Aiden placed a light feathery kiss on her mound before standing up. With both hands planted on either side of her body, he cocked his head to the side. “Is that proper thanks for the cake?” he asked.

Antonia finally opened her eyes and searched his gaze. “What?” she breathed. She was still shaking from his highly inappropriate use of a dining room table.

His face spread into a wide smile. “Will you forgive the way I badgered you?”

“Of course,” she said with a frown. “I should be apologizing too.”

“I think that was an apology,” he said, gesturing to the cake. “It certainly looks sorry enough.” He delicately lowered the hem of her dress back down her legs and offered her his hand to pull her up.

On her feet, Antonia wobbled slightly and grabbed on to Aiden’s shoulders for support. “I can’t walk,” she said bashfully.

He hoisted her up into his arms easily, her bottom resting deliciously against the hard club in his pants. “Let me take you to the bedroom,” he said as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He nuzzled his face in her damp cleavage and breathed deeply. “I’m not done with you yet.”

Aiden had a naked woman in his bed.

He propped himself up on one elbow and stared down at her sleeping face. The shadows of the room played on her relaxed expression. Aiden gently moved a stray curl from her face and tucked it amongst the others, taking care not to disturb her rest. It was almost painful to be this close to her and not kiss her breasts, which were wrapped and hidden away in his blanket. He ached with the overwhelming desire to be inside of her, to experience what his tongue had felt upon penetrating her.

But he had to wait.

Aiden had forgotten to pick up condoms and he was too old to act irresponsibly. He’d made it all these years without any surprises, there was no need to screw that up. But as he continued to watch the rise and fall of her chest, he wondered what it might be like to be a father. He wondered what kind of mother Antonia would make. Those were thoughts that should have disturbed him, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d never looked at Lisa and wondered these things. Understandably, children had been out of the question. Lisa was focused on her career which made sense for any pre-tenured scholar. Aiden hadn’t touched the issue with her, but kept it tucked away in the back of his mind. It wasn’t until he saw his niece, Soircha, that those feelings came creeping back. They always ended up depressing him.

Antonia began to stir under his intense gaze. When her eyes opened, she looked at him with a puzzled smile. “Are you watching me sleep?” she asked in a groggy voice.

“I couldn’t help it,” he said softly. “You’re too beautiful not to stare at.”

She ducked her head away from him and laughed. “You’re the damned devil.”