Chapter Nine

Aidan

I SURFACE AND GRAB the pool wall, breathing heavily. I lost count of how many laps I did after three hundred. I never lose count. Thoughts of Magnolia crept in and I couldn’t think straight let alone keep track of my workout. I’m beginning to wonder if this is what it feels like to be obsessed. When I eat, I think about her lips. When I go for a run, I think about her body. When I’m listening to my boss drone on and on at informational meetings, I think about her wit and charm. When I’m shooting targets, I think inappropriate thoughts. It’s all so confusing. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always thought about sex. Daydreams of nondescript, naked women bending ways that aren’t humanly possible. This specific, Magnolia shit, though? Never. Not even once. Not even after having a rocking night with a woman who pushed all of the right buttons. Nope, still a headless person, stored in the spank bank. I spit out a mouthful of chlorinated water. She drowns me.

Hauling myself out of the pool, I rip off my goggles and throw my hands above my head to recover quicker. The indoor pool is attached to our gym on base and I can hear weight plates clanking through grunts and groans of exertion. It’s good to mix up my workout routine every once in a while to keep all of my muscles engaged. Mercer walks from the locker room, a towel slung over one shoulder. I grin when I see he’s wearing his American flag speedo and a swimming cap that says ‘fuck boi.’ We got it as a gag gift for him last Christmas, but he likes the combo more than he’ll ever admit.

“How’s the water?” Mercer asks.

I release my stretch and grab my towel off the rack and start drying off my shoulders. “Cool?”

“Cool? You’re a regular old Einstein aren’t ya?” Mercer laughs as he positions his goggles on his eyes. They are holograms. One eye says blow the other eye says me. Those weren’t a gift. He found those himself.

“I zoned out,” I admit, tying the towel around my waist. “The water is water. It’s always the same. They’re right, you know? Some chicks change everything. Even if you try your hardest to keep everything the same.” I lean against the rack and peer at my phone sitting on top of the ledge.

“Are you saying you don’t want change? If you didn’t want change, you’d just move the fuck on. You want it,” Mercer says, sitting on the edge of the pool, dangling his legs in the water.

I brush my hands through my hair and water flies everywhere. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

“Seriously? You, Aidan Mixx, the elite killer, professional panty ripper, serial dater, doesn’t have a choice? Bullshit. All you have is choices.” Mercer shakes his head. His southern accent gets deeper when he gets fired up about something, or when he talks about his home or family.

Leif appears from the same place Mercer did, grinning widely. As if he’s been summoned by implied commitment. “What are you guys doing the rest of the day?” Leif asks. It’s a loose schedule, and we already had our one mandatory meeting early this morning.

“I’m gonna get wet and then go make some lucky woman wet. A day full of wetness, brothers! Is there anything better?” Mercer yells, hopping into the pool with a screech. He starts stroking, heading toward the other end of the lap pool.

Leif shakes his head, but his smile drops when his gaze meets mine. “We still need to get together to talk. Want to grab lunch?” He nods his head to the doorway behind him. “Shower then head to the diner?”

I nod. “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” Leif is married and has a baby. If anyone is going to give me useful, practical advice it’s going to be him. “How’s the family?” I ask, slapping him on the back to retreat to the shower.

He smiles wide, and a weird dreamy look changes his features when he replies. And I realize it might not be obsession that I feel for Magnolia, it might be what Leif feels for his wife. That is equal parts scary as it is thrilling.

_______________

After lunch with Leif and all of the truth bombs he dropped, I decided to go see Magnolia. It’s early afternoon so Kendall is still in school and Magnolia mentioned last night she was going to work at Magnolia’s Steals in the morning and then work on some pieces in her garage at home. I picked up iced coffee and I’m approaching the garage when she comes flying out, her ponytail falling out. She’s wearing short shorts and a tank top. I swallow hard. The need for her is greater than anything else. I’m still getting used to it.

