by Jill Sanders
She took his hand in hers and walked up the rest of the stairs quickly. Once inside, she was pleased when he pushed her back against the closed door. His mouth fused to hers as his hands roamed over her.
When he started tugging her clothes off, she pulled at his. Clothes hit the ground, and hands moved against skin as they fought to get each other naked.
When his hands roamed over her body, she winced at the pain. He jumped back like he’d been shot, his eyes moving over her entire body. She was leaning against the front door, gasping for breath as he looked at her.
“What the . . .” He frowned. “Damn it.” He reached over and flipped on the overhead light. Then he was leaning down in front of her as he pulled up one of her legs and looked at the scrapes and large bruises that had formed when she had fallen in the elevator.
“You should have gotten medical attention.” He glanced up at her.
“For some bruises?” She looked down and held back a gasp when she noticed how dark both of her knees were.
“You could have broken your kneecaps,” he said as he reached up and looked at her elbows and hands. They weren’t as bad as her knees and she was thankful that his eyes went back downward as he dropped her arms.
“I’m okay.” She pushed her hands through his hair. “Really.”
He looked up at her, and his frown softened a little. “You should put some ice on these.”
She tugged on his hair until he stood up, his arms wrapping around her. “What I need right now is to finish what we started.” She pulled him back to her.
When his mouth fell back on hers, she felt his hesitation, but then she nibbled on his lower lip until he moaned. She felt him harden again against her hip and pushed on his shoulders until he was up against the wall.
She finished tugging his boxer shorts down and then ran her hands slowly toward the sexy dark V that led her downward.
Her mouth trailed along the pathway her hands had just taken as his hands buried into her hair.
“Krissy,” he moaned. She smiled at his use of her nickname.
“Yes?” she teased.
“Don’t torture me.” His dark eyes found hers and she could see the heat in them.
“Why not?” she asked before running her tongue over the length of him. His cock jumped toward her so she did it again.
“You’re going to get it,” he warned.
“Promises, promises.” She took him all the way into her mouth. As her lips moved up and down on him, his fingers dug into her hair, holding, pushing. She didn’t care.
He was beautiful and felt like silk in her mouth. She couldn’t get enough of him. His soft moans and pleas were only exciting her further.
Finally, she felt him tense and thought he was almost finished, but his hands went under her arms and he hoisted her up and carried her a few feet to her new, soft sofa.
Then he yanked her panties aside, ripping them at the hip as his mouth covered her in a powerful kiss. She jolted with the unexpected flash of desire that pulsed through her. His name was ripped from her lips as his tongue darted in and out of her quickly. His fingers rolled her tight, sensitive bud, pinching it and rolling it until she felt she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Come for me,” he moaned.
She shook her head back and forth. “No, you wouldn’t for me.” She glanced at him and dared him to force it from her.
He watched her, his lips curling up in a wicked smile. “You can’t keep this from me.” He bent and slid a finger into her heat as he nibbled on her bud.
He was right; there was no way she could have denied his wishes. Not when he was so efficient at the torture. Her shoulders came off the soft leather and her fingernails dug into his scalp as she cried out.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
When he felt Kristen’s body go lax, he gently picked her up in his arms and carried her into her new queen bed. As he laid her down, he opened a condom and quickly put it on.
Instead of moving to her, he stood over her and just looked at her. She was more than he’d ever dreamed. Her beauty was beyond words. Internally and externally. He’d never felt this way for someone before. He thought about how loyal she was to her friends. A twinge of guilt hit him about keeping secrets from her.
“Aiden?” She held out her hands for him, breaking him from his thoughts. He smiled and realized there was no way he would deny her anything. How had he fallen so quickly?
All questions and doubt exited his mind the second he slid into her. She was perfect. She was home and he needed to make sure he did everything he could to secure the safety and future of the one woman he loved more than anything.
Aiden woke up with a crick in his neck. Okay, so he’d have to get used to sleeping with Kristen in his arms.
His left arm was completely asleep, so he rolled his wrist and squeezed his hand a few times until he could feel his fingers again. Then he ran his fingers down her soft skin. Even the tingling of his arm coming back didn’t detour him from his goal.
When he cupped her perfect breast in his hand, she moved slightly. He moaned softly as he bent his head down and licked his way around her perfect nipples. She moved just a little more.
He looked up at her as he sucked a nipple into his mouth and nibbled on it lightly.
He watched her green eyes open slowly and smiled.
“You’re very hard to wake,” he said against her skin.
“Who said I was asleep?” She joked and pushed her hands into his hair.
He chuckled and continued his path down her perfect skin. He loved that they slept in the nude. He tugged her new cream sheets away from her long legs and ran his hands over them.
“Sexy, silky legs.” He glanced up at her, then heard her sigh with pleasure.
“Hmm?” she said, looking down at him.
“Your legs stop my heart. The first day I saw you, the wind had caught your skirt and . . .” He whistled softly. “Best pair of legs I’ve ever seen.”
