Touched By Him (The Untouched #3) - Lilly Wilde

Touched by Him

Lilly Wilde

Touched By Him Copyright 2015 by Lilly Wilde First Edition Cover Design: Lilly Wilde Cover Photo: 123rf.com/profile_andreypopov This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author ’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third-party websites or their content. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author ’s rights. ISBN-13: 978-1310822766 ISBN-13: 978-1519384027 ISBN-10: 1519384025

Acknowledgments Thanks to the amazing readers who’ve given me so much support and enthusiasm! You, yes you, are the reason The Untouched Trilogy has transitioned to The Untouched Series. You all are amazing! To my husband, your support is never-ending just as my love for you. To the amazing Wilde Lillies Street Team, you all keep me going. Thanks for putting up with me! (Listed alphabetically): Aubrie Brown, Genene Carpene, JoJo Carroll, Fantta Curry, Justine Delgado, Stephanie Dunsmuir, Christel Ellis, Traci Faas, Ann Goubert, Tasha Holder, Robin Lenth, Jessica Lundy, Angeliki Papafi, Raquel Perez, Anna Pulla, Irayda Quezada, Julie Scheidt, Anja Schuster, Stephanie Smith, Jodee Taylor, Emilie Tomaro, Lisa Upshaw, Andrea Wasik, Deanna Wiley, Jane Young To my editor whose skill and eye for detail kept me on my toes. To my graphic designer who made my vision a reality.

Contents Copyright Acknowledgments Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Epilogue Discussion Questions Connect with Lilly Wilde Other Books by Lilly Wilde About the Author

Chapter One No! No! No! This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be here. I scrambled to my feet as the shock of his presence traveled through me. My heart was already beating out of my chest and then wham! I met the piercing intensity of his glare and a huge wave of panic rolled and heightened and then came crashing down—the apex focused solely in my stomach, as if someone had delivered a furious blow to my abdomen. My eyes swept up and down the boardwalk and then along the beach in hopes of spotting Kellan, but he was nowhere in sight. It was just me—I had to face this alone. “Hello, Aria.” I shivered at the coldness of his tone. I didn’t know how to respond. My head was thumping with such intensity that I felt it behind my eyes. I felt dizzy. Too many thoughts and emotions collided inside me and I couldn’t focus. I swallowed and attempted to clear the clog of cotton that had suddenly settled in my throat. “Aiden,” I replied. This was bad—very bad. The erratic hammer of my heart was so strong that I felt a pulse all over my body. I looked down at Lyric in my arms and then back at the intimidating man standing before me. His face was hard and tight, and his eyes cast rays of fuming heat. “How did you find me?” My voice was shaky. I swallowed again. I couldn’t let him see how freaked out I was. “I knew where you were all along.” He glanced at the baby, his gaze lingering on the sweet bundle in my arms, and then he looked back at me. I pulled Lyric closer to my chest. “Oh.” I was at a complete loss for words. The shock of seeing Aiden standing there was utterly paralyzing. “Why are you here—in Belize, I mean?” I took another glance at the boardwalk, frantic to spot Kellan. He’d said his meeting wouldn’t be more than an hour or so, but it had been far longer than that. “You know very well why I’m here, Aria,” he replied coldly. My mind raced as I considered the possible scenarios that could have led him here. “If I knew, I wouldn’t have asked, Aiden.” He was his normal, intoxicatingly handsome self on the outside, but he wasn’t the lover who’d eventually allowed me to know the man behind the name. I searched his fierce green eyes, desperate to find some familiarity to cling to, but there was nothing. There weren’t any signs of the man I’d grown to love—that man was long gone. I was now looking into the unimpassioned eyes of a stranger, and I wanted to be somewhere else, anywhere else but here, facing the one person I thought I’d never see again. He glanced at the baby a second time. Had Aiden learned the truth? And if he had, what would this mean for Lyric? For me?

He looked up from the baby with stormy green eyes. “There’s a conversation we need to have, which is about nine months overdue.” He stalked closer, and I intuitively stepped back. I couldn’t find my words. I just stood there, staring. The air around us seemed too still, and the sickening feeling I initially felt doubled as I watched the anger radiate from him like steam billowing from boiling water. He pulled out his phone and placed a call. “I’ve found her,” he said, speaking into the phone. Who had he called? “What are you doing? Why are you here?” “I think it’s fairly obvious, Aria. I’m here for my son.” “Your son? I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I don’t want to know. I made it clear when we last spoke that I didn’t want you to follow me. My feelings about that haven’t changed. I don’t want you here, and I’d like for you to leave.” “You would like that, wouldn’t you?” “I don’t like unexpected visits. They have phones, you know,” I said. His brow arched. “Are you saying I should have informed you? Isn’t that rich,” he replied, his voice laced with acidic sarcasm. He looked past me and I followed his gaze. Four men dressed in dark suits were quickly approaching us. I looked back at Aiden. He didn’t say anything, he merely glared at me. One of the suits went straight to Lyric’s K’tan. Lyric, who’d been amazingly quiet up to this point, began to stir in my arms. His tiny little lips were quivering. Not now Lyric, not now. I gently bounced him in my arms. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I whispered. Placing him on my shoulder, I gently rubbed his back. Aiden’s face softened as he observed my interaction with Lyric. He stared at the fussy little angel lying across my chest, and his angry mask shifted. “We need you to come with us, ma’am,” said one of the suits. I glanced at the stranger and then back to Aiden. “Who is this? And what makes you think I’m going anywhere with any of you?” “Aria, I need you to cooperate, or I’ll have the officers ensure that you do,” Aiden said. Glancing toward the boardwalk, I noticed two police officers looking in our direction. “I’m not moving until you tell me what the hell is going on.” Aiden nodded toward one of the suits, who stepped forward to speak. “Ms. Cason, I’m Clayton Trimble, Mr. Raine’s attorney, and we’re here to perform a paternity test on the minor child.” He motioned toward Lyric. “We’ve obtained the appropriate court documents and the resources to perform the testing immediately. Should the paternity prove to be Mr. Raine’s, we’ve made arrangements for an emergency custody hearing. We’re quite confident Mr. Raine will be awarded full custody, and the child will be returning to Chicago with us.” “The hell! On what grounds?” I exclaimed, glaring at Aiden, but he disregarded my question and

walked over to the other suit. The officers were approaching, and I was frightened as the reality of what was going on started to set in. My attempts to soothe Lyric had failed miserably; he was now bawling. I reached for his pacifier and started bouncing him again until he eventually calmed. I looked at Aiden and he appeared just as agitated as Lyric. He pointed at me and then at the attorney. Aiden knew the test was just a formality. He was prepared to take Lyric. But who would have told him? My sisters? April? My doctor? Did it really matter at this point? People like Aiden had a way of getting what they wanted. And Aiden wanted Lyric! My heart rate rocketed as I rushed toward him. “Aiden… why?” I asked, grabbing his arm. He looked at me with a distasteful glare and shrugged away from me. “I could ask the same of you,” he retorted. I’d seen contempt in his eyes before, but this was different than anything I’d ever witnessed. He was every bit the ruthless man I’d observed when he dealt with people who crossed him, only this time the menacing glare was far worse, and it was directed solely at me. I knew this would end badly. Just as I opened my mouth to attempt another protest, he turned away and one of the officers stepped behind me and urged me to follow Aiden. I anxiously peered at Lyric. I didn’t want this to touch him —but it was too late. I had yet to move. I couldn’t go with them. I couldn’t! I fought the urge to run, knowing full well it wouldn’t get me anywhere, but I had to do something. Think, Aria. Think. “Ma’am, if you’ll come with us,” the officer urged again. There was nothing I could do—I didn’t have any options. Reluctantly, I took a step in Aiden’s direction, and the police ushered us back to my house. A short while later we were walking up the drive to my home and there were two women dressed in scrubs standing near my front door. Why did Aiden have all of these people involved? I felt like a wanted criminal—a dangerous one, at that. “Aiden, who are these people?” He didn’t answer me. “Aiden!” “Ms. Cason,” the attorney started and then cleared his throat. “Anja Schmidt and Jodee Cummings are the nurses from Menudos Labs. They’re here to gather samples for the paternity test,” Clayton answered. My stomach was doing summersaults. I couldn’t believe Aiden would do this! I didn’t know what to do. I needed to calm down and think of a way to stop him. No way in hell would I let this happen, regardless of supposed court documentation. Aiden had pulled in security, police officers, attorneys and God knows who else. I needed to contact my own attorney. She knew the truth, and I needed her now more than ever. Having retained Robin Lenzy’s services upon my arrival to Belize, I’d wanted to know my rights and have contingencies in place should something like this ever arise. And although we’d outlined a plan should Aiden ever contest custody, part of me didn’t think it would ever come to this. I reached

into my pocket for the keys as I cradled Lyric in my arms. Somehow, in the midst of the mayhem, he’d fallen asleep. Maybe it was the walk from the beach that pushed him to his slumber. I was a little less frazzled knowing he was unaffected by this shit—at least for the moment. Every moment would be crucial from this point forward. I opened the door and everyone followed me into the living area. “Okay, so now what? What are you expecting to happen here, Aiden?” Of course he didn’t answer; his bald attorney spoke for him. “Ms. Cason, as I previously stated, we need to establish paternity, and we have the means to immediately initiate that process. We’ll need to take a DNA swab of Mr. Raine, the baby, and you.” The nurse, whose nametag said Anja, reached for Lyric, and I stepped back. I wanted to smack her across the face. I needed to remain calm for Lyric, but I couldn’t just release my child to some random stranger. “Get away from him,” I said, as calmly and sternly as possible. She looked at Aiden. “Aria, don’t fight me on this. I guarantee you will lose,” he threatened. Oh, so he finally has a voice. Fucking asshole. There was a noise at the front door, and a few moments later Kellan walked in. He surveyed the room and the visitors, and his normally welcoming expression shifted immediately. His eyes settled on Aiden. I’d only seen that hardened look on Kellan’s face on one other occasion, and it was also in response to Aiden. “What the hell is going on, Raine?” he demanded. My eyes darted to Aiden. His frame had become even more rigid and his eyes iced over. “This is none of your concern. You’re actually part of the problem. I suggest you leave before I do something I’ll regret,” he warned. “The hell I will,” Kellan replied and stepped toward him. Aiden met his stride, but before they could connect, the suits grabbed Kellan, pulling him back from Aiden. “Get your fucking hands off of me!” Kellan yelled, as he attempted to shake them off, but they didn’t release him until Aiden gave them permission to do so. Kellan glared at Aiden for several heated seconds before finally reining in the violence that I knew was right at the edge. I let out a sigh of relief when Kellan slowly turned toward me. “Aria, what’s going on?” he asked, walking over to me. “I’m not sure. Aiden just showed up on the beach with these people and, and… I don’t know.” I started to get flustered, and my eyes burned, but I wouldn’t dare cry in front of Aiden. Taking a deep breath, I choked back the tears. I tried to explain to Kellan, but I was sure Aiden could see I was falling apart. Looking away from the worry in Kellan’s eyes, I saw Aiden staring at me. There was no sympathy, no love—just an empty stare. “He’s demanding a paternity test and threatening to take the baby,” I said. Kellan spun around to face Aiden. “What the fuck is your deal? You can’t just barge in here and

demand testing on a child that you think is yours,” he said, glowering at Aiden. His words did nothing to shake Aiden’s confidence. “I have court documents that state otherwise.” Aiden nodded toward the bald man, who pulled some papers from his jacket and passed them to Kellan. After scanning the documents, Kellan looked up at me and then Aiden. “Couldn’t you have at least given Aria some type of notice instead of just springing this on her?” “She had no regard for me, why should I have any for her?” His tone was as cold as ice. It was as if he were coated in permafrost. “You’re a real piece of shit, Raine. I fail to see what Aria ever saw in you.” Aiden smirked. “I think you know exactly what she saw in me, and knowing you’ll never measure up really gets under your skin, doesn’t it?” I knew that would strike a nerve with Kellan and I was sure Aiden knew it, too. He was such an ass. I watched with bated breath, hoping Kellan wouldn’t let Aiden goad him into a fight. Kellan looked at the bodyguards and then back at Aiden. Kellan was the more muscular of the two, and he also had about an inch or so on Aiden in height. He was in great shape, so I was sure he would have given Aiden a run for his money, but this was not the time to see who could thump his chest the loudest. “Kellan, please…don’t.” This was just starting and I already had reached a breaking point—I couldn’t take any more of this. Aiden directed his heartless glare at me. The fiery darkness of his eyes pierced my skin and tore away at my soul. Kellan may not have known what Aiden’s deal was, but I did. Aiden was a man who’d been deceived, a man who’d been savagely scarred by a woman he’d trusted with his heart, a woman he’d loved more than he’d loved any other woman.

Chapter Two The doorbell rang. A nervous tickling coursed through my stomach when I glanced at Kellan. We both knew what was on the other side of the door. “I’ll get it.” He released my hand with a reassuring squeeze and walked out of the room. “I’m sure it’s Robin,” I said. Aiden and his entourage had left when I made a fuss about consulting my attorney. Initially, Aiden objected and refused to leave. After a brief sidebar with his own lawyer, Aiden retreated, but not without first warning me that I was being watched. How dare he treat me like a criminal! I was sitting on the sofa, cradling my forehead. The throbbing had gone from bad to worse, and I felt as though I could faint at any moment. I was struggling to maintain my strength, but every passing moment was wearing away at the reserves I’d managed to replenish over the last four months. I reclined on the sofa just as Robin and Kellan walked in. Robin was on her phone and held up a finger, signaling she needed a moment to finish her call. She remained in the doorway, her tall, shapely frame hidden beneath the too large pant suit, as she said goodbye to the caller. She slid the phone into her pocket and then pursed her lips after she surveyed my sad state. When I saw her sympathetic face, I permitted the tears to flow. She walked over and sat beside me, and I passed the court documents to her. “So, he knows.” She flipped through the papers then looked at me. “Apparently.” I sniffed and wiped my eyes. “What can I do Robin? Can I stop this?” “Aria, I know this is the nightmare you were hoping to avoid, but we’re required to comply with the court orders. The sooner we take care of this, the sooner we come up with a counter measure.” “Robin, I honestly don’t see a counter measure. The way this is all playing out, I’ll have to pack up and leave Belize with Aiden and Lyric today. Can papers drawn up in the States be enforced here?” “We may be able to delay the inevitable but, once parental rights are established, we’ll be facing a battle that’ll be nearly impossible to win, especially since you failed to disclose the paternity and left the country to keep him away from the child. I told you this at our first meeting, but that gives him the upper hand. This process may have originated in the States, but according to what I’m looking at now, he’s gone through the proper channels to ensure these orders are in effect here in Belize also.” She reached for her legal bag and pulled out a scanner. “I’m going to get a copy of these to an associate who specializes in international law. I want to get a second opinion—make sure I’m correct about this.” She started feeding the documents through the small device, and glanced at Kellan and then at me. “Don’t get your hopes up, because I’m almost certain that my initial verdict is accurate.” I was pretty certain that she was correct also, but I’d cling to the slightest bit of optimism in the

meantime. “Thanks, Robin.” “My suggestion is that you talk to Aiden and work something out without pulling in attorneys and additional court orders.” “I could wring his neck for showing up like this!” How did he find me? Why would he go to such extremes for a child he didn’t necessarily want? Was this payback for my hurting him? Robin fed the last page through the scanner. “And another thing—you may want to grin and bear whatever he dishes out, at least for the moment.” “You can’t be serious. I will not let that asshole bulldog me, Robin!” She passed the documents back to me, her dark brown eyes keenly focused on mine, as she continued. “Unfortunately, that’s what you’re going to have to do, Aria. Let him ride through the anger and hurt. Eventually, you’ll both arrive to a point where you can make some decisions free of anger. Right now, I wouldn’t aggravate his position.” “Eventually? Yeah, right. I’ve seen him in action when he’s been wronged, he doesn’t lean toward the forgiving side of things. He goes for the jugular.” How could I have ever thought this would work? “We can’t deny him anything? Maybe use his lifestyle to establish he’s not in a position to provide a stable home environment?” “What are you implying?” Robin asked, reaching up to secure a loose strand of her golden brown hair. “He’s never home! He’s rarely in the country. How can he possibly raise a child?” “We could certainly take that position, but with someone of his stature…Aria, it’s safe to assume he has all of his ducks in a row. The legal system is generally favorable toward the mother regarding custody, but I’m sure Aiden pulled some very powerful strings and called in some big favors.” That’s a no brainer. “Didn’t you say he had a legal background?” she asked. “Yes, but he’s not practicing—well, he wasn’t, at least. That doesn’t mean he’s without knowledge or resources.” I glanced over the papers again. “And I know you’re right. He does everything with a plan. And his plans always include the outcomes he wants.” “We’ll allow them to perform the test, and I’ll discuss with Aiden’s attorney the benefits of you and Aiden speaking in private. If Aiden goes along with it, tell him you’re willing to go back to Chicago or wherever he’s living and secure a residence for you and Lyric. Make an offer to share custody.” I tossed the papers on the coffee table. “He’s not going to want that. He wants Lyric away from me.” “If that’s his stance, maybe you can reside with him and Lyric until other arrangements can be made. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for anything you can use for grounds to seek sole custody. Or, more ideally for the child, joint custody.”

“Chicago. With his fucking parents?” Oh shit. His parents. I was sure they knew everything. They were probably pushing Aiden to bring Lyric into the fold to start his training as an Aiden Raine clone. All of my planning had been futile. I was right smack in the middle of what I thought I’d put behind me. “So what about this lab? Do you know anything about it?” “Their reputation is remarkable. I’ve used them for several paternity cases. I typically send one of my aides there to keep an eye on things, just in case. But in this situation, that’s pointless, Aria. We both know what those results will reveal.” What about Kellan? How will this affect him? I looked up to his comforting brown eyes, they were soft with sympathy. He was standing beside me, rubbing my shoulder. “What do you think?” I asked. “It’s like Robin said—we don’t have any options, other than attempting to delay it with an injunction, but I don’t see the point in doing that.” His tone gave nothing away, but the sadness was visible in his eyes. “It will only make matters worse in the long run, and you don’t need that stress. You need to be calm for Lyric.” He was right. They were both right. My plan for an Aiden-free life had imploded, and the walls had closed in on me. Damn you, Aiden. “Okay. Call them back.” Why even bother with a custody hearing? I was sure Aiden had already met with and cajoled the judge. Robin had said we could file motions and continuances, but if we went that route, Lyric would more than likely remain with Aiden until a decision was rendered, and I was sure the ruling would be in Aiden’s favor. He always got what he wanted. Aiden was a man of immense wealth and power. In the past, that part of him didn’t matter—it was in the background of our relationship—but now that was the only part I saw. He was a huge unstoppable force who was prepared to fully integrate Lyric into the world I’d tried to shield him from. I didn’t know what else to do, so I went to check on Lyric. Standing beside his crib, I felt the anger slip away as soon as my eyes rested upon the innocence of his slumber. He was stuck in the middle of what I’d lied to avoid. I felt as if my heart was being shredded into a million pieces. Kellan had followed me to the nursery. He stepped beside me, and we both watched Lyric sleeping peacefully, for what could very well be his last nap in Belize. Kellan had been great throughout all of this. When I’d told him of my pregnancy, he’d encouraged me to tell Aiden, and I almost did. Ultimately, I’d decided against it, and once I’d shared my reasons for leaving, Kellan had given me nothing but one hundred percent support. He’d even decided to move here, and now he had to change his plans yet again because of me. I hated to wake Lyric, but I had little choice. He was resting so peacefully, blissfully slumbering despite the chaos erupting around us. I reached into the crib and lifted him from his safe haven. He squirmed and made those adorable baby moans as I placed him on my shoulder. I looked up at Kellan. His handsome face was twisted in pain—this was killing him, too. My

relationship with him was complicated. We weren’t really a couple, but we weren’t exactly not a couple either. When he visited, we lived in the same house. We shared the same bed. We’d seen each other naked. We’d kissed and touched—actually, we’d done a lot more than touch, but it didn’t really work. Not the way it should for people who loved each other. We were in a holding pattern. He was being patient with me—probably too damned patient. I hadn’t been able to give him the part of myself that had been sealed and locked away—not yet. I’d wanted it to happen, but it somehow never did, and now it might never have the chance. I started the short walk from the nursery and down the hall, slowly making my way to the living room. I absolutely did not want this, but I had no choice—there were no more cards to play, no more places to run. The tension grabbed ahold of me as soon as I stepped over the threshold. Aiden and his cronies were standing in the far corner of the room and Robin was reviewing the nurses’ identification and signing paperwork. I took a seat in the chair farthest from Aiden’s group and waited. Minutes later, Robin led the nurses over to Lyric and me. I sat quietly and watched one of the nurses, Anja, pull on a pair of latex gloves. She lifted a swab and a small container from her bag. “Is it okay to take yours first?” I glared at her and my eyes fell to her snug top. Was she at work or a fucking night club? Her top was so tight, I could see her nipples. And why was I being swabbed? It wasn’t as if we didn’t all know I was Lyric’s mother. I glanced at Robin and she nodded. Sighing, I opened my mouth and Anja rubbed the swab end of the scraper on the inside of my cheek. She then swabbed Lyric while the other nurse swabbed Aiden. Two other staff from Menudos Labs entered soon thereafter to collect the specimens, and Robin and the others left directly afterwards. Kellan, Lyric, and I were finally alone. Kellan reached for the baby, and I passed him to the only man who’d been in his short life. That was all about to change. I didn’t want this. I hated it, but there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it. I left them alone, allowing Kellan some of the final uncomplicated moments he’d have with Lyric. I traipsed back to my room and started packing a bag— I knew how this would end. In the midst of tears, I’d managed to pack most of what I’d need for Lyric. The rest could be shipped or purchased in the States. “I think our little guy’s hungry,” Kellan said. He was standing in the door of my bedroom and Lyric was squirming about in his arms. “Give me a minute.” I grabbed Mom’s quilt and my sacred box of memories and set them on the bed. Then I hurriedly pulled some clothes from my closet and tossed everything in a bag. Despite Kellan’s attempts to soothe Lyric, he showed no signs of calming down so we headed to his room. “I was hoping to get him back on his schedule, but it looks like I’ll have to forgo schedules for

the time being,” I said. Kellan followed me to the nursery and passed Lyric to me. Sitting in the rocking chair, I lowered my top. Lyric quickly latched on, and I smiled at his eagerness. I wiped the tears from his beautiful eyes as he looked up at me. I was supposed to protect him, but there was no amount of distance from the Raines that could do that now. I’d failed him. Once Lyric finished, I talked to him for a while, cradling his head as I bounced him in my lap. I watched his eyes widen in response to my one-sided conversation. I loved how he seemed to display the correct facial expressions when I said particular things. I knew he couldn’t possibly understand me, but I often pretended he could. “Looks like Aiden and his people are back—they’re sitting outside in the limo.” Kellan walked in with a sandwich and an apple. “You need to eat something.” Did they have the results already? I was about to call Robin when my phone rang. It was my sister, Lia. I passed Lyric to Kellan and took her call. She was with Bianca so I asked her to place the phone on speaker. I told them what was happening, and I asked if either of them had spoken to Aiden or anyone else about my whereabouts. They both answered no. They were very upset that it had all come to this. Bianca mentioned that moves like this were what caused her to initially dislike Aiden. After Mom passed, Aiden demanded I leave Dayton, and that had upset Bianca more than I realized…until today. Thinking back, I could certainly understand her reservations. Aiden did often give off an air of arrogance and control that could be very disconcerting. I told them not to worry, and that I would keep them posted. They had planned to visit me in Belize for Thanksgiving, but that was definitely not going to happen now. Aiden’s appearance was disrupting many lives, and I hated him for it. Walking into the nursery, I saw that Kellan had placed Lyric in his crib. As I so often did, I stood over it and watched him sleep. I turned on the mobile and studied him as he looked above his head, his fingers in his mouth and his eyes exploring. His lids started to slowly close, flickering a few times before he fell into a quiet sleep. Lyric’s life was about to change. He was going to be swallowed up by the world from which I’d run. I loved him so much—more than I could have ever imagined. I thought back to the day I’d learned of my pregnancy. Hearing those words had stopped my breathing. I thought the test was defective, or they made some type of mistake and had given me the results of another patient. I never wanted children, and the mere thought of motherhood had made me terribly afraid. As I’d sat in the cold, lonely exam room, my hand dropped to my belly and I was suddenly filled with an unexpected surge of love. Then I’d thought of Aiden and panicked. He would have rejected this child, and I couldn’t accept that. I knew I had to make sure that a resentful, dysfunctional child didn’t result from my love for Aiden. I wanted my baby to have the best possible chance of a happy life, far happier than mine or

Aiden’s had been. The longing and desperation of growing up without the love and attention of my parents had resulted in my having serious relationship issues—issues that negatively affected every aspect of my life. A child deserved to feel loved, wanted, and secure. This child would have that. I would make certain of it. That’s when I knew I had to leave Aiden. He didn’t want children. When Nadia had been pregnant with his child, he’d urged her to have an abortion—something for which he had zero regret. And he had made it clear that his priority was work. His bitch of a mother confirmed that he might never settle down with a wife or family. Perhaps I should have spoken to Aiden about it, maybe subtly confirmed Sienna’s claims, but I’d actually witnessed enough to feel the truth in her words. Since I first met Aiden, he’d always placed Raine Industries first. My lonely days, nights, and even holidays without him had proven that. My phone pinged. It was Robin. They expected the results tomorrow morning. The things that money could buy would never cease to amaze me. Robin had said they typically received results within two to three days. And here we were expecting them within twenty-four hours. But if the results weren’t ready, why were Aiden’s people sitting outside? I quickly answered my own question. Evidently, they were doing exactly what he’d threatened—they were watching me. I went to the nursery and packed one last bag for Lyric and then made a call to my realtor to get someone to pack up the house and have everything either donated to charity or shipped to my place in Boston. I had no idea where I’d end up, actually.

* * * * * I awoke early the next morning and headed to the kitchen for a cup of tea. As I reached into the cabinet, there was a knock at the door. I knew it was Aiden. I opened the door and there he was. I was surprised to see him alone. I looked past him but there was no one. What was going on now? “It was suggested we talk. Do you have a moment?” His voice was devoid of all emotion. “Yes.” I stepped aside and allowed him in. It was hard to imagine this man had once held my heart in the palm of his hands, and I’d held his. We were strangers now, attempting to coexist for the sake of our son. We sat at the table in the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?” “No, I’m fine,” he replied. His eyes fell to my neck—to the orchid necklace he’d given me. I’d forgotten I was wearing it, and I wished like hell that I hadn’t been. He glowered at it and then back at me. He was angry, he was hurt, and he was beautiful. “So.” “Let’s start with the facts,” he said, staring blankly at me. “The paternity test is a formality. I

know he’s mine, and I want him with me. He’ll be raised by me—as a Raine. There’s nothing you can say that will change my mind, so I don’t think a talk at this late date will change very much of anything.” He sat back and crossed his arms, his eyes throwing daggers at me. There was so much rage pouring from him. It was as though he was crossing his arms in attempt to hold in what he desperately wanted to release. “There’s no judge in the world who will take Lyric from me, Aiden. This is temporary at best and you know it.” “If you think so,” he replied. His tone was resolute, as if there wasn’t a chance in hell he could be wrong. “I know so, and if you think you’re going to breeze in here and take my son, you‘d better think again.” “Isn’t that what you did? I would never have known had it not been for—” “For what?” I asked. “Never mind.” His lips thinned into a frustrated line. “Point is I know, and my son is leaving with me.” “All indicators do point to that, but surely you know I’ll be wherever my child is.” “He’ll be at my home in Chicago, and I know how much you love being there.” The dark sarcasm of his words iced my stomach. I’d labeled him a stranger, but that was an inaccurate assessment. He was several degrees colder than any stranger could ever be. But no matter how cold he was, he would not force me out of Lyric’s life. “You’re right, I do.” Sarcasm works both ways, asshole. “When do we leave?” His phone pinged. He checked his text and started typing a message. “Aria, that’s not happening,” he said, not looking up from his phone. “Either I go, or you’re going to have to deal with one hell of a PR nightmare. Is that what you want? I know how important your precious Raine Industries is to you.” I was totally throwing out Robin’s advice, but I couldn’t help it. He was not holding all of the cards here. His jaws flexed as he slid his phone back into his pocket. “What do you want, Aria?” “I know it’s gone far beyond my getting what I want, so it’s basically come down to what I can accept. What was your plan?” “Arrangements have been made for him to live with me and my family in Chicago.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “You mean your parents’ place?” “Yes.” “What if I get a place in Chicago? He’ll live with me and you can visit as often as you’d like.” “You can’t be serious.” He shook his head as a wry smile traced his lips. “Do you think I would trust you?” “There’s nothing to conceal at this point, Aiden so—”

He lifted his hand, signaling me to stop. “That’s not going to happen.” There was an air of arrogance surrounding him, the one I’d seen on more than a few occasions, the one that exemplified the confidence and authority that I’d allowed to seduce me in the past. But not today—it made me want to run for the hills. “Okay, so exactly where do you see me fitting into this picture?” “In the same way I did before I found out about my son—not at all.” “Aiden, you know that’s out of the question. I’m his mother. I need to be with him. And there is the fact that he’s being breast-fed. Or have you made arrangements for that also?” I could see that he hadn’t anticipated that, but he quickly recalculated his plan. “You can pump and he can be bottle fed.” “And how would you get the milk? By messenger? Or maybe have one of your staff drop in for a supply? You’d do that? You’d be fine with that?” “You were fine with cutting me out completely. I think it’s a hell of a lot more generous than you were with me.” “This is all temporary until we can either get in court or come to some type of compromise. Kellan and I have been the only stability Lyric’s known and I would hate to think you’d be so vindictive that you would even attempt to take that away from him.” “You, and especially Kellan, can—” He broke off and shook his head in disbelief. “Just forget it, I’ve had enough. So, you’re suggesting we live together? Let’s do it. At least until you’ve had this day in court you seem to think will change everything.” I hated him. I fucking hated him. “When do we leave?” He glanced at his watch. “Within the next couple of hours.” I knew my next request wouldn’t be met favorably, but what did it really matter at this point? “I’d like for Kellan to come with us, too. Not to your place, of course, but back to the States. Is that going to be a problem?” Aiden looked at me, I mean really looked at me, for the first time since his arrival in Belize, and I saw the pain behind his bravado. I saw the misunderstanding, and I saw the betrayal, and something inside me shattered. “It won’t be a problem at all,” he responded dryly. “Thank you,” I said. “I’d like to meet my son.” I didn’t know how to respond to him. This was the start of it all—this moment. “Now, Aria,” he demanded when I didn’t move. “I think I’ve waited long enough.” I took a deep breath. “I’ll get him.” I walked to the nursery and my heart broke when I saw Kellan sitting in the rocking chair with Lyric. He’d spent many nights with him when I’d been too exhausted to do much more than breathe. He’d assumed a role I thought he’d always have in Lyric’s life.

Kellan looked up as I entered the room, and I could see his hurt. For the most part, we’d been quiet last night, never discussing what we knew this day would bring. He knew this would change everything—just as I did. “I’m guessing he wants to meet Lyric.” “Yes. I’m sorry, Kellan.” “It’s not a time for apologies. I only ask that you’re both taken care of and that you’re both happy. I’ll still be in your lives—only you or I can change that.” “I was hoping you’d say that.” He was such a good man. I hated this for him. “Would you like to take him to Aiden?” “It may be best if you do it.” “Why don’t we do it together?” I knew Aiden would hate it, but I couldn’t just strip Lyric from Kellan’s arms and carry him off to Aiden. “Sure.” Kellan and I walked into the kitchen and saw that Aiden had moved to the living room. He was standing near the window. Was he looking at the same tree that I sat underneath every day? The tree that allowed me to think and sometimes imagine a future that I now knew could never be? It was quiet, with the exception of Lyric’s cooing. Aiden turned from the window, and his expressionless face transformed into a scowl when he saw Kellan holding Lyric. Kellan walked over to him, and Aiden’s eyes slowly reached the tiny bundle in Kellan’s arms. It was the first semblance of a smile I’d seen on Aiden’s face. Kellan passed Lyric to Aiden. “Careful. You’ll need to cradle his head,” Kellan said. Aiden didn’t reply. His gaze was fixed on the little person in his arms. Did Aiden see himself when he looked at Lyric? Did he see his eyes in Lyric’s eyes? “Wow,” Aiden breathed. He was lost in his son, his eyes darting all over him with absolute amazement. “Aiden, this is Lyric,” I said. “Your son.” “He’s perfect,” he said in a low whisper. “I’ll let you guys have some time alone,” Kellan said. “Kellan, you don’t have to—” I started. “No, I do.” He squeezed my hand and gradually released it. I stared after him as he exited the room. I felt horrible for him. “Hey, little guy. I’m your dad.” Aiden’s voice broke, and my eyes stung with tears. “Aria, he’s beautiful,” he said. He looked up at me and for a few seconds, we exchanged the happiness of two parents marveling in their child. I took a seat next to them, just in case Aiden needed help. He was so gentle with Lyric, handling him as if he might break. I watched the awe play out on Aiden’s face as he traced his finger along the

baby’s cheek. He appeared to be completely fascinated by his son. Aiden grasped Lyric’s tiny hand and smiled when he encircled his large finger with his tiny ones. Lyric soon started to cry and I showed Aiden how to calm him. He settled down, and Aiden continued to study him. My heart melted when he lifted the baby and kissed his forehead. Lyric eventually fell asleep in Aiden’s arms. And even after that, he held him for quite a while, watching him sleep. I’d pictured Aiden holding Lyric a thousand times, but I could never get it quite right in my head. The thought that he wouldn’t want a child always clouded my view. But seeing him holding Lyric, it all seemed right. Even in an exquisitely tailored three piece suit, Aiden seemed to fit far better than I would have thought. Had I been wrong? Would he have been happy about my pregnancy? About being a father? I sat and watched in amazement as Aiden acquainted himself with his son. Then I thought about Kellan, who was preparing himself to walk away from Lyric. One man was saying goodbye to a life he thought he’d have. And another was saying hello to a life he never imagined. And then there was me, the person who’d caused the mess of emotion and loss for all of us.

