I feel sexy and beautiful and wanted by the way he’s kissing me. But there’s more to it. There’semotionin Aiden’s kiss. The fear of never being with me. The frustration of ignoring feelings and chemistry to follow unspoken rules. The excitement of getting what he wanted—and thought he might never have.
All of this is expressed with his fierce kiss. His body is trembling against mine, and my own emotions swirl as my hands continue to grasp his wavy hair.
This is so much more than a kiss.
Because right now my heart tells me this is everything.
Without moving his mouth from mine, Aiden pulls me back inside his apartment, shutting the door and pinning me to it. Now his hands are on my face, back in my hair, and I move mine to his arms, gripping them as I grow breathless. Aiden groans against my mouth, and it’s the sexiest sound I’ve ever heard.
I kiss him harder, pressing my body closer to his, and finally Aiden tears his mouth away from mine. We’re both gasping for air, and he lowers his tall frame down so he can press his forehead against mine in a move that is gentle and sweet.
I was seconds away from walking away from all of this.
From walking away from him.
I close my eyes and put my hands on his face, wanting to memorize how it feels underneath my fingertips. I hear him breathing and feel it caressing my skin. I feel tears prick my eyes. I relish all of this. All of these feelings, the intimacy, the way he touched me.
And I want to be vulnerable with him right now.
“Aiden?”
“Yeah?”
“That kiss meant everything to me.”
“Me, too.” Aiden brushes a gentle kiss on my forehead. He stands back upright, gazing down at me with so much affection in his eyes, happiness radiates right through me.
“Thank you for helping me take the risk,” I say.
“I couldn’t let you walk out the door without knowing how I feel,” Aiden says, lifting one hand to my hair and gently smoothing it out.
“I’m so glad you were brave enough to do that,” I say, smiling up at him.
He smiles back. “Me, too.” Then a thinking expression passes over his face. “I want to pull you into my lap and kiss you for hours. But I need to eat.”
I laugh and put my fingertips over his lips, which are swollen from our kisses. “I will happily sit in your lap and kiss you for hours after you refuel,” I declare. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re not, are you?” Aiden asks, almost as if he doesn’t believe it.
“I’m not. I’ve taken the leap to see where this will go. And Aiden?”
“Yeah?”
“I have no regrets,” I reassure him.
Aiden dips his head and brushes his lips against mine. “Neither do I.”
* * *
I don’t want to leave.
I’m lying on top of Aiden on the sofa, and we’ve been making out for hours. I know I need to go. I have work tomorrow morning. He has practice. But now that I’m here, my cheekpressed against his chest, his arm holding me tight as the other hand caresses my hair while we talk and laugh?
How could I have ever doubted taking this risk?
“I need to go home soon,” I murmur into his T-shirt.
Aiden groans. “No, you don’t.” He kisses the top of my head, his strong arms tightening around me. “You need to stay right here.”
