Chapter 58

Aiden's POV I felt my jaw tighten as I held the delicate black lace between my fingers. The image of Aria wearing this flashed unbidden through my mind, and something primal stirred within me. Her pale skin against the dark fabric, the lace hugging every curve, revealing and concealing in equal measure. My mind wandered to how it would feel to slowly peel it away from her body, inch by inch, exposing her to my gaze, my touch. "Is this part of the replacement too?" I asked, my voice coming out rougher than intended. Aria's face flushed a deep crimson as she snatched the lingerie from my hand, stuffing it back into the pink shopping bag with frantic movements. "No! God, no," she stammered. "Lillian must have accidentally put her purchase in my bag. It's—it's not mine." I kept my eyes fixed on the road, but my peripheral vision caught her nervous fidgeting. The lie was so transparent it almost amused me. "Really?" I drawled, allowing skepticism to color my tone. "Because that looks exactl