Shuttered Affections (Cornerstone #1) (19 page)

“You can’t put flowers in an asshole and call it a vase.”

Sid rubbed at my arm as the line rang.

“What a surprise. My daughter does know I exist,” my mom
answered with a snide tone.

“Nice to hear from you too, Mom. Listen, this isn’t a social
call. I just need to ask you something.” I took a deep breath as I gathered the
courage to ask, “Has Rob been looking for me?”

Silence met me on the other end. After several long moments,
she finally sighed and said, “Yes, he seemed totally broken over you leaving
him. He’s been relentlessly stopping by and calling, asking for your number. At
first, I kept your wishes, Julia. But, honestly, he’s a good guy and you would
be lucky to have him.”

“I can’t believe you would do this to me. I just left the
police station, Mom. Rob has been making my life hell. Why do you care more for
him than you do your own flesh and blood?”

“Julia, you know that is not true. I just think you don’t
realize what is good for you until it hits you in the face,” she said sternly.

“Well, if he actually gets me alone, that is exactly what
will end up happening. I will be lucky if…” I trailed off. I was completely
flabbergasted she would deliberately tell him where I was. “You know what, Mom?
I’m done. I can’t do this anymore. I will be changing my number and moving
soon. And I am getting a restraining order against him.”

“Julia, you’re being way too dramatic. He’s been totally
broken since you moved away. You gave him no explanation, no reason for your
flight attempt. He deserves better…”

I cut her off. “Don’t make excuses for him. You can’t put
flowers in an asshole and call it a vase!” I yelled, hoping she would
understand just how royally she screwed up.

“Stop it right now, Juliana. You have no right to speak to
me that way.”

“Fine, then. I won’t speak to you. You will get your way, as
always,” I said as I pressed the end button and squeezed my eyes shut.

“How could a mother be so heartless?” I sighed. I didn’t
mean to say it out loud, but in an attempt to rein in my rage, I completely
forgot about the two people sitting near me, offering touches of comfort.

“Don’t worry about her, Jules. You have us. We’re your
family,” Sid said as she laid her chin on my shoulder.

Aiden leaned over and pecked me on the cheek. “C’mon. Once
we make sure Sid gets to work safe, we’ll go to my house and relax… forget about
all this crap, at least for one night.”

After dropping Sid off at H
²
0, we headed to his
house.

Five minutes later, we pulled up to a beautiful Victorian-style
home. The landscape lighting alone was breathtaking. The large porch had a
comfortable-looking porch swing dangling from the rafters and several rocking
chairs to enjoy the spring weather. The dormer windows at the top were lit with
dim lights that gave the whole house a warm glow.

I gasped and turned toward Aiden for an explanation.

After he stopped in the driveway and shut off the ignition,
he turned to me with his brows furrowed and stress obvious on his face.

“I need to tell you something before we go inside.” His voice
almost sounded apologetic and it was making me nervous. “I live with Tanya. It’s
part of the agreement. We must live together during our marriage. We do not
sleep in the same bedrooms. As a matter of fact, our rooms are on different
ends of the house,” he explained.

I touched his face and stroked his cheek with my thumb. “It’s
okay. I understand. I figured as much when you told the detective you had a
roommate. Don’t stress about it. You explained your situation and I understand—as
long as she isn’t going to be threatened by me being here. Are you sure she’ll
be okay with it?”

“Yes. I’ve already discussed it with her and she is fine
with it. To make you feel a little more at ease, I’ll tell you one of her
secrets. She has a boyfriend. He sometimes stays the night as well. So, she
will have no problem with me bringing my Angel home.” He grinned and kissed the
palm of my hand.

“If she has a boyfriend, then why not ask him to marry her? Why
ask you?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Because she knew she could trust me. She knew I wasn’t
doing it for the money. At the time her father passed away, she had only been
dating him for a few months, whereas she knew me for close to ten years. He
wasn’t happy at first. The decision she had to make almost broke them up. Her
thoughts were—if he truly didn’t see the logic in it, then they weren’t
meant to be.”

“She sounds like a very smart person. I’m sure it must be
difficult to trust anyone when you have that kind of money,” I spoke with
honesty.

He just nodded as he squeezed my hand and opened his door to
get out.

