Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
JOANNA
I’ve only been here for thirty seconds, and already all I want to do is jump Aidan in front of everyone.
He looks delectable in a brown sweater and black jeans.
I’ve never seen him wear jeans, but they make his ass look fantastic.
Only I’m not supposed to be thinking any of this, because of my damn decision to keep this thing between us a secret.
Why do relationships in this town have to be such a big deal? We’re all adults. We have needs. And my needs are itching to be met, seeing as I can’t stop staring at Aidan’s ass.
I say hi to Jamie and Layton, then escape to the kitchen without looking at Aidan again. As much as I’d like to feel proud, forcing him to look at my ass instead, my track pants don’t show off much, and I wish I’d worn leggings.
I’m caught in a Simone and Raegan sandwich before I’ve made it three steps into the kitchen.
“I’m so glad you were able to come!” Raegan squeals, hugging me tightly.
“Me too,” Simone agrees, pressing in on my other side. “I feel like I never get to hang out with you.”
“I barely get to hang out with her,” Raegan chimes in. “She’s like a shooting star.”
I snort. “A shooting star covered in animal feces.”
Simone’s nose scrunches as she pulls away. “Okay, I was totally romanticizing farm life until now. Thanks for bursting that bubble.”
Raegan shakes her head as she finally releases me. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I’ve worked at the rescue. It’s hard.”
“So that’s why you’re always busy?” Simone asks, pouring herself a drink. She eyes Raegan and they exchange a knowing look.
What the fuck is that about?
“It’s not so bad,” I tell them with a shrug. “I love spending time with the animals. It’s only hard when my mom’s not there.”
Raegan smacks her forehead. “Oh yeah! I forgot to ask about Mariska. How is she?”
“She’s glad to be home. My aunt is a nightmare.”
They both laugh but don’t make any further comments about it. Instead, Raegan changes the subject. “Sooo,” she starts, “how’s dating life? Did you find anyone interesting from the speed dating event?”
I realize I never told her how the event went from my perspective. This is the first she’s asked about any of the men, and I assumed she knew I considered the night a dud, despite that not being entirely true.
“Not really,” I say with a shrug. “One guy was nice enough, but we haven’t spoken since.”
Simone yelps as she takes my hand. “Why not?”
I pull my hand away and chew on my fingernail. “I dunno. I wasn’t interested.”
I see Raegan’s pout out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t face her. “I thought it went pretty well,” she says quietly.
I instantly feel guilty and give her a reassuring smile. “It did go well, Rae. It was great. I’m just not interested in dating right now.”
“Is it because of your schedule?” Simone asks pryingly.
This irks me. It shouldn’t matter why I don’t want to go on a date with some random man in town while I have too many, more important things to focus on. It’s my business, and I don’t want to talk about this anymore, so I use the only ammo I have to deflect the focus from me.
“What about you, Simone? Have you been seeing anyone lately? You and Casey looked awfully cozy the other day.”
Simone’s body freezes as her upper lip curls in a grimace. She doesn’t look me in the eye as she mumbles to Raegan that she’s going to step outside for some fresh air.
I know I’ve crossed a line. I had no right to spring that on her. I could be mistaken, and whatever I saw between them at the coffee shop could have been completely innocent, but by opening my mouth, I’ve now made Simone uncomfortable, and I’m scared she’ll never trust me again.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Raegan as I pinch the bridge of my nose roughly. “That was stupid. I just wanted the attention off me, and—”
“It’s fine,” she says, tone clipped. “I’ll talk to her.”
I head back into the living room, utterly modified. The first quarter of the game is already over, and the guys are talking about a new movie trailer that just dropped during the commercials.
Things are a little awkward when Raegan and Simone finally rejoin the group but leave it to the men to have no clue.
Eventually, the girls relax and start talking with the others.
Throughout all the chatter and laughter and the background noise of the television, I focus on Aidan.
He’s sitting apart from everyone else in one of those fancy velvet chairs—Simone took his favorite spot when his back was turned, but he never said a word—and even though he’s contributing to the conversation, he appears overwhelmed by it.
I’ve never taken Aidan to be a social butterfly, but I think he’s a bit shy.
I hadn’t noticed it before, but now that I know him better, I can’t stop seeing it.
He hovers in the background but watches everyone carefully. His eyes keep track of everything around him, preparing for any situation. I wonder if he’s always been this way, or if something happened to make him so on edge around this many people.
He catches my stare, but I look away quickly, only adding to my embarrassment.
I look back to find him still looking my way.
He cocks his head, when he sees my expression.
Either I’ve got a resting bitch face, or he can see my worry.
Aidan’s brows draw together, then he gets up casually, jerking his head for me to follow him down the hall.
Is he really that concerned about me?
I stand up and pretend like I’m going to the bathroom, and no one bats an eye. I have no clue where I’m going in the dark, and I’ve never been in this part of the house, so I reach out to feel along the wall.
Out of nowhere, a hand shoots out of the blackness and grabs my arm. I nearly shout, but another hand covers my mouth. I’m dragged backward until I am squished into what feels like thick winter jackets, then I hear the door clicking shut.
“You’re in a closet,” Aidan informs me in a low whisper. He’s right beside me, his breath fanning against my cheek.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I hiss.
He moves closer to me, his chest pressing firmly against my back. “You looked upset.”
It’s extremely cramped in here, and I have zero interest in talking about what just happened in the kitchen with Simone, so I focus on the jackets hanging behind me. They’re extremely soft. I absentmindedly stroke the sleeve closest to me with my fingers. “What’s this material?”
Aidan takes my hand in his, moving it away from the clothing, and spins me around to face him. I can barely make out the details of his face, but his frown lines are apparent even in the shadows. “What’s wrong?”
