Page 9 of Lust & Lies

NOELLE

“WHAT WAS YOUR MEMORY?” Ethan asked.

My attention flicked to Aiden for half a second, still waiting for something from him, a reaction, a question, anything. But there was nothing. Just quiet. I turned my gaze back to the phone and pushed past the sting of his silence.

“When I saw your face,” I said, focusing on Ethan. “I had a memory. Of you.”

His eyebrows lifted, and a slow smile tugged at his mouth. The way his eyes lit up reminded me of Aiden. He looked so much like his brother. But more open and carefree, less guarded.

“Me? I’m your first memory?” he said, like he couldn’t quite believe it.

I nodded.

“I knew you always loved me the most,” he joked. “Wait until I brag about this to Tristan.”

“Who’s Tristan?” I asked.

“Our oldest brother,” Ethan answered. “You probably won’t remember him anytime soon. You and Tristan argue a lot. Especially about the family businesses and which way to steer them to keep up with the new generation and...”

Aiden cleared his throat. Loudly.

Ethan stopped mid-sentence. “I forgot I’m not allowed to tell you stuff,” he said, glancing offscreen. “Sorry, Aiden.”

Aiden didn’t respond, just stared. I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or something else. So, no talking about the family business. Got it. I’d expected him to want to keep something much more nefarious from me.

Unless he didn’t want to discuss his family business because it was shady. I honestly had no idea what my husband did for a living. Was his job the big secret between us?

“It’s okay,” I told Ethan, trying to keep things light, even as the tension in the room crept higher.

Ethan leaned back and relaxed again, letting out a breath. “So, what was your memory of me? I bet it was the time we broke into my father’s liquor cabinet and drank his vodka, replacing it with water.”

I blinked. “We did that?”

“Oh yeah. We were always breaking into his cabinet when we were younger. We once stole one of his guns and...”

“Ethan!” Aiden cut in, tone harsh and angry this time.

Ethan froze. His whole expression changed. “Shit,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have said that, huh?”

“It’s time to say goodbye,” Aiden said, stepping closer.

But my thoughts were already unraveling that thread of information he’d let slip. If Ethan and I were getting into trouble like that when we were younger, then I hadn’t married into their world. I’d been in it for a long time.

“Wait!” Ethan said. “At least let her tell me what her memory was.”

Aiden hesitated, then looked at me. “You don’t have to share your memory if you don’t want to. There’s a chance it could be a false memory.”

I wanted to share it. I needed to know if it was real or not.

“Um... I remembered you cooking for me,” I said to Ethan.

He perked up instantly. “That makes sense. I’m the best cook in the family. You even said my cooking was better than Aiden’s. When Dad would kick me out, I’d crash at your place. You made me pay for staying there by cooking for you and...”

“Ethan!” Aiden snapped again.

Ethan raised both hands. “Fuck! Okay, okay. I won’t say more. I’m just glad I was your first memory, Noe. We’ve been friends longer than you and Aiden have been married. And that’s all I’m going to say.”

Aiden took the phone from me. “Don’t call back unless it’s an emergency,” he told his brother, then ended the call.

Just before the screen went dark, Ethan managed one last smile. “Feel better soon, Noe. And I’ll come visit you once you’re up to it.” And then he was gone.

Aiden slid his phone into his pocket and stared down at me.

“Your first memory was of my brother and not me. I’m jealous,” he admitted, but he didn’t look upset.

“It sounds like your brother and I are close,” I replied, watching his face for a reaction. “He looks fun.”

“Fun? More like troublesome.”

“Did I used to get into a lot of trouble with him?” I pressed, not hiding my curiosity.

“Not a lot. But, I admit that the two of you together, talking quietly, usually worried me.”

“Why?” I asked, hoping it didn’t involve cheating.

“Because it usually meant you two were planning something that would either force me to come save you or force me to spend money to clean up the mess you’d made.”

“Really? Was I that easily persuaded by your brother?”

Aiden chuckled. “It was my brother who was easily persuaded by you.”

My mouth dropped open. “Are you saying I’m the troublemaker, Aiden Park?”

His smile was back in full force, and that made me smile. It was sinful how handsome this man was.

“I’ll say this and then I’ll let you remember the rest on your own. It was you who taught my baby brother how to pick a lock.”

“No!” I gasped. “Me?”

“Yes, you,” Aiden insisted, chuckling. “Now, have a seat while I finish up the food. I still need to prepare some rice.”

I walked back to the island, dragging my fingers along the edge of the counter before sitting.

“Was I a criminal?” I asked.

“Criminals get caught,” Aiden answered without missing a beat, already moving back into his cooking rhythm.

“No. Convicted criminals get caught. Anyone who commits criminal activity is a criminal. I’m a criminal, aren’t I?”

He was laughing now, full-blown laughter. It sounded good.

“You’re not a criminal. You grew out of the picking locks stage a long time ago.”

