You can stay here and sleep, or I can take you home now.”
Aiden shook his head. “No, I’d prefer to stay for the day, and I’m assuming that someone around here knows how to make a decent breakfast.”
“Mmm…waffles,” River hummed happily.
“Ugh. No, sleep. I need sleep.”
Aiden should have felt the same way after the hunt and chase with the MacPhersons followed by the heated discussion with his sons. While his body was exhausted, his brain was wide awake, asking questions with no clear answers. Maybe after a shower, he’d be able to relax and sleep.
He followed the trio up the stairs and while they disappeared into the master bedroom at the opposite end of the hall, Aiden headed straight for the shower in the guest room. He washed off the dried sweat, dirt, and blood before slipping into a pair of lounge pants and a plain gray T-shirt that had been left out for him.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he shoved a hand through his damp hair. He should climb under the covers and sleep, but his brain refused to calm. It wasn’t so much that he was worried about his sons. They’d settled their fears for now, but he knew it would be a reoccurring conversation for a while. He wasn’t entirely convinced they would stop their meddling, but at least they might slow down a little.
No, his mind was on Ronan. They’d kissed. After a thousand years, they’d finally kissed, and it was even more divine than Aiden had thought it would be. He hated that they’d stopped kissing. He’d rather be on his knees in that abandoned building, still kissing Ronan if he had the choice. He longed to feel Ronan’s hands on him, hear the noises, taste his need on his tongue.
But while the kissing was wonderful, it left Aiden uneasy. Where did it leave them? When it came to Ronan, they could never have just a meaningless fling. Even if they never kissed again, there were too many old and new emotions tangled up between them.
Moving forward, what were they facing? Assuming Ronan wasn’t really trying to kill him or betray him as part of the Ministry’s plot, where did that leave Ronan? Would he betray the Ministry for Aiden?
Oh, God. He would.
Just the thought sent a chill through Aiden. Ronan was a fucking madman when he wanted something. If he decided he wanted Aiden, then screw all the European Ministry.
Pushing off the bed, Aiden crossed the guest room and stepped into the hall. He paused, staring at the door to Ronan’s room. What would confronting Ronan now change? Certainly not Ronan’s mind if he was right. No, it was better if he left Ronan to his dreams for now. Aiden needed to think.
With any luck, his friend had fallen asleep. There was no sense in disturbing him. He also didn’t want to give Ronan the wrong idea that he intended to crawl into bed with him.
Aiden was really tempted to do just that, though. To feel hands on his body again. It had been so long.
Nope. Nope. Not gonna think about that.
Aiden turned on his heel and silently walked to the kitchen. He was going to get a drink of water and shove everything from his mind so he could sleep. When he’d slept and was dressed in his own clothes, then he’d let himself mentally wade into this quagmire.
But he’d barely poured himself that glass when he heard soft footsteps shuffle into the kitchen behind him. He knew who it was without looking. Just a feeling, really.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Ronan asked in a low voice so as not to disturb the rest of the house.
Aiden shook his head before he looked at the open doorway. The man was dressed in only a pair of borrowed sleep pants that hung low on his narrowed hips. His wonderful, slightly furry chest was bare, making Aiden’s palms itch with desire. He wanted to run his hands through all that hair, to caress him and trace all the old scars with his fingertips.
Instead, he motioned toward the fridge. “Would you like something? Blood? I know Bel keeps plenty on hand.”
“No, I’m good. What’s bothering you, Aiden?”
Placing his glass on the center island, Aiden moved just a tiny bit as Ronan fully entered the room, keeping the marble-topped block between them. It felt safe to have that distance separating them. But it wasn’t about not trusting Ronan. He didn’t trust himself and his vaunted common sense he