Chapter 16Stella
Chapter Sixteen
Stella
The sweet scent of bougainvillea hung thick in the air, mingling with a fragrance that was pure Aiden. My fingers tightened in his hair as his mouth moved down my neck, each kiss igniting a blaze that raced over my skin. Over a decade of pent-up longing and desire surged through me as we tangled in the grass.
What will this mean for us in the long run?
I shoved the thought away. Right now, all I cared about was the feel of his hands sliding under my top, the rasp of his stubble against my collarbone.
“I’ve dreamed about this,” Aiden murmured, his voice rough. “About touching you again. I’ve missed you so much, Stel.”
Heat flooded my veins at his words. I arched into him, craving more, and he groaned. His hands slid higher to cup my breasts under my bra, his thumbs teasing the tight peaks. I gasped, desire swirling hot and fast inside me. The garden was shadowed and silent, but that didn’t stop the thrill of anticipation at possibly being caught. Everything felt more intense, more desperate.
As if we were making up for all the lost time we’d been apart.
Aiden lifted his head, eyes dark and half-lidded. “Tell me you want this as much as I do.”
“More,” I said, my voice catching. “I want you, Aiden. I never stopped wanting you.”
A smile curved his lips. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go again.”
His mouth claimed mine in a kiss that obliterated thought, that spoke of possession and promise. And as his hands continued their intimate exploration, I gave myself up to the pleasure. Expectant… Anticipating… because this time we weren’t fumbling novices. Aiden broke the kiss, nudging my chin up to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down my throat. I shuddered, desire pooling low in my belly as he tore off my shirt and bra.
“Tell me what you want.” His breath was deliciously warm against my skin. “Anything, Stella. It’s yours.”
I sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers found my breast again, pinching lightly. “You. I want you inside me.”
He groaned, the sound vibrating against my neck. “Not yet. I want to taste you first.”
My cheeks heated at his words, but the throb between my legs intensified. “Here?” I asked, glancing around the shadowed garden. “What if someone sees us?”
“The risk makes it hotter.” Aiden nipped at my collarbone, then soothed the sting with his tongue. “But if you’re not comfortable…”
I shook my head, desire overruling caution. A low laugh tumbled out of my mouth that made him shudder. “I don’t want comfort. I want you. All of you.”
Another smile, this one wolfish. “Your wish is my… desire.”
Aiden kissed his way down my body, fingers deftly unbuttoning my shorts. He started by tracing the edges with his fingers before slowly sliding both shorts and panties down my legs. He took his time, savoring each inch of exposed skin he revealed. Once they were discarded, he gently nudged my knees apart, opening me to his gaze .
His eyes held mine as he lowered himself to my thighs. His warm breath fanned over the sensitive skin there, causing shivers to ripple through me. Then, ever so slowly, his mouth descended. The first press of his lips was soft and teasing against the inside of my thigh, making me squirm.
His mouth, warm and teasing, continued its tantalizing journey upward. Each kiss left a trail of fire on my skin that seemed to echo long after his mouth moved on. He stopped just shy of where I yearned for him most, a playful smirk pulling at his lips.
With a shift in position, he retraced the delicious path down my thigh before embarking on the same slow expedition up the other one. His mouth and tongue worked together, and the tension within me spiraled, every nerve ending screaming for his touch where I craved it most.
Shivers rippled through me as I waited breathlessly for him to reach that pinnacle, each second feeling like an eternity. My heart pounded in rhythm with the rising tide of desire pooling within me.
And then finally, after what felt like an eternity of exquisite torture, he gave me what I wanted. The first stroke of his tongue had me gasping out loud, fingers threading into his hair as pleasure surged through me.
“You’re so ready,” he said, voice rough with desire. “You taste like heaven, Stella.”
I could only moan in response, lost in the slick glide of his mouth. He knew exactly how to unravel me and drive me wild. As if we’d never been apart. The coil of heat in my belly tightened with each flick of his tongue. I rocked against his mouth, chasing the bliss hovering just out of reach.
“Please,” I gasped, fingers tightening in his hair. “Aiden, I need…”
He pressed his tongue harder, faster, and I shattered with a cry.
I lay trembling in the aftermath as he kissed his way back up my body.
“You’re even more beautiful than I remembered.”
I smiled up at him, brushing my fingers over the sharp angle of his jaw. Time had carved faint lines around his eyes and mouth, but he was still the boy I’d fallen for at seventeen—kind-hearted, playful, passionate. “You’re so different… yet the same.”
Without warning, I pushed both hands against his chest, rolling him onto his back. Lifting his shirt, he ripped it off. Unable to resist, I raked my hands down his chest, his abdomen, and shot him a smoldering stare at the hiss that issued from his lips. Then, straddling him, I unbuttoned and unzipped his shorts. “It’s my turn now.”
His eyes darkened with need as I slowly pulled his length free from his shorts. It was hard and throbbing, a testament to his desire for me. I wrapped my fingers around his shaft, stroking gently, savoring the feel of him in my hand. Shimmying farther down, I ran my tongue along the length. Aiden groaned, his hips bucking slightly. I smiled around him, loving the power I held in this moment. Then I lowered my mouth onto him, taking him in deep.
His hands threaded through my hair, holding me close as I sucked and licked, exploring every inch of him. In response, he grew harder still. His groans filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of bougainvillea and the heat of our passion. I could feel him getting ready to climax, a certain tension building within him. With a deep breath, I pulled away, moving up his body until our lips met in a kiss.