Chapter Three The silence was deafening. We were situated on different sides of the room, like two opposing teams awaiting the outcome of a verdict. There were no further words to be spoken. There was only time and it was quickly running out. The lab was sending the results to my house by messenger and now we were all seated in my living room. Robin and Aiden’s attorney spoke for a few brief moments, and after that, silence. Aiden didn’t say anything to me and I said nothing to him. We did exchange occasional glares, and whenever it appeared as though his glower had softened, he’d glance at Kellan and then Aiden’s scorching gaze reappeared. I wondered what he would say after hearing the results. Was he planning to grab Lyric and rush out with him as soon as the news was official? Did he really intend for me to live with him in Chicago? There was no way that would work. Surely he knew that as well as I, so what was his end game? The doorbell rang, putting an end to the stream of anxious thoughts. The information that would change the paths of several lives was on the other side of a door I didn’t want to open. I wanted to grab Lyric and run. I wanted Lyric to be safe from a childhood that his dad had suffered, a childhood that I’d suffered. But all of that was out of my hands now. I willed myself toward the door and opened it to reveal what I’d dreaded—the beginning of a very different life. “A parcel for Aria Cason.” It was an employee of Menudos Labs. “That’s me.” “I’ll need to see some identification, ma’am.” “That’s right. Give me a second.” After retrieving my purse, I pulled out my license. The guy looked at it and then extended a tablet and a stylus. My hand trembled so much when I scribbled my signature that I had to sign it twice. Passing the envelope to me, he said, “Have a good day, ma’am.” And that was it. He headed back to his day. Now I had to turn around and face mine. My hands were still jittering as I looked at the envelope. Closing the door, I fast forwarded to the next ten minutes. I knew I’d be leaving my life in Belize far behind. I was angry at Aiden for inserting himself into Lyric’s life like this. As I considered what was about to happen, I was absolutely livid and damn near screamed. I clamped my palm over my mouth and swallowed the rage that I knew would get me nowhere with Aiden. I held the envelope up when I stepped into the living room. “The moment we’ve all been waiting for.” My eyes briefly locked with Kellan’s as I took a deep breath and passed the envelope to Robin.

She quickly scanned the letter and then looked at me. I nodded, and she read aloud the results we all expected. Everything happened so quickly after that. Robin gave me some last minute legal advice and Aiden’s team lobbied around him, whispering and glancing at me. I rushed to the nursery once Robin had left. Lyric was awake, lying quietly as he sucked his fingers. Well this is it, little guy. We’re going to your new home. I’ll protect you with everything in me—I promise. Aiden entered the nursery carrying a small leather tote. He requested I dress Lyric in one of the outfits from the bag. Did he think he’d be the final authority on how I dressed my son? Did he intend to eliminate my choices? I came quite close to telling him to shove the bag up his ass, but thought better of it when I considered Robin’s advice. As I reached for the satchel, Aiden looked down at Lyric. I saw the same tenderness on his face I’d witnessed earlier. Then he looked up at me and, just like that, he’d reapplied his ice-cold veneer. This is what I have to look forward to. This is going to be so many levels of hell. Aiden said we’d be leaving within the hour and left me alone to dress Lyric and grab a few last minute things. An hour—and my time was up. That was all I had left to say goodbye. I dressed Lyric and noticed how quiet he was. It was as if he sensed I needed as much calm as possible. As I double-checked one of Lyric’s bags, I started to space out. This was it—I was leaving Belize. I was saying goodbye to all the plans of a life with Lyric and Kellan. Lyric and I would have a new home. I didn’t know how this could work. As a matter of fact, I knew it wouldn’t. Kellan declined the offer to fly back with us. He felt distance was best, given Aiden’s new role in our lives. I knew Kellan was right and I knew his family would be pleased about his return to New York, but what about me? Would he continue to be a part of my life as he’d said? Kellan was the ideal man for any woman. He was intelligent, successful and extremely attractive. He had a great sense of humor, he was loyal, very protective, and he was safe. He gave me the sense of stability that I needed—that I knew Lyric would need. Yes, he was the ideal man for any woman— any woman except me. He’d said no man would ever stand a chance with me until I’d broken my emotional ties to Aiden. I knew he was right and quite honestly, I didn’t know if those were ties that would ever break. Kellan deserved far better than I could ever give to him. I knew that and that knowledge was what allowed me to rescind any claim I had to him. It was terribly painful to watch Kellan say goodbye to Lyric. I stood behind him and looked on as he told Lyric to be a good boy for me. Lyric’s eyes were wide and attentive—focused on Kellan’s face. Kellan kissed his cheek and passed him to me and then he left us alone. Looking around the room, I thought back to the many late nights I’d sat in the rocking chair, and to the nights I’d walked in and found Kellan asleep in the chair next to Lyric’s crib. There were

mornings when we just sat holding him, or days when we walked along the beach, holding hands and making plans for the future—a future that would never be. I’d kept a blog of my time in Belize. It started out as a way to chronicle my pregnancy and Lyric’s birth. I was glad I had done that. The memories of the last several months would always be special for me. Perhaps one day, when I was in a happier place, I could look back at them. I placed Lyric in his crib and changed from my tropical island attire in preparation for the harsh cold I’d surely encounter in Chicago. Lyric was dressed in his first gift from his father—white footie pajamas with blue music symbols. There was also a tiny matching cap. They were a little too big, but he was so adorable that it didn’t matter. Aiden had also included a beautiful matching blanket. I wondered if he’d selected those items himself or if he’d told Brooklyn, his personal assistant, exactly what he wanted and she made the purchase. Either way, I knew it was special for Aiden—another bit of information that added to my confusion regarding his feelings of being a father. When I walked out of my bedroom, Aiden was waiting for us. I placed Lyric in the carrier and Aiden took him to the car. Kellan was nowhere in sight. I’d written a letter for him, expressing my gratitude and apologizing. I hoped he could one day be happy with someone who really deserved him. I placed the letter on the table and wiped a tear from my cheek. After taking one final glance at my home, I closed the door to my life in Belize.

* * * * * We were at the airport preparing to board when I looked up and spotted Kellan. A surge of relief soared through me. “Oh my God! Kellan, you changed your mind!” I ran into his arms and buried my face against his shoulder. He embraced me, holding me tightly. A few moments later, he released me and stepped back. “No, I haven’t changed my mind. I’m staying here to tie up some loose ends.” My heart sank. “Then I don’t understand. Why are you here, and how did you get past security?” “My name was on the passenger list. I guess Raine didn’t have his people update it. And I’m here to give you this. It’s the reason I left the house earlier. I know how much you love them.” I glanced at the bag of Belizean chocolates. “Thank you.” I’d started eating them during the last month of my pregnancy, and Kellan kept bags of them stashed in hiding places so I wouldn’t over consume. “I do love these, but you know I don’t need them. They only lead to more workouts.” “Sometimes what we love and what we need aren’t the same things, but we indulge anyway.” I knew he wasn’t referring to the chocolates. I stared into his beautiful brown eyes, and with everything in me, I longed to tell him what he wanted to hear, but the words wouldn’t come.

“I would have fought for you had I thought there was a chance I’d win your heart. Aiden is an arrogant jerk, but he has a hold on you that I don’t think you’ll ever shake. So I’m letting you go.” “I don’t want it to be this way.” “I know you don’t.” I placed my palm on his cheek. He was such an amazing man. “You and I were overly optimistic. We wanted something we thought would come in time. Truth is, it would have never been right. And I know you realize that.” I did. As amazing as Kellan was, my feelings wouldn’t change. We’d never be anything more than we were at this present moment, but I had wanted to try. I had really hoped that in time, my feelings for Aiden would fade. “Don’t cry.” He wiped a tear from my cheek and cradled my face. “You know I love you.” “I do. And I love you, too.” “I hate to break up whatever this is, but we have a plane waiting.” Aiden had walked up behind us. Kellan’s expression became rigid and then he turned to face Aiden. “Raine, I’d love to do nothing more than knock that smug look off your face.” “I’d love to see you try,” Aiden challenged. “Please! Can you two stop? Aiden, can you for once stop being an ass? This is difficult enough without your goading. I’m coming, I just need one minute. Can you at least give me that?” Aiden casted a contemptuous glance toward Kellan and then slowly turned away and headed back to the plane. I reached for the bag of chocolates. “I’ll call you once I get settled. I left a note for you on the table. I hope you’ll respond.” Kellan nodded and smiled. “Goodbye, Kellan.” He pulled me toward him, lifted my chin and brought his lips to mine. It was a slow, tender kiss. It was a kiss that confirmed his feelings for me. It was a kiss that communicated with his mouth what he didn’t have the heart to say aloud—it was his final goodbye.

* * * * * I stepped onto the plane, and Aiden delivered another blow when he announced that Anja would be joining us for the flight to Chicago. He’d hired her as one of Lyric’s nannies. His team had already verified her references and run background checks. She’d worked as a pediatric nurse for several years, prior to her working with Menudos Labs. She’d been discussing her resignation and relocation to the States with Pauline, the nanny Aiden had brought along with him from Chicago. Aiden had been

privy to the conversation, so he offered her a position, which she quickly accepted. I stared at him, too enraged to say anything, but I fully intended to make my opinion known. This only confirmed my earlier suspicions. Did he actually think I would go along with this? Was this his idea of co-parenting—making unilateral decisions? Was he doing this to show me how it felt to be excluded from choices involving Lyric? Or maybe this was his mother ’s brainchild. I couldn’t believe he would want nannies for our son, especially when he’d been damaged by his lack of interaction with his own parents. Maybe I was jumping the gun. A nanny had been his plan before he knew I’d be coming back to Chicago with him. But he had one, so why hire a second? Would she travel with him? Would one nanny remain in Chicago and the other travel around the country with him? Was he planning to trot the globe with Lyric and the nanny? Surely he knew I wasn’t going to let that happen. I’d be contacting my attorney as soon as we were settled in Chicago. Hopefully he’d have the name of a brilliant family lawyer—brilliant and not intimidated by the Raine name. This situation was tenuous at best, and I knew it would come to a head sooner rather than later and I needed to be prepared. Sure I’d damaged my chances of sole custody, if I ever had a chance at that, but I’d be damned if I handed Aiden total say-so. Lyric was buckled in a baby seat next to me, sucking his paci. Aiden was sitting across from us. I’d catch him staring longingly at Lyric ever so often, and then his eyes would dart to mine and it was as if he were shooting bullets at me. I’d return his vengeful glare until one of us eventually looked away. Yes, this is going to be hell! Kelly, the Raine Industries flight attendant, and Brooklyn, Aiden’s personal assistant, had been on the jet when I boarded, and they both fawned over Lyric. I was surprised to see there were so many accommodations on the jet already set up for him. I didn’t know why Aiden had gone through the trouble, because Lyric wouldn’t be flying all over the world. I’d make sure of that. We landed in Chicago late in the evening and were whisked off to the Raine Estate. I could only imagine what was waiting for us there. As we prepared to exit the plane, I overheard Brooklyn confirming that Aiden’s schedule had been cleared for the next month and that she was working on moving all of his meetings to either video or telephone conferences for the month after. From the bits I picked up from the remainder of her discussion with Aiden, the responsibility for several other key details would be shifted to his siblings Sloan and Nicholas, and his father, Connor. The ride to the Raine house was even more uncomfortable than the flight from Belize. Lyric was irritable and I knew it was because he was hungry. I’d fed him just before we took off, but he typically ate every three hours and it was about an hour past his normal feeding schedule. Aiden glanced at us each time Lyric made the slightest noise. Anja was sitting quietly next to Aiden. I didn’t like her. I was sure she was attracted to him, and although I didn’t want it to, that bothered me.

When the car stopped in front of the massive doors of Aiden’s home, my stomach twisted. The last time I was here, Aiden and I had declared our commitment to each other. This time we’d be walking in as strangers. I lifted a sleepy Lyric from his car seat and swaddled him in Aiden’s gift. He yawned and I smiled at my little man snuggled in his new blanket. This would be a nightmare, but I could do this. For him, I could do anything. The chauffeur opened the door, and Aiden slid out and reached for the baby. I was hesitant to pass Lyric to him, but Aiden leaned in and gently lifted him from my arms. I grabbed Lyric’s bag and my purse and eased out behind them. Aiden started up the walkway and the large doors of the mansion swung open. Sienna was the first person I picked out from the crowd of people waiting near the entrance. She hurriedly walked toward her son and grandson. “Oh, Aiden! You’re finally back, and you have my precious grandson,” she exclaimed. “We’re all so anxious to meet him. How was he on the flight? I thought you were going to send pictures.” “I was. But when I saw him, I wanted to wait. I wanted you to see him as I saw him. Let’s get him inside out of the cold, Mother.” “Yes. Of course,” she replied. I followed them into the lavish mansion and was happy to see one friendly face. Dianna was standing near the door and closed it behind me. She was one of several members of the Raine staff, and Aiden had flown her to Boston to help out when my mother had passed last year. “Good evening, Ms. Cason. It’s so good to see you again,” she said warmly. Her hair was pulled back in the same neat bun I remembered. I smiled at her greeting. “Hi, Dianna. It’s nice to see you, too,” I replied. She had no idea how nice it was to see her kind face. It gave me hope she, at least, would be friendly to me, because I knew the others wouldn’t be happy to see me at all. “Everyone’s waiting in the drawing room. We’re all so excited to meet the baby.” She hurried after them, and I followed slowly behind. I felt so out of place. Aiden introduced Anja to his family and then asked the staff to help her settle in. I stood in the doorway and glanced around the room. There were balloons, cake, food, and several gifts. I guessed this was a delayed baby shower. Only, they wouldn’t do anything like that for me, so this was more for Aiden and Lyric. I was a mere fly on the wall, watching as they aahed and fussed over Lyric. He’d never been around this many people at once. I was worried he’d react poorly, but he seemed to be just fine. I scanned the room again, and my gaze rested on another face I would have hoped to be friendly —Aiden’s youngest sister, Allison. I was disappointed to see her scowl in my direction. I shouldn’t have been too surprised, but I was. It hurt. They’d all shut me out. I couldn’t blame Allison because I was sure that she, too, felt betrayed by my silence. I wanted to go to her and explain. I started to do just

that, but she quickly turned away from me. I guess it’s too soon. I walked to the opposite side of the room and took a seat. “He’s so beautiful, Aiden.” Sienna mused. “Hi, little one. I’m your—” She broke off as if startled. “What is it, Mom?” Allison asked. “I’m a grandmother.” She shook her head in amazement and smiled. “Are you afraid to say it aloud, Mother?” Aiden teased. “Of course not. And I’m not going to insist upon any of those silly names. He’ll address me as Grandmother.” She glanced at Lyric. “Won’t you, sweet one? Aiden, let me hold him.” “Hello, everyone,” I said. They looked at me as if they didn’t understand why I was there. “Hello, Aria,” Sienna said, a frown marring her exquisite face. “I didn’t expect you’d be staying here. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable at a hotel until you get your own place?” “Actually I would, but I’m not going anywhere without Lyric.” She redirected her attention and her smile to the baby, though she spoke to me. “You’ve had him to yourself for weeks now. Don’t you think Aiden deserves time with him also?” “Mother, stop it,” Aiden scolded. “Aiden, it isn’t fair to you or to us.” “I said stop.” “Hmph.” She frowned at me and then took a seat with Lyric. Sienna would be the second most challenging piece to this forced puzzle. I sat and watched them, and with each passing moment, I felt smaller and smaller. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my sisters, letting them know I’d arrived and that it was hell already. “Welcome home, Aria.” I looked up from my phone to the smiling face of Aiden’s father. Home? This is the last place I’d call home. “Hi, Connor.” “Mind if I join you?” he asked. “It’s your house.” He laughed. “That it is.” He sat beside me and was suddenly all serious. “Let me guess,” I said. “You want to tell me what you think of me, too? I don’t really care to hear any of it, Connor.” “Now now, Aria. Don’t readily assume I came over to castigate you. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Huh? He smiled briefly at my expression. “I see that I’ve shocked you.” “Yeah, you could say that. I know you’re all put out with me, but I hope we’ll be able to get along, at least for the sake of the baby.” “We’re quite upset, but like you, we want to be amicable. We don’t know what happened between

you and Aiden, and it’s none of our business. But you had no right to keep our grandson from us, Aria.” “Connor, this has been an extremely trying process, and I’m not in the frame of mind to hash anything out with anyone.” “You don’t have to. You’re here, and Lyric’s here, and that’s all that matters.” Connor beckoned one of the maids for a glass of water for me. I noticed Sienna and Aiden watching us. Then Lyric made a noise and their attention was immediately refocused on him. “I don’t agree with your choices, but you’re the mother of my grandson.” He looked back toward Aiden, Allison, and Sienna and then turned back to me. “They may be upset for a while.” “But not you?” “No. Just the opposite. I’m overjoyed. We all are. You’ve given our family a gift. If you need anything, come to me. Let me know.” Well, this was an unexpected turn of events. “Why are you doing this? I doubt Aiden will approve.” I sipped the water and wondered what Connor was up to. “Because you’re family, and I take care of my own, so whatever you and Lyric need, it’s yours. And don’t worry about Aiden. He’ll come around.” I wasn’t so sure about that. “Thanks Connor, but I think we’re fine. I’m relieved that at least one member of the Raine family won’t be throwing daggers at me over the dinner table.” As for what we need—we need to get the hell out of here. But I knew that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Lyric was starting to get irritated and I knew he needed to eat. I excused myself and walked over to the others. “Hi, Allison.” “Hi, Aria,” she replied and quickly looked away. “He’s a little fussy. I need to feed him.” I reached for him, and Sienna kissed his cheek and passed him to me. “He’s beautiful, Aria,” she said. “Thank you. And thank you for the gifts.” I looked down at my little munchkin, glad to have him back in my arms. “Someone’s hungry, huh, little guy?” I wasn’t accustomed to sharing him with anyone other than Kellan. This was definitely going to take some getting used to. I bounced him in my arms, hoping to calm him before he became too aggravated. I didn’t want him riled up so close to bedtime. I glanced at Aiden, and he was staring at the two of us. For a sliver of a second, he seemed almost human as he looked at me. “Can you show me to his nursery?” “Actually, one of the staff can show you,” Aiden said, dismissing me and beckoning one of the maids. He’d been so distant and it appeared he planned to keep it that way. “Aiden, I think it would be comforting for you to do that. Don’t you, son?” Connor had walked over to us.

Aiden threw a warning look at Connor and then glanced back at me and the baby. “I’m fine either way. My priority is getting him settled and back on his schedule. I could care less about who makes that happen,” I said. “I’ll do it.” Aiden walked past me and grabbed Lyric’s bag and my purse. I was about to say goodnight to the others, but decided not to waste my breath on an insincere gesture. Aiden silently escorted us upstairs to the nursery. It was on the same floor as his bedroom. He opened the door and allowed me to enter first, and I gaped in awe as I stepped into the room. It was like walking into a luxury baby boutique. “You should find everything you need here. If we’ve missed something, let Pauline or Anja know,” he said, looking down at Lyric. “Thank you.” I kept my voice as impersonal as his, since that was the way he was going to play it. Aiden excused himself and closed the door behind him, leaving Lyric and me alone. I breathed a sigh of relief and sat in the rocking chair. Lyric was crying, and my gentle swaying was doing nothing to lessen his irritation. When I undid my bra and traced my nipple along his lips, he latched on quickly and I almost screamed. That wasn’t right. I placed my finger between his lips and my skin and let him re-latch. That was better. I smiled as I watched him, loving the feel of providing him sustenance. He needed me and I needed him. Surely Aiden recognized that and wouldn’t attempt to do anything that would further disrupt Lyric’s stability. Once Lyric finished, I changed his diaper and slipped on his blue footie pajamas. I sat in the chair and rocked him for a while, glancing around the room. His nursery in Belize was like something out of a magazine, but it paled in comparison to the luxuriousness of this room. I wondered if Aiden had a hand in this or if it was all Sienna and her decorators. Lyric soon drifted off, and I was close to following him. As I placed him in the crib, the beautiful mobile hanging above it caught my attention. It was a light shade of blue and yellow, and there were music symbols hanging from the tiny threads. I reached out and touched one. Aiden had definitely played a part in this. I turned on the baby monitor, grabbed one of the handheld devices, and looked around the room again. It provided any and every thing a new baby could want or need, including twenty-four hour nannies. I traced my finger over the changing table. Even it was over-the-top luxury. All of the furniture was beautifully designed, and crafted with the most exquisite details. The crib was almost regal, boasting exceptionally tall end boards. There was a stuffed giraffe near the end of the crib close to the window. And in the right corner, there was a huge stuffed bear with a blue ribbon around its neck. The rocking chair where I’d nursed Lyric was positioned near the window to the left of the crib, and an oversized chair and ottoman to the right. At the far end of the room was a sitting area,

which included a small sofa and two more chairs. The drawers were filled with blankets, socks, caps, and pajamas. I walked into the closet and it was also overflowing with clothes of all sizes. The bathroom had obviously been re-modeled recently to fit the needs of an infant. There were towels, onesies, and other baby essentials everywhere. They had thought of everything. I stepped out of the bathroom and walked back to the crib. I took one last look at Lyric and went in search of Aiden. The nursery was next door to his bedroom, and I was sure that wasn’t a coincidence. I knocked on the door and heard, “Yes. Come in.” He was removing his shirt just as I entered. Oh fuck! That body. He had to be one of the most gorgeous men on the planet. I tore my eyes away from his chest and looked up at him. “I’m exhausted. Where’s my room?” “On the other side of the nursery. I knew you’d want to be close to him.” “Thank you.” I didn’t know what else to say. He glanced at my hand. “You have the monitor, I see.” “Yep.” I said, holding it up. “I have one, too.” I followed his gaze to the monitor on his bedside table. “You can turn the screen on if you flip the switch on the bottom,” he said. “Yeah, I saw that. Thanks.” “Sure.” This was awkward. I didn’t know what to say next, and I could see that he didn’t either. “Well, goodnight.” “Goodnight, Aria.” I couldn’t help but walk into the nursery again. I stood over the crib and watched my son. It was hard to believe that I had a child. And what was even harder to fathom was my absolute love and adoration for him. I’d worried that my initial dread of having kids would filter my maternal instincts, but I felt nothing but an overwhelming love for him. For the sake of Lyric, I could take whatever the Raines dished out. I hesitantly pulled myself away from the crib and went to my bedroom. I was tempted to sleep in the nursery but since I’d be right next door with a viewable monitor, I was comfortable leaving Lyric in his new room. Next door, I took in the luxuriousness of my own accommodations. It was overly extravagant, just as everything else in this too large home. I wandered around the spacious room and noticed my clothes had already been unpacked. There wasn’t much to do except go to bed. I stepped into the bathroom to take a shower and saw the vanity had been stocked with my favorite soaps and facial products. I couldn’t imagine Aiden knew to do this. Could it have been

Allison? It definitely wasn’t Sienna, so it had to have been Allison. She and I had really connected when Aiden and I were together, but then I’d disappeared without so much as a goodbye. I’d hurt her. I hated the expression I saw on her face earlier, but if I was correct and it was her who’d extended such a kind gesture, it meant there was a chance for us to rebuild our friendship. In the midst of everything I was dreading, reconnecting with her gave me something to look forward to. It was strange being in a different bed, a different room, and a different house. I stared into the darkness and considered my predicament, retracing my steps over and over. I couldn’t turn my brain off. I tossed and turned for a while and eventually clambered out of bed in search of the one thing that could provide me with a façade of comfort tonight. I stepped inside the oversized closet, not quite sure where to begin my search. Opening drawer after drawer, I finally located what I wanted. I pulled Mom’s quilt from the drawer and hugged it tightly as I stepped out of the closet. I flipped on the small table lamp and felt a sense of ease by the dim light it cast throughout the room. I hopped back into the large bed, and as I settled in, I heard the faint sounds of Lyric’s breathing. Pulling the quilt up to my chest, I sighed. My beloved quilt and the soft resonance of my son’s breathing—the two comforts from my life in Belize that enabled me to finally drift off.

Chapter Four The first few days with the Raines were just as horrible as I’d predicted. Aiden barely said anything to me. Not that I was too keen on conversing, myself. When I’d enter a room, he’d leave, and vice versa. The first breakfast with the family was filled with endless moments of awkward silence and forced pleasantries. Everyone except Aiden made great attempts at cordiality, but they all fell flat. The first dinner was more of the same. From that point, I decided I wouldn’t be joining them for any meals. Aiden didn’t waste any time bringing Lyric into the Raine fold. The day after we arrived in Chicago, he approached me with papers to change Lyric’s last name. I was upset by his relentless bulldogging, but I had to choose my battles, and this was one I didn’t see as worth the fight. He suggested one name and I suggested another—there wasn’t much discussion. In the end, we agreed on Lyric Cason Raine. I’d been trying to reach April since everything had come to a head with Aiden, but she had yet to do more than reply that she was sorry and she would call me soon. I’d kept Lia and Bianca in the loop, and was making plans for them to visit during their next college break. And then there was Kellan. Kellan was back in New York trying to get settled. Thankfully he was able to salvage his deal with the Belize investors. I felt terrible about all of the changes he’d made because of me. He said he missed us—I could hear it in his voice. I missed him, too, so did Lyric. I was in the nursery holding the baby while I spoke with Kellan. I wanted Lyric to hear his voice, so I placed the phone on speaker. Lyric became very still at the sound of the voice on the phone. I wondered if he knew it was Kellan. I missed hearing him talking to Lyric like this. I was oblivious to my surroundings, totally immersed in this private time with them, when Aiden walked in and saw what was going on. His eyes locked with mine and his face clouded over with even more anger, if that was at all possible. Just great. I cried myself to sleep that night when I thought about how much of a mess I’d caused for so many people. There was too much pain and confusion, and I didn’t know how to resolve any of it. This catastrophic mess was the reason I’d wanted to keep love far away from me, but I was here, still dealing with the after effects of having fallen in love, and there was nothing I could do about it. The next day, I received an email from my lawyer in Boston with a list of reputable family law attorneys in the Chicago area. I researched the top three he’d recommended and then scheduled an appointment with Justin Meryl. He was a highly regarded attorney with a heavy caseload, so my appointment was several weeks out. I didn’t want to wait that long, but I wanted the best, so if I had to

wait, I’d wait.

* * * * * I was entering week two with the Raines. I’d found that working out was my only relief, so I’d focused on losing ten pounds and toning my body to its pre-pregnancy shape. I was glad I hadn’t really gained much during the pregnancy—it had been pretty much all baby weight. As I was walking out of the gym, my phone rang. It was April. Finally! I didn’t bother with a hello. “Where have you been?” “I’m sorry, Aria. I should have called before now. How are you? How are things with Aiden? How’s Lyric?” I grabbed a towel just before I stepped out of the room. “Things are bad. I mean, everyone’s fawning over Lyric, but they treat me like crap. Well, except Connor. He’s been surprisingly accommodating, but I’m sure it’s because he has a new little Raine to mold, and the fact that it’s Aiden’s son makes it all the more alluring.” “Geez. I was hoping things would have gotten a little better by now. Aiden promised he wouldn’t be vengeful about this.” Wait. What? “What do you mean? Have you spoken to him?” I asked. “Yes. A few times. Has he not mentioned it?” I stopped short. “We barely say two words to each other, April. You’d know that had you bothered to reply to my damned texts,” I said as I entered my bedroom. “I’m sorry, Aria. I wanted to give you two some time to work this out.” Was it April? Was she the one who’d told Aiden? No, she wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t have. But I had to ask. “April, I never figured out how Aiden found out about Lyric. He’d started to tell me once. The only people who knew were Lia, Bianca, Kellan and you. Please tell me it wasn’t you. Please tell me you didn’t tell Aiden.” There was silence. “April, it was you, wasn’t it?” I confirmed. “I’m sorry, Aria,” she replied in a small voice. Walking into the bathroom, I sat on the side of the tub. “How could you do that? I trusted you. You were the one person I thought I could always rely on, no matter what.” “Aria, you can rely on me. I was trying to help.” “Help? How the hell could you figure something like this could fucking help? I’m in hell, April!” I started pacing the bathroom floor. “And I suppose you’re going to say you were in pure heaven in Belize? When I was there, I

could see how hurt and broken you were without Aiden in your life. You were miserable and you know it. You were safe, or your version of safe, but you were not happy.” “I was not miserable, April. I was adjusting, and I was making the best of an impossible situation.” And now I was in an even more impossible situation, thanks to her. I was so angry I could barely see straight. “So you never once wished Aiden was there? That he could see his son? That he could be with you?” she asked. “If I did, that’s perfectly understandable given the situation, but that didn’t give you the right to make a decision that would change my whole fucking life.” “Initially, I kept your secret and had no intention of breaking your confidence but—” “But what? What could have possibly caused you to do this?” She gave a huge sigh, like I was dragging it out of her. “Aiden had contacted me claiming he knew where you were and saying he was planning to go after you. I panicked and lied. I knew I had to give him a solid reason why he couldn’t go after you…so I told him that you and Kellan were expecting a child. I figured if he knew a baby was in the picture, he’d finally let you go.” “Oh, April! How could you have kept all of this from me?” “I was trying to help. Why don’t you get that?” “I didn’t need your help! I was fine!” I yelled. “You can say that until you pass out, but it’s not true and you know it.” “So you came to Belize to report back to Aiden?” “No, I came to spend time with my best friend and my godson, but after visiting you, I couldn’t get all of it off my mind. I’d also had a talk with Kellan when I was in Belize, and he confirmed that you were hurting…so I got in touch with Aiden and told him the baby was his. He was shocked as hell, and he had so many questions, but I didn’t answer any of them. I told him he’d need to get those answers from you.” “Guess what? He’s failed to ask me a damned thing. He just did what he does…what he always does when he wants something. He takes over, all others be damned…including me. This is the third time you’ve violated my trust, and each time has involved Aiden.” “And each time, I was doing what I thought was best for you, Aria.” “It’s not up to you to decide what’s best for me, April!” “I was trying to help. How many times must I say that?” “You’ve helped all right. You’ve made my life a living hell! In the future, if you really want to help me—keep your mouth shut. As a matter of fact, just stay the hell out of my life!” “What? Are you kidding me right now? You’re actually ready to end our friendship? After all we’ve been through?” I didn’t reply.

“Wow…you really have changed, Aria.” “I can say the same of you. Maybe I’ve finally grown into the person I was meant to be…the person who’s outgrown you, April.” “Is that how you really feel?” she asked. “I said it, didn’t I?” “I told him you would do this. This is why I was hoping to put off this conversation. I wanted to give you time to adjust and hopefully realize it was for the best. I knew that was the only way you would see my side.” “Obviously that isn’t happening. I have to go, April. The next time you decide to make a decision for me…don’t!” I pressed end on the call and came extremely close to tossing my phone across the room. I needed to talk to Aiden. Heading toward the door, I slowed my steps as I considered the possible outcome. I needed a level head. If I went to him like this, it would only exacerbate an already volatile relationship. I turned back to run a hot bath, thinking a soothing soak would do much to prepare me for my conversation with Aiden. I’d only been in the tub for a little while and was nearly asleep when I heard Lyric’s cries filter through the monitor. Looking at the screen, I saw Anja going to his crib, then listened a moment as she spoke to him. She seemed nice enough, I guess. I was sure she was capable of providing sufficient services as a nanny, but there was something about her I didn’t trust, and I didn’t want her with Lyric. I hurriedly dried myself and tossed on a robe and darted for the nursery. I paused when I saw Aiden and Anja in conversation. Aiden was holding Lyric, and Anja was leaning over him, so close that her boobs were nearly touching his shoulder. “I heard Lyric and wanted to check on him. Is everything okay?” I asked, stepping toward the three of them. Aiden didn’t bother looking at me. “Yes, we’re fine, Aria.” “Yes, Ms. Cason, he’s fine. Mr. Raine came in just as I picked him up. He just lights up when his father holds him.” I forced a smile and secured my robe. That bitch has to go. “I thought Pauline was scheduled to be with Lyric today.” “She was. She had a medical appointment and asked me to fill in for her,” Anja replied. “Oh.” I was sure Aiden knew this and simply chose not to tell me. I looked down at him and wanted to smack him. Returning my attention to Anja, I said, “In the future, if you’ll keep me abreast of any schedule changes, I would appreciate it.” “Of course, Ms. Cason. I assumed Mr. Raine had filled you in,” she said, and headed toward Lyric’s closet. Mr. Raine would toss me out and never think twice if he thought he could get away with it. “I guess he forgot. Anja, can you excuse us? I need to have a word with Aiden.”

“Of course. I need to start on Lyric’s laundry.” I watched as she grabbed the woven basket and sashayed from the room. “What is it, Aria?” Aiden asked. Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door. It opened and Anja peeped back in. “Pauline just texted me. She should be here within the next ten minutes, so I’ll be going to the staff quarters until tonight. Do you need anything before I go, Mr. Raine?” “Thank you, Anja. No, I’m fine.” “If you need anything…anything at all, be sure to let me know,” she added with an overly friendly smile. Is this hussy flirting with him right in front of me? I looked at Aiden and he was actually smiling back at her, as if he welcomed her overtures. Is he kidding me? Is she his type now? Anja was a tall, shapely blonde with big blue eyes. Her boobs, which she’d obviously purchased, were her largest assets and she knew it. It was easy to see she loved having them on display. Just ugh. I mean, sure, she was attractive, but I couldn’t imagine Aiden would go for someone like her. “I don’t like her.” I said after the door had closed. Aiden’s smile disappeared as he looked up from Lyric. He was taking pleasure in my misery; I could see it in his expression. I glanced at Lyric when he started blowing spit bubbles. That was his new thing as of late. Aiden’s smile immediately returned when he looked at his son. “What do you dislike about her?” he asked, his eyes still on Lyric. “For one, she was hired without my consent. If you think I’m going to sit back and let you make every decision about our child’s life, you’d better think again. Secondly, she was hired to serve in a professional capacity and I don’t see that she’s conducting herself as such. Do you?” “I hired Pauline without your consent. Do you have a problem with her also?” I glared at him. He was such a bastard. “Aria, I hired Anja—that’s all the consent that matters—and I’m not dissatisfied with her services.” “I should have a say in this, and you know it.” “Do you really want to go there?” he asked. I looked at Lyric resting contently in his father ’s lap. I knew where this conversation could go, and the result would make our arrangement that much more untenable. “So this is more about you seeking retribution than it is about Lyric?” “Do you honestly think I would resort to those tactics in regard to my son, Aria?” “Do you really want my answer?” “Anja is doing a great job, and I don’t have any cause to relieve her of her duties. If you have valid concerns that warrant her dismissal, I’d like to know, because I only want the best care for Lyric. But if this is more about jealousy, which I highly suspect it is, I think this subject is closed.”

