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Instinct overrides me. Aidan pulls back, and I chase the contact, turning my head and capturing his mouth with mine. For a second, he goes still, and I worry I’ve just ruined this. Just as I’m about to step back and apologize, he makes a growling noise against my lips, and his grip on me tightens. I’m pulled close to him, my hands flying to his chest to steady myself as his hand cups the back of my neck, tipping my face back.
Then he kisses me. Really kisses me. I gasp against his mouth, heat rushing through me as he devours me hungrily. I’m floating in heaven as he claims me so completely my brain empties of every thought that isn’t his name or the need for more. My knees feel shaky, and there’s a pulsing, desperate pool of heat between my thighs.
Before it can go any further, before I’ve even let myself savor it properly, Aidan puts distance between us. I sway a little on my feet as my brain reboots itself and I remember how to breathe. Aidan is panting too, looking as awe-struck as I feel.
“As much as I want to take you into that apartment and kiss every beautiful inch of you, I’m going to do the gentlemanly thing and leave before I lose any more self-control,” he says, voice ragged with what I hope is pure lust. God knows that’s what’s coursing through me right now.
I nod, grateful and falling for him even more for his restraint. He really is a gentleman, even if half of me is cursing him for it right now. Mainly the lower half. Dammit, it’s like my entire body comes alive when I’m near him.
“Tell me you’re free tomorrow,” Aidan groans.
I can barely remember what day it is today, but I don’t care. I’m nodding before I figure out that tomorrow is—blessedly—Saturday and I am indeed free. “Yes,” I say eagerly. “I…I want to see you again.”
“The feeling is mutual, sweetheart,” he assures me. “I’ll pick you up for lunch, okay?”
I agree and hand him my phone so he can put his number in before he says goodbye. Aidan waits for me to get into the apartment block before leaving himself. I take the stairs up to my apartment, hoping to work off some of the energy buzzing through me, but it’s still there even after I shower and curl up in bed.
I fall asleep feeling restless, trying and failing to ignore the empty ache beneath my sleep shorts that I know nothing will fix except a certain firefighter who’s as hot as the flames he spends his days putting out.
He consumes my thoughts as I fall into my dreams, and then he fills them too.
4
AIDAN
The whole way from Autumn’s apartment to the cafe, I spend it reminding myself to take things slow. It’s proving very fucking hard considering I dreamt of her all night, woke up filled with anticipation to see her again, and when I did see her again, she stole my breath instantly.
She’s dressed in clothes that would look casual on anyone else—tight black leggings and a soft jumper beneath her raincoat—but on her looks incredible.It’s all I can do to keep my eyes off her long enough to navigate the short walk to the cafe without getting distracted and walking straight into a damn lamppost.
Autumn is painfully beautiful, especially when she’s laughing like she is now, her head tipped back and her eyes sparkling. The urge to kiss her, to do more than just that, is nearly impossible to ignore, but I manage by sheer force of will. Autumn deserves to be treated like a princess, not to have me rush her into bed like I’m a caveman.
Except I may as well be a damn caveman for all the possessive mantra that plays on a loop in my brain, telling me that she’s mine and I need to have her, to keep her…by my side forever.
“Ooh, this is my favorite place!” Autumn says excitedly as I hold the door open for her, the rich smell of coffee and fresh bread rushing out to greet us.
I smile at her. “Mine too.”
The cafe is a cute, locally owned place with the best coffee in the city, and I’m glad Autumn approves of my choice. I want to impress her, to show her in every way how much I want to make her happy.
We take our seats at a cozy table next to the window and order our coffees—mocha with extra chocolate for Autumn, latte for me—and look over the menu. Except I can’t concentrate long enough to read a single word, with my gaze being drawn back to the stunning girl across from me like she’s my center of gravity.
I pick something random off the menu when the waiter drops off our drinks and takes our food orders, and Autumn giggles when he leaves and we’re alone again.
I raise a brow in silent question, wanting to know every thought in her pretty head.
“You’re staring,” she says with a smile, playing with her hair by twisting a blonde lock between her fingers.
I remember from yesterday how soft her hair was, how it felt slipping through my fingers as I kissed her. My cock twitches and I shift in my chair, thankful she can’t see my traitorous body’s reaction to her closeness under the table. God, that kiss…
I clear my throat, grinning at her. “Hard not to,” I admit, still staring, “when the view’s this gorgeous.”
That blush, the one that filled my dreams and every waking thought, turns her cheeks pink, and she shakes her head a little.
“You’re too damn charming for your own good,” she mutters, but from the way she’s smiling and how her lashes flutter when she looks up at me through them, it’s obvious she’s teasing me.
That personality, sweet but surprising, is as attractive as her looks. I’m drawn to her so intensely. We sip our coffees and eat our food, but with every beat of my heart, one thing is clear to me—Autumn is meant to be mine. She belongs to me.
If she doesn’t already feel the same way, I’m determined to win her over.
