Chapter 58

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"Are you okay?" I quietly asked Aiden when we made it back to the studio.

"Yeah, don't worry."

"You're a bit pale, and you've been through a lot in a short time. You know you can tell me the truth."

"The truth is, I just want to be with you. Come here." He took off my jacket and his and led me to the bed.

"Sit here and wait for a moment."

I couldn't see what he was doing through the curtain separating the bed from the rest of the apartment, but soon the smell of food reached me. Aiden made it back with two dishes on the tray, two cups of tea, and the book under his arm.

"Wanna do some reading?" I asked playfully.

"Maybe."

"While we are eating?"

"Definitely." He grinned. "I'm curious to know what Jim has chosen."

"He told my uncle this book helped him get through high school."

"Jeez." Aiden shook his head. "If only your uncle knew what he gave you."

"He gave me something else, actually." I went to get my purse and settled back on the bed. After rummaging in it, I took out the famous pack and extended it for Aiden to take.

"From now on, you're in charge."

I giggled as Aiden's eyes widened. "So, the bar is set high tonight, baby?" He pointed at the number and chuckled when the blush tinted my cheeks.

We had our dinner sitting close to each other, the open book on our lap, glossy pages filled with illustrations. Now and then, my eyes flicked to Aiden, trying to guess what was on his mind when he was looking at some images in particular.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked him.

His eyes sparkled with amusement. "For some of these, I'd have to double my running time and start lifting. And you?"

Even now, talking about it made me uncomfortable, a blushing kind of it. I tried to hide my face behind the tea mug.

Aiden took it away from me and made me straddle his lap. His fingers gently ran across my cheek. "Baby, I'm not the most experienced guy, and most things I've done were with you. So, you don't have to get shy about it, because you know I'd never make you do something you didn't want. I also think it's nice to try new things together. If we are terrible at it, we'll laugh and try something else."

"I guess you're right. So, you haven't tried them all?"

Aiden laughed, drawing his arms around me to bring me closer to him. "Okay, I can exaggerate and tell you I've done everything in this book, but that's far from the truth. Sometimes I'm just as nervous as you probably are because I'm afraid of kissing or touching you in a way you don't like, or of not being able to make you...you know..."

"That never happened."

"But it could, and if it does, you have to tell me so I can try again or do it better."

"It'd make you feel bad."

"Knowing you didn't enjoy it, and I did nothing about it would make me feel much worse, believe me."

"Is that so important to you?" I combed my fingers through his hair.

Aiden nodded. "It's a give and take, and I love giving just as much as taking. I want you to be happy with me in every way. Always."

"I am. Very happy."

Aiden hugged me tighter, and I heard him laugh softly.

"I have a present for you." I looked at him.

"You know you shouldn't have bought anything."

"I got us tickets to watch two movies next week. The action one you wanted and a sappy one for me."

"That makes two presents, apart from the best birthday party ever."

"No, that's one only. The second one is here, but you have to unwrap it."

I giggled as Aiden's eyes turned confused after scanning the surroundings for a gift box.

"It's right here, wearing a dress."

The understanding crossed his face. "I've wanted to know what was underneath since I saw you today."

"Why don't you find out, then?"

Not wasting a second, he started to unzip it impatiently.

"It's stuck." Aiden groaned.

I climbed off him and turned around. "Try now, just don't break it."

"Not that I don't want to," he muttered.

I didn't know what was going on with the zipper as Aiden's hands stilled on my back. I felt his lips on my neck as he slid the dress off my shoulders, continuing to place soft kisses on my skin. His breathing changed as well, no longer calm.

"Still stuck?" I managed to utter.

"I don't know. I got carried away."

I lifted the dress and took it off before turning to Aiden again.

"Wow," he whispered.

"Is it a kind of 'I like what I see' wow?"

"It is 'I'm going crazy' kind of wow." He touched the see-through lace gently. "My idea tonight was to take my time with you, and then I see this, and my brain is no longer working."

I pushed his chest gently to make him lie down. "It's your birthday, so I'm making your wishes come true."

"How many? It's because I have to think carefully about what to ask for."

