Chapter Twelve
Madison placed her empty plate on the deck and pulled her knees up to her chest. Her slip might not be the nicest, but from the prow, she had a great view of the ocean. There were boats in the distance going to and fro, while the marina was quiet. The storm had blown off, leaving behind clear skies and drying up her deck furniture.
She glanced sideways at Aiden. They’d come up to the deck to eat with a bit more elbow room. Since she never took the boat out, she’d picked up an outdoor bed, complete with waterproof marine cushions, and placed it on the prow for a secondary living space. Usually it was just her, her books, and laptop out here. She’d never thought she’d bring a man here. What must he think seeing her like this?
Out of habit, she checked to see if the cop car was still in sight. The interior dome light illuminated two officers, both with their heads down, probably engrossed with their phones or something else. They never quite made her feel safe. Sure, they were there to protect her, but they didn’t really care about her. How long had it been since she’d had an easy sleep? She was always unsettled, except for now. Aiden was there.
“Who is Emery?” She hadn’t asked many questions since the incident with her bike shocked her, but she’d had some time to regroup.
The muscle at Aiden’s jaw twitched. Was he aware of the tell?
“He’s a guy I work with from time to time.”
It wasn’t a real answer, just like she didn’t know the real Aiden. Sure, she was attracted to him, and they’d had a moment of mutual vulnerability earlier, but he was still a stranger to her.
He would always be a stranger to her.
The terms of their—arrangement—were for a short time, only. When they found the drive, he would be out of her life.
She continued to watch him slowly eat the fish and pilaf she’d whipped up with her small pantry. There was no denying she liked him. Sure, he was still panty-dropping hot, but Aiden was more real to her now than he’d been this morning. In time, she could see herself falling into unrequited love with him.
When she was a kid, she’d thought the right man would change her life. Now, she knew that the role of a man only enhanced what she already had. Aiden’s life was dangerous and everything she’d said she wouldn’t go back to. Her resolve where he was concerned was still solid—whatever happened between them was temporary.
“Staring like that’s starting to put me on edge,” Aiden said between bites.
“Sorry.” She ducked her head and pulled the blanket she’d brought with her across her lap.
“What are you studying?”
“Accounting.”
He glanced at her, brows slightly raised.
“What’s that face for?”
Aiden shrugged. “Nothing, I just figured you’d do something more—I don’t know. Exciting.”
“Exciting degrees cost a lot of money. Everyone needs their beans counted.”
“What are you going to do when you graduate?”
“Probably take a job with my friend’s parents. They own a couple of businesses. The dad does all the books on his own. He’s hinted that it would be nice to have someone to help out.”
“Couldn’t you help without the degree?”
“I do. I organize all the books for Everglades Air and hand them over to him. It’s been a good experience. Besides, they’ll pay me better than any entry-level job I could get otherwise. I know I’m overpaid now. It’s their way of helping me out. I’ve been best friends with their daughter since high school.”
“You’re something else.” Aiden shook his head and placed his plate on top of hers.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He reclined, turning toward her and resting on his elbow.
“Anyone else in your shoes would have let Dustin win, but you keep building yourself up. I said it before, and I’ll say it again.” He glanced toward her, his blue eyes slicing deep, until her heart seemed to quiver for his touch. “You are not what I expected, Madison Haughton.”
Warmth bubbled up in her chest that had nothing to do with the way he stared at her. It was—pride. Hell yes, she’d worked hard and she’d keep going until she’d built the life she wanted. Hopefully, she’d find someone to share it with along the way, but she’d learned her lessons about falling for the wrong guy.
Aiden might be the right type, but he wasn’t for her. There wasn’t room in his life for something without a motor or in need of a tune-up. But there wasn’t room in hers for a man, either. He might promise to make Dustin go away, but until that happened and she graduated—there wasn’t time to devote to a romantic relationship. But would it hurt her to have a little fun on the side?
They continued to study each other openly. The warmth in her chest moved lower and she shifted.
One minute, they could carry on a perfectly normal conversation—albeit the topic matter wasn’t typical—and the next her body hummed with desire. It was as if he flipped some switch in her and made her body wake up in ways she hadn’t allowed herself to pay attention to in years.
She missed sex. The connection. Even the weight of a body pressing her into the mattress.
“Cold still?” Aiden’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“What?”
“You’re shivering.”
She ran her hands up and down her arms. The air was cooler, but her shivers weren’t from the weather.
“Come here.”
