Page 40 of Foxx
The sounds of night birds and tree frogs are magical as we climb the concrete front steps to Aiden’s home. From inside the front door, there’s a clear view out to Wilmington River. The smoky leather and spice scent of Aiden hits me as I follow him into a wide, sparsely decorated hallway. This isn’t what I expected at all. There’s no hint of smoke in here, no hint of habitation. It’s minimal, beautiful, and full of windows that let nature in everywhere I look.
The foyer opens to a living room with floor-to-ceiling windows. Two black leather sofas sit in the center with live-edge wood tables flanking them and another table in the middle. There’s not a single blanket, not even one throw pillow, nothing to make the space homey or cozy. It’s just sterile andclean. A natural stone fireplace with a heavy wood mantel sits completely barren, and there’s no TV.
Everything is masculine and rustic. The living room opens to the kitchen, which has walnut cabinets and a large black granite island with four round leather stools, although I get the feeling he doesn’t entertain. There are no blinds on the wall of windows overlooking the deck that spans the entire length of the back of the house. There’s hardly any yard behind the main part of the house, and the river comes almost up to the deck. There’s a dock that stretches into the water, with a large gazebo at the end for sun shelter.
I gravitate toward the deck, and as I open the back door, lightning bugs and beautiful sparkling water fill my sight.
Aiden moves to stand beside me.
“An outdoor shower?” I ask, nodding toward the right side of his deck. Sitting atop it is a large wooden base, teak maybe, and all four sides from the waist up are glass.
“Yes.”
“Is it off your bedroom?”
“Yes,” he answers again.
“How do you ever leave here?” I forget who he is for just a moment.
“This is my reward. I don’t take it for granted if I make it back here at the end of the day. And it’s a place people from my club life don’t visit.”
I look up at him. “None?”
“A select few. Roz, Archer, and Stone,” he answers, dropping his icy eyes to mine. “And now you.”
I let my eyes move over him slowly as he looks out to his beautiful yard. His black T-shirt is haphazardly tucked into his jeans, and I can just see the outline beneath of what I alreadyknow are rock-hard abs. His dark-blond hair is tucked behind his ears, as always, and the scruff of his beard across his wide jaw sends tingles up my spine when I imagine how it would feel against my skin. At this moment, he doesn’t look like a cold-blooded killer, the ruthless leader of my family’s rival club. At this moment, he just looks like a beautiful man who craves a simple life.
“Let’s go.” He nods toward the house, interrupting my thoughts.
“Where?”
He just starts walking, leaving me no choice but to follow.
We pass back through the kitchen, then go down a dark corridor, and I glance back, noting the house forks in the middle to two separate wings. “What’s down the other hall?”
“That’s my space, and this is your space.” He pushes open a door to a bedroom. I look up at him, and he nods. “Well, go on, I have a full night still.”Doing what?
I roll my eyes, pushing past him. Everything is the same minimal decor as the rest of the house. A king bed with a wooden headboard, flanked by two nightstands with white lamps, centers the room. A dresser with a mirror above it sits on the opposite wall. There isn’t a single picture on the walls, not one decorative item, and the floors are the same warm wood as the rest of the house. The comforter and bedding are dark gray, and the room feels masculine, just like every other space so far.
“This is where you sleep.”
He makes his way through the room and slides open a heavy, wood barn door, flicking on a light to show me the bathroom. “This is yours too.”
I set my purse down on the bed and follow him in.
The floor is a pretty black and white penny tile, and the walls are white. There isn’t so much as a towel. A large glass shower takes up part of the far wall, and in the center is a claw-foot tub that is instantly calling my name.
“Homey,” I comment. “Don’t suppose you have any bubble bath?”
His eyes trail down my body before he answers, “Everything you’ll want is in this closet.” He opens a small cabinet in the bathroom, and I peek inside. Towels, soap, razors, a pack of toothbrushes.
“Take whatever you need.” Aiden watches as I look through the items.
“The alarm is set from the inside,” he adds, and the way he looks at me tells me what he really means.
“So, you’re holding me captive. I feel so special.” I sigh, taking a step back, creating space between us.
“It’s my job to protect anyone in my club. You just happen to be the one Dagger has his sights set on.”
