25. "Are you going to stand and stare all day, little one?"
When I woke up the next morning, I was alone in the room. Pushing the covers off my body, I headed to the bathroom to pee and take a shower. Afterwards, I changed into a comfortable outfit and left the room to look for Aiden.
When I stepped out, I noticed the light in the opposite room was on since the door was left slightly open. Figuring he was in there, I went toward it and pushed it open further.
My breath got caught in my lungs as I saw the scene before me.
Aiden Knight was shirtless on the floor, effortlessly doing push ups. Sweat glistened on his back as he easily went up and down. I was unable to tear my wanton gaze from his muscled body. My eyes widened as I felt some moisture between my legs the longer I stared at him.
Oh my God. No way this is turning me on.
I was ashamed that I was getting aroused at the sight of him working out.
"Are you going to stand and stare all day, little one?" He called.
I gasped, my cheeks turning red. "D-do you have eyes on the back of your head too?"
He chuckled, doing one final push up and then rising to his feet, before turning around to meet my sheepish gaze. "Good morning." He smirked.
"Morning." I mumbled, looking away, embarrassed at having been caught ogling him like a desperate woman.
Through the corner of my eyes, I watched him reach out for a towel and start to dry off his sweat with it. My feet seemed to have a mind off their own as they stalked up to him, before my hands took the towel from him.
He watched me in curiosity and anticipation. I bit my lower lip as I started drying him off. Our proximity, the sight of his glorious and well toned body, and the intimacy of the moment were all making me feel indecent things that I had never felt before.
My mind kept telling me to have some shame. My heart told me to keep going.
"You took a shower?" He murmured as I dried his chest.
I nodded.
"Without me?"
I lifted my gaze to meet his mischievous one. "I didn't know I was supposed to take you with me."
"Do consider next time." A small smirk played on his lips.
I blushed, putting the towel aside. "You could always shower with Luna."
"With Luna?" He quirked an eyebrow.
I hummed, nodding. "You must have slept with her countless times."
He took a predatory step towards me, making my breath hitch. I took an instinctive step backwards. "Many times." His voice was husky.
I fought back the jealousy that was surfacing within me. "Good for you."
"But you know what, little one?" His voice was low and dangerously sexy.
"What?" I asked as he took another step towards me. I took two steps back this time.
He instantly closed the distance between us, and in an attempt to create it again, my back hit the wall behind me. My breath got stuck in my lungs as his arms trapped me in between.
His face hovered mere inches away from mine. "All those times combined even can not compare to that one kiss you and I shared."
I gaped at him, searching his eyes for any lies. I found none.
I gasped softly as his nose nuzzled mine, my breath becoming uneven. "What are you doing to me?" He complained, his voice breathy.
"W-what did I do?" I stuttered. His eyes held me frozen on the spot, unable to look away.
"You make me want to trust again, to smile again, to open up and show you all of my wounds. You make me feel so many things, it makes me so mad sometimes. So mad that you're not mine." He whispered.
My lips parted in surprise as I listened to what he said, unable to believe my ears. I wondered if I was dreaming or hallucinating.
"Mad that I'm not yours?" I found myself asking.
He hummed, his nose still touching mine. One of his hands wrapped around the side of my waist. "It's a shame that I can not freely kiss you and touch every inch of your body."
My eyes widened. "W-what are you saying?"
"The truth," he breathed out. "I've never felt this way with anybody. I have this annoying, unshakeable urge to protect you, to have you around. Seeing you alone is enough. Yet it isn't."
I sucked in a staggered breath. "I... you hated me."
"I didn't hate you, little one. I hated the way you made me feel.
You made me feel the way I used to years ago.
Normal, liberated and... peaceful. But you also make me feel afraid.
For years, I have been fearless because I haven't had anything to lose.
Nothing and no one at stake. But now I do. " He revealed.
"Y-you fear losing me?" I asked incredulously.
