Carved in Stone (The Stone Series) (16 page)

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              Grabbing Aidan’s discarded shirt from last night that’s lying on the floor I slip it on and walk into his enormous bathroom admiring the sheer size and opulence of it all. After brushing my teeth and taking care of business I head out to find where Aidan is, the smell of freshly brewed coffee leading me into the kitchen.

             
“Morning Button,” he greets smiling taking a sip from his coffee cup.

             
“Morning honey. What time is it?” I ask walking straight towards him. Aidan puts down his cup opening his arms up and I snuggle into the expanse of his warm hard chest.

             
Of course, he smells divine as I nuzzle my cheek against his firmly defined pectorals noting he’s already showered and dressed for the day. Donning dark grey pinstriped pants, shiny black leather belt with a gold buckle, crisp white dress shirt and an emerald green tie that also matches his eyes perfectly – he looks breathtakingly gorgeous.

             
“It’s almost seven-thirty. I was just about to come in and wake you, “ he says, placing a kissing on top of my head.

             
The feel of his large heated palms gliding affectionately up and down my back while I’m enveloped within his embrace feels like pure heaven, I could stay burrowed in his arms like this for hours; I wish it wasn’t a workday.

             
Shit… it’s Friday!

             
“Shit, we’re going to be late,” I cry. “By the time I shower and we drive to Mia’s so I can get a fresh set of cloths, we’ll be stuck in peak hour morning traffic forever. Why didn’t you wake me earlier,” I accuse squirming to pull free from Aidan’s hold but he only tightens his grip on my back while chuckling in amusement.

             
“What’s so funny?” I huff.

             
“You,” he grins. “Calm down Gabriella, we’re not going to be late. I had my personal shopper buy you a few things to keep here so we can avoid all the crazy back and forth during the weekday mornings.”

             
He releases me, kissing my forehead. “And… until we agree on a more permanent solution.”

Huh?

             
Before I can ask, he says, “They’re in my wardrobe.” Placing his hands on my shoulders, he kisses my nose then turns me around to face the direction of his bedroom, “Go have a shower and choose an outfit. I’ll make you some toast for the road while you’re getting ready.”

             
“That was a really sweet and thoughtful thing to do Aidan.” Glancing over my shoulder I smile. “Thank you.”

             
“You’re most welcome baby.”

             
Pulling open the double doors to his walk in wardrobe I gasp in shock; one side of his massive wardrobe is now taken up with hanger after hanger of women’s clothing. Tailored work dresses in all colors imaginable; chic expensive cocktail dresses hang next to several exquisite evening gowns that look vaguely familiar. It takes me a moment but regionition dawns as I remember the gowns, they’re the exact same collection that Alisha brought over for me from Aidan to choose from when I attended the Stone Benefit a few weeks back. My mouth gapes open as I gaze down onto the carpeted floor; boxes, lots of boxes, designer shoes boxes all line up and neatly stacked in rows.

Oh. My. God!

              And if all that wasn’t enough, against the far wall is floor to ceiling shelving filled with casual women’s clothing; jeans, t-shirts, shorts and underwear. Elegant designer underwear in all matching sets folded neatly in every freaking color of the rainbow.               My fingers carefully, reverently skim over what I count to be at least a dozen sets of them, made in delicate laces, soft satins and smooth silks; bras, panties all in stunning pastel shades and all matching pairs.

Oh. My. God!

              This must of cost Aidan an absolute fortune.

I’m speechless! I am
utterly speechless. I don’t know whether to squeal in frenzied delight, cause let’s face it – this wardrobe is any woman’s ultimate nirvana, or to scream in exasperated frustration. This had to coast Aidan a small fortune – too much, way too much to be spending on me at this stage of our relationship.

             
A dress or two, that’s a sweet and considerate thing to do but this… this… Ohmigod.

             
“You’re not showered or dressed,” states Aidan wryly from behind me.

             
“Umm… ah… I don’t know what to do,” I stammer bewildered.

             
With raised eyebrows he asks, “You don’t know how to shower and dress?”

             
“Of course I know how to shower and dress,” I snap.

             
“This,” I indicate waving my hand back and forth between the cloths, “I don’t know what to do about this. This is too much Aidan! Ohmigod, this must have cost you a small fortune. I don’t need all this. I mean it’s all beautiful, well… more than beautiful and what woman in their right mind wouldn’t be flabbergasted at the sight of all…these gorgeous cloths but…” I babble, continuing to wave my hand back and forth at the cloths like a crazy person.

             
“But it’s way, way too much Aidan. I don’t want you spending this kind of money on me. I have a job; I can buy my own cloths. All this, well it makes me feel… uncomfortable.”

             
Pausing for a much need breath, I absently note Aidan; he’s stood perfectly still, his gaze boring into mine, his jaw set hard and his handsome face is stoically impassive. Just another one of his mannerisms I’ve learnt over the last couple months to interpret; irritation, annoyance.

Oh yeah, Aidan looks
annoyed – with me.

             
After several seconds of silence pass between us, Aidan clears his throat his face still cautiously guarded.

             
“Gabriella, I’m an exceedingly wealthy man so buying you a few dresses is not going to break the bank.”

“Aidan this is not a few cloth
es. This is a complete wardrobe of clothing. Expensive designer clothing.”

