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Just the thought of kissing him again gets my heart pounding. Somehow I manage to say, “Didn’t you do that yesterday?”
The corner of his mouth twitches as he walks up and places a hand on the kitchen counter to either side of me. My chest rises and falls with my quick breathing as he holds me in place. Leaning in, he points out, “Yesterday, you kissed me.”
“Oh, right.” I give a weak laugh and drop my gaze. The way he’s looking at me makes me feel like he can read everything I’m thinking, and right now I’m having a few thoughts I’d rather keep to myself.
“Claire?”
Swallowing hard, I only manage a, “Hm?” as I dare to lift my eyes to meet his again.
He looks at me like he finds me amusing, and it only makes my cheeks flush hotter. “I’m going to kiss you now. Okay?”
I can’t help wetting my bottom lip with my tongue, and Aiden’s focus immediately shifts to my mouth. “Okay,” I say, but my voice is barely above a whisper.
“Just one kiss.” His eyes stay fixed on my mouth, and I’m not sure if he’s telling me or himself.
Before I can nod in acknowledgment, Aiden presses his lips against mine. He has this way of being gentle but solid, and I don’t know how he balances this perfect combination. Yesterday, he pulled away when I became too eager, so today I try to just enjoy the kiss. His lips slowly move over mine, but I can feel him holding back, and all it does is make me want to see what he’s like when he lets himself go. Pulling away softly, he kisses my cheek, the side of my mouth, and eventually my nose before stepping back.
The kiss on my nose brings a smile to my lips, but I’m still out of breath.
Now it’s his turn to drop his gaze. “I can’t be your rebound,” he says in a low voice.
“What makes you think you would be?” After yesterday with Chad, I can at least say with confidence that Aiden doesn’t feel like a rebound.
He smiles, but there’s a sadness to it. “Because it’s too soon.”
As much as I want to keep kissing him, deep down I know he’s right. “You mean to start a relationship?”
Aiden forces a laugh. “No.” His eyes meet mine and he adds, “Fuck, I don’t know.” He shakes his head. “All I know is if we try this, I don’t want to share you with anybody.”
I can’t help laughing. “So, like a relationship.”
He groans and rubs the back of his neck. “That word stresses me out.”
If I’m being honest with myself, that word stresses me out right now, too.
He steps toward me, and for a moment, I think he might kiss me again.
He doesn’t.
Instead, he holds out his hand, and a rush of disappointment washes over me even though I know it shouldn’t.
“Friends,” he says.
Doing my best to hide the sinking feeling in my gut, I let a faint smile pull at the corners of my mouth. “Friends who just kissed.”
He grins, making his dimple show, and it’s incredible. “Friends who just kissed and may or may not date later.”
His words leave an ache in my chest because it doesn’t feel like enough. I want more, but my head keeps telling me it’s too soon to want more.
And my stupid head is usually right.
Aiden seems to sense what I’m thinking, and an awkward silence falls between us. I’m still thinking about how easily he picked me up and put me on the kitchen counter yesterday and how badly I want him to do it again.
I need to eat something and get my head on straight.
As if reading my mind, he clears his throat and says, “I told everyone that I’d meet up with them if you want to come. Em wants us all to go to brunch.”
At the thought of seeing Chad again, a wave of hot embarrassment washes over me. “Um...are you sure that’s the best idea?”
