Boy was she in an avalanche’s worth of trouble. She couldn’t fall in love with him again. A rush of heat swept over her followed by a bone chilling realization. Had she ever stopped loving him?
Oh, God, she had to get away.
“Done beating yourself up, yet?” Aidan asked in his husky, sexy, sated voice.
How she used to treasure talking with him after making love. Listening to that voice, which seemed to caress her all over again as they made plans, spoke of dreams.
“I need to go.” But she didn’t move. His hand stroked up and down her arm in a lazy pattern. If only they could take another flight. But that would make matters worse. She needed to stay grounded.
“I know.” He didn’t move either, just continued caressing her arm. “Fox will be getting home from school soon.”
Oh, God. Fox. The ticking clock felt like it had a bomb attached, and she was out of time. Her son was the reason she’d rushed over here. She still didn’t know exactly what she wanted to say to Aidan. There was one thing she had to get him to agree to before she left. “I need you to keep quiet about being Fox’s father until I can talk to him.”
Aidan’s hand stopped its downward path and he slowly turned on his side to face her. “Raven, Fox already knows.”
What? “You told him? Oh, no.” She pushed out of his arms, and grabbed for her clothes. “How could you do that? How did he react? When did you tell him?” Questions fired like bullets while she yanked on her clothes.
Aidan gingerly sat up in bed, his hand holding his head. It clearly still pained him, but she couldn’t think about that now. All that mattered was Fox.
“Raven, I didn’t tell him.”
She popped her head through the top of her t-shirt, tugging it down over her hips, and met his gaze. “How else would he know?”
Aidan closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them she felt his unease. “I think you’d better sit down.”
His tone, combined with the look on his face, had her slowing her movements as she slipped into her jeans and buttoned them. Raven sat on the edge of the bed, knowing she wasn’t going to like hearing whatever Aidan was about to tell her.
“Fox was the one who told me I was his father.”
Just like that, the bomb detonated inside her. She couldn’t speak as the static in her head drowned out all other noise.
“Raven?” Aidan called her name, but it sounded as if it came from a far off place.
Her vision blurred as the static turned to a shrill, and then a loud banging, as white lights flashed in tiny sparks before her eyes.
Her world tipped.
“Raven.” Aidan had her by the shoulders and was shaking her.
Breathe, damn it. She couldn’t fall apart now, not when she had so much to—somehow—put back together. “I’m okay,” she lied. Would she ever be okay again?
“Are you sure? You’re pale as snow.” Aidan gazed at her with such concern, it made her want to lean on him, rest her heavy head on his broad shoulders.
“Did Fox tell you—” She had to pause in order to swallow the sick feeling in her stomach rising up into her throat. “Did he tell you how he knew?” Her boy, her baby, hadn’t come to her with this? Hadn’t asked her if Aidan was his father? Instead, he’d gone to the source. Which really didn’t surprise her. Hurt her, yes, but didn’t surprise her. Fox had always been one to tackle problems head on, rather than take the time Raven needed to sort out the best course of action.
Aidan enclosed her hands in his, anguish dwelling in the dark depths of his eyes. “Earl told him…when he was seven.”
Time stopped. The room spun and went deadly quiet except for the sound of her agonized breathing.
Fox had known since he’d been seven?
“How the hell did Earl know?” she cried out. Her worst nightmare unveiled and it had happened four years ago.
“He guessed. Apparently, Fox is the spitting image of me when I was a boy.”
“I gotta get out of here.” She jumped off the bed and slipped her bare feet into her mukluks. “I have to talk to Fox.”
“Raven, wait. We’ll talk to him together.” Aidan threw back the covers, his gorgeous nude body causing her to catch her breath for a moment. The reality of what they’d just done stabbed before she could get a hold of herself. Everything was spinning out of control.
“No.” Fox was her son. She needed to talk to him. Alone. Raven tore out of the bedroom, ignoring Aidan swearing behind her.
“Damn it, Raven.” Aidan grabbed her arm and swung her around as she reached for her coat. He hadn’t stopped to dress, standing there in all his glorious nakedness. “You aren’t keeping me out of this.” His eyes burned with intent. “He’s my son too.”