Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Aidan chuckles. “If you think you're anything less than utterly perfect, you're sorely mistaken, sweetheart.” He pauses, clearly thinking, before he adds, “You must have guys fighting to take you out.”
I choke on my laugh, shaking my head. “God, no. In truth, I rarely go on dates at all. Guys my age are all…well…they're nothing like you.”
A small frown tugs at the corner of Aidan's mouth and I freeze, worried I said something wrong.
“And my age…doesn't bother you?” he asks carefully.
Immediately, my eyes widen as I realize he's worried I'm nervous about the age gap. I mean, I'm aware that he's older than me, but honestly, it just adds to his charm. “No! Why would it bother me?”
“I’m almost twice your age,” he says, “I think.”
I shrug. “I don't really care what anyone else thinks is normal. Aidan, you…you make me feel things nobody else has ever made me feel.” I'm terrible at explaining this, but he's smiling softly at me again so I can't be doing too badly. “I want you,” I admit.
Then I realize we're about to pass my apartment block. I tug on his hand, making him stop with me outside the entrance. “This is my place.”
I hover at the door, facing Aidan, unsure of what to do now. Every cell in my body is urging me to stay close to him, to see if the stubble on his sharp jaw would feel like I imagine it does against my skin. But nervousness flows through me. What if he doesn’t want me to kiss him? What if he doesn’t feel this all-consuming attraction, this sense of…rightness? I mean…it is kind of crazy that I feel this much for a man I’d just met.
Thankfully, Aidan makes my choice for me. He leans forward, his hand gripping my waist softly. His stubble does indeed scratch at my cheek a little, the contact lighting me up inside, before the warmth of his lips presses against my cheek in a chaste kiss.
Instinct overrides me. Aidan pulls back, and I chase the contact, turning my head and capturing his mouth with mine. For a second, he goes still, and I worry I’ve just ruined this. Just as I’m about to step back and apologize, he makes a growling noise against my lips, and his grip on me tightens. I’m pulled close to him, my hands flying to his chest to steady myself as his hand cups the back of my neck, tipping my face back.
Then he kisses me. Really kisses me. I gasp against his mouth, heat rushing through me as he devours me hungrily. I’m floating in heaven as he claims me so completely my brain empties of every thought that isn’t his name or the need for more. My knees feel shaky, and there’s a pulsing, desperate pool of heat between my thighs.
Before it can go any further, before I’ve even let myself savor it properly, Aidan puts distance between us. I sway a little on my feet as my brain reboots itself and I remember how to breathe. Aidan is panting too, looking as awe-struck as I feel.
“As much as I want to take you into that apartment and kiss every beautiful inch of you, I’m going to do the gentlemanly thing and leave before I lose any more self-control,” he says, voice ragged with what I hope is pure lust. God knows that’s what’s coursing through me right now.
I nod, grateful and falling for him even more for his restraint. He really is a gentleman, even if half of me is cursing him for it right now. Mainly the lower half. Dammit, it’s like my entire body comes alive when I’m near him.
“Tell me you’re free tomorrow,” Aidan groans.
I can barely remember what day it is today, but I don’t care. I’m nodding before I figure out that tomorrow is—blessedly—Saturday and I am indeed free. “Yes,” I say eagerly. “I…I want to see you again.”
“The feeling is mutual, sweetheart,” he assures me. “I’ll pick you up for lunch, okay?”
I agree and hand him my phone so he can put his number in before he says goodbye. Aidan waits for me to get into the apartment block before leaving himself. I take the stairs up to my apartment, hoping to work off some of the energy buzzing through me, but it’s still there even after I shower and curl up in bed.
I fall asleep feeling restless, trying and failing to ignore the empty ache beneath my sleep shorts that I know nothing will fix except a certain firefighter who’s as hot as the flames he spends his days putting out.
He consumes my thoughts as I fall into my dreams, and then he fills them too.
4
AIDAN
The whole way from Autumn’s apartment to the cafe, I spend it reminding myself to take things slow. It’s proving very fucking hard considering I dreamt of her all night, woke up filled with anticipation to see her again, and when I did see her again, she stole my breath instantly.