Chapter 15
Aiden barely said a word on the drive back, and Mia concentrated on the roads instead.
She was tired and guessed he needed the space – mental if not actual – to process the night and early morning, and everything that had happened.
She also wasn’t sure exactly where she stood with him, and didn’t want to push.
He sniffed when he walked into the hallway. ‘Have you been cleaning in here?’
‘Yes. Hence the change of clothes. I draw the line at scrubbing in enchanted satin.’
‘You didn’t have to clean up.’
‘It was fine. I didn’t mind.’
‘I could have managed.’
‘Sylvie asked me to sort it and I have.’
‘Do you want a drink?’ Aiden wandered into the kitchen.
‘Sure.’ She sat at the table, suddenly feeling incredibly tired.
Aiden leaned against the kitchen counter while he waited for the kettle, and Mia tried not to be offended that it was pretty much as far away from her as he could get while still being in the same room. He folded his arms as he looked at her, studying her like he was trying to work out a puzzle.
Eventually he spoke. ‘You told me you love me.’
‘Yeah. I did.’
‘You told me I love you too.’
‘Yeah.’ She couldn’t help the small smile that escaped. ‘I did that as well.’
‘You’re right.’ Aiden was starting to smile too.
‘I know.’
The kettle began whistling, but he ignored it so Mia stood, walked over, and leaned past him to take it off the heat. He wrapped his arms around her waist, folding her into him. ‘I’m still trying to figure out if that was the best or worst timing possible.’
‘When you decide, let me know if I owe you an apology or not.’
He leaned against her, burying his nose and mouth against her hair. ‘I have a lot I need to work out.’
‘I know.’
‘I think I need to get tested. The not knowing is driving me crazy.’
‘OK.’
‘That’s all you’re going to say?’
‘What do you want me to say?’
‘I don’t know. Something more than just “OK”, I guess.’
‘OK.’ She pulled away from him a bit until she could reach her pocket for her phone. ‘How about this?’
His phone pinged, and he looked down.
Regional genetic testing team. Ask for Kev.
‘You just happen to have this saved to your phone?’
‘The first time you mentioned getting tested, I looked into the process. Not to say anything about it or to try and persuade you either way, but I wanted to make sure I could answer any questions you might have.’
‘Thank you.’ Aiden squeezed her a little tighter. ‘So, what is the process?’
‘Usually a couple of appointments – one of which is counselling to make sure you’ve considered the ramifications of being tested, and the results. Then it’s just a blood test, and a couple of weeks’ wait for the results.’
‘Just.’ He shook his head. ‘Will you do it?’
‘No. But I’ll hold your hand. How’s that?’
He laced his fingers through hers. ‘That’s pretty good. I’ll call them.’
‘OK. If that’s what you want. I’ll support you whatever you decide.’
‘It’s the last thing I want to do. But I think I need to.’ She felt, rather than heard or saw, the deep breath he took. ‘Is it OK if I tell you I need you too?’
The vulnerability in his eyes when she looked up was adorable. ‘Yes. You can definitely tell me that.’
He caught her face between his hands and held her there, his lips scant inches from hers. ‘I decided something else, by the way.’
‘You did?’ Her voice was a lot more breathless than it had been a few seconds earlier.
‘Yeah.’ He didn’t move, just looked into her eyes. ‘You definitely don’t owe me an apology. If anything, I owe you one, because I should never, ever have let you walk away from me without telling you how I feel about you.’
She swallowed hard as his thumb started to trace a pattern between her cheek and lips.
‘And I need you to tell me your name. Because the first time I tell you, I want to do it right. Tell me your name, Princess.’
‘Do you…?’ She had to pause to wet her lips, and the way his gaze dropped before flicking back up to her eyes made her shiver agreeably. ‘There was a bit of a fad, years ago, for naming babies after where they were conceived. Do you remember it?’
‘Uh-huh.’ His fingers had obviously got jealous of his thumb and started their own quest, stroking tiny, maddening movements on her neck, curling and whispering against the sensitive skin beneath her ear.
‘Well, my parents swear I was a honeymoon baby.’ The way his fingers were moving, and how his gaze still held hers made it difficult for her to focus on anything but him.
‘And where did your parents honeymoon?’
‘Miami.’
‘Hello, Miami. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this sooner, but I love you too.
’ He brushed his lips against hers, making her pulse rocket and breath come even faster as his magic ricocheted through her.