Pushing both hands against my shoulders, he rolled me over as he stretched out over me. He kissed me, deep and claiming, and the hard length of him pressed against my hip. I reached down to stroke him, enjoying his indrawn breath.
“Inside me,” I said, urgency lacing my tone. “Now, Aiden.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. In moments, he grabbed his shorts and wallet, then rolled on a condom.
He plunged into me with a forceful thrust, causing a sharp gasp to escape my lips. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer as we moved in sync. We moaned in unison, a perfect harmony of pleasure and completion. He filled me so perfectly. I clutched at his back, nails scoring lightly down his skin as he began to move .
“You feel so good,” he groaned, bracing his hands on either side of my head. “So right, like you were made for me.”
“I was,” I said, lifting my hips to meet his increasingly rapid thrusts.
His body was rock-hard against mine, pulsing with every thrust. As we moved harder and faster, his gaze never left mine, the intensity in his eyes reflecting the depth of his desire.
Until Aiden’s lips crushed against mine with a fierce hunger, his tongue plunging deep into my mouth. My body trembled beneath his relentless pace, each thrust sending shockwaves coursing through me. I clawed at his back, arching up to meet him.
With every breathless moan, we reached new heights. He ravished my mouth in a searing kiss, muffling my cries as I shattered again around him. A few more strokes and he followed, burying his face against my neck with a hoarse shout.
For long moments, we lay there in a tangle of limbs, hearts pounding in time. I stroked his back as he caught his breath, a bone-deep contentment settling through me.
Aiden lifted his head, staring down at me as he brushed a lock of hair from my face. “I don’t want this night to end. When I’m with you, it’s like the rest of the world fades away.”
“I know what you mean.” I traced the lines of his face, rough with stubble. “It feels like we’re the only two people left, and nothing else matters but right now.”
“Because it’s true.”
I brushed a kiss over his jaw. “Now we have a second chance. Let’s not waste it.”
“Never.” He kissed me softly, sweetly—a promise and an apology all at once. “I’m here to stay this time.”
“Good.” I smiled up at him, filled with giddy joy.
The moon hung like a silver sickle in the black sky, its light painting us in ethereal hues as we lay entwined in the fragrant grass. And reminding me of how late it was. The air had cooled, and a gentle breeze whispered over our skin, raising goose bumps in its wake.
“Stay,” I murmured. I wasn’t just feeling the need for warmth—I needed him. “Spend the night with me.”
Relaxing, Aiden pulled me closer. His lips brushed my forehead in silent assent, and something within me unfurled—a hope I hadn’t realized I’d been holding onto so tightly.
“I’d love to,” he murmured back, his breath warm against my skin. “I’m not ready to end this night.”
We stood up, brushing off blades of grass that clung to our clothes. After quickly redressing, we made our way through the veil of darkness that shrouded the path to the Big House. Each step felt like a secret dance, our shadows melding together, and a ripple of excitement surged through me.
The old wooden door creaked softly as we slipped inside and closed it gently behind us. My heart raced, not from fear of being caught, but from the thrill of sharing the forbidden with him once more. We couldn’t help but exchange amused glances, feeling like teenagers sneaking past curfew. Our ascent up the staircase was a careful ballet, avoiding the familiar creaky steps that would betray our presence. Aiden laughed quietly, a sound that was free and uninhibited.
“Quiet,” I whispered, grinning as I led him through the dimly lit hallway to my bedroom door. “For God’s sake, don’t wake Nona!”
After entering, my door clicked shut behind us, sealing us away from the world, from the past, and from all the complex threads of life that waited beyond. Our silly mirth died as we stared at each other. Here, it was just Stella and Aiden—no expectations, no judgments. Just two hearts seeking solace in the quiet storm. His gaze became hot and intense, igniting a spark that hadn’t truly died down.
My bedroom, steeped in moonlight, cast a serene glow over the soft contours of my sanctuary. A display of my favorite orchids stood near the balcony door to catch the light. The gentle splash of waves against the bluff whispered through an open window, a steady rhythm that mirrored the beating of my heart. Aiden’s presence, both reassuring and exhilarating, sent anticipation rolling through me as we stood mere breaths apart.
“Stella.” His voice was a low rumble that resonated within the walls of my chest. His hands reached for the hem of my shirt, fingertips grazing my skin with deliberate tenderness. I lifted my arms, allowing him to peel the fabric away.
“I still can’t believe you’re here. You’re so hot,” I breathed the words, tracing the planes of his athletic form before making quick work of his shirt. It fell to the floor, joining mine in a pool. Our breaths hitched in unison, a sign of that magnetic pull between us.
We navigated the remaining barriers of our clothing with an impatient pace, each layer discarded. Naked and unguarded, we climbed into my bed. Lying side by side, our bodies became a landscape of rediscovery.
“God, I’ve missed this,” Aiden murmured, his blue eyes reflecting the moon. Each touch was a discovery, a homecoming that whispered promises of shelter in each other’s arms.
“Me too.” My fingers tangled in the dark blond strands at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer until our lips met.
Aiden’s mouth journeyed from my lips to the hollow of my throat, eliciting moans that danced once again on the edge of restraint. He breathed against my skin. “I want to remember every inch of you, memorize how you feel, how you taste…”
“Then don’t stop,” I arched into his touch as we fell together once more.