Aiden helped me out and we headed for the front doors. With him,
I felt safe.

Just before we walked inside, my phone began to ring. It was
Sid.

Concern etched my face and I answered the phone. “Sid? Is
everything okay?”

Aiden leaned in and I held the phone so we could both hear
her without putting it on speaker. I didn’t want the whole neighborhood to hear
our drama.

Sid frantically told me Rob showed and when Dex told him to
leave, he started to pitch a fit. He punched the concrete wall outside and Dex thought
he probably broke his hand.

Good.

Sid was worried about me and needed to hear my voice
herself. What a wonderful friend.

“Yes, Sid. I’m okay. I just got here. Everything is fine. He
offered for me to stay in the guest room so, I’m sure it’s probably not an
inconvenience.”

I looked over and saw the grimace on his face. He mouthed,
“You’re sleeping with me,” and pointed to his chest.

Butterflies fluttered in my stomach at his declaration to my
sleeping arrangements.

“…yes, I love you, Sid. Okay, go ahead and get back to work.
Text me when you’re safely at Sean’s place, please? All right, goodnight.”

As I hung up the phone, a piece of my heart broke. I couldn’t
believe all this was happening. I couldn’t believe my friends were in danger
because of me. It was all so fucked up.

Just as I was losing myself in a pit of despair, Aiden
walked up to me and held me close. I pressed my face to his chest and inhaled
his scent, immediately calming me. I think he could feel me trembling because
he asked, “Are you cold?”

“No,” I answered. “Just a little upset and tired. It’s been
a long-ass day.”

With that, he chuckled and we stepped into his lovely home.

Within moments of stepping through the door, a strikingly
beautiful brunette bounded down the hall with a huge smile on her face.

“Aiden! I’m so glad to see you brought her to meet me,”
Tanya practically screeched as she headed in our direction.

“Julia, this is my wife and friend, Tanya. Tanya, this is my
girlfriend, Julia.” He gestured between us as he made his introduction and I
couldn’t help myself—I had to laugh at how seriously messed up it
sounded. Introducing the girlfriend to the wife is just… well, should be…
absurd.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Julia. I’ve heard so much
about you the past several days. He hasn’t shut up about you since he first
laid eyes on you. But, you’re so much prettier than Aiden and Coda let on,” she
said as she fluffed my curls with her dainty fingers and then gave Aiden a nudge
with her elbow.

He grimaced at her for her teasing and then rolled his eyes
with a smile. Coda talked to her about me too? That seems odd considering I
only met the man in passing once last night.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Tanya. Thank you for letting me
stay here tonight. I really appreciate your kindness,” I added with a small
smile.

“Oh, it’s no problem at all, dear. Any friend of the Stone
brothers is a friend of mine for sure. Come, I was just finishing up dinner. I
hope you’re both hungry.”

Boy was that the understatement of the century. I hadn’t
eaten all day.

We followed Tanya down the hall to the kitchen where a waft
of delicious aromas assaulted my nostrils. I closed my eyes and inhaled the
heavenly scent.

“Tanya, that smells wonderful. Is there anything I can do to
help?” I asked, hoping she would let me assist in some way.

“There’s always something to do, Julia. I would love an
extra set of hands. Would you mind pulling some plates down and setting the
table?” she asked politely. She seemed to be extremely polite and… well…
perfect. Almost too perfect.

“I’d be more than happy to.” I then looked over to Aiden to
see if he could point me in the right direction of the plates. He quickly
nodded his head to the left and smiled.

I swiftly washed my hands and set the table where we ate
with a steady, pleasant conversation. Tanya made a to-die-for pot roast that
melted in my mouth.

Thankfully, Aiden excused us immediately following dinner so
we could go upstairs and, as he put it, get me
settled in
. He knew I was exhausted, especially now that my belly
was full.

Instead of taking me to a guest room, Aiden directed me into
his bedroom. Of course, I didn’t mind.

His walls were white with light gray stripes and light gray
carpeting to match. His bed donned a dark gray cover with light gray sheets. Everything
in the room was pristine and masculine.

The bed looked to be the most comfortable piece of furniture
I had ever seen. I practically drooled just looking at it. I knew I was tired
when I began lusting after a bed.

