Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
NOVA
The mattress dips behind me from the sudden added weight, waking me from a deep sleep. Cracking open my eyes, I slowly blink to clear the blurry vision. Everything is bright—too freaking bright for my liking.
Who the hell turned on the lights?
For a split second, I don’t know where I am, who I’m with, or what the hell is going on. Then last night’s events hit me.
I had sex with Aiden. Not only did I sleep with him, but that man threw me around like I weighed nothing. He fucked me until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. He praised me throughout, treating me the same way he does outside of the bedroom.
He whispered sweet words the whole time. Sweet and dirty things, all while reverently stroking my skin and playing with my bigger parts. He got me to come so hard I saw Jesus, who gave me a thumbs up and booted me back to earth to do it all over again.
Now I understand why Aiden made the no-feelings rule.
Orgasms are the quickest way to a heart, and I stand by that statement after a night with him. It’s easy to confuse lust with love. No wonder he needed my help to make those women leave him alone. With his stamina and selflessness in bed, it’s not difficult to get attached.
Aiden’s arm slips underneath the sheet and tangles around me. He settles his hand on my stomach and squeezes, sending a good type of shiver through me. He curls against my backside and kisses the back of my neck.
My eyes fall shut, and sleep draws me into its foggy embrace.
“Get some rest, pretty girl,” Aiden whispers, and twirls a lock of my hair around his finger. “I need to leave for a while, but I’ll be back later.”
“Where are you going?” I fight to stay awake just to hear his answer.
“Safe-house.” He releases me, taking his warmth with him as he moves off the bed.
He says something, but sleep takes hold of me, and I can’t make it out.
When I wake up again, the sunlight is no longer shining directly into the window, and the spot behind me is cold and empty. I stretch and bury my face in Aiden’s pillow, breathing in his concentrated scent.
My stomach does the weird flip again, like butterflies are fluttering inside it.
I grin.
It’s just post-sex endorphins confusing me into thinking they’re actual feelings for my brother. But thank God I know better.
Did Aiden feel giddy like this with the other women the morning after?
I frown and shake my head. Nope. Scratch that question. Not going to think about him sleeping with other women while we have this thing going on between us.
Did he feel just as relaxed, and even excited about me, when he woke up this morning? Or has he slept around so much that he’s become jaded to the feeling?
My cheeks flush, and I glance at his side of the bed.
He’s been running from intimacy for a long time now, and he didn’t deny it when I pointed it out to him.
Aiden made sure I faced away from him while he fucked me.
After our first time together, he used condoms and took them off long enough to come on me while murmuring praises.
It’s for the best.
As long as I don’t catch feelings for him, then it’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.
I crawl out of bed, gather my clothes and phone, and duck inside the bathroom to do my business and clean up. After a quick shower and dressing in comfortable clothes, I head to the kitchen to make a smoothie.
While waiting for the blender to stop its cycle, I check my phone and find two new messages from Brandon.
They’ve already been opened.
I frown.
Maybe I read them at some point this morning while out of it. It’s happened before when I was half asleep, reading text messages and never responding.
Brandon
you up?
how did it go last night? Did you break up with the boy toy?
I type out a quick response to him and hit send. The Delivered receipt flips to Read.
It went great, and no, I didn’t break up with my boyfriend.
That’s a shame. The boyfriend part, I mean lol
Are you still bringing him to Otaku Con?
Of course I am. I already invited him, and he’s been as excited as I’ve been about it.
Okay, that last bit was a reach. I don’t think Aiden is as excited as I am about this event. He’s been stretched thin from Hellfire Night preparations with his friends.
I tug at a strand of hair and pull up the text thread with Aiden. We barely had time to talk this morning, and I want to talk to him about Otaku Con and about the texts from Brandon.
I type him a message, delete it, then rewrite it before hitting send.
When are you coming back?
I set my phone down and pour the smoothie into a pink cup. My phone chimes with a new message, and I snatch it from the counter, my heart skipping a beat.
Aiden
It won’t be until later tonight, pretty girl. Are you okay?
Can I come by real quick? Or is that not allowed?
Real quick? You should know by now there’s no such thing as a quickie for me
I’m not asking for a quickie.
We’ll see about that Of course you’re allowed to come by. Let me know when you’re here.
I close the chat, grab my smoothie, and leave the house.
On the short walk to the safe-house, I sip my drink and go over how to approach him about ensuring everything between us is okay.
