“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Calvin says. He leans a hip against the bar where I’m standing and looks out at his wife.
Millie does look gorgeous, but in my eyes, she doesn’t hold a candle to Lizzie, who is twirling around the dance floor with my cousin’s little girl. They’re dancing and laughing, and when Lizzie spins her around, the little girl laughs, and my heart constricts.
“She’s breathtaking.”
“I have a feeling you aren’t talking about my wife.”
I smile and look at Calvin. “Millie looks beautiful, too.”
Calvin grins and shakes his head. “It’s about damn time.” He pulls me in for a hug and slaps my back a few times before pulling away. “I’m happy for you, brother. You couldn’t have picked a better woman. How does it feel to finally be taken?”
“Amazing and terrifying.” I rub a hand on my jaw. “What if I lose her?”
“You won’t,” he says with an air of confidence that I wish I had.
“How do you know?”
“Because your feelings for her are real. When it’s real, it’s different—sacred. You’ll hold onto her as tightly as I’ll hold onto my wife.”
“Wife.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe you’re married.”
“Tell me about it.” He laughs and dips his hands into the pockets of his suit. “One day, we were running around the yard, playing basketball and fighting over who would get the red popsicle, and the next, we’re here, staring at the women we love, wondering what we did to get so damn lucky.”
The fast song ends, and when one of my other cousins asks Lizzie to dance, she smiles and takes the offer. Blake is sixteen and has nothing but stars in his eyes as he twirls my girl around the dance floor, and I can’t even blame him. She’s beautiful in her light pink dress, her hair done up, and those glossy lips.
Lips that I can’t wait to kiss.
“What are you two doing over here?” Dad takes a spot on the other side of me and grabs a champagne flute off the tray of a waiter passing by.
“Aiden here is going to spend the evening ogling his new girlfriend.” Calvin cuffs my arm and looks at Dad. “And I’m going to ask my beautiful wife to dance.”
Dad smiles proudly as Calvin steps onto the dance floor and pulls Millie into his arms. When his eyes turn to me, his smile only grows. “Girlfriend, huh? I thought I saw you and Lizzie getting a little cozier than usual.”
“It’s new.”
“How new?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to blow him off. I’ve never been one to talk to my parents about my feelings. It’s not that I couldn’t; they were always there for me, but I’ve never wanted to. I’ve always been private, keeping most things to myself except when it comes to Lizzie and Calvin. Those two have always had an open-access pass.
“I’ve loved her for a while.”
Dad smiles and nods as he takes a drink. “Your mother and I always hoped you’d end up with Lizzie.”
I laugh, finish my beer, and set it on the bar. “Mom probably creamed her pants when she found out Lizzie was my date to the wedding.”
“Aiden,” Dad chides. He shakes his head and tries not to smile. “Why do you have to be so crass?”
“It’s the truth. She hates my profession. It about killed her when I didn’t accept the scholarship to her alma mater.”
Dad stands up and tilts his head. His brows are pulled tight, but not in anger. “Is that really what you think, that your mother isn’t proud of you? That she hates your profession?”
Something uncomfortable pulls at the center of my chest, making it difficult to respond.
“Your mother loves you.”
“I know that.”
Dad shakes his head and rests a hand on my shoulder. “Since the second you learned to crawl, you haven’t needed us. It didn’t bother me so much because I was proud that you found your independence at such a young age, but it was hard on your mom.”
“How so?”
“Because you were her youngest—her baby—and you didn’t need her for anything. You never asked her to tuck you in at night, and oftentimes, you’d play so hard that you’d fall asleep without telling us goodnight or saying I love you. Calvin was always showering her with kisses, asking for her help, wanting her around. But not you. You had everything under control, and that was hard on her. It got even worse as you got older. You didn’t ask for help picking out colleges or filling out applications, you just did it. You knew what you wanted, and you went for it.”
“Because I knew if I told Mom what I wanted to do, she’d try and talk me out of it.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Dad shrugs. “But we’ll never know because you didn’t give either of us a chance. Despite what you might think, your mother loves your creativity, and she’s damn proud that you’ve found success doing something you love.”
“Then why did she always try to talk to me about being a lawyer or a doctor or an accountant like Calvin?”
“All Mom ever wanted is for you boys to get a good education and a steady job so that you could support yourself.”
“You sure about that?”
“Positive. And if you’d get rid of the chip on your shoulder and not act so damn defensive when you’re around her, you might realize that all she really wants is to be an active part of your life.”
That’s not how I’ve been with my mom, is it? I think back to all the times I blew her off when she wanted to talk about the future, all the times I rushed phone calls or canceled lunch dates. My eyes dart across the room. Mom is standing in the corner, watching everyone dance, and for the life of me, I can’t remember why I treated her that way.
