Free Heart of Stone by Noree Kahika Page A

to slide under than walks
gloriously naked down the hallway to the bathroom I presume,
turning on a light.

Chapter Eight.
     
    Everything happened so fast I didn’t get the
chance to take in Aidan’s bedroom so in my current blissful
condition I survey his inner sanctum.
    His bedroom is huge, the bed itself soft,
comfy and king-sized. It’s made from mahogany wood with a detailed
crafted headboard, matching side tables with simple but elegant
bedside lamps. The taupe colored sheets and comforter feel
decadent. The floors are also a deep mahogany and directly across
from the bed is a gigantic flat screen television mounted on the
wall. Directly below the television, built into the wall itself is
an equally enormous gas fireplace that’s actually ablaze.
    How on earth did I miss that?
    Oh yeah… I was very distracted with one
unbelievably hot man and two earth-shattering orgasms.
    The wall left of the bed has two double
windows almost ceiling to floors showcasing impressive vistas of
the Pacific Ocean. The moon reflects luminously off the oceans dark
surface. The windows have no coverings but with Aidan’s property
bordering on his very own private beach I guess privacy isn’t an
issue.
    Two soft brown leather upholstered wingback
chairs with matching ottomans are positioned evenly between the
windows, the ideal place to curl up with a good book and enjoy the
view I no doubt.
    To the right of the bed is a low mahogany
entertainment cabinet housing an elaborate sound system. Adorning
the cream colored walls are several stunning abstract artworks in
muted tones. Vaulted ceilings with receded lighting embellish this
room as well. His bedroom is incredibly luxurious and obviously
masculine however again something appears to be absent. I can’t put
my finger on it. Hmm it’s odd, his home is more like a showroom. It
occurs to me that I haven’t seen any personal photos or intimate
knick-knacks anywhere in Aidan’s home. Not even a worn book –
nothing that would give an insight to his enigmatic
personality.
     
    “Hey baby,” Aidan murmurs sliding in bed and
enfolding me into his arms pulling me from thoughts. He places a
kiss on the crown of my head. Then positioning me on my side, him
on his back with my head resting on his pectoral his arm around my
shoulder his other hand dips low on my hip and begins drawing
patterns on my skin.
    Nice .
    My arm snakes across his taut abs as I hitch
my leg over his thigh.
    Nice.
    Very nice .
    “Gabriella?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Baby?”
    “Yeah?”
    Aidan chuckles, his chest shaking with
amusement.
    What’s so funny?
    “Ah… did I miss something? What’s so funny?”
I lift my head from his shoulder to peer at his face. Still
chuckling, I narrow my eyes in irritation. He laughs out loud.
    Again, what is so funny?
    “You’re cute when distracted but baby you’re
fucking adorable when your getting angry.”
    “Whatever,” I grumble.
    Instantly my ire vanishes as he brushes his
lips softly across mine.
    “I want you to come to Sunday nights Benefit
with me.”
    I’m beginning to see a pattern here with
Aidan, he doesn’t ask but rather states his requests.
    “You’re inviting me to the Stone
Benefit?”
    Smirking he says, “Yes. I’ll pick you up at
six-thirty.”
    “Okay.” I acquiesce perhaps a tad too
eagerly.
    Maybe I should play harder to get but I’ve
never been any good at games and I can’t seem to deny this
compelling irresistible man of anything. Something that doesn’t
bode well for me I’m sure of.
    Aidan continues to draw patterns on my hips
as I snuggle further into his chest.
    “So Jeremiah mentioned that Sunday nights
Benefit is in aid of suicide prevention?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hmm, that’s a good cause, a sad one but good
one.”
    “Yes it is.” His tone is impassive.
    “I’ve never known anyone who’s taken their
own life. I can’t imagine the kind of immense pain someone would
feel that they felt they had no other alternative.” I