He seemed like himself while texting, but he’s hiding behind a screen, and I can’t see his expressions.
For all I know, he could have been sending those messages with a blank look and mumbling about how he wants to be left alone.
Maybe I’m projecting here, but I can’t be the only one who sends “LMFAO” and laughing emojis without cracking a smile.
I shoot a quick text to Aiden, letting him know that I’m walking up to the front door. The Delivered receipt flips to Read, but he doesn’t respond. A second later, the door opens.
“There you are,” Aiden coos. He pulls me inside, slams the door shut, and pins me against it, his hand braced by my shoulder.
My stomach flips, and I suck in a startled breath as he leans in like he’s about to kiss me. Aiden stops and smirks right before his lips touch mine.
"Green tea chai?” He plucks the thermos from my hand.
“No, it’s strawberry, but it’s for—”
He brings the straw to his mouth and sucks on the end, his gaze never leaving mine as he drinks my smoothie.
I swallow hard and whisper, “Me.”
“So fucking delicious,” he growls, and I don’t think he’s talking about the smoothie.
My laugh comes out strained, and I feel like I’m about to lose my mind from how nervous I am. And here I thought things would be weird between us by this new relationship we have.
Fling.
We don’t have a relationship. It’s a fling.
Aiden steps back, eyes dancing with amusement, and he rakes his gaze over my body.
“Not that I’m complaining about you being here, but if you don’t want a quickie”—his gaze flits back to my face, and he grins—“is there something else you need?”
“Oh, I, uh . . .” Think, Nova. Think. Don’t get flustered by his charm. “I wanted to see if we’re going to do any more lessons? You know, so I don’t clam up on Brandon whenever I see him next.”
Aiden’s shoulders tense, and his lopsided smile falters for a split second. He tilts his head and makes a sound at the back of his throat. “Lessons, huh? You needed to come here and ask me that?”
I shrug and reach for the cup he’s stolen from me. “Well, I prefer talking to you face-to-face, especially about something as important as this.”
He purses his lips and glances at the cup. “Let’s see, what lesson do I need to give you? We went over the basics like flirting and being a tease.”
He hums in thought and turns his piercing gaze to me.
My skin prickles as if needles are stabbing at me. I scratch a spot behind my ear on my scalp and avert my gaze.
I step back and force a smile.
“Don’t think too hard about it, pretty boy. We can put our heads together later and come up with lessons.” My pulse drums in my ears, and I can’t stop the word-vomit from happening. “I mean, it can be about anything. Even about what men like in bed and how they like to be touched.”
His eyes darken, his smile sharpening.
I reach behind me and grab the doorknob with a nervous laugh. “Oopsies, did I say that? I’m just blabbing at this point and should go. You can keep the smoothie. I’ll make another one when I get home.”
Aiden closes the gap between us and slams the door shut behind me. He leans his head down and nuzzles his nose against my jaw. “Have you ever sucked cock before, pretty girl?”
Heat crawls up my neck. “Yes.”
He raises an eyebrow.
“Okay, no.” I blow out a shuddering breath and lay my hand against his broad chest to push him away. He doesn’t budge from my weak shove.
Aiden chuckles. “You folded so easily.” He kisses the corner of my mouth, sparking a flame inside me from the simple, burning touch. “Why did you try lying about that? You want my help, right?”
I squeeze my eyes shut and grip his shirt. “It doesn’t matter.”
Aiden hums and kisses the other corner. “It’s an easy way to bring a man to his knees and make him beg. Is that what you want?”
Slipping my arms around his neck, I nod and turn my head. Our noses bump and lips brush. Aiden kisses me, softly at first, like he’s unsure that I want this. When I respond, angling my head and deepening it, he takes control, swallowing my breaths only to breathe back into me.
He tastes like strawberries and the sweetest temptation.
Don’t catch feelings, girl.
Aiden ends the kiss. “I’ll teach you.”
He leaves me standing at the front door. He returns a minute later, thermos gone and replaced with a pillow. He drops it on the floor in front of him and frees his belt from the latch. I watch as he unbuttons his pants, his eyes dark as they sweep over my face, like he’s memorizing it.
It’s easy to forget that what we’re doing is emotionless. He makes it seem like he actually cares for me as more than a sister.
“Get on your knees.” The sound of a zipper fills the room, and Aiden shoves his pants down, freeing his erection before fisting himself.
Oh.