Page 22

Chapter 22

Aiden

“Take me to your place, Aiden.”

Biting my lip, I suppress a groan. Scarlett doesn’t know it, but my self-control has been hanging by a thread since she stepped out in that dress. I want to be a gentleman. I want her to trust that I want more than what’s between her legs. I’m not trying to screw her for revenge. For her to believe in me, I need to take her home.

Her home , not mine. That thread of self-control is quickly unraveling.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve asked, not insisted,” she says when the silence wears on. “It’s fine if you can’t.”

From the wistfulness in her tone, I can tell it’s not fine. Even after my plea, she still doubts me. Which is valid, since I’ll be keeping our fling a secret for the short term. If she should ever find out, I want to prove I’m in this for the long haul.

“It’s not that I can’t, Scarlett,” I reply. “I’m not the Patron Saint of self-control, especially with you in that dress.”

“Well, you bought it,” she points out amusingly.

“I didn’t anticipate it being so goddamn sexy on you.”

Scarlett moans softly, her body shifting on the seat. A comfortable silence settles between us as I slow to a cruise. I’m not ready for the night to end, but I can’t think of another place where Scarlett and I can hang without me wanting to fuck her.

“If one of us has self-control, then it should be okay, right?” she finally asks. “Once I say no, you wouldn’t touch me.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t.” I’ve never forced myself on a woman. Never will.

“Good, so we can hang out for about an hour or so, then you’d take me home.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“About what?”

“Your self-control. I do look snazzy in this suit. Think you can resist me?”

Scarlett laughs out loud, prompting my own laughter, which diffuses the sexual tension.

“I haven’t been with anyone since my senior year in high school—which was awful, by the way,” she says. “My self-control is stronger than anything you can imagine.”

“I’ll crank up a movie, get some popcorn and juice and we can test that theory,” I suggest.

“Sounds like my kinda night,” she replies with a wide smile.

Ten minutes later, we’re turning up my driveway and I steer the car around to the pool house. Although my parents are still at dinner, its best I keep away from the main house. I haven’t told them about my decision to leave Casey alone.

Scarlett plops on the couch and kicks her heels off. “Cute, but not for the weak,” she murmurs.

“And here I was hoping you’d keep them on.” I stand in front of her, slowly removing my jacket. “And take that dress off instead.”

“Aiden,” she says warningly.

“What?” I grin. “I promised not to touch you. I can’t remember mentioning not teasing you.”

“Don’t do that either.” Yet, her expression is filled with pure lust. Those perky nipples confirm everything.

“Why?” With both hands resting on either side of her, I lean in, so close that our lips almost brush. “Scared you have no self-control, either?”

“Aiden.” This time, it’s a whisper, her warm breath caressing my lips. “Behave.”

“I am behaving,” I whisper back. “If I wasn’t, you’d already be open like a flower, and I’d be licking that sweet pussy of yours.”

Scarlett gasps and throws her head back on the couch and I chuckle. “So much for your self-control being stronger than anything I’ve ever known.”

She pushes at my chest. “Get the popcorn, you devil.”

Still chuckling, I back off her. I enter the kitchen, only to remember using the last batch of popcorn during the most recent team hangout. Which means going to the main house. Scarlett has already got the TV on as I cross the living room.

“Be right back,” I announce, and she gives me a thumbs up while letting her hair down.

This feels good. Refreshing. Unlike any other time I’ve been with another girl.

Thunder peals overhead, forcing me to look up. Stars still decorate the sky, assuring me we’re good for now. I hurry into the house, grab the popcorn and some extra snacks, then head back.

Scarlett is now curled up on the couch, the dress pulled up, giving me a peek of her legs. She sees me staring, then pulls it back down with a smirk.

“Need any help?” she calls out as I scoop a serving of corn into the machine.

“No. Sit that pretty ass down,” I order, smiling as she scurries back to the couch. As I lean against the kitchen counter, my eyes shifting from her to the popcorn machine, then back to her, I realize how wholesome I feel. It’s been a while. Years, probably.

