Chapter 18
18
Lis
I can’t let this one stupid class set me back a whole semester. I’ve worked so hard and for far too long.
Last night, Jenna told me not to worry about my shifts for the rest of the week. She grabbed cash from the register and tried to give me a “summer bonus” to offset my lost income, but I tucked it back in the drawer with a quickly scribbled Thank You before I left for the night.
Aidan kept me company for most of the evening, talking between customers, sharing his dinner with me and trying to ease my worries over this class. I’ve got to make this work—got to pass this and then the next one in the series next month.
I used to love summer classes—being able to concentrate on one class at a time, immerse myself in the material and just get it done. In theory, it’s great, but I may have to just suck it up and push off graduation.
I set my coffee on the corner of my desk making sure to pack away my notes and the review packet for Friday’s test.
Aidan told Francie he needed the next couple of days off to help me study. Francie even pulled both Jimmy and Finn into work making sure the guys’ apartment is quiet and I can concentrate.
The sun beats down on my shoulders replacing the chill from the classroom as I walk out to my car. I grabbed everything I need to spend the next several hours shoving as much information into my brain as I can. Aidan is really sweet offering to help me, but I fully expect him to get bored after a while. This way, I can go straight to the library or coffee shop and keep studying when he’s had enough.
I pull up to his loft with my coffee refilled and the hot wind whipping through the car windows. After parking, I wrap my hair up in a messy bun high on the back of my head, and swap my sunglasses for real ones.
As I lean in the passenger side to grab my bag and coffee cup, my skin tingles and I feel his gaze on me. I should have taken the time to tie my hair back before the wind on the drive over made it such a mess. Should have put more effort into how I look. I’m here to study. That’s all.
Straightening up, I reach to pull my bag higher on my shoulder but feel the weight lifted from me—literally and figuratively.
“Let me take that.” Aidan grabs my leather tote bag and closes the car door. I’m backed up against the hot metal and pinned in place by him. “You ready to learn my body?”
“Wh-what?” The tingles I felt moments ago turn into a full riot of chills along my arms and neck.
“I figure you’ll have to map the terms you’re learnin’, yeah?” What is he doing to me? “It’s anatomy we’re studying?” I can barely manage a nod. “I’ll let you use me anyway you need in order to get your grades. I’m at your mercy.”
Holy hell.
Aidan steps back with that smirk on his face, the one that says he knows he’s got my heart racing. He pulls me toward the steps and guides me inside.
My brain finally kicks into gear and I stop short. “You know I’m here to study, right? For a test?”
His low chuckle goes right through to my core. “Of course, love. Whatever you need.” He drops my bag on the small table in the kitchen and grabs some sandwiches out of the fridge. “I thought you might like some lunch before we start, but we can get straight to it if you prefer.”
Is he talking about studying or did he think this was going in a different direction? I’m so confused right now.
“I…” I’m not opposed to the idea of sleeping with Aidan—feeling more of what he gave me in the darkroom. I’ve thought about it a lot. A lot. “…Aidan, I have to study. I…” I’ve avoided his eyes through this whole exchange and need to take a deep breath before I chance it. Releasing it slowly, I lift my eyes to find him laughing at me?
“Lisbeth, I promised to help you study. Relax, eat and we’ll make the flashcards and get your terms memorized.’’
“You’re a shit,” I huff out at him as he chuckles at me and grabs us a couple glasses of water. “It’s just…this is really important and I…I…” I couldn’t tell if he was serious, if he wants me, or just that .
But I can’t say it. My heart squeezes a little at the thought of a relationship, of taking this further. I’m petrified of being cast aside.
Again.
“Lisbeth, stop. I’m sorry if I crossed a line.” All joking is gone, his expression soft.
I hand him a stack of flashcards I made early this morning before class and he patiently quizzes me for the next several hours, but I can’t help thinking about it. That line .
Eventually, we stop and grab some dinner close by. I need a break—out of his apartment. I’m starting to make mistakes and getting answers wrong.
After burgers and a couple beers we walk slowly back to Aidan’s loft. The fresh air caressing my skin as it clears the fuzz from my brain. Since he’s been quizzing me on muscle groups, I run through them as he trails the back of his fingers down my arm— trapezius-spine of scapula-deltoid-brachialis-brachioradialis-flexor retinaculum.
