Only His Touch: Part One (The Untouched Series Book 4)

by Lilly Wilde

  I couldn’t help but agree, but in Connor’s eyes, everything he’d done was because of his concern for his kids. “So how does all of this relate to your plan?”

  “My father’s ways are embedded in that company…in his mission statement. He places that company above everything else, and he expects the same of all of his employees—of his family. That’s not the legacy I want Lyric to inherit.”

  “So that’s where the changes come in? Why all the plotting? Just go to him directly. Maybe he’ll see the value in making some fundamental changes that can make the company bigger and brighter than ever. There’s a chance of that, right?”

  “Have you met Connor Raine?”

  “Then what can you do?” I asked.

  “More than he realizes. I won’t allow another generation to rely on nannies, or to strip their kids of childhoods.”

  He was quiet for several seconds, lost in his thoughts, and then he said,” You know, Dianna’s the one who taught me to tie my shoes. When I lost my first tooth, she’s the one I ran to.” He smiled to himself. “And I’m pretty sure she was my tooth fairy, too.”

  Although he was smiling, I sensed the sadness in his words. I’d already known he was thankful for Dianna, and it was obvious how much this had hurt him—how much it still hurts him.

  “He’s never going to let up, Aria. Even with Lyric.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “The document that Dad gave to Lyric at Christmas was one of his recent moves. At first glance, it appeared they were shares to Raine Industries. But I read the fine print. Upon Lyric’s twenty-fifth birthday, he inherits control of R.I., upon the condition that he succeeds his father, who had to have been the CEO of the company for at least ten consecutive years prior to Lyric’s birthday. If the conditions aren’t met, the company is to be dissolved, so no more Raine Industries. The only outlet is if I were to be rendered incapacitated or dead.”

  What the hell? This was unbelievable. I remained quiet, waiting to see where the conversation would go.

  “So you see Aria, he’ll never stop trying to control us. He needs to realize he can’t play God with people’s lives like this. I did some digging and discovered he has similar conditions for all of us. He’s planned to continue his plot, even from the grave. And I’ll be damned if I let that happen to anyone in our family, least of all, my son!”

  Aiden’s reasoning while compelling, was also laced with anger. And part of me wondered how much of this was for the good of the company, and how much of it was to pay his dad back for what he’d taken from them. “Lyric’s not even one yet. We have a few years to sort this out. You don’t have to do anything now.”

  “If not now, when? He’s not going to pull my son into this cycle. Do you realize how much of my life I missed because of this company? And you know what’s funny? For years, I wanted nothing to do with it, but now—for the first time— I don’t want to step away. I want to make it something more than what it is.”

  “Whatever you’re planning, do you really think it’s worth it, Aiden? You’ve opened the door to leaving it behind, so do that. Stay away from it.”

  “And let my father continue to corrupt it?”

  “It’s his to corrupt.”

  “That may be, but he insists it’s our legacy. But if we don’t do things his way, we lose it. All the time, effort, and pain would have been for nothing. This isn’t about just me. It’s about all of his children—it’s about the next generation of Raines. My father doesn’t see he’s doing anything wrong, and as long as he lives by that, we’re all in for more of the same. This needs to end, and I’m the only one who can make that happen.”

  I knew he wasn’t going to let this go, and Connor wasn’t going to let his agenda go, either. “So your mind is made up.”

  “I have to see this through,” he replied.

  “What about us? This can break us. You’re willing to risk what we have.”

  “I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have. I turned away from my family for you. I left R.I. for you. You and Lyric are my entire life, and that’s all I want…you’re all that matters. And everything I’m doing now is to preserve what we have, and to preserve our future.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I say, you’re just going to do whatever you want. Even if it means losing me.”

  “I won’t lose you. I’m never going to lose you.”

  I was afraid for us. But there was nothing more I could say.

  “This is where the trust comes in. I need you to let go of it all. I didn’t confirm or deny any of what you’ve tried to figure out, because I don’t want you to worry about any of that. I want you to trust that I’ll do what’s right for us. Can you do that?”

  I sighed as I looked into his hopeful eyes. “I really don’t have a choice.”

  “I guess that’s as close to yes as I’ll get from you.”

  “I guess it is. And just so you know, it wouldn’t be so bad if Lyric grew up to be like you. The person I’ve come to know is intelligent, driven, moody, and controlling. But you’re also affectionate, supportive, strong, funny…although you rarely show that side, and very loving. You’re not half bad, you know. I think Lyric would do well to take after his dad.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Aria. Aria, wake up!”

  Aiden’s hands were on my shoulders, gently shaking me from the remnants of the same dream that had haunted me for months. I opened my eyes and then focused on Aiden’s face. I rushed into his arms, clinging to what was real as I pushed out what wasn’t.

  “It’s okay. It was just a dream.” He drew me into his lap and held me until I’d calmed. “Was it the same one? About your father?” he asked.

  “Yeah. I don’t understand it. It seemed so real. It was more like a memory than a dream.”

  He kissed my hair and then said, “Recurring dreams are assumed to reveal the presence of unresolved conflicts.”

  “What are you saying? That I’m still battling the issues surrounding my childhood?”

