“You really should’ve called me,” he murmured, his voice rougher now, softer in a way that made my stomach twist.
“And miss this lecture?” My words were playful—a harsh contrast to my thundering heart.
His lips twitched—not quite a smile—before his gaze returned to my mouth.
One step closer and his hand brushed mine—it wasn’t an accident. His thumb grazed my knuckles once, slow, before he let it fall back to his side. He leaned in, just enough for my breath to hitch—enough I thought he might kiss me.
My fingers dug into my sides, the space between us shrinking to nothing.
And then—
A low rumble rolled up the street.
Headlights swept across the driveway, breaking the spell.
Aiden’s jaw clenched. His head turned toward the street as Rook’s bike crunched over the gravel, the moment we’d been teetering on slipping away like it had never been there.
But I knew it had been.
I rolled over, fitting myself against Aiden’s chest like it was second nature—but then again, everything between us always felt like second nature. His heartbeat thudded steady under my ear, warm and solid, and when I glanced up, I caught him idly rolling his lip ring between his teeth—his tell when he was thinking too hard.
“Did you almost kiss me that night?” My voice came out lower than I meant, my mind still tangled in the memory.
He huffed a laugh, the sound deep and lazy, vibrating through my ribs. “You’re gonna have to narrow that down, Psycho. I think I’ve almost kissed you a thousand times.”
“The first time.”
“Ahh, the night you walked home and I was pissed about it.” His thumb skimmed along my arm, absentminded but distracting.
“Hey, my phone was dead. I couldn’t call.”
His mouth curved, slow and knowing. “Your phone is always dead. For a tech nerd, you’re awful with your own devices.”
“Did you really just call me a nerd?”
“The cutest computer nerd I know.”
I pushed up, the heat between us closing in like a held breath. My lips brushed his—soft at first, testing—catching the faint taste of spearmint.
“I can’t believe I’ve had to wait so many years to do this,” he murmured, his breath warm against my mouth.
“I can’t believe you purposely waited so many years to do this.”
My legs slid to either side of him, knees brushing his hips, the heat between us humming. I leaned down, and something crinkled between us.
His brows arched. Mine lifted higher. I reached between us, fingers diving into the front pocket of his hoodie.
“You brought me M&M’s?” I said, grinning like he’d confessed something scandalous.
“Of course I did.” That slow, cocky grin took over. “I knew you’d get hungry after ambushing me. I just didn’t realize you’d go digging like a feral raccoon.”
“So rude.” I smiled. “You talked to Mason, didn’t you?”
He only grinned, pouring a few into my hand. “Consider this your rom-com hero movie moment.”
“I’ve never heard one romance movie where the man refers to her as a feral raccoon.”
I didn’t even get to tease him about the M&M’s before his hands slid to my hips, pulling me down until my chest brushed his. His mouth found mine again—slow, hungry, like he’d been keeping this particular kiss locked up for years.
