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He stops abruptly before he reaches the door and I slam into his back, catching the tail end of his soft chuckle. “I wanted to see if you would follow me.”

I smack him but not hard enough to make him flinch. It’s barely a hit at all. He’s joking, and my heart twists like a jumping bean. “You jerk.”

“I’m just playing with you, Gilli.”

“You’re always playing with me.” I tilt my head to the side, looking up at him.

Does he know how much I need that in my life? Play, laughs, lightheartedness?

We step closer to each other at the same time and I press my hands to his chest. It’s nice. Easy. When Aiden’s mouth meets mine, I sigh, leaning into him and relishing every point of contact. He’s strong, and broad-shouldered. Muscled in all the right ways and leaner than Soren.

Shame rises the moment the comparison does.

It isn’t right to compare them—they’re cousins, friends, they have an unshakeable bond no one will ever get between. And I want to fuck them both.

Aiden’s kiss is sweet. He teases my lower lip with histeeth and his arms band around my waist to pull me forward. I jump on him and wrap my legs around his waist, grinding my heat against his hardness.

“This isn’t snuggling, Gilli,” he reminds me.

He’s ready for me. I think he’s been ready since the night I got here.

“I know.”

Aiden carries us both to the bed and stops for half a beat, changing the angle of the kiss and probing my lips with his tongue to ask for more.Like he has to ask.

I’m not sure I’m able to refuse this mananything.

He is so tender and soft after what he’s been through. He has darkness in him the same way I do—he’s not innocent. But he’s done his best to make amends, and maybe that’s what I like and appreciate about him.

The longer he kisses me, the easier it is for the walls to come tumbling down.

Aiden turns and drops down, landing on his back and taking me down with him. The movement is fast enough to make me squeal in delight and I grab onto him, catching a glimpse of his grin.

“You think you’re adorable, don’t you?” I say in a low tone.

I reach out to brush a lock of his hair back to better see his face.

“I don’t think so. I know so,” he retorts. “I think you’ve seen it, too.”

“I did come in here to cuddle.” I bury my face against the crook of his neck and draw in his scent.

Salt and musk

His hands are light and probing on my hips, but he's holding himself back. This position brings the hard ridge of him directly against my core. I arch again to add some friction between us, and he clears his throat.

“You didn’t want to cuddle, Gilli.” His smile widens. “At least, not yet. We’ll get to cuddling later.”

Aiden glides his palms down to my ass and cups me, lifting me higher on his lap. My knees are on either side of his waist, his legs over the edge of the bed, and my skin hums with urgency.

I dig my nails into his chest. “What are we going to do right now?” I purr.

“The better question is whataren’twe going to do.”

He grabs my braids, drawing me to him and kissing me deeply. His tongue swipes against mine again, his eyes closed, but mine are open. I see every play of emotion across his face.

Aiden isn’t the kind of person to hide anything.

His eyes pop open to find me watching him and he growls. “Stop it.”