Magnolia spins on her heel and faces me. “Aidan!” she exclaims. Magnolia is excited, her eyes flare when she looks at me from the top of my head down to my feet. “What are you doing here?”

I extend her drink. She takes it. “I was just leaving. A last minute auction popped up. It’s the next town over.” Magnolia checks the small, delicate watch on her wrist. “I’ll be home before Kendall gets home from school. Do you want to go with?” Her smile is hopeful.

“There’s nothing I’d rather do than spend time with you.”

She blushes and takes a sip. “They aren’t selling people. Still interested?”

“I have an antique bed, remember? I’m like a secret antique collector. Do I get to sit next to you?”

“Yes. Of course. And hold a paddle if you want to.”

I grin, stepping toward her. “I get to hold a paddle?”

“Yeah,” she replies, nuzzling her face into my chest.

I hate that she can feel my heartbeat, knows that I’m so affected by her. Then again, it’s easier this way. If my actions say one thing, perhaps my heart will tell the truth and she’ll be able to discern the difference. “You like to be spanked,” I ask, leaning away to peer at her face. “Such a naughty girl.” I grin.

“No one said anything about spanking,” Magnolia croons, gaze darting away from mine. It’s there, that fire that tells me it’s not off the table. My dick hardens. “I didn’t know how to work dating apps before you, do you really think I have any experience in BDSM, Aidan?” I don’t either, but fuck would I love to do it with her in whatever capacity would satisfy her.

As we walk to her truck, I make a joke about paddling her in the middle of the auction. She blushes again and cranks her truck. Magnolia tells me it’s a quick drive and makes small talk about what she’s been working on and what she hopes to find today. I encourage her to keep talking. I love finding out things about her through her passion. She tells me a lot of auctions are held online these days, but she loves the thrill of the in-person ones. Nothing blows her skirt up like a bidding war. I take a mental note.

“Favorite antique,” I ask.

She scoffs, her pretty pink lips form a pout. “There’s no way I could ever pick just one,” she says. She lists several things I’m unfamiliar with.

“Lie,” I say. “There has to be one thing you love the most.”

Magnolia stays silent in thought. “I’ll need more time for that one,” she finally replies. “Too hard.” When she stops at a red light, she turns to look at me. “All these questions for me. Can I ask you some?”

“That’s generally how a conversation works,” I tease, even as my whole body tenses. This is where I lack experience. Leif said I need to be open to Magnolia if I wanted to build a solid foundation for a relationship to thrive.

She clears her throat. “I want to know about your family. Not the SEALs that you call brothers. Your parents. Why don’t you talk to them? Is it really that bad?”

“Cutthroat,” I say, coughing a bit. How do I explain this best? Giving her something without giving her too much. Magnolia rubs one hand over her tan thigh, a nervous gesture. One that makes me hard. I shift myself as discreetly as I can. “Official couples talk about this stuff, huh?”

She shrugs. “We can do whatever we want, I guess. Whatever official means to us. I want to know because you turned out to be pretty great.” She runs her hands over the steering wheel. “I’m not a prying person, you know? Not like a lot of the people in Bronze Bay, I care about you, Aidan, and I’m trying to know more about you.”

Leif’s words ricochet in my mind. Honesty. I have to be honest. She’s not prying. I’m confident I have Magnolia pinpointed—know her weaknesses, flaws, high lights, and quirks, even though we have only been dating for a little while. “I confess, I’m a bit of a mystery,” I say. Magnolia nods and drums her fingers on the wheel to the low beat of a country song, patiently waiting for whatever I’ll give her. “My parents aren’t good people,” I say, my heart racing as I think about the last time I saw them. The day I turned eighteen. My breathing speeds. “You could say I’m one of those people who rise from the situation they were born into. The reason for my drive is because they were not nice folks. My mom wasn’t very hands-on and unfortunately, my father was very hands on.” I find myself rubbing my arm, the one my father broke when I came home late one night in high school.

