Page 31

KATERINA

The morning after is different. Not in a bad way—not in the way that makes me regret everything and push Aiden away like I probably should. But in a way that makes my heart feel too full, like it’s carrying something too big for my body to hold.

I wake up still tangled in his sheets, his arm draped over my waist, his body warm and solid against mine. I shift slightly, my muscles sore in the best way, and before I can slip out of bed, Aiden tightens his hold, pulling me back against his chest with a low, sleepy groan.

“Where do you think you’re going, Angel Face?”

His voice is hoarse from sleep, rough and deep, making my stomach tighten.

I roll my eyes, though my lips twitch. “To get coffee.”

Aiden buries his face in my neck, pressing a slow, lazy kiss against my skin. “No.”

I shiver. “No?”

He smirks against my shoulder. “No. You’re staying right here.”

I huff a breath, twisting in his grip just enough to glare at him. “Are you kidnapping me, Knight?”

He tilts his head, pretending to think about it. “Mmm… that depends.”

“On?”

His fingers trace slow, teasing circles along my bare hip. “How much you fight me on it.”

I bite my lip, hating the way my body immediately responds to him, heat creeping up my neck. “You’re insufferable.”

Aiden smirks. “And yet baby, you still ended up in my bed.”

I gasp, shoving at his chest, but he just laughs, catching my wrist and rolling us over so that he’s hovering above me, his weight pressing me into the mattress.

His smirk fades as he studies me, his gaze dark and unreadable.

“You okay?”

The question knocks the air from my lungs.

Because he means it. It’s not just an empty phrase—he’s really asking. Really checking in. And for a moment, the weight of it—of him—is almost too much.

I swallow hard, nodding. “Yeah.”

Aiden watches me for a second longer, then nods, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead before finally rolling off me, giving me space.

And that—more than anything—makes my chest ache.

Eventually, I do escape his room, slipping into the kitchen to find Alina already there, sipping coffee and scrolling through her phone.

The second she looks up, her eyes narrow. “Oh my God,”

breathes. “You finally did it.” I freeze.

“What—”

She gasps, smacking the counter. “You did! You and Aiden—”

I lunge for her, clapping a hand over her mouth.

“Shut up!”

Alina’s eyes are gleaming as she pulls my hand away, grinning like she just won the lottery. “Was it good?”

I groan. “I hate you.”

“You love me.”

“I regret telling you anything.”

She wiggles her eyebrows. “Oh, but you didn’t tell me everything.”

I groan again, grabbing my coffee and stomping toward the living room. “I’m leaving.”

Alina cackles behind me. “I love this day!”

I should tease her back, say something about Roman, but this thing between them is very confusing. She has been sleeping over almost everyday and i know she loves Roman, but i hate when they argue and fight. The walls in this house are too thin.

Later that day, Aiden and I end up at the rink again. Because as much as my body still aches from last night, I need this. I need the ice, the movement, the reminder that I’m still me—still capable of fighting for what I want, for what I deserve.

Aiden skates beside me, hands in his pockets, watching as I test my limits, stretching, moving carefully. “You’re pushing too hard,”

he says eventually.

I exhale, rolling my shoulders, testing the ache.

“I have to.”

Aiden sighs, stopping in front of me, his brows furrowed.

“Kat—”

“I need this, Aiden.”

His jaw tightens. “I know.”

I swallow, shifting my weight on my blades. “Then let me.”

For a second, he doesn’t say anything. Then—

He nods. “Okay.”

I blink. “Okay?”

Aiden nods again, a small smile tugging on his lips. “You think I’m gonna stop you?”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Yes?”

Aiden shakes his head, stepping closer, gripping my waist, as he pulls me closer to him. My heart starts picking up at the proximity, flashbacks of last night replaying in my head.

“I’m not here to stop you, Angel Face.”

I inhale sharply as he

Looks at me, his stare steady, grounding. “Then what are you here for?”

He smirks, leaning in, his lips grazing my ear. Goosebumps erupt all over my body, at such a simple gesture.

“To make sure you don’t fall.”

I nod, as I lose the battle against my own heart. He lets me skate as he watches, giving me pointers or helping me here and then. Around eight pm, Aiden drives us home. We end up tangled on the couch, a movie playing in the background that neither of us is paying attention to. I’m still wearing his hoodie, curled up against his side, his fingers lazily tracing patterns on my thigh.

And for the first time in forever—

I don’t feel like I’m running from anything. I feel safe.

I feel home.

Aiden presses a slow kiss to my temple, his voice quiet. “I’m going to ruin you for any other man out there.”

I tilt my head up, smirking. “Not if I ruin you first.”

His gaze darkens, his fingers tightening on my thigh.

“Angel Face.”

I grin. “Knight.”

He smiles and lowers his head down to kiss me. Slow and deep and devastating.

And I let him.