Garrett is pacing when I enter the kitchen. His eyes flash to mine and his fury feels like a physical blow. I slow down so I don’t stumble.
“Are you ready, Garrett?” Thank God, my voice is steady. I step by him, not waiting for his response. Focus on the cake. Save the wedding. Get through this day.
“Nothing’s changed, Aidyn.” There is so much behind the words. I don’t know what he’s talking about, but his tone tells me everything. It’s a challenge. A start…to something.
I throw him a look and open the stainless steel reach-in refrigerator. The cake is in two layers. I gather the tiers and the extra frosting and place them on the table.
He’s still fuming, but we don’t really have time for this. “What are you on about?” I ask, barely paying attention as I go about my task of preparing the cake. I place each layer in its own box to be assembled once we get to the venue.
“Aidyn.” The snap in his voice grabs my attention. “Nothing has changed.”
I close the last box and focus on him. This is what he wants. My attention for some damn reason. Now he has it. “Lanie is older. You missed a couple of birthdays. Not that you cared.”
“I sent her a card with money.”
I snort. “You’re good at that.”
He steps closer, and I slide the boxes away. I can’t let another cake get ruined. His hands ball into fists. “Let me know when you’re done hiding.”
“Hiding?” I don’t shy away from his gaze because fuck him.
“Behind the cake. And your words.”
What the fuck is he on about? I don’t hide. That’s more his style. But I don’t have time to figure it out. I check the cabinets for dowels to hold the cake together and add them to the pile of things to bring. He’s still glaring at me, but I’m fucking done. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
His nostrils flare as he grabs me and pushes me against the fridge, knocking the wind out of me. I twist away, but he shoves me again, holding me in place with a hand on my chest. Hisfingers are points burning into my skin. Setting every nerve on fire. My heart pounds wildly in response. I knock his hand away and undo my tie. If it’s a fight Garrett wants, I’m happy to oblige.
6
GARRETT
“I’m ready. More than ready.”Aidyn pulls off his tie, rolls it up, and stuffs it in his pocket. Uncertainty skitters down my spine. Where is my fury from a moment ago? I’d cultivated that anger while I waited for him, and then he’d returned freshly showered. His skin pink. His hair damp. Gorgeous. And unattainable.
And then he ignored me.
“Is this what you want, Garrett?” He unbuttons the top button on his shirt, and my throat goes dry at the thought of how much I want him. “You’ve been itching to do it for years. Now’s your chance.”
“What…? What are you doing?” I can’t process his words. His actions. Is he undressing? I swallow, fighting the desire and nausea as I clasp my hands at my side.
“I’m not ruining another shirt by getting blood on it.”
Relief surges through me, wrapped in disappointment. Of course. This fucker wants to fight. Slamming my fist into his face sounds like a fantastic idea. He’s down to the third button, and red chest hair peeks out from the neckline of his undershirt, taunting me. Fuck. Years of frustration—wanting something I can’t have. Hating myself and him in the process. Wanting tohurt him. Get his attention. Break through the wall between us—it boils over, and I move without thinking. Unable to stop as I slam him into the fridge, grab the edges of his shirt, and rip it open. Buttons ping around the room, and he stares at me as if I’ve gone crazy. His eyes flash with something else.
Hunger.
That’s what I respond to. Damn the consequences. I yank him closer and slam our mouths together. The kiss is hard. Punishing. Unyielding. Daring him to push me away.
He doesn’t. Thank fuck.
Aidyn devours my mouth, and a warning flashes in the back of my mind:you can’t recover from this. But future me can fuck off. I want this. All of this. Aidyn’s mouth as he kisses me. His sexy grunt as he grabs my arms and takes control. He spins us around and presses me against the fridge, his body hard against mine. I gasp, and he chases it with his mouth. His tongue. Licking inside until we’re kissing and sucking and biting.
I’ve kissed plenty of men. But none like this. “Aidyn, I?—”
“No. Fuck no. You started this.” He growls his words, and fuck, that has me harder than anything we’ve done so far.
He sandwiches my face in his large hands and kisses me deeply until I’m lost. So fucking lost. I’d know the scent of him anywhere, and now it surrounds me. I’ve dreamed of this moment—never believing it would happen—but the details were missing. The rapid beating of his heart under my fingertips. The lost look in his eyes. The scrape of his beard against my face. The whimper—fuck the whimper—as he grinds his cock against mine.
When he pulls away, I chase his mouth, afraid to let this end. What if he rejects me? Pushes me away? His hands tighten on my face as he searches for something. He brushes his thumb over my cheek…and I can feel it then. The tears on my face. Fuck.
