Lying in bed after making love to Aiden makes me feel alive and invigorated. It’s almost like I have been asleep for a long time and I’m just waking up. I glance over at Aiden and the way the covers cradle his toned torso, making him look even more tan and sexy.

“Ellie, are you staring at me?” Aiden asks, keeping his eyes closed.

“Yes,” I say, pulling lightly at the covers. They easily slip off his manhood, exposing all the yummy bits.

“I need a break, honey,” he mumbles. “You wore me out.”

I laugh. While I feel full of energy, the evening’s activities have clearly drained Aiden of his.

After a few moments, he opens his eyes and gives me one of those looks that pierces through my very soul. If I weren’t already naked, I’d feel completely naked. Exposed. Yet, the feeling is not threatening in the least. I feel safe with him. Safe and well-taken care of.

“Since you don’t seem to be the least bit tired,” Aiden says, turning toward me and propping his head up with his hand. “Why don’t we talk?”

“I like the sound of that,” I say. “So, where are you from? What’s your family like?”

The expression on his face tells me that he was not ready for my quick fire questions, but these things have been on my mind ever since we met. I mean, I hardly know two things about him.

“I guess you didn’t google me yet.”

“No, I did,” I say. “But you know, newspaper articles. They’re often full of falsehoods. Plus, I want to hear it from you.”

“Okay…well, I grew up in a pretty average family. My parents fought a lot, but refused to get divorced. I think they couldn’t really afford to live apart, so they stayed together and made everyone’s life miserable.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say.

“It’s okay. I’m way over it. My way of dealing with it was just to spend all of my time tinkering with computers.”

“Where did you grow up?”

“Near Boston. My mom was a nurse at a hospital, she often worked the night shift. My dad was a garbage man. He didn’t work much during the day, so he spent most of his free time drinking.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He shrugs and looks away. “They loved me in their own way, I know that. But I knew from a young age that the only way I wasn’t going to have the same life that they had was to study hard and go to college.”

“That’s why you went to Yale?”

“Yep. It was my dream school, actually. And I still feel bad about dropping out to start Owl.”

“Even though you’re the founder of Owl and it’s such a huge company now?”

“Yeah, even so,” he says. “Just thinking back, I don't think it would’ve made much of a difference if I had just finished my degree, you know? I mean, what’s a year in the long scheme of things?”

I’ve never thought of that myself. As much as I had enjoyed my college experience, I’m not sure if I’d be for expanding it for another year.

“How was college for you?” he asks.

“It was fun. It had its hard parts. But mostly, it was a blast. Also, very different from the real world.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I guess that’s what I liked about it most. It just felt like this layover between high school and adulthood. I mean, we are adults, but we’re not expected to be adults. Not in any real way. I just think about all of those people who don't go to college and just go straight to work. Or have kids at a young age. I really admire them because I definitely couldn’t do that. There was no way that I would be ready for any of that now, let alone when I was eighteen.”

Aiden nods in agreement. Neither of us say anything for a few moments and then another thought pops into my head.

“So, what about your marriage?” I ask.

“What do you want to know?”

“What was it like? To get married so young, I mean?” I ask.

“I don’t know what came over me. I guess I was just in love. She was my first real girlfriend and I remember really wanting to marry her. Her parents were not pleased over the city hall wedding and things went awry after that. She said we rushed into it and she couldn’t really live with herself over it.”

“Did you know her from high school?” I ask.

“No.” Aiden shakes his head. “She was from an old family from Ohio.”

“Well, you know all families are basically the same age. There’s no such thing as an old family. Some just keep better records,” I joke. He forces a smile.

“Unlike my family, hers was very prominent in the community. They owned one of the biggest houses in the state. And back then, I never had much money.”

I know a little bit about old money. No matter how much money you have now, they are not the types to welcome new money with open arms.

“I think what I’m trying to say is that we were from two different worlds and her family never accepted me. I guess she lost her mind momentarily by marrying me, but then regained it when we got a divorce.”

Suddenly, I feel a pang in my chest.

“It sounds like you still have feelings for her,” I say.

“No, I don’t, not at all,” he says quickly. “We were just very good friends and very close, and I guess a part of me still misses that friendship.”

I nod, feeling a bit relieved. Actually, I know exactly what he means. That’s pretty much how I feel toward Tom.

“And after her?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Any significant relationships?”

“No, after my marriage, I’ve been pretty settled into the life of a bachelor.”

“Yes, I saw that online. Lots of models and actresses,” I say. I try not to sound jealous, but I can’t really. I am jealous. Even if they are in his past. Of course, I have no way of knowing that for sure. I mean, are they really in his past?

“But no one special?”

“Not until you,” Aiden says, moving a strand of hair out of my eyes.

“What?” I sit up in bed.

“I just feel different toward you, Ellie. Different than I ever felt before. And I’m not the type to tell women that. In fact, most of the time I feel absolutely nothing for the women I spend time with. And then you came along…and changed all that.”

I can’t help but blush. I turn my face away from him to hide my red cheeks.

“You’re just so beautiful, Ellie.” He pulls me closer to him and kisses me on the lips.

“Now, it’s your turn,” he says. “Tell me something you never told anyone before.”

I try to think of something that I’ve never shared with anyone. The thing is that I’m not a girl with too many secrets. I wish I were more mysterious, but I’m not.

“I like the games you play,” I say after a moment. “I’ve never been tied up before, but it felt really good. It just made me feel so free, in a way.”

“Really?” Aiden smiles. “That’s exciting.”

“Yes. Exciting and scary. I mean, I’m completely immobile and yet there’s something very liberating about it. I don't know what.”

“I don’t know either,” he says. “But I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“How about you?” I ask.

“You mean you want me to tell you something I’ve never told anyone?”

I nod.

“I’m afraid that if I ever stop working I’m going to be poor again. Poor like I was growing up. I mean my parents had a two bedroom house but then they lost it, and that’s when we started going back and forth between various rental houses. I was always worried about where we would live next. Angry landlords were always knocking on our door because my parents weren’t paying the rent, threatening to kick us out. My mom said they were idle threats, but they weren't all the time. We got evicted a few times and had to live on people’s couches.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“I never told anyone that before, Ellie.”

“Thank you for telling me.”

“And despite all of my money, I’m still afraid that I’ll be back there again. Not having enough money to eat or pay for the roof over my head.”

“Well, the roof that you have over your head now does cost a pretty penny,” I joke. He smiles.

“But, seriously, I’m sorry about that,” I add. “I mean, you went through a lot as a kid and it must’ve been really scary to get evicted.”

“One day we had this truck pull up to our apartment building and they came in and repossessed all of our furniture and the television. Apparently, my mom didn’t pay the rental people so they just took it all back. I had to sleep on the floor with my pillow and blanket.”

I shake my head. I don't know what to say. I wrap my arms around him and tell him that it’s all going to be okay. That I’m here for him, and still that doesn’t seem like enough.

We fall asleep in each other’s arms and only awake when the sun is streaming in through the window.

When I open my eyes, I see Aiden standing dressed in his impeccable suit in front of me.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go to work,” he says, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

“Oh, okay,” I mumble sleepily.

“I was just wondering. Would you like to be mine for a week again?” Aiden asks. “I promise no sex clubs this time.”

A smile forms on my lips before I even have the chance to reply.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Black.”