I had a great childhood. Even though I never asked her to come to any of my stuff, she was always there. Pouring rain, sunshine, or snow, she was at every soccer, basketball, and baseball game. She never missed a Christmas play, band concert, or class party. She was always the parent volunteering to bring in snacks or drinks, and I didn’t realize until now how lucky I was, how good I had it.
My heart constricts as memories flood in.
In the third grade, I fell and busted my head open and had to get stitches. I was sitting in the emergency room, and Mom tried to hold my hand, but I pulled away.
“I’m tough,” I said.
“I know you are.” She backed away and sat in the corner, wringing her hands together as my head was closed up.
In ninth grade, she asked me if I liked any girls or if I had a girlfriend. I rolled my eyes. “Mom,” I scoffed.
“You can talk to me about anything, Aiden. Even girls.”
“I’m not talking to you about girls. Ever.”
“Calvin does.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not Calvin.”
I cringe remembering how harsh I was, and I have no idea why. I wasn’t a bad kid growing up—I rarely got in trouble—but Dad is right, I had a chip on my shoulder. I was an independent kid, an angry teen, and a wild young adult. Now, it’s time I mend some fences that I inadvertently broke.
“Excuse me,” I say to Dad.
He nods and claps my back as I stride across the dance floor. One slow song rolls into the next, and when I stop in front of my mom and hold out my hand, her eyes widen.
“May I have this dance?”
She blinks as though she can hardly believe what’s happening, and eventually nods. “Sure. I mean, yes. Yes, I would love to dance with you.”
Lizzie catches my eye and winks when I lead my mom to the dance floor. Mom keeps a good foot between us and rests her hand stiffly on my shoulder as though she’s scared to touch me. I cup her free hand in mine, but it too is stiff and cold.
I did this. I slowly created this rift over several years without even realizing it.
“The wedding was beautiful, wasn’t it?” Mom says, looking around, her eyes landing on everyone in the room except me.
“Thanks to you.”
She startles and looks at me. “I didn’t do much.”
“That’s not what Calvin told me. He said you helped them plan most of it—you even drove two hours to pick up some decorations that Millie had to have.”
“That’s what moms are for.”
“Maybe someday you’ll help me plan my wedding,” I blurt.
Mom blinks. A smile starts to form on her lips, but never really makes it. Her eyes dart to Lizzie, and I know there are probably a million questions she wants to ask, but she keeps it bottled up inside.
“Lizzie and I are dating.”
“You are?” That almost-smile is back again, this time, it stands strong, but I still want more.
“Yup. I finally pulled my head out of my ass and realized what was staring me right in the face all these years.”
“I’m happy for you,” she says, not asking a single question. Damn, she’s a tough nut to crack.
“She made me work for it, but I wore her down.”
“I wouldn’t expect anything less of our girl.”
Our girl. Now, we’re getting somewhere. “You approve?”
Her brown eyes study mine. “Of course, I do. Lizzie is wonderful and absolutely perfect for you. How did…?” Mom’s words trail off, and then she shakes her head. “Never mind.”
“No, ask me. Please.”
“Okay. How did her parents take the news?”
“Christine was happy. Marcus threatened to bury me in the back yard.”
Mom barks out a laugh. “That sounds like Marcus. But he’d have to get through me first.”
“Yeah?”
Mom looks at me, a sheen of moisture in her eyes as she nods.
“I’m sorry for how I’ve treated you over the years. I love you, Mom.” I stop dancing and pull her in for a tight hug. We probably look weird standing in the middle of the dance floor hugging, but this hug is way overdue, and I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks.
No words are spoken, Mom simply wraps me in her warm embrace and cries through the rest of one song and halfway into the next. Eventually, she pulls back and wipes a hand under her eyes.
“Great, now I probably look like a mess.”
“You look beautiful. I’m sorry it took me so long to apologize for the way I’ve acted over the years. I was stubborn, and you didn’t deserve my attitude. I’m sorry I never really let you in.”
Mom shakes her head. “You don’t have to apologize. It’s my fault.” She drags in a shaky breath and then blows it out. “After you were born, I suffered from post-partum depression. I didn’t have that with Calvin, so I didn’t really know what to expect. It hit me hard. The first few weeks of your life, I felt so disconnected. I cried all the time. The doctors told me it was just the hormones and that it would go away in a few weeks. And it did…it went away, but I felt like the damage had already been done. I felt like I’d missed such a crucial time in the beginning of your life to really build a bond.”
She starts to cry again, so I pull her back to me. “It’s not your fault. How about we forgive each other for our shortcomings and try to move on?”
