Too Late Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now novel Chapter 24

**Aria’s POV**

As I stepped out into the crisp morning air, my heart nearly skipped a beat at the sight of Aiden. He was leaning casually against his sleek black limousine, an image of effortless elegance. The morning sun bathed him in golden light, highlighting the sharp angles of his jawline and casting shadows that seemed to sculpt his striking features. He had discarded his suit jacket, and the sleeves of his pristine white shirt were rolled up, revealing forearms that were tanned and muscular, a testament to his strength.

He was the embodiment of danger and allure, a potent combination that made my breath hitch in my throat.

“Ready?” he asked, pushing himself off the car with a grace that felt almost unfair, like a scene straight out of a movie.

I nodded, suddenly feeling a wave of shyness wash over me. As I made my way towards him, he opened the passenger door for me—a gesture so old-fashioned that it caught me off guard, stirring something warm within me.

The interior of his stretched Lincoln was enveloped in the rich scent of expensive leather mingled with his cologne—a heady blend of sandalwood laced with darker, more primal notes. When he slid in next to me, the atmosphere shifted, the space between us crackling with an unspoken tension that I could hardly ignore.

“Your father seems to approve of our arrangement,” he remarked as the driver smoothly pulled away from the curb, the powerful engine purring softly beneath us.

“He likes you,” I confessed, my gaze inadvertently drawn to the way his shirt hung loosely around his collar, offering a tantalizing glimpse of his toned chest. I swallowed hard, the sight sending a rush of heat through my body.

This man was a temptation I wasn’t sure I could resist.

Images flooded my mind—his strong hands gripping my waist, pinning me against a wall, those full, inviting lips crashing onto mine in a kiss that was both demanding and intoxicating.

Realizing where my thoughts were spiraling, I felt a flush creep up my cheeks and quickly turned my gaze away, desperate to regain my composure.

“And do you?” His voice dropped an octave, his piercing gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

“Do I what?” I stammered, fully aware of the question hanging in the air between us.

A slow, teasing smile curled at the corner of his mouth, the kind that made my stomach flip in delightful confusion. “Like me, Aria.”

The way he said my name, letting each syllable linger on his lips as if he were savoring it, sent a rush of warmth coursing through me.

“You’re… tolerable,” I replied, aiming for a nonchalant tone but missing the mark entirely as my voice emerged breathier than I intended.

He chuckled, a deep, rich sound that resonated within the confines of the car. “Just tolerable?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, acutely aware of how my dress had ridden up slightly, exposing more of my thighs than I was comfortable with. His gaze flickered down for just a moment before returning to my face, but that fleeting glance felt like a tangible touch, igniting a spark of awareness between us.

“You know you’re attractive, Aiden. I’m certain you don’t need me to stroke your ego,” I retorted, attempting to regain some semblance of control.

“But perhaps I want to hear it from you specifically,” he countered, his eyes darkening with a hint of mischief. “Maybe your opinion carries more weight than others.”

My heart raced, pounding against my ribs like a warning bell. This was perilous territory—exactly what I had promised myself to steer clear of just moments ago.

“I think we should focus on how to convincingly play our roles to fool your grandmother,” I suggested, desperately shifting the conversation. “I want to make a good impression.”

“Fine,” he replied, a wicked glint dancing in his eyes. “Then let’s rehearse, shall we?”

My stomach dropped at the implication of his words. I had unwittingly walked right into that one, hadn’t I?

“Rehearse?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes.” His tone shifted, taking on a husky quality that sent a shiver down my spine. “How to act like a real couple in love.”

Before I could muster a protest, he shifted closer, his thigh pressing against mine, the warmth radiating through the thin fabric of my dress.

“Like this,” he murmured, his hand rising to cup my face, his thumb brushing over my lower lip with a gentleness that made my breath hitch. “A man in love with his wife would treat her as if she were precious. Irreplaceable.”

“I think we should continue our rehearsal,” he murmured, his face inching closer to mine. “My grandmother will expect us to be… comfortable with each other.”

Before I could gather my thoughts to respond, his lips were on mine, gentle at first, almost tentative. But when I gasped in surprise, he seized the moment, deepening the kiss with an urgency that ignited a fire within me.

His hand slid to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he tilted my head to grant him better access. I couldn’t suppress the small moan that escaped my lips as his tongue brushed against mine, tasting, claiming.

His other hand found my waist, pulling me closer until I was nearly in his lap, my body pressed against the hard contours of his chest.

My body responded instinctively, embarrassingly eager. I could feel my nipples hardening against the thin fabric of my dress, pressing against him, while a warm pool of desire settled low in my belly, spreading through me like wildfire.

This was nothing like kissing Liam—those kisses had been sweet, safe, and comforting. This was raw, consuming, electric.

For a moment, I sensed his attention waver, a flicker of irritation sparking in the way his hands tightened around me. Before I could process what was happening, he captured my bottom lip between his teeth, biting just hard enough to send a jolt of pleasure-pain straight to my core.

A whimper escaped me, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as his smile widened against my mouth, clearly pleased with my reaction.

His grip on my waist tightened, pulling me even closer. Through the delicate material of my dress, I could feel him hardening against my thigh—the unmistakable evidence of his arousal causing my breath to hitch.

I couldn’t help but notice how substantial he felt against me, far more impressive than I had dared to imagine in my most secret thoughts. My mind raced with forbidden images—what it might feel like to have him pressing into me, filling me completely. Just the thought sent tremors of longing coursing through my body.

His hands grew bolder, one sliding up my back to trace my spine while the other drifted lower, cupping my backside and squeezing gently. I gasped into his mouth, unconsciously rocking against him, craving more of that delicious friction.

A low groan rumbled from deep within his chest, a sound so primal that it sent shivers racing across my skin. He pulled back slightly, his breathing ragged, pupils dilated with unmistakable desire.

His lips brushed against my ear, his voice a husky whisper that made my insides clench with need.

“Would you like to touch me, Aria?” he asked, guiding my hand slowly down his chest. “Feel what you do to me?”