I slowly shook my head, glaring at him. “You never cease to amaze me. Fine. The ball’s in your court for now, so enjoy it while it lasts.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Just forget it. I really didn’t ask to speak with you to discuss that skank anyway.” “What have I done now that doesn’t meet your approval?” he asked. “April told you about Lyric. Didn’t she?” He studied me. His face said nothing. “How did it happen? Did you call her?” I asked. “No, I didn’t.” Aiden stood and walked to the crib. “She called me.” He kissed Lyric’s forehead and placed him down gently. Yeah, she called you, but only after you called her. Why did you leave that part out? “When?” “Five weeks after his birth.” He turned on Lyric’s mobile and watched him as he reacted to its melody. I didn’t want to be so close to Aiden, but I wanted to see Lyric’s reaction, too. I walked over beside him and looked down at my son. Lyric’s fingers were in his mouth as he looked above his head. I could watch him all day and never tire of it. I glanced at Aiden. “And it only took you a week to get to Belize with your papers and plans. You really work fast don’t you?” “When I want something, yes. That’s no surprise to you, though. Is it, Aria?” He looked down at me, and his eyes fell to the bare skin exposed by my open robe. Goose bumps traced over my skin as I watched the familiar look on his face. He lifted his eyes to mine and I was practically immobilized by his smoldering stare. I forced myself to move and grabbed the top of my robe. I stepped back, but he held my gaze, and I watched his green eyes darken. What is he doing? “Don’t close your robe on my account.” His voice was a husky whisper. What? There was a knock at the door. Aiden smirked and turned toward the interruption. “Yes? Come in.” “There you are, Mr. Raine. Jocelyn Carlson is here for you,” Dianna said. She was smiling, but as she surveyed the tension of the room, her smile faded and she pursed her lips. She looked disapprovingly at Aiden. I guessed she knew he’d be the direct cause of any stress between the two of us. “Thank you, Dianna. Can you show her to the drawing room? I’ll be right there.” I moved further away from the crib. Aiden turned back to me, and his gaze slid down the length of my body and then back up, his dark, sultry eyes settling on mine. He made a small step toward me then stopped in his tracks. “You should get dressed.” He looked at Lyric one final time and then turned to leave the room.

I exhaled when the door closed. What the hell was that?

* * * * * I tossed on a pair of jeans and a shirt and went back to the nursery. I scooped up my little guy and secured him in the Moby carrier and headed downstairs to the library with him snuggled against my chest. In the mood for a good book and a cup of tea, I was hoping to escape my hellish reality, at least for a couple of hours. It had been ages since I’d read anything that wasn’t related to childbirth or newborns. I slowed as I passed the drawing room. Aiden was with that Jocelyn person who’d come to see him. They were near one of the paintings, and they were standing rather close. She casually tossed her head back, laughing as she placed her hand on Aiden’s forearm. I noticed he didn’t move away from her as they continued talking. Who was she to Aiden? And why was Aiden so comfortable with her? My dislike of the strange woman was instant and completely irrational. I was around, but I didn’t have to watch. I did an about face and tried to block out what I’d just witnessed. Lyric made a noise and I squirmed as I quickened my steps. I hoped they hadn’t heard him. No such luck. I heard Aiden call me back. “Aria, I was just telling JoJo about Lyric. She would like to meet him.” Ugh. I applied a fake smile and turned to face Aiden and his friend. I made a few small steps toward them as Jocelyn and I gave each other the once-over. She was an attractive woman. I wondered if Aiden ever surrounded himself with anything but. She was much taller than me, with beautiful brown skin, big brown eyes, and an amazing body. “This is JoJo—I mean Jocelyn Carlson. You met at my party last year,” Aiden said. “Hi, Aria. It’s nice to see you again,” she said. “Hi, Jocelyn. I’m sorry. I met so many people that night, they kind of all fused together.” “That’s perfectly understandable. It was a mad house. You mix that with a lot of alcohol, and you can barely recall how you made it home.” Yeah, sure. Whatever, bitch. Was I frowning at her? It certainly felt like it. “This is our little guy,” Aiden said. I glanced at Aiden and he was wearing the look of the proud father. Aiden adored Lyric and that was becoming more apparent each time I saw him interact with his son. “He’s beautiful, Aiden.” JoJo reached for Lyric’s finger and spoke to him. I couldn’t help but smile. I looked up to see Aiden was still smiling, too. As I watched him, a flash of the last few moments we’d shared in the nursery made me blush. I felt as if he was having those same thoughts and I looked away. We were always so intense, whether it be on good terms or bad. Would it always be

this way for us? “JoJo and I are heading out for lunch. Do you need anything?” JoJo had linked her arm through Aiden’s, and I wanted to snatch her up. Yes, I can think of one thing I need. “No, I think we’re good. Enjoy your lunch. Say bye-bye to Daddy, Lyric.” I grabbed his tiny hand and gave a little wave. Aiden stepped away from JoJo and leaned in to kiss Lyric’s forehead. I nearly moaned aloud when his scent, that overpowering smell that always devoured my senses, swirled around me. I was sure that JoJo was swimming in it, too. Lucky bitch. “It was nice seeing you again, Aria,” JoJo said. I smiled and turned away, heading down the long hallway. But when I heard the door close behind them, I turned around and walked back. From the window I watched Aiden and JoJo walk to the car parked in the circular drive. Aiden opened her door and closed it once JoJo was inside. Casually, he walked around to the passenger side and slid in. He closed the door and my heart sank as I watched them drive away, my eyes glued to the car until the tall gates closed behind them. “There’s nothing going on between them, you know.” Allison had stepped behind us, jolting me from my reverie. I turned to face her. “What?” “Aiden and JoJo. They’re just friends. They’ve been friends since college. I think they may have hooked up once when they were in school, but from what I hear, Aiden didn’t really relate very well with women then. The age difference, you know.” “Allison, I don’t really care what Aiden does anymore.” “Aria, I’m not stupid. Neither is he. Actually, none of us are. Whatever you two have, it’s not going away. So you can both be pigheaded if you want, but it’s a waste of time.” I didn’t want to talk about Aiden or feelings. I’d only get upset. At least Allison was talking to me. That was a good sign. “Are you and I friends again?” “Friends? I don’t know. That term implies a lot.” “Allison, I’m sorry. I know I hurt you, too.” “Yes. You did.” She glanced at Lyric. He was happily sucking his paci. “I thought a clean break was the best for all concerned,” I said. She touched Lyric’s foot, lifting it and tickling the bottom. She grinned when Lyric pulled away from her. Allison looked up at me and her smile faded. “Aria, I was so hurt and angry when Aiden told us about the baby. I didn’t think I’d ever want to talk to you again.” “But you are now. So does this mean you’re going to stop giving me the evil eye? You’re not very good at it, you know,” I added, smiling at her. “It’s kind of hard to be mad at you. I love you like a sister, Aria, and I hate the way Mom and Aiden are treating you.” She frowned, appearing just as sad as I felt. “I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

“Me either, so I guess you need at least one person on your side.” “Thank you, Allison. And I love you, too. By the way, that would make two people on my side.” I held up two fingers, waiving them in front of her. Her eyebrows furrowed. “Huh?” “Connor. He’s been great.” “Really?” she asked, obviously just as startled as I’d been. “I know. It shocked the hell out of me, too.” “Well, maybe he can work on Mom. So, were you headed out?” she asked. “No. I was going to the library for a book. I would love to take Lyric for a walk, but I’ll wait until it’s less windy.” “We can walk in the gym,” she suggested. “There’s an indoor track and you can actually select scenes that encircle it. The scenery is really beautiful, you can even load sounds—there’s one that has a dog in it and looks so real. I think Lyric would like that.” “That sounds really cool.” I was happy that Allison had extended this overture. And if it meant our friendship was intact again, I would have walked up and down the halls, or anywhere else for that matter, had she suggested it. Just as I was about to fall in step behind Allison, I glanced out the beautiful high-arched window and absorbed the warm rays of the bright Chicago afternoon. My mind drifted back to Aiden and JoJo. Were they really just friends? Did it even matter if they were? I knew it did, but holy hell, I didn’t want it to. Would it always rip my insides to shreds when I saw him with other women? I knew the answer to that question, even if I didn’t want to accept it. This would be so much easier if I didn’t have to be around him, to watch him, to see him interact with these women. It would also be that much easier if I hated him. But as badly as I wanted to hate Aiden for this predicament, I couldn’t. I was angry with him, I was hurt by the way he was treating me, and I didn’t particularly care to be in a house with him, but I could never hate him.

* * * * * I enjoyed my time with Allison. The day had disappeared before I knew it. I’d missed out on a lot while I was in Belize, and Allison filled me in as we walked in the gym, and then more over lunch, and even more at dinner. She’d tried her best to talk me into having dinner with everyone else, but I refused. She’d ended up eating with me in the kitchen for both meals. My thoughts did occasionally wander to Aiden. I didn’t know what time he’d returned from his date, or whatever it was, with JoJo. Allison and I had watched a movie toward the end of the evening, and now I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep.

The house was quiet. As usual, I tossed and turned and allowed my mind to drift. I thought about my sisters. I thought about April. I thought about Kellan. I thought about what had led me here—to this huge, lonely room. I thought about my talks with Allison. She had rattled on and on about her friend, Libbey and everything that had happened since I was gone. She had a ballet coming up, and she wanted me to attend. She was planning to end things with the guy she’d been dating. His name was William, and he was also a dancer. She told me about Aiden and his moods. I pretended as if I didn’t care, but I was glad to know that he’d been miserable—at least in part. I’d told her about my time in Belize, which included a long discussion about Kellan and my reasons for keeping my pregnancy and Lyric a secret. I was relieved to hear that she understood, even though she didn’t like it very much. She asked if I missed Kellan, and I told her I did. She said she could see the sadness in my eyes when I spoke of him. I told her it was only a friendship, the same as it had always been, but it was a very special friendship. Turning over in bed, I let out a sigh. It was dark except for the light streaming from the bathroom. I stared at the ceiling as I lay there, my mind still traipsing back and forth. My thoughts gravitated to Aiden. He was down the hall—I’d heard him with Lyric a little while ago. Had he just made it home from his date with JoJo? I listened intently to Lyric’s little noises sifting through the baby monitor. They were typically the last sounds I heard as I drifted off to sleep. Tonight I was wide awake and I couldn’t turn off my thoughts of Aiden—the one person, other than my father, that I forced myself to not think about. I was furious with Aiden, and it was easy to discern the feeling was mutual…but I still loved him —much more than I wanted, much more than I should. Neither time nor distance would ever change that. When you loved someone as deeply as I’d loved Aiden, it not only changed you—it owned you. It didn’t matter where he was or who he was with, he’d always have a claim on my heart. And what was that in the nursery this morning? That energy between us…did he want to fuck me? Or was he attempting to test the waters, to see if he still had an effect on me? Either way, those few moments with him had been in the back of my head all day. And now, as I thought of the look in his eyes when he stared at me, it made me terribly needy for him. This was the last thing I should want. It was just one more thing to muddy the waters. It sounded as if Lyric was about to awake. I didn’t look at the monitor, I just pulled the sheets back and walked toward my bedroom door. Hoping to avoid a run-in with Sienna, I slowly opened it and peeked outside. She’d been spending a considerable amount of time in the nursery with Lyric. I could easily see she was enjoying being a grandmother, but she still had issues with me. She and I hadn’t really said very much to each other beyond exchanging disingenuous pleasantries. Opening the nursery door, I tip-toed in to see that Lyric was sleeping peacefully. He was lying on his back, his arms stretched above his head. Smiling, I turned to leave and gasped upon colliding with Aiden’s rock-hard frame. Holy fuck!

I’d breathed in the delicious scent of his skin before I could turn away. I damned near moaned aloud when the potency of it took ahold of me. I was instantly hypnotized by the exquisite contours of his chest. I knew I should have turned back, but now it was too late. The visceral savagery his body induced had already overpowered me, compelling me, so much that I nearly reached out to touch him. I fisted my hands and willed myself to look away, but it was of no use. Unwelcome lust had quickly taken root—it was clawing at me, demanding that I feast in the delight that was Aiden Raine.

Chapter Five I wanted to step back, but my pretense of control had not only slipped, it had vanished. My eyes travelled over him at a glacial pace, coveting every inch of his shirtless torso. I allowed my gaze to move down his body. He was wearing gray shorts, and his feet were bare. The shorts were hanging low on his waist, revealing the sexy trail of hair that led to a forbidden treasure. I’d imagined him naked countless times when I was in Belize. Recalling extremely vivid images of his anatomy had become a guilty pleasure. The memories had been absolute torture, but I couldn’t help myself. And seeing him now, up close and personal, had an indescribable effect on every part of me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and lifted my eyes to meet his, only to be greeted by the heat of the contemptuous glare to which I’d become accustomed. He stepped aside and moved past me. I watched as he walked down the hall. His body was fucking insane. He was truly a beautiful sight to behold—both going and coming. I stood dead in my tracks, ogling his defined back and shoulder muscles, and then overdosing on his calves as they flexed with each step. I jolted from my trance when he stopped at the entrance to my bedroom. He didn’t look back at me. Instead, he opened the door and stepped inside. I mindlessly headed toward my room and followed him into the darkness. As soon as I crossed the threshold, his large hands grasped my shoulders, pulling me to him. He closed the door and I pushed him away—not that my motion did anything to sway his unyielding position. He grabbed my hands, moving them from his chest, and pressed his hard body against me. Moving me against the wall, he firmly sealed his mouth over mine as I struggled to free myself from his grasp. I opened my mouth to protest, but his tongue quickly darted inside. My struggles soon morphed into acquiescence —my body no longer rigid. Unable to help myself, I totally surrendered. His breathing was rushed and ragged as his eager mouth found my nape. He moved his tongue roughly across my skin while his hands impatiently explored my body, each touch more aggressive than the last. His mouth attacked my neck, sucking hard as he reached underneath my shirt. I was a mass of moans and whimpers as his touch became more desperate and then something inside me floated away as he took control of my body. My hands moved wildly over his back, my nails nearly penetrating his skin. He cupped my breast and then bit my nipple through the shirt. A pained cry escaped me as I arched into the aggression of his desire. Pushing my top up, he groped my other breast, his fingers rolling and tugging the erect bud while his free hand massaged and pulled at my other breast, lavishing them both with the burning heat of his touch.

He planted kisses on my stomach as he moved down my body, his hands at my waist, tearing away my shorts—and then he was on his knees. His mouth was suddenly between my legs. Grasping my leg, he lifted it over his shoulder, and his tongue dived between the heated folds of my sex. I moaned loudly as my hands found his hair, fisting it as I shoved his mouth deeper into me. His head moved frantically as he lapped away at my pussy, unable to get all that he wanted. In a rush, he stood and pulled me toward him and then turned us so that his back was against the wall. Lowering me to the floor onto my back, he grabbed my waist, lifting me so that I was upside down. Effortlessly, he lifted me, pulling me toward his mouth, and then his tongue speared into me, satisfying his need to devour my pussy with such an ardent intensity that it almost frightened me. Blood rushed to my head and the room started to spin as he licked and sucked on my clit like a starved man. I felt faint when the overwhelming need to come collided with the unrestrained carnality of his impatient mouth. My body quaked violently, and I reached for his leg to steady myself as wave after wave of passion flowed through me. He sucked the wet, silky flesh until my body calmed, and then he lowered me to the floor and hurriedly removed his shorts. He wasn’t wearing underwear. All I saw was the blur of his huge cock moments before he lowered himself atop me and shoved his dick inside me with a fierce grunt. “Oh fuck,” he groaned as he stared down at me. He stilled and my nails were at his back, sliding down his taut skin. “Ahh,” he growled, and he reached for my hands, securing them over my head. The light from the bathroom trickled into the room, touching his face. He looked into my eyes and for a brief moment, the anger was gone, giving way to the desire that had captured us both. I searched his dark eyes as he moved in and out of me. He looked torn, as if deciding how he wanted to fuck me. “Why, Aria? Why do you drive me to this?” he murmured. His eyes slowly hardened and he began violently thrusting into me. The anger had taken over—he knew now exactly how he wanted to fuck me. He wanted to punish me. I cried out, and he clamped his palm over my mouth and viciously pumped his thick hardness into me, over and over again, filling me with each brutal thrust. He buried his face in my neck and then quickened his pace, delivering deep, hard plunges into me. His grasp on me tightened as his release called at him. I felt the slight pulse of his cock inside me, and he pulled out just before he came. Lifting his head from my neck, he looked down at me. I could see the anger, the hurt, and the confusion in his eyes. I knew exactly what I was seeing because I felt the same. He didn’t kiss me. He didn’t say he loved me. He just looked at me as his seed spurted on my abdomen. At the last jerk, he rolled over onto the floor beside me. The air around me was thick with his essence. Closing my eyes, I tried to concentrate on catching my breath. We both lay there for some time, and our breathing finally settled. He stood, and I looked up at him, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. Then I watched him slip back into his gym shorts and

casually walk out of the room. I could still smell him, and my head was swimming with the rich scent of our sex. It engulfed me. A tear slid from the corner of my eye as I lay there, lonely and hurt by the harshness of the last several minutes. Another tear fell, and then another. I lowered my hand to my stomach and felt the thick mass of his release, and the tears streamed faster. I was once again in that dark abyss, the same black hole in which I’d resided in Belize, drowning in a torrent of tears, wondering if the nightmare would ever end.

* * * * * The next morning I awoke with a tinge of soreness and a shitload of regret. Easing out of bed, I trudged to the bathroom, attempting to discern the degree of physical versus mental pain. I glanced at the area near the wall where it had all taken place. I closed my eyes and thought back to his touch, his taste, his smell…and his punishment. I shook my head in anguished disbelief and continued to the bathroom. I didn’t understand how I’d ended up getting fucked on the floor of my bedroom last night. And what had he meant by “Why do you drive me to this?” I stared at my image in the bathroom mirror. The brightness of my hazel eyes was missing. It seemed to fade more with each passing day. I couldn’t believe I’d actually had sex with Aiden. Maybe it was inevitable…but not like that. I traced my fingers over the lips he’d kissed, easily recalling his focused assault. I had many recollections of how it had been with him in the past—the passion, the intensity…all of it. But I hadn’t actually considered having sex with him again, not with the current state of our relationship. There was too much that remained unspoken. There was too much anger. Last night certainly proved that. Of course, I still found him unbelievably attractive—that would never change. But did I want things to play out the way they had last night? Hell no! But something had happened when he touched me. I’d let go of every reservation and given in to the irresistible pull that he and I had for each other. It penetrated all of the regret, the blame, and the anger. But in the end, after the lust-filled minutes had passed, the regret and anger rushed back. Last night had added yet another thread to the complex pattern of what had become our lives. I didn’t know how much longer he and I could continue to do this to each other. I slowly dressed, then grabbed my phone and went to the nursery. I was pleasantly surprised to find Pauline humming as she changed Lyric’s diaper. I liked Pauline, much more than I did Anja. If Lyric had to have a nanny, I would be okay with Pauline, but I needed to find a way to get rid of Anja. Glancing out the window, the bright light of the morning sun proved to be a huge dose of

inspiration. I should get out of this place for a while. Maybe I’d reward myself with a shopping trip once I’d lost those ten pounds. Once Pauline finished, she passed Lyric to me. I smiled as I pulled him close—he was as happy to see me as I was to see him. He was my one and only bright spot. I snuggled him in my arms and stroked his chubby cheek. He was such a beautiful baby. And even in the midst of the craziness, I loved seeing more and more of Aiden in him each time I looked at our son. After feeding Lyric, I snapped some pictures of him and sent them to Kellan and my sisters. Pauline had returned with a basket of Lyric’s clothing and was busy folding and putting them away. Lyric was playing with his rattle as he sucked on his paci. He was content for the time being so I ventured downstairs to take a swim. I cautiously stepped out of the nursery, hoping I didn’t run into Aiden. I wasn’t prepared to face him. Trotting downstairs, I went to the closest indoor pool, only passing a few staff on my way, with no sign of Aiden. I grabbed one of the towels and unhurriedly walked across the marble deck. I’d come downstairs without my swimsuit, but my panties and bra could pass for one, so that would have to do. If anyone saw me, oh well. I didn’t care. I was miserable—I didn’t want to be here. I removed my sweats, sat on the edge of the pool and sighed. I looked up at the glass pyramid skylight above. The brilliant blue sky and the overstuffed clouds were easily visible through the huge ceiling window. I followed the ray of sunlight to where it sparkled on the water. The beautiful autumn day poured into every area of the room, filling it with a bright energy that flowed through the rows of tall windows. I just needed some of it to flow into me. Wading into the pool, I pushed the water behind me as I stepped from the shallow end and lunged forward, losing myself in the revitalizing water. Each stroke was therapeutic, propelling me, taking me from the remorse of last night to a calmer place in my psyche. After several laps, tinges of hunger crept toward me but I continued swimming for a while longer. I eventually emerged from the perfect temperature of the water and stepped out of the pool. Not quite ready to leave the bright respite this room provided, I sat in the elevated spa for a few moments, extending the time in my newfound retreat. I laid my head back and let the water flow over me, further eradicating my dismal thoughts. The calming sound of the water trickling from the diving platform reminded me of the soothing musical interludes that played in the background of my many visits to the spa. That’s what I needed, a spa day. Maybe Allison and I could schedule something later in the week. I noticed the pool also had a space for children to splash and play—I was excited by the thought of bringing Lyric here. My stomach growled again. I sighed, deciding it was time to leave my short-lived escape. I stepped out of the warm water, grabbed my clothes, and went in search of a shower. There was a lounge area on the opposite side of the pool room. It was cozy and quiet and like most of the mansion’s architecture, there were walls of windows. Gorgeous woodwork was found throughout the

space, and as in the pool room, there was another magnificent skylight. On the back wall, was a large TV positioned above a fireplace. I walked behind the wall to find the shower room and was relieved to also find a kitchenette. I showered, dressed, wrapped a towel around my hair and went in search of food. I grabbed some fruit and yogurt from the kitchenette and took a seat in the lounge area. Grabbing the remote and turning on the TV, I flipped through a few channels as I ate. After a while of watching the travel channel, I turned it off and headed out of the lounge area. The light of the gorgeous day was calling at me as I walked past the tall windows in the pool room. I wanted to get out—I’d been trapped inside this fortress for far too long. So had Lyric—it would be nice to take him outside the walls of the Raine Mansion. Trotting back upstairs, I went to my room, dried my hair, pulled it into a ponytail and headed to the nursery. “What’s going on?” Aiden asked. He stepped into the room as I was packing Lyric’s bag. His sudden appearance startled me, and I nearly froze. Being in the same room with him did crazy things to me. There was always a tension between us, but after last night, it felt different somehow. It was compounded by so many powerful feelings, and they were all varying levels of the same extreme. “I’m taking Lyric out,” I said, lifting Lyric from the crib and turning toward Aiden. Still embarrassed by the previous night, I averted his eyes and placed Lyric in his carrier. “He’s getting so big and I want to get some new things for him.” “Why can’t you look through the tons of clothing he has in his closet?” Aiden asked. “Because I would like to personally select some things for my son, Aiden. Or is that forbidden?” I snapped. He didn’t reply but I knew he didn’t approve. He went for the phone. “Ms. Cason would like to take my son to a few baby boutiques this afternoon. Can you pull the car around and also bring someone along in the event she needs assistance?” He placed the phone in its cradle and walked over to Lyric and me. “Are you shitting me?” “You want to go shopping. I’m making that possible. Don’t make this an issue, Aria.” “I don’t understand how you can treat me this way. I fucking hate you.” The words tumbled out before I could stop myself. Glancing up from Lyric, Aiden’s gaze narrowed as he studied me. “Well. That’s rather unfortunate. If we’re to successfully co-parent, negative feelings like that aren’t exactly ideal, Aria. I’m surprised I have to point that out to you.” He was so calm, completely untouched by my words. “You’re such a fucking dick.”

“And what does that make you?” I reached up to slap him, but he grabbed my wrist. “You don’t want to do that, princess.” I jerked away from his grasp. “The hell I don’t. How long is this going to last, Aiden? How long are you going to punish me for doing something that was well within my rights?” “You had no fucking right!” he snapped. “I had every right. He’s my son!” “And you didn’t create him by yourself!” “Will you guys please stop!” Allison walked in, glancing from Aiden to me. I knew she was exasperated by the constant bickering—we all were. “Allison, this doesn’t concern you,” Aiden warned. The icy glare he’d inherited from Sienna was aimed directly at me. Allison typically conceded to Aiden’s authoritative tone, but she didn’t this time. She stalked toward him, staring up at his tall, intimidating frame. “It’s just as much of a concern for me as it is for you. He’s my nephew, and he doesn’t deserve to be pulled back and forth between your egos!” Her statement didn’t faze him in the slightest. “Aria’s taking Lyric shopping. A couple of the staff will be going along with them. I have nothing further to say about it.” He leaned down and gently kissed Lyric’s forehead. “Aiden…” Allison started. “Allie, if you want to go with them, I’m sure Aria would love the company,” he said, and strolled out of the nursery. Allison looked at me and I was sure she felt as small as I. And after last night, I was even more humiliated that he would pull this shit. I glanced at Lyric. He was looking up at me with his thumb in his mouth. He really didn’t deserve this. I was suddenly livid. I was pissed that I’d behaved that way in front of Lyric, and I was pissed that Aiden had all the control over how and where I took my son. How could Aiden not see this was bad for him? I fought back heated tears and lifted Lyric from the carrier and placed him in his crib. Then I reached for the phone. “Hi, Pauline,” I said when the nanny picked up the line. I passed Lyric’s rattle to him. “I’ll need you to watch Lyric the rest of the day and possibly into the night.” “Yes, Ms. Cason. Is everything okay?” she asked. “Yes, everything is fine, Pauline. Thank you.” I ended the call, then grabbed the bag I’d packed for Lyric and placed it in the closet. “What are you doing, Aria? “Allison asked. “I need some time alone. I shouldn’t be around the baby when I feel like this.” “Are you just going to mope around here? You should get out, have a drink. I can come with

you.” I hadn’t considered going out without Lyric, but it was actually an excellent idea. I needed to get out of this freaking house—to place some distance between Aiden and me. I wanted to strangle him! “I think you’re right.” Turning toward the crib, a twinge of guilt hit me. I didn’t want to leave him. “If you’re worried about Lyric, he’ll be okay. As much as it pains you to even think it, Aiden is excellent with him. Plus, Lyric has grandparents who adore him, and he has two nannies and a house full of other staff. He’ll be okay. You can’t devote every minute to being a mom. Have you left this house even once since you’ve come here?” “No,” I replied glumly. “Then let’s do it today.” “A drink, or several actually, sounds like heaven but I don’t want alcohol to blur my judgment. And I don’t want Aiden to have any more ammunition. Besides, are you forgetting I breastfeed?” “Aiden is not going to fault you for being human, Aria. As for the milk, I fed Lyric yesterday, and unless he’s gone through the bags and bags of milk you’ve pumped, there’s more than enough set aside for him, so you’re free to have a night of booze. What’s your next excuse?” I didn’t reply. Allison was more like Aiden than she realized. “Come on. Let’s go have some fun,” she urged. I knew she was right, but this somehow felt wrong. “Okay. What time?” “How about in an hour?” “So early?” “We can make a day of it. We can get in some shopping for Lyric, grab lunch, do some more shopping, get dinner and start our girls’ night early. I know a great bar with live music.” “Cool. Sounds like fun.” I hadn’t had any in months.

* * * * * We’d been at the bar for about an hour. I’d started sipping my fourth drink, which probably wasn’t the best of ideas, because I was already beyond relaxed. Allison had invited her friend Libbey along, and she certainly made things interesting. She told story after story of her adventures with Allison, and she was also a serial flirt—cat calling and winking at pretty much every hottie who walked by. The guy that Allison had been dating, William, was also planning to join us, but he hadn’t shown yet. I wasn’t sure why she’d ask him to go out if she was planning to dump him, but hey, who was I to say anything after the stupid shit I did last night? Allison glanced at the glass in my hand and then eyed me cautiously. “Aria, you’ve had enough

to drink. Don’t you think?” she asked. “What? No, I’m fine.” “I don’t think you are. Maybe we should head home.” “Damn, Allison. You’re starting to sound like your brother and that’s the last thing I need tonight.” “Excuse me. Would you like to dance?” I followed the sound of the voice and looked up into the light blue eyes of a handsome man. He was of average height, with a low haircut and a tattoo that trailed along his arm. “I’d love to,” I said, stumbling as I rose from my seat. “Aria,” Allison said, grabbing my arm. I shrugged her off. “Allison, stop it. I mean it. I don’t need another damned body guard.” Turning back toward the sexy stranger, I asked, “What’s your name, cutie?” I couldn’t help but notice how his T-shirt stretched over his chest, accentuating his huge muscles. I glanced at his bulging biceps and then scanned his large frame. He was a bit too muscular for my taste, but he was fun to look at. “I’m Jeremy. And you are?” “Aria.” He grabbed my hand, enveloping it in his large palm, and led me to the dance floor. I glanced over my shoulder at Allison as Jeremy tugged me behind him. A scowl marred her pretty face. Why the hell was she upset? This was her idea, and I was having fun as she’d suggested. The closer we got to the dance floor, the louder the music seemed. I felt it pulsing through my body. It was a fast-paced song—one I hadn’t heard but I immediately liked. The beat, the energy and the alcohol were a heady mix, and I was enjoying the step outside of crazy town. I grinned at Jeremy as he started to move. He leaned toward me. “What is it?” “Nothing. I like the way you dance.” “What?” He couldn’t hear me over the music. I shook my head, signaling that it was nothing. We didn’t attempt any further conversation. We just eyed each other, grinning ever so often as we danced. The music eventually changed, fading into a slower song. Jeremy lifted his eyebrows suggestively. I nodded that it was okay, and he pulled me closer to him. I placed my hands on his shoulders, and the first thing I noticed was how solid he was. I wouldn’t have imagined him to be such a good dancer, but he had some serious moves. The combination of his cologne and perspiration was not agreeing with me though. I was about to release all of the alcohol I’d managed to pour into my body. As we swayed to the music, I looked at the other couples, staring wistfully as they moved in time to the soft beats. Jeremy’s hands eased down my back and cupped my ass. I looked at him and reached

behind me to remove them. “Nice ass.” “Thank you,” I replied. “You can look, but don’t touch.” “Yes, ma’am.” He grinned and leaned in as if he were about to kiss me, and then he was suddenly gone. I looked up to see Aiden glowering at me. “What the fuck are you doing?” he demanded. “Hey dude. What’s your deal?” Jeremy asked from behind Aiden. “She’s my deal, dude, and it’s probably best if you get lost.” “Jeremy, don’t listen to him,” I said, peering around Aiden’s immovable frame. “On the contrary, I suggest Jeremy listens very closely, unless Jeremy wants a problem he can’t solve,” Aiden warned. Allison and Libbey had joined us. “Did you call him, Allison?” I glared at her, knowing Aiden’s appearance wasn’t a coincidence. “I didn’t know what else to do, Aria.” She shrugged, helplessly. “You wouldn’t listen to me and you’re drunk. You should go home.” “Well, I’m not leaving, and you can call the National Guard and it won’t change a damned thing.” I stumbled and turned to leave. After the next wobbly step, I was being tossed over Aiden’s shoulder. “Hey! Put me down!” “I will, as soon as you’re in the car headed home,” he said. He turned toward Allison. “When I suggested you go out with her, this is not what I meant,” he scolded. “But Aiden—” “I don’t want to hear it,” he replied and stalked toward the exit. My head was spinning. I was going to throw up. I raised my head to see Allison, Libbey, and Jeremy staring after us. And they weren’t the only ones. How dare Aiden do this to me! I started kicking and pounding his backside, but he didn’t break his stride, easily carrying me out of the bar. “That place is not my home. Put me down, asshole.” “Stop it, Aria,” he ordered. “I will not!” I yelled, as I continued hitting him. He reached up and pinched me. “I said, stop it.” “Ouch! Why did you do that?” “Because I’m not your punching bag. Now stop it, and stop the damn yelling.” Out of nowhere, I burst into tears. Aiden took a few more steps and then placed me on the ground in front of his car. “Seriously? All of this to stay at a bar?” “No, you jerk. It’s not the bar. It’s you. It’s me. It’s Lyric. I wanted to get out tonight and just

forget about how fucked everything is.” “You know why that is, Aria. You did this. I don’t like it any more than you do.” “Yeah, but I’m sure it makes it a hell of a lot easier for you since you have the upper hand. I’m not even allowed to take my child shopping without someone watching me.” “I don’t know of any other way right now.” “We can work something out. Anything is better than this,” I pleaded. “Right now, things stay as they are.” “Why? Because you’re rich? Because you have power and connections?” “No! Because you took my son, Aria. You took my son! And you had no intention of ever allowing me in his life!” “Aiden, you just don’t understand. I want out of that place. You can visit Lyric as much as you want,” I begged. My lips trembled, and huge tear drops flowed down my face. “Save the fucking tears, Aria. You’re not getting him!” “So…what? You’re planning to let him be raised by fucking nannies!” “Get in the car, Aria. We’re not doing this here.” “I’m not one of your minions. I don’t take orders from you.” “You’re getting in the car.” “I told you, I’m not going anywhere with you.” Anger was fuming from his fluid green eyes. “Oh yeah?” “Yeah!” “Either you get in willingly or—“ “Or what? You’re going to make me? You’re going to do it by any means necessary?” I air quoted. “Isn’t that your M.O.? Well guess what? Fuck you, Aiden Raine. I’d rather walk.” I spun around and stomped away, only making a few steps before he’d picked me up again. He opened the car door. “Get in!” He was furious. I looked up into his stormy eyes. He was getting madder by the second. I tried to bolt again and he grabbed me again. “You’re really pissing me off, Aria.” I looked around, considering my escape and quickly surmised that there wasn’t one. I also noticed that our drama had drawn the interest of several people. Aiden stood over me fuming and unaware of the two police officers headed our way. I considered how this could possibly play out. I may have been inebriated but I was coherent enough to know this would not end well for me if I didn’t go along with him. The last thing I needed was for this to end up as an official record that he could use against me in court. Letting out a sigh, I gave up. He followed me to the passenger side and stood beside the door. He didn’t look at me; he looked over my head as he waited for me to follow his fucking orders. It infuriated me, but it wasn’t worth another fight. I slid into the car, and he promptly closed the door

and stalked to the driver side. “Put on your seat belt,” he ordered when he’d closed his door. “You put on your seat belt, asshole.” “If you continue to behave like a child, I’ll continue to treat you like one.” “As if you know anything about how to treat a child. The fact that you’re forcing your child’s mother to reside in a hostile environment tells much of your parenting.” “I could say the same of your behavior tonight.” “Fuck you.” I secured my seat belt and stared out the window. The first few moments of our car ride were quiet. It was uncomfortable. I was relieved when he flipped on some music. Oh just great. It was the song that was playing after the first time he’d made love to me. Did he remember? I stole a glance at him. He was staring straight ahead, stone-faced. I reclined in the seat and a lone tear eased down my cheek as the memories of that special moment with him came rushing forward. It was a beautiful time, a time that was very much in contrast to the present.

