---- Chapter 25: This Bed Was Half His, Too Clara's shirt that day was made of silk-light, soft, and smooth-but when it got wet, it clung like a second skin. Because of that, her black underwear showed through just enough to catch the eye. She'd only unbuttoned the top two buttons of her collar, pretty normal-except Aaron was standing right behind her, looking down, and the view was anything but ordinary. Clara's neck stretched out like a swan's-long, graceful, flawless. Water drops from Leo's splash fight dripped down her damp hair, then slipped onto her skin and traced a path beneath her collar. Aaron swallowed hard; his Adam's apple bobbed nervously as he tried not to move closer. Meanwhile, Clara and Leo were completely oblivious, splashing each other with wild ---- abandon. They went at it for over twenty minutes before Clara finally collapsed in a squat, exhausted. "Okay, okay, enough splashing! Mommy's hair is soaking wet." Her legs felt like jelly as she tried to stand, nearly tipping over. Aaron's hand came to steady her waist. "Careful there." His voice was low and rough-he didn't realize how hoarse he sounded until he spoke. The warmth of his palm against her waist made Clara instinctively lean away a bit. "Thanks! You go get him out. I'm going to shower first-my hair's drenched." Aaron nodded. "Got it." Outside, the night had deepened and turned chilly. Aaron set down the stack of files and rubbed his forehead, surprised to see it was already 1 a.m.-no wonder his eyes felt heavy. Since his hours at the firm had gotten cut back, he had to bring work home now. ---- After a quick shower, he lay on the bed with his eyes shut, trying to focus on the contract he'd reviewed with Mr. Morgan earlier, but his mind kept wandering. Instead, Clara's bright, playful smile from the bathroom splashing popped into his head... His body tingled with a strange, warm flutter-he just had to see his beautiful wife. His legal wife. And with that thought, he got up. Even though he'd lived here a while, he'd never actually been inside the master bedroom. He crept upstairs quietly and gently pushed open the first door-it wasn't locked. Probably so Leo could come and go freely. The soft nightlight cast a cozy glow over the room, but it didn't hide the scene on the bed. Clara lay sprawled in the middle, clutching a pillow, and had claimed almost the whole mattress. Her modest nightgown had ridden up ---- to her waist, showing off a seriously sexy curve thanks to her messy sleeping pose. Her legs stretched out long and flawless, skin smooth and soft-just begging to be touched. Aaron lay on his side, left with maybe a quarter of the bed to call his own. Clara had clearly forgotten-this bed was half his, too. He didn't mind. One hand slid out on its own to gently trace her calf. The softness beneath his fingers sent a shock straight through him. Just as he'd imagined-springy, silky, warm. His muscles tensed involuntarily. His fingers drifted slowly up Clara's waist. Her waist was so slender it seemed unreal-no creases, no hint that she'd ever carried a child. A light tickle ran through Clara. She waved her arm and rolled onto her side, thankfully still asleep. Aaron held his breath, palm trembling as he ---- followed the curve of her body, feeling her steady heartbeat beneath his hand. His breathing grew heavy and ragged. Clara dreamed she was lying on soft grass, utterly sleepy. But the ground suddenly felt hot-so hot it made her squirm. Then a butterfly fluttered near, landing gently on her face and neck-so ticklish she couldn't help but bat at it. "Go away, stop it..." she murmured in her sleep. Aaron's lips, just inches from her ear, suddenly pressed a soft kiss. He couldn't help himself-he kissed deeper. Clara gasped for air. She snapped awake, startled to find Aaron's face right in front of hers. "What are you doing?" she demanded, pushing hard against his solid, burning chest. Aaron lost his balance, fell back onto the floor, eyes full of longing and hurt. "What's wrong?" ---- Clara grabbed the blanket and held it tightly in front of her. "You... why are you here?" Aaron looked confused. "This room's partly mine too, isn't it?" Clara hugged the blanket tighter, trying to shake the fluttering feeling in her chest. "What exactly are you doing?" Aaron felt nothing wrong about it. "Just exercising my rights as your husband. What's wrong with that?" Clara's cheeks flushed. "Husband? We're not even really married!" Aaron's voice hardened. "Legal and legitimate-what's fake about that?" Clara snapped, "Then we're basically strangers. How's that moral?" Aaron asked, "Is there someone else?" Clara said firmly, "No!" Aaron stood tall, towering over her.