Shuttered Affections (Cornerstone #1) (16 page)

“It never came up and you were so mad at me when I left your
apartment, I…” he sighed and continued. “Shit, I feel like such a douche for
this but… I wanted to do something to get your attention. I figured pulling out
the twin-card would at least get you to talk to me.”

I laughed at his game plan. It was absurd and cute.

“I wasn’t mad at you when you left, Aiden. I was
embarrassed. But I know we don’t have time to talk about it now, just know, I
wasn’t mad at you,” I admitted.

To change the subject slightly, I added, “So, are you and
Coda close?”

“Yes, very close. Twins usually are though. He knows… well,
I tell him everything. He knew about you and how I seemed to have lost my
ever-loving mind over you. He probably laughed at me for several hours straight
over the revelation that I’m tied in knots over a girl.”

I smiled. “Does he know that I’m one of your students?”

“Yes. I had to get his advice. He’s a lawyer and I admire
his intelligence and common sense when it comes to important life decisions,”
he explained, but didn’t continue.

“Do you mind me asking these questions, Aiden?”

“No, Angel. I love being able to share anything with you. I’m
just worried you may not like what he had to say about… us,” he said with
sadness in his tone.

I sat up in bed and held my breath as I commanded, “Please,
tell me.”

An exasperated sigh came through the phone before he finally
spoke and said, “Coda made his opinion very clear that I should keep it in my
pants while you’re still enrolled at the school. He said he will be there for
me, no matter what path I choose, but that it would be best for you and me if
we kept our distance from each other.”

“Oh,” was all I could say. I was speechless and completely
heartbroken. Yet, at the same time, I was also relieved that he had such a
sensible brother to keep him out of trouble. Trouble meaning… me.

“But, Julia, that was before he met you. After last night,
after seeing the two of us together, he said there’s no way in hell I could, or
even should, keep my distance. However, he did tell me to tone down the PDA. He
got quite graphic about that,” he explained.

“Coda really got me, though. He seemed to understand why I’m
so infatuated with you, mesmerized by you. Even he couldn’t stop talking about
you last night. We stayed up until two just talking. We haven’t done that since
before we left home.”

“Really?” I asked, astonished they talked about me for so
long. “He liked me?”

“Of course he liked you. He especially liked it when you put
me in my place. You showed him your sexy side and your takes-no-shit side. It
had him all twisted up, too. I had to warn him several times that you are…”

He trailed off. I would bet my left leg he was about to say
he had to warn Coda that I was his.

“You can say it, Aiden. I won’t yell at you this time. Not
now. No matter what unresolved issues you and I may have. At this moment,
you’re clearly here for me when I need you. And I’m so appreciative,” I
conceded. I needed him to know I valued his attempts to make me feel better.

“Hell, Julia. I don’t deserve your kindness. Yeah, I admit,
I had to remind him that I saw you first…”

I cut him off. “No, Aiden. Say it. Please?”

“You are mine,” he all but growled. “Is that what you wanted
to hear, Juliana? That I had to warn my twin brother that you belong to me?”

I smiled. I didn’t say anything. I just smiled.

“I can hear you smiling, Angel,” he said with an accusatory,
yet endearing, tone.

“You’ll never be able to prove it, Mr. Stone,” I said with a
huge grin on my face.

“I only wish I was there to witness the smile I bring to
your face, Angel mine. Tell me, are you still touching yourself?”

“Are you still driving?” I asked, worried he shouldn’t be
driving while talking seductively to me like this.

“No, Julia. I’m parked in my spot at school,” he assured me.
“Although, I’m really glad I had the darker tint installed on these windows. I
need relief just thinking about you touching yourself.”

“Is it bad that I like having such an effect on you?” I
asked with feigned innocence in my voice.

“God, no. You have more of an effect on me than you can
possibly imagine, Juliana. And I can only hope you take pleasure in knowing how
head-over-heels I am for you.”

Damn. His words made me melt.

“Does it help for you to know that I’m now touching myself
lower?” I asked, knowing it would drive him plum-crazy.

“Aww, hell. I’m never going to calm down enough to go to
class, now,” he said with slight humor in his tone.

“Would you like me to stop, Aiden?” I asked, continuing my
innocent-as-pie act. I had no intention of stopping.