She sits up as I approach with a tray filled with enough treats to make a movie-goer jealous. I expect a smile, at least, but she gives me a weird look instead.

“You’re something else, Aiden Hunter,” she whispers.

“I hope that’s a good thing.” I press a button to recline the sofa and get comfortable beside her.

“It is. Scary, but good.”

I’d love for her to elaborate, but I don’t want to let the tension back in. Right now, the atmosphere feels light and friendly and I want to keep it that way. Otherwise, our night will end with us both on the floor, naked, screwing each other’s brain out. Scarlett’s not fooling me with that self-control statement she made.

We fall into a friendly argument over the movie choice and I eventually give up, settling for a cheesy rom-com she likes. She swoons at a scene where the guy shows up beneath the girl’s bedroom window with a boombox on his shoulder. A cringy way to apologize, in my opinion. Scarlett swats me when I tease her about it.

Within an hour, the snacks are all gone, Scarlett curled up to my side, her head resting on my shoulder.

Thunder suddenly cracks above us, making the lights flicker. “Seems like it’s starting to rain,” Scarlett mumbles.

“I have umbrellas in the cupboard,” I reply. “Ready to go?”

She shakes her head. “Not yet. Let’s finish this movie.”

Another peal of thunder fills the air, this one louder and longer. Scarlett stiffens against me. “Scared?” I ask with slight amusement. “You can always curl up on my lap.”

She pushes at my shoulder with a snort. “Behave.”

“I am behaving. I’ve been keeping my hands to myself all this time, haven’t I?”

“Yeah, but we both know you’ve been thinking of doing things with those hands.”

“You’re projecting.” Smiling, I twist to face her. “ You want me to do things with these hands.”

“I do not—”

“Like this.” I sweep the hair from her face, cupping her cheek. Scarlett sighs and leans into my palm, nuzzling it. Awareness fills her face and she pulls away.

Seeing my knowing grin, she swats me again. “Don’t say a goddamn word.”

I laugh instead.

A sudden roar brings my laugh to an abrupt end. I ease off the couch, frowning at the rattling balcony door. “What the hell?”

Scarlett stands as I rush to the windows and part the curtains. “Fuck. Scar, we need to go.”

She slips her shoes on and I grab the biggest umbrella from the closet. With my arm around her waist, we step out the front door.

And into a thunderstorm.

Gusty winds immediately throw us off balance and yanks the umbrella from my grip. Within a few seconds, we’re drenched from head to toe by the freezing rain. It’s pounding so hard that I can’t even see the path. I grab Scarlett’s hand, pulling her with me as I push against the wind, using my memory to guide the way. The outline of my car soon confirms we’re heading in the right direction—

Scarlett’s hand flies from my grip, making me stop short. I turn to find her sprawled on the ground. I lift her in my arms as something hits me and I turn, heading back to the pool house.

“Holy fuck,” I mutter, setting Scarlett down in the foyer, then closing the door against the chaos outside. Scarlett sinks down to the floor, panting hard, which prompts me to check her over for bruises.

“Just my butt. I went down hard,” she groans, rubbing the spot.

“Come on. Let’s get you out of these clothes.” I try to lift her up again, but she shakes her head.

“Let me walk so I can work out this kink in my butt.” She pushes against me to stand, groaning again.

She goes to the bathroom while I dig around in a drawer, happy that I’d left some clothes over here. Although, the devil in me wouldn’t mind Scarlett parading around naked. I grab a T-shirt and a pair of boxers. The devil in me also won’t mind if she chooses not to put those boxers on.

I hear the shower running, so I rest them on top of the toilet seat, along with a towel. A quick shower in the next bathroom and I come out wearing something similar, finding Scarlett on the couch typing away on her phone, her damp hair framing her face.

Then she frowns deeply. She reads something on the screen and looks up at me with a grave expression. “I need to go. We have to brave that storm.”