A small part knows that is precisely what I need to hear, but another part is scared of exactly that. Of losing them both. I stuff the fear down and offer Aiden a smile.
“That’s just one of the reasons why I love you,” I quip before realising what I’ve gone and said. Aiden’s eyes flare wide. I see the instant everything just stops between us, like time has frozen. Realisation. The truth. I wait for the rebuff. For the“Uh, Jules, that’s not what I meant,”but it doesn’t come. Instead, Aiden’s mouth consumes my fear in a searing kiss. His palms stroke my back, pulling me closer as though trying to merge us into one being.
His fire catches, and I grab for his t-shirt, tearing it off in a messy and uncoordinated fumble. Neither of us cares. Our hands are everywhere. Fingertip introductions tell me who this man is. Scars, dimples, soft skin, calluses, bruises; they are mine to explore. Mine to collect, same as he catalogues my life written upon my flesh. For the first time, I don’t have to cover up my bruises or hide my ugly bones. He explores me under my clothes and reads me like braille, taking me for who I am. He doesn’t flinch away; he appreciates my story and my scars.
“As much as I want you here on this floor,” he purrs into my ear. “We’re going to need to go upstairs.”
“Why?”
“Condoms.”
“Oh.”
“Now I can go and come back, or we can both head up? Whichwould you prefer?”
“If we go up, will you promise to fuck me on the floor next time?”
“The floor or…”
“Anywhere. Everywhere. I want…”
“You want us to christen my apartment?” he asks, catching on quick.
“Yep, that.” I also wanted to obliterate any lingering trace of Celeste Trevainne from the walls of this place but voicing that kind of jealousy won’t serve me now. So, I keep that part to myself.
“I like the way you think. Deal, Tiger. Now scoot that cute arse upstairs. If I catch you, I’m sinking my teeth into your cheek.” I stand. He tugs off the shorts I’m wearing. I step out of them quickly and back away with a grin.
“Five second head start,” I squeal, but I’m already running, with Aiden bearing down on me. I’m almost to the top of the spiral stairs when his hand grips my waist and his lips press against my butt cheek. He scrapes his teeth over my tender skin as promised but doesn’t land the bite.
“I warned you that your arse was mine,” he says, then grabs the offending cheek. Visions of me spanking him, his perfect pouty ‘O’ of shock, the promise of retribution when he finally understood what I’d done…the memory has me giggling, a sound that shocks both of us out of our play.
“I’m going to make that my life mission.”
“What?”
“Making you laugh like that. I want to hear that every day.”
Me too. But I can’t say the words aloud. I can’t tempt fate into taking this from me.
“Deal. Now, orgasms, please.”
“Whatever you say, Tiger.”
Aiden slowly and deliberately strips off his sweatpants. His eyes remain riveted to mine the entire time. I follow his lead andremove what underwear remains. It is the most exposed I’ve been. I wonder if he feels the same?
In three small strides, Aiden presses up against me, pulling me into a tender hug.
“May I lay you down?”
I’m not sure what he’s asking, but I say yes regardless. I would do anything for this man.
An awful squeal wails from my mouth when, without warning, he lifts me up bridal style and walks me to the head of the bed and lays me gently down. He strokes my hair, my face, and continues the path down over my breast and stomach. He joins me on the bed, lying alongside me, and descends upon my mouth first, then layering kisses down my neck.
Tender. Loving. Unhurried.
He’s teaching me to make love.
Before now, love had been something confined to fiction. Something you read about longingly. Nobody makes love these days. We fuck. Hard or soft, it’s all just sex.
