Page 19

Chapter 19

Scarlett

With Dad now working for a new landscaping firm— thank God , and Mom taking an extra shift to bridge the gap until his first paycheck comes in, it’s my duty to make dinner, which I enjoy. Besides having my nose buried in books, the only other thing I love is being in the kitchen.

Which is where I am when the doorbell rings. I pause stirring the tomato sauce, frowning at the pallet that separates the small kitchen from the living room. Who the hell could that be?

After wiping my hands on my apron, I hurry to the door as it rings again. I cautiously open it, the sight of Aiden on my doorstep making me wish we had a peephole. He’s wearing a restrained smile, his right hand holding a huge bouquet.

Wait a minute.

Flowers?

“Aiden?” I greet tentatively, because my eyes must be playing tricks on me.

“Hey.”

Well, it sounds like him. I adjust my tank top, wishing I’d put on a bra, thankful that I’m wearing the apron. “What are you doing here?”

He gestures to the door. “Can I come in?”

“Uh…” I glance behind me. The house is spotless, as usual, but after being by his place, I’m definitely not secure with him being here.

“I won’t bite, I promise.”

My head turns back to his mischievous smile.

“Well, only if you beg,” he teases.

“Aiden—”

“I’m sorry.” He raises the bouquet. “That was my weak attempt at a joke. These are yours, by the way.”

Still tentative, I take them. They smell divine. “Thank you.”

Aiden smiles in response. “Look, I understand if your folks are on the way home. I’ll just see you—”

“How do you know they’re not at home?” I ask suspiciously.

“Because they’d already be at the door, telling me to stay away from you,” he grins.

“Yet, not knowing they weren’t here, you still took that chance. Why?”

He shrugs. “Maybe I like living on the edge. Who knows?”

After considering it for a moment, I inch the door open. “They’re not due home for a few hours. Come on in.”

Aiden steps up and glides past me. I almost swoon from the intoxicating scent of his cologne. As if he needs extra help with being extremely alluring.

His expression warms as Milo saunters up to sniff around his ankles. “Cute dog,” he mumbles, ruffling Milo’s coat.

I’d hardly call him cute, but Milo obviously likes the compliment. With delighted whimpers, he nuzzles Aiden’s leg before going back to his spot by the TV. Aiden straightens, scrutinizing the small living room.

“It’s not the Ritz,” I mumble dryly.

“It’s definitely cozy, though,” he murmurs, turning to me.

“Thanks,” I reply, his sincerity filling me with warmth.

He suddenly sniffs the air. “Something smells amazing.”

“That’s just my tomato sauce. I’m making spaghetti and meatballs.” I ease past him and gesture to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable, I guess. Be right back.”

His scent follows me into the kitchen, competing with the aromas of garlic, tomato and basil. I rest the bouquet in a bowl while making a mental note to get a jar from around the back of the house later. I don’t know what I was thinking, inviting him into my sacred space. Two minutes and it already feels—

“It smells even better in here.”

I whip around, the spoon falling from my hand to the plywood floor. “Jeez. I thought I told you to get comfortable.”

“Which is exactly what I’m trying to do.” He dips for the spoon, then hands it to me. “I’m very much comfortable right here.”

I swear I can’t breathe. His huge frame filling the tiny space, that tenderness in his eyes, the fact that I’m urged to bury my face in his chest and inhale that wonderful scent is just too much. I drop the spoon in the sink and reach for a fresh one.

“It’s pretty hot in here. You’d be much cooler in the living room.”

“I think I can manage,” he replies. “Need any help?”

“No.”

“I’m a pretty good taster,” he sing-songs.

My mind goes right to the gutter. Having constant fantasies about Aiden’s head between my thighs will do that to a girl. I clear my throat, as if that’s good enough to kill the image of his tongue licking my clit. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like my sex drive has doubled since we had that moment in his pool.

“May I?”

His voice pierces into my thoughts and I smile grimly while handing him the spoon. “Not exactly gourmet like you’re used to, FYI.”

Aiden gives me a reproachful look before sticking the spoon in his mouth. He moans softly and his eyes roll over. I roll mine in response.

“Don’t flatter me. I’ve been cooking for years, no one has died and I’m good with that—”

“It’s fucking amazing, Scar. What are you talking about?” He gestures to the pot. “Can I have another taste?”

“Sure.” I reach for a fresh spoon, scooping up another serving. He pulls it from his mouth slowly this time, drawing out the soft moan.

Jesus Christ. An aching throb settles between my thighs as I turn away from him and reach for the container of spaghetti on the shelf. If I didn’t know better, I’d assume Aiden came here to seduce me. Flowers. Teasing. Licking that goddamn spoon. He wants to drive me mad with lust.

