Chapter 186

Aria's POV I'd originally planned to spend the whole day at home, but I got kicked out after lunch. When I returned to our sprawling villa, the place seemed deserted. Walking to the kitchen island, I poured myself a glass of lukewarm water and watched Aiden as he talked on his phone. The three o'clock sunlight bathed him perfectly, making his black outfit seemingly glow around the edges. My eyes fixated on his throat, watching his Adam's apple bob up and down as he spoke. Before I realized it, I'd drained the entire glass. Lost in my trance, I barely noticed when he ended the call. In a few quick strides, he was standing right in front of me. He flicked his finger against my empty glass, his lips curving into that maddening smirk. "What are you staring at so intently?" he asked, voice low and husky. "Your Adam's apple," I blurted out, my brain-to-mouth filter completely malfunctioning. "And I don't just want to look—I want to touch it." Without waiting for permission, I reached out and