"I can sit here, right?" Aiden's voice broke through the quiet, low and deep, reverberating through the open air.
Before I could answer, he had already crouched down beside me, settling into the blanket like he belonged there. The scent of him—earthy, clean, and spiced, like a forest after rain—drifted toward me, and I had to fight the urge to lean in.
Instead, I looked away, my body hyper-aware of how close he was. The memories from the shed, uninvited and relentless, began flashing in my mind, sending rush of blood to my cheek. Thank goodness its dark.
"I should go," I murmured, starting to rise. "I left—"
Before I could finish, Aiden's hand gently gripped my arm, pulling me back down. He turned toward me, his frame blocking any escape, his hand still resting firmly against me.
"You're angry," he said softly, his voice low enough to send a shiver racing down my spine.
I swallowed, forcing myself to meet his gaze. His face was so close, his sharp features illuminated faintly by the distant lights of the house. My heart thumped in my chest, and every inch of my skin tingled, acutely aware of the charged air between us.
"No," I lied
"You're mad at me," he pressed, his voice dipping even softer, his breath brushing my cheek. His attention was unwavering, fixed entirely on me, and the intensity of his gaze even in the dim distance light left me feeling exposed, like he could see every thought I have right now.
"I—"
I moved to stand again, but Aiden's hand slid to my waist, holding me firmly in place. The warmth of his rough palm sent shockwaves through me, every ridge of his fingers igniting a new current of sensation.
"I'm sorry," he said, his words soft,"Those weren't people you should have been speaking to."
"Like it was my choice?" I snapped, surprising even myself with the edge in my tone. "Rose told me to stay in the house!"
"Then you should have said that," he countered gently.
"You didn't even let me talk!" I shot back, my voice rising slightly.
He exhaled, "You're right," he said, his voice almost too quiet to hear. "I'm sorry for that too. But next time, I'm the boss."
As he spoke, his hand slipped slightly, his fingers brushing the curve of my stomach. The contact sent a wave of heat rolling through me, my skin twitched and my breath hitched audibly.
A quiet, involuntary sound escaped my lips—a soft, needy moan that made me want to shrink into the ground. I closed my eyes, heat rushing to my face in embarrassment.
Before I could process what had just happened, I felt him shift. When I opened my eyes, Aiden's face was barely inches from mine. His gaze flicked over my features, lingering on my lips for a single second before he leaned in and kissed me.
It was slow, deliberate, and devastatingly tender. His lips moved against mine with a rhythm that made me lose all sense of everything. My hands found his shoulders, pulling him closer as my mouth parted, letting him deepen the kiss.
His hands slid higher, tracing the curve of my waist, igniting a fire beneath my skin. The roughness of his touch was a contrast to the softness of his lips, and it unraveled me completely.
When he pulled back, I gasped softly at the loss. But then his lips found my jaw, pressing slow kisses down my neck, his stubble making my skin even more needy. A quiet whimper escaped me as his mouth moved lower, his hands tracing upwards, leaving a trails.
His palms reached my chest, kneading gently through the fabric of my clothes as his mouth descended further. Everything in me tangled together, leaving me dizzy and undone beneath him, every nerve lit with a craving I hadn't known I possessed.
The world narrowed to just the two of us, the cool night air forgotten, and the stars above dimming in comparison to the heat radiating between us.
I pulled him closer, my body desperate for more, his rough fingers grazing over my nipple. A loud moan tore from my throat, startling even me.
"It's okay, Nelly," Aiden murmured, his voice a deep, reassuring whisper in my ear. "It's just us."
Before I could respond, he moved with practiced ease, pulling me onto his lap. One of his hands steadied me, his other roaming over my thighs, igniting every nerve he touched. My hips pressed down instinctively, grinding against him until I could feel the hardness of him pressing against me.
A deep groan escaped him as my hands wandered down his stomach, skimming his waistline. But before I could go further, he caught my wrist gently, stopping me.
A low hum of protest slipped from my lips.
His mouth quirked into a knowing smile, and any words I might've said caught in my throat as his hand found my center. His fingers grazed my entrance, sending a jolt of electricity through me.
"You want me?" he asked, his voice low, rough, and thick with intent.
I nodded, unable to trust my voice, too afraid it would betray how wrecked I already felt.
He shifted me off his lap effortlessly, lowering me onto the blanket. His hands moved with a deliberate slowness, as though savoring the moment. Before I could process what was happening, he tugged me closer, sliding my underwear to the side.
And then his mouth was on me.
A gasp escaped me as his tongue worked against my entrance, exploring with a maddening rhythm. My back arched, my hands grasping for something—anything—to anchor myself. I found his hair, tangling my fingers gently through it as he deepened his movements.
A broken moan escaped my lips. "Aiden!" I cried out in desperation.
The sound spurred him on. His pace quickened, his tongue and lips sending waves of pleasure through me, his hand kneading my breast beneath my clothes. Every nerve in my body sang, every thought dissolved under his command.
When his fingers joined his tongue, stroking my most sensitive spot with deliberate movement, I shattered. My release tore through me in a rush of heat and tremors, my body trembling uncontrollably beneath his touch.
When I opened my eyes, Aiden was watching me, his lips curled into a satisfied smile. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief. Gently, he cleaned me and then his hands with a care that made my chest ache.
I sat up slowly, my mind spinning, struggling to catch up with what had just happened. My fingers fumbled to fix my clothes as I tried to steady my breathing, my heart still racing.
"This is what you should miss, Nelly," Aiden whispered, his voice sending another shiver down my spine.
"Hmm?"
His smile deepened, "You can keep a secret, right?"
I blinked, my mind reeling at his words which suddenly felt weighted but I couldn't figure out. Before I could respond, he stood, gathering the blankets and handing me the teacup. His movements were casual, as though the last few moments hadn't just shaken my entire world.
He grabbed the camping chair and began walking back toward the house. He didn't look back.
I stood there, frozen, my legs unsteady, my brain back to scrambling, processing everything he had said and done from the moment he arrived.
What did this mean? What had just happened between us?