Touched (6 page)

CHAPTER FIVE

Over the next few weeks, I hadn’t heard a peep from Aiden. Going MIA was obviously his M.O. I should’ve been relieved and part of me was but the other part wondered. Why did he make such grand gestures and then nothing? His extended silence was for my own good I suppose; it allowed me to manage the disarray he’d left behind and oddly enough I was starting to heal, thanks in part to Kellan. He was escorting me to the gala that was to benefit the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
.
It was the first charity event in my new capacity as CEO.

I no longer wondered as much about Aiden but there were days when my thoughts of him lingered more than I cared for. Today was one of those days. 

He was expected to attend the event this evening but there was a last minute modification to his schedule; therefore, his appearance was still in question. I hoped that whatever was keeping him away persisted. It’s sometimes easier to abstain when what you want to shy away from is nowhere in sight. That was especially true in regards to Aiden.

I’d prepared a short but heart-felt speech that I was quite anxious to deliver to the benefactors and other attendees.  However, my preparation could very well be a moot point if Aiden graced us with his appearance. I didn’t want to be caught off guard so I’d asked Raina to check in with Brooklyn but she was unable to confirm his attendance. Guess only time would tell.

I jumped out of the shower and sat at the vanity to do something with my hair.  After a few moments of lifting and sweeping it from one side to the other, I’d decided on a strawberry swirl; which would accentuate my neck given the cut of the dress I’d be wearing. I swept my hair to one side and tied it into a low ponytail, twisted it towards the end and folded it back against my head. I tugged on a few strands for light separation and pinned it into place then smoothed the fringed section and took a smaller section to twist and wrap around the larger fringed strand and secured it with bobby pins. I tucked the ends of the fringed section into a floral bun and I was done. I surveyed my work and smiled at my small feat.

I glanced at my phone and noticed that it was nearly time for us to leave. Kellan had slept in one of my guest rooms because the hotel in which he was booked had lost his reservation. When he arrived late last night he wasn’t in a position to coordinate with his company’s travel assistant so he’d called asking for hotel references and I’d offered to let him stay at my place.

We’d only shared a short kiss up to this point and as much as I thoroughly enjoyed sex, Kellan and I had yet to broach that area. Much to my surprise I enjoyed spending time with Kellan despite the absence of the physical and Virginia was apparently just as content. She’d barely made an appearance since Aiden. It would seem that both of us were learning to play it safe or maybe both of us only lusted for that one person that turned our worlds inside out.

Sex with Aiden had been intense; it was like receiving a concentrated dose of endorphins. When his skin touched mine, I completely lost all sense of self and gravitated to another place deep in my psyche, a place where he was the master and I was the student … and I didn’t resurface until he released me … and that release came in the form of orgasm after orgasm, each one more extreme than the last.

Having shared such intimacies with a man like Aiden and to abruptly stop required some regrouping, and, of course, that applied to the sexual aspects as well as the emotional.

One of the side effects of my affair with Aiden that I’d quickly detected was my enjoyment of a man for more than sex. This was partially due to my experience with Aiden and in a lesser, but still significant, degree to Kellan.  I’d sensed from only a few conversations with him in St. Barts that he was a great guy. And although I’d
sensed
he was a great guy, I couldn’t take anyone at face value; I’d asked my attorney to run a back-ground check. Given the financial aspects of our relationship, my request was warranted.  Kellan was a Senior Hedge Fund Analyst and I was his firm’s most recent client. A thorough review of his firm’s credentials was actually a suggestion from my attorney. I’d added the
extra
request, explaining to my attorney that I’d be working exclusively with Kellan until further notice; therefore, I wanted to run a check on him as well. I was less paranoid after my attorney gave both him and his firm the all-clear.  I didn’t want another Aiden-sized secret popping up and knocking the air out of my lungs. 

I took one last look in the full-length mirror before walking out of my bedroom. I’d selected a Maison Rabih Kayrouz red bias-cut charmeuse one-shoulder gown. It had a draped panel that extended from the shoulder to the asymmetric hem at the back. There was a high asymmetric slit in the back of the dress as well, which showcased the results of the extra time that I had put into my leg workouts. The Giuseppe Zanotti lace-up red pumps I’d chosen would not be very supportive so I was hoping that the amount of standing and walking would be minimal this evening.

“Wow! Just when I thought you couldn’t possibly look more beautiful. You look amazing,” Kellan marveled, as I entered the sitting area.

“Thank you. You look quite amazing yourself,” I replied. Kellan was a very handsome man and was quite dapper in his dark blue suit. His light brown hair was cropped short. He had chocolate brown eyes, strong arched brows and prominent cheekbones. His chin and nose were well-defined as were his lips. I had a thing with guys’ lips and although Kellan and I had only shared the one kiss, his lips captured and held my attention quite often.

“I thought we’d have a drink before we headed out,” he said, extending a glass of wine to me.

“Thank you,” I said.

“When are you going to play something for me?” he asked, looking at the piano.

“I’m not very good, but I may be able to play a little something for you.”

“Okay, let’s hear it,” he urged.

“Now?” I asked.

“Why not?”

“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” We walked over to the piano and I took a seat as Kellan stood behind me.

“What is that?” he asked.

“What?”

“That.” he said, pointing at the inscription.

I suppose I would be asked that by anyone who saw this piano.

“The piano was a gift,” I started, not knowing how to explain the rest. “And this inscription was sort of an inside joke.”

I could sense he wanted to ask me something else but was relieved when he didn’t.

“Any requests?” I asked, jokingly.

“How about –”

“I can only play five songs so it needs to be one of those five,” I interrupted.

