Page 41 of Thorns of Deceit

After I’d fed her broth and dry toast, I eased her into bed. Not two minutes after her head hit the pillow, she was snoring.

On the way home, neither one of us spoke.

Now, as I waited for him to wake up, I stared at his peaceful face, stroking his hair and wondering how I’d gotten so lucky amidst the chaos of recent events.

I blamed my newfound obsession on Athena. Ever since she’d started recommending romance novels (okay, smut), I’d developed a fascination with romantic gestures. And Aiden’s actions yesterday were some of the nicest anyone had ever done for me.

It might also be the fact that this man had been nothing but kind since he dragged me into his fancy penthouse. And his expert mouth and touches that made my flesh burn in the best way possible sure didn’t hurt.

Although I was still a virgin, I had no doubt he’d see to it that that was no longer the case. Soon, I hoped.

My husband’s arm was wrapped around my middle, my face buried in his chest, and I inhaled his unique scent. It was rich, deep, and warm, with a hint of leather. In the span of two weeks, it’d become my favorite fragrance.

I ran my fingers over his rock-hard chest and paused as the wedding ring diamonds glimmered under the morning sun. For the hundredth time, I struggled to come to terms with the fact that I was married.

I didn’t know how to move forward.

He’d given me his credit card, but I didn’t know what to do with it. My plans had gotten derailed, and a part of me resented destiny. My friends were halfway across the world, already closer to France, and I was here. My nineteen-year-old heart wanted to go to Paris, and?—

“Mmmm.” Aiden’s sleepy, husky voice caused me to lift my face and meet his blue eyes. “This is my favorite way to wake up, wife.” He smiled.

I had to fight the urge to look behind me when he saidwife. Surely it couldn’t be me, but it sure as fuck was.

“M-morning,” I stuttered, still not quite able to refer to him ashusband. “Sleep well?”

He paused, searching my face. “You didn’t?”

I shook my head.

“No.” His brow furrowed and I quickly corrected. “I mean, yes. I slept well.”

“Are you upset about your mother?” He stared at me. “I saw she texted you.”

Somehow I wasn’t surprised. Little seemed to escape his notice. I couldn’t tell him she’d texted me asking if I would come by her place alone tomorrow. Her message was brief, not that her others were ever long, but it set me on edge. She said she needed to discuss something with me urgently, and I worried whether it was about moving towns or something else entirely.

I didn’t want my mom to move, and I secretly wished that Aiden’s protection could extend to her as well. Maybe she could put down roots, spread her wings, and find a sense of purpose and even some friends. Yet I didn’t know how to bring it up, or how much to say. After all, I hadn’t fully understood why she had been on the move so relentlessly throughout the nineteen years of my life.

“I’m not exactly happy about what happened,” I admitted. “It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Get it out of your mind,” he said, his voice firm as he stroked my cheek. “What our family does or doesn’t do isn’t on us.”

I bit my lower lip, knowing he was right but also realizing it wasn’t that simple. We were married now, and while everyone would claim that came with trust, I couldn’t ignore the weightit’d placed on me. I couldn’t bring myself to admit to him that our “marriage” felt like a wall between me and my dreams. And whether it was fair or not, I blamed him for it. Not a day went by when I didn’t curse myself for showing up to my shift at Velvet Desire early. And what was worse, every time I regretted the decisions that’d led me down that dark hallway, I was reminded that I wouldn’t have met Aiden had it gone differently. I would never have felt the intensity of his gaze and the tenderness of his touch.

I couldn’t fathom it.

I chewed my bottom lip. “We could try to visit her again? Or maybe I can go to her alone, prepare her a little for the news?”

He paused, stroking my cheek. “Alone?”

“You could wait outside,” I blurted. “I just think it would be better if I eased her into this… us… the marriage.”

Two heartbeats passed before he answered. “Okay. If you think that’ll help.”

“Really?” It was hard to hide my surprise.

“Yes, really.” He tilted his head. “This is a two-way street, and in order for it to work, it’s important you share your thoughts and feelings. I was going to suggest we find your mom a place closer to the penthouse, but only if you want to.”

I opened my mouth to tell him she couldn’t afford it when he beat me to the punch. “I’ll handle all the expenses.”