“Hell no, Angel. I want you to please yourself. Pretend I’m
the one taking care of you. Think of my fingers gliding between your warm, wet pussy,”
he seductively said, a hiss emanating through his teeth at the end.

I arched my back and picked up speed with my fingers,
feeling the desire build in my abdomen. I groaned at the sensation of my
fingers circling my clit and the thought of him touching himself in a public
parking lot.

“Tell me what you want to do to me, Aiden. If you were here,
what would you want?” I asked with a newfound confidence.

“At the moment, I am feeling rather selfish. I would love to
watch you pleasure yourself first. Watch those dainty fingers of yours get
slick and wet with your juices. Watch you close your eyes and moan as your fingers
play with your sweetness—although, I probably wouldn’t be able to keep
from touching you for long. Just thinking of your slick fingers touching and
circling your clit makes me want to lick them clean and then make you come with
my tongue.”

“Ahh… Just the mention of your tongue on me gets me excited,
Aiden,” I admitted.

“I bet you taste divine. I can’t wait to taste the sweet
honey between your legs,” he said with eagerness.

His words made a new set of flutters wreak havoc on my
belly. I could feel each pulse of my finger and imagined it was his tongue
taking me to the edge.

“Oh, God, Aiden.”

“Damn. What I wouldn’t give to watch you touch yourself. Come
for me, Julia. Let me hear how wonderful your touch feels.”

“Come. With me. Please,” I begged between pants.

“Shit, Julia. I will. Just the sound of your pleasurable
cries will push me over, baby. Come for me. I want to hear you say my name as
you explode.”

His words were my undoing and an uncontainable shudder
rolled over my body. It started deep in my abdomen and radiated outward to
every nerve ending in my hypersensitive skin.

“Oh, Aiden!” I cried out as I burst in every conceivable
direction and rode the fierce wave of my release.

Just as I closed my eyes to control the sudden burst of
pleasure, I heard Aiden groan and pant, “Fuck, Julia. Oh…”

Quick, short breaths emanated through the phone and it was
all the evidence I needed to know he found his release as well.

As his ragged breathing began to slow and steady, I moaned,
unable to get my mouth to work properly to form any coherent words.

“Damn. I’m glad I had my gym towel in here, or I would be a
hot mess,” he chuckled.

“Mmm…” was all I could manage with a smile on my face.

“Was that enough distraction for you, love? Think you can
sleep now?” he asked with tenderness.

“Mmm… yeah. I think I’m good and sated,” I admitted with a
slur to my words.

“I’m glad, Julia. I’ll try to make it over to see you as
soon as I can. Just get some sleep for me, okay? I plan on working you hard
later and need you to be rested,” he said, a grin obvious through his tone.

Revealing his plans for me had my insides quicken again, but
I knew I was too physically tired to go through another orgasm.

“That sounds divine, Aiden. I can’t wait to see you,” I
confessed.

“Sweet dreams, Angel mine.”

“Mmm… thank you, Aiden.”

As we hung up, I let myself get taken by the sandman and
praised the comfort of my pillow.

About an hour or so later, I awoke to the sounds of the
front door and voices. I tensed and then relaxed just slightly at the fact Pete
was still here.

After a few muffled words were exchanged, I heard my door
creek open. The bed bowed as someone climbed in next to me. His scent filled
the air around me and I could immediately tell who it was. I smiled.

“The sensuality and roughness of his kiss left my lips
swollen and tingling.”

“Aiden,” I whispered with excitement as I turned and gripped
him around the neck with my arms.

“Whoa, Angel. It’s wonderful to see you too,” he said with a
light chuckle.

I looked at the clock, seeing it was only nine forty-five in
the morning. Confusion washed over my face and furrowed my brow.

“Wait. Don’t you have class?” I asked as I loosened my grip
on him.

“Only half the students showed up, and the ones who did are
all ahead in their assignments, so I ended class early. And my next class is your
independent study time, remember?” he reminded me and touched his nose to mine.

It didn’t take me any time to close the gap between us. I
needed to feel his soft lips. My tongue met his, boldly tasting him. Hot and
wet, we devoured each other.

He moved his lips forcefully over mine while pressing me
into the mattress. Tentatively, I slid my tongue over his bottom lip.

A low growl of approval rolled from his chest into my mouth.
It made me feel good to know I affected him like this. Both of his hands
tangled into my hair in an urgent caress as he consumed my mouth.

