Chapter 14
Aiden puts a hand on the back of his neck as he watches me with curious eyes. Shit. Why did I do that? Why did I kiss him? All night he’s been acting like the world’s greatest boyfriend and I just couldn’t help myself.
For a second, I think about lying and saying I saw Jay standing in line for the Ferris wheel and that’s why I kissed him. It was just Jay! It wasn’t me losing my mind over how handsome you are!
But I know I’m not that good of a liar, so I just shrug. “Sorry about that,” I say as the ride stops at the bottom and we get off.
Aiden laughs. “Give me your keys. You are way too drunk to drive.”
Ah, perfect. Drunk. Yes. That’s why he thinks I kissed him. I’ll just go along with that idea.
I nod and hand him my truck keys. I even sway a little as I walk out of the fairgrounds, just to keep up with the drunk girl act.
Am I pathetic? Yes.
But it’s not my fault. I’m being overloaded with the hotness that is Aiden Strauss and it’s making my brain short circuit. Ten minutes ago, I’d felt like inviting him to my apartment was the greatest idea in the world.
And well, I still feel like that, only now I’m embarrassed at how pathetic I can be. Aiden doesn’t hold my hand while we make our way through the parked cars toward my truck. At least half of the crowd has already left, so the parking lot—which is actually a field—is easier to navigate.
“This is me,” I say, pointing to my shiny new pickup truck.
“Nice wheels,” Aiden says, unlocking the door with my key fob. He pulls open the passenger door and holds it out for me. At first I think he’s being romantic but then he reaches out a hand to help me climb inside and I remember that he thinks I’m drunk. “I bet it was a big change going from the Camaro to this,” he says.
“Yeah, but it was worth it. I can take my bike to the track without asking someone else to load it for me.”
He nods, an approving smile tugging at his lips. I look away, pretending to fidget with my purse, because I don’t trust myself to meet his gaze right now. I’m too scared I’ll reveal my secrets—that I’m totally into him, and not in a fake way.
He jogs over to the driver’s side and starts my truck. He looks good in a truck. Sexy as hell, actually.
We don’t talk much on the drive, and I’m impressed that Aiden remembers how to get to my house on these old back roads. Lately I seem to be impressed by everything he does. Maybe that’s just the messed up part of my brain talking.
Once we’re back home, I know my alcohol has worn off. I’m thinking clearly now, and my heart is racing, because I know exactly what I want to do.
Luckily, my apartment is clean, even cleaner than usual after I went on my post-breakup cleaning spree. I let Aiden inside and I lock the door behind us. I’m pretty sure my parents are asleep now, but if my dad happened to see Aiden get here, he’d want to come say hi.
Nothing would kill the mood faster than that.
“Nice place,” Aiden says as his gaze lingers across my living room. The living room and kitchen are kind of one big space and then there’s a hallway off to the side that leads to my bedroom and bathroom. It’s small, only the size of a three car garage, but it’s home.
“My dad and I built the place,” I say, holding my arms open wide to gesture to my masterpiece.
“Yeah?” Aiden says, quirking an eyebrow. “Impressive.”
“We had to hire an electrician and plumber but we did everything else. Dad used to hang drywall in his younger years. I took so many trips to Home Depot that year that I now never want to go back again,” I say with a laugh.
Aiden smiles. “I’ve never moved out on my own.” He sits on the couch and I join him, keeping a few inches of space between us. “I know that sounds pathetic,” he goes on, “But I’ve been racing every weekend since I turned eighteen and there’s just never been time or reason to move out. I spend most of my time with Team Loco now, living in hotels. And when I come home it’s only for a few weeks so I just stay at my parent’s place. Luckily it’s big enough that I normally don’t have to see anyone.”
“That seems like a crazy life,” I say. I run my fingers up and down the groove in the couch cushion while I talk. “Always being on the road and stuff.”
He nods. “It’s fun and amazing and it pays well but there’s a downside.”
It seems like he’s going to keep talking, so when he doesn’t, I look up at him. He’s watching me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. “The major downside is that I can’t have relationships.”
“You could…” I say, feeling my throat go dry. “It would just be different.”
He shrugs. “It’s hard on all relationships. I haven’t seen my sister in forever. I didn’t even know she had moved down here. I never see my mom. I haven’t had a girlfriend in so long I—” He stops. Shakes his head. “Never mind. Let’s only talk about fun stuff tonight.”
His hand is resting on the couch just inches from mine. I can almost feel the spark of electricity dancing between our fingers. Maybe it’s all in my mind?
But as I stare at our hands, Aiden slides his over, his fingertips covering mine. I look up and find him watching me.
“I had fun tonight,” he says, his voice deep and sexier than usual. “I’m starting to think that breaking my wrist wasn’t the worst thing ever.”
I can’t help but grin, and I bite down on the inside of my lip to stop myself from grinning too much. “I’m glad you had fun,” I say, trying to keep it cool.
Why did I even invite him over? I know why—I didn’t want the night to end. And…maybe I wanted something else, too. Maybe my subconscious told me to invite him over so that we could—
My heart pounds. I know what I’m going to do, and it scares me, but it’s too late to back out now. I look up. “Wanna make out?”
Aiden’s fingers wrap around mine. He glances around. “But we’re not in public.”
I shrug one shoulder. “It can be practice.”
His grin widens. His tongue flicks across his bottom lip and the flutters in my stomach go into overdrive.
“Practice is important,” he says, inching closer to me. His good hand reaches up and slides behind my neck as he leans toward me.
I nod slowly. “Practice is good.”