Aiden tugged her down to lie next to him and pulled the blanket over himself. He wrapped his arm around her and brought her against his chest. His warmth seeped into her skin, down to her bones, mingling with the low pulse of arousal humming through her veins.
“Is this a good idea?” She didn’t know what she wanted him to say. Yes or no, they couldn’t keep toeing this line with each other without someone getting burned.
Again, the muscle at his jaw twitched. “I was honest with you earlier. I’m attracted to you. If that bothers you, tell me to back off and I will.”
She opened her mouth and closed it. What did she say to that?
“Are you aware you have a tic?” she asked.
“A tic?” His brows drew down into a line. She didn’t blame him for being confused, but she couldn’t address the way he made her body sit up and take notice.
“Yeah, the muscle here, it jumps when you’re concentrating, or maybe you’re irritated?” She brushed her fingers along his jaw.
Aiden sighed and captured her hand. He pressed a quick kiss to her fingers before placing it against him.
“What I do—it’s . . .”
“You don’t have to tell me. I know it’s secret.”
He blew out a breath. “You’re right. I can’t tell you.”
“But let me guess, sometimes it wears you down?”
He stared at her, and in that moment, his gaze said more than his words ever could. There was more going on that she didn’t understand. He was one of the good guys. And the burden of what he did for people like her, it took its toll. So who gave back to him? Who helped him? She would never know his life’s story or what role she was playing in a bigger drama with Michael Evers, but right now she was here. With him.
“Let’s not talk about it, okay?” She mustered a smile and slid her hand around his chest, to rest on his back.
Aiden seemed to breathe a little easier. She needed to figure out how to tell him about Michael’s connection to the airport, but that thought slipped further and further from her mind.
“Kiss me?” she asked before she could think better of it.
He didn’t jump on the request like she expected. Instead, he cupped her cheek, his gaze shuttered and unreadable as he leaned toward her.
“I can’t offer you anything,” he said.
“I know. I’m not asking for anything except a kiss.” She covered his hand with hers. “Whatever happens—happens. No expectations. Deal?”
“You deserve better than that.”
“I know, and so do you, but neither of us have time for more. I’ve got school, derby, and work. You’ve got your shop, racing and—whatever it is you do.” She couldn’t tell if it was the roar of the waves or the rush of her blood pounding past her ears, but it threatened to drown his quiet voice out. Could he feel her pulse racing? Did he know what he did to her? Sure, she had a weakness for his type, but this was more than a simple attraction. She liked him. Respected him.
He studied her for a moment longer, his gaze holding her captive. Something about the blues of his eyes, the way the whole world seemed to fall away and his entire focus centered on her, felt as though it knitted them together. The rest of the world didn’t matter in this second in time.
What did he see when he looked at her? Was it the same for him?
Aiden leaned toward her. Madison’s gaze dropped to his lips. He tilted his head. She sighed the moment their mouths touched and slid her hand up to his shoulder, holding on to him while he pressed her onto her back.
He suckled her lower lip, drawing the bit of flesh between his teeth and teasing her. She gasped as she experienced the first full-body throb of arousal. He covered her mouth with his and flicked his tongue against hers. She mimicked him, teasing him as he teased her. Her nipples constricted into tight points and she found herself arching toward him, but he held himself away from her.
Madison pulled on his shoulders, wanting to feel more of him. He pressed his knee between her legs, settling some of his weight on her. She hooked her knee over his thigh. He’d made her come on a kiss once already. What else could he do? There was no denying her celibacy had left her primed and ready for any sexual experience. Aiden would be different. She knew it. It was in the way he touched her, the long looks, the slow approaches.
He planted his hands on either side of her shoulders and shifted until his weight settled on top of her, his legs between hers and their bodies aligned. She couldn’t see his face, but she felt his gaze and smiled.
Whatever happened—happened.
She might not be able to keep her end of the bargain and remain emotionally untangled, but she could sure as hell enjoy the moment. Tomorrow, she’d sort herself out. Tonight, she’d take whatever came.
Aiden swooped down, kissing her again. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing their bodies together harder, until she could feel the pulse of his heart against her own. He rocked against her and she gasped, the seam of her jeans rubbing her just right. She groaned and arched her hips, uncaring what he thought of her for last night’s little light show.
He slid his hand between them until he cupped her mound and moved his palm in little circles. She sucked in a deep breath, eyes tightly closed as fissures of pleasure snaked through her body.
“Damn,” he muttered against her neck. “I can’t get the picture of you coming last night out of my head. Do you know how fucking hot that was?”
