Page 42 of Stained Hearts
Oh fuck. Who knew Aiden had that much of a brat streak in him?
I reached out and grabbed his hands. “You’re a little bastard, you know that?”
“I’ve heard.” He grinned. “Ready for bed?”
The thought of running into the bathroom quick and taking matters in my own hand had me pausing, but when Aiden tugged me down, I went with it. We situated ourselves on the bed, and I drew the blankets up.
“Alexa, turn off lights.”
The room was plunged into darkness. Aiden wiggled around for a few moments.
“Are you okay?”
Then I felt it. His body pressing against mine. His bare back nestled into my chest. He grabbed my hand and wrapped it around his waist.
“I am now.”
“Aiden—”
“Shut up and sleep.” He snuggled in a little more. “Good night, Tom.”
And the little shit fell asleep! Meanwhile, I lay there, holding him to me, reveling in his warmth, worrying every time he made a strange sound. I was thrilled to have him in my bed and terrified that it might be too much for him come morning. When he rolled over and buried his face in my chest hair, I was a goner. I stroked the back of his head, letting the strands of hair slip through my fingers. What would it be like to wake up with him every morning? How would I feel about falling asleep beside him every night?
When I tried to move, he murmured something, sighed, then sagged against me once more.
For an hour we lay there, me holding him and him seemingly happy to be where he was, but then something changed. It wasn’t a subtle thing either. His body stiffened and he whimpered.
“No, no, no. Not now.”
I got up on my elbow and looked down at him. “What’s wrong?” When an answer wasn’t forthcoming, I called out, “Alexa, turn on the lights.”
They came up, and I could see Aiden clenching his hands on the blankets, his face having gone white.
“Aiden? What’s wrong?”
“I have to… I need….” Tears welled in his eyes. “I have to use the bathroom,” he whispered, his voice weak and plaintive.
“Okay.” I threw back the covers and got out of bed, strode around to his side, and lifted him up. We went into the bathroom, and I helped him pull down his pants and underwear, then got him situated on the toilet.
He turned away from me, his lower lip quivering.
“What’s the matter?”
“Can you give me a few minutes? Please?”
God, he was breaking my heart with his broken voice and quivering body. “Aiden?”
“Please, Tom. Just a few minutes?” He turned his attention to me. “Please?”
“Okay. I’ll be in the bedroom if you need me.”
He gave a tight smile. “Thank you.”
It felt wrong closing the door behind me, but I did what he wanted. I returned to the bed and sank down onto it, waiting for him to call out. After fifteen minutes, I got worried. I went over and tapped at the door.
“Aiden?” He didn’t answer right away, so I knocked a bit harder. “Aiden?”
The door opened, and he sat there, his pants pulled back up. He wouldn’t meet my gaze. “Livvy’s coming to get me.”
