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TWENTY-SIX

LENNOX

While my coffee percolates, I pull up my morning playlist and turn on my Bluetooth speaker. For years, I’ve started my days the same way: dancing around my apartment naked. I can’t say I don’t get a sick satisfaction out of knowing that my parents would lose their minds if they had even an inkling about what I was doing. And letting my girls hang free while I jam out to Melina, Lake, or Taylor? Heaven.

As I jiggle my sweet booty to the music, I really get down with my bad self. Pretty soon, I’ll only get to do this when Aiden is traveling.

It’s still unreal. The man is moving into my apartment.

I’m marrying him.

And he gave me a freaking orgasm I can’t stop thinking about.

God, I wish he’d given me another last night. Instead, he walked me to the door like a gentleman, said “Night Lex,” and winked before walking off, leaving me too stunned to speak.

My first instinct was to shout after him, but how could I, when I’m the one who warned him not to get too attached?

Regardless of how unsatisfied I was when I got home, I slept well. Thank god for that, because I’m meeting my father and Ryder for lunch to discuss Seven’s tour and to hopefully confirm that they’ll play at the Kingston wedding. After I’m finished there, I’ve got a few last-minute errands to run for Josie’s birthday party.

A loud thump, thump, thump on the door has me jumping and snatching the robe I keep hanging from the coat rack.

Cinching the pink silk around my waist, I saunter to the door and open it wide, expecting to find Millie. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s stopped by to ask me to turn it down. Little does she know I turn it up extra loud so she’ll come and hang out with me.

It’s hard getting time with her now that the Bolts are in the offseason and Gavin isn’t traveling. The man keeps her locked in the bedroom—and when she’s not being used as his sex toy, she’s busy being a mom.

Oddly, it sounds like a perfect little life to me.

“Oh sugarsnap. You’re not Millie.”

Aiden is dressed in a pair of navy-blue shorts and a Bolts shirt—of course—and he’s wearing a confused frown. “Sugarsnap?”

I wave and pull the door open farther so he can come in. “I’m trying something new. I’m not crazy about the duck thing.”

Chuckling, he roughs a hand through his messy curls. “Why not just ‘oh sugar’?”

I shrug. “It’s not enough to get the aggression out, ya know?”

Aiden purses his lips and nods, like he actually gets my insanity. “That’s what I said about duck.”

With a shake of my head, I pad to the kitchen. “Want a cup of coffee?”

“I stopped by to see if you wanted to join me in the gym.”

Coffeepot in hand, I finally take a moment to appreciate the fine-ass specimen that is Aiden Langfield. (Sorry, sugarsnap doesn’t work there. I’m telling you, this not cursing thing is a challenge).

His shirt stretches perfectly across his taut chest, but my real weakness is his damn calf muscles. It’s got to be the skating. No one on this earth has calves as tempting as this man’s.

They’re sculpted and pretty. And I don’t say it lightly. They’re beautiful.

The idea of watching him flex them while he works out? Of bearing witness to the way he’ll bend over, causing his calf muscle to protrude even farther? I’d probably fall off the treadmill or drool so much that he’d slip in it, and then I’d be blamed for breaking NHL’s golden boy. No thank you.

“I’ll pass,” I say evenly rather than admitting to the possibility of a drooling disaster.

“Nervous to spend time overheated and sweating beside me?” he challenges, a cocky smirk spreading across his face. “Because as roommates, we’re going to have to share a bed, and things tend to get hot ”—he practically bites the air when he says the word—“when I’m in bed.”

Spinning away from him, I pour coffee into my favorite pink mug. “Obsessed with yourself much?”

“Someone’s gotta be.”

I’ve got my head stuck inside the fridge when his words hit me. Does Aiden not know how adored he is? How much his family loves him? How he lights up any room he enters?

I snag the can of whipped cream and straighten, aiming it at my coffee, sweetening it up just like I like it.

Aiden drags his gaze up as I turn toward him. Busted. He was very clearly staring at my ass.

“So gym?” he asks again.

I bring the coffee to my lips slowly. “I recently learned that it takes fourteen muscles to lift a cup of coffee to one’s mouth.” I wink. “Getting all my fitness right here.”

His responding laugh shudders through me. “Come on, Lex. Drink your coffee and then come work out with me. You used to love to come to the gym with me.”

“Yeah, because I liked staring at you. You’re very pretty to look at.”

Propping himself up against the counter on the other side of the kitchen, he waggles his brows. “I’m even prettier now. And I dance between sets. I know how you feel about dancing.”

Dammit. I do love dancing.

“You can even bring your coffee,” he cajoles. “And we can play another round of Never Have I ever.” He waggles his brows. “Ya know, get to know one another even better so we’re more prepared next time we’re in front of one of our family members.”

The man slathers it on like butter on a biscuit. My biscuit. And dammit if I don’t want to have my biscuit and to eat it too.

“Fine, but only if you promise to do extra squats.”

