What Aiden had said had come so naturally he hadn't thought about it, but he was thinking now. He felt slightly sick at having admitted the true nature of his feelings for James when that had never happened before. Shouldn't have happened now, either. He was probably going to do something else to drive her away again - or not do something - whichever way it went, the outcome would be the same. And now she knew just what she had in her hands. And what did he know, anyway? He didn't know for sure what love was, he doubted anyone would though the world sure seemed bent on profiting off of it.
There was panic in his eyes to mirror hers and at some point he had started to breathe consciously, trying to keep his heart steady. She hadn't said it back, or made mention to it. Yet, he could feel her flame burning incandescently, brighter than in recent memory and Aiden chose to believe his admittance was the reason why. When she looked in his eyes Aiden was sure she saw the fear there; fear of losing her, of being humiliated by what he had said, of how badly it would come to bite him later. His brow began to furrow with slight pain at how hard she was grabbing his shoulders. Aiden didn't think he had any notion of her strength until now.
A breath left the deepest part of his lungs when she pushed her body against his and Aiden closed his eyes. Yet his heart was still racing enough to make him feel vertigo.
He smoothed her hair with his hand as she spoke, and Aiden had to feel contented by it. That wasn't a no, but it was all he was going to get out of her for now. "Alright, babes." He murmured.