Shuttered Affections (Cornerstone #1) (21 page)

“Our lips met, starting a heated fire that could melt
metal.”

Just as my worry increased with every silent second that
passed, I felt his fingers trace the middle of my back, between my shoulder
blades.

“Angel,” he whispered.

The tattoo that adorned the center of my back, only a few
inches below my neckline, was a beautiful and very well done tattoo of an angel.
Actually, it was a tattoo of me with a halo and wings. I sat, curled up in a
ball, with my arms wrapped around my left knee while my right leg circled
underneath and lay gracefully so my ankle rested near my left ass cheek. My
head was bowed, buried into my arms, so my face was not visible. Huge wings,
each one larger than my tiny body, spanned from my back equally on each side. A
dainty halo floated gracefully above my bowed head.

The wings of the angel covered my scars—scars from my
past I wished no one would even care to ask about.

Turning my gaze to look over my shoulder at him, I wanted to
hide.

As he pushed a few more errant curls over my shoulder, I
noticed his expression was one of complete amazement.

The silence was torture. I needed him to assure me he didn’t
hate it.

“Aiden…”

 
“Angel. God, I
can’t believe you didn’t tell me about this. It’s amazing. And so perfect. It
looks like you.”

I buried my face in the pillow and didn’t turn as I spoke
and whispered, “It is me.”

With that revelation, he touched my face, bringing me to
look up at him beyond my shoulder.

“What do you mean, it’s you?” he asked, with confusion
across his brow.

I bit my lip. I really didn’t want to bring up my previous
relationship, but the fact he called me Angel and I never admitted to having
the tattoo, I felt I owed him an explanation.

“A few years ago, I still felt all the remnants of that
awful relationship and the realization that I came so close to not getting out
of the terrible situation. I began to collect angels. It’s as if they made me
feel free. While Sid was looking at tattoos and contemplating whether to get
one, I had an itch to get one myself,” I explained. “He left a few scars on me
from one awful night and… I thought they looked like wings.”

He didn’t say anything. He just sat staring at my back and
tracing the design with his fingertips. So, I continued.

“One of the tattoo artists asked me what my reservations
were. I told him I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted and, while keeping my
story quite brief, I explained how I just escaped a devastating relationship
and wanted to possibly cover the scars. I also told him if I were to get any
ink, it would have to show my rapture of angels. A spacey, faraway look
appeared on his face, like he was lost. Suddenly, he took me by the hand and
led me to a room in the very back of his studio. I was a little afraid at
first, but having Sid there helped calm my nerves. The artist hoisted me up
onto a table that butted up against a wall. He positioned me just like the
image you see and asked if I wanted my facial features to show or not. I told
him I did not need my face anywhere on my body. The idea of it seemed tacky to
me. He backed up and assessed me. Even though I felt self-conscious and had no
idea what he was thinking, I trusted him,” I explained, pausing to take a
breath.

“He then looked at Sid and back at me, almost as if he were
asking our approval for something. He then spoke up and asked if I would be
comfortable enough to take off my jeans. He said it would help him get better
acquainted with my form and curves. I thought of protesting, but then realized
he was right. It would be much harder for him to draw me with the jeans on. Even
though I had just started art school, I always had a love for art and knew what
he was getting at. Trusting my friend to stay with me through the whole
process, I decided to pose for him. Even if I didn’t get the tattoo, it felt
right. So, I removed everything except for my panties. I figured it would be
even easier for him without the baggy blouse and sandals I was wearing.”

Aiden suddenly gripped my shoulder, as if he were
uncomfortable with me being naked in front of a stranger, so I turned slightly
to look into his eyes as I continued my story, hopefully to placate any
discomfort he had over my experience.

