Page 52 of Icebound Hearts

“You feel so good,” I whisper against his ear before sucking on his earlobe.

His dick twitches beneath me, his jaw clenching as he grits his teeth.

I feel drunk on him, on the way his body reacts to mine, the way he holds himself back like he’s on the edge of losing control. “I don’t want this ever to end.” I grip his face, slamming my lips against his.

He groans into my mouth, his hands guiding my hips, urging me to grind against him, and I do. It’s everything. The friction. The heat. The way his body tenses beneath me. I can feel him everywhere, and I can’t stop, don’t want to stop. Aiden curses, his fingers digging into my skin, and suddenly—the coil inside me snaps. A shudder rips through me as I reach my peak, my mouth falling open, my fingers clutching onto Aiden for dear life. I gas, burying my face against his shoulder as I whisper his name, my entire body trembling. His arms wrap around me, holding me through it, his breathing just as ragged. Holy shit. I collapse against him, my cheek resting on his chest, my heart still racing. Aiden’s hand slides through my hair, his fingers tangling in the strands, and when I look up at him, he’s grinning.

“Hi,” I smirk, breathless. Aiden chuckles.

“Hi.” He kisses me again, deep and slow, like he never wants to stop, and I never want him to. Aiden pulls away, his hands settling on my waist, lifting me off him. “I need to use the bathroom,” he mutters, standing quickly. My eyes drop to his crotch, and I bite my lip to keep from grinning. Aiden shoots me a glare, shaking his head. I point toward the bathroom, barely holding in my laughter. He mutters under his breath, stalking toward the door and shutting it behind him. I hear the faucet turn on, but it’s not loud enough to swallow Aidens words. “Old lady, naked grandma, think, Aiden, think.” I burst out laughing, burying my face in the pillow. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opens, and Aiden steps out, looking much calmer.

“Are you going to stay?” I ask, my voice smaller than I intended. His eyes meet mine, and he nods. I smile as he slides into bed beside me, pulling the covers over us. I turn onto my side, keeping a safe distance between us. But Aiden frowns, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me flush against him, his chest pressed to my back. I can feel his heartbeat against my spine, fast and heavy, just like mine.

He breathes against my neck, his voice low, deep, raw—

“No more space, Angel Face.” I exhale slowly, closing my eyes as exhaustion overtakes me, my body sinking into his warmth, my fingers curled into his hoodie like I’m afraid he’ll disappear if I let go. But he doesn’t.

He stays, and for the first time since surgery, the weight on my chest lifts just enough for me to breathe. I wake up hours later, still tangled against him. I shift slightly, expecting him to move or pull away, but his arms tighten around me, his voice barely above a whisper as he speaks. “Go back to sleep, Angel Face.”

And for once— I do.

Chapter twenty - five

KATERINA

Aiden has been avoiding me. I admit, i deserve it. I did it to him, and this is karma. My heart has been palpitating all day, and it seems like it won’t calm down.

‘I told you he didn’t want you’.

No, no, no, no, not now please.

‘Why would he? You don’t have a heart, and you treat others like shit. The only person who ever loved you was me, princess.’

“Stop! You’re not real.” My voice is barely a whisper as I run my hands through my hair, tugging at the strands at the nape of my neck.

‘I’m real, Katerina. You should’ve never turned your back on me.’

‘Look at you now.’

‘A fucking loser. No more career. A nobody. A nothing. A waste of space.’

I try to inhale, but my lungs refuse to cooperate. The more I breathe in, the more it feels like I’m suffocating. My ears ring.My heart is beating so fast it hurts. My vision blurs, and panic digs its claws into my chest.

“Kat, look at me.” Aiden’s voice slices through the fear, distant at first, but the more he repeats my name, the more the fog lifts. “Angel Face. Take a deep breath for me, please. Tell me five things you can see.” I try, but my throat feels too tight. It’s like I’m choking on nothing.

“Your black eyes,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “My backpack. My Hello Kitty shorts. Your red shirt. My books.” Aiden nods, his big palms cradling my cheeks. His touch is grounding. Real.

“Good, good. Four things you can touch.” I lean into his hands, forcing air into my lungs.

“Your hands. My hair. Your shirt. My bed sheets.”

“You got this, baby. Tell me three things you can hear.” I gulp, my vision blurry. Why is he here helping me? I thought he was ignoring me.

“Your voice. My breathing. The boys downstairs.” He strokes my cheek, his thumbs moving in slow, steady circles.

“Okay, almost done. Two things you can smell.” I inhale deeply, drowning in the familiar scent of his cologne.

“Your cologne… and my smelly self,” I say with a broken smile. Aiden laughs, the sound easing my chest's last bit of tension.

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