“I’d really like that.” Mom sniffs and looks up at me. “I just want you to be happy, Aiden.”
“I am happy, and I’d be even happier if you and Dad would have dinner with Lizzie and me tomorrow.”
“Really?”
Christ, when is the last time I’ve asked my mother to do anything with me? For the life of me, I can’t come up with an answer.
“Please.”
Her eyes soften. “We would love to. I’m watching Louie while your brother and Millie are on their honeymoon, but he’ll be fine for a few hours.”
“Great.”
“And maybe then, you can tell me all about this new video game you’re designing. I hear it’s going to be quite the hit.”
“Calvin told you about that?”
She shakes her head. “There was an article in this month’s issue of Wired.”
Holy shit. “That’s a gaming magazine.”
Mom smiles. “I know. I subscribe to it.”
“But…why?”
“Because it’s what you love.”
“I thought you hated my profession.”
Mom shakes her head. “Never. I just didn’t know much about it. Anytime I tried to talk to you about it, you blew me off. I didn’t know if you were getting into a job that made almost nothing, and you’d end up living in my basement, or if you’d make millions.”
“Not millions, but definitely six figures.”
“I’m proud of you, Aiden.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too.” This time, Mom doesn’t hesitate to pull me into her arms.
“Can I cut in?”
Mom and I look up at Dad. He’s smiling warmly at his wife, and I take a step back. “Dinner tomorrow,” I remind her.
“We wouldn’t miss it.” Her eyes leave mine when Dad twirls her around the floor. The warmth of her laughter filters through me as I watch them dance.
“Is everything okay with your mom?” Lizzie says, wrapping her arms around me from behind. She rests her head against my back, and I lay my hands over hers.
“Everything is great. They’re coming over for dinner tomorrow night. I told Mom you’d make a five-course meal.”
“What?” Lizzie screeches. I turn and laugh at the look of horror on her face. “Aiden, I can barely make mac-n-cheese.”
“I’m joking. We’ll order in.”
She slaps my arm and tries to walk away, but I don’t let her. “Dance with me,” I say, pulling her into my arms.
“But this is a fast song.”
“Does it look like I care?”
Lizzie kisses my cheek. “I think your cousin, Blake, is in love with me.”
“I know he is. It was sweet of you to dance with him.”
“He’s a good kid. One of these days, he’ll be a heartbreaker like you.”
“I’ll never break your heart.” My grip on her tightens when I realize that I’ve already broken her heart. “Not again, at least.”
“I know you won’t.” Lizzie nuzzles against me and runs her hands up and down my back. “Have I told you yet how hot you look in this suit?”
“Only thirty times. But you can say it again.”
“You look hot in this suit. I can’t wait to strip you out of it.”
I growl, pick her up, and twirl her around. She laughs. It’s the sweetest sound in the world, one that I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. “You look gorgeous today, too, sweetheart.”
“This old thing?” Lizzie holds the skirt of her dress out and watches it flair as she spins in a circle.
I grin down at her, enjoying the way she looks at me—like I’m the only man in the room. “Can we finish making our rounds so we can go home?” she asks.
“In a hurry, Ms. Donovan?” I whisper against her soft, pink lips.
“Only a little.”
Lizzie
“I didn’t think that reception was ever going to end,” Aiden says, all but dragging me down the hall. “Your place, or mine?”
I have to practically run to keep up with Aiden’s long strides down the hall. I laugh breathlessly. “Yours. I share a bedroom wall with Edna.”
“Good call.” He unlocks his door, pushes it open, and I don’t know who reaches for whom first, just that we’re in each other’s arms, reaching, grabbing, tugging at each other’s clothes.
His suit jacket is gone, followed by his tie, and when I grab the front of his shirt and rip it open, we gasp. Buttons fly across the room.
“Oh my gosh.” I cover my face and try not to laugh. “I’m so sorry, I got carried away. I hope you don’t—”
Aiden shuts me up with a kiss. His low growl pushes me from amused to level ten turned on. “Hottest thing you’ve ever done.”
“Even hotter than giving you head?”
“I take it back. Second hottest.” He scoops me into his arms. When we get to his room, he lowers me to my feet. “Turn around.”
I do as he asks, gathering my hair in my hand in the process, exposing my neck. I look at him over my shoulder as he slowly lowers the zipper. Goosebumps skitter up my back at his light touch.
“I thought you were going to rip it off.”
“Another time,” he promises, sweeping his hands up my spine. Aiden places a kiss to the nape of my neck and along my shoulder, pulling the straps of my dress down as he goes. The material falls to my waist, exposing my breasts to the cool air. My nipples tighten. “You’re a gift…my gift. I want to take my time with you.”
