Page 54

EMORY

“ I ’ve prepared a list.”

My eyes open to see Aiden standing over me with a book and his phone. I’m napping on the upper deck, on one of the sinfully soft cushions by the hot tub. The music from the barge is mellow now, and my whole body feels delicious.

I stretch, and his eyes skate over me.

“Don’t distract me,” he hisses. “That’s how you got bent over the counter.”

There’s a pulse inside me. I’d really like him to bend me over the counter again, but he claims I need food.

He sets our plates down. “I cooked.”

I eye the roast beef sandwiches. “You did not cook. Alexis made those.”

He laughs and flops down next to me. “Can’t fault a man for trying.”

That laugh makes something fizz inside me. “You’re different now,” I say before I wince. I don’t think you’re supposed to tell people things like that.

“Hmm?” He settles his book on his stomach. “Different?”

I pick up my plate. “You smile more.” I think of Aiden’s admission last night—that he thinks I’d like him more if he was a laugher.

“I suppose I do,” he says slowly. “I think I might have you to thank for that.”

“I’d like you either way,” I say. “But I think this way is better.” I bite into my sandwich.

He stills. “Meaning?”

“Meaning”—I swallow—“that I like that you have a hidden side. You don’t smile at everyone. Which means when you’re smiling at me, you must really like me.”

A slow grin spreads across his face. “Fishing for compliments, wife?”

That fizz is back. Champagne in my blood, lightness in my head. This can’t be healthy.

“From you?” I give him a disdainful look. “Never.” I lick a dollop of mustard off my thumb. “Now what were those questions?”

He props his head on a pillow and opens his phone before he looks back at me. “Can I wear the glasses, or are you going to have a spontaneous orgasm if I do?”

I stop mid-chew, glaring at him. “I wish I’d never told you about that.”

He grins and perches his glasses on his nose before he taps at his phone.

“Okay. First up. Why are the men in your books always thinking about their dicks?”

I snort a laugh. “Are you not?”

His brows tug together. “Of course I’m not. How would I get anything done?”

“Lots of jerking off, I guess.”

“I’m already doing that,” he growls.

I grin at him. “I know. Heard you in the shower four times.”

“And you didn’t even lend a hand.” He shakes his head. “Not very sporting of you.”

I giggle. “Next.”

“If you had to fan cast me as a romantic hero, which would you choose?”

“Excuse me? Who says I would fan cast you ?”

He grins, quick and sneaky. “Lots of other people have. I went down a rabbit hole. I’ve been fan cast in loads of things. Want to see the comments? Some of them are positively indecent.”

I toss a chip at his head. It lands on his chest. “Stop fishing for compliments.”

His smile broadens. “I want my wife to think I’m hot. Sue me.”

“Not your real wife,” I whisper. I forgot. Again. I need to stop doing that. His face falls and I look back at my sandwich. “Anyway, I do think you’re hot. And I’ve seen the fan casts.”

“Next question,” he says more quietly. “Why do you read them?”

“What do you mean?” My pulse speeds as I look at his face. He’s studying me with that Aiden intensity, cataloging my reactions. “I thought you said they were fun. You liked them.”

He taps the book cover. “That’s why I read them. I want to know why you do.”

“Does there need to be a reason?”

“I guess not,” he says slowly. “But you said something the other day. Well, several things. You said you didn’t have a heart. You said evil queens don’t fall in love.”

My throat tightens. Aiden was listening.

“I want to know why,” he says, his voice low. There’s a rustle as he sits fully up. “If you want to tell me.”

“It’s been a long time since I let anyone in.” I blow out a breath. “You know, before today, the last time I slept with a guy was a one-night stand? I don’t remember his name. And before that? I don’t even know. Maybe four months prior?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” he counters gently.

“I know.” I press my fingers to my face, hoping to cool my heated cheeks. “I just…I want to be in love. I never have been. Not for real. Not wholly and fully.” The words are a quiet admission I’ve never made, except to my mom.

“How do you know?”

I flick him a surprised glance. “What do you mean how do you know ? You’ve read about it, right?

” I hug my arms around my knees. “Or seen movies with it? Heard a song that describes heartbreak so accurately that it feels like your own? Watched a scene with actors so good that you put your hand over your mouth because otherwise you’ll cry at the beauty of it?

” I trace the title on his book. “Or read a scene that makes your stomach hollow out and your hands shake? When you feel the characters fall for each other and your whole body wants them to be together?”

He stills. “You haven’t had that before? Not with Harrison?”

I shake my head. “Definitely not. I want to find that person. But after Harrison—” My words choke off.

Aiden tugs me toward him, settling me between his legs, his chin on my shoulder. “You can tell me.”

