He returns my grin with his signature flirty one. “Hi, pretty girl. Miss me?”
Before I can answer, he bends down and claims my mouth in a searing kiss that, to my demise, doesn’t last long enough for my liking.
Wait. No, I’m not supposed to have that kind of thought about him and his kisses.
“Maybe.” I hum and lick my bottom lip, chasing his taste.
Such a stupid thing to do. And the butterflies in my stomach need to calm down.
Aiden’s smile sharpens, his pupils growing in size. He cups my throat beneath my jaw, keeping my head tilted back. “Maybe, huh? What do I need to do to make you miss me?”
I giggle, and Aiden’s features brighten, his eyes dancing with amusement.
Aiden leans down and kisses my ear before murmuring, “You’re adorable when you do that.Please, for the love of God, don’t stop.”
Brandon awkwardly clears his throat. “I hope I’m not interrupting a moment between you guys.”
Aiden raises his head, his arms tightening around me in a comforting hug. “Maybe you were.”
I roll my eyes and jab my elbow into Aiden’s side before pushing out of his hold.
“He’s joking,” I say to Brandon.
“We’ve had this conversation before, baby,” Aiden says with a low chuckle as he turns to Brandon. “I’m not joking at all, Brennon.”
“It’s Brandon, and I didn’t believe for a second you were.” He sighs and folds his arms over his chest. “Anyway, are you guys ready to walk around?”
“Oh, there are some vendors I’d like to check out now that my boyfriend is here,” I say.
Aiden’s expression turns smug, and he casts a heated look my way. “Lead the way.”
Brandon’s gaze slips to me and lingers, like he wants to say something. He sighs, his shoulders drooping before he turns and strides toward the vendors. Aiden loops his arm over my shoulder and matches his stride to my shorter one. Meanwhile, Brandon can’t get away from us fast enough.
“You need to behave,” I murmur to him.
He peeks at me from the corner of his eye and scoffs. “Why? He’s jealous, and the plan is working. If he can’t handle your boyfriend being territorial, then maybe he’s not the one for you.”
I giggle. Again. Why the hell am I giggling over him calling himself my boyfriend? What the hell is wrong with me?
His features soften, and he reaches up to tug a lock of my hair.
I swallow the laughter and pick up my pace to catch up with Brandon. Aiden can say that he thinks my giggles are adorable and to keep doing it, but he doesn’t know what’s going on inside my head.
I can’t lose focus on the goal. I can’t fall for Aiden, and I’m terrified that’s what’s happening. If these feelings grow and the lust I’m feeling for Aiden bleeds into love, I’ll have to end things, letting him know it’s getting weird. I just don’t want it to end so soon between us.
TWENTY-NINE
NOVA
“What doyou plan to do with that?” I ask, eyeing Aiden.
“I’m not sure.” He waves his new rainbow-ombre tentacle dildo in front of him, his strides matching mine as we walk through the parking lot toward his bike. He grins as the sex toy bounces from side to side.
I don’t fight my smile, loving how easily entertained he is by a dildo. Or maybe he’s fascinated by it because he bought it in front of Brandon after the latter made a snide remark about the toys.
I’m not convinced that Aiden is being an asshole to Brandon just to make him jealous for my benefit. There’s something else beneath the surface—like there’s bad blood between them and Aiden refuses to admit it.
Or he’s jealous.