Chapter Six “Ohhh.” I felt like shit. Opening my eyes, I quickly snapped them shut, blocking out the unwanted brightness of the room. I cradled my head—it felt like a million needles were tapping on it all at once. I opened my eyes again, just enough, squinting, the black veil of my hair moving as I blinked. Reaching for the panel on the nightstand, my fingers fumbled over the buttons before finally locating the smaller one that controlled the drapes. Once the room darkened, I opened my eyes to the headache this day would include. “Ohhh. No.” I pressed my palm to my forehead to block the rush of hammers coming at it. Glancing at the clock display, I panicked when I noticed the late hour, realizing I hadn’t heard a peep from Lyric. I hurriedly grabbed the monitor and noticed it was off. I never turned it off. Had Aiden done that? Sitting up in bed a little faster than I should have, the room started to spin. As the swirling in my head started to slow, I eased out of bed and warily crept to the bathroom. This life didn’t agree with me. I needed to be out of this house. I needed to be away from Aiden. After a quick shower, I dressed and then flipped on the baby monitor. I hadn’t expected to see Aiden on the screen, but there he was, in the nursery with Lyric. I cringed at the thought of coming face to face with Aiden, especially after the recklessness of the last forty-eight hours. I’d postpone my time with Lyric until after I’d gotten something in my stomach to soak up the toxins of last night. Hopefully Aiden would have wandered off to some other part of the house by the time I’d finished. He’d been putting in a few hours a day at Raine Industries this week, so maybe he’d be out of the house altogether. I reached for the doorknob just as my phone rang, and was both nervous and excited to see Kellan’s name on the display. I’d been sending texts, pictures, and videos but we had yet to talk since that one phone call some weeks ago. Stepping into the sitting area, a sense of calm spread over me as I spoke to the man with whom I’d once planned to build a life. After a half hour of conversation, and with a promise to talk more often, I said goodbye to Kellan and ventured into the Raine’s massive kitchen, hoping to find a quick remedy for my drunken night. I loved this room, but then, who wouldn’t—it was a chef’s dream. Not that I was anything remotely close to a chef, but this kitchen invited you to at least try your hand at preparing fine cuisine. A large paneless window was to my right, and behind the sink, a short hall led to a dinette table— and it, too, was near a large open window. That was the spot I typically enjoyed meals without the Raine clan, and that was where I now saw Aiden. He was standing near the table, in conversation with Dianna. I looked on as Aiden gave her a hug and then turned to leave. He’d once told me he’d spent a lot of time in the kitchen as a child. He never did say who taught him to cook, just that it was one of

the staff. I wondered if it had been Dianna. Darting behind one of the columns near the entrance, I watched as Aiden strolled out of the kitchen, waiting until he was out of sight before I entered. Dianna had taken a seat at the table near the window and she appeared deep in thought. What had she and Aiden discussed? Once she noticed me, her worried expression morphed into a smile. I returned the gesture as I stepped toward the refrigerator. I grabbed some eggs, coconut water, and fruit—hoping the article I’d read was accurate and that these foods would help with my hangover. I closed the door and there was Dianna. Damn, is she a ninja? “Hi, Dianna.” “Hello, Ms. Aria. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” I frowned and she quickly asked, “What is it?” “It feels awkward having you refer to me so formally. Please call me Aria.” “Okay,” she said, smiling sweetly. “Aria it is.” “Thanks, Dianna.” After opening and closing a few cabinet doors, I located a pan, plate, and bowl and set them on the counter. “I could prepare the eggs, if you’d like,” she offered. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, that would be great.” “I don’t mind at all. Have a seat and drink your water.” Grateful and relieved, I went to the bar and took a seat as Dianna started breaking eggs. “Why did you sneak out a few minutes ago?” she asked. “You saw that, huh?” “Yes, I did.” I popped a grape in my mouth and reached for a knife to slice my apple. “It’s no secret that Aiden and I aren’t particularly amicable, so if I can avoid him, I do.” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “I know. I know,” I replied. I knew we couldn’t be effective parents if we continued behaving like scorned kids. “I don’t think you do,” she said. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” “Watching the two of you has been very upsetting. I’m sure Mr. Aiden expects me to say nothing, but I can’t sit back and watch you make a larger mess than you already have. You once asked me how long I’d known Mr. Aiden, and I told you since he was a child. What I didn’t tell you is that I was his nanny. Well, one of them.” That would explain the closeness I’d witnessed. “He’s spoken to me about you,” she said. “Has he?” I asked, surprised that he would speak to anyone other than attorneys about me at this

point. “Yes, on several occasions and as much as I hate to break his confidence, this is one time I feel I should.” I took a sip of water and braced myself for whatever was coming. “Okay.” “Remember when he brought you and your sisters to the penthouse? He did that because he wanted to take care of you. He wanted to give you everything. He still does. He loves you Aria, but he’s been deeply hurt and he doesn’t know what to do with that type of pain. He’s never had to.” She added some milk and other ingredients to the eggs and started to whip them in a glass bowl. “How would you know this? Did he tell you?” “As much as he would allow himself to, yes. I don’t have any children of my own, and Aiden is as close as I’ll get to that. I was a significant part of his upbringing—doing things with him that I’d like to think I would have done with my kids. His mother—God bless her—she loves Aiden but she wasn’t around for some things that most mothers would be.” I’m not really surprised to hear that. Sienna is hard to figure out. “Did you teach him to cook?” A gentle smile appeared on her thin lips. “Yes. Mrs. Raine didn’t like that very much. She chastised him each time she caught him here, but the first chance he got, he was back, following me around, asking about this, that, and the other. I didn’t have the heart to send him away, so Mrs. Raine and I had conversations about it many times.” Dianna finished cooking the eggs, scooped them onto my plate, and passed it to me. “Aiden was such a curious handful. He grew up too fast. Being a part of this family exposed him to things that most would only imagine, but it also caused him to miss out on some important rites of passage that most young men take for granted. And the fact that he accelerated at such a high level academically, well, he didn’t have a chance to experience some parts of his childhood. He missed out on a great deal, such as how to handle crushes or heartbreak.” So did I, but that doesn’t give me the excuse to be an ass. “Dianna, Aiden can be very cold,” I said, as I pictured the night on the bedroom floor. Yes, I’d wanted it too, but it was more of a need. I hated being needy for him and I knew he felt the same. And he had become even more distant since then. “Ms. Aria…er, Aria, you’ve hurt him more than he’s ever been hurt by anyone. Quite honestly, I’m surprised he even agreed to have you live here. When he left to get Lyric, he knew you wouldn’t stand for your son living in Chicago without you, but he had no intention of allowing you to live anywhere on this estate or even get near Lyric without court-ordered supervision. So it may not seem like it, but he is trying.” “Court-ordered? Are you kidding me? I’m Lyric’s mother. No court would go along with something like that. Maybe he knew that and that’s why he changed his mind.” “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you who you’re dealing with here. Money and power afford him anything he wants, he knows that. So if he really wanted court-ordered supervision, don’t you think

he’d have it?” I knew Aiden could be merciless. I’d witnessed him take over and discard companies—and people—without a second thought. Who was I to think I was exempt from that? Just the mother of his child! “Why would he go to such extremes? He wants to hurt me, Dianna. He wants to get back at me for something he feels I did to him. Thing is, I didn’t do anything with the intention of hurting him. I didn’t think he’d even want Lyric, so this take-all attitude is very confusing for me. And after what ‘being a Raine’ imposed on his life, what it stole from him, I didn’t want that life for Lyric. I also didn’t think he’d want kids after the incident with Nadia’s—” “With the baby he conceived with Nadia,” she concluded when I’d broken off. I didn’t think Aiden had told anyone about that. Nadia Lane was Aiden’s ex-girlfriend. I’d had the pleasure of running into her on a few occasions last year. It was easy to see that she still had a thing for Aiden…a thing he’d encouraged a time or two. She was also a close family friend which meant she was as much of a fixture in his life as I was now. My face must have shown my surprise, because she replied to my thoughts. “He told me. But not until after he’d learned of Lyric.” “Dianna, I didn’t make my decision lightly. I considered every possibility. In the end, the thought of Lyric being raised like this, like Aiden was raised…I couldn’t do it. I made the only choice I felt I could.” “Now you know different.” “Not really. Aiden and I have yet to really talk. I have to admit, I do see the love he has for Lyric, but as far as I can tell, his actions are all about hurt, control, and retribution.” “Hurt is involved on both sides. But it’s much more than that, Aria.” I swallowed a forkful of eggs as she continued. “I think a talk would do you both good.” “Did you tell him that?” I asked. “I did.” “And?” She frowned. I knew that meant he’d refused. “He didn’t budge. Did he?” Although I expected as much, it was a little disheartening to know that my expectations were correct. Dianna placed the pan in the sink and poured a cup of coffee for herself. “Do you think maybe you could be the one to approach him?” Uh…no! He’s just as capable of initiating a peaceful resolve as I am. And since this current plight was all of his doing, why should I endeavor to mend a wound that would never heal? I continued eating and then took a sip of water.

Dianna took a seat across from me. “He’s very stubborn. And he’s been so grouchy—even more so now that you’re in the house.” “So why would I want to walk headfirst into that, Dianna?” “Because someone needs to do something. Because you’ll all be the better for it. You made him happier than I’d ever seen him, and now that you have a chance to be a family, it could be the start of a wonderful life for the three of you.” “Why would you think he’d want that?” She took a sip of her coffee and studied me. “Why would you think he wouldn’t?” The question shook me more than I wanted to let show. After watching Aiden with Lyric and seeing the love he had for his son, I didn’t know what to think anymore. “He’s used to getting what he wants; you haven’t exactly given him that. You’ve given him what he never knew he wanted,” she said. “Even before Lyric, I’d once thought the same about Aiden—that he’d given me something I never knew I wanted. But that seems like such a long time ago.” “But you still love him. I can see it, even behind the anger. Talk to him. I mean really talk to him. You two can get past this.” If getting past it would mean I could take my son and leave without the fear of being prosecuted in court, yes, I want to get past it. “Aiden’s very headstrong. When he sets his mind on a course, he tends to stick with it—no matter the consequence. That may serve him well with work, or maybe even with his family, but not with you. He’s as unhappy with this as you are.” Maybe it should have, but Dianna’s talk did little to change my view of Aiden. The way he was treating me, in my opinion, was inexcusable. Granted, he had every right to be upset and hurt, but why perpetuate the hurt? That didn’t serve any purpose. Once I’d finished breakfast, I thanked Dianna for the talk and went upstairs to spend time with the baby. I was relieved to see Aiden wasn’t there, thus allowing for some alone time with Lyric. I laid a large blanket on the floor and then placed the musical play gym above his head and watched him revel in the sounds and colors. After seeing his reactions, I pulled out my phone to record him. This would be my next blog post and I’d also send a copy to Kellan and my sisters. Lia and Bianca would be here next month for Thanksgiving—I couldn’t wait to see them. I think I needed to see them, to be close to people I was actually on good terms with. I was also anxious for them to spend time with Lyric. It would be their first time seeing him in person since he was born. It definitely wasn’t the Thanksgiving I’d envisioned when we’d first made plans for the holiday, but it’s the one we’d have. An hour or so later, the attorney to whom I’d been referred called and totally blew my hopes out of the water. He explained there was a substantial chance Aiden could obtain sole custody and I would

be awarded visitation. I strongly suspected he didn’t want to go up against the Raines, because he’d been pretty confident that I’d be granted shared custody until I mentioned the name of the father. Angry tears streamed down my cheeks as the painful reality set in. I was powerless—I no longer had control over my life. Aiden had taken that away from me—the one thing which had enabled me to protect myself, to avoid becoming someone I didn’t want to be. Yes, I’d relinquished some control when I’d found myself falling for him, but this was different. This was just cruel, and it wasn’t something I knew how to handle. I remembered Aiden’s nonchalance regarding my “day in court”. He hadn’t shown one ounce of worry over possible shared custody, because there wasn’t a need to. His position was firm—he could have paid off or bargained with any judge. I slammed my phone down on the nightstand. I was furious. No. More than that. This did something to me that I couldn’t articulate. It corrupted the core of who I thought I was—of who I’d fought to be. Resisting the need to lash out and trash the room, I buried my face in the pillow and screamed, releasing the rage I’d internalized since Aiden had appeared in Belize and bulldozed his way back into my life. I didn’t see the point in seeking second opinions because I knew every attorney would say the same thing once they knew the battle involved Aiden Raine. Obviously the best solution was one in which Aiden and I could reach a resolution without involving attorneys. So there wouldn’t be a court battle. But now what? How could I get Aiden to agree to something that worked for both of us? He couldn’t be upset forever, could he? It had been almost three weeks, and there were no signs of his backing down, but if Dianna was correct, I had to cling to the hope that in time, we would be able to reach a mutual decision. Thankfully, the remainder of the day was uneventful. I spent time with Lyric and then time in my room, updating my blog and watching TV. I’d recovered from my hangover, and Aiden and I never crossed paths. As I was getting ready for bed, Allison stopped by to check on me and apologized for calling Aiden during our girls’ night. She looked so contrite that I quickly forgave her and invited her in while I finished getting ready for bed. She followed me to the sitting area and plopped down on the sofa beside me. After a moment of watching me, she said, “You two need to talk. You know, he wouldn’t have come to get you, or gotten so upset, if he didn’t care about you.” “Allison, whatever Aiden felt for me is gone.” “If you think that, you’re crazy. Aiden is just as miserable as you are.” “Somehow I doubt that.” “Aria, he loves you.” “This isn’t anyone’s version of love.” I went to the bathroom to wash my face and she trailed behind me, still pleading Aiden’s case.

“Remember when I first met you? Didn’t it seem odd that I was so excited about him having a girl with him?” I had been so caught up in my own weird vortex that I didn’t pay much attention to the oddity of Allison’s reaction to seeing me with her brother. “Aiden doesn’t do that. When he’s working, especially inside one of Dad’s companies, he doesn’t break character. He’s there to work and that’s it. So for him to have you at the penthouse—that meant he was into you. I mean really into you.” I hadn’t believed him when he’d told me that. I had found it hard to believe he was single—that he didn’t have an active sex life. “Aiden joked that he was my favorite sibling and I played it off, but he really is,” Allison said, as she picked through some of the facial products on the vanity. “I mean, I love Nick and Sloan, but they’re different from Aiden and me. They get off on Raine Industries. It’s their thing, but it’s not for Aiden or for me. The only difference is Aiden goes along with it because he feels it’s his obligation to the family. We all know it and Mom and Dad use that to their advantage.” I didn’t want to hear about Aiden and the Raine family drama, so I went about my business as though it was no big deal, but I was taking in every word. I applied some of the scrub to my face and grabbed the facial brush as she continued. Allison opened one of the small jars of moisturizer. “Work, work, work—that’s basically been his life for as long as I can remember. So I was glad he’d found you. I wanted him to have someone special in his life, not just that damned company. He’d spent too much time working and too much time trying to make my parents happy.” “I think it’s great how much you love him. I hope he appreciates you.” I’d picked up on Aiden and Allison’s adoration for each other from the first moment I’d seen them together. And she was right—I hadn’t seen that type of sibling affinity between Aiden and Sloan or Nicholas. I never really understood why until now. By no means were Allison and Aiden the black sheep, but they were, as Sloan had stated when I first met her, the more challenging of the bunch. “Hey, I’m taking this one,” Allison said, holding up the white container of moisturizing cream. “Aiden can be a bossy jerk but he’s an awesome guy with so much to offer, and he deserves to make himself happy and not worry about Mom and Dad. And FYI, you’re the only woman he’s ever brought around us that didn’t fit the mold of what Mom and Dad would have chosen for one of their precious Raine offspring. The others were just ways to placate Mom and Dad—to give them what they’d approve of. You were the first of Aiden’s choosing.” “Oh, so you mean the first his parents would disapprove of?” “You know what I mean,” she said, frowning at me. I rinsed the scrub from my face and grabbed a towel. “I guess.” “Just think about what I said. Talk to him. You made my brother happy. And I know he made you

happy. And now you have my gorgeous nephew to think about, so don’t be stubborn like Aiden.” I headed out of the bathroom and plopped on the bed. Allison gave me a hug and left me with even more confused thoughts. I went to bed that night with no answers but I was determined to make this better. I just didn’t know how.

Chapter Seven Aiden was standing near Lyric’s crib watching him sleep, something that had become the norm for both of us. I stood at the threshold of the nursery and considered leaving. Being so close to Aiden was often difficult—it was sometimes so hard to breathe that I’d leave rather than struggle with my feelings. But I wouldn’t do that today. I’d avoided Aiden long enough. I walked over to join him. He didn’t say anything; he merely stared at me for several long moments. I could see the hurt and betrayal unraveling in his eyes, and it was almost more than I could bear. “Tell me about my son,” he said softly. I instinctively wanted to touch him, to comfort him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. “What would you like to know?” “Everything. I want to know every detail I’ve missed—starting with the date you learned of your pregnancy.” That’s a day I’d never forget. Was this the right time to tell him this? Would it make him angrier? “Aria?” I guess I’d soon find out. “That day…” I swallowed and forced myself to give this to him. “The day I found out, I was actually scheduled for a procedure that would remove any chances of my ever conceiving a child.” His eyebrows furrowed upon hearing a detail I’d never shared with him. “The process included a pregnancy test before the surgery—you know, just in case. Well, a half hour or so before the procedure, the results of my pregnancy test came back positive.” “Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t want kids?” “I don’t know.” I hoped he wouldn’t make an issue of that. “How far along was your pregnancy?” “A few months.” “What? You had no idea until then?” “None.” “Didn’t you miss a period or something? Didn’t that give you a hint that something was up?” “I have a history of irregular periods, and my doctor prescribed a type of birth control that pretty much stopped them. There was an occasional spotting here and there, so nothing really changed in that area. I’d gained a little weight during those months, but I’d attributed that to my regaining what I’d lost when you and I were first apart. So I was almost five months along when I found out.” “Five months? How is it possible that you didn’t know?” “That’s what I kept asking myself.” I shook my head, still wondering how I could have been so

out of sync with my body. “I tried to remember if there were any signs that I’d overlooked, and the only thing even remotely connected to a symptom was what I’d thought was indigestion a couple of times. There weren’t any other indications—other than the weight gain, but it was minimal, so I didn’t think much about it. I wasn’t really showing until I was almost six months.” Aiden walked toward the back of the nursery and took a seat on the small sofa. I watched him as he soaked in what I’d revealed. “I read about that in med school. It’s termed a cryptic or stealth pregnancy, which typically result in premature birth.” I followed Aiden to the sofa and cautiously took a seat beside him. “My doctor said it often happens in cases where the mother is in denial.” And that part made sense, because I never wanted children. “So that means he was conceived around…” He started mentally doing the math. “The weekend I spent at your place in December—when I was coerced into being naked the entire time.” “Yes, I remember,” he replied coldly. “Look, I know you’re upset, but if you aren’t in a place to hear all of it, I’m not doing this. I’m not dealing with your rudeness.” He took a moment before replying. “I apologize.” He moved his hand through his hair and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Tell me the rest.” “After I’d heard the results, I sat there stupefied for so long that the doctor thought I’d gone into shock. So many thoughts were streaming through my brain at the time. My plan of not having a baby had been shot to shit. I thought of my childhood. Then I thought of you and I was happy…and then I panicked. I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want to see the look on your face, and I didn’t want you to not want him.” He glanced at me and sighed. I could see he wanted to say something, but he didn’t, so I continued. “You were out of town at the time, so it made it a little easier for me to avoid telling you. It gave me a chance to sort things out. After a lot of thought, I felt it was best if Lyric wasn’t raised as a Raine, so I started making plans to leave the country.” He sat quietly, not reacting to my words. He exhaled and asked, “Why Belize?” “No real reason, I guess. April and I had gone there on vacation once, and I loved it. When I thought of leaving, I knew I needed to be far away, so it was the first place that came to mind.” “So you wanted to be as far away from me as possible?” “Aiden, I didn’t want to be. I felt I needed to be.” I wasn’t ready to go into the details of my feelings about him. It would hurt that much more for the both of us. “Kellan was in town on business during that time. He and I met for dinner. He’d always been so easy to talk to, so before I knew it, I blurted it out.”

“As opposed to telling me? So talking to me is like walking on hot coals?” “I didn’t say that.” “You didn’t have to. Your actions proved it.” At times, Aiden wasn’t the easiest person to talk to. He always looked beyond the words and I hated that. And I knew if he knew too much that I’d be even more vulnerable. That’s possibly the reason I never told him about my plan of not having children. “I told Kellan what I wanted to do, and believe it or not, he urged me to tell you, but I couldn’t. Eventually I resigned from RPH and—well, you know that part. After I’d gotten settled in Belize, I found a doctor and started regular prenatal visits. During my first appointment, I was able to get a sonogram…I have it and several others, if you’d like to see them.” He nodded, but he didn’t say anything. “I started reading information online and buying pregnancy and baby books. Most of the books indicated that I should chronicle as much as possible, so I actually kept a blog. I never published it, but I would like for you to read it. It’s more detailed than my memory.” “I would appreciate that. But for now, can you tell me what you do remember?” “Yes.” I wanted to cry for him. I felt horrible. The look in his eyes was like that of a child who had everything taken away and given to someone else. I’d done this to him. I’d taken away his choice, and in doing so, I’d caused him to miss out on something he could never get back—something a story or blog could never replace. Clearing the lump in my throat, I continued. “It was a really good pregnancy. As I said, I didn’t have any symptoms—no morning sickness, no weird food cravings, no horrible smells. I remember sleeping a lot when I was around seven months.” “Was it a difficult birth?” “Hell yes. I was in labor for several days. It was too soon so my doctor delayed his birth for a few days to increase Lyric’s chances of proper development. He was four weeks early, which I guess is typical of stealth pregnancies. He was born on August twelfth at three o’clock in the afternoon.” “Were you going through all of it alone? Were your sisters or April there?” “No. I wasn’t alone. Kellan was there. He was with me.” Aiden closed his eyes and inhaled. He let out a deep breath and then turned to study me, as if he was trying to figure me out. Then he sighed and glanced at the crib. “He’s a very happy baby.” “Yes, he is. All of his checkups went very well. He was born five pounds and three ounces.” “That’s amazing considering his size now,” Aiden said. “Yes, I know,” I replied, smiling. “He has quite the appetite…much like you,” I said. He glanced at me again and this time he was actually smiling…at me. I was surprised at that. I think it surprised him, too. “I’m glad you decided to breastfeed—the benefits are astounding. Is it very uncomfortable?” “Er… it can be. If he latches on the wrong way, it really kicks ass.”

His eyes fell to my breasts. Yes, they’re a little more than a handful now, huh? “The wine…you drink a lot of wine. I was wondering about that.” “I actually stopped drinking as much when my sisters came to live with me. I didn’t want to be a bad influence. So I think we’re good there.” That was something I’d been concerned about, too. “His name. Why?” “I think you know why.” “Tell me.” “It was because of you—because of us, because of your love of music. Lyric was created from a very intense, very passionate place, and I wanted his name to represent something just as passionate. Something that held significance for me and you. I know you won’t believe me, but you were with me every day. And every day, even when he was growing inside me, I talked to him about you. I wanted you there, Aiden. I did. I was…I was just terrified of what that would mean for Lyric. So I never allowed myself to think of anything beyond keeping him away from your world.” “My world,” he said with a sigh, sitting back and crossing his arms. I noticed he was wearing the watch I’d given to him for his birthday, but once he saw me eyeing it, he lowered his arms. He was actually wearing the watch… I didn’t understand what that meant, if anything. The baby began to stir and our attention was diverted—both of us walking over to check on him. Lyric didn’t give himself a chance to completely wake before he burst into tears. He’d done that a few times in the past, which always made me wonder if babies dreamt. If they did, Lyric must have had a bad one. I reached into the crib and lifted him to my shoulder. “Shh. It’s okay, Lyric. Mommy’s here.” I looked at Aiden and there was a sparkle of wonder in his eyes, like we were the first mother and child he’d ever seen. “And so is Daddy,” I added. It was comforting to see a look on Aiden’s face that didn’t scream of contempt. “He kept us up a lot during the first month. It was brutal,” I said as I went to the bathroom to grab a warm washcloth. “Would you like to wipe his face?” I asked, holding up the cloth to Aiden as I returned to the room. Aiden grasped the cloth and I watched as he lightly moved the towel across Lyric’s cheeks and then slowly eased it toward the corners of his eyes. Aiden’s large hands seemed daunting but he was so gentle with Lyric—a very hungry Lyric. He had yet to calm down. “I think I’d better get this little guy fed,” I said. “Let me.” The tenderness in Aiden’s eyes when he looked at Lyric melted every ounce of anger I’d felt earlier. I passed Lyric to him and watched as Aiden sat in the large chair at the side of the crib. I then went to the concealed mini-fridge and grabbed a bag of milk then placed it in the warmer.

Lyric’s cries had gotten louder. “Hey, try the paci,” I suggested. I gazed over my shoulder and saw Aiden grab the pacifier from the snap on Lyric’s jammies. Lyric was quiet for a few seconds, long enough to recognize that the paci wasn’t what he wanted, and then he was wailing again. Aiden tried rocking him, but that didn’t help. I finished prepping the bottle and passed it to Aiden. He placed the nipple on Lyric’s lips and he calmed and pulled it into his mouth. After a few pulls, he stopped and turned away. He didn’t want the bottle. He was about to cry again but Aiden moved the nipple across Lyric’s lips and he started sucking again. Watching the two of them did something to me I couldn’t explain. It was heart wrenching. I forced the tears away as I observed this beautiful, dominant man feed his son. It was just about the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. I felt as though I was invading a private moment, one that Aiden deserved to share alone with his son, so I walked out of the room and closed the door behind me. I went for a walk and ended up at the pond—Aiden’s pond. This was the place at which Aiden and I had shared untold childhood stories with each other. My eyes glazed over as I stared at the water and pictured that day. It was when I had finally decided to commit myself to him. Letting nostalgia pull me in further, I heaved a reminiscent sigh and sat on the bench near the edge of the pond. I was lost in my memories when approaching footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Aiden was walking toward me. Although we’d shared a tender moment a short while ago, I knew he didn’t have a desire to be near me, and this was one of the places he escaped to ever so often. “I was just leaving,” I said, not looking at him. I didn’t really want to be around him either. It was easier earlier because Lyric’s presence sometimes softened our exteriors. But when it was just us, it was difficult. “You don’t have to leave,” he replied. “Where’s Lyric?” I asked. “He’s with my mother.” He grinned and shook his head. “She’s showing him off to her charity group.” “He’s stolen everyone’s hearts, it would seem.” And for very different reasons. Although it was obvious that his family loved Lyric, I was suspicious as to some of the motives behind it. Connor looked at Lyric and saw the future of Raine Industries, and Sienna…I think she saw him as a way to have her Aiden back—a chance to get it right this time. I had noticed the manner in which she doted on Aiden, and whether she acknowledged it or not, he was undoubtedly her favorite. I didn’t know what this meant for Lyric but I knew he’d eventually be in a tug-of-war, and I wanted to keep that from happening. “I feel like a prisoner, Aiden.” I blurted out. He was staring across the water. “Aria, what do you expect me to say to that? I honestly don’t know what to do.” “And because you don’t know, I have to suffer?” “I can’t trust you with my son. It’s as simple as that.”

“He’s our son, Aiden.” “I’m glad to see you’ve finally come to terms with that.” He sat on the far end of the bench and scowled at me. “I came to terms with that the day I found out I was pregnant.” “Yeah, and you had a sure fire way of showing it. You ran off, and now you expect me to let you have free rein with him. Why would I do that? You may get the marvelous idea to leave the fucking country with him again.” “I wouldn’t do that!” He raised an eyebrow. “Really? And I should believe that because you haven’t done it before?” And look where that’s gotten me. “You even had April lie to me, telling me that you were having a child with that fucker Kellan.” I bolted from my seat and pointed a finger at him. “Don’t do that. Don’t call him names. And for your information, I didn’t ask April to do that. She did it on her own. She thought she was helping me, and it caused me to lose my friendship with her. Just another piece of my life you’ve taken from me. So thank you for that, too.” “You’re so quick to place the blame on me for decisions you made. I will not accept responsibility for something I knew nothing about.” “I don’t want to go back and forth tossing blame. I just want to make this right. I want to do what’s best for Lyric.” “So do I. Why do you think you’re here, Aria?” “I know very well why I’m here. You’ve made it quite clear that if you could furnish certain provisions without me, you would.” He was pensive for a long moment and then finally replied, “It’s something, Aria. It’s the start of a compromise I hadn’t accounted for.” “Funny. It doesn’t seem like one,” I shot back. “Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?” “You’re supposed to do what’s in the best interest of your son.” “And that’s what I’m doing,” he said dryly. “By forcing me to live under your rules? You don’t want me here and I’m not exactly excited about living at Casa Raine,” I said, gesturing toward the vast estate. “Aria, what do you expect? You’ve robbed me of something that was mine, and each time I look at you, I’m reminded of what you’ve done. I can’t help that.” I winced. “Your feelings are warranted. I know that. I’ve accepted that. But that doesn’t make it any easier, and it doesn’t make what you’re doing right.” “I’m furious with you, Aria, and at times it takes everything in me to remain civil. That’s all I can do at this point.”

“I know I’ve hurt you in one of the worst ways possible, but I think you’re masking a large majority of that hurt with anger because it makes it easier for you. That’s not fair to me.” “Yes, I’m hurt. How could I not be? Did you expect me to have no feelings?” “I expected you to show me more respect.” “I expected the same,” he replied. “And since you didn’t get what you wanted, you punish me.” “I treat you as well as I can under the circumstances.” “I’m your hostage. Don’t you see that?” He stood and walked closer to the water. “You’re free to leave whenever you wish, Aria.” “Why are you doing this? What…do you get off on hurting me? It’s not as if I said, okay, let’s see how I can hurt Aiden. Oh, I know. I’ll get pregnant, not tell him and hide his child forever.” “It doesn’t matter if you planned it or not—the end result is the same.” I rushed towards him and stared him in the eye. “Since I hurt you, you’re hurting me. Is that how you justify your behavior? You can’t be serious.” “You had your way of rationalizing what you did, didn’t you?” “I had no idea of how much of a childish asshole you could really be!” His brows shot up. “You label me as childish, yet you’re the one shouting and name calling. That’s rich, Aria.” “It’s you. You do this to me! And the way we’re interacting with each other…it’s unhealthy, Aiden. You want to punish me. I get it, but sooner or later you have to put on your big boy pants and let it go so that you can focus on being the parent that Lyric deserves.” “Surely you don’t think you’ve been the paragon of—” He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled. “I’m not doing this—I’m not going to fight with you.” “That’s the one thing we can agree on,” I said, and walked past him on my way back to the house.

Chapter Eight It didn’t appear as if I’d be leaving the Raines’ anytime soon, but I couldn’t continue sitting idle and anticipating the unfurling of the latest dramatic episode of my life. I needed something to pour my time into—I needed to get back to work, and I needed to have something outside of the sadness. I would’ve loved to return to RPH but that was a piece that wouldn’t fit into my world right now, so I reached out to a local publishing company in hopes of securing something to help pass the time. I spoke with a colleague at Goubert Books and then followed up with an email. I then opened another message, and this time I addressed it to Aiden. I sent my blog login and password information to him. Despite our impasse, this was something to which he was entitled. He needed this and I wanted to give it to him. I’d chronicled almost every day of my pregnancy. It was disappointing that I was unaware of the first few months of it. My first blog entry was about Aiden and some small hints as to the date of conception. I’d excluded the more lascivious details, but I’d included enough specifics to touch on the memory of those naked December days at the penthouse. He’d made the icy days of December feel like the sweaty heat of the Mojave Desert. The smoldering gaze of his eyes alone could elicit heat in the middle of the arctic. And he’d created more than just heat this past December. A lot more! When was the exact moment? I didn’t really know, but if I had to guess, it would have been directly after the strip tease in the kitchen. We’d made a baby. A baby! Shock and fear paralyzed me for several minutes after the news had been delivered, but then I touched my stomach and smiled. I wanted this baby. I wanted this special gift, and I wanted to share it with him. It was no secret I was a little dismal when it came to relationships, and although I didn’t think I was anything like the Grinch, I couldn’t help but make a comparison when I’d felt as though my heart had grown four times its size because of this news. I was going to have a baby. I was going to have his baby. The man I loved more than anything. The man who’d made me see that love was possible, even for someone who was as broken as I. I wondered how he’d react to the news. My palm was still on my stomach as I considered the possible responses…and then I was frightened. What if this news wasn’t something he could handle? That he could accept? I guess a part of me always felt I would share this with Aiden. There were several descriptive entries of how I was feeling, the changes in my body and my emerging view of motherhood. There were also countless pictures of Lyric and a few with Lia, Bianca and April—and several more of Kellan and me in various poses with Lyric. I knew Aiden wouldn’t like those parts, but I didn’t see the point in concealing any of it.