“For me, it was that smile of yours.” She looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time and her smile dissipated a little. “It’s crooked.”
He teased, “So, I point out your perfections and you point out my flaws.”
“No, your smile is perfect.” Her smile was back and she ran her hands through his hair. “Perfectly rugged and sexy as hell.” She pulled him closer. He was lost in her eyes as she tugged him back up to her mouth.
When he sank into her slowly, he felt like his heart was exploding. Their rhythm grew faster, and his body began to shake as he held himself back, waiting for her to finish first.
Her legs were wrapped around his hips, driving him faster. As her arms went around his stomach, he knew he couldn’t hold back much longer. She held on to him tightly. Her chest pushed up against his, her breath falling over his heated skin.
When he finally felt her convulse around him, he took a chance and leaned closer to her ear.
“I love you,” he said against her skin as he felt himself empty completely.
“Did you mean what you said?” she asked a few minutes later. His body had cooled and he knew he was probably crushing her underneath him. He rolled a little until she snuggled next to him, her face resting on his chest. She let out a deep sigh and propped her chin on her hands.
He smiled down at her. “Every word.”
“But . . . so soon?” Her eyes moved over his chest.
“When you know it’s right . . .” He shrugged.
“I’ve never said those words to a man before.”
He put a finger over her lips. “Don’t say them until you’re sure.”
She nodded and then smiled.
“I was so afraid today.” He ran his hands through her hair and noticed her frown.
“You were?” She closed her eyes on a sigh. “It’s seriously going to be hard
to step foot in another elevator.”
He pulled her chin up until she opened her eyes. “I’ll be there with you until you feel safe again.”
She changed the subject. “You made quite the impression on Amy.”
“She’s something.” He chuckled softly. “She reminds me of my sister, Ashley.”
“Oh?” She shifted a little on his chest.
“Not just in looks, but in spunk.”
Kristen laughed. “She was always the one getting us in trouble. I may have a wilder sense of style, but she’s got the crazy personality.”
He played with the tips of her hair. “Ashley is the same way.”
“I remember, there was this terrible boy. Logan something . . .” Kristen said with a frown. “Anyway, he tortured us all the way through school. I think he started on Amy in kindergarten. Well, around junior high school, she’d had enough, so she came up with a plan to get back at him by putting itching powder in his gym shoes. We spent almost two weeks planning it out, and when we finally had enough guts to sneak into the boys’ locker room, we accidentally got the coaches’ cleats instead.” Aiden laughed. “Mr. Kentson couldn’t walk for almost a week. Of course, no one knew who had done it, and we never told a soul.”
He pulled her closer. “Did you ever get back at the boy?”
“No. He moved away shortly after that. To this day, Amy can’t stand boys with blue eyes. Maybe that’s why she likes you.” She snuggled closer and yawned as she rested her head against his chest.
Kristen woke the next morning sore. When she tried to move, her knees and elbows screamed at her.
“Here,” Aiden said, just above her. She looked up and was thankful he held a glass of water and some aspirin.
“Thanks.” She scooted up and leaned against her new headboard to swallow the pills.
“I have an ice pack.” He held up a plastic bag filled with ice. He wrapped it in a washcloth and pulled the sheets away from her. For a moment, she was embarrassed about her nudity, but when he focused on getting the ice on her knees, she relaxed a little.
Then she noticed his frown as he looked her bruised body over. When she focused on it, she sighed. “I’ve had worse.” She looked up into his eyes. “Trust me. When I bruise, it’s bad for the first two days, and then it all goes away quickly.”
“My mother is the same way. The rest of us in my family . . .” He smiled up at her. “It takes a lot to bruise us.”
She watched as he tucked the blankets back around her. She really was enjoying finally having a bed again. Her back wasn’t hurting her as much and she actually slept all night long again. Not to mention that it was wonderful to sit on a sofa, and such a nice one at that.
“I’ve made some breakfast.” He stood up and looked down at her. “You stay put. I’ll bring it in to you.”
“Wow, breakfast in bed.” She hummed. “A girl could get spoiled like this,” she called after him as he walked out of the room.
She leaned back and threw her hands over her head and stretched. Her arms ached a little, and her back was begging for a hot shower, but all in all, she was alive and wasn’t going to complain.
He carried in two plates piled with pancakes and eggs, then sat next to her. After getting more comfortable, he handed her a plate. “You could use a TV in here.” He nodded to the empty spot on her dresser.
“I used to have one in here,” she said after taking a bite of her eggs. “These are delicious.” She shoveled more onto her fork.
“Thanks.” He beamed and took a big bite of his own.
“You know, most men don’t bother with learning how to cook.”
“I had a crash course. One summer, my sisters got tired of mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.”
“The first few months I lived on my own, I lived on that stuff, plus ramen noodles.”
“Another great staple.” He turned a little. “Why don’t we go look at televisions before heading to my folks later?”
