by Lilly Wilde
“I hadn't realized,” I said sympathetically.
“Don't you think this has been difficult for me? Keeping all of this from you? Wondering what you must think of me?”
“I don’t know what to think. You’re different. You’ve been so cold with me. You’re shielded; I barely recognize the person I thought I was getting to know.”
“I am different person when it comes to work Aria, I always have been. There is an immense pressure and expectation of me. My father has groomed me my entire life to one day take over his company. I never wanted this which is why I often assumed a slightly different identity so that I could be me and do what I wanted. I know it sounds fucked up but you didn't grow up the son of Connor Raine. The constant scrutiny, the expectations, the misery of it all.”
His issues with his privileged life were inconsequential to me. “You lied to me Aiden. Every day, every moment was a lie!”
“No. I just didn’t tell you the entire story. People who I am not trying to date treat me differently when they learn who I am, so just imagine how you would have responded had you known my true identity. I wouldn’t have stood a chance with you. I thought about this from every angle and I didn’t see any other way.”
“Oh really? You have what? Three, four degrees and you couldn’t think of a way to tell the truth? It appears the educational system also fails the most elite society members.”
“Aria, listen to me please. You have this thing with power and control. Here I am with both. You wouldn’t have given me the time of day and you know it.”
“Well I guess we’ll never know.”
I finally came to my senses and tried to push him away. He reluctantly released me.
“Tell me you understand. Please,” he said, his fluid green eyes beseeching my acceptance of his reality. But I couldn’t.
“I can’t believe you; although I don’t know why I’m surprised. Since the day you darkened my door you’ve flashed nothing but audacity and expected me to just go along with whatever you threw at me. But this… this is a whole new level of fucked-up. One day everything was fine with us, hell more than fine, more than I could have ever thought I would go along with and then nothing! Now you want me to understand when you didn’t even have the decency to pick up a fucking phone!”
“What was I supposed to do Aria? Call you and say, “By the way, everything I’ve told you up to this point has been a lie””?
“You could have said something. Anything. It would have been better than my thinking you didn’t fucking care! That you fucking used me and tossed me to the side when I was no longer useful! You said nothing for weeks Aiden. For weeks! And now you come back and what? What did you expect to happen? Did you think I would just fall into your arms and say “Hey don’t worry about it. Would you like to fuck me now?” Well it’s not happening and I don’t fucking understand it! I don’t want to understand. I want you out of my life. You didn’t seem to have any problems staying away then so you shouldn’t have a fucking problem doing it now! Go away!”
“Aria, don’t do this. I know I fucked up. If I could go back and do things differently-”
“Blah blah, fucking blah. Do you have any idea of how many times I’ve heard that lame ass line in the movies? At the very least, come at me with some original bullshit that I just may have a small chance of falling for!”
“Aria, I’m only saying what I feel. I don’t give a shit if it sounds like a line. Just tell me what I need to do. Tell me and I’ll do it.”
I didn’t understand how someone who seemed so sincere could have deceived me and left me in misery for weeks. Just the thought made my heart hurt. I couldn’t go through this with him again. I wouldn’t. “There is nothing you can say or do Aiden. I’m done.”
His face, while still breathtaking, was twisted in pain as if he were being tormented.
“I miss you Princess. I love you.”
I stopped breathing. Those words had only been spoken to me by one other man - my father; and hearing Aiden say them now, it was like someone had punched me in the stomach. They didn’t emanate elation or contentment; they only evoked feelings of fear and pain. They awakened the images of the agony I’d seen on my mother’s face every day for over 14 years. I didn’t want it. I never wanted it.
He hurriedly walked over to me, ignoring the look of resistance in my eyes, cradling my face with impatient hands. As deeply as I wanted to reject him, as soon as his lips met mine, I was there with him. His kiss didn't start off with the sweet exploratory softness; this kiss was one of such fierceness that it literally took my breath away. Desperate for his touch, I instinctively wrapped my arms around his unyielding body, giving into him. Giving him what he- what we so desperately needed. Our connection was a poignant reminder of our irrefutable need for each other. My body surrendered, nearly going limp in his arms. His tongue was already in my mouth; as I was about to join his, he began to stroke and suck my tongue. His soft lips were rough on mine but I wanted this, needed it in a way that I could never say aloud so I gave in letting him remind me of what he felt....reminding me of what I made him feel. Just as suddenly as he initiated the kiss, he ended it. He drew away breathing as heavily as I was- still grasping my face between his hands. He looked at me; searching my face, staring deeply into my eyes...it was as if he could see everything I had stored inside- the pain, the fear, the want, the insecurity...all of the shattered pieces. His penetrating gaze also revealed his desperation, the longing and need he had for me. His beautiful face briefly betrayed him as it revealed a glimpse of his own pain, adding validity to what I saw in his dismal green eyes. He was hurting as much as I was and it was deep...and it hit me, it was exactly like his kiss- rough and deep...it was the kiss of a man letting go. No sooner than the thought entered my mind did he turn and walk away. I stood there, watching him exit my office, knowing that it was finally over.
The End
Epilogue
I don’t regret you. I thought that I would; I knew that I would…but I don’t. Loving you made me realize that I can have a life outside of my fears- that I don’t have to omit part of life. For that, I thank you. And even now, as I say goodbye, my heart is overflowing with love for you. I’m pretty sure that I will always love you but I have to let you go. I won’t stand in the way of you and your family. I won’t force you to choose and I don’t want to be the person that destroys your family.
Family once meant so much to me and I forgot that. I pushed it aside because of the hurt of my childhood that I now know was not torn apart because of a lack of love but because there was so much of it. You have a responsibility to your family and thousands of others. Yes, I know that you have just as much of a responsibility to yourself and when you come to terms with that, I know you will find me.
All my love…
Now and forever,
Aria
Discussion Questions
1. Aria is firm in her stance of keeping men at arm’s length. What is it about Aiden that causes Aria to lose herself in him?
2. Do you think Aria views her isolation from others as dysfunctional or necessary?
3. Do you think Aiden would have been able to allow Aria to dominate him? Why or why not?
4. Were Aiden’s reasons for keeping his identity a secret forgivable? Do you think there is more to his story?
5. Do you think Aria needs counseling and if so, do you think she realizes the need for counseling?
6. What are your thoughts on Aria’s decision to reconnect with her family?
7. Do you think Melena (Aria’s mother) is still in contact with Matteo (Aria’s father)?
8. If you were Aiden and wanted a life from under the cloud of the Raine name, what would you do?
9. Both Aiden and Aria are very driven. Aria loves her job. Although Aiden is a very astute business man, he doesn’t seem to have the same passion for business as Aria. Where do you think Aiden’s passion lies?
10. Do you think Aria has seen the last of Dane Patrick?<
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AIDEN AND ARIA’S STORY CONTINUES
IN THE UPCOMING SEQUEL OF THE UNTOUCHED TRILOGY
TOUCHED
Coming Soon from Lilly Wilde!
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I’m a newbie to the public writing scene but I've written stories and poems since my teenage years. I love to dream, get lost in fantasy and create alternate worlds in which we can escape ever so often! I hope you do too!
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Lilly Wilde