Closing my laptop, I placed it on the nightstand and glanced at the baby monitor—Lyric was sound asleep. Now what? I wondered if Aiden was asleep, or maybe he was at his desk working on Raine Industries business. Had he finished his workout? Was he stepping out of the shower? Was he dripping wet? Was he lying in bed? Was he naked? I wanted to shut that part of my brain off, but once I’d flipped it on, I couldn’t shut it down. I pictured my hands on his cock, stroking it as it expanded. I imagined rubbing his thick mass of pleasure across my lips, teasing him with my mouth. Before I knew it, my hand was between my legs, massaging my clit as various prurient scenarios played out in my mind. It didn’t take long to realize I needed more than fingers and toys. I hopped out of bed, slipped off my panties, and walked from my bedroom. I knew this was a bad idea, but I couldn’t turn around now, even if I tried. I was in a lust-induced trance and needed to have this—needed to have him. I knew the more I engaged with him sexually, the more emotionally charged I’d become, and as infuriating as life was with him already, I didn’t stop. I simply ignored the part of my brain that was shouting at me to turn back. I looked to see if anyone spotted me before I opened his door and stepped inside. Aside from the moonlight filtering in from the partially opened drapes, his bedroom was dark. I wasn’t sure if I’d awakened him when I opened the door, because he didn’t move. Stepping further into the room, I reached the bed and pulled back the sheets. I couldn’t quite make out his facial expression, and I really didn’t care—it wasn’t his face I was in need of. I needed to fuck him…plain and simple. I grasped the top of his boxers and he didn’t say a word. He lifted himself, and I hurriedly pulled the shorts down his long, firm body. Dropping the boxers, I reached into the darkness, seeking his large cock and finding it lying heavily against his thigh. Hell yes! This…this is what I wanted. I leaned down to take him into my mouth, moaning as I sheathed his thick length. It felt like a long overdue treat, lavishing points of eroticism into my mouth. His hands were already on my head, guiding my pace as he started with quick, deep thrusts into my mouth. His dick was an oversized piece of dessert, and I wanted to overindulge. I could have easily consumed it all night, but I didn’t come to his room to give him pleasure, I came to receive it. And as much as I was enjoying the feel of him in my mouth, I knew it was that much more pleasing for him, so I stopped and pushed his hands away. “Fuck, why’d you stop?” he whispered. Because I’m in control. “Because I want to fuck you,” I said, as I climbed into his bed and straddled his lean, muscular frame. Moving my hands over his chest, I braced myself—lifting my body slightly over his and reaching down to guide his cock to the one place it would always belong. I teased my pussy, moving the tip of his dick over my swollen lips. Merely stroking the full head along my flesh sent a steady stream of pulsing heat through my body. Then I slowly sank onto him, taking in every inch of his thick hardness. My teeth pierced my bottom lip and I let out a low moan when I stilled, absorbing the complexity of the delicious pain. My pussy clenched tightly around him,

possessing his large cock. I moved my hips ever so slightly, allowing the fullness to penetrate every part of me…to stretch me further…to hurt me. “Shh…” he breathed. “Fuck, you feel good.” I began rolling my hips, slowly at first, allowing my pussy to adjust to his girth. Oh shit! He was so large, so huge that it filled and strained every space, yielding a myriad of sensation that heightened as I began undulating faster, giving him just as much as he was giving me. And what he was giving me was almost too much. He slipped his large hands underneath my nightie and squeezed my full, aching breasts. I arched into his touch, overtaken by the heat and salacious energy that enclosed us. This felt wrong, forbidden, but I didn’t care—I craved it. I relished it. I needed to come. I started lifting my hips and then quickly and forcefully dropping onto him, over and over again, riding him like I couldn’t get enough. I didn’t want to stop, but I wanted to feel more of him so I slowed my pace until I’d stilled. Pulling my legs toward me and squatting over him, I turned so that I was facing his feet. Then I grabbed his dick and slowly eased down to the root, refilling my wet center and gyrating slowly, making him feel all of me. Gripping my hips, he urged me to increase my pace. I rolled my body into his, bouncing my ass on his cock. His groans of pleasure resonated around me, driving me to move faster. Fucking him from this angle hurt like hell, but there was no way I’d stop. I couldn’t. I took the pleasure and the pain of every divine inch, riding him hard and fast, clutching his legs and moaning shamelessly as my insides triggered a warning. I was about to explode. “Fuck, you’re going to make me come,” he grunted. And that’s exactly what I was doing. I cried out as the turbulent vigor of my orgasm tore through me. It was an endless stream of heat, rolling through me in violent waves. My body jerked as the last remnant of my release pulsed deep within my core. His cock throbbed inside me, signaling that he was about to claim his own release. His hands were on my waist, bruising my skin as he pushed me down on his cock. I grabbed his hands and forcefully peeled them away and then lifted my body from his, allowing his come to spray over him. I climbed out of bed as his grunts continued and watched him stroke the last thick drops of semen from his shaft. I wanted to taste of him, but thought better of it and pulled my nightie down. I glanced toward his face one final time and then walked from the room, closing the door softly behind me.

* * * * * I was in the gym with Allison, and she was rattling on and on about something, and as usual, I’d

missed half of what she was saying. I was thinking of Aiden. Why did I fuck him last night? Why did he let me? And why had I already fantasized about more? When I was in Belize, I’d missed Aiden terribly. I’d longed for the feel of his strong hands, trailing softly along my skin. I’d craved his seductive lips lingering on mine. I’d envisioned him groping my breasts, twisting my nipples, biting them… tugging them… driving me insane. I’d imagined his voice whispering dirty words in my ear as he pushed his cock deeper into me. My erotic memories had been one of my nostalgic pastimes. On several occasions, I’d forced myself to stop, but there’d been countless times I’d masturbated to thoughts of him inside me. I was in the same house with him now, closer in proximity than we’d been for months, and we’d had sex twice within the last few days, yet it was not at all what I’d imagined. It was hot as hell—I’d masturbated twice this morning just thinking about it. The problem was the distance and the anger. It was a mess, but underneath it all, there was a need…and that need had taken over. I couldn’t stay here much longer. Aiden clouded my judgment—he made me weak. That had to stop and if the only way to make it stop was to get away from him, then that’s exactly what I’d do. I just didn’t know how. “So will you?” “Huh?” “Will you have dinner with us tonight?” Allison asked. “Us?” “The family.” “Whose family? Yours?” “Yes, mine. Who else would I be talking about?” she asked. “Are you kidding? That’s a horrible idea, Allison.” I looked past her and continued bicycling. “Why? This is crazy. We live in the same house. We’re in each other ’s lives forever now. Is it impossible to share a meal together?” “There’s so much tension and hostility. I don’t know if I’m ready to have a concentrated dose of it. It’s difficult as it is just dealing with Aiden.” Allison slowed the treadmill and when it came to a stop, she stepped off and walked over to me. “I’ll be there and I’ll help diffuse any tension. I promise. Please.” I looked into her hopeful eyes and shook my head. “Why is this so important to you?” “Because I love you, and I love my brother, and I want this to work.” I loved Allison, too, and despite everything, her support for me and our friendship was still intact. I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it.” “Really?” She was all smiles. “Yes, really.” “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.” She pulled me into a hug. “Okay, I have to shower and change.

I’m meeting Libbey for lunch.” “Okay. I’ll see you later.”

* * * * * “I thought you could sit here,” Allison said. She was standing near Aiden’s chair when I entered the dining room. I knew what she was trying to do, but it wouldn’t work. I almost turned away but caught myself and decided to face them. I glanced around the room. The entire family was here and all eyes were on me. Just great. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of thinking they intimidated me. I glanced at Aiden, and he greeted me with that fuming glare that he reserved especially for me. I didn’t care anymore. I knew exactly how I would play this going forward. I smiled and walked over to the chair and took a seat. “Good evening, everyone.” Aiden’s sister, Sloan, was the first to speak. “Hi, Aria. It’s so good to see you. I finally had a chance to meet my nephew. He’s gorgeous. He’s stolen my heart already,” she said. Sloan had been out of town on Raine Industries business. This was my first time seeing her since I was here last year —and that seemed like eons ago. “Hi, Sloan. And thank you. He’s pretty special.” I felt Aiden’s eyes on me. I knew what I’d see if I looked up at him, so I looked at Nicholas instead. “Hello, Nicholas. Welcome home.” “Hello, beautiful. I have to agree with Sloan. That little guy has me hooked. He and I had a pretty awesome conversation. I introduced myself as his Uncle Nick and told him I should be the one he comes to when his dad is being an ass, so I expect Lyric and I will spend a lot of time together,” he laughed and looked at Aiden. I couldn’t help but smile. “Oh? And how did Lyric reply?” “He smiled and said okay.” “Did he? And here I thought he only talked to me.” “He’s going to be a genius just like his father,” Sienna said. I looked toward her and my smile faded as suddenly as hers. I reached for a glass of water, a convenient excuse to look in another direction. “I’m surprised you’ve decided to join us for dinner, Aria,” Sienna said. Allison piped in before I could reply. “Mommy, it was my idea. I don’t think she should eat alone. We’re a family, and we should be together. Isn’t that right, Daddy?” Connor looked at Sienna and then back at Allison. “That’s right, sweetheart,” he said, and then glanced at me. “I’m glad you agreed to join us, Aria.” There was silence. “Well, if she’s more comfortable dining separately, who are we to insist otherwise?” Sienna

asked, but no one replied. Sienna’s comment muted the room. I scanned everyone at the table—they were all staring at the Raine matriarch. Nicholas shook his head and Sloan sighed as she reached for her glass. Connor broke the uncomfortable silence. “You’re welcome to join us whenever you want. In fact, I insist,” Connor said, refuting his wife’s words. “Thank you, Connor,” I looked at Allison and, despite the obvious, she still appeared hopeful about this dinner. I, on the other hand, had no such delusions. “You seem to have adjusted quite easily to being a mother, Aria,” Sienna said. “It’s not been without its challenges, but being Lyric’s mom is amazing. It makes it all worth it.” “How is your friend? Kellan, isn’t it? Or is he more of a boyfriend?” Sienna probed. Oh my God. Why did I agree to this shit? “Excuse me?” Aiden tensed beside me. His hand curved around the edge of the table, his knuckles white from the force with which he gripped the thick wood. I watched as his grasp slowly loosened and he eased his hand from the table, but he didn’t say anything. “Mom, can you stop?” Allison pleaded. “Allison, I’m doing what I’ve always done. Are you saying I can’t engage in dinner conversation now that Aria has joined us?” “I promised Aria that we would all get along. I want her here with us.” “Allison, it’s fine. I’m sure Sienna was just curious,” I said, hoping my tolerance of Sienna would have a calming effect on Allison. “Aria, now that we have Lyric to consider, I think we would all be interested in hearing what your plans are regarding this Kellan person.” Sienna queried. I glared at Sienna thinking of the many ways I’d love to torture her. So much for tolerance. “Mother, either you stop making Aria uncomfortable, or I’ll make sure you’re very uncomfortable,” Aiden threatened. He set his glass of wine on the table and glanced at Sienna. What did he mean by that? And why was he suddenly stepping in to defend me? Not that I didn’t appreciate it, but it wasn’t something I’d expected. “But Aiden, I was just—” Sienna started. “I know exactly what you were doing and I’m telling you to stop.” The silence of the room stretched to a painfully awkward length. “I think you should apologize to her,” Aiden said. He and his mother locked eyes for several long seconds and then I finally saw the retreat in Sienna’s expression. “Aria, maybe I did overstep. I apologize.” She reached for her glass. “So how was your time in Belize?” This lady is a real piece of work. And I was sure I’d have a lot more of this if I tried to infiltrate

the Raine meals going forward. “It was beautiful,” I said blandly. “I wish I was still there, actually. As I’m sure you do, too.” Sienna coughed, almost choking on her water. I didn’t need Aiden’s protection from his shrew of a mother, and I’d be damned if I allowed her to steer this conversation any more than she already had. Since I was the focus of attention, I was going to run with it. “If you haven’t visited, you should. Maybe we can all make a family trip of it. I think we’d have a blast. There’s so much to do. The cave tubing is a ton of fun, and kayaking on those crystal clear waters is so invigorating, and then there’s diving with the sharks. I’ve gotten pretty good at swimming with sharks, Sienna, in case you were wondering. Oh, and the Belizean food—it’s amazing.” That kept her mouth shut for a while. The others were soon discussing Allison’s ballet and it turned out all of the family would be attending. She was very excited about that, and I was happy for her. I knew how much it meant to have their support, especially since it hadn’t always been there. Aiden and I never said a word to each other. I was sure everyone noticed our awkwardness, but I no longer gave a damn. Living here was a means to an end, and if I had to play this game to get what I wanted, then so be it. We’d just finished the first course and the staff was clearing the table. Everyone chimed in on who’d be joining us for Thanksgiving. That’s just what I need, even more Raines. Aiden finally released some of his annoyance and contributed to the conversation—not with me, of course, but with everyone else. Being this close to him was good and bad. It provided me with a hint of his ambrosial smell, but it also drove my thoughts to last night—and that was the bad part. I wondered if our closeness had the same effect on him. There was one way to find out. I discreetly moved my hand under the table and grasped his thigh. He reacted slightly to my sudden gesture by glancing down at me. He made no attempt to move my hand so I reached between his thighs and cupped his manhood. He coughed and reached for his drink as he casually glanced around at the others. They were caught up in their own conversations, paying no attention to either of us. He leaned down and whispered. “What are you doing?” “If I have to tell you, then you must be losing your edge. I need you to fuck me. Now.” A mixture of emotions crossed his emerald eyes as he considered my words. “Meet me in the restroom down the hall,” I whispered, and then spoke to the whole group. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on Lyric.” Sienna gave me a strange look. Yes, I’m about to let your genius son fuck me in your luxury bathroom. I smirked and exited the dining room. Walking into the bathroom, I glanced in the mirror, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I was sure Aiden didn’t like me calling the shots, but I was equally sure he couldn’t refuse me this. As if confirming my thoughts, he entered the bathroom at just that moment. Why did he have to be so fucking hot? And I didn’t quite understand why, but the anger only

made him that much more desirable. His angry fucks were brutal and extremely intense. And I couldn’t get enough. He was my drug, and I was in desperate need of a fix. He stood near the door and my eyes took a quick stroll down his body. Fuck, he’s gorgeous! After locking the door, he stepped toward me. My eyes were still on his when I reached into my dress pocket, pulled out a condom, and extended it to him. He looked down at the black package and abruptly lifted his gaze to mine. He squinted and then stepped back. “What?” I asked. “You expect me to use that? Why all of a sudden?” “Why not? You obviously don’t want to come inside me, and I didn’t particularly enjoy your letting it spew all over me like I was a piece of trash.” “You didn’t mind in the past.” His tone was biting. He knew exactly what I meant. “Yeah, in the past, we were two lovers being dirty and you didn’t have an appearance of loathing on your face when you finished.” His gaze darted back to my hand. “We treat each other like strangers for the most part. So fuck me like a stranger.” I extended the condom again. This time he pulled it from my hand. His beautiful face was clouded with anger, but the lust was also there, and that’s what won in the end. Unzipping his pants, his hardening shaft fell out. He was so fucking huge. I didn’t know how the hell it all fit inside me. Opening the small packet, he removed the condom and unrolled it over his length. With the condom in place, he looked up at me, staring and waiting, only lust and silence between us. And then he stepped closer, lifting my dress and placing me on the counter. The heat of his gaze connected with mine, and the desire building in his green irises indicated he was planning to give me more than what I’d bargained for. Grasping my leg, he placed it over his shoulder and slid my panties to the side. He didn’t waste any time preparing my sex for his invasion, instead he shoved his dick all the way inside me with one solid thrust. My eyes bulged as I suppressed a scream. “Did it hurt?” he asked, his expression hard and unforgiving as he rammed into me again. I panted as I searched his eyes, seeking some semblance of the man who once loved me, but he was hidden behind the mask. “Is this how a stranger would fuck you? On the bathroom counter, like a shameless whore?” I released my grip on the counter and slapped him across the face, as hard as I could manage, considering my position on the counter. “Just shut up and fuck me.” He didn’t display any response to my heated reaction. If anything, his eyes seemed to darken more—a sure sign that lust had overtaken every other emotion.

“Like this?” he asked. He plowed into me so hard that my head hit the mirror. “Do you want me to hurt that pretty pussy? Is that what you want?” “Hell yes,” I panted. “Shit…just like that.” He slammed his iron-hard length into me over and over, and yes, it hurt, but it was a hurt I needed. I felt him swelling inside me, indicating he was about to come, but he pulled his cock out and slapped it repeatedly on my sex. Then he reached for my neck, wrapping his large hand around my throat as he pushed back into me. “Fuck!” I didn’t want to come. I knew this was another one of our needy, angry fucks, and those only came with one release so I wanted to make this last. “Unzip your dress. Show me your breasts,” he ordered. I had one hand on the edge of the counter to maintain my position as he forcefully moved in and out of me. With the other hand, I unzipped my dress to reveal my black lace bra. He reached toward my chest and released my breasts from their confinement. There was a pained look on his face as he looked at them. My breasts were larger now, and I knew how much he loved them in the past. I could only imagine what he was thinking about them now. “Damn,” he grunted as he drove into me. Abruptly, he pulled out and caught me by the waist. He lifted me from the counter and placed me down in front of him. “Take your panties off.” “You do it,” I countered. Aiden grabbed the top of my thong and then there was a quick rip. Turning me away from him, he pushed me forward so that I was leaning over the counter. He then lifted my leg and pushed into me. His large hands were on my buttocks, his fingers digging into me as he pounded my hungry pussy. “Shit, why can’t I stop fucking you, Aria?” I looked in the mirror and that pained look was on his face again. He was like me—he had no control when it came to our connecting like this. He wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. I continued watching him in the mirror—his gaze fierce on my face as he delivered deep, consecutive blows into me. Aiden’s grip on my waist loosened as he pulled out of me and removed the condom. “I’m not wearing this shit.” He tossed it on the counter and in the flash of a second, he pushed his big dick back into me. “Ah, fuck. That’s better. Your pussy is so good.” He began slamming into me harder and faster, as though he’d lost control, fucking me like a mad man. “Please don’t stop,” I begged. “Fuck me harder,” I breathed, as I rocked into his ferocious thrusts. He was so deep, hitting the end of me with each violent lunge. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Closing my eyes, I exploded, chanting his name over and over as I came. Aiden smacked my ass and rammed into me once, then twice more, and grunted loudly as his need to erupt tore at him. He increased the pace of his thrusts, rapidly slamming his huge cock into me over…and over…and over. “Ah, God. Aria.” He pulled out, and the deep primitive rumblings of

his chest resonated while the thick drops of semen fell onto my ass. I watched him in the mirror—the look on his face alone was enough to make me come again. He threw his head back, shuddering as he continued to spill onto me. He groaned as the last of his come showered my skin. After his breathing calmed, he grabbed a towel from the warmer. I continued watching him as he lightly wiped it over my ass, removing his come. He looked in the mirror when he finished, and our eyes locked for a few moments. He grasped my leg and lowered it from the counter. “Ow.” “Are you okay?” he asked. He tossed the towel in the hamper opening on the opposite end of the sink. “Yes, my leg hurts, but I’ll walk it off.” My pussy hurts, too, but fuck, it was worth it. I reclaimed my panties and shoved them into my pocket. Aiden grabbed the condom wrapper and tossed it into the trash. He then removed the condom from the counter and walked to the toilet room. A few seconds after hearing the flush, he was standing in front of me, watching as I pulled my dress down, placed my boobs in my bra and zipped myself back into place. He didn’t move. He was still staring at me. “Don’t ever give me a fucking condom again.” “Don’t ever come on me and then look at me like I’m a piece of shit when you’re done!” We stared at each other for a moment longer—just enough for our aggravation with each other to reappear. I broke eye contact and looked down at his cock hanging from his pants. Mad as I was, I wanted more. He pushed himself back into his slacks and zipped them. What do you do when you’re with a man you can’t get enough of? When he’s fucked you so hard and so deep that it hurts to move but you still crave more, you need more, like you need air to breathe? “Maybe now I can make it through the remainder of the night with your insane family.” I turned and walked out of the restroom. He was on my heels. “Tonight, you seemed to fit right in with my insane family.” “Whatever.” “I’ll check on Lyric,” he said. I didn’t reply, I just continued walking to the dining room. As the sound of family laughter floated toward me, I applied a smile and sauntered in to rejoin the Raines. “Is Lyric all right?” Connor asked. “Yes, he’s fine.” I slid into my seat as Dianna refilled my wine. “Thank you, Dianna.” I needed the wine to help swallow the remainder of the meal with these fucking people. One more glass should be okay. If Lyric needed to eat before the wine passed my system, I had at least three bags of milk set aside.

“You’re welcome, Ms. Aria.” As many times as I’d insisted she call me Aria, she continued to address me formally in public. We started the next dinner course, and while not as friendly as it could have been, it was not as unpleasant as the first part of the evening, so I suffered through it, chiming in on some of the conversation with Nicholas and Connor and also chatting with Allison. Aiden soon entered the room with Lyric and all our focus went to him. Although I wasn’t a fan of the Raines, I was happy to see their adoration of Lyric. He went from Raine to Raine, everyone eager to hold him. And luckily he was in a good mood. Sloan was holding Lyric now, and we were all fascinated by his interactions with her when Aiden’s phone sounded. He pulled it from his pocket and smirked. What was that about? I couldn’t help myself—I looked at my plate and then subtly cast my eyes toward his phone to catch a glimpse of the message. It was a picture of a naked woman. A naked woman named JoJo.

Chapter Nine I’d barely survived dinner with the Raine clan last night—I certainly wouldn’t suffer through that rendition of a family gathering again any time soon. After dinner, I’d fed Lyric and retreated to my room. I was mentally drained so I’d gone to bed early, but I didn’t get much sleep. I had tossed and turned most of the night wondering what the hell was going on with Aiden and JoJo. Despite my failed attempt at a good night’s rest, I stepped out of bed with focused determination. It was a new day, and I planned to sit down with Aiden and hopefully come to an amicable agreement about Lyric’s living arrangements. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been, but I was cautiously optimistic— Aiden’s defense of me last night made me think that his hard exterior had softened, even if only a little. So maybe, just maybe, he’d be open to my terms. I applied my good vibes aura and headed to the nursery. As I approached Lyric’s room, voices floated into the hall so I slowed, trying to determine if it was Sienna or one of the nannies. Then someone laughed. Wait a minute. That horrid noise sounded achingly familiar. I quickened my steps to see if I was right. I stopped in the entrance of the nursery in total disbelief. Aiden stood by smiling as his exgirlfriend, Nadia cuddled Lyric in her arms. Is he fucking serious? I glanced at Nadia from head to toe. She was her normal impeccable self. No one would ever know from looking at her that there was a mess of a person idling right below that sane looking surface. “Good morning, Aria,” Nadia said, looking up at me. “Aiden was just introducing me to his son. He’s beautiful…just like his father,” she added, and glanced from Lyric to Aiden. Ugh! Gag me, bitch. If I had eaten breakfast, I would have lost it all right there in the doorway. I couldn’t respond to her, nor did I have a desire to do so. I walked over to them and reached for Lyric. “It’s time for his breakfast. Give him to me.” “I would love to feed him…if you don’t mind,” Nadia said. She looked up from Lyric and there was a pleading in her eyes that made me take pause. Hell no. She wasn’t feeding my son. “I do mind and I don’t want you near him, let alone feeding him. Now give him to me.” “No need to be rude, Aria. She was simply asking to—” “Shut up, Aiden,” I said and removed Lyric from Nadia’s arms. How dare he let this witch hold my son! “I would hate to interrupt your reunion, so I’ll feed him in my bedroom.” My bedroom. Ha! What a joke.

I needed to make sure I had enough milk set aside so that I could safely drink. Last night’s wine enabled me to handle my time with the Raines much better than I would have without it, and now I wanted a replay, but not in this house. I was starting to think that alcohol would be my only escape from the Raine rabbit hole. I often wondered how I ever made the clumsy fall and, like Alice, I wondered how I would ever get out. Entering my bedroom, I closed the door and pressed the button that opened the drapes. As I sat in the rocking chair near the window, I looked down at Lyric—he was such a good baby, and he was blissfully unaware of the tension that surrounded the first few weeks of his life as a Raine. I needed to maintain a sense of calm around him, even when it was as difficult as it would always be around Nadia. Actually, I was surprised she’ stayed away this long. Thanks to their parent’s friendship, she was yet another one of Aiden’s crosses I’d have to bear. I didn’t like seeing Aiden with her, and I didn’t like the way she looked at Lyric. I couldn’t determine what I hated more—the way she fawned over Aiden or the jealousy I felt knowing Aiden had bedded her the last time we’d been apart. Would he do it again? Had he already? Was he fucking her, JoJo, and me? He wouldn’t do that, would he? Just fuck! I hate this shit! Lyric took the bottle with very little resistance—he was obviously starved. I smiled as he looked up at me. Did he sense my unease? Did he know I was his mother? His eyes were beautiful. He was a mini version of his gorgeous father. Although not the same shade of green as Aiden’s, the grayish green tint of Lyric’s eyes was just as captivating. I sat with him, telling him about his Aunt Lia and Bianca, and as always, he seemed to be fully attuned. He was getting sleepy so I reluctantly took him to the nursery to find Anja putting his clothes away. I sighed as I thought of all of the things I was being forced to miss. This had to change. I had to find a way to get through to Aiden. I placed Lyric in his crib and trotted downstairs for something to eat. I made a sandwich and grabbed an apple and made my way to the gym. After a workout I took a shower before going to check on Lyric. I hadn’t seen Aiden and guessed he was somewhere with his groupie. I didn’t want to care, but I didn’t like him spending time with Nadia. After all of the trouble she’d caused for us, he still engaged with her. Why would he do that? That was like a huge slap in my face, but given the current state of our relationship, it was just another slap atop many others. I couldn’t get over the fact that Aiden and I were still having sex. As soon as we finished, our angry masks reappeared. This was crazy and emotionally exhausting. Something had to give before I did something foolish like taking Lyric and disappearing again. But I knew that would only make things worse, because he’d find me. He’d always find me. I should have known that running from someone like him wasn’t the answer. It would never be the answer. Refreshed from my shower, I stepped into the nursery and was shocked to find Nadia alone with Lyric. I couldn’t believe she’d be in here again after I’d just told her to stay away. What the fuck is her

problem? “I thought I’d made it clear that I don’t want you holding my child,” I said, walking into the nursery. “And where’s Aiden?” “He’s not just your child, Aria, and Aiden doesn’t seem to have a problem with my holding Lyric. Besides, from what I’ve gathered, you aren’t allowed to do much more than feed him yourself, so you’re hardly the person to tell me I can’t hold Aiden’s son.” “Nadia! How could you say something like that?” Allison, having stepped into the nursery behind me, headed directly to Nadia and reached for Lyric. “Because she’s fucking crazy!” I exclaimed, frustrated that I seemed to be the only one who could see that. “Nadia, you’re not allowed to touch him again, ever. Allison, please take him out. I need to speak with Nadia in private.” “Aria, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she replied, looking from me to Nadia. “Please, Allison. Everything will be fine. I don’t want Lyric around this negative energy. He’s already surrounded by more than he should be,” I said. “I’ll take him for a walk,” Allison said, still sounding unsure. “This should have everything you need to keep him warm.” I passed her Lyric’s bag, and she placed it on her shoulder. She took a few steps and then looked back at Nadia and me one more time before slowly walking from the room. I closed the door behind her and my jaw tightened as I turned to face Nadia, reining in as much upset as I could manage. “Whatever you think you are to this family, or to Aiden, let me make it clear…you are nothing to Lyric. I don’t want you near him and if you ever touch him again, the authorities will be involved, and I don’t give a damn what Aiden says about it.” “Oh, Aria. Don’t be so melodramatic. I’m sure you know I’m very close to this family. I have been for several years, and I’m quite sure you know that, also. Aiden will be very interested to know you don’t respect his views in regard to his child. You don’t deserve that baby, and you never deserved Aiden. I’m glad he finally realized that. Too bad you had to bring a child into the world who will have to deal with this.” “You mean a child that he wants, unlike the one you tried to force on him.” “You bitch!” she yelled and lunged for me. I shoved her back before her hand made contact, and she landed on the floor. I jumped on top of her and started punching. She slapped her hands toward me, attempting to block my angry blows. I delivered one hit after another, and she threw up her forearms in defense as I grabbed a handful of her hair and slapped my right palm down on her face. She managed to push me off of her and straddled me, but I pulled her down and rolled her onto her back. “Not this shit again!” Aiden’s voice came from behind me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me off of Nadia.

Struggling to shake loose of his hold, I reached toward Nadia, I wanted to beat her to a pulp. “Aria, stop it.” His grip tightened and he stepped back farther from Nadia. “Are you okay?” he asked, turning me to face him. “Is she okay? Did you not see her attacking me? I’m the one who warrants your concern,” Nadia spurted. Aiden was still holding me as I turned to face her. “Whatever you got was long overdue and not nearly enough, you wretched bitch!” Aiden looked at the crib and then down at me. “Where’s Lyric? Is he with the nanny?” “No,” I replied, breathing harshly. Allison took him for a walk.” Nadia picked herself up from the floor and glared at me. “Do you have any idea of how she taunted me about our child, Aiden? How could you tell her about something so private?” “Me? How could I tell her? Did you conveniently forget that you, Nadia, you taunted Aria with that information yourself? Did you expect me to lie to the woman I love?” Huh? Did I just hear him correctly? Did he still love me? “You love her? You still love her? After all she’s done to you? I don’t understand you anymore, Aiden. She’s changed you. She’s taken, taken, taken! And you seem to give her whatever she wants— whereas me, you took the most precious thing from me. You took my baby. And now she gets to have the child that should have been ours—yours and mine.” If I didn’t know it before, her delusional outburst just confirmed it. Nadia was a nut job! “I can’t do this. I can’t take this anymore, Aiden. I’m calling an attorney. You can’t force me to live like this with my son. This entire situation is fucked.” “Aria…” He reached for me but I pushed him away. “Don’t Aiden. Just don’t. How could you want this for Lyric? For me?” “Of course, let’s make it all about you, Aria,” Nadia said. I spun around, still shocked at the audacity of this crazy woman. “Shut the fuck up, bitch, because I have so much more to give you.” I turned back toward Aiden. “And I’m warning you. If I see her anywhere near my son again, I’m calling the police.” Storming out of the nursery, I went in search of Lyric and Allison. As I reached the bottom of the stairs, there was Sienna. Her eyes widened, alarmed by my appearance. Well, guess what lady? I’m alarmed by it, too. This is what you and your crazy-ass family have done to me. I’d become used to the pursed lips she seemed to always wear when I was around, so I was caught off guard to see her slack-jawed. “Aria! What happened?” she asked. “Ask your son,” I replied bitterly, storming past her. I stepped outside the door and inhaled. I would not let them break me. If losing my parents didn’t do it, these miserable people wouldn’t do it either. Thinking Allison had taken Lyric to Aiden’s pond,

I headed off in the direction of the conservatory. My heart hurt. I clutched my chest, wanting to cry as I approached Allison and Lyric. Allison, who was sitting beside his stroller, facing the pond, turned upon hearing my approach, and her face was instantly clouded with worry. “Oh, Aria. What happened after I left?” she asked. My eyes watered and a single drop made its way down my cheek. I angrily wiped the tear away. “I don’t know where to start.” “From the looks of it, more than words were exchanged.” “Yes,” I said. We stared at the pond in silence. I could see that Allison was at a loss for words, and so was I. This has spun so far out of control that I didn’t know if a way out was even possible. Closing my eyes, I exhaled, trying to shake off the horrid emotions that were surging through me. When I finally calmed, I reached for my little guy. “Hello, my precious boy. Are you enjoying time with Auntie Allison?” I made a stream of silly noises and he awarded me with a wide grin. He really was the best part of me—and his father. I glanced at Allison. “I think I have some decisions to make.” “What do you mean?” I shook my head, mentally replaying what had just happened in my son’s room. “This can’t continue. I won’t allow it to.” She motioned for me to sit beside her. “Things seem to be getting worse. So exactly what happened?” she asked wearily. I looked at her as if she had two heads. “Isn’t it obvious? Look at me. Nadia and I had a fight. Aiden walked in and pulled me off of her.” Allison’s eyes bulged. “Are you serious?” “Yes. And although I hate I lost control like that, it felt good. I hate her.” We were quiet for several long minutes. “Where is she now?” Allison finally asked. “I left her in the nursery with Aiden. I’m sure he’s licking her wounds.” Allison stood and looked in the direction of the house. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” “Why do you say that?” I asked. “Because he’s coming this way.” Somehow I managed not to groan. “I don’t need this right now, Allison.” “I think you two need to talk. I can take Lyric.” “No, I want him with me. Don’t leave,” I said. “Aiden will not want me here, Aria.” “But I do, Allison. Don’t go.” My apprehension grew with each step Aiden took toward us. He glanced briefly from his sister

to me, his face revealing nothing. When he looked at Lyric, though, his inscrutable expression shifted into a smile. “Hey, look at him smile at me. He knows me. You know your dad, don’t you little guy?” I looked down at Lyric, and he did appear to be smiling at Aiden. “May I?” he asked, as he reached for him. “Of course.” I stood and passed him to his father. He lifted the baby above his head, and Lyric’s mouth was wide open. His slobber was going to drizzle all over Aiden, I just knew it. I watched and waited and sure enough, there it was. Aiden lowered him just in time. “Hey, you don’t want to spit on your dad, do you?” he asked grinning at the baby. Allison passed a cloth to Aiden, and he wiped Lyric’s mouth. “You’re getting to be such a big boy. Pretty soon you’ll be crawling, won’t you, Lyric?” he asked, as he lightly bounced him. He was the happiest baby I’d ever seen. I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing the two of them together like that did my heart good. In one short measure, Aiden’s focus shifted from Lyric to me, his gaze holding me in place. “Allison, any chance I can speak with Aria alone?” he asked, still looking at me. That was a first. He usually ordered people around when it came to me. Allison looked at me for confirmation, and I nodded that it was okay. “I can take Lyric,” she offered. “No. I want him here with us,” Aiden replied, his attention still on me. That was probably best—I knew he wouldn’t cause uproar in front of the baby. “Okay. If you need me, I’ll be in the gym,” Allison said, and headed back toward the main house. “Are you okay, Aria?” Aiden asked, dropping the mask and allowing me to see the concern in his eyes.” If she did anything to hurt you—” “I’m fine, Aiden. She got the worst end of it. And she deserved far more and you know it.” “I don’t disagree.” What? He is actually in agreement with me? I was so taken aback that I didn’t quite know how to respond. “Is she still here?” “Yes, but—” I shook my head. I don’t know why I expected anything different. “Then we have nothing to talk about, Aiden. I’m going to take a shower, and as soon as Nadia leaves, I’m going out for some time to myself.” “Where are you going?” he asked. “To that damned bar?” “Don’t worry about my comings and goings. Take care of Lyric.” I leaned over to give Lyric a kiss and walked past Aiden. I was getting out of the crazy house, but this time I would not be taking any tattletales along with me.