Hot?
Not the word she’d have chosen, but if he wanted to be turned on by her lack of control—that was fine by her.
She groaned an incoherent reply as he palmed her breast with one hand. How far was this going? Her panties were wet, her body aroused, and she was already undressing him with her mind. What did he look like naked?
Madison slid her hands over him, realizing she hadn’t quite acquainted herself with him. She mapped his chest with her fingers, tracing the hard lines and ridges of muscle while he kissed her neck and chest. His thumb would swipe across her breast every so often, sending an electrical current through her body.
She grabbed handfuls of his black T-shirt and pulled it up until the fabric bunched under his arms. She tugged and pulled but he was completely unmoved by her, too focused on the trail of kisses he was paving across her chest and shoulders. There was nothing frenzied or rushed about the attention he lavished on her. In all of her sexual experiences, she’d never felt like the focal point. Aiden treated her like the center of his world. Like his own gratification didn’t matter. She didn’t know how to respond, what to do. Not that he gave her any choice. She was his sensual prisoner, held captive by the way he plied her with kisses.
Aiden sat up, taking the blanket with him and robbing her of his heat. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as the cool night air skated over her skin. He pulled his T-shirt off and tossed it on the deck, while his gaze remained locked on hers. There was intent there; of what kind, she wasn’t sure, but he was a man on a mission. He hiked the blanket up over his shoulders. With that secure, he grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it up.
Heat crawled up her neck when he brushed the hem of her tank top, as if he were asking permission. She held her breath while he slid his hand under the fabric. She let him remove her shirt, though she curled her arms over her chest the moment the garment was off.
He pushed her hands aside and lowered himself once more to cover her body. This time he let more of his weight settle on her, keeping her pinned below him. Aiden kissed her while his right hand traveled down her body until he could grip her hip. He squeezed and flexed his hips, grinding against her. She looped her arms around his shoulders, flattening her palms against his back and reveling in the ripple of his muscles.
Aiden moved lower, leaving her panting. He kissed a trail down her throat. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply of the salt-infused air, concentrating on the sensation of his stubble scraping her chest, his lips as they dipped between the swells of her breasts.
“I’ve been thinking about you nonstop since Stoke’s.” He placed his palm over her right breast and squeezed.
She would have squirmed if she could move.
He bent and placed his mouth on the cup of her bra, just over her nipple. Despite the material, she could feel his hot breath. She shoved her fingers through the short strands of his hair and arched her back. He tugged the cup down and she froze. He pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her breast. His tongue swirled around the hard nipple while he massaged her other breast.
Holy shit, she chanted to herself.
Her muscles were warm, supple, and losing strength under his attention.
Aiden lifted his head and she hissed as the cool air teased her heated flesh. He grinned at her, and she knew he was up to something. Before she could puzzle it out, he drew the blanket up over his head and scooted farther down her body.
She picked her head up and peered at the man-shaped lump under the blanket. What the hell? Was this a game of peekaboo now?
He grabbed the waistband of her jeans and tabbed them open while her brain screeched to a halt. What the hell was he doing?
Aiden’s breath fanned over her stomach a moment before she felt his lips just below her navel. She sucked in a breath and lay back against the cushion-mattress, clutching the blanket to her chest. He kissed lower, down to her panties. He hooked something, maybe his thumbs, into the waistband and drew them down.
Plenty of the other derby girls talked about their significant others going down on them. Blow jobs she could do, albeit rarely, but never in her life had the act been reciprocated. Did she touch him? Or keep her hands to herself? Was that what he was about to do? Her heart felt as though it had become a racehorse in the sprint of its life.
She gulped and lifted her bottom up enough for him to work the fabric down her thighs. The stars seemed brighter above, or was that just the moon? Crazy things happened around a full moon.
Aiden stripped her of her jeans and panties, shoving them off onto the deck while he remained hidden beneath the blanket.
She flattened her hands on the mattress on either side of her and forced herself to take a deep breath. Aiden pulled the blanket down and peeked up at her, his expression perplexed.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“N-nothing.”
“It’s going to feel better if you can relax.”
“Easy for you to say,” she replied before she could think better of it.
Aiden held her gaze while he gently kissed her inner thigh. The intensity in his gaze alone held her arrested in the moment.
“Babe, I want you to feel as good and sexy as you look. I’m going to go slow and savor everything about you—unless you want me to stop. Now, if that means I need to spend a while showing you how to relax, I can do that.” There was nothing calming about the way he looked at her. She was the prey he’d captured, the thing he intended to ravage and eat up. “Okay?”
