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What am I doing? I’ve lost the plot.

A normal person is content with one or two people to screw. Hell, I’ve had friends take two people at the same time. Guys, girls, it didn’t matter.

The more the merrier.

That’s not me. I’ve never jumped from one dude to another in my life. I’ve never even dated more than one.

But the dominoes are falling. And I’ve got this deep ache inside of me.

For the first time in my life, I’m hungry.

Last night, Soren was the guy with his head between my legs. Tonight, all I can think about is Aiden and his decency, how he not only made dinner but cleaned up. How worried he’d looked throughout my story. How he offered to nail the son of a bitch who threatened me.

His concern isn’t fake. He means it when he says he cares, and even though it’s weird, it feels good.

His brown eyes go darker.

“Come on, little fighter.” He keeps crooking his finger to get me to move faster.

He’s staring like he’s caught in a trap and he’s not surehow to free himself even though he wants to. I pass him and he lets out a small groan, turning with me and hitching slightly on his bad knee.

We’re doing this.

So I grab him by the shirt and pull him the rest of the way over the threshold.

His room is different from the others. The wood paneling is unpainted here, the bed sturdy with an iron headboard and footboard. A red Turkish rug covers the bland gray carpeting. Two black and white shots of football players mid tackle in black frames hang above the dresser.

“Snuggles, huh?” he asks.

His voice through me. “I’d rather not be alone.”I want you.

“I understand.”

I’m too nervous to turn and look at him. Too nervous to do anything besides go to the bed, curl up under the covers on my side, and wait for Aiden to spoon me. The bed linens are red, his favorite color, and sumptuous.

“Thanks for not making a big deal out of this,” I blurt out.

Soft, cool sheets against my cheeks, and Aiden’s body warm and solid as he slides up close behind me. His arm drops over my waist, pulling me flush against his front, his hand resting on my thigh.

“Why would I make a big deal out of it?” His breath tickles my ear and I shiver.

“Because it’s a little weird to ask for comfort after…last night.”

“What you do and who you do it with is your business.” Aiden’s fingers massage my thigh. No doubt finding the dimples there. “It’s not up to me to tell you to stop. Or to tell you who. Besides, I’m the one in your bed now.”

Need trickles through me and awareness sends a tingle along my back. My eyes train on the wall but I feel everyrigid line of Aiden’s body. This was supposed to be about comfort, about physical touch with someone who makes me feel safe.

Instead, his fingers trace along my skin and up underneath the hem of my shirt. I catch my breath but he draws them down to the end of my sleep shorts without lingering, a searching caress without being too overt.

“Do you need anything? Some water, another blanket…”

“Just you,” I murmur.

“I should get us some water.”

He’s off the bed in the next beat and the chill left behind takes me by surprise.

I shift, hurrying after him. Scrambling. “Where are you going? Aiden.”