I began to chuckle to myself at the thought.

“What’s so funny, Angel mine?” Aiden asked as he came up
behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and nuzzling my neck.

“I was just thinking I’m tired enough to go hump your bed
right about now.”

Aiden let out a deep, throaty laugh and hugged me from
behind. “C’mon. Let’s get comfortable so you can get some rest.”

“Sounds wonderful. I just need a few moments.”

I headed to the attached bathroom and flicked on the light.

Complete shock overtook my body. I dropped my toiletry bag
with a loud thud on the tile floor and covered my mouth with my hands to stifle
my gasp.

I looked over as Aiden leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb,
his arms overlapped across his chest and his legs crossed over one another.

“Do you like it? I bought it for you. It was so perfect, I
couldn’t resist,” he explained with a vulnerable expression on his face.

“Oh my, Aiden. I love it!” I gasped as I looked back at my
reflection in the mirror from Pat’s antique shop.

The entire frame was made of brass and detailed two little
cherubs holding the bottom of the mirror while two more cherubs at the very top
held a beautiful tapestry flowing down the top and sides.

I reached out and touched one of the cherub’s wings, staring
at the magnificent craftsmanship on this old piece of artwork. It was likely
one of a kind.

“Oh, Aiden. This is too much. I love it, but…” He put his
fingers on my lips to shut me up.

“As soon as I saw this mirror, Angel, I had to get it for
you. And trust me, it’s not too much. I can definitely afford it. After seeing
all the angels in your room, I can certainly tell why you fell in love with
it.”

I turned toward him and put my arms around his waist. “Even
though I’ve been collecting angels ever since I moved here, there’s a
completely different reason why I fell in love with this mirror,” I explained
as I looked down, a little embarrassed to admit it.

He tilted my chin up like he always does, forcing me to look
into his deep, gray, sensual eyes. “Tell me.”

“It reminded me of you,” I whispered.

With his fingers still hooked under my chin, he brought my
face closer to his and kissed me tenderly. I melded to him, certain I would
never be able to survive again without his touch.

I turned and continued to marvel at the beautiful antique in
front of me. Aiden busied himself next to me, brushing his teeth and washing
his face before he finally stepped behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist,
and gazed at me in my new mirror.

“Go ahead and enjoy your mirror for a few minutes, Angel. But
don’t take too long,” he said as he backed out of the bathroom.

After brushing my teeth and getting myself cleaned up, I met
Aiden standing by the bed and suddenly became very nervous.

“Angel, let me take care of you. Just relax.” His words were
like music to my ears as my head lulled to the side with exhaustion.

Aiden slowly undressed me.

“Thank cripes for waterproof makeup.”

Lifting my tank top over my head, I heard him suck in a
quick breath before trailing his fingertips down the side of my neck, around to
my collarbone, and down the center of my chest. He lightly caressed my left
nipple with his thumb, making the bud harden and my pussy weep.

He continued caressing my skin down toward the top rim of my
panties. Snaking his thumbs through the sheer fabric, he slowly, methodically,
slid them down my thighs and let them fall to the floor.

I stepped out of them and stood naked in front of him,
completely unsure of what to do next.

Choosing to be bold and attempting to rid my mind of any
fear, I decided it was my turn to undress him.

I slowly brought my hands to his chest and slid them up to
his collar. He was still wearing one of his white dress shirts, so I began to
unbutton it slowly.

As soon as I had it completely unbuttoned, I skimmed my
fingers up his taut stomach muscles, over his defined pectorals, and up to his
broad shoulders to push the fabric away from his skin.

I moaned out loud when I caught a glimpse of his tattoo. Bringing
my lips to the marked shoulder, I pressed a few small, light kisses on the sexy
markings.

“Wow,” was all I could say.

He smiled as he held me, his hands gently settling on the
small of my back, just above my ass.

I glided my hands from the tops of his shoulders, down his front,
so my fingertips felt every crease and bump of his muscles, to the little
smattering of hair just above his waistline.

I hooked my fingers into the waistband of his pants and
pulled him closer to me. As I looked up into his eyes, I deftly unbuttoned his
pants and let them fall. I heard change clink to the floor and felt his
erection press against my belly through the fabric of his underwear.