My bones turn to mush, making it hard to stand. But that’s okay because Aiden has me. He has me in his arms, cradled against his big body as he lowers me to the bed, and we shut out the rest of the world.
The only light comes from the moon casting a glow through an open window. It’s not much, but enough to see.
I blink and reach for Aiden when he suddenly disappears. Pushing onto my elbows, I watch him crawl off the bed and shuck his pants along with his boxers. A second later, he’s crawling up the bed, his warm body pressing me into the mattress.
I glide my arms up and around his neck. Aiden palms my thigh, guiding it to his hip, allowing his body to fit snugly against mine. His erection is warm, hard, and throbbing against my core. I lift my pelvis, letting him know I’m ready, but Aiden has other plans.
He cradles the back of my head, his brown eyes dark with passion as he stares down at me. “You’re absolutely stunning.”
“Aiden.” I lift my chin.
He nuzzles my nose and then lowers his lips, claiming me.
I always thought if I got lucky enough to be with Aiden like this, that it might be awkward. Two best friends coming together with so much intimacy and passion. But it doesn’t feel awkward at all. It feels perfect—like coming home after a long day and curling up on the couch with a good book and giant bowl of ice cream.
Everything about this is new and exciting, yet familiar and comfortable, and I can’t think of a better combination.
I arch my back, needing more of him. Warm lips travel along my jaw to the soft spot behind my ear. He kisses me softly and nips at my ear before nibbling his way down my neck to the swells of my breasts. When he dips his head and takes a tight bud into his mouth, what little control I’d been holding onto snaps.
My hands are in his hair, my hips moving of their own accord as he rocks against me. There’s not a single space between us. His body feels delicious against mine, all hard muscles and soft skin. And those lips.
God, those lips.
I moan, pushing my head against the pillow, thrusting my breasts into the air as he kisses his way down my stomach, and then suddenly, he’s gone. I sit up and watch him pull a condom from the nightstand.
“Let me.”
Aiden shakes his head and rips open the foil packet. “If you touch me right now, I’ll explode.”
I can’t help but smile. That smile fades as Aiden slides the condom over his straining erection. His muscles ripple with the movement. His body is hard with sleek lines, dips and crevices I ache to explore.
Mine.
I hold out my hand. Aiden drops a knee to the bed and follows me down. Our gazes lock, and in his, I see things that I’ve only ever dreamed of. Promises and dreams and hope for a future that has always seemed so far out of reach are suddenly tangible.
“Aiden.” Cupping his jaw, I brush my thumb against his bottom lip. I whisper his name again. Aiden captures my lips with his, and then he’s inside me. With one swift push of his hips, Aiden and I become one. His body stretches mine, and when he pulls out and pushes back in, he pauses.
“You feel so good.”
I wrap my arms around him, moving my hands to his ass to urge him forward.
“Please, Lizzie.” Aiden puts his face against my neck and pins his hips to mine. “I just need a minute.”
Like I could ever deny him. Raising my legs, I wrap them around him and cradle the back of his head in my hands. Aiden kisses me with a quiet urgency, and after a few beats, our bodies begin to move.
“I’ll go slower next time,” he promises, rocking his hips against mine. “But right now, I need you.”
“I need you, too.”
His hips retreat and then push in again, this time farther…deeper.
Aiden kisses my cheek, my neck, my breasts as we find a long, slow rhythm. With each thrust, he pushes his hips against mine, rotating them in a way that hits my clit. I gasp.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.” I shake my head and move my hips. “I didn’t realize it could feel this good. Please, Aiden, I need you to keep moving.”
“I love you, Lizzie.” Aiden’s voice is raw, the vulnerability in his eyes matching mine as sweat beads on his forehead.
“I love you, too, Aiden. So much.”
And with that, he picks up his pace, rocking in and out of me.
Harder.
Faster.
We pant and breathe whispered promises as he pushes my body further than ever. A tight ball of pressure builds low in my belly. Every thrust of his hips sets me on fire.
Aiden laces our fingers together and pulls them above my head, pinning my arms to the mattress as he pounds into me. My orgasm builds tighter and tighter, causing little spasms down my legs. Finally, I let go.
My body pulses around his as I buck my hips, desperate to drag out the best damn orgasm of my life.
Aiden’s back stiffens. His movements are no longer long and smooth but jerky as he follows me over the edge. Unlocking our fingers, Aiden buries his face against my neck and rolls off me. He pulls me to the side, fitting me into the crook of his arm, then rests his lips to the side of my head and says, “Now that I’ve had you, I’ll never get enough. I think I’m addicted.”
That sounds good to me. I sigh and cuddle against him, letting the gentle beat of his heart lull me to sleep.