Chapter 16
“Is this thing on?”
“You’re using the wrong camera.”
“Can you hear me?”
“I can hear you.”
“I can’t hear you.”
“Bernard, when did you become my grandparents?”
“That I heard.”
I buried my face in my palms, slowly dragging them down.
From my tablet’s vantage point on my coffee table, I made sure Bernard saw the whites of my eyes as they rolled back into my skull.
How was this man allowed to run the entire public relations department for the world’s premiere superhero team?
“I know you hate texting and phones. Do you even own a computer? Bernard, do you still own a pager?”
He held his phone far enough away. I could tell he wasn’t wearing a shirt. The man was the definition of barrel-chested and had enough chest hair he must trim it. I caught myself gawking, and my face grew warmer than when my body was covered in alien fire.
“I’d show you the rest, but I don’t think your cheeks can get any redder.” He laughed. “Nope, I was wrong.”
“Why did we date?”
“I’m old, so my memory might be shot. But I don’t remember us going on many dates.”
Two men, emotionally unavailable when they met.
There are nights when I’m alone in bed that I wonder what might have been.
Thankfully, the decision to transition from ferocious sex fiends into friends had been mutual.
There weren’t many men in my life I could say I loved unconditionally, but Bernard had made the cut despite my efforts to push him away.
Years ago, I hadn’t been ready for anything more than friends with benefits. Thankfully, things had changed. I had changed. The thought of Aiden snoring as he buried his face in my chest made me smile.
“I don’t know why I put up with you.”
“Yeah,” he laughed, “you do.”
Deep sigh. “I do.”
I nearly came clean and confessed. It’d be so easy to tell Bernard that I was the infernal Blaze. He’d shimmy to the edge of his couch and listen as I unburdened my life. That was the nature of Bernard. I’d screw up. He’d ground me. When I came to my senses, he’d be waiting.
This burden could only be carried by one.
“You’re getting that serious face.”
“I had a rough day at work.” It wasn’t a lie. I had become one of the many Americans working two jobs. I’d have to ask Hellcat who signed my paychecks.
“So, I saw the news. Everything okay?”
No, not really. “Yeah.”
“Say it again. Maybe you’ll convince me.”
“Ever try to do the right thing, and it bites you in the ass? You know me, keep my head down and do what I’m good at. I tried sticking my neck out—”
“Uneasy is the head that wears a crown.”
“You did not just quote Shakespeare at me.”
He launched into a speech about how the bard had a poignant line for every situation. While he relived his college literature class, my phone buzzed.
A: Not going to respond? I’ll keep texting.
I made the mistake of telling a would-be reporter I was having a bad day and not giving him the full scoop. Hellcat didn’t explain the implications of putting on the mask. She skipped the part where a secret erected a wall that kept everybody at arm’s length.
X: Work. I got reprimanded for something I didn’t do. Same shit, different day.
“You call me so you can stare at your phone?”
“Sorry, it’s Aiden.”
“Look, I’m flattered you called me. But…” Bring on the sagely advice of Bernard. “It’s not me you want telling you everything will be okay.”
“Nobody can replace you.”
“I know. Be happy that I’m willing to share you.” I smiled. Bernard might be the healthiest relationship I had. But perhaps it was time to change that. Eyeing my phone, I watched as the three dots appeared as Aiden replied.
“Thanks, Poppa Bear.”
He swore as he dropped the phone, the video cutting out as it struck the floor. I watched my phone as the dots continued flashing, wondering if Aiden was writing a novel.
A knock sounded from the door next to my couch. It was too late for company. The suit flashed, swallowing my briefs and t-shirt. It’d be hard to explain if it was Ms. Zanella knocking on the wrong door again.
As I moved to the door, I looked at the phone again, watching it like a hawk. I leaned in, putting my eye against the peephole. I feared a villain had followed me home, but it was worse, much worse. Aiden scowled at the door, holding up his phone.
Before I could argue with the semi-sentient costume, it vanished back into my skin. At least it knew the difference between Aiden and a supervillain.
I removed the bolt and opened the door. I eyed my phone again, trying to make sense of what was happening. Aiden reached into the pocket of his hoodie, pulling out his phone. He held up his finger before punching away at the keys. With a slight blip, he nodded his head in my direction.
My phone beeped.
A: It sounded like you needed a hug.
I nodded.
Aiden pushed his way inside, kicking the door shut.
One hand snaked behind my back while the other pulled my head to his shoulder.
I might be a few inches taller, but as he tightened his hold, he felt like—home.
Those limbs, bulging with muscle, had a power of their own.
I let out a long sigh, relaxing my shoulders as I rested hands on his hips.
Kissing the top of my head, he didn’t say a word.
Bernard would have talked me off a cliff, helping me wrangle in that part that always wanted to lash out at the world.
Aiden, on the other hand, didn’t offer words to shape my frustration.
Holding me, the frustration, the anger in the pit of my stomach, it couldn’t compete with the comfort.
Here. Now. I grasped the meaning of peace.