Magnolia looks thoughtful. “I assumed right then,” she says. “That’s why you never settled down. Are you afraid of having a family? Don’t think I’m insinuating with me, we’re just speaking in generalities here. You’re opposed to it because of how bad your childhood was?” She swallows, and I can tell she feels bad for me. Rather, the child version of me. I don’t want her sympathy. That’s one thing I’ve never wanted. I didn’t want anyone to view me as any different than my peers who came from fully functional home lives. An advantage isn’t needed. Work is. I’ve proven myself a man.

Clearing my throat, I look out the window. “The opposite. I know I’ll do it better than they ever could have imagined. I had a prime example of how not to be, how to act. I’m not afraid of settling down. That’s an unfair label placed on all men who date around a lot. Can’t it ever be we haven’t met the right woman?” She stiffens, her shoulders ramrod straight.

“Of course,” Magnolia says, voice quiet. “I’ve never thought about it that way.”

Reaching over, I grab the hand working over her thigh. “Women say it all the time. Oh, I haven’t met the right man. A bit of a double standard to say I date around a lot because I’m afraid of commitment isn’t it?”

Her throat works as she swallows. “It’s just that you look like that, and you can have anyone you want. I can’t imagine having that kind of power. I can’t say I wouldn’t date around just because I can if I looked as attractive as you if my circumstances were different.”

“Power? That’s what you think my looks are?”

“What is it if not power?”

I squeeze her hand. “You have more power in your pinky finger than I have in my whole body then. You have no idea how appealing you are. Not to just me, but to every man in a thousand mile radius. That’s what makes you so hot.”

Scoffing she fires back, “I have a teenaged daughter and a divorce under my belt. That’s not appealing, Aidan, but thank you for the compliment, I think.”

When she pulls into a parking spot, I pull her over to my side so I can have her nearer, smell that scent that is only Magnolia Sager. She tucks wayward strands of hair behind her ear. I kiss her head. “It was a compliment. There were multiple compliments tucked in there. One about you being hot. One about you being so awesome I want to keep you.”

Saying the words out loud feel right. Honest. She stays silent, but she does lean her head into my chest. “I’m sorry you have awful parents.”

“Don’t apologize, you didn’t make them beat me half to death.”

She winces.

I’ve said too much. The line was crossed.

“I can’t imagine.”

“You don’t have to. Don’t think about it. Let’s go paddle each other.”

“I need to ask you something,” Magnolia says. “Things seem to be going well between us, right?”
“I’d like more sex, but yes, they are going well. Why do you ask?”

She sighs. “Kendall. I’m debating whether or not to introduce her to you. Do we wait a while to make sure it’s going to work out? Will she be upset I didn’t introduce you two sooner?”

The kid. It’s easy to forget she has a kid because she had her at such a young age. Other than the casual mentions of her daughter, I don’t think about it at all. It never bothered me, but I can see how this is a big decision for Magnolia. Honestly, it’s one she needs to make on her own. “I don’t know Kendall, so I’m going to say I think you need to figure that out on your own. I’m happy to meet her when you’re ready…when you think she’s ready. From what you’ve told me she’s been through a lot and I wouldn’t want to add to her stress.”

“Yeah,” Magnolia replies, lost in thought. “You don’t mind either way?”

“You’ll make the right decision,” I say, pulling her in tighter. “I’ll sneak around for as long as you want, Magnolia. There’s no pressure. I’ll never put ultimatums on you like that. If you think I’ll be offended, I won’t. The relationship stuff is so new to me, that learning the ropes and keeping this just to ourselves for a while is appealing. Meeting your daughter and getting to see the person you raised is appealing too. Don’t sweat it. Make sure it’s on your terms. No surprises.” Like having her walk in on us fucking like animals with paddles.

“Thanks, Aidan. For being so understanding. Also, you have really great advice. Give yourself more credit with the relationship stuff,” she says. Looking up to meet my gaze. “I want to kiss you right now, but I also want to go inside. If we kiss, I’m not sure the second will get accomplished.”

Grinning, I say. “I’m good with advice and self-control. If it’s a kiss you want,” I whisper, leaning over.

