I caught his hand as he retreated. Stepping across the threshold, I had yet to sort where I wanted this to go. Therewere a thousand questions, and they quieted as I slid a hand to his neck, thumb grazing the edges of his facial hair. He held firm, letting me make the next move.
“I needed to see you,” I whispered.
His forehead pressed against mine. “Still here.” Smartass.
He tasted like cinnamon toast. This time, there was nothing chaste about the kiss. My hand slid to the back of his neck, pulling him tightly as I opened my mouth. He let me set the pace as my tongue touched the tip of his. The dams opened, and I realized what I wanted—a sexy man willing to let the butterflies flap their wings before he calmed them.
His fingers pulled at the loops in my jeans. Leaning back, he pulled me into the living room of his apartment. He never broke the kiss, letting me hold him firm, grazing his tongue along mine. Smacking the door, it slammed shut. I hadn’t come with a plan, and standing in the man’s apartment while I drank in his sexy was as far as my mind allowed me to think.
He broke the kiss, but didn’t let go of my pants. His belly rested against my torso, giving me enough space that he wouldn’t be aware of the bulge in my pants. Part of me wanted to throw him on the couch and peel the shirt off his body, but it’d mean breaking contact.
“Do you thank everybody like that?” Even though we were alone, the words came out in a whisper.
“Only the ones who save my life.” This wasn’t about bedding a sexy man and adding another notch to my bedpost.
“Good to know you have standards.”
“They’ve been debated before.”
He patted me on the side of the face, the grin returning to his face. “If you weren’t so sexy, I’d slap you.” On the second pat, I placed my hand over his, enjoying the warmth of his touch.
“I should go before I?—”
“No.”
The word hung in the air, a command. I was willing to go and be a gentleman. We could pick up over coffee, talking about that time I nearly died, or a supervillain tried to kill us. But as he bit his lower lip, I didn’t want to be a gentleman.
“I was just about to take a shower.”
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt your?—”
“Don’t be a smart ass,” he scolded.
“I didn’t bring my bathing suit.” It was my turn to taunt and tease.
“Good.”
Dammit, he won this round.
Aiden’s apartment wasn’t large, but with most of the lights off, it was hard to tell. The front door opened into the living room that held a large couch and dining room table against one wall. Past an island, the space continued to the kitchen. On one side, there was a door to a bedroom, and he took me by the hand, guiding me into his personal space.
The master bath was larger than necessary. He stepped in, and a second later the hiss of water filled the silence. When he returned, the light from the bathroom left him in a dark silhouette. If I wasn’t going to throw him onto the bed, I didn’t quite know the etiquette for a first-time shower where we weren’t washing cum off one another.
The shower was a large stall, surrounded by ceramic tile, and big enough to fit a small party. The steam from the water made the air wet, and I looked forward to the sight of this huskular man dripping wet. I tried to pull at the button on his jeans, but found it rather stubborn. He reached for it, offering a helping hand, when I batted it away. “Nope, I’ve got this.”
With a little more fidgeting, his jeans opened. Tugging at the zipper, I savored each click as it slid down. Before I could pull them off, his shorts slid from his waist, crumpling onto the floor. That’s where pants belonged. I went to lift his shirt, and he stopped me from stripping him naked.
Every inch of my being wanted to lunge, to wrap my arms around him and feel his skin pressed against mine. Aiden bit his lower lip. This drop-dead gorgeous man’sconfidence broke as nerves took hold. I loved thicker men, the way their bodies curved and the soft padding that made them perfect for cuddling. But not every man saw those as positives. Something in my chest hurt as I worried Aiden might not…
My hands remained in place as I crouched down, resting on my knees. With the few inches of his belly exposed, I leaned in, kissing it gently. His fingers relaxed as I continued upward until my nose touched his shirt.
I slid my hands around his waist, pulling him close while I rested my head against his stomach. Aiden ran his hand over the stubble on my head. There were a thousand ways I could compliment him, trying to dismiss his fears, but nothing summarized my admiration.
Unbuckling my pants, I stood up. I leaned against the bathroom wall while I kicked them off. I stepped on the toes of my socks, tearing them off. The uncertainty remained, written across his face, questioning if he had made the right choice.
I couldn’t say anything to erase a lifetime of the world telling him he should look one way or another. I stepped into the shower, letting the water drench my t-shirt and soak through my boxer briefs. His eyes widened and he let out a laugh.
“What are you doing?”