“I’ve already put a big dent in my insurance money.” She sighed and dreamed about watching TV in bed, curled up next to him.
“I’m buying.” He smiled. “Besides, I need a new Blu-ray player. Mine’s on the fritz.”
“I can’t let you buy me a TV.” She set her almost-empty plate on her new nightstand and moved to get up.
“You won’t be letting me. I want to.” He stood and picked up her discarded plate and the ice pack she’d set down, which was now just a bunch of water. Her knees were a little stiff, but they felt better than before. “Go, shower. We can at least go and look.” He walked out of the room quickly, not giving her a chance to respond as he cleaned up after her.
She almost crossed her arms over her chest and stomped her foot behind his back, but figured since she was still standing there nude, it wouldn’t have the same effect. When had she lost control? When had he started bossing her around?
Did he really think she would let him buy her a TV? Did he think she couldn’t take care of herself?
She started to go into the bathroom, but then turned back around and quickly made the bed.
She was halfway through her shower when the glass doors slid open and a very naked Aiden stepped in. Instantly, his hands were on her hips as he stepped under the spray.
“It’s not a big enough shower to share,” she said, holding on to him so she wouldn’t lose her balance.
“I know, but I think we can make do.” He pulled her closer and ran his mouth over her neck.
She felt goose bumps rise all over her body and her knees started to go weak. When he kissed her again, her body instantly responded, and she realized she’d lost control in that area of her life as well.
By the time they had finished the shower, her entire body was relaxed. Even her knees felt better. She dressed in a spring skirt and blouse, since she’d peeked at the weather app on her phone and had seen that it was supposed to be in the midseventies for the day.
She loved Colorado. Spring and fall were her favorite seasons. She loved it when the leaves turned to bright orange and yellows and the cooler weather rushed down from the foothills.
But spring had to be her all-time favorite season. Though another spring snowstorm could still sweep in from the north, the flowers had begun to bloom, and just the smell of the grass turning green or the leaves starting to pop out made her smile. If she was lucky, she’d get a chance to see the cherry blossoms in the park before they all floated away.
They spent a few hours going from one electronics store to the next. She drooled over the new smart TVs and desperately wished it was in her budget to get one for her room.
After the theft, her folks had given her their old flat-screen TV and DVD player, which currently sat in her living room. She’d had two nice flat screens before, which Rod had taken and she missed dearly. But she hadn’t looked at getting new ones since. She loved that they had so many apps on them, including the ability to Skype.
As much as she wanted a new, high-tech TV, she was thankful when they left the second store empty-handed. There was no way she was going to let Aiden buy her a television. It went against everything she had been raised to believe.
Even though he’d said those three words to her, she still felt their relationship was too new for big gifts like that. She’d never heard those three words said to her, outside of her parents and Amy. She didn’t know what to think about a man saying I love you to her. Especially after her track record. Could she afford to put herself in a position where she felt completely exposed? Did she have enough trust in him? More importantly, in herself?
“See anything you like?” he asked, causing her eyes to roam over his shoulders. Oh yeah, she saw something she liked very much.
They were at their third store and she’d found yet another great TV. This one was curved and could also do 3-D. She had on the funky little glasses and was
enjoying a Disney movie.
“This is so cool.” She smiled up at him and held out the other pair of glasses for him to try. He slid them on and she admired just how sexy he looked in glasses. His dark eyebrows rose a little as he looked at the screen.
When he smiled, she felt her knees turn weak, so she reached out and took his arm to steady herself.
“Are your knees hurting?” He took hold of her. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so much today.”
“No, it’s you. You do this to me.” She reached up to play with the edge of the glasses. “You make my knees turn to jelly.”
His frown slowly turned up. “You’re going to say something like that to me in here?” He pulled her close and she felt what he meant as the bulge in his jeans grew.
“Sorry, it’s the glasses. You’re like a very sexy Clark Kent.” She ran a finger over his chin and loved the stubble that was there. “Come on, let’s get out of here.” He started to remove the glasses, but she stopped him.
“Let me just take a picture.” She held up her phone and he laughed.
“Only if you’re included,” he said in a low tone.
She looked at him and frowned.
“What? You have this sexy-librarian look going on.” He pulled her closer. “You have your fantasies, I have mine.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Two hours later, they walked into his parents’ place and were instantly bombarded with questions from his sisters. He really did love them, but sometimes they just didn’t know when to shut up.
By the time everyone had finally sat around the table, they had asked Kristen every question under the sun. Of course, she’d smiled and laughed as she answered each and every one of them. She’d been lucky enough to get in a few questions of her own.
Even his mom and stepdad had sat back and listened as the girls chatted on. But what had absolutely topped it all off was when Kristen had asked Amber what was up between her and Tom.
Amber had actually started choking on air and had turned a little red in the face. When she’d recovered, she shrugged and quickly changed the subject as she kept sending glances at Aiden.