Falling For Fame

Chapter 11: Emma Clark

I woke up to find myself lying next to Aiden in his shirt, and a smile crept onto my face as memories of last night flooded my mind. After brushing up, I headed downstairs to make breakfast.

While making pancakes, I felt two arms wrap around me. "It's me," a husky voice said. "I like your deep morning voice," I remarked to Aiden. "And I like this, you in my shirt, making breakfast..." he slid his hand to touch my thigh, "...without pants." I yelped a little. "I love the effect my touch has on you, freckles," he said, tainting my cheeks red. He turned me around and came closer to my face, leaving me weak in the knees. He kissed me and smirked before letting go and heading to sit at the dining table. What a tease.

After breakfast, I changed into a plaited white shirt and a checkered skirt, getting ready to leave for work. Heading downstairs, fully prepared to leave, Aiden called out, "Wait, I'll drop you off, freckles." I smiled and nodded, appreciating the unexpected gesture as we prepared to share another moment outside the confines of our scripted life.

The car ride was mostly silent. At one point, Aiden's hand found its way to my thigh. His cold, veiny hand on my bare skin sent shivers down my spine. He occasionally squeezed, and I tried hard not to squeak, my attempts at composure betraying the subtle sensations his touch ignited.

As we pulled up to my workplace, the air between us held a quiet tension, a delicate dance of unspoken emotions beneath the surface. Aiden's parting words lingered in the confined space of the car, filled with a resonance that transcended the ordinary. "Have a good day, freckles," he said, his gaze lingering for a moment longer. I could feel the weight of his words, a subtle undercurrent of something more profound than our scripted roles allowed.

"You too, Aiden," I replied, and just as I turned to leave, he reached over, capturing my lips in a lingering kiss. Time seemed to stand still as the world outside blurred, leaving only the imprint of that unexpected moment. As I stepped out into the bustling morning, the remnants of our shared car ride lingered, the echo of his touch on my thigh, and the taste of our shared kiss leaving me with a heightened awareness of the intricate dance we were navigating.

The day unfolded with a backdrop of unspoken promises, each step carrying the anticipation of more shared moments, both scripted and unscripted, in the intricate tapestry of our intertwined lives.

As the day came to an end, I was exuberant to see Aiden come through the door of my bookstore. "Hey, freckles. How was your day?" he asked, placing a kiss on my lips. "Good, what about you?" I inquired. "Great," he replied with a smile. "I must say, I am loving this whole dating-for-real thing, Aiden," I added. He chuckled and kissed me again, the genuine warmth of the moment eclipsing the scripted facade we had once carefully maintained.

As he was driving, I noticed we weren't on our way home. "This isn't the way home, where are we going?" I inquired. "To our first official real date," he smiled, and I felt my heart flutter. After some time, we reached a dock. He stepped out, rushed to open my door, and handed me a bouquet of flowers. "This is so beautiful, Aiden. I love it. We'll be able to see the sunset from the pier," I exclaimed.

As I was about to go sit, he pulled me back. "How about seeing the sunset from the middle of the ocean on a private cruise?" he suggested with a smile. "What? You rented a private yacht for us?!" I asked, completely shocked. "No, freckles, we OWN this cruise boat," he revealed, and my jaw was definitely hanging because Aiden burst into laughter at my astonished expression.

"Wait, we?" I asked. "You are my wife, freckles. Though it started as a fake one, you are still my wife. What's mine is yours—my money, my castle, my assistants, my bodyguard, my body, and my soul. Completely yours. No questions asked." My heart couldn't stop fluttering, and I could feel tears forming in my eyes. "Thank you, Aiden." "Always, freckles," he replied, sealing the moment with a promise that went beyond the confines of their initial arrangement.