Chapter 10

Carla

Living with Aeden is more complicated than it sounds. My frustration level has skyrocketed because I am around this sinful creature but can’t do anything about it. 

I try. It’s not that I don't try but with him around, it’s so hard. We do have different rooms but he’s around all the time. He’s everything you would want in your man. He’s near yet so far.

I stopped twirling the spoon in the chicken soup I was making and took another one to see if I forgot to put the salt in it. I was so occupied in my thoughts, that I’m pretty sure that there is no salt in this soup.

I dipped the spoon in and directly shoved it into my mouth, without thinking it through that it would be hot and I could burn my mouth.

 It was hot! Like really hot! 

I instantly dropped the spoon and started jumping. 

“Hot! Hot! Hot!” I whimpered, jumping. Tears gathered the corner of my eyes at the stinging sensation in my mouth. It was really hot.

I was so caught up in whimpering and jumping, that I didn’t realize when I got closer to the wall and bumped into it.

“Ouch,” I said as I moved to step back rubbing my nose. The wall was wet. Now, my face was wet because of it.

Wait, why was the wall wet?

I looked up to see a half-naked Aeden standing in front of me. Water was dripping down his hair and he was looking at me with his creased brows. I accidentally looked down his bare chest and shivered. His well-built body and abs were on full display. I gulped looking at his firm and taught chest. My mouth involuntarily opened as I was busy ogling him.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, snapping myself out of my thoughts. ‘This is wrong!’ I reminded myself and turned around like nothing ever happened.

I rubbed my nose with my palm while my mouth was on fire. I closed my eyes and tried to control my racing heartbeat. 

I flinched miserably when I felt a hand was brushed against my hip and lingered there. I moved a step back only to hit his hard chest. He was too close to me. His citrus cologne filled my nostrils and a soft moan escape my lips. Realizing what I had just done, I bit my lower lip. I should not let him know the effect he has on me.

He pushed me to the counter and pressed himself against me and my breathing hitched at that. I closed my eyes as I inhaled deeply. I felt his warm breath fan my shoulder. I shivered when I felt him move his face up and ever so slightly brush his subtle against my soft cheeks. Heat crept up my entire body and I breathed out shakily. His hold on my hip tightened and heard a low growl? 

Did he just growl? 

I placed my hands on the counter, trying to breathe. He pushed me up against the counter, making me stand on my toes. His front pressed against my back. My t-shirt was now damp as the water droplets that rolled down from his hair, fell on my shoulders and back.

I looked to my side, at him. A crease formed between my brows when his gaze was on something else. He moved his free hand up as I tore my eyes from him and looked down at his hand on my hip. 

And just like that, he moved away. I was breathing heavily and taking some time to normalize and turned around to face him.

He was a few steps away from me and was holding something in his hand. Walking closer to me, without averting his penetrating gaze, he stuffed a spoon full of something in my mouth and pulled it out.

“Sugar is known for relieving the burning sensation,” he said as he took a step back and continued looking at me. He was still close enough to make me hold my breath.

I looked at him confused as I chewed the spoon full of sugar he just shoved in my mouth. When did he notice I burnt my tongue? How long has he been observing me?

He smirked briefly and turned around and moved the living room and slumped on the couch. 

I just looked at him bewildered. I blinked my eyes a few times. What just happened? I looked at him from across the kitchen and he sat looking at the football which was playing on the TV like nothing just happened right now.

After contemplating and looking around, I went back and added the salt to the soup which, I was right about. But that didn’t matter now because I had burnt all of my taste buds. The only reason I was home so early cooking was because I was starving. It was an extremely hectic day.

Did I just call his home, home? What’s wrong with me? It was definitely bigger than mine and his penthouse had an amazing pool and I have to admit, it was exotic looking. I moved here a week ago and I have finally settled in. It was great that I was allowed to do anything and come and go anytime, once he handed me the security code.

I sighed as I pulled two plates out and put them on the dining table. I arranged the rest of the dishes and called him so he could come to have dinner. This wasn’t usually the thing but today I was early so, I decided to send the cook home and prepare something myself. It was Aeden who came home early every day and would have gone to bed by the time I returned.

I served him the rice and the chicken soup with some broccoli curry on the side. He sat down in front of me. After serving ourselves, I looked up to see him still shirtless. I looked at him in disbelief. Is he really gonna sit like that?

He ate like there was nothing wrong and I tried to eat too but I wasn’t able to concentrate. My eyes involuntarily would land on him. I had already lost my ability to taste and I didn’t want to lose my appetite either. 

“Can you please put a shirt or something on,” I said, slamming the fork in my plate. He looked up at me and paused midway with the spoon full of soup.

“What?” He asked. I licked my lower lip as he looked at me. There was just something about the way he looked at me. I always found my heart thundering and my knees weakening. 

“P...put something on. It’s a...a distraction,” I stuttered under his gaze. He looked down but the corner of his lips curled up onto what I thought was a smirk but just as soon as it appeared, it vanished and the cold and distant look was back again. He looked up with his cold blue eyes and nodded.

He got up and went up the stairs. I closed my eyes and exhaled. He came back with a white t-shirt on and after that, none of uttering a single word. 

The silence was killing me. I usually eat with the tv on. I need some sort of noise to keep the food going down my throat. And except for the occasional clack of the cutlery, it was so quiet.

“This is some good curry,” he spoke breaking the silence.

“Really? Thanks,” I chirped. Out of all the useless things I did, this was the only thing I was proud of.

“Yeah, it’s good,” he said and looked at me, making me blush. I looked down immediately so he couldn’t catch me blushing.

“Where did you get the recipe from?” He asked moaning while eating. A proud smile crept on my face. He likes my curry! 

“It was my mother’s recipe,” I said looking at him, happy. He looked at me smiled.

“This was the best thing today,” he said and for some reason, I felt content.

“By the way, where are your parents?” He asked making me drop my smile instantly. 

Where are my parents?

The loud wailing and screams rushed my mind. The begging, slashing, crying, everything. The darkroom where I lost her, all the awful memories.

“Carla? Are you okay?” He asked me shaking my shoulder. I blinked and looked up at him. He looked concerned. 

He moved his hand closer to my face and wiped the tears off my cheeks. I hadn’t realized I was crying till he wiped my tears.

I looked at him and nodded. Wiping the tears with the back of my hand, I pushed the chair back and got up. I lost my appetite. Without uttering a single syllable, I walked out of there and rushed to my room, and locked myself up.

I slid against the door and sat down and pulled my legs closer to my chest. I let my tears flow. My parents have always been a sensitive topic and it usually took a long for me to forget it and I guess this just happens to be one of those nights...