Outside, the wind howled, tapping the windows with steady thumps. Aiden lay on the couch staring into the flames of the fireplace.
He could not get his mind off the woman upstairs. Punching the pillow, he shifted and exhaled an unsteady breath as he tormented himself with visions of her allure. Like the way her skin flushed in excitement turning a strawberry pink shade that made him wonder how far that ruddiness extended. Or the way her eyes portrayed her every emotion, arousal turning them the color of honey. Just thinking about the generous curve of her lips made him hard. Harder, actually. He had not lost his erection since the moment he saw her. What would it feel like to have that luscious mouth wrapped around his cock, her heat surrounding him? He imagined it would be nothing short of earthshattering, just as the promise of sinking into her body would be.
The sweaters she wore left much to the imagination, clinging one moment, hanging loose the next but he always had a vivid one and now the mental visuals were aided by the rich curves he'd felt pressed against him. Her nipples had poked him through her clothing, stabbed his tongue and there was nothing he would not give to see them, no barrier between them and his greedy mouth. Would they be creamy pink or dusty rose?
Her steady breathing told him she had fallen asleep and he thanked Ra. A few more minutes of listening to her toss and turn, of smelling her growing arousal, of hearing her short breathing and he would have catapulted up the stairs, consequences be damned.
The evening had been simultaneously a blessing and a torture session as he savored her nearness, hearing every beat of her heart, every breath she took yet restraining his need to close the distance between them.
She did not seem to notice how powerful the effect she had on him though, the innocence she radiated so very rare. She was unconscious of her sensuality but it was there in every move she made. Despite whatever experience that placed the shadows in her eyes, her core remained untainted, shining with a virtuous light. The jaded part of him scoffed at such obvious naivety but the optimist he longed to bury was fascinated by her, by the way her mind worked.
What's more, he felt comfortable with her and the fact made him realize that he never fully let his guard down with anyone before.
She knew what he was yet it seemed the furthest thing from her mind. She treated him as though he was just a man. Not the phoenix so many were fascinated by. Not the famous author that so many wanted a piece of. Not a meal ticket. He was just Aiden with her and the novelty of just being, no pressure to keep up pretenses was addictive.
He could sense her confusion at the strength of her reaction to him, to them but how did he explain their connection without scaring her? He wished he had the time to romance her, wine and dine her, to show her just how special she was to him.
He was adjusting his position once more when the terrified whimpers reached him. Instantly he was up the stairs. Mac thrashed, fighting the weight of the covers. Tears were streaming into her hair, the pained sounds that came from her making his heart ache and his anger spike. At his command the lamp at the bedside table burned brighter.
Sitting next to her, he said her name, trying to hold her lightly. She turned on him, fists and nails aiming for his face. He pulled her against his body, easily restraining her efforts. Her body stiffened as she fell into consciousness. All fight left her and she sagged against him, sobs welling out of her chest. He held her, making soothing sounds, slightly awkward in his position as comforter. Thankfully that she did not shy away from him, he stroked her back in comforting circles.
His body reacted on its own accord, reaching for the press of her soft curves against him. He shifted subtly to hide his erection. She wore a simple white cotton nightgown. It looked virginal and innocent in its simplicity. The soft light filtered through the material and he could make out the silhouette of her body. He gritted his teeth, fighting to control his cock and focus on consoling her.
At last her cries were reduced to sniffles and she looked up at him, tears turning her eyes into shining jewels. He smoothed her hair away from her face, thumbs catching the wetness on her cheeks. "Tell me. You need to get it out, Mac," he said.
With his eyes he begged her to trust him. Trust him to bare her soul without consequence. Trust him to help her put the pieces back together if she fell apart. She shook her head, burying her face in his neck. Long minutes passed before she began, low and shaky against his skin, the muted words barely reaching his ears. She paused frequently and he waited for her, letting the beat of his heart steady her. With every word his rage and disgust grew. He worked hard to keep his breathing even and his hand gentle.
He looked down at her. She was so soft and womanly, everything he was not. In spite of the traumas of her life, she retained a goodness that was rare. She was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, bringing hope of better to come. Despite his own need for violence, he admired her. She was fighter, a survivor, strong in spite of her fear.
"I kept going over all the things I could have done differently that night. I shouldn't have walked out there alone. I sho-"
With a ferocity he could not curb, he grabbed her head, startling her into meeting his gaze. "Never blame yourself for that sick fuck's actions. Do you understand me, Mac? You did nothing wrong."
She searched his gaze for something. Thankfully she found whatever it was because she nodded. She took a breath and continued, "My hair. It's what made him notice me. I have worn it short since then." She touched the short strands. "I felt so dirty, Aiden. I had panic attacks. They would come out of nowhere and I could not breathe. I felt trapped all over again. I feel so broken, like I will never be able to put the pieces back together. I want to be whole again, Aiden. Make me feel whole again."
She leaned forward and touched her lips to his. Her breath mingled with his and a shudder tingled his spine at the exquisite contact. She pulled back to give him the most heartbreaking look. His core shattered into a million pieces and he knew they all belonged to her. "Be sure, Mac."
"Please, Aiden." She grasped the hem of her gown and pulled it over her head. Peaches and cream skin covered her from head to toe, soft and radiant. Her lovely thighs enclosed his hips and the image of them over his shoulder as he repeatedly thrust into her waiting heat did not help the painful fullness of his cock. Generous hips flowed naturally into a tucked waistline. Higher, his gaze was drawn to her ample bosom. As if she lost her nerve, she crossed her hands over her chest.
He gently uncrossed them and feasted his eyes on her flesh. "You're beautiful, Mac. Inside and out."
Like beacons her nipples called to him; a call he had no desire to resist. So he did not. Laying his palm over the twin peaks, he marveled at the contrast, her skin so translucent underneath his darker coloring. Her hands settled on his shoulders, nails digging into his skin. Her breasts were nicely shaped, perky with large nipples the color of a freshly bloomed pink rose. He traced their softness and encountered a soft seam.
