When she approached and settled in front of him, she inhaled his woodsy scent. His smoldering gaze regarded her from head to toe. Moisture slid into her expensive panties and she squeezed her thighs together, easing the ache his stare caused. She yearned for those sinful looks to turn into hot-as-hell touches.
More than anything, she craved to fall into his command. She needed him. She wanted him to take her out of her mind and to quiet her thoughts. She was desperate to forget that he didn’t keep her at a distance and touch her without restraint. Her insides quivered to lose herself in the safety of h
is hold, to experience nothing but pleasure. He held his hands loosely behind his back, and with a strong posture, he circled her.
Under his examination, Cora’s mouth dried and body flared with a seductive burn. Master Aidan slid his fingers over her skin from hip to hip, and she shivered. Her mind raced with images of his fingers touching her wet and warm places.
His finger slid up her spine and the heat of his body radiated against her. Cora’s mouth parted with a soft sigh. The study of a Dom wasn’t a quick, passionate fuck like a one-night stand. It was a slow, sensual regard, a deciding of what to do with his submissive for the evening. Every touch, each look, and the seconds within that dance made her ache with desire.
He made her feel special, as if no other woman mattered but her in this moment. That she was a woman worthy of such devotion. As if she held a power so heady that could command all of his focus. Within one moment, Aidan owned her, yet she owned him all the same.
When he returned to her front, he slid her hair off her shoulder and dragged his finger along her arm. Her eyes fluttered closed as one touch, so simply made, seemed like a direct assault to her hormones.
“Beautiful,” he murmured.
At his low voice, Cora opened her eyes and spotted the flare of dominance in his stormy gaze. A tremor slid through her, pulsating in her lower half. “Thank you, sir.” Her gaze drifted over him in his black T-shirt and jeans. “You’re …” She winked. “You’re so damn sexy, sir.”
He chuckled, deep and low. “I’m glad you think so.” Leaning in toward her, his scent consumed her and increased the hard thud in her chest. “Even happier you’re this aroused.” He dropped his hand and softness reached his gaze. “Do you trust me, Cora?”
With lightness in her limbs, she smiled. Thank you, Jesus, he wasn’t asking unnerving questions. Good. He got the hint. Let’s play! “You know I do, sir.”
A visible flush crept over his cheeks, and his expression became stony. “Please keep that trust in mind.”
When a flicker of movement caught her eye, her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. Cora blinked, and then blinked again. She remained rooted on the spot as Porter approached with wide steps and swagger. His hazel eyes held hers, and in khaki pants and a white T-shirt, Porter looked lethal.
When he reached her, he gave his mischievous grin. “Hello, Cora.”
“Err …” She blinked twice. “Hi.”
Her thoughts spun wildly out of control, and she battled the haziness to understand why the hell he was here, with Aidan. Had Porter joined Club Sin? Why hadn’t he told her that on the phone? Wait … he said he was going to Chains. “What are you doing here?”
Porter examined her as if looking deep into her soul. “Got a visitor’s pass.”
Her nose scrunched. “I didn’t think Master Dmitri gave visitor passes?”
He shrugged. “He does now.”
One answer told her everything she needed. All her hopeful thoughts crashed and burned; nothing had changed. Aidan wasn’t seeing the problem within himself. He thought it was about Porter.
She turned to Master Aidan and her mouth slackened. In the depths of his gaze, a truth shined through: He’d brought Porter to Club Sin to comfort her. While part of her hated him for it since he was still so blind, his action also warmed her, exactly why she couldn’t walk away.
Deep down, Aidan was a good man.
He hadn’t demanded information from her, nor had he forgotten her pain. He’d done what a loving friend would do: He brought a person that she’d indicated had been part of her pain in her past and forced the confrontation to help her.
Dear God, a Dom had gone to another Dom for help. Wasn’t that unheard of? This single action spoke to Aidan’s worry, and how much he undeniably cared about her. Only problem? It still wasn’t enough.
He wasn’t facing his pain. He was only trying to deal with hers.
Tears welled in her eyes before she could control them. She parted her lips and only a soft breath of air escaped. Master Aidan brushed a finger over her cheek, his gaze focused and attentive. “Catch up with Porter. I’ll return to you soon.”
His voice was devoid of emotion, utterly deadpan, making her heart drop. With a grave expression, he strode away. Time stopped. No, stay. Cora gripped her middle, rocking slightly on her feet as she turned to Porter. “Did Aidan ask you to talk to me?”
“He’s worried.” Porter’s genuine smile cut through the ice invading her. “So let’s talk.”
Cora followed Porter to the couch near the entrance and her stomach churned. When would Aidan see her and the truth staring him in the face? She crumbled down next to Porter, gripping her middle in hopes she wouldn’t vomit.
When Porter turned to her, regarding her, she rubbed her hands over her face. She knew a truth she didn’t want to accept. Aidan must have gone to Chains to seek Porter out, which meant he’d returned to the place he played with Lily. God, she couldn’t even imagine what memories that had brought him.