Chapter Twenty
Maeve
The nerves are gruelling.
I’ve been pacing up and down my kitchen for half an hour, and I still don’t have a clue what I’ll do if Aidan does turn up on my doorstep tonight.
I’m not even sure I’ll let him inside if he does.
Now that I’ve had hours to think it through, I’ve thought of texting him so many times to cancel. I even came up with several scenarios while I was in the shower.
Sorry, Aidan. I changed my mind.
I don’t like to lie, and that one only made me accidentally swallow some soap bubbles, and I needed to brush my teeth for a full five minutes to get rid of the awful taste in my mouth.
Umm, sorry, I can’t. I’m busy reading a monster romance.
Technically, that’s true, but my raging hormones almost wept.
Or my personal favourite: Nope, I’m washing my hair.
That was just so pathetic that I had to stop shaving my legs to roll my eyes at myself.
But a very small part of me still whispers doubts in the back of my head, telling me that I’m getting into waters so deep that I’ll drown.
I should tell him that we shouldn’t risk our friendship to act like horny teenagers. We’re responsible adults, for goodness’ sakes.
Or, at least I’m one, and Aidan even told me about his rule not to get involved with anyone in the village because it has the potential to ruin things for more than just him.
What am I even doing, waiting for someone who may or may not go through with his promises?
I stop at the kitchen counter and pick up my phone. Five-fifteen.
On a whim, I swipe the screen and find Roísin’s number. This situation warrants girl talk.
She picks up almost immediately.
“Hi, Maeve.”
“What I’m about to tell you has to stay between the two of us.”
“Ooh, really? What are you up to?”
“I’m not up to anything, but you can’t tell your grandmother, either. It’s important.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
I tug at the messy bun on the top of my head and blow out a loud huff. “A man is on his way to my cottage right now to have what I hope will be absolutely earth-shattering sex with me, and I can’t decide if I should cancel on him or not. I need help.”
A loud cackle in my ear makes me almost lift the phone away from me. “Say that again?” She laughs.
I deflate and lean on the counter, burying my head on my arms. “Don’t make me repeat it,” I beg.
“Sorry, but this doesn’t sound like the Maeve I’ve gotten to know over the past few weeks.”
“This isn’t a joke, Roísin.”
“Okay, okay.” Silence fills the air for a few seconds. “Is this someone I know?”
I gulp. “Yes.”
“Okay. Why do you need my help?”
I lean back from the countertop and pull at the low neckline of my dress, fidgeting on the spot. “I’ve never done the casual sex thing before. I’m not sure if I can go through with it.”
“Listen, if you want to ghost whoever this mystery man is, you’re more than welcome to come over to my place, Maeve. I don’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
“Thank you, but I’m just nervous. I haven’t had sex in over a year, and even then, it wasn’t that great, so…well.”
“And you’re worried because...”
“I’m just not sure it’s a good idea since we live in the same village. It might get a little…sticky.”
“Okay, you haven’t given me much to go on, but have you and this mystery man talked about this only being about a roll in the hay or not?”
“We have. He isn’t looking for a relationship, either, so at least that part’s been cleared up.”
“And do you really, really fancy him? I mean, so much that you’re dying to rip his clothes off every time you see him?”
I put my hand on my tummy. “Gosh, yes.” I sigh. “I want to rip it off and twirl it around my head three times, then jump his massive…”
“Enough!”
Her giggling makes me huff annoyed at myself. “In that case, I hope you have a brilliant night, my friend. Just remember to be safe, okay? And phone me tomorrow. You’re about to have a much more interesting social life than mine. I’m almost jealous.”
I tilt my head, frowning. “Thank you. I think.” I open my mouth to talk more, but a low knock on my front door fixes me on the spot instead. “Speak with you tomorrow.”
My entire focus is on the door as I walk towards it, until I catch sight of the black ballerinas lying on the floor.
Should I put shoes on or not? Isn’t barefoot too casual?
I bend to pick them up and jump from one foot to the other, hurrying to put them on.
I almost stumble flat on my arse in the process.
Tonight is not going as I planned. I’d envisioned I’d be opening a bottle of wine, setting out some crackers and cheese in case Aidan was hungry, and what did I do instead?
Wasted the time I could have prepared for a slow seduction by pacing the floor and phoning my friend in a panic.
A louder knock sounds, jerking me free from my thoughts.
My time’s up.