"Why else am I protecting you, little one? It drives me insane that somebody touched you. Somebody who wasn't me." A hint of anger coated his tone.
I gawked at him in disbelief, my heart fluttering in my chest. I was baffled that he was saying all of that. That he actually felt that way.
"I should have asked the first time... but I'll make up for it now..." he said, and I looked at him confused, wondering what he was talking about. "Can I kiss you?"
My heart fluttered, and so did the butterflies in my stomach. My heart and body screamed for me to say yes. My gaze dropped to his inviting lips that were so close to mine, yet so far.
I wanted to feel them once again.
"Y-yes." I replied, my voice a shy whisper.
He didn't waste a second in pressing his lips to mine.
My hands gripped his shoulders as he passionately and possessively kissed me.
Delicious shivers ran down my spine, my heart pounding erratically as his tongue invaded my mouth.
The kiss turned more passionate and erotic, and I submitted to him, letting him devour my mouth.
His hands sensually ran up and down the sides of my body as his lips refused to abandon mine. My mind felt hazy as I drowned in the feeling of his lips. I loved how amazing it felt, and how it made me forget about all the worries in the world. And most importantly, how it made me feel wanted.
I was panting when he pulled away. His chest abruptly rose and fell too as he stared into my eyes. My heart fluttered as he tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear before gently holding the side of my face.
He pressed his forehead to mine, still breathing heavily. "You're so beautiful, you know that?"
My heart swelled at the praise, my cheeks turning red. "You're alright too."
He chuckled. "Don't lie, little one. I'm the hottest man you've ever met."
"That's an exaggeration." I teased, unable to meet his gaze.
He grasped my chin and forced me to look at him. "Is that why you can't even meet my gaze?" He smirked.
I blushed even more. "I'm hungry," I attempted to change the topic. "I'll go make breakfast."
"Catherine can do it." He interjected.
"Did you not like my pancakes?" I pouted.
My eyes widened as he pecked my pursed lips, smirking smugly afterwards.
"I loved them, but I like your lips more." He teased.
I was sure I looked like a tomato. "Um you already had them," my face was so warm, I could probably make pancakes on it. "Let me go." I pushed at his chest, but he didn't budge.
"Give me a kiss first and I will." He said smugly.
"W-what? You're unbelievable."
"You're staying here otherwise." He whispered in my ear.
I gulped, before getting on my tiptoes and kissing his cheek. I felt his grip on my waist tighten. "Let go now." I whispered shyly.
He reluctantly moved away from me. "I'll take a shower and meet you in the kitchen, okay?"
I nodded, quickly exiting the room because his presence was making me more and more nervous each second.
A while later, we both sat at the small dining table in the kitchen eating the pancakes I made. I still felt shy from what had happened between us earlier, and struggled to look at him straight.
"Little one, you can look at me. Nothing to be shy of." He said as if he had read my thoughts.
"I'm not shy." I lied, still not looking at him.
He caught me aback by extending his fork toward me, with a piece of pancake stuck in it. I bit my lip before eating it.
"I'm sorry for all the times I was an asshole to you." He caught me off guard.
"You better not be mean to me again." I warned.
"I'll try my best not to." He stated.
I raised an eyebrow. "Try?"
He sighed. "My behaviour is not always in my control, Aysel. I'm fucked up. I can never be the same again."
I swallowed, reaching my hand out to squeeze his over the table. "You can try, Aiden. You can try to be happy again."
His jaw clenched.
I stood up from my chair and walked around the the table to him. I ran my knuckles along his stiff, chiselled jawline, causing him to relax it. "You clench your jaw a lot," I pointed out. "It's not good."
He sighed.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes."
"Don't get mad."
He sighed. "It's regarding my family, isn't it?"
I bit my lip nervously. "Kind of."
"Ask."
I took a deep breath. "Did you grow up in the penthouse? Did you live with your family there?"
He went stiff and quiet, making me regret ever asking him that.