“Don’t make fun of me.”

“Never.” He drops a kiss on my shoulder.

“I’m scared,” I whisper. “I didn’t see the signs with Harrison, and I should have. I didn’t protect myself. And now I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.”

He hums his agreement. “Do you protect yourself or do you let yourself fall?”

“Exactly.” My voice wavers and Aiden squeezes me. “I can’t have both, but I’m too scared to choose.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” he says, his voice rumbling over me.

“Sometimes we need time.” He drops another kiss on my neck.

“Sometimes we just need the right person to help us be brave.” His voice is soft, almost as gentle as his mouth over the crease of my shoulder.

“I bet when you fall in love, it will feel like the most natural thing in the world.”

“You think?” I turn so I can see his face.

His eyes are warm. “I know it.” He brushes a kiss on my lips. “I feel honored to know your secrets, Em. They’re safe with me.”

“I trust you,” I say before I kiss him back.

“Great. Because I have more questions.”

I laugh. “Of course you do. Hit me.”

“Which is your favorite book?”

“Oh. That’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite child.

” I tip my head back on his shoulder. “The one I’m reading today is one I’ve read a hundred times.

And it makes me ache every time I do.” I reach over and pass him the slim leatherbound book.

“My mom bought it for me when I graduated from college.”

“ Pride and Prejudice. I never read it in school.” He turns the book over in his hands. “Can I borrow this?”

“Sure.” I fight to keep my voice light. It feels like Aiden is chipping away at my walls, breaking off pieces of me and keeping them for himself. “You might hate it.”

He cracks the book open. “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” He gives me a stunned look. “Huh. I feel like she really understands me.”

“Shut up.” I roll my eyes, but I feel fluttery and light from his joking.

“Are there any naughty bits in here?” He holds the book up.

I blink at him. “Naughty bits? Aiden, it’s nineteenth-century literature. I promise you any naughty bits would be so flowery and obscure that you wouldn’t get hard from them.”

He wags his brows. “You might be surprised. I’m a very lonely man in need of a wife.”

“Yeah?” I can’t help my smile.

His eyes drop to my mouth. Then he drops the book on the cushion and skims his fingers up my legs. “I think I should show her that she made the right choice in marrying me.”

“Not your real wife,” I pant as his lips land on the crease of my thigh.

His breath is warm and damp. He slides his tongue between my legs, and I whimper.

“Oh, Em,” he says longingly. “It tastes like you are, sweetheart.”

My mind goes blank as he licks me, except for one traitorous thought—

You make me want to be.

Our eyes meet in the bathroom mirror that night while we brush our teeth.

Aiden’s are alight with mischief. He’s shirtless as he brushes, and my eyes keep snagging on the way his arm muscles bunch. I swear, he flexes when he catches me staring.

“His and hers,” he says through a mouth full of toothpaste, tipping his head toward the sinks.

“My dream,” I mutter, but I’m grinning. I can’t help it.

He bumps me with his shoulder and my smile grows, even through my own toothpaste.

He spits, then wipes his face with one of the monogrammed towels. I grab my own plain towel, and he barks a laugh.

“I’m not getting your initials anywhere close to my face,” I say.

“There’s an innuendo in there somewhere.” He winks, and my stomach jumps.

I rush back into my room. I want him to stay. What if he doesn’t want to? But I think he does.

I grab my pajamas and take a deep inhale, before I turn around. He’s leaning against the doorframe, wearing those black briefs, arms crossed, face hungry.

I can do this. Aiden isn’t nervous. “Do you want to stay?”

His mouth tugs up. “Are you propositioning me? Again? Naughty girl.”

“If you’re going to make fun of me, I’m going to take it back. I’m asking if you want to sleep over.”

His eyes gleam. “And if I want to cuddle?”

I shiver at the thought. “I’ll allow it.” I’m fighting a smile as he pushes off the wall. He stalks forward, each step making muscles flex in a way that makes my mouth go dry.

“On the bed, wife,” he growls.

I scramble under the covers and pull them up to my chin.

The mattress dips as he climbs on, then lifts the covers and curls around me.

His hand lands on my hip, before he tucks me back against his chest. I can feel his heartbeat against my back, the smooth, hot skin of his stomach, the crisp hairs on his legs as he wedges one between mine.

“You like this?” he asks softly.

“I like it.” So much. Aiden is everywhere and he makes the world fall away.

“Good,” he whispers, his breath ruffling my hair. “I like it too.” His thumb drags over my hip, before a pleased sound rumbles up from his chest. “Sleeping with you will be fun.”

“Who taught you about fun?”

He tucks me closer, mouth to my ear.

“You did,” he whispers.