Is that his endgame? Getting me to sleep with him, then dumping me would be the perfect revenge, wouldn’t it? I’ve heard girls were never the same after Aiden got done with them.

The ultimate prank.

Something awful churns in my stomach. Is this why he’s suddenly being so nice to me? It wouldn’t surprise me if the entire team knows about his plan. The fight with Noah and him rescuing me at that party were all set up for me to trust him. Of course. In what world would Aiden Hunter be interested in a girl like me?

“I think you should go,” I mutter, my back still turned to him.

There’s silence, then I hear the confusion in Aiden’s voice as he asks, “Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s funny how that’s your immediate assumption,” I reply, facing him. “Did you do something wrong, Aiden?”

“I am so lost right now, Scar. Please—”

“I’m not Scar. It’s Scarlett .” I harden my heart against the bafflement on his face. He’s a damn good actor, I’ll give him that. “Don’t you think you’ve done enough?”

“Enough of what?” His voice raises to another pitch, then he clears his throat and repeats in a lower tone, “Enough of what?”

I should just let it go. Let him be none the wiser that I’m onto him, but it hurts, especially when I can admit to myself that I’ve caught feelings for him. Just a little, but enough to leave me devastated if this isn’t real.

Which is exactly why I need to know.

“You still think I’m the one who made that call, don’t you?”

Aiden’s expression settles into understanding. He sighs. “Scarlett, I’m a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them. I wouldn’t be standing in your kitchen if I still thought you were the enemy.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Maybe you’re taking things up a notch. Sleep with me, then dump me in the trash.”

He gapes at me for a hot minute. “You can’t be serious.”

“No, you can’t be serious for thinking I’d fall for this act. Why would you even glance my way when there are more attractive girls to fool around with?” Like that brunette . I haven’t forgotten about the way she touched his face.

“I’m not looking to fool around with you, Scarlett. Hell, I’m not looking to do anything. There is no plan. I have no motive.” He sighs, that tenderness appearing in his eyes again. “I just love how I feel when I’m around you.”

Be still, my beating heart . If this is an act, then Aiden deserves all the major movie awards. He closes the distance between us. I definitely can’t breathe. I gulp in a huge breath as he clasps my cheeks. “You’re like a drug. I need constant doses of you.”

His head dips as he kisses me. Shameless, with no resistance, I kiss him back, eyes flying shut, hands moving upward to clasp the back of his head as our tongues dance together, bodies merging, hands touching everywhere. He squeezes my ass with a growl that I feel right down to my toes. I throw my leg over his hip and grind myself against his rock-hard front. He lifts the other leg and rests me on the kitchen counter. I gasp as he pulls the string that secures my apron. Even before it reaches the floor, his mouth has already captured my right nipple, sucking it through the fabric of my tank top.

God, yes.

I rock my pussy against the hard counter, trying to soothe the growing need as he sucks my breasts. Slowly, savoring the nipples like a treat, each circle of his tongue emitting bursts of pleasure in my stomach. With my head thrown back, soft moans coming from my mouth, I run my hands down his arms. My grip tightens around his wrists as he pulls on my nipple with his teeth.

“Aiden…”

With a grunt, he pulls up my top and I flinch, but only for a moment. It’s hard to consider my insecurity when his mouth feels so good on my stomach. He kisses every inch with so much reverence, leaving goosebumps everywhere. He pulls the top further up, his tongue sliding between my breasts.

“You taste so fucking good, Scarlett,” he whispers against my lips, sliding his hand under my skirt. “Making me want to run my tongue everywhere .” He kisses my neck, then sucks on a sensitive spot while caressing my inner thigh.

“Everywhere,” he repeats, stroking upward.

With a groan, I spread myself, giving him access to exactly where I’d want his tongue to be. He strokes me right there, dragging a lone finger up the seam and slowly massaging my clit through my panties. Sharp, sweet pleasure runs from that spot, spreading all over my entire body.

“Oh God,” I whisper, rocking myself. Aiden certainly knows what he’s doing, because I can already feel that climax building between my thighs.

With my arms pressed back on the counter, I brace myself as he takes my panties off. My breath stops halfway up my throat as he slips two fingers inside me. Then he starts thrusting, slow and sensual, lustful eyes locked with mine. I don’t know what arouses me more; the fact that I’m sprawled on the kitchen counter, his finger-fucking, or that look on his face. Almost as if he envies how I feel around his fingers. As if he yearns for that tight, wet sensation around his cock.

His fingers still thrusting in that slow beat, he dips down and takes my engorged clit in his mouth, sucking hard, then licking that sensitive spot, over and over and over, until I see nothing but stars dancing before my eyes.