"I'm sorry, I just—"
"No," he interjected. "We lived in a different house. It now sits abandoned. I couldn't possibly continue living there, Aysel. Every corner of that house was haunted."
My heart ached. I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck from behind. "Do you ever visit it?" I wondered.
"No. I can't even think of doing that."
"I understand," I gave his shoulder a squeeze and moved away. I cleared my throat. "Coffee?"
He shook his head. "I have to talk to my board members on video call."
I nodded.
"I'll be in the study." He informed.
"Okay... is it okay if I watch a movie in our room?"
"Do as you please, Aysel. Consider it your own house."
I beamed at him. He stared at me for a minute before turning to leave.
I sighed, sitting back down on my chair. As I began gathering our plates, my phone started ringing. It was a video call from Eva.
I let go of the plates and answered the call. "Hey girl."
"Heyyy." I was greeted by both Eva and Andrew.
"Hey guys. How are you doing?"
"We're fine. Tell us about yourself. Where have you disappeared off to?" Eva complained, narrowing her eyes at me.
I bit my lip. I couldn't tell them the truth. They were my only good friends; I knew I could trust them, but I couldn't involve them in my mess. "I'm.. I had to take care of some stuff. I'm staying at a friend's house for a few weeks."
"What friend?" Andrew knitted his eyebrows together.
"Um... you guys don't know her. She's, um, unwell. I'm taking care of her." I lied.
Eva raised an eyebrow skeptically. "She's so important that you took weeks off from the hospital? You never leave work."
I sighed. "Let's talk about something else now. How's the hospital?"
"As usual. Dr. Bailey isn't letting us breathe." Andrew answered.
I giggled softly. "She's never going to change."
"For real. We just came to this corner to speak to you and— oh damn. I have to submit a patient's report. Shit. You guys talk. I'll be right back." She gushed.
"Okay, okay..." I laughed softly. She left, leaving me and Andrew on the call.
"Are you okay, Aysel? Like actually?" He asked.
I gave him a small smile and nodded.
"If you need anything, let me know."
"I will." I gave him another smile.
"What are your plans for today?" He asked.
"Um... I'm staying indoors with my friend... can't leave her alone."
"I see. Do you think you could spare some time to grab dinner with me?"
"I..." I felt like I was being watched, so I looked up. And surely, Aiden stood in the doorway, staring at me with his infamous impassive face. I returned my attention to Andrew. "I can't today... let's go some other day."
"Sure," he replied. "Hey, do you wanna watch a movie tonight? You know the way we do over call?"
We used to watch movies sometimes. One of us would share the screen on a video call and then we would watch it together. It was something we used to do during summer break in med school when we'd return to our homes.
I laughed softly. "Sure, but only if it's a Disney movie."
He groaned. "Ugh fine. Anything for you."
I laughed, but my mirth was interrupted as Aiden showed up in front of me, putting his hands on the table. His ice cold eyes pierced right through me.
"Um, I'll call you tonight. I have to go now, okay?"
"Yeah I better get back to work. Take care, Aysel."
I gave him a final smile, before hanging up. Sighing I looked up at Aiden's displeased self. "What?"
"Watching movies with Andrew, huh?" His voice was cold just like the look in his eyes.
"Yeah?"
His jaw clenched. "You could watch with me."
I raised an eyebrow. "You'd watch beauty and the beast with me?"
"Sure." He replied in a heartbeat.
I blinked before my eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You really would?"
"Yeah, Olivia used to make me watch—" he stopped abruptly.
"Olivia?" I raised an eyebrow, jealousy bubbling within me.
"My sister." He mumbled, looking down.
My mouth gaped open in realisation, before I rose to my feet and walked up to him. I held his hands and squeezed them.
He looked crestfallen when he met my gaze again. "I have too many wounds." He mumbled.
I caressed his forearm. "Good thing I'm good with wounds." I gave him a small smile.
My heart stopped when the corners of his lips lifted into a small smile as well.