“Good on you.” He’s got that spot on my wrist again, rubbing soft circles with his thumb.
“Did I say those out loud?”
“You did, and you got them all perfect. I think the flexor retinaculum is one of my favorite spots on you.” He raises my hand and places a sweet kiss on the inside of my wrist.
We make our way up the stairs to the door. Aidan unlocks it, but holds me there—pressing his front into my back. His hand slides across my belly, pulling me tight to him, his lips skating across the back of my neck. “Though, I’m fond of this spot as well.”
My skin tightens with anticipation and desire. I’ve spent every one of the nights since the darkroom thinking about this. I was surprised, and kind of disappointed, that it seemed like a onetime thing. Aidan hadn’t made any further attempts; didn’t try at all.
We spent time together, but maybe we were always around other people. Gracyn at our place, Finn or Jimmy here.
“Let’s go study, love. We’ve a lot left to cover.”
And just like that, I’m back to confused and frustrated. Which has me answering questions wrong again and getting pissed.
“I think I’m getting dumber.”
We’re on the couch with the fucking flash cards and I can’t seem to get anything correct. The flash of his camera snaps my attention from my puddle of self-doubt.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting creative with your studies. The curve of your trapezius wrapping ’round to your collarbone is gorgeous.” Turning the camera, he shows me the image.
Captured in black and white, is my pale neck, exposed and open to him by the tilt of my head and the strap of my tank that’s slipped down my arm.
“Maybe I should be taking pictures of you.” His lips are right there when I turn my head. Right fucking there.
“Maybe you should use me like I offered earlier. Practical applications, yeah?” He’s so close. And not smiling anymore. Heat and desire are flushing my chest and burning through me.
He leans forward placing his camera on the coffee table and I run my nail down the exposed muscles in his arm. He stills sucking in a breath.
Grabbing at something from the table, Aidan straightens and pierces me with his dark gaze. “Take this,” he rasps as he hands me a pen and reaches behind his head. He pulls his shirt off, leaning back into the arm of the couch. “Mark me. Label the muscles.” His voice is low and husky.
I shift closer. This is such a good idea—and such a bad one.
The pen cap pops as I pull it free. He’s laid out for me, his breathing slow and deep. His eyes flash darkly from the pen in my hand to my eyes, to my lips. I know I’m biting the bottom one, trying so hard not to shake as I move the tip of the pen to the skin at the base of his neck. He’s not a bulky gym rat, but he is well defined. Really well defined. He holds his breath as I drag the pen across his skin outlining the muscles of his chest. Holy shit . His nipples harden and his skin pebbles up.
“Lisbeth,” my name rasps across his lips, “name them. Now.”
Barely making contact, I feather my fingertips across his skin, naming each of the muscles, circling his nipple, scraping the skin there with my nails.
Heaving out a harsh breath, he grabs my wrist. Neither of us move. We’re stuck here, searching, deciding, reading each other. I know he can feel my pulse is racing. With my hand held firmly in his grasp, he sits up and pulls me closer.
“Lisbeth.” He breathes my name across my lips.
I full-on shiver as he pulls me so I’m straddling him.
With one hand wrapped around my wrist and the other on my hip, Aidan shifts me closer still. All thoughts I’d had that he didn’t want me fly away as he moves his hips again, grinding his cock against me.
Finally— finally —our lips connect, his tongue sweeping along my bottom one. Pushing his way in, he licks my top lip and deepens the kiss, exploring me, devouring me. Ripping my breath away. He places my hands around his neck and grabs me by the backs of my thighs, standing like it’s no effort at all.
His lips never leave mine as he carries me up the stairs to his loft bedroom.
Turning, he sits on the bed, pulling me with him. He slides his hands up my sides, taking my shirt with them, pushing my arms over my head as he launches my tank to the floor. His hands land on my hips and squeeze—just a little—before trailing heat back up my sides to my breasts. They tighten and tingle as his thumbs caress the sides driving me crazy with need before his fingers trail up, pulling the straps of my bra down my arms—pinning them to my sides. Not really trapped, but Aidan stops, holding me there.