When he finally broke away, his eyes were bright with
affection. The sensuality and roughness of his kiss left my lips swollen and
tingling.

Using my right hand, I gently touched his soft lips, knowing
full well he would smell my arousal from earlier on my finger. He grabbed my
hand with his, holding it there.

“Damn. That’s so hot,” he grumbled just before he pressed
his lips to my finger and then licked it gently. Letting go of my hand and
pulling away slightly, he just stared at me with pure hunger in his eyes.

He pressed his hand to my cheek and gave me a few more small
pecks before pulling me into his arms.

“Talk to me, Julia.”

“He found me…” were the only words I could mutter to start
the never-ending conversation that was going to follow.

“Juliana, who found you? What is going on? You can trust me.
I would rather die than let anything happen to you. Please, let me protect
you.” He had a mixture of pain and anger rolling through his muscles. Tension
radiated from him as he grabbed me and tugged me into a tight embrace.

“Okay, it’s a long story, but here is the short version… an
ex of mine has found out where I live and I fear him.” I trembled as I said the
words. I couldn’t believe I just told Aiden my deepest secret. True, I didn’t
tell him everything, but just admitting I feared a man was enough to make me
feel weak and vulnerable.

I shivered uncontrollably as Aiden held me in his arms.

Unable to hold the tears back any longer, I began to cry
softly.

“Shhh. Okay, Angel, okay. Shit. What did he do to you?” he
asked as he held me and stroked my back.

I just shook my head and backed away slightly. I was holding
him so tight I’m sure he was probably having trouble breathing.

Trembling, I pulled myself up into a sitting position and
attempted to reign in my messy curls. I sat crisscrossed and faced Aiden, who
was now propped up on his hands and shifting to face me.

I was still wearing my small white t-shirt and panties, but
I no longer felt bashful in front of him. He made me feel comfortable and safe.

“Pete stayed on the couch last night so Sid and I wouldn’t
be alone.” I was trying to blabber about something other than the main subject,
only because I needed to control these waterworks.

“Remind me to thank him.”

I was puzzled by his statement. I was closer to Pete than
any other guy I knew. Why would a new man in my life need to thank Pete for
being my friend? For now, I just let it go.

“Pete and Sid called the police. Not as an emergency
situation, but more as a precaution and to report his harassment over the past week.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I saw his building anger.

Then, as if he knew the anger was beginning to frighten me,
he calmed himself.

“Will you tell me what happened?” was all he asked.

I looked at him with pure fear and sadness in my eyes. I
didn’t want to burden this man with my problems. He deserved so much better.

He grabbed my face with both of his hands and asked, “Are
you all right?” I just nodded and tears began to fall… again.

“Oh, Angel.” He pulled me close to his chest again and held
me tight. “Shhh, it’ll be okay. I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry.”

I pulled away.

“Why would you make promises like that? You don’t know who
this man is. You barely know me.” My voice was a shrill whisper because that is
all I could manage through the tears that strained my throat.

“I know we haven’t known each other long, Julia. But I can’t
ignore how I feel about you. I feel this undeniable force to cherish you. I’ve
never felt this way about anyone before and I’m not going to just let it go. This
man, whoever he is, will never take away what’s mine. I will… I prom…” he
stumbled, as if he had a hard time finding the correct words to express how he
felt.

I decided to put him out of his misery. I rose my head up
and pecked him on his cheek, then used my fingers to tenderly shift his face so
I could peck his other cheek, then his forehead, his nose, and down to his lips.
A small smile spread across his face and it made me smile in return.

“Julia, will you consider staying at my place tonight? Just
as a provision? I don’t want you staying here knowing how terrified you are. You
need a security alarm or something to protect you, but in the meantime, I would
really like it if you would stay with me. I have a guest room where you will be
comfortable. Anything you want. Please…”

I put my fingers over his mouth to shut him up.

“I’ll stay with you… I’ll stay with you only if my roommate
has a place to stay as well. I don’t want her here by herself. He knows she is
my best friend. He is…” I looked down at my hands and urged the words to come
out of my mouth. “He is evil. Pure evil. He’d do anything to get to me and it
scares me he’ll hurt someone I love.”

Aiden hooked his forefinger under my chin and brought my
face too meet his stare.

“What did he do to you, Angel?”