12. Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Zane
I want to stop and replay everything that just happened all over again in my head. No matter how many times I wished it, I never expected to actually bang my best friend’s little sister. Right now, I need to keep myself under control. I want to show Aspen that I’m the total package with a little aftercare. She’d never agree to any of the things I want to do for her tonight, which is why I’m not going to give her a damn choice. I scoop Aspen up into my arms, catching her by surprise. She gasps, then leans into my chest, laughing. A shiver runs through me. It sounds impossible, but I already love the way she feels in my arms like this; cradled against my chest, right where she belongs.
“Come on, let’s go upstairs,” I whisper, leaning down so my lips brush lightly against her cheek.
Aspen nuzzles into me deeper, laying her hand against my chest as I carry her up the stairs to my bedroom. We don’t speak. My thoughts are racing way too fast to be able to hold a conversation, and I’m pretty sure her thoughts are doing the same thing to her. Before I even make it to the top of the stairs, she sighs, exhausted from a long day. I don’t think, I simply act, kissing the top of her head gently. The second best part of my Christmas present this year is going to be falling asleep with Aspen in my arms, and I can’t fucking wait.
I carry Aspen to my room, and then into my bathroom, where I set her down on the marble countertop. She groans, protesting being left there to wait on me. She reaches for my hand, pulling me back into her and whispers, “Zane, you don’t need to do any of this. I can take a shower on my own.”
I look down at Aspen. Her green eyes return, my gaze captivating me with the way they are searching mine for answers. I cup her face, caressing the soft edges of her jaw as I run my fingers down it. My finger lands against her lips to stop her from saying anymore. “Aspen,” I rasp. “I may not need to, but I want to. You can take a shower on your own, but you won’t. Instead, you’ll sit your ass in this bathtub and let me clean you up.”
Her mouth falls open in surprise as my words command her next move. She opens and closes her mouth twice before finally responding.
“Okay,” Aspen whispers, biting her lip.
I tilt her face up and kiss her warm, soft lips. “Thank you.”
I kiss her one more time, lightly, before stepping away to run the bath water for her. When it’s ready, I carry her in my arms to the bathroom to have her check the water temperature. Once it gets her approval, I help her climb into the tub. When I kneel next to the tub, she looks at me, confused.
“What are you doing now?” She asks.
“I’m going to wash you, and then I’m going to wrap you up in a towel. I’ll carry you to bed where I’ll hold you against my chest all night, because I’m going to enjoy everything about tonight.” I ignore the way her nose scrunches up at me.
When Aspen doesn’t say anything else, I realize she’s let me win. I reach into the water, scooping it over her back and shoulders, then watch as it runs down her skin. She closes her eyes, allowing her body to relax as the warm water washes over her. Unable to stop myself, I lean over the edge of the tub and kiss her shoulder. She doesn’t pull away, so I kiss her a second time as I run the back of my hand down her arm.
“Does that feel good, baby girl?” I ask, as I start to rub her neck and shoulders.
“Yes,” Aspen answers, opening her eyes and turning her head to look at me. Her bright green eyes sweep over my features as she takes me in all over again.
I continue splashing water over her carefully while rubbing her down and stealing opportunities to trail kisses over her skin. When I’m finished massaging her, I squeeze the soap into my hands and wash her body. Once again, she allows me to do as I please. It’s surprising the way she so easily gives into my requests. I could get used to this.
“Are you ready to get out?” I ask, rinsing her off.
“I think so. I’m ready to be carried to bed,” Aspen replies with a teasing grin.
“Then let me grab a towel from the warmer so I can carry my girl to bed.” I wink at her.
When I return with the towel, I instruct her to stand up. She does what I say without complaining. I wrap the towel around her before leaning over to unplug the drain. As I scoop her back up in my arms effortlessly, she raises an eyebrow. “Since when did you become such a gentleman, Zane?”
“Maybe I’ve always been a gentleman, and you never noticed because you always made assumptions about me.” I scoff with a playful smile.
“Hmmm, maybe.” Aspen replies.
“Only maybe.” I toss her onto my bed and crawl on top of her, sliding my hand up her leg to rest on her hip. “Careful what you say, Aspen. I don’t have to be a gentleman if you don’t want me to be.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to be… tomorrow.” She hooks her legs around my waist and arches up to brush against me.
“I think I can handle that request.” I kiss her on the nose, then unhook her legs and slide off her. “If I don’t walk away now, I’m not going to be a gentleman.” I confess, the guilt obvious as my length presses against her. “I’m going to rinse off in the shower, but first I’ll run back downstairs to grab us both some clothes.”
“If you promise to keep me warm, we could just sleep naked.” Aspen suggests.
Fuck, this girl is dangerous. I’m already getting my ass kicked. What’s more fuel for the fire? I smile at Aspen. “If that’s what you want, beautiful. I’ll do anything you ask me to. You should know that by now. Go ahead and think about it while I shower.”
After quite possibly the fastest shower in history, I’m in and out. I want to hurry back to hold Aspen in my arms until we both fall asleep. My thoughts keep endlessly replaying everything that happened tonight. It’s hard to believe I stabbed Breck in the back like this but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have absolutely zero regrets, and I can’t wait to feel Aspen’s naked body against mine all night long. I’m going to have so much fun waking her up tomorrow morning.
When I return to my room, Aspen has crawled up on my pillows in the center of the bed and is curled up. Her eyes flutter open and she looks over her shoulder at me as I pull back the covers to tuck her beneath them. I unravel the towel from her body, and slide her over effortlessly, then I turn off the bedside light, drop the towel hanging around my waist, and climb in next to her.
“Come here, baby girl,” I say, my voice deep and rumbling. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hold you in my arms like this.”
She giggles guiltily. “Or maybe I know exactly what it’s like to want something you think you’ll never be able to have.”
I wrap my muscular arms around her, pulling Aspen closer, until she’s against my chest. “You can have anything you want from me, Aspen. All you have to do is ask.” I whisper, stroking strands of her hair away from her face.
I kiss Aspen’s shoulder, inhaling the scent of her, and close my eyes. Tonight was fucking perfect, and as much as it might suck having to face Breck, I’m selfish and I just don’t think I can give Aspen up after all of this. I’m not strong enough to walk away a second time without knowing I have her to come home to. If he hates me and we never speak again, then it’s just something I’ll have to come to terms with.
“Zane,” Aspen whispers, interrupting my thoughts.
“Mmmm,” I mumble in response.
“I want you to wake me up tomorrow, but extra special.” She says.
“And what exactly does extra special mean?” I ask her, sliding my hand up her flat stomach to cup her breast.
She moans as I slide my thumb across her nipple. It pebbles beneath my touch. “I think you know exactly what it means, Zane.” She taunts.
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t, or maybe I just want to hear you say such filthy things with those pretty little lips of yours.”
She pauses, allowing the silence to grow around us. After several seconds of waiting, she responds. “Zane, I want to wake up to you fucking me. I want you to make my body feel so fucking good that I am forced to wake up and enjoy you all over again tomorrow morning. Is that better?”
“That’s fucking perfect,” I growl. “You better get some sleep then because I’m going to wake you up early.”
“Merry Christmas, Zane,” she whispers.
“Merry Christmas, Aspen,” I reply.
We snuggle into one another and within moments, we both fall into a restful sleep. My dreams are filled with images from tonight. I’m looking forward to Christmas morning for the first time in years. I can’t wait to fuck Aspen a second time.
The End