* * * * * “Hello.” I immediately recognized the deep sexy voice, but the sensual allure was somewhat shocking, considering his tone had been laced with acid as of late. “Hello.” I turned and gazed into Aiden’s thickly lashed emerald eyes. Would wonders never cease? Not only had I been blessed with the insane decadence of his velvet voice but his eyes were devouring me with as much pleasure as his seductive timbre had induced. He studied my face. “You look like a woman with a lot on her mind,” he said. “That’s because I am,” I said warily. “As luck would have it, I’m a very good listener.” I spun around and faced the bar, not even knowing what to do with that. I didn’t trust this mood. “Thanks for the offer but I think I'll pass.” “Maybe I can sweeten the deal. What are you drinking?” “Agave Ginger Rita,” I replied. What was this all about? “Excuse me. Can I get another drink for the lady?” he asked the bartender. “And a scotch…neat with a water back.” Is he planning to ply me with liquor and then fuck me again? I sat back in the bar stool and then turned to face him. “I’m sorry. I seem to have lost my manners. I’m Aiden Raine. And you are?” “Bored with this conversation,” I replied. He chuckled. “So are you really not going to tell me your name?” “What do you want it to be?” I asked. He searched my eyes as if assessing my acceptance of his little game. “You’re very beautiful, so I would imagine your name is just as beautiful. But I’m not very good at guessing, so why don’t you tell me, sweetheart.” “Do you make a habit of calling strange women sweetheart?” “Only if they are as irresistible as you,” he purred. “So you find me irresistible?” “Definitely. Now…are you going to tell me your name?” “Here you are, ma’am.” The bartender removed my empty glass, replacing it with a fresh drink. “And for you, sir,” he said, sliding Aiden’s drink towards him. I grabbed my drink and took a sip as I eyed Aiden. There was a ghost of a smile playing about his gorgeous mouth. “Aria. My name is Aria Cason.”

“Beautiful. Just as I thought.” He focused on my eyes, casting his hypnotic gaze, but I quickly looked away. I couldn’t let him pull me in to anything beyond sex. He took a sip of alcohol, his eyes still on mine. “Do you know what your name means?” he asked. “Of course I know what it means. It’s my name.” “Touché. So the very beautiful Aria has a lot on her mind. What’s troubling you?” He took another drink. What was he doing here? Had he followed me? And, damn, did he ever not look hot? He was wearing jeans and a black shirt. The top three buttons were undone, offering a glimpse of the light dusting of hair on his chiseled chest. He was standing closer than was necessary so I overloaded on his intense scent, taking in a deep breath that nearly caused me to fall from the bar stool. Regaining my composure, I went back to pretend mode. “Apparently you can’t take a hint, so I’ll tell you. But I warn you, it’s not nice.” “Okay. Shoot,” he said. After taking a sip of my drink, I placed it back on the bar and started my story. “It’s about this guy. A guy that I had very strong feelings for—you could even say I loved him.” “Lucky guy.” “Yeah, and unlucky girl,” I said, pointing at myself. He flinched. That was strange. He almost appeared sorrowful. Lately our emotional exchanges were consumed with either indignation or desire. This new dynamic was throwing me off. Is that why he’d blurted out he loved me earlier? “I would imagine that any woman as gorgeous as you would have only the very best of luck with any man. Clearly, this guy is an idiot.” Was that his attempt to extend an olive branch? Had he forgiven me? Could I forgive him? “From what I can tell, most men are.” His brow lifted at my comeback, and he smiled. “But I made a huge mistake in judgment,” I continued, “so I can’t place the blame entirely on him.” Aiden searched my face, as though he were seeing me for the first time. Or perhaps it was that, for the first time in an extremely long while, he was looking at me without anger clouding his view. And I found myself gazing at him with less animosity than I had in weeks. As his smile faded, his eyes softened. My mind wasn’t playing tricks on me; I really didn’t see the rage. I didn’t see the Aiden that once worshipped me, either, but I did see a glimmer of something different peeking from behind his amazing green irises. “Did I say something wrong?” I asked.

“No. Not at all. I’m just wondering how any man could be foolish enough to give you anything but happiness.” It was as if he were thinking aloud. “Maybe he’ll have the good sense to realize that before I move on. Time waits for no man.” His vivid green gaze searched my face. “I may be going out on a limb here, but I think he’s already realized it.” “I wouldn’t be so sure,” I said. “What would it take to make you sure?” he asked. “I don’t know. Maybe if he fucked me without contempt behind every thrust,” I said, and took a long sip of my drink. “Oh, so you’re still fucking this guy?” “Every chance I get.” I shook my head in disbelief. “He has a skill that one doesn’t easily forget.” “Is that right?” “Most definitely.” “Can you elaborate a little on the special skill this guy supposedly has?” “Are you sure you want to hear it?” He grinned and leaned against the bar. “Yes. I just may have a counter offer for you.” “Hmmm. A counter offer.” “Yep.” “Okay. He has the most seductively beautiful eyes—like none I’ve ever seen—and he has this way of looking at me like I’m the only woman in the world. When he does that, my skin feels like it’s on fire, and other parts of my body have these intense, sensual responses that I can’t suppress, no matter how hard I try.” “All of that? Just by looking at you?” “I know, right?” “What else?” he prompted, stepping closer to me and turning my barstool so that I was facing him. I moaned aloud before I could stop myself. I wanted to bury my face in his chest and just breathe him in. “Well, his smell. It’s like inhaling an exotic, illegal substance. It takes over my senses and then my legs seem to just automatically open for him.” “So he has nice eyes and cologne. If that’s all it takes to fuck you, then why don’t you give me the chance? I have both.” He placed his hand on my thighs and spread them apart. “You didn’t let me finish.” I started to push him away but Virginia, the part of my body that typically took over when it came to this man, wouldn’t let me. “I’m going to skip over the parts about how insane his body is and go directly to the subject at hand.” His brow arched. “Which is?” he asked, as he stepped between my thighs, and he was so close.

Too close. “His cock. It gets so unbelievably hard—in fact, it’s so hard that it hurts each time he shoves it into me. And then there’s his size.” “What about it?” “It’s massive.” A charmingly crooked smile graced his lips. “Massive?” “Yes, it’s pretty fucking amazing. He has this way of stroking my pussy, hitting that exact spot with every single stroke. When he’s inside me, he owns me.” “That’s pretty compelling. But I can be better.” He leaned in, so close I could feel his breath against my cheek. “I can make that pussy feel things he never could.” I swallowed hard. “Are you sure about that? He has the kind of dick that would make a straight man gay. So you’d better have a pretty impressive package in those jeans, baby.” “Do you find me attractive?” he asked. What? Who wouldn’t find him attractive? Attractive didn’t begin to describe the man standing before me. I knew he was leading up to something, but the part of my brain that malfunctioned when he did this type of thing had taken over, and the longer I played his game…well, let’s just say, it wouldn’t be good. “Yes,” I answered in a small voice. “And if I were to tell you I can give you the same skill as that guy but without the contempt? Would you take me up on the offer? Would you let me fuck you?” His deep voice resonated, rippling over me and centering at my core. The liquor and his conversation were eliciting a violent mix of intoxication and hormones. Hell, I’d fuck you right here if you were to ask. I managed to keep my voice casual, playing along with this very exciting game. “I don’t see why not. I’m quite horny right now, to be honest, and these drinks make it several times worse,” I replied taking another long sip. He tossed back his drink and then took a sip of water. “Let’s go,” he said, grabbing my hand. “Where?” I asked, sliding from the bar stool and adjusting my skirt. “Somewhere with less visibility.” We exited the bar, hand in hand. There was a chill in the air, but after the mixed drinks coupled with strong shots of Aiden Raine, I felt nothing but scorching heat. He looked around the parking lot —there were people approaching the building and a few couples standing near the entrance. “Fuck.” “What?” I asked. He looked down. I followed his gaze and saw the inviting bulge in his pants. Virginia tightened with a jolt of longing—she was a very excited girl.

Aiden pulled me toward the darkness beside the bar. I struggled to keep up with his long strides, and my six-inch heels made it that much more difficult. We reached the corner of the building and then took a few steps toward the back of the bar. He glanced around and then looked up, I can only assume for video cameras. He turned toward me and his mouth was suddenly on mine. I parted my lips, allowing him to have his way. He licked deeply into my mouth as his hands moved quickly down to my behind. I clutched his back as he groped my backside, pulling me closer to him. His fingers were grasping the fabric of my skirt, lifting it over my ass. “No panties?” He pulled away and glared at me. I was so hot for him. My heart was about to jump out of my chest. Why did it matter if I were wearing underwear? “No panties. What’s the big deal?” I asked, trying to catch my breath. It was as ragged as my heartbeat. I could see a twinge of anger teetering around the edge of his eyes, so I explained. “I was planning on visiting the guy I told you about, and panties would have only been in the way. That’s it. So don’t read anything else into it. Now…are you going to fuck me, or continue to overanalyze my underwear choices?” I didn’t want to argue. I wanted to fuck. Virginia was aching with a burning need for something only he could furnish. She was fueled with desire for the magnificence of his skill, his touch…his girth. She wanted it plowing hard and deep into her hot flesh—and she wanted it now. Aiden unzipped his pants and pulled out the most beautiful bar prize one could imagine. “Is this what you’re so anxious for?” he asked. I watched him stroke himself. “I think you referred to it as massive. How about you tell me how badly you want this massive dick inside that little pussy of yours.” I grinned and then slid my tongue over my lip. “Mmmm. You make me so fucking hot.” “Is your pussy wet?” He grabbed me and his hand was between my thighs, shoving two fingers inside me. “Why are you doing this?” I asked. “Doing what?” “Fucking me. Making me crazy. Toying with me.” “Why do you think?” he asked gruffly. “Why are you torturing me? Parading those women in front of me? Being an asshole to me?” I looked into his eyes, frantic for an explanation to this madness, but he wouldn’t give me that. Instead, he unleashed the full power of his smoldering gaze upon me as he fucked my pussy, deftly moving his fingers in and out of me and watching me come undone. I couldn’t look away, and I couldn’t make him stop. I was panting and confused—and needy. “You make me feel like I’m out of control. It drives me crazy,” he muttered, his lips sliding

down to my throat. “Those women mean nothing to me. You know that.” “We need to stop doing this to each other,” I breathed. He lifted his head and searched my face. “Do you want me to stop? I’ll stop, just tell me.” He swirled his fingers inside my sex and then quickened the pace of his jabs into me. My breathing was harsh, and I was falling into that place where I forgot everything else when he touched me. My blood was on fire for him. “Fuck. Why are you doing this to me, Aiden?” “I want to stop. I want to be angry with you, but I can’t—not anymore.” “Shit, you’re going to make me come,” I panted. “You’re so fucking wet. I love how wet your pussy gets.” “It’s only for you. You know that, right?” “Should I?” he asked. He leaned into my neck and sucked as he continued pushing his fingers into me. “I want your cock. I need it.” He turned us so that his back was to the wall and then he grabbed my waist. He lifted me and I wrapped my legs around him. “Put it in,” he said. I reached down and grabbed his dick and placed it at the entrance of my sex. The head pushed through and then he was in…all the way in, with one strong thrust. “Ahh.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and leaned in to kiss him. Our mouths were a hungry ravishing of tongues and lips. I was close but I wanted to be closer. I wanted him all over me. He began rapidly thrusting into me, severing our kiss and leaving me gasping for air. “I belong inside you. I’ll never get enough,” he grunted, and pushed me down on his cock. “Ahh…that feels so good, Aiden, “I breathed. Moments later, I was lost. The intensity of my passion, the roughness of the thrusts, the concentrated eroticism coursing through my body…it had all taken over. It had completely consumed me. “Shit,” he said. I’m going to come, Aria. I want you to swallow it.” His request pulled at my climax and I let it go, ferociously erupting around him. “Yes, baby that’s it. Come for me,” he whispered. My mouth was on his neck and I bit into his skin as my core contracted—pushing the continuous, deep rhythm of my orgasm through me. The beginning pulses of his dick alerted me to his release—he was about to come. I disentangled myself from his clutches and hurriedly sank to my knees on the hard concrete, taking his eager cock into my mouth. Somehow, I was still coming. I reached between my thighs and rubbed my pussy like mad as I devoured his delicious cock, sucking it with all I had, sucking it like my life depended on it. “Someone is watching us,” he said. I looked up at him, and he was looking toward the front of the building. “Do you want me to stop?” “I want you to come,” I replied. He grabbed my head and plowed into my mouth. Within a few thrusts, he was coming. His

magnificent vessel exploded, and the violent waves of thick semen slid down my throat. “Oh, shit,” he grunted, as his grasp on my head tightened. I looked up at him. The heat in his eyes was still visible, even in the dim light. I suctioned my jaws, drawing the last bit of my pineapple flavored treat from his cock as he watched. Shit, his taste is as sinful as his dick. I could suck him off for an eternity and never tire of the taste. I kissed the plush head, and then he reached to help me to my feet. He looked toward the front of the building. I followed his gaze. Whoever was watching had left. Aiden quickly reassembled himself with a devilish smile on his face. “We’re bad,” I said. “I know, but we’re so good at it,” he replied. I pulled my skirt down and glanced into his lustful eyes. “How about we get out of here and continue where there’s more privacy?” he asked. “There’s more?” I asked. “There’s always more,” Aiden said, as he stepped closer to me and grasped my chin, tilting it until my eyes met his. He leaned down to my mouth and inhaled. He slid his tongue across my lips and I opened, allowing him to taste of himself. I couldn’t help but wonder if he enjoyed it as much as I did. He gifted me with one final, sweet kiss and then grabbed my hand. A gust of cold wind whipped past us as we hurried through the parking lot. I shivered, clutching the front of my blouse as I followed his lead, barely keeping up with his long strides. As we neared his car, his steps slowed. “What’s wrong?” I asked. He released my hand and turned to face me. “We should probably arrive at the house separately.” “Why?” “I’m not prepared to answer a lot of questions about us when we don’t really know what’s going on ourselves.” “Okay.” My position at the Raine house was shaky at best; God knows I didn’t want to add another level to it. “That makes sense.” “I’m glad you understand,” he replied, the relief in his eyes visible. “What? Were you worried I would be upset?” “Honestly, Aria, we’ve been so crazy lately I really don’t know what to expect from one moment to the next.” “Well, I can tell you what I expect. I expect you to shove that massive dick of yours inside every opening of my body.” “A woman after my own heart.” He slid his finger across my bottom lip. His touch was electric, sending a surge of arousal through me that made me ache for more. “If you keep looking at me like that, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold out until we get to your bedroom.” “Okay, well what if I do this?” he asked. He placed one hand over my eyes and his other hand

found my breast. “Does this make you want me less?” He cupped my breast and slid his hand toward my nipple, lightly circling the tip. Virginia was an insatiable greedy whore for this man. I ducked to the side, removing his hand from my eyes. “Why don’t you slide your fingers inside my pussy and answer your own question?” He forced me against the side of his car, pressing his mouth firmly against mine as his hands took a rushed tour of my body. He unbuttoned my skirt and slid his hand under the fabric, groaning when his fingers reached their destination. “Shit…you’re so wet. I can’t wait to be inside you again.” I pushed him away and walked in the direction of the limo. “Hurry home,” I said, looking over my shoulder.

* * * * * The driver stopped near the front door of the Raine mansion. I didn’t allow him the opportunity to open the door and quickly jumped out. I can open my own damned door. I wanted to get upstairs and get naked as quickly as possible. I slowed when I noticed the three dark cars parked at the apex of the drive. What is going on now? I opened the front door and walked inside the house, taken aback by the number of security personnel in the room—they were everywhere. And what were Allen and Michelle Lane doing here? Sienna raced toward me. As she came closer, I was shocked to see she had been crying. “Aria. Thank heavens. Where’s Aiden?” “I… he…” I stammered as I looked around the room, from her, to the Lanes, to Connor. Everyone was staring at me. What the hell is going on? “I’m here.” Aiden had entered from a different side of the room and went directly to Sienna. “What’s wrong, Mother?” “Aiden, we’re so sorry,” said Michelle. Aiden looked at her. “Sorry for what?” he asked, clearly alarmed by the panicked look on her face. Connor stepped toward Aiden. “Son, we have terrible news, but I want to assure you, I have called in the best possible team to take care of this.” “Take care of what? What the hell is going on, Dad?” Aiden demanded. “There’s no easy way to say this,” Connor replied. “For fuck’s sake, just say it!” Aiden exclaimed. Connor took an unsteady breath and met Aiden’s gaze. “It’s Nadia. She’s taken Lyric.”

Chapter Ten “Taken him? What do you mean taken him? How the fuck did that happen? I left explicit instructions she wasn’t allowed near Lyric!” Aiden barked. I couldn’t say anything. I looked around the room. I saw Aiden shouting instructions to the security team. I saw Sienna weeping as Michelle attempted to comfort her, and I saw Allison sitting in the corner, looking at me as tears trailed down her cheeks. I couldn’t move—I stood there, paralyzed with fear as my heart dropped. All the sounds around me became a blur of white noise. It reversed and transformed, shaping itself inside me and then clawed its way back out, bouncing off the walls of the room in a shrill high tone. It was the sound of a woman in pain—the sound of a woman broken. It was me, and I screamed and screamed and screamed. Aiden rushed over and pulled me into his arms, embracing me, but I pushed him away. He reached for me again and my fists went to his chest, pounding on his hard frame in rapid succession. “This is your fault. You did this!” I shrugged from his reach and stared at him. The fear in his eyes mirrored my own. “Aria, we’ll find him. I promise.” “How do you know?” I shouted at him. “You don’t know that, Aiden! You don’t know!” I turned toward the others. “How did this happen? Where was the damned security? Where were the nannies? Were you all just sitting here while that crazy bitch took my son?” Feeling faint, I grabbed the banister to steady myself. “Has anyone even called the police?” I asked. “We were hoping to keep this quiet,” Connor said, stepping toward Aiden and me. “Quiet? My son has been kidnapped and you want to keep it quiet? Are you out of your fucking mind?” “I have the very best people possible looking for Nadia,” Connor said. “Oh my God! You’re trying to protect your fucking company’s image? Is that more important than your own flesh and blood?” What a stupid question. He’d shown several times over that Raine Industries meant more to him than anything. “Why didn’t you tell me that you hadn’t alerted the police, Dad?” Aiden asked as he reached for his phone. “Son, this is going to bring about all sorts of unnecessary attention, and I was hoping to avoid that. Nadia will not hurt Lyric. It’s not like some random person came in and abducted him. She’s practically family.” “Have you called her?” Aiden asked. “Yes, but…she’s not picking up,” Connor replied bleakly.

Aiden glared at his father like he was a fool and spoke into the phone. “Yes, I’d like to report a kidnapping.” “How could you?” I asked Connor. “How could you treat this like some minor incident?” “The police should be here shortly,” Aiden stated. “Son—” “We have nothing to say,” Aiden snapped, then turned to Sienna. “Mother, were you aware that Dad hadn’t called the police?” Sienna looked up with a shame in her eyes that confirmed his suspicions. “Fucking unbelievable!” he said. “Aiden, everything I’ve ever done has been to preserve the legacy of this family. Now that you have a family of your own, I’m preserving that legacy for your son, too,” Connor said. “After what you’ve done today, it’s not a legacy I want. The legacy I pass to my son won’t have any resemblance to the dysfunction of this family.” “Aiden, just hear me out,” Connor pleaded. “No. You hear me out, old man! If anything happens to my son because of your lack of judgment, I will personally dismantle that company of yours piece by piece, and there won’t be a damned thing you can do to stop it.” “Son, you’re upset, but let’s not say things we don’t mean—things we can’t take back. You would never destroy something you’ve poured so much into.” “If you truly believe that, you really don’t know me at all,” Aiden replied, his voice low and menacing. “Aiden, wait…” Connor said. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. We’re done.” “We can’t be done, we’re family.” “Family would have called the police! I’m done with this.” He spread his arms, gesturing everything around him. “With this family. With the company. With the insanity. I’m done. I’m out!” “Aiden, you can’t mean that. This is your birthright. You can’t turn your back on that. I raised you to be at the helm of this company.” “Raised me? Is that what you call it? You didn’t fucking raise me. The staff had that pleasure. You, on the other hand, were grooming me. That’s what you did—for all of us. You were simply grooming the next generation of Raine moguls. And what you did here tonight with Nadia, was nothing less than contemptible!” “I was only protecting my family,” Connor argued. “And I’m planning to protect mine. Aria and Lyric are my family and they come first. Everything else is bullshit.” “Son, don’t be ridiculous.”

“The only ridiculous thing is me thinking you would one day have a clue as to what family really means. It doesn’t mean sacrifice everything you are and everything you want. I’ve done that for far too long—to keep the peace, to keep the family together, to keep this so-called legacy. But that’s not my responsibility. It’s yours! I only went along with it because of Mother, but her inaction tonight has cut the last string.” “Aiden, please…” Sienna reached out to Aiden but he stepped back. “Don’t touch me. I don’t want to look at you. I never wanted to believe it, but you’re just like him. Willing to risk everything and everyone for that fucking company.” “I could say the same of you, Aiden, at least until your involvement with Aria,” Connor said. “You’re right. And I can’t thank her enough for that.” Aiden turned to me and pulled me into his arms. He grasped my shoulders and looked at me, his eyes fierce. “Aria, we’re going to find Lyric.” Michelle moved away from Allen and hesitantly approached us, her eyes beet red from crying. “We’re so sorry Nadia did this. I just can’t imagine what she must have been thinking,” she said. I shrugged away from Aiden and stepped toward Nadia’s mother. “You know exactly what she was thinking. She’s obsessed with Aiden, and you’re partially the blame for her fixation; you’ve encouraged this and look what’s come of it. All of you! You’re all horrible people!” Nicholas and Sloan strolled into the room and stopped short. They took in the group of random people and their eyes landed on Aiden and me. “What’s going on?” Nicholas asked. “Ask your parents,” I spit out. Aiden secured me to his side with a firm arm around my waist and led me to the terrace. I was frantic and I didn’t know what to do or say next. Aiden hugged me tightly as I sobbed into his chest. I cried so hard my head started to spin, and I felt as though I was about to pass out. I couldn’t do that—I needed to be fully present. I needed to clear my head so I could think. I needed to figure out where Nadia could have taken my son. Wiping my face, I stepped away from Aiden and then took the farthest seat from the entrance. Aiden quietly followed and took a seat beside me. My mind was racing. How long had Nadia and Lyric been gone? Was she being kind and gentle to my son? Was she planning to bring him back? Aiden called Nadia’s phone several times but she never answered. He left message after message —but nothing. We sat in silence on the terrace and waited. And waited. And waited. Each passing minute took my mind to horrible places. What had she done with Lyric? Was he hungry? Was he crying? In a daze, I walked to the edge of the terrace and gazed at the night sky. The stars were nonexistent. It was just flat space with puffs of gray patchwork concealing the moon. The blanket of clouds stretched over the sky, giving it a hazy, ominous feel. It was as though Mother Nature read my thoughts. The wind had picked up, and the trees around the estate twisted and wailed as the leaves and small branches were yanked away. In the distance, the rumblings of thunder were building, getting

louder and louder until a deafening boom rolled across the property, increasing the foreboding that had already metastasized in my stomach. I looked up into the dark, thunderous night and felt the first stinging drops of water on my cheeks. The clouds suddenly opened and buckets of rain poured from the sky. I continued looking up as the rain mixed with my tears, and watched the jagged bolt of lightning rip the unfriendly heavens. The thunder was only a second behind, jolting my stupor. It was one thunderous roll after another while the bolts of lightning tore through the dark night. I prayed Nadia wasn’t on the roads. I knew the thunder would have frightened Lyric and there was no way Nadia could concentrate in hazardous driving conditions if Lyric was being fussy. Maybe she wasn’t near us, or maybe she wasn’t driving. Maybe she’d caught a flight by now and was several hundred miles away—far away from the thunder and lightning. Either scenario scared the hell out of me. Aiden was suddenly behind me. His hands were on my shoulders pulling me from the rain. I jerked away from his touch as if boiling water had seared my skin. I was enraged by his attempt to comfort me. “Get away from me!” My entire body shook with the only thing that could protect me now—anger. And I wanted it. I needed it. It had become my weapon of choice. “This is all your fault!” “What? Aria, this is not my fault,” he replied, rejecting the accusation. “If it’s not your fault, whose is it? If you hadn’t insisted on trying to prove a point or punish me, Lyric would’ve never been here. This never would have happened!” I shouted. Aiden shook his head as he stared at me. “You’re blaming me?” “You’re damned right I am!” I was afraid and angry and right about now, blame looked pretty damned good on him. As far as I saw it, he was just as guilty as Nadia! “What could I have done differently, Aria?” “For one, you didn’t have to flaunt my child in front of that psychopath.” “He’s my child, too, Aria. Should I have ignored the fact that I had a child you’d hidden from me? A child that I have just as much right to as you?” “A child you didn’t want! You didn’t want kids. Remember? The one you could have had—well, you made damned sure it didn’t happen. So why the hell would I have assumed you’d want Lyric?” “I can’t believe you’re bringing that up,” he said, shoving a hand through his hair. “You know damned well why that happened! I didn’t want Nadia, I didn’t love Nadia. How could you ever compare yourself or what we had to that sham of a relationship?” “And let’s not forget your bitch of a mother. She told me the exact same thing—that you didn’t want kids, that you would never settle down or have a family. That Raine Industries was your priority.” “She said what? When did this happen?” “The day when I’d planned to tell you I was pregnant. I had my doubts about telling you, but in the end, I knew you should know. But then she happened, so I made the choice to leave. I didn’t want

Lyric to feel like we felt when we were kids, and I didn’t want to come between you and your family. So I thought I’d make it easier for you, and I left.” His eyes softened as he stepped closer to me. “Aria, I loved you more than anything in this world, and I would have moved heaven and earth for you. I would have given you any and every thing you wanted—including a family. I would have done anything for you. Don’t you know that? You destroyed me when you left me. But when April told me I had a child—that you and I had created a child from a love that had consumed us both—it was as if my heart started beating again. Then I realized what you’d done and the anger took over. I wanted to hurt you—like you’d hurt me. I wanted to take away your choices. I wanted you to feel the rage I felt.” After being closed off for so long, he was finally being honest with me. He would have really wanted Lyric. I could see it in his eyes. I could hear it in his voice. I did this—I’d taken away a piece of Aiden when I’d left him. Could I really blame him for how he handled things once he’d found out? Could I honestly say I would have done this any differently? “But you have to know I don’t feel that way anymore, Aria. I’m still in love with you. I’m in love with our son. I’m in love with us.” We both fell silent. I stared at him, the gravity of his words was displayed on his face…and in his eyes. They were full of love and compassion, and they bored into me. “Aiden, the police are here.” It was Allison, and she looked as torn up as I felt. She reached to hug me, but Aiden pulled me away from her. “Let’s talk to the police, Aria.” Aiden and I exchanged tense glances. ”And when we get our son back, we will fix all of this. I promise.” Aiden and I answered the police detectives’ questions and provided pictures of Lyric and Nadia. We’d discussed making a public appeal with a reward, but the police advised against it. They said it would result in a shit load of dead leads, and they didn’t want to waste resources exploring those. An Amber Alert was immediately released. How many times had my phone announced one of those about someone else’s child and I’d paid little to no attention to it? Now I was staring at the message displayed on the screen about my child, and I was hoping and praying that someone would see Nadia and alert the authorities. I turned around and saw one guilty face after another. I wanted to tell them all to fuck off. “I want to go to the nursery.” “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Aiden asked. “Aiden, please.” Grasping my hand, he led me up the stairs. We walked down the hall and opened the door to Lyric’s nursery. I wasn’t able to go in, so I stood in the doorway and glanced around the room. All was in its proper place—all but Lyric. Suddenly, my legs gave way and my head started to spin as something pulled me away from my body. I disappeared into the darkness. My body became lax and

everything faded to black. Awaking later in Aiden’s bedroom, the TV was on, and Aiden was sitting in the chair next to the bed. I sat up, and he was immediately at my side. “Are you okay?” he asked, his brows furrowed with worry. “Yes. Any word?” “No.” My eyes welled with tears, and huge drops fell down my cheeks. Where was Nadia with my son? I cried and cried until I was out of breath and my chest was hurting. Aiden didn’t touch me. He just sat beside me and let me sob. I didn’t want to be comforted. There was no way to be comforted. When the tears finally stopped, he passed me a tissue, and I dried my face. “How long was I out?” “Not long—just a few minutes.” I slid from the bed, and Aiden grasped my hand. We went downstairs to the study and turned on the TV. I sat near it, staring until the images on the screen became a blur. This wasn’t Aiden’s fault at all. It was mine and mine alone. I’d caused months of needless pain. I should have done the right thing and worked with the consequences. Instead I’d pulled Kellan into my mess and caused him even more hurt. I’d lost more time with my sisters, and I’d lost my best friend. I’d walked around half empty for months, and I’d deprived Aiden of the beginning of Lyric’s life. I was already managing enough mistakes, and it seemed I was only adding more to the pile. This was one for which I couldn’t forgive myself. “Can I get you something to drink? Water, tea…or something stronger?” It was Dianna. I looked up to her tear-stained face. I reached out and she squeezed my hand. I saw the grandmother in her I’d seen the first time we’d met. Knowing what I knew now, I saw her in that capacity even more. “They’ll find our sweet boy,” she reassured me, “and he’ll be back happy and safe. I know it.” She released my hand and turned to Aiden. He was standing in the corner, leaning against the wall. Dianna reached out to him and he pulled her into an embrace. I watched the two of them together, so much like mother and son. Aiden’s shoulders were moving as if he were crying. I turned away. I couldn’t watch him fall apart. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I pressed the autodial for Lia. I needed to let my sisters know what was going on. But before it rang I tapped to end the call. I couldn’t tell them this—not now. I had to believe Aiden was right—that we’d find Lyric. It had been hours and we hadn’t heard anything. I could barely breathe. Each passing second terrified me, and I considered the possibilities of what some obsessed psychopath could do with a child. Aiden tried again to comfort me in between making phone calls, but I couldn’t accept it. I didn’t want it. And in turn, I wasn’t able to offer any comfort to him. His mess of a family was now seated around us…waiting. Connor made an attempt at an apology, but I just didn’t want to hear it. Next to Aiden and me, Allison was the most outwardly upset.

The Lanes were still here. I wished they would all fucking go away. The doorbell rang and I jumped, clutching my chest as I looked at Aiden. He may have tried to conceal it, but I saw the sharp worry in his eyes. He held his hand out to me, and I placed mine into his and followed him out of the room. As soon as we entered the foyer, the door opened and two security men filed in with Nadia between them. My eyes dropped to the baby carrier that one of the men was holding. It wasn’t Lyric’s carrier.

Chapter Eleven My heart was about to explode. I rushed over to the security guard and exhaled in a surge of relief when I looked into the carrier and saw Lyric’s sweet face. He was secured, innocently toying with his fingers. Unbuckling Lyric, I lifted him from the carrier and snuggled him firmly in my arms. Aiden was already at my side, enveloping us both. Lyric squirmed and cooed and Aiden released us, his eyes darting from Lyric to me. Holding Lyric up, I turned him backward and then toward me, looking for signs that he was anything other than okay. I nearly burst into tears when his tiny lips curled into a smile —h e thought I was playing with him. I glanced at Aiden and saw the relief in his eyes as he studied our son. “Hey, little guy. You’re okay, aren’t you?” “Of course he’s okay, Aiden,” Nadia said. She sounded as if it was absurd to think anything else. Aiden’s attention immediately shifted from Lyric. Other than the repeated flexes of his jaw, he remained very still as the calm he’d reserved for me started to disappear. I knew he was trying to contain himself, but when he turned and faced the person who’d taken our child, part of me wished he wouldn’t. “What did you say?” he asked. “I said he was okay. Why would you think otherwise?” Aiden rushed toward Nadia, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. “What the fuck is wrong with you? How could you do something like this?” “Aiden, it’s not what you think. I just wanted to take him out. I lost track of time,” Nadia said. “Lost track of time? Lost track of time? Do you think I’m an idiot? You didn’t just take him out! You kidnapped him! You know it, I know it…we all know it!” “That isn’t true. I was coming back,” she insisted. Aiden shook her again. “Is that why you didn’t answer my calls? Because you were coming back?” “Let go. You’re hurting me,” she exclaimed. But Aiden didn’t release her. “Mr. Raine, we’ll handle it from here.” The police stepped beside Aiden and Nadia, ready to separate them, but Aiden ignored the officer. “Stop lying, Nadia. No one is buying your shit. You weren’t allowed to be near him, let alone take him out.” “Aiden, I just wanted some time with him. Is that so wrong?” she asked. Aiden pushed Nadia against the wall, and the Lanes rushed toward them. One of the officers stepped in front of them before they made contact with Aiden.

“Can you please make him release her?” Michelle pleaded. The other officer seemed as if he was hesitant to intervene, but he finally reached for Nadia. “Sir, we’ll need you to let her go. I assure you she won’t be leaving the premises.” Nicholas walked toward Aiden and Nadia. “Aiden, bro. We have Lyric and he’s safe. The police will handle it from here. Let her go,” he coaxed. Aiden maintained his stance until Lyric started to cry, then he looked back at us. I understood his rage—I, too, wanted to hurt her. I wanted to cause her as much physical pain as she’d caused me mentally, but not like this. There was another way to make her pay. I rocked Lyric, trying to quiet him before he got any fussier. Dianna offered to get a bottle, and Aiden turned back toward Nadia. He finally released her, stepping back and glancing at the police. Michelle quickly embraced Nadia. “What were you thinking?” “I told you.” Nadia’s voice broke as she looked at her father. “I just wanted to spend some time with him—that’s all this was.” I didn’t pay any more attention to Nadia. Her lies were infuriating and the more I listened to her, the angrier I’d become. I only wanted to focus on Lyric. Was he hurt? Was that the reason he was crying? I had no idea of what to look for beyond outward signs. He seemed fine, as far as I could tell, but I wanted Aiden to take a look at him, just in case. Dianna came back with a bottle, and I started to feed Lyric. He was looking up at me expectantly just as he always had, his beautiful eyes focused on my face. Having been engrossed with Lyric, I’d only been half listening to what was going on around me. I looked up and surveyed the room. Aiden still looked as if he were about to strangle Nadia, and Allison was still in tears. Connor and Allen were talking to the police and the security team. Sienna was standing near Allison, watching Michelle and Nadia, who was spitting out lie after lie to cover up what she’d done. Aiden stepped toward Nadia and the police. “You’ve clearly lost your mind. Regardless if you say it aloud or not, I know what you did, and you’re going to pay for it.” “Pay for what? I didn’t do anything wrong.” Nadia looked around and spotted Allison. “Just ask her. She’s the one who gave me permission to spend time with him.” We all looked at Allison, a guilty expression crossing her features. She hurried to Aiden’s side. “Aiden, please don’t be mad at me. Nadia came over, and she seemed fine. She asked to see Lyric, and I told her she wasn’t allowed to see him, and then she told me about the baby she’d lost, and I felt bad for her, so when she asked to hold Lyric just once, I agreed. We were in the nursery and Dianna came up to tell me that Libbey was here, so I told Nadia I’d be right back, but when I returned, Nadia was gone.” “Allison, how could you?” I asked. “And why didn’t you call us or the police as soon as you discovered Lyric was missing?”