He kisses me. For the third time tonight I feel the rush of warmth spreading through my body when his lips touch mine. This time, it’s different. It’s not just a quick kiss that ends a few seconds later, leaving me wanting more.
This time, I take more. I lean in, kissing him again, and again, my tongue clashing with his as our kisses become passionate. At some point, I realize I’m sitting in his lap and I don’t even know how I got here. I feel his cast pressed against my back while his good hand slides up my arm and tucks behind my hair.
When I lightly pull away to gasp for air, Aiden kisses my neck. I freeze, unaccustomed to how good that can feel. His lips dance across the sensitive skin, trailing kisses down to my collarbone. My breathing gets shallow.
“Should I stop?” Aiden whispers, his breath hot on my neck.
I shake my head. “No.”
He grins, then kisses my collar, neck, cheek, and lips.
I grab his face and draw him in, willing our ravenous kisses to fill the need inside of me. But it only does so much. I need way much more than this.
I stand up and take his hand. It doesn’t escape my notice that his jeans have gotten a lot tighter in the crotch, and the sight of it turns me on even more.
“Let’s go,” I say.
He doesn’t question me. He just follows me to my bedroom. I’m a little hesitant on what to do next, but I try to act confident. Sex with Jay was formulaic. He’d tell me to strip, and I would take off my clothes quickly. We’d get on the bed and do it—often finishing in just a few minutes. Sex was never really fun with Jay, no matter how hard I tried to make it worthwhile. But Jay also didn’t kiss like Aiden.
I bite my lip as I stand next to my bed. This plan had felt so right but now I’m not sure what to do next. Then Aiden’s hands are on my hips, and he brings his toes right up to mine, his forehead dropping down as he places one soft kiss on my lips.
“How drunk are you?” he asks.
“I’m not drunk,” I say, looking him right in the eyes so he knows I’m serious. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and peer up at him, unable to hide my smile.
“I don’t want you to regret this,” he whispers.
I shake my head. “I won’t.”
When he doesn’t look convinced, I lean up on my toes and kiss his neck. I feel a soft groan escape his lips and I press my body up against his, feeling his hardened desire pressing against my belly.
It feels good to know I’m turning him on. I run my tongue up his neck and his good hand squeezes my hip. “Holy shit,” he breathes.
I giggle and kiss his ear, then kiss back down his neck, giving him the same torture he gave me a minute ago.
Then I spin him around and sit him on the edge of my bed, pressing down on his shoulders until he obeys me. Now, with him sitting and me standing, I’m slightly taller than he is and I’m so fucking turned on I can’t possibly find any shyness inside of me.
I pull off my shirt. I chose my sexiest bra today, not that I knew it’d be seen, but I’m so glad I did. It pushes up my boobs and makes them look awesome, and now they’re right in Aiden’s face.
With one hand, he pulls off his own shirt and tosses it on top of mine on the floor. I swallow, feeling my heart pound as I take in the sight of his sculpted chest and tanned skin. I run my fingers down his chest and then back up to his shoulders. He watches me admiring him, and I take my time, placing a kiss on his lips before I stand back up. His good hand slides up my belly, sending a shiver down my spine, only stopping when he cups my breast. He squeezes it, gently, but enough to make heat blossom between my legs. Okay, screw going slow. I unbutton my shorts and let them fall to the ground.
Aiden’s gaze drifts down my body, and for once I feel appreciated, like he’s taking in every inch of me and he likes what he sees. I’ve never felt that way before.
I step closer, grabbing his shoulders. “Off with the pants,” I say, like I’m some kind of sexy queen of hearts.
His tongue flicks across his bottom lip, but he does what he’s told, standing up and removing his jeans. Now we’re both in our underwear, his arousal showing through his red boxer briefs. For a split second, I’m not sure what to do. I want to be sexy and confident, but what’s next? Do I grab the condom from my nightstand drawer and hand it to him?
He must notice the hesitation on my face because he circles his arms around me, holding me close like we’re slow dancing. “We don’t have to go any farther,” he whispers into my ear.
“But I want to,” I whisper back.
I feel his fingers trailing up my back. “Stop me at any time,” he says softly before pressing his lips to my neck. “I won’t mind.”
I nod, my throat dry despite how wet I am in other places. Then I feel my bra slip free. He must have unbuckled the back without me even noticing. I slide my arms out of the straps and let it fall.
Aiden cups my breasts as much as his cast will allow him, but at least his fingers are free to flick over my nipples. He sits back down on the bed, bringing me with him until I’m standing between his legs, my bare breasts right in his face. He brings a nipple into his mouth and flicks his tongue across it, looking up to meet my gaze. I bite my lip because I’m afraid I’ll cry out way too loudly if I don’t. The pleasure is intoxicating as he licks my nipple and then brings his mouth to the other one. I close my eyes, my breathing coming in gasps.
When he pulls away this time, he leans up and kisses me on the mouth next. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and stand as close as I can with him sitting on the bed.
I feel a hand touch my panties and I gasp as he cups my mound. Gently he rocks his hand back and forth until I’m grinding against him, unable to stop, while we continue kissing passionately.
With that one hand, he pushes my panties aside and I feel a finger slip into me.
I gasp, unable to concentrate on kissing him any longer. I pull back, keeping my face pressed against his while he curls his finger inside me, sending convulsing waves of pleasure through my core. “There’s condoms in the nightstand,” I manage to say. My toes curl up and I don’t know how much longer I can stand here without straddling him and begging for him to plunge inside me.
“That can wait a little while longer,” Aiden breathes, his lips against mine. He gives me the sexiest fucking look just before he slips another finger inside of me. “I’m not even close to being done with the foreplay.”