“O-okay.” She hadn’t stuttered in forever, but he made her feel small, vulnerable, desired, and a dozen other contradictory emotions she couldn’t quite process all at once.
At least she’d shaved, but there were a hundred other things to be self-conscious about. Unlike the current trend among her female friends, she wasn’t quite comfortable shaving herself bare. A little hair down there made her feel a little ladylike. It was supposed to be there after all.
“Would you be comfortable if you put your legs over my shoulders?”
Madison had no idea, but she figured he’d done this a time or two, so she did as he requested. She could glimpse the top of his head under the blanket. This was so not sexy. Why did people do this? Was sex just not enough anymore? And yet, she couldn’t find her voice to suggest he just stick it in.
He touched her mound, stroking the patch of neatly trimmed hair.
She didn’t know if she wanted him to hurry up, or for a whale to knock the boat over. Either would be good for her, because this drawn-out moment where she couldn’t breathe was going to suffocate her.
His fingers slid over her mound and down her slit. She gasped, her oxygen-deprived lungs burning while he parted her labia.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
“You’re wet.”
Yup. Constant state at the moment.
Aiden didn’t seem to expect an answer. His hand came to rest on her inner thigh, inches from her pussy. He kissed her other leg, starting with his face nearly in the cleft of her leg, and going toward her knee. He did the same to her other leg, while her breathing hitched and she stared at the stars, her senses too overloaded to process what he was doing beyond the feel of it. This time, he retraced the path but deviated, rising to press kisses to the place where her leg and hip met, across her mound and the pubic area—never touching any of her more sensitive areas.
Was this his plan? To tease and torment her?
She sucked down another deep breath, telling herself to relax, settle back, and enjoy his touch, but she couldn’t shake her nerves. Sure, his attentions felt good, but was she doing something wrong? Did he think she was attractive? Did she have a funny-looking labia? It was an outrageous idea, but then again, she’d never had to wonder what anyone except her doctor thought about that particular bit of her anatomy.
Aiden squeezed her ass with both hands, bringing her back to the moment. With him. She glanced down at him and found him looking up at her. He smiled—a genuine smile—with a hint of mischievousness and that little dimple that made her so hot. Her heart leapt into her throat and she found it hard to breathe. Did he know he was smiling? Or how devastating he looked when he did that? She—melted. There was no other word for it. How could she second-guess what she looked like or if she was doing the wrong thing when he seemed so—into it?
He dipped his head, his gaze still on her, and she felt the flat of his tongue against her labia, licking her slit and up over her clit. She gasped and her head dropped back to the cushioned deck, suddenly too heavy to hold up anymore. He kissed her leg and mound once more, as if giving her time to adjust and warm up to what he was doing.
It hit her then, just how patient and considerate he was being. She’d pretty much told him he could have whatever he wanted—no strings attached—and instead of sating his lust, he was focused on her. She blew out a breath, and with it all the tension left her body. Her muscles were supple, relaxed, and more than anything else, she trusted him to show her the pleasures she hadn’t known before. If nothing else, she would remember this moment for that alone.
Maybe he sensed the change in her body, because Aiden’s next touch was not gentle. He spread her labia with purpose. She had a moment to fist her hands in the blanket before he licked her once more, this time without anything between them. Madison gasped and arched her back, her nipples contracted into such tight points they throbbed within the cups. She curled her leg up over his back, urging him closer without conscious thought.
She felt more than heard him chuckle against her inner thigh. Her foot was now flat against his back, her knee hiked up in the air. Well, if it felt good, wasn’t that the whole point?
His hands shifted, reminding her he still had her at her most vulnerable position—and she found she didn’t care. He planted his lips against her vagina, kissing her most intimate place. She curled her toes as the coil of lust tightened in her abdomen, warmth making her skin hot. He did it again, and it just undid her.
“Oh-oh, Aiden,” she muttered before she could stop herself.
“Hm? What is it?” She felt the vibrations against her mound.
His voice had dropped to a lower pitch. Was he turned on too?
“N-nothing.”
“Tell me. What feels good? When I kiss you?” He pressed his lips just above her clit. The hard nubbin throbbed, completely untouched in all of his attentions thus far.
“Yes,” she said on a groan.
“What about when I do this?” He licked the length of her slit once more, slowly and pressing the flat of his tongue against her. She held her breath, wondering if he’d penetrate her or not—but he didn’t.