He looked like a little boy to me, then with his warm eyes and messy hair, looking as excited as a kid on their birthday would be.

I leaned down until my lips were close to his ear. "We'll start with three."

"I have the first one, then."

"What is it?"

"This." He kissed me slowly, starting with my bottom lip and teasing me. I closed my eyes, feeling him, breathing him in as he made me lay entirely on top of him. The kiss got deeper, then, with Aiden's tongue gently moving with mine. I buried my fingers in his hair, massaging his scalp, and heard him moan. He caressed my back, touching and rubbing every inch of skin, the warmth of his hands soothing.

"You're cold," he suddenly said, his voice barely audible. "I'm gonna turn up the heating."

"Don't go." I kissed the tip of his nose. "I'm comfy."

Aiden chuckled. " Okay, but we're getting in bed, and you will be just as comfy there."

"Promise?"

"Promise." He managed to get us under the comforter without losing his grip on me completely.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked as he stared at me, grinning.

"I don't know; it's just incredible to be with you. I feel calm as if the previous two weeks didn't happen."

"This is not calm," I placed my hand on the evidence rubbing him gently.

"I was talking about this," Aiden grabbed my hand and put it over his heart under the sweater, which I then took off.

It was my turn to explore. I lay next to him and touched his stomach. The only light was coming from the bedside lamp, but even without it, the scar would probably be visible. I trailed my finger over it.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little." Aiden twirled a curl of my hair around his finger. "I have to use a kind of cream to help it heal; it'll end up fading if I do."

"I want to put it on the scar myself tonight."

"I'd love you to. Do I still have my two wishes left?"

"Of course."

"Have you seen the bathroom?"

I realized I hadn't, to my surprise. "No, why?"

"Come with me; I'll show you."

I was surprised a studio of an average size had such a big bathroom, and even more surprised to see a big tub against a huge window overlooking the city.

"You wanted to have an apartment with a big bath. I know it's not ours, but it will do for tonight."

Aiden opened the faucet to fill it with hot water and poured what must've been a bath foam into it. The scent was flowery and delicate.

"You bought it, didn't you?" I asked.

"Yeah. I had to endure the guys' pestering while I smelled a dozen of them in the shop, but imagining you in this bath with me was worth that and more."

"But you didn't know I'd come."

Aiden gave me an innocent peck on the lips. "I was going to invite you over and use my charm to make you stay with me, but you beat me to it. I need to get something else." He turned around, ready to leave.

"There's champagne in the fridge if you want. Don't take long to come back." I patted his backside.

While Aiden was away, I pulled my hair in a messy bun on top of my head, undressed and stepped into the hot water. Lowering myself into the foamy heaven, I saw Aiden was back, lighting some candles and pouring the champagne into two tall glasses. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him as he got rid of his jeans and underwear and got into the tub with me. It was big enough for us to be on the opposite sides, but just as I expected, Aiden sat behind me, his chest to my back.

"Happy birthday." I clinked my glass against his.

"The happiest birthday ever."

We sipped the champagne without saying anything at first. In a minute, Aiden put our glasses on the side of the tub and turned me around in his arms. Our eyes locked, and we leaned toward each other.

I kissed his slightly flushed cheek, and he went straight for my lips, the gentle pressure of his mouth on mine almost too much to bear.

We kissed long enough for my lips to turn swollen as if we couldn't get enough of each other, every kiss fueling the next one.

My hands went to get tangled in his soft hair just as his went to my chest. Every caress set my already hot body on fire. I gasped when his hands were replaced with his lips and his tongue, gentle but insistent, making me feel the heat in every part of my body.

I wrapped my legs tightly around him, wordlessly showing Aiden I was ready for more, feeling he was as well. I felt for the package on the side of the tub and tore it open. "Let me," I said, late, because my hands were already on him, and my touch alone seemed to be enough to send him over the edge. Slowly, he slid into me, eyes glued to mine, arms holding me in place, supporting my weight.

We weren't breathing anymore; we were panting, gasping for air, desperately seeking each other: lips, tongues, hands. Every time I moved, he followed. Every time he kissed, I kissed back. His hand reached between us to caress me while I kissed and bit his neck. I was close, and so was Aiden.

