Page 80

I angrily snap at him, “It’s just my body for you, Aiden. You don’t care for me. It’s lust, and that’s okay. But do not play it like it is something else. You said from the beginning, that we shouldn’t start anything serious. I agreed.”

“You’re wrong. It’s not lust.” He lets go of my hands and gently grabs my face, looking intensely into my eyes. “In the beginning, sure, I could care less about keeping this a secret from you. But only because I didn’t know you. Within these last few weeks, you’ve become my everything, Joy. It became harder and harder to hide it from you. I tried a thousand times to convince your father to tell you, but he wouldn’t let up. Can you find within yourself to forgive me? Please.” Still grasping my cheek, he leans forward and places his forehead against mine. “I’ll get on my knees if I have to. I’ll do anything.”

A lump forms in my throat. “I grew up in the system, with no one to call my own. You know what that was like, and you still did it. You disregarded Taevian's orders before, without a second thought, when it was something you cared about. It just feels like I wasn’t a concern for you.”

He rubs my cheek. “You’re my only concern, my Joy. I know your favorite meals. Your favorite perfume. How you like your coffee. Your favorite song. I love your off-key singing. I love how you find humor in everything. I know you love me, and Joyce…” he takes a deep breath, “I love you too. I love you because you exist. I feel like I could’ve loved you in a past life. But it also feels as though we just met. Your existence in my life has brought me a kind of happiness that I’ve never experienced before. There are so many layers to you that I want to spend the rest of my eternity uncovering. I thought I knew my purpose, but then I met you. My purpose isn’t being a reaper, my purpose is to be yours. I love you, my Joy.”

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath as he spoke. I let out a deep exhale. My heart is pounding so hard that my chest feels as though it may burst. I heard him. I heard the words. But after a lifetime of loneliness and pain, it makes it hard to believe. You don’t really realize how much love matters until you’ve spent your whole life without it. I understand how much it matters now, which is why I was so mad at Aiden and Taevian for hiding this from me.

I did love Richard when we were together. At least I thought so. I think I loved the idea of loving and being loved, but not the actual love. Not the actual person. Richard did not care for me like how Aiden does. The way I feel for Aiden is not consuming. With him it is peaceful. It feels like home. It eases my anxiety and makes me feel safe. I did not fall in love with Aiden. I walked to it and held his hand.

Could I get hurt again? Sure.

But I am already dead, and there’s no point in not taking the risk. I am willing to put my heart on the line, because it’s Aiden. He has only ever been there for me. Well, minus the fact he made me be his lawyer after I firmly said hell no. But that’s in the past.

I place my hand on Aiden’s neck and pull his lips down to meet mine. I pull my lips away slightly and whisper against his lips, “I love you too, Aiden.”

His eyelids droop slightly in relief. He places his hand on my back, sliding it down till he can grip my ass. Aiden licks my bottom lip and works his way down my neck, licking and sucking as he goes. I shiver against him.

Aiden stops and moves his lips to my ears. His voice is deep and low as he asks, “How much do you love me?” His words send waves of pleasure spiraling through my body. He has barely touched me, and my body is ready for him.

When I don’t reply, he squeezes my ass again. One of his hands moves between my legs and he rubs me against my pants. He asks again, “How much do you love me?”

I gasp. “So, fucking much.”

He leans back and looks at me as he continues to rub between my legs. Driving me absolutely crazy with need. I need him in me like I need my next meal.

“Good girl,” Aiden purrs. Then he stops, moves his hand back to my ass, and lifts me clean off the counter. He walks us to my room.

When we are by the bed, he gently drops me on top of it. I go to remove my shirt, but he grabs my arm, stopping my movements.

“Let me take care of you, baby.” His words cause another tingling sensation between my legs.

I look up to him and whisper, “Okay.” Aiden gently pushes my shoulder. I fall back on the bed. He climbs on top of me, his legs on either side. He leans over to me and places his thumb on my bottom lip, gently rubbing it. With that same hand, he moves from my lips to my throat, squeezing it gently.

His hand continues its journey down to my chest. One by one, he unbuttons my top, groping and caressing my breasts as he goes. Once the shirt is unbuttoned, he lifts me slightly to completely remove it, and throws it on the ground. My bra is next. Then my pants and panties. I am completely naked in front of Aiden.

And then he is on top of me, completely taking over my mouth. He drives his tongue into me. Owning it. Owning me. Showing me how much he missed me. His hand finds my breasts, his other sliding between my slit.

“Oh, my God,” I pant into his mouth.

Aiden drags his mouth away and whispers in my ear, “Not God, baby,” He slides his finger fully inside of me, his thumb pressing against my clit, “Me.” I gasp as his fingers start to pick up pace. I start to ride his fingers, but he moves the hand that was on my breasts to my hip and holds me in place.

He gently says, “What did I tell you? You’re mine to take care of.”

I feel a build up inside me and I don’t even try to hold it in. I moan loudly signaling to him that I’m close. He curves the fingers inside of me, hitting the spot that makes me pant with need.

“Come all over my hand,” he demands against my lips, circling his finger around my clit.

At his words, I cry out with my release, my back arches off the bed, and my body shakes in pleasure. When I finally come down, I look at Aiden to see him undressing, never taking his eyes off me.

He lifts his shirt over his head, giving me a clear view of his chest. I watch as he unbuttons his pants and steps out of them. He removes his boxer briefs and is left standing naked in front of me. My breathing quickens as he moves towards me. I feel myself slightly tighten in anticipation of feeling him inside of me.

He climbs on the bed, running his hand over my leg, over my stomach and to my breasts. He leans down and twirls his tongue around one, sucking and biting it.

“The other one is feeling lonely,” I pant, running my hand through his hair.

He looks up and does a half grin. “We can’t have that,” he replies, moving his mouth to the other one, giving her all the attention. He licks, bites, and sucks on my nipple, before giving her a break. Aiden leans away, positions himself at my entrance. I raise my legs and lock them around his hips. He sinks into me with one fluid, rough motion causing my back to bow from the bed as a scream tears from my throat at the sudden shock of penetration.