“He was a complete professional. I quickly got back into my
pose and within ten minutes, he let me know I could move. I must have been lost
in my thoughts, because it seemed he and Sid had been talking about me the
whole time. He asked me to come over and help him finish the design and I knew
then, Sid must have told him about my talents as an artist. I was so eager to
see what he had accomplished so far, I didn’t even dress as I walked over to
his easel. He had a big, beautiful charcoal sketch of me and it was perfect. I
didn’t want to change a thing. He then asked me to draw the wings. As soon as
he made the request, I saw what he envisioned—that the wings would cover
my scars. This guy was very talented. The fact that he could see just what I
wanted before I even knew myself proved he was damn good at his job,” I said
with a reminiscing smile.

“Now, I look back and get a little embarrassed at this, but
at the time, I was so wrapped up in the moment, I stood naked at his easel and
drew my wings. I made sure each wing was larger than myself because my wings
help me to fly. They guide me and help me soar through life. My wings represent
my freedom and also help cover my past.”

With my confession, Aiden’s tense muscles relaxed and he
brushed a tiny curl away from my face as I continued my story.

“I was seeing a therapist at the time. My therapist said
something to me that really hit home. She told me that I was innocent in the
whole situation—everything that happened to me—I was the victim. She
assured me just because he tried to take my individuality, he didn’t succeed. She
helped me realize I was virtuous, and I was still…
me
. So, that sense of virtue is what the angel represents. No
matter what I went through, I knew I was still innocent and free,” I said with
a crack to my voice.

“Oh, Julia,” he said with compassion laced in his voice.

I didn’t need him to feel sorry for me. If anything, I
wanted him to feel happy for me. So, I continued some more, slightly changing
the subject.

“The tattoo artist was so excited with our combined artwork,
he framed the drawing. It still hangs in his studio to this day. Since then,
he’s become a friend. Not a close friend, but I meet up with him occasionally,
just to catch up. As a matter of fact, we had lunch together just a few weeks
ago.”

As I finished my story, I felt lighter. I felt like now
Aiden had a better idea of just how fucked up I was and just how far I’d come
in my journey.

I emitted a soft gasp when his lips touched the center of my
back, obviously right over my tattoo. It was such a soft and endearing
sentiment, showing me his approval.

“That is such an amazing story. No wonder you were so
shocked at my nickname for you. When you first walked into the classroom, the
golden sunlight shining through the window behind you made your entire frame
glow. I thought for sure I had died and gone to heaven. I almost called you
Angel out loud before I realized it would be entirely too inappropriate.”

Dying to look directly at him, I turned my body completely
so I now lay on my back and wrapped my arms around his neck. I pulled him down
to me, close. So close our noses touched.

“I love that you call me Angel,” I told him.

“I love that you are my Angel,” he added with a smile.

Our lips met, starting a heated fire that could melt metal. Kissing
him was beyond breathtaking. I lost all sense of reality every time our lips
met.

He trailed kisses over my neck before he pulled away
slightly and rested his head on my bare chest.

I lazily petted the back of his head and neck as he laid his
hand on my chest and propped his chin up to stare at me.

 
“How did you
sleep?” he asked. I could tell he was marginally worried but tried not to show
it.

“I haven’t slept this well in years, Aiden,” I told him with
all honesty. I then decided to continue being honest as I added, “As a matter
of fact, I usually wake with the night terrors at least two or three times per
night until I just can’t take it anymore and stay awake. But, amazingly, I only
had the one.”

“Have you seen a doctor about your nightmares?” he asked
with concern etched in his voice.

“Yes, I spoke to my therapist about them. Talking about them
didn’t decrease their frequency or intensity, but I was able to handle myself
better afterwards. They didn’t freak me out quite as much. I would have kept up
with my therapy, but without insurance, I just couldn’t afford to.”

“Hmm… I wonder what helped last night?” he said with a huge
grin.

“I was just thinking the same thing. Maybe we need to have
sex every night. That just might be the antidote to my problems,” I said with a
smile.

He crawled his way up and kissed me tenderly, reverently.

“That sounds like a perfect plan to me, Angel mine. Now, how
about we spend some time together today, just you and me?” he asked with
hopeful eyes.