Everything sped up then: the rhythm of our bodies moving together, my kisses and his, the beating of our hearts, and our ragged breaths. We were there almost at the same time. His mouth swallowed my moans, and I held him as he shuddered in my arms, groaning softly into my neck.

I combed my fingers through Aiden's wet hair, and he nibbled my shoulder, both of us trying to slow down our breathing.

"You blew my mind, baby," he said, his eyes seeking mine. "Your kisses, your touch, your body, I thought I wouldn't last."

"You were perfect, " I said against his lips before giving him a soft kiss.

"I had to think about Math formulas for a couple of moments."

His admission made me smile. "Good thing I didn't notice, then. And you'd make Mister Norton proud."

Aiden laughed before he lifted my hand to his lips, kissing my fingers one by one. "We have to get out of here. The water is almost cold."

We rinsed the rest of the soap off our bodies. Aiden left the tub first, and when I did, he was waiting for me with a warm towel. He dried me with it thoroughly before we went back to the room.

I saw him walk to the closet to get something to put on. In a second, he was in a pair of boxers and a t-shirt.

"Take it, if you want," he extended another one to me timidly. "I don't want you to get cold after an hour in the water."

"Thank you," I slid it on and surprised Aiden by giving him a kiss. "And thank you for taking care of me."

"It's my pleasure," he said, lips pressed to my forehead. "Ellie, I have to admit something to you."

"What?"

"I'm hungry. I'm so damn hungry; I could eat the rest of the cake alone."

"Didn't they feed you all these weeks?" I teased.

"They did, but there were days I couldn't make myself eat, and now I'm finally relaxed. Although I guess I'm hungry because it's almost midnight and I'm sure as hell making love to you again, so I need fuel."

I figured munching on the cake late at night wasn't the best idea, so I heated up the lasagna we still had. Aiden grabbed the remote and flicked through the TV channels, settling on some crime show.

We cuddled on the couch wrapped in a blanket, plates in hand. The forensics on the screen was explaining how to identify the remains of the body that had been buried for a long time.

"I didn't think they were actually able to do that." Aiden seemed to be genuinely interested in what was going on in the program.

I chewed for a moment while a thought formed. "I think by now they must know whose bones they'd found in Southville before Christmas. It's kind of strange the news didn't make the headlines. The whole story just died out."

"Look at us, baby." Aiden tugged my hair back lovingly. "We're sharing dinner while watching a TV show. Next thing we know, there are two toothbrushes in the holder, and your things are all over this place."

"You wish." I laughed.

"I hope," he whispered, shoving a forkful of lasagna in his mouth.

The dinner was over soon. I relaxed on Aiden's chest, almost lulled to sleep by the monotonous sound of his heartbeat and his caresses on my back.

"Do you know what I think?"

I shook my head. His grip on me tightened, and he swallowed before speaking. "If...if my mother hadn't left, and he hadn't started with the beating...maybe I wouldn't have met you. Maybe the purpose of all that goddamned crap was for us to meet each other. How else would I know that you exist? Now I can't imagine living the way I did before, without you...and if I had to go through that hell again knowing you were on the other side of it, I would."

"Don't say that," I tilted my head up and looked at Aiden's face. "Sometimes, I feel like I've known you forever. We would've probably found our way to each other without suffering on your part. Don't they say some couples are meant to be?"

"Do you think we are?" He traced the outline of my jaw with his thumb.

"Let's face the facts: we never argue for real, we are happy together," I hesitated before saying, "and according to your friend, we have insane chemistry. I'm not that experienced to know, but when we make love...I don't think it's like that for everyone."

"No, it's not—my only times before you didn't come anywhere near this. I didn't feel the connection. It was just a means to an end, and I didn't know it could be this amazing...had no idea another person could do what you do to me, be what you are to me. I'm so in love with you, Ellie."

It didn't matter how many times I'd heard him say the words; my heart did funny things every time they left his mouth. I put my hand on the nape of Aiden's neck, stretching until my face was level with his. "I love you too, baby, you can't imagine how much."

A/N
Well, it's a bit mushy and full of loving, but the poor boy deserved it.

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