He closes the space between us and tilts his head as his gaze moves over my face, disturbed by whatever he’s seeing. “I’m sorry for being home so late. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”
I shake my head. “Don’t deflect, Aiden.”
He winces. “So it’s Aiden now and not pretty boy, hm?”
I fold my arms over my chest and scowl.
He sighs and fingers a lock of my hair between two fingers. “We were blindsided and attacked on our way back here. Hawk and I had to take Ryder back to his stepfather’s house, then help Jaxon with our new captive. I lost track of time. I’m sorry.”
My eyes widen, and I drop my arms to my sides. “Who attacked you?”
“We don’t know. All of them were wearing helmets to hide their identities. We don’t know the one we took, though. He doesn’t look familiar.”
“And the hand?”
“It was Declan’s hand. They couldn’t reattach it because of the damage and too much time passing after it was sawed off.” Aiden winces in sympathy. “I feel bad for Hawk’s cousin. He really went through a lot, and we had no idea he was being held captive this whole time.”
“Why did they throw it through the window?” I grimace at the memory.
“It was a message.”
I swallow hard at the grim look on his face. “How did they know where we live?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” His voice comes out robotic, and his eyes lose focus.
I step closer to him and rest my hand on his chest. “It’s not your fault. A lot has been happening.”
He nods and doesn’t say anything, but I hear the gears turning in his head. I see the guilt on his face.
The only way I know how to pull him out of that dark pit is distraction.
“I’ll help you with the cuts and see if you need stitches.”
Life returns to his eyes, and he pulls on the mask he wears so well. But he’s not fooling me. He flashes his flirty smile and settles his hand on my waist before bending and kissing my ear. “You really like playing nurse with me, don’t you? You gonna kiss them better?”
“Do you have a medical kink?” I shove his chest, and he barely budges. All I get is an exhausted laugh from him as his hand slips to my ass for a quick squeeze.
“Nah.” He chuckles and kisses beneath my jaw. “I have a sister kink, though.”
A shudder rolls through me, and my breath hitches.
Stepping back, I grab his hand and tug him to the counter. “Behave. I want to clean the cuts.”
“I’ll be a good boy.” He bites his bottom lip, a smile peeking through.
I duck my head to hide my cheesy smile and search through the cabinets for the first-aid kit, which at least has some ointment I can slather on the wounds and call it good. I inspect his face and check whether any of the lacerations need stitches.
Aiden watches me, dark circles bruising under his dull eyes. He doesn’t complain that I’m worrying over him. The whole time he has a lopsided smile and occasionally squeezes my side roll or rubs my thigh like it’s soothing for him, just as it is for me.
I finish putting ointment on the cuts and turn to the counter, giving him my back. “It looks like they’re not deep enough for stitches.” I tuck the kit back into its place beneath the sink. “You should go to bed and get some sleep.”
Aiden grabs my shoulder and spins me toward him. His lips crash against mine, full of possessiveness and affection.
“Thank you, baby,” he mumbles against my mouth. His teeth nip my bottom lip before pulling away with a sleepy smile.
My stomach flips, and I stare at him, unable to form words.
I love it when he calls me his pretty girl. However, something about him calling me baby makes it more intimate. Possessive. Like I really am his and that he feels the same way I do.