  “If you are, it’s perfectly understandable. Do you want to talk about it, try to figure out what’s going on?”

  No, I didn’t want to talk about it. I slid out of his lap and removed my nightie, revealing my very naked body. Aiden’s gaze dropped to my breasts. I cupped them and then tugged my nipples. “The only thing I’m trying to figure out is why we’re talking instead of fucking.”

  * * *

  Aiden and I were at the main house waiting on Allison. After a while, she came sashaying toward us with a weird grin plastered on her face. Her long, brunette hair, which was usually pulled into a ponytail, cascaded over her shoulders. She brushed a loose strand from her face and asked, “Are you guys ready?”

  Confused by Allison’s giddiness, I glanced at Aiden and he shrugged. “Sure,” I replied, looking back at her.

  Allison had planned some huge surprise for us. She was still on her crusade to make amends for her part in what happened to Lyric. Aiden and I both told her she didn’t need to worry about making up for anything, but she insisted she did. After my talk with Aiden, I’d told her to forget about her plan to uncover Aiden’s plot. I didn’t need the stress of it all. I’d find out in due time, and I’d handle it as it came.

  “I know this doesn’t erase my lapse in judgment, but I wanted to do something special for you.” She turned toward the door and glanced over her shoulder at us. “Follow me.”

  Allison led us outside to the rear of the Raine estate. It was an unpleasantly cold evening. I pulled my collar up closer to my neck to shield me from winter’s breath, and hurried behind a jubilant Allison.

  We walked briskly along the crushed-stone path that wound its way to Aiden’s pond. In the distance, I saw lights that became brighter and brighter as we approached. Several feet from the pond was a large tent surrounded by heated lamps. Lights were everywhere—dozens of them floating on the pond, and oil lanterns illuminating
the tent’s perimeter. We stepped inside the tent, and it was like something from a storybook. There was an open mesh top that revealed a canopy of luminous stars that gave light to the moonless night. There were also small sparkling lights along the edges that dangled over into the space below, each stream of lights draped directly above large glass standing bowls adorned with orchid petals.

  I scanned the tent again, a bit slower to capture all the details I’d missed. “Oh wow! This is beautiful, Allison.”

  “Do you really like it?” she asked, smiling as though she’d just scored big.

  “Yes, Allison,” Aiden replied. “It’s lovely.” He looked cautiously at Allison and then he reached for my hand.

  “I’m really sorry, Aiden. And I hope you guys know you can trust me with Lyric. I’ll never place anything above his safety again,” Allison said.

  I was pretty nervous about Lyric being alone with anyone other than Dianna. I knew Allison hadn’t had any reason to distrust Nadia with Lyric. What Nadia had done shocked all of us, so I couldn’t blame Allison…not really.

  “We’ll get there, Allison. We want you to spend as much time with your nephew as possible, but we’re a little nervous for the time being,” I said.

  She frowned. “I understand.”

  I hated seeing the disappointment on her face.

  “Okay, so what’s next, Allie,” Aiden prompted.

  “Dinner and music,” she said, as she escorted us to our seats. In the middle of the tent was a candlelit table with a bottle of wine chilling beside it. The table setting was stunning, with bowls filled with different hues of red, pink, and white orchids.

  As we took our seats, three members of the Raine staff entered with trays of food. “I think I will leave you two now. Enjoy,” Allison said.

  “Not too shabby,” Aiden said. “Thanks, Allie.”

  “Yes, thank you. This is amazing,” I added.

  As one of the staff poured the wine, a violin started to play. I looked up to see a violinist and cellist positioned toward the rear of the tent.

  Our candlelit meal included prawns and Alaskan crab on organic greens with cocktail sauce and Oscietra caviar. I wasn’t a huge fan of caviar, but Aiden insisted this was the best and that I’d love it. I tried it, and while I wasn’t put off by it, I wasn’t as much a fan as Aiden apparently was.

  After dinner, Aiden asked me to dance, and I happily obliged. I was already thoroughly enjoying this evening. It was a beautiful night with a beautiful man. I was blissfully happy, enclosed in his strong, yet tender embrace as the soft music washed away all my worries. I no longer cared what Aiden had planned for his dad or for that godforsaken company. All that mattered was this night with the man I loved.

  “I think Allison’s working extra hard to gain your forgiveness,” I said.

  “She already has it,” Aiden said. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”

  “You’re horrible. Why would you do that to her?” I asked.

  “So she’ll know to be more careful in the future.”

  “You should let her off the hook. I can see this is especially hard on her.”

  “I’m sure it is. I very seldom have discord with Allie. And if I do, it’s usually her claiming I’m the bad guy, and then she guilts me into doing something.”

  “Yes, she’s like a one-person campaign,” I said, thinking back to how she’d continued to plead Aiden’s case when he and I were on less than stellar terms. “When you and I were at odds, she was pushing me almost every day to talk to you.”

  “I figured as much, but I never asked her about you. I didn’t want to give her anymore ammunition to further her goals.”

  I laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked.

  “I never asked her about you, either.”

  “We’re quite the couple,” he said, a smile on his sexy lips.

  “Yes. We are.”

