He nodded.“I took off the bandages.I’ll just have to be careful until I can rewrap them in the morning.”
Accepting his answer, she rolled to her back and spread her legs, allowing him to clean her up before he tossed the washcloth to the floor.
To her surprise, his aftercare hadn’t been awkward and when he slid in beside her and pulled up the covers, she didn’t complain or suggest she return to her room.Her brain was fully functioning and what she’d learned when she came home earlier slammed back into her.He could have been killed tonight.
She had the definite sense he knew more than he was telling her about whether it had been a deliberate move or an accident.He hadn’t lied but he had protected her from the knowledge he held back.For now, she was okay with that.She had enough fear in hearing about the incident and she couldn’t handle losing him.Not when they were tentatively making their way back to each other.
So she was content to stay in his bed, let him wrap his big body around hers, and fall asleep in his arms.Talking aboutthemcould wait until morning.
Chapter Seventeen
Brooke woke upand knew immediately she wasn’t in her own bed.She’d slept well, which surprised her, considering everything weighing on her mind.She wasn’t one to easily push away things that bothered her but last night, she had.Probably because she’d slept with Aiden, and despite the past, being with him made her feel safe.
Memories of the night before came rushing back and she could admit no one ever made her feel as good and as wanted as Aiden.Sex after he’d left had been perfunctory and unsatisfying.In fact, she’d only had two partners she allowed that close, and she’d ended things quickly afterward.
Turning from facing the wall, she hoped to see Aiden still asleep beside her.His side of the bed was empty.She didn’t panic, knowing she was in both his room and house.He couldn’t have gone far.
But did he have regrets?Was she once again reading more into one night than he was?She sat up in bed, echoes of past humiliation reverberating inside her.The best thing she could do was go next door to her bedroom and meet up with him downstairs, fully dressed, makeup on, armor in place.
She rose from the bed just as the bedroom door opened.Realizing she was naked, she grabbed the closest piece of clothing she could find and held Aiden’s shirt against the front of her body for protection.
Aiden strode into the room, tray of food in hand.His gaze took her in and he shut the door behind him with his body.“Sorry.But nobody’s out there.Our parents are downstairs, but I think it’s a good idea to keep that locked for now.”He put the tray on the table next to the door and pushed in the button on the doorknob.
Without meeting his gaze, she pulled on his T-shirt, grateful when it fell to her upper thighs.
He carried the food to the desk in the corner of his room and set down the tray.“Breakfast is served.”
She stepped over and eyed the two plates of scrambled eggs and whole wheat toast.“You cook?”she asked, surprised, though she didn’t know why.There wasn’t much she knew about him now.
He shook his head.“Hell, no.Your mom did.It’s the same thing she made for my father, but his were egg whites.”
Brooke managed a laugh.Alex wouldn’t be happy with that.“Did you tell them about…” She trailed off, which was ridiculous.She was an adult.
He shook his head.“I thought it was best to keep that quiet for now.Until we both decided what happens next.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him whathewanted to happen, but since she didn’t know how she felt, she wasn’t ready to hear the answer.Last night hadn’t fixed the problems between them, but it had knocked down her walls even more.
He handed her a cup of coffee, and she took a sip, surprised and pleased to find he’d made it just the way she liked it, with lots of sugar.He pulled out the chair at his desk and gestured for her to sit.
Once she’d settled there, he sat on the edge of the bed while they ate.She nibbled on a piece of toast, taking in all that was Aiden.In a pair of gray sweatpants, his bare chest on display, she couldn’t help but admire his lean muscles.Though not a six-pack, his abs were tight, and his chest was broad with a light sprinkling of hair.
She remembered the way his sculpted muscles felt under her fingers, and her nipples turned hard as she imagined setting her plate aside and spending the morning exploring his body in the light of day.
Her gaze settled on his right shoulder, and she noticed the dark ink for the first time.“When did you get a tattoo?”she asked, taking in the compass pointing north.Though she thought hard, she couldn’t figure out its meaning.
Aiden grinned and took a bite of his toast before answering.“I got that last year in Amsterdam.I found a little tattoo shop near the hostel where I was staying and I liked the look of the sketches in the window.”
“Why a compass?”she asked.“Does it represent your travels?”
He held her gaze.“No.The compass facing north is about you, Brooke.You’re my North Star,” he said in a gruff voice.
She swallowed hard.“Even after everything, you permanently marked yourself for me?”
He took her hand.“I always knew I’d come back to you eventually.Not that I was sure you’d still be here for me, but it signified my hope.”
Her heart swelled at all of it.The tattoo for her, the emotions behind it.“Aiden—”
He shook his head.“You asked, I answered.No need to get too deep right now.”
