“Oh no.” I grab heavy cream and powdered sugar. “The cupcakes can be made days in advance, but this is not due for another week and a half. Whipped cream frosting is always best fresh, though. A few hours is fine, but any more than that it’s not as good. What I’m going to do is just make sure this is the direction I want to go, then the week of I’ll make the cupcakes and frost them the day before the event.”
Aiden grabs the bowl. “It’s cold.”
I nod. “You want to do it in a chilled bowl.” I measure out heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla. “Place it in the mixer and turn it on to whip. Not too much. Just until stiff peaks form. We don’t want to make butter.”
Aiden watches the mixer while the machine does its magic. I want to put fresh raspberries on top, and I need to make the frosting pink. Maybe I’ll mix in some beet powder. It’ll turn the frosting pink without changing the flavor too much. Although freeze-dried raspberries might be nice too. I don’t really like to use dyes if I don’t have to.
“I think it’s done.” He shuts the machine off, and I grab the bowl out and scoop some into a ramekin. I find two tasting spoons then dip one into the frosting and bring it to his lips. He takes it and I watch the way his lips wrap around it. “Oh, wow.” He laughs. “That’s so good.”
I take a clean spoon and dip it in, trying it myself. In my opinion it came out a little sweet, but that’s okay. The tartness from the raspberry puree inside will balance it out. “Once I reopen after the Valentine’s event, I’ll finish these up.” My hand presses gently on his lower back as I move around him. “Can I see your bandages?”
Aiden looks at me, nodding, and I pull his shirt up slowly. When I changed the bandages this morning after his shower, some were still seeping. Luckily, it looks like they’re dry now. Some of the welts aren’t as swollen, but bruising has formed around them. Mottled dark purple and reds. The lashes are shallow at least.
I gently put his shirt back down and I just can’t help myself, pressing my lips to the back of his neck.
“What are you doing?”
I’m trying so hard not to press too hard against him. I think it hurts worse than he’s letting on. “Kissing you.” I drag his ear between my teeth and feel the way his body shivers against mine. “If that’s okay?”
Aiden turns his head then nods a little.
Now, I’ve been in love before. I’ve felt desire and need.
But I’ve never felt unhinged.
With Aiden it’s like this part of me lets go and I just want to devour him. Every inch of him. My hands on his hips smooth to his front, dipping into his boxers and feeling how hard he is.
I kiss the back of his head then press slow kisses through his hair. He’s moaning softly, pushing back into me, so desperate I don’t even think he realizes he’s doing it.
Resting bitch face my ass.
The expressions on his face play like a movie reel, they’re so expressive and beautiful. “I’ve never felt like this before,” he admits.
That I agree with. “Me either.” His head hangs as I place a kiss on the back of his neck and slip my hand into the front of my boxer’s he’s wearing, squeezing his cock. I jerk him slowly, pulling back his foreskin then concealing his head with it. His violet eyes are closed, his soft red lips parted. I grind myself against his ass, and while having him bent over the counter is the best idea I’ve ever had, I want to do something else.
Something for him.
I don’t know a lot about Aiden’s home life, but what I’ve picked up is terrible. That kid who came in with him. Katya. The abuse. I want to take care of him. It’s pleasure, I know it is, but I feel like with Aiden it’s more. It’s like he lets go. Caves in. Lets me be the one who holds him close and treats him with a gentle hand.
The same man who swore that romance was tedious melts for me now.
It’s a jolt to the ego, sure, but it’s more than that. I feel so much pride knowing he trusts me with this. That he lets go with me.
Just for me.
I grab the edge of his boxers with a questioning tug. “What are you going to do?”
I grin against his neck, pressing a few more kisses there. “I want to see what my frosting tastes better on—my cupcakes or this gorgeous ass.”
He cranes his neck to look at me. “You want to?—”
“Very much.” My hands roam his hips, sliding up his abs and then thumbing his nipples. I feel him buckle against me. “You’re very sensitive, you know that?” I give them another flick before stroking circles around his peaked brown nipples. I feel him tremble. “I bet you could come from just this,” I whisper. “Slow touches like this.” He shivers in my arms. I kiss his shoulder. “You’re shaking.”
“You’re killing me,” he breathes.
“Yeah?”
He nods, closing his eyes, moaning and biting the inside of his cheek. My hand slips into his boxers again, jerking him slowly root to tip before stroking slow circles around his dripping crown.
