“Your bones are stiff. You’ve barely moved.”
“I’m comfortable.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Aiden chortles, sits up, and grabs me around my waist, hoisting me over his lap and sweeping my legs out from under me. He hovers over me, stretched out across the sofa. “Are you nervous, Tiger? Tell me you’re not scared to be alone with me?”
“I’ve seen you naked,” I blurt stupidly.
“And you’ve not been able to focus all night because of that?”
“Well, I…”
“I was trying to take it slow. Do the sweet first date kind of thing. I can’t take you out because of all our shit, but I hoped this was close enough.”
“It’s been perfect. Itisperfect.”
“But you’ve been here, all pent up and waiting for the naked part of the evening?”
“Well…no…uh…”
“You should have told me sooner.” Aiden grins, then leans down and kisses the shit out of me.
Chapter Fourteen
There’s no hesitation in Aiden. No hang ups. He kisses me like he’s been holding back all night. Like this is the best possible outcome he could have hoped for. His eagerness is catching, and I find myself guiding his hands to where I want them; under my t-shirt and cupping my breasts. Aiden’s hands are firm and yet gentle. He rearranges us so he’s stretched alongside, or more on top if I’m being honest. His touches are both demanding and teasing, but it is the reverent way he presses his lips to mine, the slow and sure exploration of tongues that makes his kiss sensual.
He rolls off me the wrong way, his back hitting the rug with a loud thump.
“Tiger, we should take this upstairs before I mess this up and screw you on the couch.”
I roll onto my side and look down on him from the sofa. He lifts his hands to his head and swipes them down his face, chest is moving rapidly as he tries to catch his breath. He’s trying to do right by me. Bed me. Go slow. But I’m good with the couch,the floor, the wall, and the iron stairs might bruise my knees; I’ll happily try those too.
I watch this man, with his eyes screwed shut and a soft smile on his face and realise that there’s a warm feeling in my chest that belongs to him. Dax’s drama consumes many of my moments, but Aiden’s stoicism, kindness, generosity, care, and loyalty are just as important. This beautiful, patient man made it impossible for me not to love him.
The realisation both hits like a sledgehammer and lifts like weight from my soul.
I love him.
Not just for what he has done, but for who he is.
I carefully climb off the couch, straddle Aiden’s waist, and kneel while hovering gently over his crotch. His eyes flicker open, and he watches me without saying a word. I’m glad. He doesn’t need to say anything. This is on me; my choice. I bend forward and lean one arm on the floor beside him. My other hand cups his face. An anchor for my kiss.
His lips move slowly against mine. We ease into our second kiss of the evening. The soft capture of lips and the sharing of air consume me for a moment before he teases me with his tongue, all soft, imploring presses and licks. His hands are in my hair, pulling me down, and when I pull back, he comes with me, arching up as if we’re tethered.
“Let me take you to bed,” he whispers against my mouth.
“How about you just take me?”
“Here?”
“Everywhere.”
He rolls his hips, rocking into me. Even through our clothes, I can feel his heat and want. His hands grip my waist, holding us together before reaching up under the t-shirt and pulling it over my head.
He takes a sweet moment to stroke my hair as he lets his eyeswander down my body and back up to look me in mine. “You’re beautiful, Tiger, and I want you more than I can put into words right now. Are you sure this is what you want?”
“One hundred percent. No matter what comes tomorrow or the day after. This is what I want.”
His brows furrow at my answer. He caresses my face and leans in to kiss me sweetly on the forehead. “Whatever comes will have me and Dax to deal with before it ever touches you.”
