Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 226

Aria's POV

In our bedroom, I went straight to the walk-in closet and grabbed my favorite silk nightgown before heading to the bathroom. The hot water felt heavenly against my skin as I washed away the day's exertions.

After shampooing my hair, I took extra time blow-drying it to semi-dryness. When I finally stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in my silky nightgown that fell just mid-thigh, Aiden wasn't in the bedroom.

I moved to the vanity, pumping some moisturizer into my palm and patting it onto my face while wandering toward the door. The bedroom was empty too.

Maybe he was waiting in the garden?

As I stepped out of the bedroom, movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. Through the glass doors, I could see someone standing on the balcony. Aiden's loose white shirt billowed slightly in the breeze, his back to me as he gazed outward.

Suddenly his words from downstairs clicked into place: "Tonight's moon looked particularly beautiful. I wanted to admire it with Mrs. Carter."

The moon was just an excuse. He wanted me.

My heart raced as heat pooled low in my belly. I walked toward him, my bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around him from behind, pressing my body against his back. "Aiden," I breathed against his shoulder.

I rested my cheek against his broad back, feeling his muscles tense beneath my touch. "I missed you today," I confessed, my voice soft but deliberate. "A little bit."

Aiden made a low sound in his throat, somewhere between a chuckle and a groan. He took my hands in his and turned to face me. "What a coincidence," he said, his voice deeper than usual. "I missed you too."

He shifted to face me, one arm snaking around my waist while his other hand came up to my face. His thumb gently brushed the corner of my mouth, where I'd had a small cut yesterday. "Still hurt?" he asked.

"Not at all," I replied with a little smirk. "It never really did."

"Hmm," he hummed, but his fingers didn't leave my lips. Instead, they traced the outline slowly, deliberately.

I could feel every ridge of his fingerprint against my sensitive skin. The sensation made my mouth go dry, my breathing shallow. I instinctively licked my lips, catching the edge of his finger with my tongue.

"I need water," I said, gently pushing his hand away before I lost control completely.

Aiden's dark eyes burned into mine for a long moment before he turned and walked inside to retrieve the water glass from the bedroom. I watched him move—the confident stride, the way his shirt stretched across his shoulders with each step.

When he returned, I was genuinely thirsty. I took the glass and drank deeply, draining half of it in one go before sipping more slowly.

Aiden leaned against the balcony railing, watching me with that intense gaze that never failed to make my skin tingle. "Want more?" he asked, his voice carrying a double meaning that wasn't lost on me.

I shook my head and set the glass down on the small table beside us. Moving to stand next to him, I gazed up at the glowing orb in the sky. "The moon really is beautiful tonight."

Instead of responding, Aiden pulled me into his arms, his hand firmly at the small of my back. "If it doesn't hurt anymore," he murmured, "then kissing shouldn't hurt either, right?"

Before I could respond, his cool lips descended on mine. His arms tightened around my waist as he leaned down, his mouth claiming mine inch by inch.

The kiss started gentle—like slipping into a warm bath, so pleasurable I lost track of time. My head spun as oxygen became scarce, our breathing mingling in the narrow space between us.

Suddenly, Aiden's gentle exploration transformed into something hungrier. His grip on my waist tightened almost painfully, pulling me so close I felt molded against every hard plane of his body.

The change startled a moan from my throat. "Aiden..." I gasped against his lips.

He pulled back immediately, his breathing ragged. Those usually cool dark eyes had transformed, burning with raw desire that threatened to consume me whole.

My heart hammered against my ribs as he stared at me like that. It was too much—too intense. I raised my hand to cover his eyes. "Don't look at me like that," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Like he wanted to devour me. Like I was prey.

Aiden wrapped both arms around me, pressing me against his chest. "Mrs. Carter knows exactly how to drive me crazy," he murmured into my hair. "You tease me first, then tell me not to look at you?"

His body was hard against mine, his arousal evident through our thin layers of clothing. The night air suddenly felt electrified around us.

I buried my face against his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart match my own. My cheeks burned not from embarrassment, but from anticipation.

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