“Yes, Aiden,” I breathe, gripping the back of his head. “Don’t stop—”

Quickened thrusts make me gasp for breath as his fingers twist inside me, churning, making me cream for him. My juices drip between my thighs and he licks me clean with that thick, broad tongue, then goes back to lapping that sensitive spot on the tip of my clit. A long-winded moan hits the roof and bounces off the kitchen walls as I explode, spraying his face.

Aiden doesn’t even flinch. He keeps fucking me with those fingers, draining my body of that earth-shattering orgasm, as if I didn’t just squirt all over him.

“You’re even more beautiful falling apart for me,” he whispers, taking my mouth for a kiss that makes me want to fall apart again . My toes curl as I lick his mouth, getting even more aroused as I taste myself.

Aiden groans as I reach for his belt and quickly undo the buckle. “You don’t need to,” he whispers, gripping my hand.

“I know, but it’s not fair that I’m the only one getting pleasured,” I whisper back.

“You definitely weren’t the only one.” But he lets me unzip his pants and free his cock.

My fist wraps around it, barely closing. Holy shit. My eyes lift to meet his hooded stare. In this moment, I’m so tempted to lead him into my bedroom and impale myself with this hard, thick, pleasurable-looking appendage. I want to ride until I’m nothing but a shell of myself on top of him.

But I can’t.

“Fuck, Scarlett,” Aiden groans as I start stroking him. With one hand resting on the counter, the other gripping the back of my neck, he rocks with me, fucking my palm. Watching the lust intensifying in his eyes is so satisfying in this moment—

My brain is suddenly made aware of two things: the burning tomato sauce and the front door opening on the other side of the wall. With a gasp, I ease Aiden off me, then slide off the counter and pull my top down. Aiden quickly tucks himself away and buckles his pants. I snatch my panties off the floor as Daddy enters the doorway.

We’re fucked.

Daddy doesn’t appear half as shocked as I am, which I find weird until I remember Aiden’s car parked out front. What isn’t odd is that dark fury on his face trained directly at Aiden.

Correction: Aiden is fucked.

I dart in front of him, giving my father a look that says, ‘please don’t embarrass me.’ His expression immediately simmers with understanding, but he still mutters, “Tell your friend goodnight, Scar.” His emphasis on the word ‘friend’ confirms he knows exactly what we were doing in here. I’m twenty-two years old, but my face still burns from shame.

“My apologies, sir,” Aiden says politely as he inches past my father in the doorway. Which is quite a feat, considering how small the space is and they are two giants. Daddy looks him up and down but says nothing. Yet, I know exactly what’s on his mind.

Oh, boy.

I walk Aiden out to his Porsche that looks so out of place in my neighborhood. “I hope you’re not in any trouble,” he mutters, glancing back at the house.

“I’m more worried about you,” I joke. “You better go before Daddy changes his mind about mauling you.”

He grins. Another glance back at the house, then he brushes away a lock of hair from my face. “Really wish I could kiss you again,” he whispers, making my heart skip a beat.

Resisting the urge to do just that, I back away. “Yeah, you really want to be dinner, don’t you?”

Aiden laughs, blows me a kiss and slides into the driver’s seat. With my hand pressed against my chest, I watch until his taillights disappear on the highway. This is crazy. I shouldn’t be longing for the guy I’d suspected was out to get me twenty minutes ago. I shouldn’t be wishing he’d taken me with him, to someplace where we could finish what we started on the kitchen counter. I should be running, because despite how believable he was back there, something still gnaws at my insides. It still feels too good to be true.

Daddy is now sitting on the couch, removing his boots. He glances up as I close the door behind me.

“You got home early. Is everything okay?” I ask.

He gives me a wry look, clearly seeing through my attempt to discuss something other than decontaminating his kitchen. “Got the job done earlier than expected, so I came home, thinking you needed help with making dinner,” he mumbles, yanking off his socks. “Turned out you got plenty of help.”

“Dad, I’m sorry about your kitchen. We shouldn’t have—”

“I don’t care about the kitchen and I certainly don’t want to know what you’ve been doing in there.” He stands wearily. “Honey, you’re not a child anymore and I can’t tell you how to live your life but be careful. There’s something about that guy that puts me on edge and it’s not about his wealth. You’re the smartest kid I know, so use your common sense.”

There’s no sense in arguing when I have similar reservations. It’s starting to feel easy when I’m around him, but the doubts come right back once he’s out of my sight. I nod at my dad, then head back to the kitchen to salvage that burnt tomato sauce. Unfortunately, the damage is already done, and I start over from scratch.

While hoping it’s not a foreboding of terrible things to come.