“What?” I asked in disbelief. “You know that’s not how it is, Aiden. Aiden!” I yelled as he walked away from me.
Damn it. Why did he always get upset about this? I stared down at the ground, angry that we’d ended our conversation on a sour note, especially considering I was getting ready to leave town.
I didn’t want to leave with this bad feeling hanging between us. I turned to go after him, but came up short when I saw him storming my way.
“Aiden,” I started as he grabbed me and pulled me against him, our bodies colliding.
“One month,” he told me, glaring down at me. “You have one month to tell everyone how we feel about each other. If you don’t, I will. And I don’t care if they accept it or not. You are mine, Noe. And I’m ready to make you mine in every way possible.”
My breath caught from the look in his eyes.
“I must have you,” he whispered, before leaning in slowly and pressing his lips to mine.
Right there, in my garden, he claimed my lips in a sweet kiss. Then he slid one hand to the back of my neck and gripped it gently as the kiss deepened, making my toes curl and a needy ache form low in my belly.
By the time he pulled away, I was ready to say, 'Forget what anyone thinks or wants; I want this man, and I will have him.' Blinking rapidly, I stared up into the eyes of the man I loved. The only man I’d ever loved. The man I would’ve started dating long ago if I weren’t afraid to upset others.
“One month,” he told me.
“One month,” I whispered.
He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, then released me and stormed out of the garden. Pressing my finger to my slightly swollen lips, I stared after him. I had one month to set my boundaries with the people closest to me.
I sighed. I didn’t think one month would be long enough. But if I didn’t do it, Aiden would. It would be best if I were to tell them. I’d do it in a week after I returned from my next job. Sighing, I dusted my hands off and strode toward the house.
Inside, I found a Home and Health magazine, along with a few other magazines on the kitchen table, with a note from Aiden that read, “Circle everything you like.” I laughed. This man!
I sat down at the table and began flipping through the magazines. I was just turning the page when loud bangingsounded at my front door. I closed my eyes, already knowing who it was and what they wanted. They must’ve seen Aiden leave my place. Here we go again!
My eyes popped open. I lay there in the dark, staring at the far wall while Aiden snored lightly behind me, his arm still wrapped around my waist. Was that a dream? Or had I just relived my first kiss with Aiden? Or had that been one of many?
Whatever it was, it felt real as hell.The garden. The morning dew between my toes. His mouth on mine. The desire I felt for him from that kiss.It had all felt too real to be a dream. It had to be a memory.
If it wasn’t a dream, then I had so many questions. Who was I trying to set boundaries with? And who had been banging on my door like they were the police? What type of work did I do that required me to leave town for a week?
So many questions, and I had a feeling Aiden wouldn’t answer any of them. For a long time, I lay there, quiet, still, thinking. At least one thing was for sure: Aiden and I had definitely been in love for a long time.
Had our love caused problems for others? Was that why we were at the country estate? Were we hiding from the people who didn’t want us to be together? So many questions, and there was only one person who could answer them for me.
But there was a chance he didn’t want me to know those answers.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NOELLE
I WOKE UP HOT. ACHING.
My skin felt flushed, and there was a throb between my legs that I couldn’t ignore. It took me a second to realize why. It was because of my dream. The dream was already fading, but the craving it left behind was still there.
I’d been dreaming about Aiden.Again. But this dream hadn’t been like the others. This one hadn’t been romantic or sweet. There were no forehead kisses, and we didn’t walk through a garden while smiling.
This dream had been filthy. Downright indecent. And every part of me loved it. I’d had a wet dream about my husband, and it had been erotic as fuck. It hadn’t felt like a memory, not like the other dream.
Perhaps it was my own imagination conjuring up things it wanted Aiden to do to me. If so, my imagination was wild as hell. I could still feel the phantom caress of his mouth on my breasts.
Still hear his gravelly voice whispering filth in my ear while he steered me to the edge of an orgasm and held me there. Dream Aiden had been a tease just like real Aiden. It was a shame that I was waking up just as sexually frustrated as I’d been when I’d gone to sleep.
If this mess continued, I really would have blue clit. I moved to turn over onto my back, then stilled when I realized I was onlypartially lying on the mattress.Damn. When had I moved in my sleep?