  He stopped moving and looked down at me. “I love you, Aria.”

  He was staring at me with such conviction that I was almost too nervous to reply. “I love you, too. So much.”

  “I can’t believe how close I came to losing you forever. It cuts me like a knife to even think about it.”

  “Then don’t.” I reached up and stroked his cheek.

  “Why haven’t you responded to my letter?” he asked.

  “I didn’t know there was a time stipulation on a response. Besides, don’t my actions show you?”

  “You know I want more than that. I want to hear the words.”

  I shook my head at him and grinned. “Of course you’re my wish, you silly man. How could you not be?”

  “Finally,” he exhaled. “You really know how to make a guy question himself.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. You? Question yourself? Perish the thought.”

  “You give me too much credit, princess. We all have those moments, especially when someone like you is in the picture.”

  “Someone like me?”

  “The woman of my dreams.”

  My heart started to pitter-patter as he smiled down at me. He was so freaking sexy, and the flickering lights of this enchanted evening cast shadows across his perfectly chiseled features, adding a mysterious allure to his beauty.

  “If someone had told me that we’d be here tonight, I never would have believed them,” he said. “A few months ago, I was so consumed with anger, and it drove pretty much all of my decisions. And when I saw you on the beach with my son—my son—I wanted to grab you both in my arms and never let go, but when you looked at me, it triggered all the anger I’d been carrying with me, and I wanted to hurt you. I wanted you to feel what I felt. And look at me now, head over heels in love with you. You’re all I want. You and our son—our family.”

  “And you have that,” I affirmed. “You have us.”

  “You and Lyric complete me in a way I would have never imagined. I don’t ever want to lose you.” He searched my eyes and then reached to cradle my face. “Marry me, Aria.”

  Did he really just say that? I stiffened, my eyes bulging, staring at him as if he were an alien.

  “Say something,” he whispered.

  If I could, I would. I knew I needed to speak, but I was drawing a blank, so I just stood there in shock, staring at him until I started to feel woozy.

  “You have my heart in the palm of your hands, and so does Lyric, for that matter,” he said. “We’re together in every way. I want to make it official.”

  Me and Aiden Raine? Married? Oh, that would be the union to end all unions. We’d kill each other. What was he thinking?

  “Breathe, Aria,” he said, and grinned. “I didn’t intend for you to pass out on me.”

  I focused on his face and tried to remember how to take air into my lungs. I was still unable to speak, totally stunned, as random words bounced around in my head.

  “Are you planning to ever talk to me again?” he teased.

  “I don’t know what to say,” I replied, shocked that I’d found my voice.

  “Well, a yes would be nice,” he urged.

  “Are you sure you aren’t just caught up in the moment?” I asked.

  “I’m positive.” He reached into his pocket and then lifted a small black box toward me.

  I stepped away from him, my eyes glued to the box in his palm. So all of this was planned? He wanted this. He really wanted me to marry him. And Allison—she was in on it.

  “Princess, let’s give Lyric a real family in every sense—the family he deserves.”

  I pulled my attention from the frightening little box and met his gaze. “Is that why you want to marry me? Because of Lyric?”

  “I’m not proposing because of Lyric—I’m proposing because I love you. And I’ve tried, but I can’t control how much I love you. I’m proposing because I don’t know how to be—I don’t know how to live without you. And I don’t want to stumble through the rest of my life trying to figure it
out. I love who I am when I’m with you. It’s natural—it’s right. There’s no pretending. I don’t have to try to make someone happy at my expense. I’m being the person I was meant to be. I want to be your husband. I want to walk this life with you at my side, as my wife.”

  I went from not breathing to damned near a panic attack.

  “Aria, focus on me. Look at me. Breathe,” he said, as he demonstrated inhaling and exhaling with me.

  Once my breathing leveled out, my mind started racing again.

  “I know that look.” He reached for my hand. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered.

  But I am afraid…afraid one of us will get hurt again. We’d scarred each other, very deeply. And giving in to our hearts like this again only opened the door to the possibility of more damage. No matter what he said, I knew that very thought was flashing in his head just as brightly as it was in mine.

  “You and I together,” I started. “We’re extremely volatile. Haven’t you learned that?”

  “I’ve learned how to forgive, and I’ve learned that I’ll never stop loving you.”

  Just as I would never stop loving him. I’d learned that love offers no guarantees, but the type of love Aiden and I shared was different—it’s a forever kind of love. It wasn’t the tame, careful love in romance movies. No, never that. Our love was raw, and it was fierce, and at times it was frighteningly explosive. And that explosion could be disastrous—not only for the two of us. We now had a very dependent third party to consider.

  “Stop analyzing the reasons you should say no.”

  “What makes you think I’m doing that?”

  “I think I know by now how your mind works,” he said.

  I wanted him in my life—I knew that. Just as I knew if I were to ever leave, he would follow me to the ends of the earth. “What about your parents? They won’t approve.”

  “I really don’t care if they do or don’t at this point, but trust me when I say they do. They’re actually as anxious for your answer as I am,” he said, motioning toward the house. “My entire family is here, so don’t keep us waiting. Don’t keep me waiting.”