“So, we’ve known each other since we were kids, huh?”

He froze, hand pausing mid-stir. Had I probed too much? Shit. I needed to be patient. I could get him to reveal stuff as long as I didn’t push too hard and too often.

“I know, I know,” I said quickly. “You can’t tell me.”

He looked over his shoulder, and his intense gaze met mine. “I’ll just say this for now. I’ve been in love with you for a very long time, Mrs. Park.”

I swallowed, unable to look away from him. A flicker of something bloomed within me. Not a memory. But a feeling. Could feelings count as memories, too? I didn’t really know how to describe this flicker of emotion.

Was it love? Was I remembering my love for Aiden Park? The spell he had over me was broken when he turned back to what he was doing. I exhaled the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

I sat there staring at him, trying to figure out my emotions as he finished cooking and started plating the food. Aiden brought the plates over, setting mine down in front of me, then his beside it.

Two bowls of rice followed, and then chopsticks, napkins, and a spoon. From the way he was setting everything up, I could tell he’d done this for me before.

Not my weak ass growing teary-eyed again as I stared up at him.

I blinked them back, noting the way he moved my bowl to the side and my napkins closer, trying to get them perfect for me.

“You’re all set,” he said, taking a step back.

“This feels like a lot,” I mused, eyeing the spread.

“This actually isn’t much at all.”

I inhaled deeply, mouth already watering. “It smells sooo good.”

“Let me know how it tastes.”

As he sat down, I asked, “Do I know how to use chopsticks?”

“Damn, I forgot.” He stood again. “I can show you how to use them if you’ve forgotten.”

“I can probably figure it out. It should be like riding a bike, right?”

He chuckled, and my heart did a little flip in my chest. If he kept this up, I’d have a heart attack soon.

“Try to use them,” he told me, standing behind me now.

“Okay.” I picked up the chopsticks and tried to use them.

I held one stick between my thumb and index finger, the other resting awkwardly against my ring finger. They wobbled, tips crossing like they were jousting. I attempted to pick up a piece of food, but it slipped away, mocking me.

Come on, Noelle. You can do this. I think.

I tried again. My broccoli nearly fell off my plate. Aiden stepped closer, his presence warm against my back. He reached around me, his hand enveloping mine. Damn, his hand was big. I eyed his fingers as they moved, imagining them touching me instead of those chopsticks.

My thoughts were instantly pulled back to that kiss and the way he’d choked me. I couldn’t suppress the shiver that made my entire body tremble. If he felt it, he didn’t say anything. I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and forced myself to listen to what he was saying.

“Here,” he murmured, guiding my fingers. His touch was gentle, patient. He adjusted my grip, repositioning the sticks. “Hold the bottom part like this. Then move the top part with your index and middle fingers.”

As he spoke, his voice dipped low, a rich murmur that made me wonder what he sounded like when he moaned. With each word, his breath caressed the shell of my ear, igniting a trail of goosebumps along my neck and sending a shiver down my spine.

I nodded, pretending I was absorbing his instructions, but the truth was, I wasn’t listening. Not really. How could I when I was ensnared by the heat of his hand against mine? His chest was like a wall of muscle against my back.

I felt so much smaller than him. And with his arms around me, I felt caged in by him, and I wasn’t opposed to this feeling. My thoughts took a trip down naughty lane, and I immediately imagined myself face-down on soft sheets, his much larger body pinning me in place.

I could almost feel the weight of him against me, the feel of his large hands roaming over my body. His mouth trailing along the side of my neck, biting just hard enough to hurt, and then kissing away the pain. I swallowed hard. Was that a memory, or was that my own lusty thoughts?

“Are you listening to me?” he whispered, voice husky now, the edge of his lips brushing the shell of my ear.

Another shiver crept over me. He had to know. He had to feel what he was doing to me. If he could pretend, so could I.

“Y-yes,” I stammered, shoving those naughty thoughts out of my head.

He resumed instructing me, and with his help, I managed to pick up a piece of food. It felt like a small victory. Now, if I could only be victorious over the way my body was responding to his, that would be great.

“See? You’ve got it. Good job, baby,” he praised, his voice low.

His compliment made my heart and my pussy flutter. I turned to look at him, only to gasp at how close we were. Our lips were inches apart. He didn’t move, neither did I. But I was silently urging him to come closer, to kiss me the way he’d done earlier. The tension crackled like static between us.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

He smiled, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just the two of us. The warmth of his hands, the closeness of his body, the intensity of his gaze, it was almost overwhelming. His eyes dropped to my lips.

For a second, I thought he was going to do it. I thought he was going to kiss me. My breath caught, heart thudding in my chest. My eyes almost drifted shut in anticipation. Then he spoke, replying to my thanks.

“Anytime,” he replied, stepping back to his seat.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and ignore the disappointment threading through me. My memory might be gone, but my feelings for my husband were starting to resurface with a heat that felt impossible to ignore.