Nadia interjected, not allowing Allison a chance to respond. “Oh, Aria, please. Give it a rest. She didn’t do anything wrong, so just get over yourself. You’ve done nothing but cause upheaval in this family.” She turned to Aiden next, her eyes unnaturally bright. “She doesn’t deserve your child, Aiden. She lied. She had your child in secret and never planned to tell you a damned thing about it. I would have never done that to you. Lyric should have been my child—he should have been ours!” Passing Lyric to Dianna, I charged over to Nadia. “You fucking maniac!” I slapped her solidly across the face. When she stepped toward me to retaliate, Aiden pushed her away. “If you lay one hand on her, I swear…” Aiden warned. “Why do you continue to defend her, Aiden?” she asked, her palm pressed against her assaulted cheek. “She doesn’t warrant your loyalty, and she sure as hell doesn’t deserve your protection or your love.” “I don’t give a damn what you think I deserve, but I know you’re going to get what’s coming to you, you crazy bitch!” I shook free of Aiden’s grasp and walked toward the police. “I want to press charges.” “Aria, please. No,” Michelle said. She dashed over to me, with Allen following close behind. He’d been relatively quiet. Perhaps he knew his daughter was deranged and was finally getting her just desserts. “Can we try to work out something that doesn’t involve the police?” Allen asked. He looked at Aiden and then back toward Connor. “Nadia clearly needs help she can’t get behind bars.” “That’s not my problem. There’s no way in hell I’m letting her get away with what she’s done. I want her arrested.” I reached for Lyric and stepped away from the others. Sienna’s eyes were on me. I glared at her. “How can you call yourself a mother?” “Aria, please don’t say that. Connor thought his way was best. I’m so sorry.” She looked at Lyric and then back to Aiden. “I made the wrong decision,” she said. The despondence in her voice was somewhat of a shock, but it didn’t matter. She was just as bad, if not worse than Connor. She took a few steps toward us. I shook my head and stepped back. “Don’t you dare. Don’t come near us.” “Aria…I’m sorry.” I turned away from her, and with Lyric tucked safely in my arms, I went upstairs.

* * * * * “What are you doing?” Aiden had walked into the nursery as I was tossing Lyric’s items into a bag.

“I’m getting the hell out of here. And if you had any sense, you’d be right behind me,” I said, not bothering to look up. “Aria, let’s not make any rash decisions.” I didn’t respond, I just kept packing. Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face and Aiden was standing behind me. He turned me to face him and I fell into his chest, sobbing. The relief of having my son back, the fear of him being taken, the stress of being in this house—it all came tumbling down on me. Aiden stroked my hair and let me cry until the tears were all gone. He kissed my forehead. “Look at me,” he whispered. I didn’t want to see his face. I was afraid of what I might see. “Aria, look at me please,” he said softly. I hesitantly met his tender gaze. He wiped a lone tear from my cheek. “If one of us leaves, all three of us leave, okay?” I nodded. “Yes,” I replied in a small voice. “I agree it’s time to go, but not right now. I want to make sure Lyric is okay, and then we’ll go from there. Okay? Can you give me that?” I nodded and exhaled a sigh of relief, thankful this wouldn’t be another fight. Aiden examined Lyric to make sure he was okay. He’d also called in a favor, asking a pediatrician friend to come in just in case he’d missed something. I watched as they examined Lyric. He was smiling and cooing as if the pokes and prods were the playful gestures he was used to. Peeking over Aiden’s shoulder, I visibly relaxed as Lyric’s smiles and sweet sounds assured me that he was really okay. Both Aiden and his friend Parker reported that Lyric was fine. Parker was confident there wouldn’t be a problem, but he did a small stick on the heel of Lyric’s foot for some blood. He also wanted a stool sample to ensure nothing foreign had been introduced to Lyric’s system. Relieved and extremely anxious to hold Lyric, I checked him again myself. I looked in his face, searched his eyes, and lifted his little fat rolls. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I still checked. As I smothered Lyric in kisses, Aiden extended his thanks to Parker and walked him out. My phone rang—it was Lia. She’d heard about what happened. I hadn’t even thought about the news of Lyric’s abduction being all over social media, but it was. Lia was upset I hadn’t called her, but I explained that I didn’t want to call them until I had some news. I quickly updated her and we said goodnight—or good morning, rather. I told her I’d call her back later, after I’d gotten Lyric settled, and after we all had a chance to rest. Nadia had been taken into police custody. Aiden had forced Connor ’s hand, not allowing him to call in any favors on the behalf of the Lanes. Connor had obviously taken Aiden’s threat of taking out his anger on Raine Industries seriously after all—I couldn’t imagine anything else that would have

caused Connor to back down. Aiden, Lyric and I were finally alone in the nursery. I was in the rocking chair rocking my sweet boy when Aiden walked over to us. I looked up and again saw the relief and love in his eyes, and I nearly started crying again until I looked down at Lyric. “I want him out of these clothes and bathed.” “Let me do it,” Aiden offered. I reluctantly lifted my eyes from our happy baby. “Do what?” I asked. “Bathe Lyric.” A pang of guilt hit me as I stared into Aiden’s beautiful eyes. “Okay, but I think you may need a little backup,” I said, smiling as I thought of the upcoming mess they’d make. Aiden followed us into the bathroom. I undressed Lyric and then wrapped him in a towel. There was a small waist-level bath basin that enabled us to bathe him at the same level as a sink, which made it easier for me—it would be that much more of a challenge for Aiden, however. I passed Lyric to Aiden and started the water. “Okay, it’s ready,” I said, grinning. “I hope you are.” Aiden removed Lyric from the towel and placed him in the baby bath. Lyric started slapping the water, and Aiden began rolling up his sleeves. Eventually he was soaked, so he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the floor behind him. “Use this for his body and hair.” I passed the baby wash and towel, then stood back and watched as Aiden bathed our son. Lyric was as happy as he’d always been. The part of me that felt there was some good in Nadia believed she didn’t do anything to harm Lyric. She was in a bad place, but I had to believe her delusions wouldn’t have caused her to hurt my baby. I don’t know how much bathing was involved, but soap and water flew everywhere, and getting Lyric out of the bath proved to be an even messier feat. Nearly the entire time, Lyric kicked his feet and slapped the water, and once he saw his dad laugh, that was all it took—Lyric wouldn’t stop. Aiden’s chest and the front of his pants were dripping wet. I grabbed the towel as Aiden lifted Lyric and placed him in my arms. Aiden stood in front of us shirtless, drenched, and smiling. “Well, that was an adventure. Next time I’ll remember to wear something water resistant.” Aiden laughed and pinched Lyric’s cheek. “What time is it? I’m exhausted,” I said. “It’s a little after seven o’clock.” “He didn’t drink much earlier so I’ll feed him and then get some sleep. I can barely keep my eyes open.” While I dried and diapered Lyric, Aiden looked in one of the drawers and pulled out a pair of pajamas. I stepped back and let Aiden dress him. I sat on the large ottoman and waited for Aiden to finish, then started to cry when Aiden passed the baby to me. Lyric was looking up at me, fully alert and expectant. Once again, I felt as if I’d failed him.

“Aria, what is it? He’s okay,” Aiden said. “I know, but I feel like this all could have been avoided. I’m not doing a very good job of being a mom, am I?” I unfastened my shirt and bra and slid my nipple over Lyric’s lips, and he quickly latched on. “Let me show you something.” Aiden pulled his phone from his pocket, and his screen saver was a picture of me and Lyric. In the picture, I was sitting in the nursery in the rocking chair beside the window, looking down at the baby. “This is who I see when I look at you. You’re amazing with Lyric. You didn’t do anything wrong. We didn’t do anything wrong. This was all the workings of a warped individual with unresolved issues. You know that, right?” “I guess.” “There’s no guessing about it. Don’t ever doubt yourself like that again. I mean it.” “Thank you. I think you’re a pretty great dad, too.” “I’m glad to know you think so. I love this little guy so much.” Crouching in front of us, he placed his finger in Lyric’s hand. “Tonight was hell.” Yes, it was several degrees of hell. “His lids are getting heavy,” I said and looked toward the crib. “I don’t want to be away from him.” “I was thinking the same thing,” Aiden said. “I’ll take the bassinet and he can sleep in my room.” With his finger still enclosed in Lyric’s small hand, Aiden looked up at me, his eyes warm and tender. “What about bringing it to my room and we can all sleep together?” Aiden asked. “Really?” “Yes,” he said, as he gently stroked Lyric’s cheek. “I want to be with my family.”

Chapter Twelve I’d awakened completely enveloped in Aiden’s unique smell. Instinctively responding to his sexy scent, I moved my hand down between my legs, but I froze when I remembered my surroundings. I took a deep breath and turned on my side, my eyes slowly opening and adjusting to the brightness of the afternoon sun pouring into the room. I blinked several times and squinted, finally bringing focus to the image near the window. It was Aiden and he was holding Lyric. “Good morning…or afternoon, rather,” Aiden said. Lyric lifted his head from his dad’s shoulder. Aiden looked down at him and grinned. Stretching, I smiled at the two of them. “It’s morning for me, so I’m saying good morning.” Aiden was sitting in a rocking chair, at an angle which offered him both a view of the bed and a view of the grounds. “What’s that doing here?” I asked, referencing the chair. “I wanted Lyric to have a contrast to what he’d experienced last night, so a healthy dose of sunshine was in order. I would’ve taken him for a walk, but I wanted to be here when you awoke.” My heart dropped as thoughts of our panic-filled night flooded my mind. I didn’t want to think about it anymore—everything was fine now. Lyric was here and he was unharmed, that’s all that mattered. Pushing the horrible memories aside, I focused on the happiness sitting right in front of me, and my heart smiled. “Is he sucking on his fingers again?” Aiden grinned. “Yes.” “I hate when he does that, because I know he’s hungry, but at the same time, it’s so adorable. I want to see him.” Aiden brought the baby to me. Lyric’s tiny bare feet were fluttering with excitement as I reached for him. “Good morning, Lyric. Good morning, my sweet boy. Do you have any idea how much Mommy loves you? You’re such a special baby, aren’t you? Yes, you are.” He cooed and gurgled as I spoke to him. “And your mommy and daddy are so blessed to have you.” “Yes, we are,” Aiden said. I looked up to the warm, fluid green of his eyes. “I fired the nanny.” “What? Which one?” I kissed Lyric’s cheek and looked back to Aiden, awaiting an explanation. Not that I was complaining, because Anja was on my short list of people who made me see fire, so I desperately hoped she’d been axed. “Both. I thought about what you said. And you were right. I’ve let my emotions cloud my decisions. I’ve handled quite a few things very poorly. I think we can come to terms on something

better than our current situation.” He grasped Lyric’s foot and sat beside me on the bed. “Allison must have told you about my plans to contact an attorney.” “She did. But that’s not what this is about. Talk of attorneys and custody—and especially what happened last night—has been a wake-up call. I don’t want to waste time dealing with my scorned version of justice, or with legal proceedings. That takes away from our son, and I don’t think either of us wants that.” I looked down at Lyric and stroked his back. “What does all of this mean?” “It means I want to work out an arrangement that we’re both happy with…or at least as happy as we can be, given the circumstances.” “This is good. This is better than good—it’s wonderful! I can finally leave this place.” “Wait. I didn’t say I wanted you to leave. I want you to remain here…with Lyric.” “Then what’s the difference?” “I want to do what’s comfortable for us both. I know you don’t necessarily like living here, but I think if you didn’t feel as though you were being watched, and if you could come and go with Lyric as you saw fit, it would make it easier.” “That goes without saying but—” “Aria, I’m hoping you’ll give it a try as we sort out the rest.” This wasn’t where I thought the conversation would go. I would fare better with my attorney, especially after last night. There was no way I’d be forced to relinquish custody if this was taken to court now. I slid out of bed and passed Lyric to Aiden. I kissed the baby’s plump cheek and headed to the bathroom as Aiden kept talking. “And after the shit my parents pulled last night, our days here are numbered. I’d made a call to Brooklyn to set us up at the Waldorf, but considering the possible media exposure, I’d prefer Lyric not be at a hotel. Brooklyn’s out now with realtors narrowing down a list of properties for us.” Wait. He wants me to live with him? Not his parents and his entire family—but with him? I needed some space to think about this. “I need to wash up. Let me think about it, and we can discuss it later, okay?” “Sure. In the meantime I‘ll feed Lyric. And I think he’s going to need a diaper change in a few minutes.” Aiden scrunched his nose at Lyric’s not-so-pleasant smell. I laughed as I pictured him changing a diaper. “What?” “Nothing. Maybe I should wait until Lyric’s finished and get him changed before I shower.” “No. I’ve got it.” “Seriously?” “Yes. Dianna’s an excellent teacher. I’m pretty much an expert now. I can get him dressed, too. Maybe we can go for a walk after you’ve had lunch—or breakfast since you’re committed to your

stance on this being morning.” “That sounds nice. I’d like that.” I stared at him holding our son. Our son. I couldn’t believe we’d gone through so much. My life—and Aiden’s life, for that matter—was so profoundly different than it was two years ago. I jumped into Aiden’s shower and reflected on the truth of his words. What had really brought about the shift in his perspective? Truth be told, I’d already seen changes in him, even before that crazy bitch had abducted Lyric. Was it due to the possibility of my involving attorneys? Or had his anger run its course? Or maybe it really was the Nadia incident. Maybe it was a combination of all of it. He wanted us to live together, not because I was being forced to, but because I wanted to. Was that what he wanted to say? Last night, he’d said he was still in love with me—that we’d find Lyric and that we’d fix this. What did that mean? I had no idea what was happening between us. I hardly ever did. Our relationship had always seemed to take on a life of its own. Several minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom wearing his robe. Aiden was looking at Lyric in his bassinette when I stepped into the room. He looked up at me, and goose bumps moved over my body as I stared at the gorgeous man standing near my son. “Hope you don’t mind. I used your robe,” I said, pulling it closed. “I’m going to run to my room and get dressed. I’ll be back in a sec.” I hurried out before he could say anything. This was weird…all of it. How I wished I could pick up the phone and call Mom. There had been so many times I’d felt as though I needed her, and since becoming a mom myself, I’d never needed her as much as I did now. After having dried my hair, I considered braiding it, but quickly changed my mind. I grabbed a lock and flicked the ends between my fingers—it was a mess. Oh well, this disarray would have to do for now. I pulled some jeans from the closet and quickly dressed, anxious to get back to Lyric. Grabbing Aiden’s robe from the bathroom counter, I headed to his room. My steps slowed when I glanced at the cashmere robe tossed over my forearm. I lifted it to my face and inhaled. It smelled so good; it smelled just like him. Closing my eyes, I almost moaned aloud when I breathed in his smell a second time. It was if I had momentarily floated to some place above all the turmoil. I opened my eyes and considered holding onto the robe a little while longer. I knew I’d regret my decision, but I did an about face and went back to my room and placed the robe in the bureau with my lingerie, hoping his scent would penetrate every item in my drawer. As I stepped out of my room, I saw Sienna going into the nursery. I didn’t bother telling her that Lyric wasn’t there. I slipped past unnoticed and opened the door to Aiden’s bedroom. Aiden glanced up and placed a finger to his lips as I entered, signaling me to be quiet. I walked to the bassinette and saw Lyric sleeping peacefully. He was my special bundle of joy. He made everything worth it. “I’d still like to take that walk…after he wakes. For now, we can have lunch on the terrace.

Dianna is bringing something up so we don’t have to leave him.” “That sounds good.” “What would you…” He faded off as he stared at my head. “What?” “What’s going on with your hair?” “What’s going on with yours, jerk? I need a hat. Where are your hats?” I asked, smoothing my hand over my hair. He chuckled and walked into his closet and quickly returned with a Harvard alumni cap. “Let’s hurry and cover this up.” He placed the cap on my head and pulled at the rim. “We don’t want Lyric waking up to this. He’d be terrified.” “You didn’t just say that!” “Hey, I’m just being honest.”

* * * * * Aiden and I were on the terrace with Dianna. She was softly humming to herself while she finished preparing the place settings. “I noticed Lyric slept in your room last night. Were you all comfortable?” she asked. “Yes, we were,” I replied. She smiled. “That’s good.” Aiden and I exchanged glances—we both knew Dianna was happy to see us together like this. I stepped to the edge of the terrace and looked over the estate. The staff must have been at it since the crack of dawn. The grounds were impeccable—you’d never know there had been a storm last night. “Okay, you’re all set,” Dianna said. “Enjoy your lunch.” I turned toward her as she was leaving. “Thank you, Dianna.” Although a chill was in the air around us, Aiden and I were in our own little warm oasis. Heated lamps were positioned at each corner of the terrace and there were large throws on each chair, just in case we were cold. I took a seat and grabbed a throw and slid it across my lap. Aiden and I were quiet, sitting in awkward silence for several minutes. I didn’t know if we were both adjusting to the absence of animosity, or relishing the relief after last night’s scare. Either way, this was the most at ease I’d felt since Aiden’s foreboding frame shadowed me on the beach in Belize. Aiden looked at me every so often and grinned. Obviously my hair was very amusing. I frowned at him and made a motion to kick him, but I missed. Our eyes darted to the baby monitor each time we heard Lyric’s breathing pattern change. I think we were both extremely happy and over-attentive

parents. I never would have guessed that to be the case for either of us. As weird as it sounded, it felt like a first date. That would be a pretty hard sell considering we’d fucked countless times, made a baby, lived together, and endured a night like last night. But the nervous energy of a first date was definitely in the air. I could easily discern his carefulness, too. That was new—he was never careful with me, even in the beginning. The only time he had been was when I’d lost my mom. Quite honestly, one of the many things that had drawn me to him was that he didn’t treat me with kid gloves. He told me how it was, even when I didn’t want to hear it, and even when he knew it would piss me off. “You never told me Dianna was your nanny. Why?” He shrugged it off. “No reason. It never came up I guess.” “So…” “What?” “She told me you spoke to her about me.” He took a sip of coffee. “Yeah. And?” “What did you say? “If I wanted you to know, I would have told you instead of her, right?” “Smart-ass!” He wouldn’t give anything away. “She’s happy that we’re getting along,” I said. “It would seem. Have you given any thought to our living situation?” He didn’t want to talk about Dianna. Why? “It’s all I’ve thought of since you forced me back here.” “You know what I mean.” “I haven’t had much time to think about it, but it’s a no-brainer. I’d rather be almost anywhere than here—I hate it. And that feeling has increased ten-fold since your family’s involvement with Nadia and her craziness.” “You were right last night…when you said what Nadia did was my fault. I blame myself, for so many reasons. I encouraged her on some levels, partially to get back at you.” Removing the tea bag from my cup, I placed it on the saucer. “I didn’t know what to make of it. I didn’t know if you were being an ass, or if some part of you just hated me.” “It’s impossible for any part of me to hate you. The part of me that wanted to hurt you for hurting me—that’s the part you saw. It drove a lot of my actions. But now, there’s a part of me that understands why you chose to leave when you learned of your pregnancy.” What? Surely, I’m not hearing correctly. “Aria, I’m sorry for everything I’ve put you through.” “You’re sorry?” I looked down at the spoon I was twirling in my tea. I was stunned. What could I

say other than I’d made several missteps myself. Well that, and the fact that he’d been pretty fucking horrible to me. Lifting my gaze from the cup of tea, I met his eyes. “Sorry isn’t enough for me, Aiden. You’ve been very unpleasant to me, and you twisted the legal system in your favor.” He watched me with careful eyes and finally responded. “I know.” I went on. “The part of me that knows what I did, that understands what I took from you, knows I deserved some of it. And I want your apology to be enough, and it probably would be if it included a revision on the living arrangement. It needs to be my choice. This has been hell for me.” “I think we can get there. This discussion is a start.” “Yes, I suppose it is.” He cocked his head to one side. “What are you not saying?” “I’ve already said it. I was going to deal with whatever you dished out. I was prepared to accept my punishment.” “Is that what you think I was doing? Punishing you?” he asked. “I was referring to myself. I’ve punished myself every day since I left Boston. The guilt ate away at me, but I pushed it back because I thought I was doing the right thing…for him.” “And now?” “Now, it’s just regret. All of these alterations, and all of the heartache—it was pointless. The time we could have shared together with Lyric…I’m really sad about it.” “That makes two of us.” He bit into his toast and took another sip of coffee. I looked out into the distance. This was really an amazing place. Everything was beautiful. I remembered the first time I’d seen his home. I’d wondered then what type of drama had unfolded within the walls of the Raine mansion. Now, I knew first hand, and I wish I didn’t. “We can change this. There’s no reason to continue the way we have been going. I don’t want to do that.” “Neither do I,” I replied. He eyed me cautiously. “I’d very much like for us to commit to raising our son together.” What exactly did he mean by together? As a couple? Something that once seemed so out of reach? I didn’t want to assume, so I ignored his statement. “It all seems surreal though, doesn’t it?” “It does. Each time I look at him, I tell myself that he’s mine. He’s my son. Other than my absolute desire to not have a family of my own, I’d never considered having children…until you.” I felt the same on both counts. “From the moment I knew—from the moment I actually comprehended that he was yours…ours…I loved him. I wanted him.” Aiden looked as if he wanted to say something but changed his mind. Placing my cup on the table, I asked, “What is it?” “Even though you’d planned to keep him from me?” “Yes, even then.” I grabbed a bagel and took a bite.

We sat in silence, looking at each other for several minutes. His eyes were focused and intense on my face and mine were utterly lost in his. As I let him pull me in deeper, my heart rate increased and my skin heated under his penetrating gaze. The veil of resentment had evaporated. The shroud of anger seemed like eons ago. Spoken communication was unnecessary. I knew things had changed. It was just us, and it was scary and it was intense, the same as always. “You feel that don’t you?” he asked. “What?” “The pull. The sense of belonging. That something that takes over and takes us to the place we always end up.” “Yes,” I answered in a small voice. He searched my face. “That should tell us something, Aria.” He was right. I’d thought in time I would’ve reverted to who I was before him, but I know now that will never happen. Time and distance had done nothing to change the pull I felt toward him. If anything, it was stronger. Before I could respond, a sound from Aiden’s bedroom captured our attention. We both turned toward the terrace door as it swung open. It was Connor and he was noticeably upset.

Chapter Thirteen “Have you seen this?” Connor passed his tablet to Aiden. He scowled at the device and reluctantly pulled it from Connor ’s grasp. I watched as his eyes darted over the screen. “No, I haven’t.” “What is it?” I asked. “It’s article after article about the incident with Nadia. The business press is having a field day with this!” Connor snapped. “Why are you telling me?” Aiden dropped the tablet on the table. “I was hoping you’d have come to your senses and be ready to do some damage control.” “Come to my senses? Ha! You just don’t get it, do you?” “No, son. You don’t get it. Why do you think I built this company?” “Dad, I know the drill. You built this company from the ground up to one day pass along to your children. But what if your children don’t want it? Have you ever asked yourself that?” The beginnings of Lyric’s rustling sounded through the monitor. I glanced at it for several seconds, until he started to cry. I sighed and then looked at Aiden. “I don’t want to be here for this. Lyric and I will meet you downstairs when you’re done.” I had no words for Connor. I didn’t want to share the same space with him, let alone be privy to a conversation about the company he’d chosen over my son. I left Aiden with his father on the terrace, closing the door behind me. Judging from the sounds coming from the bassinette, Lyric had awoken in a fussy mood. His cries became louder as I lifted him from the cradle. “Shh. It’s okay. Mommy’s here,” I rocked him gently as I carried him to the nursery—he cried the entire way. This kid definitely had a set of lungs on him. It took a while but he finally settled down, and then I dressed him for our walk with his dad. Grabbing his Moby carrier, I headed downstairs and was at the last step when the doorbell rang. I didn’t see any of the staff, so I answered it and was surprised to see JoJo standing in the doorway. “Hi, Aria. I came by as soon as I heard about Lyric. Is he okay?” How nice to see you in clothes! I highly doubted her visit was due to Lyric, but it provided a convenient excuse. Forcing a smile, I said, “Lyric’s wonderful.” I glanced down at him and pinched his cheeks. “Last night was a nightmare for us but thankfully he was found, and he’s back home safe and sound. Thank you for thinking of him.” I said, stepping back and motioning for her to come in. I looked up to see that Dianna had come to check on the doorbell. She gave JoJo a once-over and then her gaze fell to

me, gauging my reaction. “It’s okay, Dianna.” She smiled and went about her business. I couldn’t get over how concerned she was for Aiden and me as a couple. “And Aiden…how is he?” JoJo asked, when Dianna was out of hearing range. JoJo followed me to the living room and we took seats in the chairs opposite the coffee table. “Aiden is as well as can be expected—we both are.” “Is he in?” she asked. I sighed and contemplated how to address her apparent interest in a man she would never have. “Yes, he is. JoJo, can I talk to you about something personal?” Her eyes widened at my request. “Sure.” “I don’t know you, but based on the things I’ve heard about you, I genuinely think you’re the type of person I would like and I’m glad you were here for Aiden when I couldn’t be. But I’m back now. And I’d like to give you some advice.” “Advice? About what?” “About the only thing you and I have in common—Aiden.” She looked confused. “There’s no subtle way of saying this so I’m just going to come right out and say it.” “Okay. Shoot.” “Walk away and keep your friendship with him intact. If you set your sights on anything else, you’re going to regret it. That’s one thing Aiden and I seem to do. When we let others get too close, they end up getting hurt…and Aiden and I end up even closer.” “What makes you think—“ I interrupted her lie. “Let’s just call it women’s intuition.” She crossed her legs and sat back in her seat. “The naked picture you sent to him pretty much told me all I needed to know. And no, he didn’t show it to me. He doesn’t know I saw it. I was sitting next to him at dinner when he opened the message, and I kind of peeped.” “Wow.” “You have a great body by the way,” I added. A tight-lipped smile formed on her lips. “When you put it out there, you really put it out there, don’t you? I guess I should thank you for the heads up before I made an even bigger fool of myself.” “JoJo, you didn’t do anything that any other woman wouldn’t have regarding him. Believe me, I get it. Aiden is incredible—he’s every woman’s dream.” “Is he your dream?” “No. He’s not my dream.” I sighed and accepted the truth of what I was about to say. “He’s my

reality.” She nodded. It appeared she and I had reached an understanding. We talked for a few minutes more, and then she announced she was leaving and asked that I extend a hello to Aiden. I was walking her out as Aiden came down the stairs. “Don’t I rate a hello, JoJo?” he asked. “I actually came by to express my concern for Lyric—and of course you and Aria.” “That was kind of you.” “Of course. But I really need to run, I have an appointment, and if I don’t leave now, I’ll be late.” We both followed her to the door. “I appreciate your concern,” Aiden said. JoJo reached for the door and then turned to face us. She glanced from Lyric to me and then finally rested her eyes on Aiden. “I’m really happy everything has worked out for you, Aiden.” And she was off. Well, that was an easy one. How many more women would I have to ward off? And would they be as rational as JoJo, or a fucking psychopath like Nadia? I turned toward Aiden, and he was looking at me, assessing me with narrowed eyes. Did he suspect I was the reason JoJo left so abruptly? “Anything you’d like to tell me?” he asked. “Uh…nope, I don’t think so. Are you ready for our walk?” “Sure am. Is my little guy ready?” he asked, leaning down to Lyric. Lyric was toothlessly gnawing at the tiny mitten on his hand, undoubtedly hoping to get to the familiar feel of his fingers. His mouth opened and his little tongue was sticking out as he grinned at his dad. He started that excited kicking that he always seems to do when Aiden played with him. “He adores you.” “He should. I’m his dad,” he said, grinning at Lyric. “How did the talk go with Connor?” “Let’s discuss it outside.” I didn’t like the sound of that. We began our walk in silence. I decided to start with the unease I saw on Aiden’s face when I’d mentioned Connor. I looked straight ahead and asked, “So what is it that you don’t want to tell me?” “Dad wants me to go to Hong Kong.” “For Raine Industries?” “Yeah.” “And?” I glanced at him, trying to get a feel for his views on Connor ’s request. “I told him no. Like I said before, I’m no longer doing his bidding.” “So, just skip to the part that has you looking like this.” Lyric was already getting fussy. I placed my hand on his bottom and gently bounced him.

“Although I told him no, I want to do it—but not for my father. I want to do it for Nick. My departure means a lot of things will default to him, and unlike me, he has something to prove to Dad. I want to help my brother.” I swallowed my rebuttal and considered his words. “I can understand that.” “But, I’ll only do it if you agree…and only if you and Lyric come with me.” I glanced at Lyric. He was back to happily nibbling at his hand. “Why does it matter if I agree?” “Because it does.” “Why can’t Connor go? He’s fully recovered. You don’t think he’s manipulating you?” “This was my decision, Aria. Not his,” he said firmly. “Even after what he did, or rather didn’t do, regarding Lyric’s safety?” “He does what he’s done for years. I know my father loves Lyric; it’s just that his priorities are fucked. I was headed down the same path. I don’t want that.” “So, let’s say you go to China…what’s next? Is he going to ask you to go to Japan? India? It’ll never stop.” “It already has stopped. I’m not backing down on that.” He was sure of his position, and although compelling, I did not believe it. Connor had a difficult time believing Aiden last night, and I had to admit it was hard to imagine Aiden walking away from Raine Industries. This was why I wanted Lyric away from the Raines. I just wanted him in a happy, safe, non-controlling environment. Connor and Sienna had a subtle way of eliciting control without their children even realizing it. This new wrinkle worried me, but I didn’t want to interfere with Aiden’s decision to help Nicholas. “I say do what you feel is best, Aiden. But after you’re done with this, what do we do? Neither of us have jobs. Do we enjoy time with Lyric as a family? Would we still plan to move?” “I told you what I wanted earlier. What would you like to do?” A beautiful orange leaf floated toward us. I looked up at the huge tree of changing leaves and thought back to a time when everything made since. “I miss RPH.” “I knew you did.” “How could I not? That job was my life. I loved it.” “It’s an option. But it means getting in bed with Raine Industries. Are you sure you want to do that?” “It’s not the same as living here or having you run the company—I can definitely go for being hundreds of miles away from your family.” “So we could move back to Boston, get a place of our own.” “But I already have a place,” I said. “True, but we need some place that’s conducive for a family. Someplace with a yard, and away

from the Boston traffic.” “So you’re willing to relocate to Boston? What about the businesses you have here in Chicago?” “For the most part, they can be managed from any location. I could fly in from time to time.” “Okay, that would give me something to do in Boston, but what about you?” “I think I’m in the market to be a kept man. I could be the stay-at-home Dad,” he replied, laughing. “Now that’s seriously funny. I can’t even imagine that.” “And why is that?” “It doesn’t fit the image in my head of Aiden Raine.” “We can change the image you have.” He grabbed my hand and turned me to face him.” I can be whatever you want me to be.” The soft velvet of his voice flowed over me, and when he looked at me like this, his eyes seducing mine, I had to remind myself to breathe. “Just picture this,” he said. “Okay.” “You walk in from a long, hard day at work. Lyric is playing in his room. Dinner has been prepared, by yours truly. I greet you at the door with a long, deep kiss.” “So far, I’m loving this.” “I help you out of your clothes and carry you to the bathroom. You are welcomed by the soft sounds of music and a bubble bath that’s eagerly awaiting your beautiful body to grace it. I lower you into the tub and pass you a glass of your favorite wine and lean in to give you another kiss.” “What happens next?” “Whatever you want.”

Chapter Fourteen Aiden, Lyric, and I had arrived home from China two days before Thanksgiving. While we were away, Aiden and I had a long talk about our living arrangements, and we’d decided to move back to Boston…together. In the meantime, Aiden had taken measures for us to move out of the main house into one of the smaller residences on the Raine estate. It was an acceptable temporary solution to placing some distance between ourselves and Aiden’s family.

* * * * * I was at the Raine Industries hangar with Aiden and Lyric awaiting Lia and Bianca’s arrival. It had been almost four months since I’d seen my sisters—it felt like forever. As soon as the jet had come to a complete stop on the tarmac, I opened the car door and jumped out. Lyric had fallen asleep on the ride, so he and Aiden remained in the car. We’d initially planned on having Thanksgiving dinner in Boston, but Connor and Sienna had made serious strides in repairing the broken state of their relationship with Aiden and me. We’d ultimately decided to give them a chance, starting with the holidays. It had been a very difficult decision, but in the end we’d decided that a family who was trying to work it out was better than a family that wasn’t. Aiden and I would not immerse Lyric into the same life Aiden had. We were adamant about that. Family was important to both of us—which was nothing new to Aiden, but it had only become that way for me again over the last year or so. We wanted Lyric to know his family, but we planned to be very careful. I didn’t know what had happened between Aiden and me, but I was more at peace now than I’d been in several months. We’d talked, listened, and shared—yet we’d made no mention of the state of our relationship. We just fell into place. I don’t think either of us was ready to unbottle hurt feelings. I knew we had to eventually, and I knew it would be painful on both sides. For now, we were happy—insanely happy. Aiden was the perfect father, and I wasn’t too shabby as a mom. That was pretty good considering neither of us had the ideal role models as parents. Nadia had been sent to a mental institution and would be there for an additional six months. I personally thought the bitch should be locked away indefinitely, but apparently the insanity plea still has merit. Allison and I had, yet again, placed ill feelings behind us and we were back on the track to sisterhood. April was still absent from my life. She had called my sisters to check on Lyric when she’d heard about his abduction, but I hadn’t heard from her at all, and didn’t expect I would. I missed

her but not as much as I would have thought. My life was so full now, in so many ways, that I barely had time to think of her. And as sad as it may sound, that was probably for the best. Nicholas was taking on more of the role he wanted with Raine Industries, alongside Sloan. Kellan and I were still in contact, and he had actually met someone. I was a little torn by it. It took me a while, but I had finally figured out why. It was because he was my safety net and if he was no longer available, it meant I had to let go—completely let go and trust my relationship with Aiden. A relationship that had yet to be defined. A relationship I wasn’t sure I could handle. I told myself to be happy for Kellan. I knew he deserved better than I ever gave or could give to him. I’d continued to send updates, pictures, and videos of Lyric to him. My heart hurt a little each time I did, though. For Thanksgiving, Lia and Bianca brought along two of their closest friends, Jade and Morgan. They had become permanent fixtures at my place in Boston before they all ventured off to Ohio State. I was so happy that my sisters had secured those friendships. I wanted them to have happy, healthy experiences—not to avoid life like I had for so many years. The steps from the jet were being lowered and moments later my sisters stepped into sight. I rushed over to hug them. Videos and social media enabled us to keep in touch and share our lives to a certain degree, but having them with me now made it seem as if I hadn’t seen them in years. “How was the flight?” I asked. “Amazing,” they all chimed in. I reached to hug both Morgan and Jade. “Thanks for letting us join you guys,” Morgan said. “You’re welcome. We’re glad to have you. What happened to Addison?” “Her parents said no,” Bianca replied. “Where’s my nephew?” Lia asked. “He’s asleep in the car,” I said. “I can’t wait to hold him.” Bianca was overflowing with excitement. “Thanks for sending us the pictures and videos. He’s fun to watch, and he’s gotten so big.” The ground crew walked past us with the girls’ luggage. “Everyone ready?” I asked. “Yep. I need to message my parents and tell them not to worry. I had to literally beg and lay on a huge guilt trip in order to skip Thanksgiving at my place this year,” Jade said. “No way was I missing this trip. Thanksgiving at my house is always full of spilled secrets. I could so do without that drama this year.” I glanced at Jade. You may have more of the same this year, only at a fancier house. Would there be any secrets revealed at the Raine house? That place, that family, was a never-ending drama. We rushed to the car and clambered in. The girls greeted Aiden, but their attention was directed primarily at Lyric, who was still asleep in his car seat. “OMG, he is gorgeous,” said Morgan.

