I grin and tighten my hold around her midsection. “Just a heads-up that once I start taking pictures, we’re acting like a couple.”
Her gaze snaps back to my face. “Why?”
“Because if we go into it playing the part with no audience, it’ll show through the photos. Besides, it’ll give us some great practice before we have to go out in public.” I cock my head and study her pinched expression. “Is this too much?”
She hesitates before shaking her head. “No. I’m—” She takes a deep breath and blows it out before blurting, “You were right.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I’m always right, but what am I right about this time?”
“I’ve never kissed anyone.” She makes a sour face, like I’m about to make fun of her for this. Her hand inches toward her scalp, but I catch her wrist to stop her before she can pluck out any more of her hair.
I gentle my hold. “And you want me to be your first, or would you?—”
“It’s not that I want you to be my first. It’s just that I’ve been thinking. I know I said I wasn’t okay with kissing, but there’s no way I’m kissing Brandon without knowing what the hell I’m doing. I would rather you teach me how to kiss so I don’t seem like an idiot with him.” Nova twists around and presses her hands together in a prayer motion while giving me puppy eyes. “I’m a fast learner. If you teach me, I’ll be so grateful.”
I glance at her parted lips before forcing myself to look into her eyes again. “Okay.”
“Thank you!” Nova straddles my lap and wraps me in a smothering hug before kissing my cheek.
I don’t complain. Especially not when her smile beams at me.
“Teach me first, then pictures afterward,” she says.
I nod, and for the first time in my life, I’m left speechless. I can’t come up with a good joke or a way to tease her to ease the tension I feel.
Nova threads her fingers through my hair and plays with pieces, not realizing how it’s affecting me. My eyelashes flutter, and I swallow a groan as my erection twitches.
She tilts her head, curious. “Aiden?”
“Sorry.” I clear my throat and place my hands on her hips to hold her steady on my lap. “Just thinking of the best way to teach you.”
More like thinking of you—bent over, ass out, taking every inch of me.
Nova smiles, pleased with my answer. I can’t help but return her smile.
I’m an idiot for even suggesting that we have to kiss in the first place.
I have seven rules I live by with my situationships—all learned from failed attempts at relationships in my past. No kissing, no hickeys, no cuddling, no giving oral, no sex facingeach other, no barebacking, and most of all, no catching feelings. Now I’m about to break a rule for my sister.
I’m so fucked.
EIGHT
NOVA
It’s just a kiss.There’s nothing weird about kissing my foster brother. It’ll mean nothing to us.I repeat this in my head as I cling to Aiden. His lips move, but I don’t hear anything he’s saying.
He stops talking. His eyebrows bunch together, and concern tightens the corners of his eyes. I shudder as he brushes his knuckles along my cheek.
“You with me, Nova?” he murmurs.
I nod and blink a couple of times to clear my head.
Aiden cups the back of my neck and holds my waist with his other hand. It’s intimate, but it’s nothing new. I tighten my arms around his shoulders and sit straighter. The movement drags my core against his erection, which strains against his thin basketball shorts. He’s been hard ever since I sat on his lap, and I’ve been pretending I don’t feel it.
He’s a guy, and he can’t help how his body responds. I’m sure he was embarrassed about it at first, but now that I haven’t said anything, he’s relaxed more. So, mission accomplished.
“You sure you wanna do this?” he asks.