“Oh, yes.”
“Not as bad as you thought it would be?”
“No.”
“Good.” He released her labia and kissed her knee. “Tell me what feels good. I can make it feel better.”
Better? Was he serious? It was pretty fan-freaking-tastic already.
He pressed another kiss to her mound. She picked her head up and glanced down at him, wanting to see him. Once more, he was already looking up at her, his lower face hidden from view. He pressed another kiss to her mound.
Had any man ever spent so much time simply kissing her? She didn’t think so. At least not the way he kissed her, as if she were something to be savored.
Aiden’s gaze narrowed. She felt a single, thick finger press against her entrance. She dropped her head back and let her gaze go unfocused, staring up at the blanket of diamonds above. He worked his finger into her slowly, pressing against one side and then the other of her vagina, rubbing all the sensitive areas.
She wanted to touch him, to feel him, too.
Madison slid one hand down, until she could touch his hair.
His digit thrust once more into her—and he curled it, stroking her inner wall. She gasped and her spine came up off the deck. Her breath stuttered out of her lungs. Her skin seemed to grow too tight, her body too warm.
“Oh my God, do that,” she said in a rush.
He paused, kissing the area just above her clit and curled his finger once more. She groaned and cupped her breasts, irritated he hadn’t removed that, too. It was too much work to get the constricting garment off, so she shoved her hands up under the cups and rolled the peaks between her fingers. The tide of her arousal was rising, threatening to rob her of her senses.
Aiden removed his finger, but before she could voice a protest, he licked her slit once more while his thumb gently feathered the lightest touch over her clit.
“Fuck, yes.”
He licked up and over her clit—finally. She wrapped her legs around him, squeezing him closer. He thrust his finger into her, while he rubbed his tongue up and down on the erect nub. Her hips seemed to move of their own accord and she reached down, threading her fingers through the short strands of his hair. She meant to just touch him, to increase the connection, but it felt good when she urged him to press just a bit harder.
She could hear herself moaning, the sound of it echoing off the water, but she couldn’t find it in her to care. The desire coiled tightly in her abdomen released. Warmth flooded her body. Her orgasm crashed into her with such sharp pleasure she cried out and tightened her hold in Aiden’s hair, stilling his motions. Her body clamped down on his finger and her muscles rippled with release. It felt as though it went on and on. She saw stars behind her eyelids and her body was so warm and supple the next moment as the sensation subsided.
Aiden didn’t move while she lay there, panting.
Did she say thank you? That seemed a little weak in comparison to what he’d just done to her.
He kissed her mound once more and extracted his finger. He shifted and her legs fell away. He brought the blanket up to cover her. She was too weak to do more than turn her head toward him. He knelt by her side, shirtless and sporting a boner even his jeans couldn’t hide.
Aiden bent and pressed his lips to her brow.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
She grunted something in reply. His footsteps faded as he walked toward the stern and thumped down the stairs.
Madison felt—amazing. She didn’t know if sex had ever been like that before. Probably not. High school boys just didn’t know as much as Aiden did and after that—well, she wasn’t thinking about that. Not now. Just Aiden.
Thinking his name must have summoned the man. Aiden was once more next to her. He brought pillows and a bottle of water. Once he’d helped her situate on the pillow, he insisted on holding the bottle while she drank. It was sweet, if a little presumptuous. Or maybe he knew better. Her body wasn’t exactly the consistency of human right now.
Without comment, he slid under the blanket and cuddled her close.
Was this real? Was he human? Did men really behave like this?
If they didn’t, and this was a dream, she wanted to stay asleep.
She closed her eyes, inhaling the brine and faint scent of his cologne.
“So, feel good?” He sounded rather pleased with himself.
Madison pried one eye open and glanced up at him. She couldn’t even find fault with him. He knew what he’d done and he deserved all the praise.
“I do. That was—amazing. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, babe, just trust me.” He kissed her mouth, slow and sensual. Though she’d just come something intense, warmth curled deep in her belly.
She placed her hand on his chest, loving the feel of his skin against hers.
There was no way she could keep her heart to herself. Already, she could feel the hard exoskeleton she’d fostered cracking open, the organ growing, expanding as it started to beat for another person. She would fall for him, but she would also have to keep her end of the bargain. This could only be as friends—nothing more.
Madison pushed her emotions away and slid her hand down his chest until she covered the erection straining the front of Aiden’s jeans.
“Do you trust me?” she purred.