“Lisbeth? This okay?” My name rasping across his lips steals my breath away.
All I can do is nod, my fingers tremble as they seek out his plump lower lip. I want this. I’m scared, but I want this.
Reaching behind me, Aidan unhooks my bra and adds it to my tank on the floor. He leans in, whispering, “Gorgeous,” against my skin. I barely catch the word as he kisses across my breast—licking, scraping his teeth along my skin—pebbling my nipples to hard almost painful peaks. Twining my hands in his silky black hair, I gasp at the scrape of his stubble on my sensitive skin.
He pulls back checking my eyes. Okay with what he sees, he slides his hands around to unbutton my shorts, his fingertips trailing along the top of my panties.
I’m surprised, shocked, when he pushes me off him, my feet landing on the floor. I barely keep my balance as I reach for the button, certain he’s changed his mind. Pushing my hands away, he hooks his inside the waistband of my shorts.
“Do you want me to stop? ’Cause I don’t want to, not in the least,” he rasps as he presses open-mouthed kisses from one hip to the other.
“Don’t.” I squirm, his kisses tickle as they fuel the need and desire coursing through me. He starts to pull away. “No, Aidan. Don’t stop.” The words come out on a breath, and I press my hands to his shoulders.
His thumbs dig into the waist of my panties, shoving them and my shorts over my hips until they fall to the floor. Pulling me with him, he moves back to the middle of his bed. His lips gliding up my torso to the underside of my boobs.
I feel exposed as he lies back, his gaze taking in all of me before he meets my eyes again.
“Lisbeth, this is all you. This goes at your pace, love. As fast or slow as you want—or stop when you say.”
My heart skips a beat. He knows me and how much this means to me. He has been so considerate of me. Telling me I have control, when I know deep inside who’s really in charge—and that’s okay with me.
I drag my fingers down his torso and reach between us. Popping the button on his shorts, the zipper spreading wide, I run a fingertip along his boxer briefs, circling the dot of moisture at the tip of his cock. He’s hard—really fucking hard.
Gasping, I fall forward as he bucks his hips, my hands landing hard on his chest. He shoves his shorts and briefs down, his cock exposed. Thumbs press in at my knees, spreading them wider before sliding up the inside of my thighs.
Once again, he pauses silently asking permission—waiting for the dip of my chin before touching me. He slides his thumb from my opening to my peak, spreading my arousal. Circling my clit changing the pressure as he does, bringing me right to the edge. Heart racing, my eyes wide.
He stretches to the side, grabbing a condom from the drawer next to his bed, ripping the package open with his teeth. I whimper when he takes his hand away from me to roll it down his length. The whimper turns to a gasp as he grabs my hips and slides me back and forth over the hard length of his dick. He had me so close before, it takes nothing to set me on edge again.
Aidan relaxes his grip on my hips, giving control back over to me. Letting me make the next move.
Leaning forward, I lift my hips and reach between us, positioning his cock and sliding slowly down his length. I rest my hands heavily on his chest, his wrap around my hips—fingers pressing into my flesh—supporting me, holding me.
His jaw clenches, muscles ticking. Neither of us move, savoring the moment, allowing us both to adjust. Holy shit . I release a trembling breath through pursed lips, closing my eyes and feeling all of him.
“Look at me, Lisbeth. Open your eyes—I need to see you.”
He holds himself back until my eyes, soft and glassy, drift open to meet his heated gaze. Only then, when he’s got that contact, does he start to move—sliding out and thrusting in, the drag of his cock pushes me again. Pushes me back to the edge I’ve already been on too many times. It takes nothing for me to get close—close, but not quite.
He whispers, murmurs, tells me he’s got me. “That’s it, love. Let go…” I’m so close. I can feel my pussy grip him—tightening, squeezing his cock. I just can’t quite get there. I don’t know what to do, how to move, how to make this happen.
“Help me, Aidan. I…can’t…please…” My heart slams in my chest, on the edge of exploding
He pulls me down to him—chest to chest—moving me, taking the control he had the whole time. The change is all that I need—the change gives me the pressure, the friction I need.
To. Come. Undone.