I scoff. “Did you seriously pull me away from everyone just to ask me that?” I try to adjust my eyes in the dark, but the only thing that comes into focus is Aidan’s concerned features. “And why a closet?”
His hand reaches up to cover his mouth as he strokes his chin thoughtfully. “I heard what you said…in the kitchen.”
My chest caves, and I clutch my stomach.
“I hate your stupid vampire hearing,” I murmur, but Aidan’s hands are already on my back, rubbing soothing circles. It’s too much, so I back away as much as I can.
He stands very still, allowing me to feel my feelings for another few seconds, then he reaches out to pinch my chin and lift my head. His gray eyes might be muted in the darkness, but they feel as if they’re staring into my soul. “Why do you hate talking about yourself so much?”
I’ve never been asked that question before, and I have no idea what to say. My fingers feel tingly as I scrape a hand through my hair. “I-I don’t…”
Instead of fumbling for the right answer, I crash my lips against his.
My kiss is nothing like Aidan’s—slow and methodical—I am frenzied and desperate as I suck his bottom lip between my teeth. His tongue sweeps out to meet mine, and I sigh with relief. He tastes like bourbon and something minty, and it feels like tiny fireworks popping on my tongue.
Aidan’s hand glides up my chest and rests against my throat—that same claiming gesture I’ve gotten used to. I happily allow it, knowing there’s no point denying that right now, in this closet with just the two of us, I am irrevocably his.
I feel him smile as he presses his cheek to mine, and his hand moves back down my body, over my stomach and down to the waistband of my pants. I drop my forehead to the base of his throat, muffling my heavy breaths in the fabric of his sweater as he teases the skin below my belly button.
“I want you to distract me,” I beg him in a breathy whisper.
“We don’t have much time,” he whispers back. But I don’t care. I take his hand and shove it under my panties.
Aidan groans, impossibly deep, and I hear him swallow. “You’re already wet.”
I squirm with anticipation, and he holds me still, pressing me as close as possible while leaving space for his hand to move freely.
I stifle a sigh, my core already tightening just from the lightest touch.
“You want me to make you feel good, hmm?” he murmurs against my jaw.
I nod my head. His tongue sweeps out to lick beneath my ear, then he pulls my lobe between his teeth.
“You want me to make you come so hard you forget about everything else? I can smell how much you want it, just like sweet strawberries. You’re making my mouth water. ”
“Mmmhmm,” I agree quietly. His finger is just sitting there against my clit, and I want him to press down so badly.
But he grabs my jaw lightly with his other hand and lifts my chin. “What’s that, ma douce?”
“Yes,” I say breathily. “Please make me come.”
Aidan lets out a deep, satisfied moan, then begins to circle around my clit.
My breath hitches as his finger glides so easily through my slick arousal.
Everything he does makes me so incredibly wet; I’ve never been this responsive to a man’s touch before.
But Aidan’s more than a man—he’s a century-old vampire.
Maybe that’s why he’s so good at what he does.
Or maybe, it’s just because we fit so well together.
He’s pulling me apart with just one finger, and I’m starting to think he could be the one to put me back together.
Just as Aidan slips inside me, I hear Jamie’s voice filter down the hallway, and we both freeze. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll be right there. I gotta take a leak.” A light appears beneath the doorway, and there’s a creak from another door opening and closing.
Aidan speaks so quietly against my ear I can hardly understand what he’s saying. “The bathroom is right across from us. Stay still.”
I do as he says, not daring to risk it as his hand holds me in place, the other still inside me.
To my surprise, he starts to move again.
If we were to get caught in such a precarious position, in a closet no less, there would be no way to explain it.
But I can’t say any of this to Aidan. I’m struck speechless by his ministrations, barely able to take a full breath, much less speak.
He’s holding me so carefully, like I’m precious, like he’s afraid he’ll break me.
He pulls out of me and presses firmly against my clit, circling and picking up speed.
He moves at just the right pace, with just the right amount of pressure, until I’m quivering against him.
I lean into him, and he supports my weight as I completely crumble.
We’re stuck like this for several seconds, but with the hard planes of Aidan’s body pressed against mine, it feels like hours.
He squeezes my waist lightly, and I have to stop myself from making a noise because it tickles.
There’s a flush and the sound of running water. The light appears again, only it remains on longer this time.
I’m holding my breath and squeezing my eyes shut, counting down the seconds until my life blows up in front of me. But nothing happens. The light goes out and heavy footsteps retreat down the hall.
I let out a massive sigh and every muscle in my body relaxes from relief. Aidan tangles his fingers in my hair.
“What the hell was he doing?” I ask, still shaky. “Fixing his hair?”
Aidan chuckles. “Probably.”
He cups the back of my head. He leans in close, pressing his nose to my throat and inhales. “You have the sweetest smell.” Then, he sucks the finger that was inside me into his mouth. “And taste.”
I shudder at Aidan’s erotic display. “We should go back out there,” I say between heavy breaths.
He sighs dramatically and gives my ass a squeeze. “Go on. I’ll hang back a minute.”
I’m suddenly hesitant to leave our bubble—I don’t want to pop it and ruin the moment—Aidan is already twisting the knob.
Before I’m able to slip away, he taps me on the shoulder. “Oh, and remind me to ask you about the vampire romance you’ve been reading. I’m very interested to know how I compare.”
My cheeks flame as I quietly slip back down the hall.
I step into the kitchen to get another snack as cover, all the while my brain is spinning a million miles a minute.
I know what a post-sex haze feels like, but this is different.
It’s not just my stomach that’s fluttering, but my chest. There’s a tug there that I can’t explain.
Something has changed between us, and I can’t help but think I’m going to get hurt because of it.