know every inch of her like the back of my hand.
“You said this restaurant has a Michelin star?” She asks, turning to me, her eyes aglow with curiosity.
“Two,” Sliding my hand under the slip of her dress, I feel the goosebumps on her skin as I edge closer, “But nothing they serve is going to taste as good as you.”
Her smile widens, revealing the dimples that only appear when she’s genuinely happy. Lifting her flute to her lips, she drinks half the glass in one gulp. As soon as her lips are free, I jump at the chance to kiss her, savouring the taste of champagne on her tongue.
My hand slides further up her thigh, feeling the heat radiating from her body as she leans into my touch. Her hand presses against my chest, a silent request for me to slow down.
Her eyes jump to the driver, a reminder that we are not alone in the car.
My first reaction is to tell her to let him watch. Then I think of him seeing even a shred of her body, and I’ve already mentally fired two bullets through his skull. “I’ll behave,” I growl, pulling back slightly and resting my hand on her knee.
We roll to a stop twenty minutes later. After a quick check of our surroundings, I extend my hand, help Katie out of the car, and guide her towards the entrance of the restaurant. My eyes practically roll back into my skull when I spot another couple waiting to be seated. “Fuck off.”
“Aiden?” éabha turns fully; her eyes flit from me to Katie and back again.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t you needed back at the chocolate factory?” Katie squeezes my hand; neither of us were prepared to run into my ex-wife tonight.
If looks could kill, the midget would have pulled my guts out of my arse and strangled me with them.
She plasters on a venomous smile, one that turns genuinely warm when she extends a hand to Katie. “You must be Katie, I’m éabha.”
“I know,” Katie says, shaking éabha’s hand firmly. It sounds blunt, but I know Katie has already gone down a wormhole of overthinking right now. She’s fine in social situations once she’s prepared for them; these kinds of surprises overwhelm her.
“I’m Joe.” I catch his wrist before his hand can reach Katie’s. His hazel eyes lock on mine.
“Careful now, Grimsby; I let these wandering hands off the hook once.” I look at éabha, who does not so much as blink. “I won’t excuse a second offense.”
“He was making an introduction,” éabha says calmly, her tone a stark contrast to my own.
“He has a mouth, you should know. I believe he used it on you on several occasions while we were still married.” I raise an eyebrow at her, not missing the slight smirk on her lips.
“I’m well aware of his capabilities with his mouth,” she continues, her eyes never leaving mine.
“Your table is ready.” I gesture to the hostess, éabha and Joe quickly turn, following her to their table.
“Should we go?” Katie shifts uncomfortably in her heels.
“No.” Pulling her against me, I hold her steady. “I’m sorry. That was…”
“Awkward.”
“Just a smidge,” Pressing my lips to her crown, I reassure her, “I’m all yours now.
” The hostess returns with a knowing smile, leading us to our table, directly across from my ex-wife.
I weigh up my options; asking for another table is not an option; the place is packed.
I could sit directly facing éabha, or put my back to her, forcing Katie to face her instead.
I choose the former, wanting to protect Katie from any potential discomfort.
Reaching for Katie’s hand as soon as we sit down, I give it a reassuring squeeze.
“Did you come here a lot with—”