Thirty-Three

 

My skin tingling from Aidan's thorough ministrations in the hot water, I reluctantly dug out some clean clothes from my bag. I pulled on my knickers and I stretched my arms behind me to fasten my bra when I noticed Aidan standing in the open doorway, for I no longer saw any point in hiding from him as I dressed.

His appreciative smile widened when he knew I'd seen him. "Red," he said, gesturing at my matching underwear. "I like it."

I smiled. "Me, too," I admitted, holding up the similar-coloured shirt I planned to wear over my ruddy underwear.

Aidan reached for me as he took slow steps into the room. His hands cupped my breasts through the cloth. "You're irresistible in or on red satin, Bel," he murmured before he kissed me.

After some minutes, when all too soon we broke for breath, Aidan took the shirt from my hand. "You should put this on, or I won't be able to keep my hands off you." He helped me pull it over my head to cover my bra, before curling his hands around me again.

"Does it help?" I asked with a smile.

Aidan's expression wavered for a moment before he replied, "No. I know what's under your shirt and I can't stop thinking about them. I'll just have to try to restrain myself."

My laughter bubbled up and out, at the sheer determination in the man's expression. "It's all right," I said suddenly, realising as I stared at his shirt. "I'll be restraining myself from stroking your chest, too."

Both of us laughing now, Aidan folded me into a more-than-welcome hug.

"Ah, Bel," he whispered, touching his lips to my hair. "You should get some pants on so we can go, or we'll be here like this all day."

We exchanged a lengthy glance as we undoubtedly shared the thought that an all-day embrace was hardly undesirable.

"You'll really like the whiskeys and the food's good, too," Aidan said half-heartedly.

My stomach made its presence known with an obscene gurgle.

"Ah, don't let me be so selfish, keeping you from eating lunch when you're hungry. Here." He reached over and snagged my jeans from the bed. "Put these on and some shoes and we'll go."

Reluctantly, I pulled the jeans on and fastened them, slipping my feet into my shoes so I'd be ready.

I took a quick glance at my reflection and realised what I'd forgotten. "Wait. I just need to brush my hair."