Chapter 11
11
Holly
A week later, I’m in the bar, staring at a box of tangled Christmas lights. “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” rings through my phone speaker, announcing Celine’s call. I’m beaming when I accept the invitation to the video call. The last time I spoke to Celine was the day of the almighty hangover. I was begging her to come to Scotland to put me out of my misery. I’m usually not much of a drinker. With my parents’ drinking habits, someone has to stay responsible, and I always have it in the back of my mind that alcoholism can be genetic. But it was fun to let my hair down and get tipsy—okay, drunk off my ass. The hangover reassured me I wouldn’t be making it a habit.
“Hey you, how’s Chicago?”
There hasn’t been much time for Celine and me to chat recently. I’ve been in the bar getting as much training done before the tourists start arriving for the “silly season” and between Celine catching up with family and leaving for Chicago, fitting in a chat has been tough.
“Freezing. I thought Scotland was cold, but this is next level. How’s Aaron?” She gives me a salacious grin. This is what I get for filling her in on everything that happened on the “Night of too much booze”. As the alcohol worked its way out my system, I started to remember a lot of things. Aaron caging me in at the pool table, me challenging him. And him reassuring me I hadn’t embarrassed myself. Either he was hoping I wouldn’t remember what happened or he wanted to forget. Either way, I was happy he let me off the hook.
“He’s fine.”
“That he is.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and I’m starting to wonder if that’s the only expression she can do these days.
I roll my eyes. “Tell me all about Chicago.”
“Well, aside from the fact that if I had balls, I would’ve frozen them off by now, it’s amazing. The people are friendly. On my second day here, we went sight-seeing.”
“Have you spotted any sexy firefighters?”
“Not a single one. Chicago Fire steered me wrong.”
“Well, that’s a damn shame. So, what have you seen?”
“I took a million selfies at the Bean. The Skydeck was so much fun but a bit scary. When you stand on the glass platform, you can actually hear the glass make cracking sounds. But I didn’t wuss out. I’ve eaten myself sick here, too.”
“Tell me you tried deep dish pizza.”
“Oh my god, it’s sooo good, Hols. I loved it. I could live my whole life without drinking Zombie beer again, though.”
I laugh. “The name doesn’t sound very appetising.”
“Believe me, it isn’t. Have you spoken to your parents yet?”
“Yeah, I spoke to them yesterday. They were drunk, so it was a quick call.”
Celine gives me a sympathetic look. “Ugh, that sucks.”
I shrug, but a knot forms in my stomach. “It is what it is.”
“And Spence?”
Needing something to do with my hands, I pull the tangled lights out of the box.
“I’ve been avoiding him.”
“Ooh girl, spill the tea.”
“If I FaceTime him, he’ll drill me on all things Aaron, and he’ll know for sure I still have a crush on him.”
“Yeah, I get your point. I also think it’s sweet you still call it a crush. You are way beyond a crush.”
Needing a change of subject because I feel guilty about avoiding Spencer, I ask, “So, how’s the planning for the signing going?”
“Gah, it’s so much fun. I’ve been learning so much. You need to hurry up and finish your book so you can attend next year.”
I scoff. “Please, you have to have a fan base to go to a signing.”
“That’s bullshit. The point of a signing is to network and get your name out there. Have you written anything since you’ve been there?”
“Some.” Heat stains my cheeks as I think about the scene I’m currently writing.
“You dirty girl. You’re writing a sex scene based on your filthy thoughts about Aaron.”
“I’m not.”
“Holly Campbell, you sit on a throne of lies.” She laughs.
“Okay, okay. I’m trying to write a sexy kissing scene. You know the pushed up against the wall, smouldering, panty-dropping kiss we read about? But it doesn’t help that I don’t have any experience.”
“You need to get cracking on that fuck-it list. The sooner you give up your V-card, the better. Anyone interesting enough?”
Honestly, I haven’t had time to go out scouting for potential candidates because of how busy it’s been. Although, there have been some local guys who work in town but stay more rural coming in. And some of them are really hot. But they aren’t Aaron. It’s becoming a problem. “Some.”
“You’re a terrible liar. You know that, right?”
“Ugh, maybe I should scrap the whole virginity thing and focus on the rest of my list.”
“Your whole list is all about hot monkey sex.”
