CHAPTER 87: SLEEP WITH ME?

Alexia POV:

I don’t know how long I stayed in the kitchen before I finally built up the courage to go upstairs. To be honest, I was waiting for him to sleep.

After what happened downstairs, after the way he touched me, tempted me, made me question my own damn resolve—I needed the space. I needed to breathe without him filling every inch of the air around me.

So, I had waited.

And waited.

And when I finally figured he must have gone to sleep, I quietly made my way to the bedroom.

I opened the door slowly, careful not to make a sound.

Not so lucky.

Aiden was still awake.

Sprawled on the bed like some Greek god carved from sin itself, one arm resting behind his head, his chiseled torso on full display. The sheets barely covered his lower half, teasing the sharp dips of his v-line that I had been very aware of earlier.

His eyes met mine instantly.

Dark. Unreadable.

Heat curled low in my stomach, and I quickly looked away, pretending like my pulse wasn’t picking up speed just from him looking at me.

Without saying a word, I went straight to the bathroom, my movements quick, almost robotic. I did my nightly routine, splashing cold water on my face just to shake off whatever the hell was happening to me.

It’s fine. He’s just a man. Just a stupid, manipulative, dangerously seductive man. But a man nonetheless.

When I stepped out, my heart was still beating too fast.

Aiden was still watching me.

His eyes roamed lazily down my body, and I fought the urge to squirm under his gaze. I was in a loose T-shirt and short shorts, nothing scandalous, nothing worth his stare, but the way he looked at me made my skin prickle with awareness.

I swallowed hard and ignored him.

Instead, I moved to the couch, fluffing the pillow, preparing to sleep.

Then I heard it.

A low voice, rough and filled with something I couldn’t place.

"Come sleep on the bed."

I froze.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze, wondering if I had misheard him.

Aiden’s face was unreadable, but his fingers lightly tapped the empty space next to him. A silent invitation.

My throat went dry.

I didn’t move.

I couldn’t.

Because this was a test.

And I was so damn close to failing.

The bed looked soft. Big. And so damn tempting.

But the man in it?

He was dangerous.

Not in the way that he would hurt me.

But in the way that he could ruin me.

He was sin wrapped in flesh. Temptation lying in silk sheets.

And I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to resist.

"Nah, I’ll just sleep here on the couch like I’m used to," I said, forcing nonchalance into my voice as I plopped down and fluffed the pillow.

Aiden chuckled softly, the sound deep and laced with amusement. "Is my little wife scared I’ll eat her?" he drawled, smugness dripping from every word.

I rolled my eyes, already seeing through his act. He was baiting me, trying to get a reaction. Too bad for him, I wasn’t that easy to manipulate.

Funny, though, coming from him.

The same stupid jerk who, not so long ago, refused to share a bed with me. The same man who literally dragged me out of it on the first night of our marriage, claiming we shouldn’t get too comfortable.

And now, suddenly, he wanted me in the bed?

Yeah. Not happening.

I smirked, leaning back against the couch as I met his gaze. "What happened to not loving to share a bed, huh?" I taunted, arching a brow. "Remember the time you dragged me out of bed?"

His jaw twitched slightly, and for a moment, I swore I saw something flicker in his eyes—something dark, something that made my stomach tighten.

But then, just as quickly, his expression smoothed out, and that infuriatingly confident smirk returned.

"Things change, little wife." His voice was low, almost teasing. "And maybe I just don’t want you sleeping away from me anymore."

My breath caught for half a second.

But I wasn’t about to let him win this.

So, I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Yeah, well, too bad for you. I happen to like my couch."

Aiden’s chuckle was low, deep, and entirely too amused.

"That was different," he said, tilting his head as he watched me with those damn dark eyes, full of mischief and something else I refused to name.

I raised a brow, crossing my arms. "Oh? And how exactly was it different?"

His smirk widened. "Because back then, I wasn’t thinking about fucking you."

My breath hitched.

