Chapter 41

Aria's POV The mansion seemed impossibly quiet as we stepped inside. Every nerve in my body was alive, hypersensitive to Aiden's presence beside me. His hand rested possessively on the small of my back, guiding me through the grand foyer. I could still feel the ghost of his lips on mine, the pressure of his hands on my body. The car ride had awakened something in me I didn't know existed - a hunger that wouldn't be satisfied with just a taste. "Would you like a drink?" he asked, his voice lower than usual, rough around the edges. I shook my head. "No. Not tonight." His eyes darkened at my response, understanding exactly what I meant. No barriers, no liquid courage. I wanted to remember every moment of what was about to happen. "Come," he said simply, taking my hand. The walk up the grand staircase felt like the longest journey of my life. My legs trembled slightly, not from fear but from anticipation. When we reached the door to the master bedroom - our bedroom, though I'd never slept