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“Why did you tell me all that?” I was curious why he had opened up so easily, or maybe it hadn’t been easy at all. Maybe it had been one of the hardest things he ever had to do. “Thank you for sharing it with me,” I said. I’d never had anybody be so open with me, baring a part of themselves that I knew they probably weren’t proud of. And I’d been able to tell Aiden hated that part of his past, how he’d handled things. But the fact that he wanted to change, to be better, to not resort to violence or theft, or even vandalism, told me a lot about his character and his heart.
But the truth was, even if he was still that person, the one who got into fights, the one who was acting out, since he hurt so badly because of his circumstances and the health issue with his mother, I still would’ve felt these things for him.
I still would have wanted him desperately, more than I ever wanted anybody in my entire life.
And although I knew I probably shouldn’t do what I was about to, what I was thinking of doing, needing to do with so much desperation I could taste it on the tip of my tongue, I found myself leaning forward and placing a hand on his muscular thigh. I felt his body tense beneath my palm, watched as his eyes widened ever-so-slightly as he probably wondered what the hell I was doing.
I was crowding him, the interior of the car tiny, the heat rising. His dark eyes drilled into mine, and I felt my pulse kick into overdrive.
“Aiden,” I whispered his name, unsure if I meant to say anything after that, but unable to speak anymore regardless.
And before I could make a move, he slipped his hand along my cheek, down the side of my neck, and curled his fingers around the nape of my neck. He tipped my head back with his fingers, and then he had his mouth on mine. His kiss was warm, his lips firm. He smelled so good, and when he slipped his tongue along the seam of my mouth, I’d never tasted anything better.
I didn’t know what this all meant. Maybe it meant nothing at all. Maybe it was just two people who connected in a way, in a moment, and this was how they wanted to show that appreciation, that closeness.
Or maybe it meant everything.
And when I pulled back and neither one of us spoke, my pulse thundering in my ears, I knew I didn’t want this to end. I wanted this to be just the beginning.
There was a lot I wanted to say, more kissing I wanted to do, but before I screwed this up, said something that would ruin this moment, I whispered goodbye and opened the door. I got out of his car, feeling his gaze on me the entire time and not being able to help the smile forming on my lips.
There was definitely something between us, and I wanted to find out how deep it went.
* * *
Aiden
I don’t know how long I sat in her driveway, watching her, staring at her departing as she headed inside. I lifted my hand and touched my lips. They tingled. I knew I’d remember that kiss forever. I knew nothing would ever top it.
That first kiss. The one that steals your breath, makes your heart stop.
And I knew, in this moment, on this day, that there was nothing more I wanted than to keep Harlow close.
And I knew I’d do just that, screw things getting in the way. She was the best thing that ever happened to me, and fuck anything or anyone who tried to get in my way of making her my reality.
Chapter Eleven
Harlow
The party-Saturday night
Well, here we were, staring at Braxton’s house. I felt all kinds of dread and disgust, but I sat in the passenger seat of Aiden’s car, and I felt comfortable, happy in his presence. He could make that horrid feeling just disappear with a snap of his fingers.
As soon I let Pixie peer pressure me into coming to one of Braxton’s parties, I regretted it. And I’d seen on Aiden’s face, he hadn’t been all for the idea either. But here we were, both of us about to stick out like sore thumbs. Well, that’s how I felt at least.
“Ready?” he asked, and I looked over at him.
“No, but here we go.”
He smiled, and I felt my stomach twist in pleasure.
Since the kiss in his car, we hadn’t done anything ese, hadn’t even spoken about it. Which made me start to think it was all an “in the moment” thing. I didn’t want that though, hated to even think it, because I felt such profound things for Aiden. But on that same token, I saw the way he looked at me at times. I couldn’t pretend, didn’t want to assume, it was all in my head and the heat I saw in his eyes wasn’t actually there. I didn’t want to think it was my own desire to have him want me with the same intensity in which I wanted him.