I hated how easily he affected me, how a single sentence from him could send my mind spiraling into places it shouldn’t go.

But I wasn’t about to let him win this.

So I forced a scoff, shaking my head. "Well, too bad for you, Aiden. I happen to like my couch." I gave the pillow another fluff, plopping down on it just to prove my point.

Aiden exhaled through his nose, clearly amused. "You’re so damn stubborn."

"And you’re so damn annoying," I shot back.

His gaze flickered, like he was deciding something. Then, much to my absolute horror, he threw back the covers and got out of bed.

My eyes widened as I watched him walk toward me, slow, purposeful.

Oh, shit.

He wasn’t wearing a shirt nor pants just briefs yeah I saw everything, and the way the dim lighting hit his sculpted chest, highlighting every toned muscle and sharp dip of his torso, wasn’t fair.

Not one bit.

My throat went dry. "W-what are you doing?"

He ignored my question, stopping right in front of me. Before I could react, he reached down, slid his arms under me, and lifted me.

I let out a small yelp, my hands instinctively grabbing onto his shoulders as he carried me with ease.

"Aiden!" I hissed, squirming. "Put me down!"

"Nope."

And with that, he walked back to the bed and dropped me onto the mattress.

I bounced slightly, glaring up at him. "What the hell?"

Aiden simply smirked. "You’re sleeping here."

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could, he climbed in beside me, his movements smooth and effortless as he pulled the covers over us.

I tensed.

My whole body locked up as his warmth surrounded me, his scent wrapping around my senses.

This was a bad idea.

A very bad idea.

Aiden let out a content sigh, propping an arm behind his head as he glanced at me. "See? Not so bad."

I swallowed, trying to ignore the way my heart was hammering against my ribs.

I could do this.

I could sleep next to him and not think about the fact that I had felt his hands on me. Inside me. That I had memorized the way he felt, the way he sounded when he—

Stop it, Alexia.

I turned away from him, facing the opposite side of the bed. "You’re insufferable."

His chuckle was soft. "And you love it."

I gritted my teeth, willing myself to sleep.

But with Aiden this close, with the heat of his body just inches away... sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon.

I huffed, refusing to look at him. "Oh, so that’s how it works? You traumatize me first, then play hero, and suddenly all is forgiven?"

Aiden chuckled, the sound low and knowing. "Traumatize? Dramatic much, little wife?"

I clenched my jaw, feeling his heat beside me. He was too close. Way too close. "You literally threw me out of bed on our first night together, Aiden. Excuse me for holding a grudge."

He shifted, his voice dipping into something softer, something almost teasing. "And yet, here you are, back in my bed. Willingly."

I turned sharply to glare at him, only to regret it instantly.

He was lying on his side now, one arm propped under his head, his face mere inches from mine. His stupidly gorgeous face, framed by tousled dark hair, eyes gleaming like he was enjoying every second of this.

I swallowed hard, refusing to acknowledge the way my pulse quickened. "Not willingly. You kidnapped me from my couch."

Aiden smirked. "You say that like you didn’t want me to."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he leaned in, his lips brushing just close enough to make my breath hitch.

Damn him.

"You could leave if you really wanted to, Alexia," he murmured, his voice a dangerous whisper. "But you won’t, will you?"

My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

I hated that he was right.

Hated that a part of me did want to stay.

But I also knew that if I stayed—if I let myself fall into his temptation—I wouldn’t be able to stop.

And Aiden Timberlake was not a man I could afford to lose myself to.

So I steeled my resolve, ignoring the way his lips hovered near mine, the way his breath ghosted over my skin.

I swallowed hard. "Goodnight, Aiden."

And then I turned around, putting my back to him, pretending not to feel the heat of his stare burning into me.

A few seconds passed, then I heard him sigh, felt the bed shift as he leaned back.

"Goodnight, little wife," he murmured, and for some reason, the way he said it made my chest ache.

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to breathe.

I had won. I hadn’t given in.

So why did it feel like I had lost?