“Well in that case, you choose,” he replied, grinning.

“If you insist,” I said, and dove into my favorite of the five. When I finished I looked up to see him smiling.

“What? You look surprised,” I said.

“Honestly, I am. I thought it was more of a decoration piece. That was amazing.”

“Really?” I asked. I’d never played for anyone before besides Vincent, my instructor, so I was nervous. “I’m too excited to be offended by your décor crack.”

“You can crack a joke on me later to make up for it.”

“You can count on it mister.”

“We should get going,” he said.

I grabbed my pashmina and clutch and we walked out to start our evening.

*****

We were amongst the first to arrive and easily spotted Raina and Zoe. We walked over to greet them and I introduced Kellan. Shock quickly passed over Raina’s pretty features as recognition sat in.  I was sure that she remembered that Kellan was the guy that I’d rushed out of RPH a few weeks ago. I’d never attended a business function with a date before so I knew that Raina’s shocked expression wouldn’t be the only one I would encounter tonight. 

We were knee-deep in discussion about the charity, Kellan’s job and how he was enjoying his time in Boston when an uproar toward the entrance halted our conversation. We turned to see what all the hoopla was about and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. It was Aiden … and he wasn’t alone.

Raina looked at me, knowing that I would have some type of reaction to his appearance. I tried to appear as untouched by his arrival as was possible.  I smiled at her and she turned back facing the entrance. The smile was plastered on my face and it was as fake as everything else I’d been projecting as of late when it came to Aiden. I continued to watch him along with everyone else in the room. He was born with the ability to charismatically command any room. Tonight was no different. He allowed everyone to soak him in before he stepped from the threshold; shaking hands and nodding hellos. Photographers were snapping pictures and reporters were flinging questions. After a few greetings, he was shown to his table – which was closer to ours than I would have liked.

I wanted to look away and I knew that I should but my eyes wouldn’t cooperate; they were glued to him as he strolled into the room. My eyes slowly moved over his tall, powerful and incredibly gorgeous frame. He was so hot that he could make a pussy cum just by looking at it!
A
nd there on his arm was a stunningly beautiful red-head. There was a unique beauty about her; and she wore the same air of affluence as the man whose arm she was possessively clutching.

Allen and Michelle Lane were also in close proximity. It seemed they appeared alongside the Raines whenever the chance presented itself.  I skimmed his entourage, looking for his mother or father. His father was reportedly on the mend and working part time in the Chicago office. I wondered what that meant for Aiden. Would he retain the position of President and CEO of Raine Industries? He couldn’t resume his alias in the circles in which he traveled now because the news of his undercover probing into Raine Industries had flooded all news channels and media outlets. You’d have to practically live under a rock to not know what had transpired at Raine Industries.

I looked away just as Aiden spotted me. I wasn’t the only one getting an eyeful; I glanced up at Kellan and saw that he had been watching my prolonged survey of Aiden. I turned away from Kellan’s inquisitive eyes and nervously scanned the room pondering how I would possibly manage this night.

The orchestra began playing and several splendidly dressed couples made their way to the dancing area. Waiters were circling the room taking drink orders and distributing drinks. I needed one ... or two. I turned back toward the others as the conversations commenced. My subliminal message must have been loud and clear because a waiter was approaching our group. I noticed Raina eyeing him too.  I was about to reach for a drink, as was she, but stopped short when her expression changed; I followed her gaze. It was Aiden; he was coming this way. He’d barely been in the room five seconds and he was already strapped and ready to cause problems. I quickly turned to Kellan and asked him to dance. We eased into the small crowd of dancers and started gliding to the gentle sounds of Franz Schubert’s
Serenade
.

Everything felt awkward now. I didn’t know what to say. Should I ignore it or should I address what I knew he was piecing together. I looked at the other dancers, the orchestra, and the waiters … anything but Kellan. I felt his eyes burning into me. I knew he had questions. Questions that I would eventually have to answer if I wanted an honest relationship with him.

“Mind if I cut in?”

Aiden was standing behind Kellan. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed his approach.

“That’s up to the lady,” Kellan said.

“Aria, will you do me the honor?” Aiden asked.

He noticed my hesitation. “I promise not to bite,” he said.

I sighed. “Fine, but just one.”

“Whatever you want,” he replied, as he reached for my hand.

I placed my hand in his and his touch literally sent chills throughout my body. This was a bad idea. I looked toward Kellan offering a silent plea for his rescue but Aiden tactfully moved me from Kellan’s reach.

“You’re starting to make running from me a new art form,” he said, peering down at me.

“I’m certain I don’t know what you mean.”

“And I’m certain that you do,” he replied. “It’s just a dance Aria, nothing to be afraid of.”

I knew all too well that nothing was that simple when it came to Aiden.

“Don’t flatter yourself … at least not any more than you already do. There may be a few things I fear but you’re certainly not one of them.”

He leaned down towards me, drowning me in his rich scent, “Are you sure about that?” he whispered.

And just like that Virginia awoke from her hibernation, the gentle throbbing between my legs nearly causing my stumble. “What happened to this being just a dance?” I asked.

He responded by sweeping me into his arms, taking my breath way; I was still apprehensive but Virginia reveled in the elation of his proximity. We slid easily across the floor, his graceful movements taking me on an enchanted flight. Being in his arms like this felt right somehow; I was more comfortable than I would have liked. The conflicting emotions were consuming me. I craved his touch, yet it hurt to be this close. I wanted to run; yet I wanted to melt into him.

“I heard good things from Chicago,” he said, changing the subject.