As my hands slipped to his back and my fingers worked their
way under the waistband of his boxer briefs, he grabbed my face and began
kissing me softly. Distracted by his assault on my tongue, I dug my fingernails
into the tight muscles of his ass as my mouth absorbed his growl of approval.

“Angel, we’re not going to even make it into bed if you keep
digging your fingernails into me like that. I’ll take you right here,” he
warned.

As he kissed me further, I admitted my defeat. “Mmmm… okay,”
I mumbled against his lips.

He chuckled softly and said, “C’mon, Julia. You’re so tired.
Let’s get into bed.”

He broke away from me and slid his boxer briefs down,
bending in the process. He kissed the soft area between my belly button and my
mound, before sliding me under the covers.

I then watched him walk around the bed and slide in next to
me. He held his arm out and I curled up to him willingly.

He held me, stroking my hair and kissing my forehead, until
sleep finally overtook my entire body while in my lover’s arms.

I see him coming, but I can’t move. I need to shout for
someone, but my voice won’t work. I need to run, but my feet are cemented to
the ground.

He’s barely inches away. His
hands are coming for me.

I can’t let him touch me! Someone,
please!

I scream for anyone who can hear.
 
I can hear my scream. I need someone to
hear me.

He grabs my shoulders and I beg for someone to save me.

“Juliana! Juliana!”

I see Rob’s mouth move through
the syllables of my name. But it’s not Rob’s voice. Who…

 
“Juliana!”

I’m shaking. My ears hurt and
I’m shaking.

 
“Goddamn it! Wake up!”

It was like a sledgehammer hit me square in the gut. I woke
up with Aiden kneeling over me, shaking my shoulders and yelling my name.

“Oh, Aiden,” I cried. He immediately held me tight and
whispered shushing sounds into my ears. “Aiden, he found me. I couldn’t move. I
couldn’t…”

“Aw. Hell, Julia. I’m so sorry. Shh… it’s okay. He’s not
here. I promise,” he soothed, rocking me. I knew all I needed was him—I
needed him to hold me and comfort me when I had one of my nightmares.

“I was hoping sleeping with you would make my nightmares
subside,” I cried as I thought of the three most serious words that couldn’t be
spoken so soon.

Did I really love Aiden? Or was I just a blubbering ninny
who was way too emotional right now to be thinking about love?

I pushed the thought aside. There was no way I could love a
man after less than a week. He was just being kind and taking care of me when I
needed it most.

Pity does not equal
love, Julia.

“I’m sorry for waking you,” I sniffed as I curled into him
further.

“Shh… I love having you in my arms, Angel. Just try to get
some sleep.”

My heart was still pounding out of my chest. I was having a
major problem calming down.

“I just need a moment to go to the bathroom,” I told him, so
he would loosen his grip and allow me to get up.

I had hung my short, silk robe in the bathroom and decided
to shrug it on while I washed my face and calmed my nerves.

Looking at myself in my new mirror was a challenge. My eyes
were hollow and I attempted to look unaffected by the whole ordeal. My makeup
wasn’t too bad since I removed most of it before bed. Just a bit of charcoal
was smudged below my eyes where the tears obviously tried to wash away any
foreign substances.

I quickly took some tissue and cleaned up. Thank cripes for
waterproof makeup.

My eyes always seemed to be a brighter green post-crying.

After five minutes of deep calming breaths and a little
potty break, I decided to head back out to Aiden. I craved his arms.

Aiden was sitting on the side of the bed, waiting for me. I
slowly walked over to him and looked at his sexiness in the dim, moonlit room.

“You are so beautiful, Aiden,” I admitted, with no
bashfulness whatsoever.

“As are you, Angel mine,” he rebutted.

I trailed my finger down his right shoulder and bicep where
his sexy tribal tattoo accentuated every curve of his body.

Just as I was about to climb around him and into bed, he
grabbed the sash of my robe and pulled me to his front so I was positioned
between his legs.

Slowly and seductively, he tugged at the knot and released
the binds around my waist. He let the lapels of my robe slightly fall open,
revealing the center curves of my breasts, my stomach, and the curls just above
my secret place.