She clicked her buckle into place.“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“I still find it odd that he’s here while all this is going on.”
She lifted a slim shoulder and the sun caught the yellow hues in her eyes, making them glisten.“Ray has an uncanny knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He grunted.“I’m not convinced.”He shook off all the feelings of unrest and lifted his mouth in a smile.“Other than a stop at your house is there anything you need?”
“Nope.”
He pulled away from the curb and headed in the direction of Dez’s house.For now, he wouldn’t hang on to thoughts of Ray.Not when Dez’s cinnamon scent and essence surrounded him like a cashmere blanket.
Fuck, he was in deep.
CHAPTER 9
Aiden held openthe front door of his duplex and waited for her to precede him.Dez brushed past him, and attraction flickered inside her body, turning on desire in every region.
She stood in the tight foyer and removed her shoes.Aiden carried her bag packed full of necessities and a few days’ worth of clothes.As she swept her gaze around the entryway and into the house, a rush of foggy memories assaulted her.
He’d shoved her up against the mirror on the wall beside her, gripping her shirt hungrily and darting his tongue into the hot cavern of her mouth.
The runner where he’d left his jeans.
The couch where he’d tugged off her pants and brought his mouth between her legs.
The hall where he’d scooped her up with her legs hugged around his waist.
An open door down the short hallway that led to the living room revealed the bed where pure magic had been created.
“Bring back memories?”A hint of satisfaction rumbled along the words.
She pinched her chin between her thumb and forefinger.“Mmm.Not anything memorable.”
He slapped his hand to his chest in mock devastation.“Ouch.You can be ruthless, you know that?I always strive for perfection and you can’t even remember a good time.”The humor in his tone didn’t change the truth of his words.
But that was a road she didn’t want to travel.Not tonight anyway.
His lips moved into a broad grin, and he nodded at the living room.“I think you remember the couch for sure,” he said, bobbing his eyebrows.“I do.”
A laugh lodged in her throat.“Okay, easy cowboy.”She’d be crazy to say she didn’t want to have a repeat of Saturday night, but there had to be a mutual understanding.Some kind of trust formed.
He’s getting there...
She went to the kitchen island, where he’d left the groceries.“What can I do?”She peeled open one of the paper bags.Her gaze caught something and her eyes widened—red lipstick scrawled on the kitchen counter.She clapped her hand to her mouth.The words were faded but still visible.
“I see you remember writing that.”
“Oh my god.I’msosorry.”
His light laugh broke the tension radiating down her spine.He reached into a bag next to her and pulled out the marinated chicken breast he’d picked up.“Of all the things women have left behind, that takes the cake.Kinda hard to move on when you leave me a memento like that.”
She fought the urge to smile.So he was hung up on her?Now that was something she hadn’t quite expected.Sure, he’d made it clear that he’d enjoyed himself, maybe wanted to go for another round, but he was having trouble moving on?Interesting.
But she couldn’t avoid the most striking part of what he’d said.“You have a lot of women who leave your bed, huh?”
He tilted his head, a hint of annoyance creasing his brow.“C’mon.I’m not going to lie and say I’m celibate or saving myself for marriage.If that’s what you expect in a guy, you’re looking at the wrong one.”
She tucked her chin and pulled out some vegetables.“I don’t expect anything,” she countered rapid-fire.