“I was hoping we could. There is no one I would rather be
with right now,” I affirmed.

“Good. First, let’s start with a shower. I want to get you a
soapy and wet!”

Just as he said the last few words, he flung the covers off,
leapt out of bed, and pulled me by my ankles, causing me to squeal with
surprise and giggle like an annoying school girl.

Picking me up, he held me with ease and gestured for me to
wrap my legs around his hips. He snaked one hand around my waist and the other
tangled in my hair as he kissed me feverishly.

Continuing to assault my lips, he slowly walked toward the
bathroom while I stayed wrapped around his strong body. As we entered the dark
space, I reached over and flicked on the light. As if instructed, we both
turned our heads in the direction of my new mirror and looked at our forms entangled
with each other.

I gasped at the sight before us.

“I felt a fire lighting deep inside me.”

He held me there, my arms wrapped around his shoulders, his arms
wrapped around my waist. My breasts lay on top of his chest, just mere inches
above his sculpted pecks. My cheek rested against his temple, his hair tickling
me as I smiled at our reflection. My legs wrapped around his hips, my ankles
linked together just above the beautiful, firm cheeks of his ass. And my curves
were positioned just above his now seemingly large erection.

It was such a beautiful sight to look at in my new mirror.

“Julia?” he asked, still looking at me through our reflection
in the mirror.

“Yes, Aiden,” I approved. I knew what he was asking. He
wanted to watch… He wanted me to watch… as he submerged deep inside me.

I tightened my grip on his shoulders and squeezed my legs
together slightly to lift myself enough so he could gain access. He held me up
with only one arm as he used the other to position himself at my entrance.

We both watched as he eased me down over him. My body
responded immediately, quivering at the feeling of him deep inside me.

As much as I wanted to watch, I couldn’t help but close my
eyes at the pure gratification caused by his hard cock sliding into my slick
heat. My eyes rolled into the back of my head and fluttered shut as a sensual
moan escaped my throat.

“Open,” he commanded and I did as I was told, opening my
eyes to the image of us deeply intertwined together.

I relaxed my grip on his neck and brought my right arm, the
one foremost in the mirror, down to his chest, and let it settle over his
heart.

“Oh, Angel,” he whispered as he began to thrust and devour
my mouth, smothering my cries with his tongue.

I turned my gaze back to the mirror and marveled at how his
muscles tensed and flexed as he pulsed in and out, fucking me, taking me for a
ride.

“Ahh, Aiden. I love watching you fuck me,” I said with a
bumpy sound to my voice as he continued with his tantalizing rhythm.

“This, Angel. This is making love. You haven’t seen me fuck
you yet,” he said with a hint of a warning, his words coming out slightly
staccato as he sustained pulling me down to meet his thrusts.

“Oh?” was all I could articulate at that moment.

“Yes. Trust me. You’ll know the difference when I fuck you,
Julia,” he warned with a breathless urgency. “But right now, I just want to
watch you as I make love to you. God, you’re so beautiful, especially when
you’re wrapped so tightly around my cock.”

After a few more quick thrusts, he turned and pushed me up
against the wall opposite to the mirror. I looked over his shoulder at our
reflection.

“Oh, God, yeah,” I said as I saw pure perfection reflecting
back at me. His flawless ass muscles contracting as he ground into me against
the wall was so breathtaking, I gasped.

With me braced against the wall, he was able to pick up the
pace and the force, causing my insides to clench and my pulse to quicken.

“Fuck, Julia. You’re dripping all over me. Do I make you wet?”
he asked with labored breath against my neck. As I tilted my head and gave him
full access, he teasingly bit at the tendon along the side of my throat.

“Ahh…” was all I could manage as a confirmation that, yes,
he was the one that did this to me.

Finally, I managed to breathe out what he wanted to hear,
“Yes, you… you make me wet, Aiden. Oh, only you.”

“Aww, hell yeah. Only me,” he growled in confirmation as he
persisted to increase his tirade.