             
“Yes,” he counters, his voice rising. “A wardrobe you need to have here at my house so I’m not having to waste precious time driving you back and forth or my driver because you need to change cloths. I’ve emailed you my schedule for the next month, you’re more than aware of the number of events I have to attend and as my girlfriend I want you by my side. This is a simple solution.”

             
Aidan continues to stare silently as if carefully considering his next words.

Wanting to beat him to it, I soften my voice bracing to
divulge the real truth of my uneasiness. Virginia’s accusing me of being a gold-digger hurt more than anything else she said because firstly, that was so far from the truth and because lastly, the accusation played on my deepest darkest insecurity – I wasn’t good enough for a man like Aidan Stone.

             
“Aidan, I’m not with you because of your money or what you can buy me. I’m with you because you are the most amazing compelling man I’ve ever met. Infuriating sometimes, really bossy as well,” I grumble, biting my bottom lip nervously.

             
“And you make me feel more alive than I could have ever possibly imagined, when you look at me I feel special, I love simply being with you. It feels so incredibly right,
we
feel incredibly right together and that has nothing to do with the fact that you’re some zillionaire CEO big shot.”

             
Aidan’s lip twitches as brilliant emerald green eyes soften. “Well… I wouldn’t quite say I was a zillionaire, but close enough I guess.”

             
“Aidan,” I snap, stamping my foot in mild annoyance.

             
“Come here Gabriella,” he commands in a low rough sexy voice that sends shivers racing along my spine.

             
Without thought, my feet instantly move towards him, my arms wrapping securely around his waist as the warmth of his strong arms enfold me.

             
“I know you’re not with me because of my money Gabriella,” he says firmly, raising my face to his with a finger under my chin.

             
“Button, you’re furthest thing from a gold-digger it’s not funny. Claire told me everything Virginia said to you and Gabriella and I fucking despise her for hurting you like that. I still can’t believe she had the gall to spew out all that shit in my own goddamn building and in front of my employees. Baby, I know what I mean to you and I sure as hell know what you mean to me so I don’t ever want you to distrust that. Okay?”

             
Nodding is all I can manage because I’m totally incapable of speech, completely overwhelmed with emotion by the vehement in Aidan’s voice.

             
“In saying all that, you’re my girlfriend Gabriella, you are important to me and as such if I want to spend an insignificant amount of my money on you, I’ll do so and I’ll expect you to get use to it. Alright?”

“But…”

              Interrupting my protest, Aidan reiterates firmly, “I said, alright?”

             
“Okay but no more clothes or shoes or lingerie…a couple dinners out would be nice,” I joke trying to lighten the mood, “pizza followed by frozen yogurt, your shout?”

             
Before I finish, Aidan’s lips crash down on mine without warning, his tongue demanding entrance sweeping forcefully in, dancing with mine in an erotic dance of control. One of his hands goes low grabbing my ass, squeezing, possessing, the other arcs up, his fingers delving deep through my hair and positioning my head at a better angle to deepen the kiss. Moaning, I hold onto him tighter, submitting into his embrace all the while loving, relishing in his dominance of my body. When Aidan kisses me everything ceases to exist, there is just the two of us and everything is possible for us.

             
Breaking the kiss far too soon, Aidan leans back a fraction and whispers, “Now we really will late if you don’t get a move on and shower and dress.”

             
“Aidan,” I call after he’s released me and turned to leave the walk-in robe.

             
“Thank you. Thank you for the clothes, they’re stunning. But most of all… thank you for being you.”

             
“Get dressed Gabriella, now,” Aidan orders gruffly, “or else we won’t be leaving this house at all today and I mean it. It’s taking all my self-control not to fuck you senseless in this wardrobe then spend the remainder of the day fucking you in every room of this goddamn house. And baby, as much as I want to do exactly that and nothing else, I have several important meetings I can’t blow off today.”

             
“Oh my god! Is it wrong that I completely turned on right now?”

             
“Gabriella,” growls Aidan in warning.

             
“Okay, okay, I’m getting ready for work. Geez keep your pants on Stone.”

****

              “I can’t believe he said that to you. That’s… ‘
throw me into an ice cold shower cause this girl is on fire!
That line would have to be
the
hottest thing I’ve ever heard! I swear my panties are damp just from hearing those words,” gushes Mia dramatically fanning her face with a table napkin.

             
“Mia,” I snap, “I knew I shouldn’t have told you. “Promise to never repeat a single word to anyone. Swear it M,” I demand, immediately regretting the decision to tell Mia everything that happened between Aidan and I this morning.

Note to self; keep my big freaking mouth shut in future.

             
“Yeah, yeah I promise G,” she placates swallowing the last of her sandwich. “But holy hell Gabby, not only is he the whole package, looks, charisma, wealth but the things that come out of his mouth…you’d have to be a freaking robot not to be affected by them.”

             
Hurt by her comment I retort defensively, “It’s not about his money Mia, didn’t you hear a thing I was saying and you of all people should know that.”

             
“Oh Gabby, babe, I do know. You’re the last girl on this planet that would go out with someone just because they had money.”

             
Reaching out she grabs my hand squeezing softly, “I know how much you’re in love with him, G. I was just joking around, I’m sorry – I didn’t mean anything by it.”

             
“I know you didn’t. I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to snap, it’s just seems to be a sore point with me lately after Virginia Stone accusing me of being a gold-digger and
now
the very next day Aidan spends like, a bazillion bucks on this lavishly expensive wardrobe for me. I could have just packed a few outfits in an over night bag and kept it at his house.”