“That’s not true. There’s getting a tattoo, skinny dipping…” I trail off. Yeah, most of the list is about hot monkey sex.
“Look, hun, you need to be comfortable with what you do. Once you give up your virginity, there’s no going back.”
“I would just really love an orgasm that I didn’t give myself, you know? It’s so long overdue.”
A door closes. Aaron must be back from his rugby match. I was going to go watch him but wanted to catch up with Celine. I miss her. “Cece, I’ve got to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“You better. Love you.”
“Back at ya.”
I end the call and turn to see Aaron standing with a box. Did he not go to rugby? God, did he hear my conversation with Celine?
“Hey.” I’m blushing, dear God, I’m blushing.
He puts the box down and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Hey.”
This is awkward. I’m sure he heard me. Fuck, this is mortifying.
“How much of that did you hear?”
“Not much. Holly, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. One of the guys got injured so we called it a day early. I got the last box of Christmas decorations and…” He swallows hard and bites his lip.
“Tell me what you heard.”
“I heard you’re struggling with your writing.”
So, everything I didn’t want him to hear. I cover my face with my hands. I must’ve done some serious shit in my previous life to have karma come for me like this.
“Holly, look at me.”
I work at untangling the lights like I’m defusing a bomb.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Sure, I don’t. Only that my crush/love of my life heard everything Cece and I were talking about. I should apply for the Guinness Book of Records because this has to be the most embarrassing moment in history.
“I can show you.”
“Show me what?”
“The kiss. I can show you how that kiss would go so you could write it.”
I think my brain is short-circuiting because I can’t structure a sentence or move or do anything except blink repeatedly. I stand. Maybe I should go spend some time with Basil. It will most definitely be less painful than this.
Aaron walks toward me, slowly but deliberately, his gaze transfixed on my face. It’s like he’s stalking his prey, something he’s craved for years. There’s something so fierce about his stare that I can’t help but take a step back for every step he moves forward.
My back touches the cool wall, and I swallow hard. My heartrate is through the roof right now. Aaron presses a hand on the wall next to my face. His gaze is so intense, I have to look away. He tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. I lick my lips as my brain tries to figure out what’s going on.
His looks at my lips, and he lifts his other hand before meeting my gaze again. “I promise I won’t actually kiss you. Tell me I can show you. Say yes, Holly.” Aaron’s voice has a rasp to it I’ve never heard, but I’d give up being able to process every other sound if I could just hear his voice. This voice.
My head nods of its own accord. Stupid, treacherous body.
Brilliant, smart body.
Aaron’s hand sweeps to the back of my neck, and he pushes his denim-clad leg between my thighs. He’s so close, a whiff of smoke couldn’t pass between us. I swear I can feel the rapid beat of his heart. The hand at my waist tugs me flush against him. His warm breath fans across my face as he pauses millimetres from my lips. The hand at my nape tightens around my hair. Internally, I’m screaming Pull my hair . Please pull my hair. But the words lock in my throat. All I have to do is move in a little closer but his words from earlier—“Don’t worry. I won’t actually kiss you”—rush to the front of my mind. What did he mean by that?
A moan escapes his lips, and his breath rushes out of his mouth. I can feel his hard cock pressed against me. I don’t move, don’t dare break the spell. If this is all I’m getting from Aaron Walker, then I’m savouring every single second. He lowers his head, and my neurons fire at a zillion sparks a nanosecond.
“Fuck!” The pained word falls from his lips, and he rests his forehead against mine for a long moment before taking a step back and rubbing a hand over his face. He readjusts himself through his jeans, and I fight the urge to squeeze my thighs together. I feel like I’m shaking all over, unable to move as my blood rushes through my body, and my breath feels trapped in my lungs.
“Write it like that. Your readers will feel every moment.”
I’m still trying to process what’s going on when he turns and leaves the bar. I sink to the floor. My legs refuse to hold me up anymore. Holy fucking shitballs. I don’t need to be experienced to know that I’ve just experienced one of the most erotic moments of my life. My panties are damp, and I’m pulsing between my legs like I do when I have steamy sex dreams. I want to rub the ache so badly it hurts. No, that’s not true. I want Aaron to rub the ache. Or better yet…
I shake my head to clear the haze of lust. I need to write down what just happened, and I would if I could move. But yet, I don’t think I could ever forget this moment. Not even if I was lobotomised.