Chapter 42

Aria's POV I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains, momentarily disoriented until memories of the previous night flooded back. My God. Aiden and I had... everything. My cheeks flushed hot just thinking about it. When I tried to move, every muscle in my body protested with a delicious ache. I couldn't even remember how many times we'd made love before I literally passed out in his arms. Three? Four? The details blurred together in a haze of pleasure and exhaustion. The space beside me was empty, the sheets cool to the touch. Aiden must have been gone for hours. A note on his pillow caught my eye: "Had an early meeting. Didn't want to wake you. Rest. -A" I glanced at the clock and gasped. It was nearly noon! I hadn't slept this late since college. Dragging myself from the comfort of the bed was torture, but the thought of facing the household staff after what had clearly been a very... vocal night motivated me to move. I wrapped myself in Aiden's discarded shirt, breathi