I felt him tremble as he held my ass cheeks, the wall
bracing my back and my arms clinging to his shoulders. Just as I thought he was
about to come, he pulled out and tugged at the back of my knee to tell me I
needed to stand.

I wasn’t confident my legs would even function at this point
in time, but I complied and prayed he would catch me if I stumbled.

“Stand and turn to face the mirror, Julia. Place your hands
on the counter and keep them there,” he sternly instructed.

Shaking with every step, I walked over to the counter where
the sink sat in front of my mirror. I braced my hands on the counter just like
he commanded and was rewarded with a dazzling smile.

“Good, just like that,” he praised as he grazed his fingers
along my spine and down to the small of my back.

Then he grabbed my hips and lightly pushed down on my
shoulders, pulling me back and causing me to bend further.

Oh, hell yeah.

Just as I braced myself, he slammed into me from behind,
causing me to cry out at the onslaught of pleasure splintering through my
insides.

“Look, Julia. Look up at me,” he hissed through his teeth as
he kept up with his relentless rhythm.

Tossing my hair out of my face, I glanced up into the mirror
to the sight of him pressing into me. I could see his taut stomach, arms, and
chest muscles undulate as he slammed home. Just the sight of him so turned on
and animalistic was going to make me climax.

My insides began to quiver and I felt the fire lighting deep
inside me.

“Ahhh, yeah…” I whimpered, drawing out my sounds. His
thrusts were so powerful, it sounded like I was riding over a railroad track as
disjointed moans escaped my mouth.

Out of nowhere, I convulsed around him, embers sizzling
through every inch of my body. Still locking my gaze with his, I came loudly,
his name echoing off the bathroom walls. My orgasm took me by such surprise
that I almost collapsed onto the floor with my knees shaking like leaves in a
windstorm.

Aiden held me steady and strong, knowing my legs were about
to give under the sheer pleasure that emanated through every fiber of my body.

Aiden followed with several sharp, erratic thrusts, and
stilled, pouring himself into me as he found his release.

He wrapped his arms around me and buried his scruffy face
into the center of my back. We both stood there, panting and gaining our
balance before we had to move.

“Fuck, Julia,” he rumbled between labored breaths.

Slowly, he pulled out of me and started the shower.

I just stood there, my hands still on the counter, and
stared at myself. I felt so good, so free. He made me feel this way and I
wanted to take every opportunity I had to be with him. This euphoric feeling
was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I realized then, I never wanted it to
end.

As I stood, staring at myself, he came up behind me and
gathered my hair in his hands, pulling my head to the side and tilting upward
slightly so his mouth was against my cheek.

“Your eyes sparkle so bright after you come. It’s nothing
short of breathtaking,” he admired.

I turned to him, placed my hand on his cheek, and smiled. He
was such a sweet man. Aiden placed a kiss on my palm, then grabbed my hand and
led me to the shower.

His shower was big and cavernous, yet the heat from the
steam kept it warm. He had two showerheads adjacent to each other, which, in my
opinion, could be the best invention known to man.

We both took our time lathering each other up and enjoying
the view as we rinsed off the suds.

If I thought he couldn’t be more beautiful, I was wrong. He
looked even sexier with suds running down the ripples of his muscles. Just the
view was getting me excited all over again.

After our shower, I quickly did my hair. Even though it was
naturally curly, in order for it to stay put and not look like a troll doll, I
had to use a few items to gain control. I didn’t need to spend more than a few
minutes on it, but he still caught me as I was bent over and scrunching the
strands with my fingers.

“Now that’s a beautiful sight,” he said as he walked by and
slapped me on my bare ass.

I flipped my head up and smiled at him. I didn’t have a
response. Then again, I probably didn’t even need one.

He reached over, grabbed my chin, and placed a small peck on
my lips.

“Could you wear something that shows off your back?” he
asked as I was digging through my bag for clothes. “I don’t want you to hide
that beautiful work of art. I want to see it, admire it.”