Her eyes narrow. “It’s not your self-control I’m worried about.”

Shaking my head, I lean in and press my mouth against hers. It’s a soft kiss—just enough to taste her. I pull away before I lose myself and have to invoke my control. Magnolia melts in my arms, and if I were alone, I’d bang on my chest—knowing I have her so fully. Leaning my forehead against hers, I watch her breathe. “Shall we go inside?”

“Yeah, though we might not stay long.”

“No? You have things you need to get,” I reply.

“Something else I need to have will take precedence,” she says, sliding her hand onto the bulge in my shorts. She squeezes softly, then continues, “There’s only so many hours in the day, you know?”

I run one hand through my hair, a cheek-splitting grin wrecking my face. “Magnolia Sager, I do believe you’ve made me blush.”

“But do you agree with my plan?”

I’m losing my mind. I’m losing everything in favor of one thing. Feeding this hunger I’ve never felt before. She wants to know if I agree with her plan? Her chin in my hand, I kiss her more aggressively, dragging her hand back to my dick so she can feel just how much I agree. Her smile breaks our kiss. “Yes. Agreed,” I say. “In case you had any doubts or wanted verbal confirmation.”

She still lingers on my lips when we enter the warm garage serving as the auction house. Fans are blowing in every direction. There is air conditioning, but with all of the doors open to bring in the larger items for the auction the heat seeps in. Magnolia looks out of place in a room full of old people. I watch her walk the perimeter searching for whatever items she’s seeking. Her long brown ponytail is high, brushing her shoulders as she leans over to get a closer look at a tagged item. She looks up to where I’m standing and waves me over.

“Look at this,” she says, pointing at a box of jewelry that looks like the nineties puked out. Sifting through it she adds, “I probably need this along with that dining set.” Magnolia motions to the corner where an old ass table with six chairs sits.

I nod. “They are real gems,” I exclaim, raising one brow.

She hits me on the shoulder, watching her hand as our bodies touch. “Don’t pretend to know what you’re talking about. Just ask me questions.”

I do ask. I know everything I can possibly know about Victorian furniture twenty minutes later. We take our seats in the brown, folding chairs as the auctioneer speaks faster than I knew possible. I watch his mouth as he runs through the gamut of random bobs and bits until he gets to Magnolia’s dining set.

She throws her paddle up in the air and calls out a price before he can even introduce one. Another man double our age does too. And so it goes for a couple of minutes that feel like hours. I break out in a cold sweat when I realize she might not win the table, and in this moment, my heart’s truest desire is that she wins. A fucking table. It’s my competitive nature. I’d take out the old geezer if this were a different kind of fight. Magnolia stands up, paddle in the air and calls out an offer significantly higher than the last one he gave. The old man shakes his head and puts his paddle down in defeat.

“Sold, number one one niner,” the auctioneer calls when the bidding war concludes. I’m surprised I’m at the edge of my seat.

Leaning over, I realize she’s breathing heavy. “That was intense,” I remark.

“It always is,” she replies, smiling at me. “I knew you’d like it.”

“This table must really be worth something.” I narrow my eyes at the piece of furniture once more.

“I have to fix it up a bit, but it will so be worth it.” Her eyes light.

I load the heavy set into the bed of her truck and we’re back at her house in record time. I unload the table into her workshop garage as carefully as I can and then we’re standing in the heat of her workspace, staring at each other. A drop of sweat rolls between her breasts and I press my lips together. It reminds me of the last time we had sex. Hot sex. Sex that changed everything for me. It was sex so desperate and passionate that I can’t even view her sweat without getting turned on. “Going to give me a tour?” I ask, watching her mouth, gesturing to her house with a head movement.

She nods. “We have forty minutes before Kendall gets out of school. Let’s go.”

There is no actual tour. She locks the door of her bedroom the second we enter, retreats to the restroom for a brief moment and then moves toward me like a lioness. I don’t have time to speak a word. She’s on me.