1. Aubrey #4
“You’re wrong.” He releases my elbow, his hand coming up to grab my chin as he tilts my head back up to meet his gaze.
“You’re wrong, Aubrey. I don’t care about all those things, and I certainly don’t need you to offer me anything.
The only thing I’ve ever cared about was you and your heart.
Who you are as a person is so much more important than all those things you mentioned, and that alone makes you greater than most people I know. ”
He cups my cheek with the hand from my waist as a blush spreads over it.
“You have the kindest heart I’ve ever seen, the most beautiful smile and the cutest little nose.
” He chuckles when I scrunch it up. “But your eyes, God your eyes, Aubrey, I get lost in them every time. They make me nervous,” he whispers before swallowing.
“You make me nervous too, Shane,” I admit in return, although it’s pretty obvious already.
“Yeah, well, it’s acceptable at your age. Mine, not so much.” A low, throaty laugh expels from his lips. “I’m thirty-seven, soon to be thirty-eight. I shouldn’t still be nervous around a girl I like.” He smirks down at me.
“You’re not that old. I think it’s still acceptable.” I smile back.
“So, my age doesn’t bother you?” He searches my eyes, looking for any indication that it might. But he won’t find any.
I shake my head slightly, his hold on my chin stopping me from doing it properly. “No.”
His grin widens. “Good to know.”
As I look into his eyes, I feel like we’re slowly discovering something, that maybe, just maybe, we could be more. That this feeling inside of me exists inside of him too, and if we gave it a chance, we could make something beautiful out of it.
But then reality sets in, and our biggest problem comes crashing back to the forefront of my mind. “Shane, we still… My brother… He would never…”
He releases me as I drop my head, feeling like all my hopes and dreams are being crushed, dying before they could even fully form.
“I know…” he whispers with defeat, then sighs. “Let’s get you home before you catch a cold out here.”
I nod as we continue strolling down the street in silence once more, then turn the corner and stop in front of the entrance to my building. “This is me,” I say nervously as my blush creeps up and I tuck my hair behind my frozen ear.
“Well, goodnight, Aubrey.”
“Goodnight, Shane.”
He stands there for a second, like he’s not ready to really go, but then shakes his head and turns to leave.
I quickly pull my keys out of my coat pocket and push the right one into the keyhole.
The need to escape to the sanctuary of my condo overwhelms me; it’s where I won’t be tempted to ask him to stay. To hold me again. To kiss me.
His retreating footsteps stop abruptly as he whispers something that sounds like “You know what, fuck it.”
I leave my keys hanging in the door and spin around toward him. “What?”
He turns to face me with determination, his hands coming out at his sides. “I’m done.”
I frown, confused by his words. “I don’t…”
“It’s been almost four years, Aubrey.” He swallows, his Adam’s apple illuminated by the light post beside him as it bobs up and down. “I’m done waiting.”
He marches over so quickly I barely have time to react. The next thing I know, his hands are cupping both sides of my face, my back is being pressed against the glass door, and his lips are crashing into mine.
My body freezes for a second as a thousand questions pop into my head. How do I do this? Do I keep my mouth closed or open? Do we use tongue? And if we do, how? But then the tip of his tongue nudges at my lips, demanding access, and everything fades.
My hands run up his chest as I fist his coat and moan, opening for him. His tongue tentatively glides into my mouth, exploring its surroundings until mine comes out to play, becoming acquainted with his as they twirl around each other.
After what feels like an eternity of being lost in him, we pull apart, just enough to breathe.
I’m panting as my heart hammers in my chest, my body burning from the inside out while my core throbs and I unwillingly squeeze my thighs together.
I can feel his rapid heartbeat as he tries to control his breathing.
His hips press into mine, and that’s when I feel it—his manhood.
It’s… Oh God, it’s hard! My face lights on fire as my eyes spring open, mouth dropping wide.
He tilts his head back more to see my reaction and chuckles. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s…” I swallow. “It’s okay.”
He leans back in, pressing his forehead to mine with a content sigh. “Angel,” he murmurs with his eyes closed. “I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
He presses his lips to mine once more, this one delicate and soft with so much meaning behind it. “Goodnight, Angel.”
The nickname warms my heart, making me want to stay in this moment forever. “Goodnight, Shane.”
This time he steps back but waits until I’m securely inside the building, waving one last time through the glass before he turns and heads back down the path we took.