“What do you expect? He takes after me,” Bianca said. “Well, we are twins, B, so that means he takes after both of us,” Lia said. “You guys, keep it down. He can be really cranky if he’s awakened from his nap,” I whispered. We all chatted quietly as we made our way back to the Raine’s. Aiden told the girls about some local shows and other fun places to check out during their visit. And I was reveling in the feeling of having all of my remaining family together. I wished my mother was here for all of this. I was quiet the remainder of the ride home. I couldn’t seem to quit thinking about Mom. What would we be doing for the holiday if she were still alive? Would she have come to the Raine house for Thanksgiving? Would we have all gone to Dayton? Would she have told me “I told you so” in regard to my relationship with Aiden? Lyric started to awaken just as we pulled through the gates to the mansion. Bianca squealed, nearly startling him. She lifted him from the car seat and he began to cry. “It’s me, Lyric. It’s your Aunt Bianca.” “Maybe he needs to see me instead. I FaceTime with him more than you, B,” Lia said. “Lia, do you know how ridiculous that sounds? We look the same, and we nearly sound the same —he wouldn’t know the difference.” “Let’s get inside and calm him down. I’m sure he’ll be gifting you both with a toothless grin in no time.” I reached for Lyric, and Bianca passed my wailing boy to me. “It’s okay.” I bounced him and softly rubbed his back. Lyric immediately calmed. “That strange girl scared you, didn’t she Lyric?” “Hey!” Bianca protested. Everyone erupted in laughter as the car pulled to a stop. I bundled up Lyric and we all started up the walkway. Jade and Morgan oohed and aahed as they approached the entrance of the palatial estate. Aiden opened the door to start our Thanksgiving holiday, and we all trickled inside. Allison was walking down the hall when we entered, and she rushed over to Lia and Bianca. After being introduced to Jade and Morgan, Allison dove into a discussion about a concert she wanted to attend. They started down the hall and Lia turned back toward me. “Find us when Lyric’s ready, Aria. We need to spend time with our nephew.” “I will.” I was happy they were still so excited about Lyric. When I was their age, family was the farthest thought from my mind. I was sure that was the case for most college students, but even more so for someone who wanted to forget as badly as I had. Aiden and I joined the rest of the family in the living room. As soon as we entered, Sienna reached for Lyric. Since our reconciliation, she’d been more of the doting mother, grandmother, and even a better friend to me. We’d actually gone shopping for Lyric recently. Of course, she’d had her own vision of how Lyric would dress. I went along with it because trying to convince her otherwise was futile. But geez, he’s just a baby. The fact that he was a Raine baby made things a little more

complicated. I’d seen photographs of Aiden as an infant and toddler. He was dressed pretty similar to the way Sienna wanted to dress Lyric. Thinking back to when I’d first gone through Lyric’s closet, I could now see that some of the clothes had definitely been of her choosing. We didn’t mention Nadia or the Lanes, which was a good thing because I was still bothered by the lack of fortitude Sienna had displayed. She’d attempted to justify her behavior, but her explanation meant less than nothing to me. As usual, Lyric was eventually passed around to pretty much every Raine in the room, and had finally fallen asleep in his dad’s arms. Dianna had come in to check on Lyric and asked if Aiden wanted her to take him to the nursery, but he refused her offer. I caught myself watching Aiden as he ran his fingers through Lyric’s curls and smiled. The baby shuffled in his arms but he didn’t wake up. I absolutely loved seeing the two of them together. Some of the other members of the Raine family had joined us—Connor ’s brother ’s family. They weren’t as uptight as Connor and Sienna, and I became fast friends with Connor ’s niece, Brandy. She, too, had recently had a baby so we shared stories and scheduled a play date. Was it too soon for that? At Lyric’s age, a play date was probably more for the mothers to have grown-up time than it was for the babies to actually play together.

* * * * * Thanksgiving with the Raines had come and gone. I didn’t quite know what I expected, but I’d learned that with this family you had to brace yourself for any and every contingency. I was relieved that it had actually gone much better than I’d anticipated. And there had been only one spilled secret— Allison announced she was moving to New York, and Sienna nearly had a coronary. I wasn’t sure why she was so surprised, Allison had always danced to the beat of a different drum. The time with my sisters was over before I knew it. I’d said goodbye to them, and they headed back to Ohio with plans to meet at the Raines again for Christmas. In the short time they’d visited, they had grown to adore Lyric, and they were great with him. He was a loved and happy baby, and I was a very happy mother. I was amazed at how quickly my views on life and love had changed since his birth. I was glad Lyric was able to spend his first Thanksgiving surrounded by family. Not that he’d remember it, but it meant a lot to me. Aiden, Lyric, and I had flown to Boston after Thanksgiving to check on the new house. There were a few last minute changes I’d wanted incorporated into Lyric’s room and to the kitchen. Other than that it was almost complete, and if everything continued on schedule, we’d be able to move in shortly after Christmas. While in Boston, we stayed at my condo. As soon as I walked through the door, my gaze fell

upon my piano and my eyes watered as if on cue. I passed Lyric to Aiden and rushed over to take a seat on the bench. I was taken back to the memories of my first months with Aiden. That time was fraught with intense and overwhelming emotions. He’d taken my breath away. I remembered the first day I saw him. He’d breezed into the RPH conference room like the world was his. Confident, gorgeous, complicated, intelligent, controlled—that was the man I’d fought to resist, the man I’d ultimately fallen for. I traced my fingers across the piano’s inscription. Kingston and Virginia— Making beautiful Music Since 2014. I smiled wistfully as I reflected on the meaning behind the words. It all seemed like such a long time ago. I’d also stopped by Raine Publishing House. It was like returning home after a too long journey. I’d missed the place but hadn’t realized how much until I’d actually walked through the turnstile. It had been announced that I’d be resuming my role as CEO at the beginning of the year, and I couldn’t wait to get started. I’d reached out to Raina when I first returned to the States, and seeing her in person was like seeing a beloved family member. I was looking forward to working with her again. My project, The Writer, had been placed on hiatus when I resigned, so I’d be picking it up as soon as I was back in the saddle. There were also several other plans I was anxious to implement. Aiden, Lyric and I stayed in Boston for only a week and then it was back to Chicago to start the incomprehensible list of Raine holiday festivities. Christmas was my favorite holiday, and if everyone behaved, this would be one I could look back on with the fondest of memories.

* * * * * Christmas trees were tastefully dispersed throughout the snow-covered grounds of the Raine estate. Sienna and I had chosen a photographer to capture almost every moment of Lyric’s first Christmas, and we were outside attempting to get a smile from him but he wouldn’t cooperate. He was crying every other second, and we couldn’t be in the cold with him for much longer. “When is Aiden expected?” Sienna asked. I glanced at my phone. “He should be here by now,” I said, looking toward the house. At that precise moment, Aiden stepped into sight. “I’m here,” he said, strolling toward us. “What took so long?” I asked. I was starting to get just as irritated as the baby. “Last minute Christmas gifts.” He reached for Lyric. “Hey, big guy. What’s going on? Are you fed up with this girlie stuff?” Aiden wiped Lyric’s tears and made a funny face at him until he was all tongue and smiles. Shaking my head, I gawked at the two of them. “Are you kidding me? He’s been crying all day. Aiden, you’ve spoiled him.” “No I haven’t. He just isn’t inclined to do this crap. Not that I blame him.”

“It’s not crap, Aiden,” Sienna chided. “Now let’s get a few more pictures of him near the sleigh, and then a few with you and Aria, and we can get him inside.” Along with the sleigh were actual reindeer, elves, and a jolly Santa. Once the photographer had gotten the last of her shots, we hurried back inside. Everything was so busy. Decorations and floral arrangements were being placed throughout the house. Christmas trees were in several of the rooms, and there was one especially for Aiden, Lyric, and me in Aiden’s bedroom. Each member of the family had a tree decorated to fit him or her, with unique ornaments that had been added throughout the years, but since there wasn’t very much to add to a tree for Lyric and me just yet, they’d added us to Aiden’s tree. Aiden and I showed it to Lyric, and he lit up as he reached for the twinkling lights. Aiden also explained the history behind his tree. This was a great tradition that I hoped to incorporate into our own future Christmas holidays. The Raines had a full calendar of events for the remainder of December. There were charity dinners, ballets, orchestral performances, and holiday dinners. They’d planned two tree-trimming events: one for a few friends and business associates, and another just for family. We’d survived the first one, and now we were knee-deep in round two with the family. Lyric was almost five months old now. He was in his baby walker, trying his best to get to the tree. He’d just recently started making small movements, but he could only go backward so it was exciting to watch him. He would make a few small steps, then stop and bounce. He’d clap his hands, and then he’d start up again. When he got too close to the decorations, Aiden pulled him back. The last time Aiden pulled Lyric away from the tree, he burst into tears. The first tree trimming was more of a formal gathering, complete with an award-winning string quartet and an exquisite five-star meal, courtesy of an amazingly talented chef who was flown in for the event. Of the two, I enjoyed the intimacy of our time today far more. Music was playing in the background as we placed ornaments on the tree and sipped on warm alcoholic beverages. I’d been shopping with Lia and Bianca and had hoped to find the perfect gift for Aiden, but I hadn’t stumbled across it until the very last minute. On Christmas morning we awoke to even more gifts under the tree. Most of them were for Lyric, of course. One was wrapped in a small, long box. It was from Connor, and he insisted Lyric open his first. Lyric toyed with the ribbon for a while, and I eventually helped him open it. Inside was a document. What the hell made Connor think Lyric would want a piece of paper as a gift? I unfolded it, and my eyes nearly popped from my head. I cautiously glanced at Aiden, and he walked over to me. “What is it?” I passed it to him. Aiden quickly viewed the document and then turned toward Connor. “Dad,” he warned. The room fell silent. We were all glancing from Aiden to Connor, and I, for one, was hoping this didn’t blow up into another argument.

“Now wait a minute before you get into a huff. This is your son’s birthright. He’s entitled to this, and he’s my first grandchild, so he’s setting the precedent.” I could see that Aiden was about to go at it with his father, and I didn’t want that. Not today. “Aiden, let’s not do this. Let’s not ruin this time. We can get into this later.” My first Christmas with Aiden, my first Christmas as a mother. I wanted to enjoy every minute of it. Aiden passed the document back to me and I returned it to the box. Lyric looked at Connor, who started talking to him. He was excited by his grandfather, but I was worried. Connor reached for him, and I glanced at Aiden. I reluctantly passed over my little angel, and as I watched Connor and Lyric, now one of the wealthiest four month olds in the world, I knew I wouldn’t be able to block certain aspects of the Raine lifestyle from affecting my son, regardless of my efforts. We spent the morning seated around the fireplace talking, observing the baby and opening gifts. After dinner the family gathered around the piano and sang Christmas carols as Aiden played for us. It was the perfect scene for a Christmas card, or in this case, for the business and society pages. The Raines’ publicist, still in the midst of buffing the Raines’ public image after the Nadia situation, had stopped in with photographers to capture a few pictures of our holiday. Once the photographers left, we dispersed throughout the room. Except Aiden—he remained seated at the piano. I looked up and caught him eyeing me over the lip of his glass. I watched as his eyes crawled down my body. A small smile traced his lips and then he placed his glass on the top of the piano. A few seconds later, he’d started playing another song, but it wasn’t a Christmas carol. It was a beautiful melody, one I didn’t recognize. The tunes were intricate and powerful—the perfect embodiment of the complicated man seated at the piano. His talent was absolutely astounding —I choked back tears as I watched him play, his devastatingly handsome face morphing with the tones floating through the air. We were in a room full of people, but somehow that song seemed like an intimate story that he related only to me—a story about us. I could easily recognize the sad parts, not only by the discordant tune, but by the distorted expressions that traced Aiden’s beautiful face. Once he’d finished, he sighed and looked up at me. “Get a room you two,” Nicholas said. He slapped Aiden’s arm, and they both grinned. Aiden raised his eyebrows suggestively and then came over to join me. He kissed me softly on the cheek and then followed Nicholas to the bar for another drink. I reached up and touched the cheek he’d kissed and then went to sit with my sisters. I glanced at Aiden and saw him laughing with Nicholas. He was a beautiful, virile man whom I’d slept with for the last several weeks…but that was all we’d done—sleep. We hadn’t had sex since the night Lyric had been abducted. Our time had been spent talking, playing with Lyric, or sight-seeing. Aiden had taken us to some of his favorite Chicago spots. We’d also spent a considerable amount of time at a couple of his non-profit organizations. I’d never had this much uninterrupted time with him —time where we could just be. We didn’t have to rush anything, and it had been wonderful.

We were about to open another round of gifts—I had two for Aiden. We’d decided that we’d present one gift to each other in private, so I was anxious for our alone time in the privacy of our bedroom. Aiden extended a small turquoise box to me. “This is from Lyric and me.” “Thank you, Lyric.” I grabbed his hand. He was scrambling to break free of his dad’s grasp so Aiden placed him on the floor in front of us, but he was soon back in Connor ’s arms. I removed the white ribbon from the box, and situated inside it was a pair of princess cut red diamond earrings. “They match the necklace,” Aiden said. “They’re beautiful. I love them. Hold this. I want to put them on.” I removed my small diamond studs and placed them in the box, and Aiden passed the new earrings to me. “How do they look?” I asked after I’d put them on. “Perfect. Lyric has excellent taste.” I planted a chaste kiss on his lips. “Thank you.” He returned my kiss, but his lingered a bit longer than mine had, and I was starting to feel the effects of his closeness when he pulled away. I didn’t know if it was the alcohol or if we were just long overdue for sex, but I wanted him and I didn’t want to wait. He grasped my hands and stared into my eyes as the others carried on in the background. “Let’s see the earrings, Aria,” Allison said, plopping on the sofa beside us. I pulled my hands from Aiden’s, but he leaned down and kissed the back of them both before releasing me, and then he was off. I was sure he was about to go pull Lyric away from Connor. “They’re gorgeous, and they look perfect with the necklace,” Allison said. “Thank you. Let’s see what you got.” The day quickly filtered into night. Lyric had fallen asleep, and we were ready to head home to our own house on the estate. Aiden and I said our goodbyes to the others and bundled Lyric up before we walked into the cold night. We were both silent. I was thinking about this day and how wonderful it all was—well, except the part where Connor had surprised us with Lyric’s gift. Other than that, it was another successful holiday with the Raines. Who knew? After getting Lyric tucked in, I headed back to our bedroom. I changed into pajamas and took a seat near the fireplace. Aiden soon joined me—he, too, had changed and was wearing pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. “Long day,” he said. “Yes, but I enjoyed it.” “I’m glad,” he replied. I glanced under the tree at the two lone gift boxes. “Are you ready for your other gift?” He grinned. “Yes.” I retrieved it and passed it to him—a long, thin silver box with a silver and gold ribbon. I took a

seat and watched him open it. He removed the lid and pulled the papers from the box. His eyebrows rose as he skimmed the documents. He glanced up at my waiting eyes. “This is incredible. Thank you.” He leaned over and pulled me into a hug. I was so relieved. It was hard to choose a gift for someone like him, but this had felt right as soon as the thought entered my head. I had started a charity in his honor. It was called the Heart of Wyatt Foundation. I’d included a letter in the box that explained the name and the mission of the organization. Aiden had once told me he was more himself when he walked under the guise of Aiden Wyatt. His passion—his heart—rested in music, so the name Heart of Wyatt perfectly captured the essence of this charity. “All of your charities are here in Chicago, and since we’re moving, I figured this would be a great way for you to spend your time in Boston. Doing something that has your heart.” “Thank you, Aria. This was very thoughtful. I love it. And in case you didn’t know it yet—you and Lyric have my heart.” He passed a box to me. “Now it’s your turn.” I guess paper was the gift theme this Christmas because when I opened the box, it too, contained a document. I unfolded it—it was also a letter. I glanced up to see Aiden watching me. There was a look on his face that I couldn’t quite register. He was nervous! I gave him a reassuring smile, and then read what he’d written. Aria, I struggled with finding the perfect gift, until I realized the best gift I could give to you is the truth. Since the first day we met—the first day you graced me with your beauty and strength—you’ve been a challenge, and I know you don’t think so, but you still are. I’m sure you’ve realized such challenges are not something to which I’m accustomed. And with you it was something I was determined to get around—and in doing so, I made several mistakes in my pursuit of you. In turn, those mistakes caused you to make painful decisions. I’ve hurt you. I never wanted that, but the same can be said of any man who truly loves a woman. I allowed my anger and pride to interfere with my decisions. When you suggested living with me until the court decision had been reached, I could have easily said no, but the simple truth is that I couldn’t. I wanted to punish you, but I also wanted you close. Your decision to conceal the fact that I had a son cut me deeply. That cut was that much deeper when I learned of your intent to raise him with another man. It wounded my heart and my pride. I was an ass to you and I knew it, but I didn’t care because I thought you deserved it. What you really deserved was my understanding. I know you thought you were protecting Lyric. We really need to talk more about that, but first I would like to give you some assurances. I love Lyric. From the moment I held him, I was hooked. I was totally captivated by him and equally amazed you’d brought him into this world. You needn’t worry about my leaving him, or my substituting a member of my staff to fulfill the role of a father. That

privilege is mine and mine alone. Lyric’s changed me. He’s touched a part of me I didn’t know existed, and no matter what comes, you should know that will never change. These last few weeks have broadened my understanding of a multitude of subjects, ranging from loyalty and integrity, to responsibilities and priorities, to love and family. I’ve also discovered another side of you. It’s almost as if I’m meeting you again for the first time, and it’s enabled me to connect with you in a way I never thought possible. I know we’ve yet to discuss our time apart, nor have we really discussed what’s happening between us now, but I want you to know I love you, and I need you. I’ll do everything within my power to have you, because the thought of not having you makes it hard to breathe. I’m sorry for making you feel less than the wonderful beautiful gift you are to me. I’m sorry for every tear I’ve caused. I would like to make all of that up to you, if you’ll give me the chance. I want to show you that I can be the man you deserve. This has truly been a Christmas I’ll never forget. This is a magical season that brings with it joy, wishes, and hopes for new beginnings. You’ve given me that, and I can only hope I’ve given the same to you. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to get to know you again. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for giving me Lyric. When I was a child, someone very close to me shared a Christmas story with me. It was about the power of the Christmas wish. I was told to close my eyes and wish for something very special, and in time my wish would come true. “The Christmas Wish” became one of my favorite traditions, and I looked forward to it every year. Last night, for the first time in years, I partook of that tradition and I made a Christmas wish. I wished that you would truly commit to being mine. And now I’m hoping you’ll close your eyes and make a Christmas wish, too. I hope you wish for me. I hope you wish for us. You’re not only my wish this Christmas—you’re my lifetime of wishes, and together we can make them all come true. Merry Christmas, princess. -A. Every now and then, Aiden would give me a glimpse into this side of him, and it pulled at me like nothing else. He’d taken a chance and shown the vulnerability he had for me. I looked up from the letter, truly astounded to see someone so powerful—someone so secure in his own skin—nervously awaiting my reply to his sentiment. But I didn’t have any words—only raw emotion. I rushed over to him and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. I melted into him, finally home. “I love you, too, Aiden. I never stopped.” “I love you more,” he whispered. It was so soft, almost as if he didn’t want me to hear it. The dim lights of the Christmas tree flashed across his face. All was quiet except the soft, intermittent crackles of the fire that attempted to fill the silence. Aiden and I were the still shadows cast on the wall.

He extended his hands and I moved closer, placing my palms into his. His touch was like the warmth of the sun, sending rays of heat that moved fiercely through my veins. He pulled me to him and then leaned down and placed his lips on mine. A low moan escaped him, similar to my own when the scent of his skin washed over me. He kissed my cheek and then started a trail of sweet kisses to my neck. I’d missed this side of him. The side that reminded me with every touch that he loved me, that he cherished me. His green eyes bored into mine as he placed a hand on either side of my face. He then lowered his head and pressed our lips together. My hands clung to his back, moving over his muscles, relishing the feel of him beneath my fingertips. His tongue glided into my mouth, tracing and licking deeply. It was a slow, sweet journey of rediscovery. I slowly pulled away, breaking our kiss and staring into the passion of his dark eyes. He kissed my forehead and then reached for the buttons on my top. The intensity of his gaze was focused on mine as he unbuttoned the shirt and let it fall to the floor. He then kneeled in front of me, placed his hands at my waist, and slid my pajamas and panties down my legs. I stepped out of them, and then it was my turn to undress him. I reached to remove his shirt, lifting it over his head. I then pulled at his waist to lower his pajamas. He stepped out of them, and we both stood in front of each other, naked and unabashed. Aiden moved toward me, scooped me up, and gently laid me on the floor. He moved his body over mine and pressed his lips against my throat. The warmth and scent of his body covered me. My hands moved up his back as he traced his lips back and forth on my skin. His erection was tempting and hard against my leg. I reached down and slowly stroked his still growing shaft. He groaned into my neck and softly sank his teeth into me. I opened my legs and guided him to my silkened cleft. With a flex of his hips, the head of his manhood slowly pushed through, and then he gently eased his hardened length all the way into me. It was the linking of two souls that fit like the harmony of the most beautiful love song. My nails dug into his flesh. “Ah. I’ve missed you,” I breathed. He lifted his head and started moving in and out of me, endowing me with long, skilled strokes while he stared into my eyes. “I’ve missed you more.” It was as if this moment in time was all we had, and each touch, each kiss, each stroke was a poignant reminder of our love—of our belonging. We both needed this, and for the next several hours we showed each other just how much. That night, under the soft glow of the Christmas lights, we made love like the world was ending. We were soaking wet, glistening with lust and the inexplicable need to keep going, to never break our perfect connection. There was no separation, no space between us. There was only the amorous binding of two lost loves. Everything had faded away except us, and the sensual sounds of two souls being reunited—of two souls touched by love, of two souls touched by him.



THE END

Epilogue The upcoming hours without Lyric gave Aiden and me the uninterrupted opportunity to really open up about our time apart and what, if anything, it meant for our future. I passed a glass of wine to Aiden and then joined him at the dining table. I was worried about the direction the conversation would go, and the look in his eyes revealed he was just as concerned, if not more so. “So,” he started, glancing at me after he’d taken a couple of sips of the burgundy. “Where do we begin?” I asked. “I don’t know.” He exhaled and placed his glass on the table. “I do have a question. I’ve read your blog, and you’ve told me bits and pieces, but how was it for you…being away from me? Tell me about the parts you left out.” For a guy who said he didn’t know where to start, he certainly fired off one of the tougher questions first.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you think Aria made the right decision in not telling Aiden about her pregnancy? 2. Do you think Aria was being selfish with Kellan? 3. Did Aria really love Kellan? Why do you think so? 4. Aiden was cold toward Aria for several weeks after discovering Lyric. Do you think his treatment of Aria was justified? 5. Were you surprised by Sienna’s reaction to Aria when she returned to Chicago with Aiden? 6. When JoJo first appeared on the scene, did you think more was going on between Aiden and JoJo? 7. Did Aiden hire Anja just to further torment Aria? Or did he simply want two nannies because he was raised with two nannies? 8. If Melena was still alive, do you think Aria would have told her that Lyric was Aiden or Kellan’s child? Why? 9. Was Aiden jealous when he found Aria dancing with Jeremy or was he just angered by her behavior? Or was it a little or a lot of both? 10. Why was Connor so forgiving about Aria’s deception? 11. Did Aiden’s closeness with Dianna surprise you? Why do you think he was able to talk to her but not his mother about Aria? 12. Do you think Nadia was planning to keep Lyric? 13. How did you feel when Aria and Nadia finally came to blows?

14. Was Aiden justified in his rejection of Raine Industries and his family? 15. What do you think is next for Aiden and Aria? 16. If April had betrayed your confidence as she did Aria’s, how would you have reacted? 17. Do you think Aria will forgive April? Is there really anything to forgive? 18. If someone was watching you and your lover go at it on the side of a bar, would you have stopped or kept going like Aria and Aiden? Did it surprise you that Aria and Aiden didn’t stop? 19. Will Nadia get over her obsession with Aiden? 20. How do you think Aria will respond to Aiden’s letter in Only His Touch? 21. Do you think it was difficult for Aiden to reveal the “truth” to Aria in his letter? Why or why not? 22. After having read Touched By Him, what does the book cover symbolize to you? 23. Why did Aiden give Aria a letter instead of telling her his feelings? His truth? 24. Would you have given Connor and Sienna a second chance? Why or why not? 25. Do you think Aiden will stay away from Raine Industries?

ARIA AND AIDEN’S STORY CONTINUES IN THE UPCOMING SEQUEL IN THE UNTOUCHED SERIES

ONLY HIS TOUCH Coming Soon from Lilly Wilde!

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Other Books by Lilly Wilde Untouched—Book One of The Untouched Series Touched—Book Two of The Untouched Series What readers are saying about Untouched: “Simply Exquisite!! This book is amazing! The description of the characters is so vivid and extremely catching. I felt like I was actually living the story. I was so drawn to Aria, Aiden, and April. The communication between Aiden and Aria is so touching… I laughed throughout the book and cried at the end. Cannot wait to read more… I love the sensuality of it all. One of the best breathtaking books I have read so far. Can’t wait for the next one. Great writer! Awesome Job Lilly!”~ Review from Amazon “Lilly Wilde gives you the same excitement we got from 50 Shades and The Crossfire Series. Except Lilly delivered it to us in a whole new way. It was so much more realistic than the others that you not only finished it yearning for your own Aiden, but you actually think it’s possible to find him. You are captured from the beginning to the end. You fall in love with this couple. This couple is so sexy, and your mind takes you away to forbidden places and feelings. It’s a great story and a sexy read. You don’t want to miss out on this!!!!!” ~ Review from Amazon “I loved your book! Aiden was a perfect cross between Christian Grey and Jesse Ward…The perfect man.” ~ Review from Amazon “LILLY DEFINITELY BLEW ME AWAY WITH THIS! Aiden and Aria made me fall in love from the beginning. Their story is so similar to 50, Crossfire, Driven, This Man, but at the same time it holds some unique individuality that really makes it stand out.” ~ Review from Amazon “I’ve read a lot of books, many from this genre—50 Shades, Crossfire Series, This Man, etc.—and in a word this book is AMAZING. You immediately become invested in the characters and take this emotional roller coaster ride with them. I found this book to have more real life undertones than some of the others I’ve read, making the characters more relatable. It has been said that every story has been told. Well, that may be, but definitely not in this fashion. It's a must read!” ~ Review from Amazon “What else can be said about a phenomenal writer who brought to life two amazing people in a

story that is not only emotionally charged, but is realistic? Aria and Aiden will capture you from the beginning and won’t let you go. I can’t get enough of them. Reading this, I had every emotion possible. I was happy, pissed, sad, and curious, but mostly I was captivated by their story…”~ Review from Amazon What readers are saying about Touched: “Once again author Lilly Wilde has delivered an amazing story of love, lust, romance, intrigue, heartache, and suspense. From the first sentence of Touched to the last, the author’s way with words pulls you right into the story and leaves you wanting and wondering…craving more. Great job Lilly Wilde. Looking forward to the next step in Aria’s and Aiden’s journey.” ~ Review from Amazon “Lilly Wilde, you are truly AMAZING. I couldn’t and wouldn’t put this book down. I fell in love with Aiden and Aria in the first book of the trilogy (Untouched) and I fell in love with them even more in Touched. I had probably every emotion a person could have. It had twist and turns in every chapter. I could see Aiden and Aria in my mind and hear them talking in my head. I want Touched by Him out NOW. I can’t wait to see how all the twist and turns play out. I can’t believe you just started writing not long ago. I am a HUGE fan of yours now and for life. Your books have me shocked and amazed. Thank you for writing these books and taking me away. I will be searching for my Aiden while I wait for Touched by Him” ~ Review from Amazon “After reading Untouched (Book 1)…I was hooked and (Book 2) Touched certainly didn't disappoint me… Wow, the story line is amazing and so real. Lilly Wilde has smashed it again. Personally I now think 50 Shades is rubbish! (Sorry to you 50 Shades lovers; yes, I used to be one myself. ) Touched is way more realistic, and has so much more to offer. The main characters are brilliant, the story line is so gripping. Loads of drama, and as for the hot sex, this will not disappoint you. I couldn’t put my Kindle down! Seriously this is a must read!" ~ Review from Amazon “ABSOUTELY LOVE THE UNTOUCHED TRILOGY. I love every detail about Aiden and Aria, who are both strong, confident, career-driven people with a love and passion so strong it’s unbreakable. I was so entranced from beginning to end that I didn’t want to stop reading. I enjoyed Untouched so much, and I knew would fall in love with Touched as well. The story unravels detail by juicy detail, and I love it…A LOT! This book will have you crying, screaming, and begging for more, all in one chapter. I haven’t cried after reading a book since I read FSOG and this book did it…. The water works flooded my sheets. If you’re looking for a book that has a great story line and some steamy scenes…then look no further. This is the book for you.” ~ Review from Amazon

“Wow, I knew this series was good but I’m floored by just how good. I could hardly put Touched down; each chapter is like candy. Aria and Aiden are hot as lava together, and you’ll be on the edge till “The End.” I can’t wait for the third book. I will read anything written by Lilly Wilde. Anything!" ~Review from Kobo “I am absolutely in love with this trilogy! Lilly Wilde wrote one HOT, steamy little number. She definitely has an amazing talent to draw you in from the first paragraph and leaving you begging for MORE!” ~Review from Barnes & Noble “I don't know where to begin. I guess that I will start by saying that Lilly Wilde has ruined me for other authors. Her style draws you in from the first sentence. The story of Aria and Aiden is one that I just cannot get enough of. Touched and Untouched (the first book in this trilogy) had me experience every emotion possible. I feel like I am part of this story. Part of these characters’ lives. And that is what a great book is supposed to do. The heat and passion in this book is intense. Once I started it, I found it difficult to put down. I simply cannot wait to read more of their story. I need more of Aria and Aiden in my life.” ~Review from Barnes & Noble “Wow, Lilly, I just want to say how amazing this was. I was hooked after book one, but now I can't wait until book three. You grab the reader and don’t let go. Please hurry with #3!!!” ~Review from Barnes & Noble “I cannot believe it!!!! I never thought a book could leave me in such a state! I’m an emotional wreck, but Miss Lilly, you have done this to me with Aria and Aiden’s story. I’m forever changed. I fell in love with Aiden and Aria within the first few pages of Untouched. In the beginning, I thought this typically would be a hot, kinky, sex-craved story, but boy was I wrong!!!! It’s soooooo much more than that. I was instantly hooked. Lilly pulled me deeper down the rabbit hole, curious to know more. I couldn’t stop myself!!!! I had no control to put this book down. I felt like I was living in this story and feeling every emotion with it. I laughed, I really cried, my jaw dropped as to how much I was turned on, and I do mean a lot!!!!! I’ve been exposed to all things that are Aiden and like a starved, crazed woman I want more. I need more Lilly. I’ll be pulling my hair out waiting for the next installment to be released. This is one trilogy you’ll want in your collection, ladies! This is one trilogy I will never forget, and I know a group of ladies that never will either. I applaud you, Lilly, on a fantastically awesome job. I’m sooooo happy that I got to experience this. You truly are an amazing writer. I’ll be waiting for what’s to come next!”~Review from Barnes & Noble “Lilly Wilde did it again! The second installment of Aiden and Aria’s story was even more

emotional than the first. I cannot wait for the third. This book will have you laughing and crying all on the same chapter. Lilly is an amazing writer with a talent for telling a story that is a steamy and fun to read. She makes you feel like you are a part of the story and the characters are long-time friends.”~Review from Smashwords “This book series really makes you feel like you are a part of the action. I cried, I laughed, I got mad. You will fall deep into this series and will not want to come back to reality. Lilly Wilde takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, and you will forever love it. To be so entwined with them is great. You will not want to put the book down, and when it’s over you will literally be begging for more. I can’t wait for the release of the last book.” ~Review from Smashwords

About the Author Lilly Wilde is the Author of The Untouched Series (Untouched, Touched, Touched By Him, Only His Touch and Forever Touched). She is a wife and mom who loves to fill each day with happiness and laughter. Lilly loves to dream, get lost in fantasy and create alternate worlds in which we can escape ever so often. She's down-to-earth, engaging and compassionate with a great sense of humor. Her laughter is one of the first qualities that you'll notice; you'll become instantly drawn to her witty and fun-loving spirit. Lilly spent a lot of time daydreaming as a child which led to numerous hours of reading and eventually the writing of poetry. The first story Lilly began writing was entitled He Lied To Me, a novel she plans to complete in the near future. After years of starting and stopping several novels, she eventually set a goal to complete her debut novel, Untouched. Her stories are of strength, growth, facing demons and stepping outside your comfort zone. They often surround topics of family and love and the beauty of both.