‘Completely, madly and besottedly. And with total amazement that you feel the same. Wow, that feels so good to say. I love you.’ He laughed and she wrapped her arms tightly round his waist. He buried his hands in her hair and held her tightly against him for long, long minutes.
Eventually, Mia broke the silence. ‘It’s been one hell of a day, Aiden. We could skip the drinks and go to bed?’
‘I doubt I’ll be able to sleep. Even my Sandman’s Brew isn’t strong enough to hush what’s going on in my mind. Especially away from Hudsbury.’ He dropped a kiss on her forehead. ‘But you should.’
‘Aiden, your mum is in the best place possible. She’s injured, yes, and is going to need recovery time and help – but she will recover from this. I promise.’
‘Thanks.’ He didn’t move.
‘Come to bed with me.’ She looked up at him.
‘Princess…’
‘I know what you’re going to say. Your mind’s still racing too much to sleep.
But I also know you spent years using sex as a way to lose yourself and forget about the things bothering you.
So come to bed, and let me look after you.
’ She kissed him, sweetly at first, then with more heat, dragging her teeth against his bottom lip in the way that always made him moan.
She stroked her fingers over his cheek and down his chin, enjoying the prickle of his beard against her fingertips.
‘I promise to do my best to take your mind off things, if that’s what you want. ’
‘I told you, I’m not doing that any more. I wouldn’t ever use you like that.’
‘I know you wouldn’t.’ Mia felt another rush of love for him and stroked his cheek once more before pulling away and heading to the hallway.
She paused halfway up the stairs – just long enough to peel off her T-shirt and throw it back down.
‘But I wouldn’t exactly call it a hardship…
having sex with my very gorgeous boyfriend, who’s in love with me.
Frankly, I need to relax too, and I’m going to have a very enjoyable, relaxing time very shortly.
It’s up to you whether it’s with or without you. ’
Seconds later his footsteps thumped on the stairs behind her. ‘You’re a bad woman, you know that?’
‘I do.’ She leaned over the top of the banister to grin at him from the landing, completely unrepentant. ‘Isn’t that one of the reasons you love me?’
‘Sure is. You’re not going to get tired of saying that any time soon, are you, Miami?’ He ran up the stairs.
‘Nope. But I’m already getting tired of Miami. Just stick to Mia, would you?’
‘You sure about that? Miami is kind of hot…’
‘I’m sure if you keep it up, I’ll make you regret it.’
‘OK. I’m tucking that thought away for later. But now, anything you want. Always. I like Princess better anyway.’ He caught her round the waist and pulled her back against him, turning her chin so he could kiss her. ‘But are you really sure about this?’
She sighed, letting her breath tickle against his skin and enjoying his slight shiver.
‘I’m always sure about you.’ She pulled away, heading for his room.
‘Like I said, I’m planning on enjoying myself very thoroughly in the very near future.
Now, are you joining me or not?’ Just to make sure he got her point, she unhooked her bra and threw it at him.
‘Wicked, bad woman.’
The next week flew by in a blur for Aiden. At first it was the challenge of visiting his ma in hospital while balancing his energies to be able to work – because he needed to work and keep busy – and finding the time to give Mia the attention she deserved.
Then it was trying to work out how to bring his ma back from the hospital – still struggling with mobility – to an old home that didn’t take kindly to adaptations. But again, Mia was there, stepping in with ideas, support and solutions.
Ophelia had been kind and understanding and wrapped him in one of her magical hugs once he’d stopped being a ‘hex-brained buffoon’ and explained everything – including that he’d tried to keep it all to himself for so long because it was easier than facing the reality that his ma was deteriorating to the point of needing more help.
Ophelia had, of course, turned up with Mist and every helpful bath potion and lotion she could think of – closely followed by Rayenne laden with crystals, healing oils and the offer of reiki sessions at home – even if their potency would be less than if they’d been in Hudsbury.
Katie had shown up too, inviting herself over with food and good humour, and a scolding for Aiden that could have stripped paint and taught him a few new curses that made him very glad Katie was only a seer of magic instead of a gifted user – probably the universe had been sensible there!
Then, of course, there were his ma’s neighbours, and friends from her Dine, Twine and Wine and other groups.
He was quite taken aback – and deeply touched – at how quickly a support network made up of different communities wrapped itself around them both.
He quickly got used to coming home and finding people he sometimes only vaguely recognised sitting in the living room or at the kitchen table, chatting to Sylvie or working out how they could help with her recovery.