“I could wear a tank top and take a hoodie with me, just in
case I need it. Would you like me to wear my hair up?”

“I love your hair down. No, leave it down. I’ll just brush
it out of the way when I want to admire you,” he said with a sparkle of desire
in his gray eyes.

We both quickly got dressed and headed to his car.

“Should we say goodbye to Tanya?” I asked. I didn’t want to
be rude and just take off, especially after the wonderful meal she cooked for
me last night.

“She’s not home. She volunteers at the animal shelter every
Saturday. She loves animals, but that was one of my limitations. I like animals
too, especially cats, but unfortunately, I’m allergic to pet dander. So, she
volunteers to help the shelter and get her animal fix since we can’t have any,”
he explained.

“Pet allergies. Anything else I should know?” I asked in a
teasing tone.

He chuckled and answered, “No, that’s about it, as far as I
know. Oh, no, wait. I’m allergic to penicillin too. So, if I ever need to go on
antibiotics, the docs take that into consideration.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” I said rather seriously, imagining
if there was ever an emergency and I had to answer questions. I shivered at the
thought and quickly put it out of my mind.

By this time, we were zipping through back roads in his
little Miata. One thing I liked about being with Aiden was, he didn’t mind me
lugging my camera everywhere, because he did the same.

The sound of Coldplay softly filled the speakers as we flew
down roads filled with spring blooms dangling from the trees.

“Oh, Aiden. A question about you and Tanya popped into my
head at dinner last night, but I didn’t feel comfortable asking you in front of
her.”

He just nodded for me to continue.

“The contract… ahh… not the will, but the actual contract
you have with her about your marriage. Is it legal? I mean, is it fraudulent to
pay someone to marry you for X amount of years?”

“Well, our contract reads more like a pre-nup. Basically, if
I back out before the two years are up, I don’t get the money she promised. Even
though the money is not my motivation, the pre-nup makes it legal. If I back
out, she cannot take anything from me. Of course, if I decide I want a divorce,
she won’t inherit her father’s money,” he explained while keeping his eyes on
the road.

“I talked to her about the possibility of her just saying
screw it. Screw the money and attempting to live without. She came to terms
with that as a possibility. She had a strong enough head on her shoulders to
know that she could survive without it if she had to. That is when I decided to
help her. I didn’t want this to become a wedge between our relationship.”

I still had more questions, so I continued and asked, “What
if she decides to back out?”

“Then she doesn’t get her inheritance. According to the
clause that her father wrote into the will, she has to be married to the same
man for two consecutive years and if she divorces and remarries before those
two years are completed, she does not get a second chance. The clause also
stated that she must live with her husband for the full duration of their
marriage and they must share money and assets. The thing is—she doesn’t
want anyone to know she hired someone to marry her. The only people that know
are my mom, Coda, Paul, her boyfriend, and now you. I don’t think it’s illegal
per-se for her to hire someone to marry her. I honestly never asked. But, for
appearance sake, the public eye knows us as a loving, married couple,” he
explained.

“I have one more question, if that’s okay,” I said, looking
at him for approval.

“Sure, Angel. Anything.”

“Okay. What if, by the end of the two years, she decides not
to give you the money she promised?”

“Ahh. Good question. Don’t get mad at my answer now, okay?”
he asked with skepticism in his voice.

I just nodded, so he continued. “I would walk away. I could
take her to court, since the pre-nup clearly states I’m entitled to it after
two years. But, honestly? I don’t care. If she backs out on her word, I would
probably be more upset she lied to me than anything else. I wouldn’t care about
the money, only our friendship.”

I just smiled as I stared at this wonderful man. Everything
about him made me happy. Not only was he drop-dead gorgeous, but he had a heart
of gold.

He caught me staring and smiling like a fool.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re just magnificent, that’s all,” I said, grinning from
ear to ear and reaching over to twine my fingers into the back of his hair.

“I’m afraid you have that backwards, Julia. You’re the one
that takes my breath away.”