“Will you stay?” The words shook as I spoke, not from fear, but from admitting a desire that had nothing to do with my penis. The silence carried on long enough that I worried I had said something wrong. Pulling back, I studied his face.
Aiden’s eyebrow raised dangerously high on his forehead. “Oh, you wanted me to say something.” He leaned in and kissed my nose. “Come on, tough guy, it’s your turn to be the little spoon.”
And just like that, my last bit of resistance melted away.
2:13 a.m.
The moon cast a soft light through the bedroom window, giving just enough light to make out the television on my bureau.
I should be fast asleep. But the longer I stayed awake, the longer I got to experience this burly man pressed against my back.
Each time he exhaled, a stream of warm air worked down my spine.
His leg twitched, snaked in-between mine and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the night.
Aiden’s hand worked its way along my stomach, sliding under my arm. His fingers slid along my chest hair before he tightened his grip, squeezing me. I don’t know if there was a way for more skin contact, but as he lazily kissed between my shoulder blades, I wanted to find out.
“Do you ever sleep?” The poor guy suffered through my tossing and turning. He deserved a medal.
“Not when there is a handsome man poking me in the back.”
“You keep backing up. He’s got his own agenda.”
I rolled onto my back and, without missing a beat, he threw a leg over me and nestled his head on my shoulder. It had been a long time since this piece fit into my puzzle.
“Next time, I drug you.”
I kissed the top of his head.
“I don’t want to interrupt this moment…” Well, that was never the start of a pleasant conversation. “But I’ve had something on my mind. One of those—”
“Just ask.”
His pointer finger circled around my stomach, barely touching the skin. If he wanted to ask tough questions, he had done a terrific job of luring me into a sense of security.
“Why me?”
Two words. Two simple syllables that raised my heart rate and sent me reeling for answers.
I hadn’t given the “why” much thought. He was attractive, sweet, and had just the right amount of sass.
Did he want me to list off all the qualities I admired?
It sounded more complicated than him fishing for a compliment.
“Huh?” Yup, still smooth as ever.
“That night.” He propped himself up onto his elbow, narrowing his eyes to see in the dark. “Why did you knock on my door? I can’t be the only man in your phone book, so I’m curious.”
I almost chuckled. Not at the question, but that it was a masked vigilante that gave me a swift kick in the pants.
If it hadn’t been for Hellcat, who knows if I would have mustered up the bravery to take the initiative?
So why did I stand at the door, fist hovering, worried what might happen if I knocked?
“Before I knew your name…” I prayed I wouldn’t regret this little story time. “…you know, in those five minutes. You were the asshole. Here I was, running into danger, and you told me to turn around. Who was this punk telling me not to save people? It’s literally my job.”
Aiden continued rubbing my stomach. It was a good sign that I hadn’t horribly offended him. Yet. I wasn’t used to processing my feelings, especially not with an audience. I hoped he’d bear with me as I sifted through the rubble in my head.
“Nearly dying didn’t shock me. Let’s be honest, it’s part of the job, and the way I run my mouth, it’s bound to happen. But then this asshole reaches down and saves me.”
“You were paying back a debt?”
I rolled over so I could see his face. I didn’t want there to be any misunderstanding. My fingers wrapped around his hand, squeezing it just shy of painful.
“At first, I wanted in your pants.” I might as well be honest, even if it was embarrassing.
“But that’s because I take a while to process things.
The more I thought about it, I couldn’t stop thinking about this man risking his life to save me.
Then he didn’t stop. Then he put his life on the line to keep helping people. ”
“Nice save.” If it wasn’t for the smirk, I worried I might be dancing on the ledge.
“I’m trained to do that. It’s my job. But that’s how I view helping people. It’s a job. I am literally paid to keep people alive. But here is this asshole—”
“Adorable asshole,” he corrected.
“Downright gorgeous asshole,” I added, “doing it because it’s the right thing.”
“So you picked my door because of my passion for charity work?”
Feelings. They weren’t my cup of tea. I walked through life numb, and for the most part, it served me well.
I might never be mushy, but as Aiden lifted my hand, kissing my knuckles, I wanted to try.
“Why? I picked your door because I need somebody who reminds me to be a better person. Surprise twist, you save a man from death and he gets gooey.”
“Why do you think I hang out at disaster sites? You were my second damsel of the day.”
Xander Bennett was a force. It wasn’t my ego speaking. Others had made me abundantly aware of how I was a walking storm. There wasn’t a challenge I wouldn’t face, but—
“While my brain tried to convince me to walk to the elevator, my heart—” My chest tightened, the words caught in my mouth. If I shed a tear, I’d have to mock myself.
“Shhh.” Saved by the tip of his finger covering my lips.
He crawled on top of me, his face hovering inches away.
I didn’t have words to express myself, so I let my actions speak for me.
I kissed him as if it might be the last, or the first, or everything in-between.
I let feelings I couldn’t describe pass from my tongue to his.
Aiden leaned back, straddling my waist. Whatever I said, it had gone from sweet and innocent to devilish. He rocked his thighs, and I realized how my cock rested along his backside.
The moon revealed the upturned lip and lust in his eyes. “If we’re not going to sleep…”