I walk briskly towards the door to let him inside.
I take one more deep breath and wrench the door open.
And there he is. Tall, bright, and handsome beyond belief, arms relaxed at his sides.
“Maeve.”
“Aidan.” I step back. “Come in.”
The moment he steps inside, a need so foreign and tantalising that it makes me break out in goosebumps assaults me, and I tense to stop my legs from shaking and shut the door.
But that’s all I can do. I lean against the door and take him in as he turns in a slow circle to face me at last. His hair is mussed, wet at the ends that curl over the collar of his deep-blue button-down shirt, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows to reveal the arms I can’t stop thinking about.
I travel the length of his body, my eyes pausing longer than necessary on his crotch, then further down his dark-blue, jeans-clad thighs.
How have I never noticed the size of them before?
“Like what you see?”
My eyes whip up to meet his amused stare.
“I’m nervous,” I blurt out, then immediately wish I could crawl into a hole and hide. I’m an embarrassed, trembling mess…but I don’t want him to leave.
His eyes soften, turning warmer.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day, Mae.” He chuckles. “Fuck, I’ve thought of little else but you since you came all over me in the stable.”
His confession warms me.
“You have?” I breathe.
His eyes leave a trail of red-hot flames down my body.
“Is that dress for me?”
“No.” I realise it’s the truth. “It’s for me, actually.
To boost my confidence.” I reach up to the low neckline of my rose-coloured dress and fiddle with the buttons.
The deep V that plunges to the top of my breasts isn’t one I would wear in public, but since it’s the kind of dress that’s meant to make you feel desirable, it was easy to choose it for tonight.
From the way he can’t stop staring at me, it looks like it was the right choice.
Aidan’s tongue peeks out between his full lips, his gaze zinging me with heat. “Do you need me to tell you my cock grows hard every time I see you?”
I let out a loud puff of air. “Maybe I need to hear it tonight just to make the nerves disappear.”
He closes his eyes for a moment that feels as if time stops. When he opens them again, the heat radiating from them slams into me. His stare mesmerises me, and I can’t tear my eyes away. The whirling hunger hits me in all the right places, the warmth chasing away the nerves.
“Are you sure? Because once we start this, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop, Mae.
” He releases a shuddering breath, his body coiled tight.
His already deep voice is tinged with an edge.
It’s darker, more primal. Growly, even. I don’t feel the deep apprehension that follows me when I’m on duty.
Now, with Aidan, I welcome the edge. Somehow, my instincts recognise it for the exact thing that it is.
Need. Lust. Heat.
I want it all, and I want it tonight, with him.
All this unveiled hunger directed at me almost makes me melt on the spot.
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
In two long strides, he’s invaded my space again, pinning me to the door with his body. His hands reach up to frame my face, and as he tips up my chin, keeping his burning gaze on me, my breathing turns heavy.
“You have me fit to burst, Wildfire.”
I blink at the unusual nickname. “Wildfire?”
He hums deeply and circles his nose against mine.
“Mmhmm. You show everyone how in control you are. That you’re the one holding all the cards.
But I think that, underneath all that cool, you’re like wildfire.
Once unleashed, you’re a force to be reckoned with.
Chasing the wind…unstoppable until you’ve gotten what you were after. ”
He places a soft, lingering kiss on the corners of my lips. So close. I lean into his touch, and my eyes grow heavy with want from the touch of his lips next to my own.
“Am I right?” Another kiss, only this time at the shell of my ear. “Or am I wrong? I’ve made myself spill my cum in my hand so many times at the thought of you,” he breathes. “I want to taste your sweet pussy. Have you go so wild for me that you come all over my mouth.”
A ripple of lust rushes through me from his filthy words. Somehow, the fact that he hasn’t removed his glasses yet only makes me grow wetter.
He pushes his cock into my soft belly, and I almost whimper.
“Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?” I sigh.
He chuckles, the sound so at odds with the intensity.
I push up on my toes and curl my fingers into his shirt, yanking him closer, getting a thrill from seeing him widen his eyes in surprise.
I wet my lips. “Enough talking. Show me how much you want me, or I won’t believe you.”
“Fuck it.”
He slams his mouth down on mine.
I welcome him and open my mouth to let him in. His tongue sweeps inside, and the second I taste him for the first time, all thoughts vaporise into the air.
All I can do is the one thing that I asked of him.
I feel.