Aiden gives me a thorough once-over. It’s only then that I realize how very naked I am beneath the fuchsia silk. “Baby, I’ll squat all you want.”

My cheeks are likely the shade of my robe, and there’s not a whole lot I can do about that. I push him toward the door. “Okay, Hockey Boy. I’ll get dressed and meet you down there.”

After I take a cold shower.

Where I’ll definitely be spending time with my dildo, because, oh sugar daddy, this girl is horny.

Yeah, sugar daddy doesn’t work either.

When I walk into the gym, Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” is blasting, and Aiden is lunging across the length of the gym like he owns the place.

When he spots me in the mirror, he purses his lips, his eyes narrowing. In one quick move, he does a jumping spin, and then he stalks toward me, shimmying his shoulders to the beat as he makes up his own lyrics just like he did long ago when he’d drive around with me in the passenger seat. We’d cruise with no location in mind, laughing and singing.

“Oh, when you stalk me every day

Tell me no, then say okay,

My heart goes pitter patter this way,

Mmm, Princess, you’re so into me

And if you’d only agree

We could make a sweet symphony,

He steps into my space, his muscles already glistening, his hair damp.

It’s not only a ? —”

I slap a hand to his mouth before he can finish Mariah Carey’s line.

“You wish,” I say, though there’s no fighting the smile that splits my face.

The grin beneath my palm is just as wide, and his eyes dance. Instantly, I’m lost in them, falling into their depths, floating through memory after memory. The songs he’d sing to me, even while we made love.

He nips at my palm, startling me out of my reverie.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I pull back like I’ve been singed. He’s clearly trying to relight the spark between us, so maybe I have. I wish he’d stop. I don’t want him to get hurt.

“You going to do reps with me?” Why does every single word out of his mouth sound so seductive? Or is it me? Is it all in my head?

I point at the treadmill. “I’ll be over there.”

Aiden smirks. “Perfect. That was my next stop.”

I can’t help the aggravated huff that escapes me. Why is he determined to be so close to me? Doesn’t he get that this is a bad idea?

Trying my best to ignore him—which is no easy feat—I step onto the treadmill and set the speed to 3.5.

When the man steps up behind me and rests his hand on my hips, I practically purr. It takes all the self-control I have, but I fight the urge and instead adopt a frustrated tone. “What are you doing?”

“Working out with you,” he murmurs into my ear.

“ Aiden .”

His voice is teasing, his breath tickling my neck. “Yes, Princess?”

I press my ear to my shoulder, forcing his head away. “You’re going to get hurt.”

He chuckles, his chest vibrating against my back. “You could turn this all the way to the highest setting, and we’d be fine.”

I snort. “Thinking pretty highly of yourself again, I see.”

“It’s called confidence. I’m confident I can keep up. Confident you’ll be the first to break.”

I suck in a deep breath, and despite my better judgment, I crank the speed up. When it’s at 6.5, I’m panting and close to death. Behind me, Aiden strides easily, miraculously not tripping me and still holding my hips. How is he moving his legs so fast without using his arms?

It’s probably those damn perfect calves. They’re keeping us both going.

“I could do this all day, or you could stop so we can grab lunch and just talk,” he sings in my ear. It’s to the tune of “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift. I swear to god the man lives in song.

And every time he does it, I feel lighter.

I grab the red emergency tab and pull, causing the machine to come to an immediate stop.

Behind me, the cocky bastard chuckles and gives my thigh a squeeze. “Good girl.”

Holy shit, I might hyperventilate. Why are those two words so fucking sexy?

I spin around and push him back, forcing him off the machine. He grins, knowing he’s gotten to me.

“I’ve got plans. Sorry, fake fiancé.”

He sticks his bottom lip out in an exaggerated pout. It’s ridiculously adorable. The man pouts adorably. Come on.

Stepping up so close his scent washes over me—clean laundry and a hint of sweat—he clutches my left hand and rubs his thumb along my fourth finger.

“Guess I need to pick up a fake ring,” I say, trying to ground us again.

Aiden clenches his jaw and looks from my finger to my face. “I’ll handle it. What do you have planned for lunch?”

I do my best to ignore how much I enjoy his touch. “I’m meeting with my father and Ryder.”

His grip tightens on my finger, and a scowl forms on his face. “Why?”

With a sigh, I deflate. Dammit. This is the perfect reminder that he won’t handle this all well. I may be attracted to Aiden, but he’s got feelings. They’re big and beautiful, and he’s more in tune with them than any man I’ve ever met. They just aren’t directed at the right person. I can’t be what he wants.

“You know why. I need to lock his band down for the Kingston wedding.”

“Your father wants you to work for him. He wants to control you.”

My chest tightens, but I fight the sensation and tip my chin up defiantly. “I can’t be controlled.”

Eyes softening, Aiden releases my hand and cups my chin instead. His thumb scrapes softly against my skin. “Good.” He smiles. “Dinner, then? We can do takeout after I move in.”

“You’re moving in tonight?” I squeak, instantly assaulted by a flood of nerves.

“That gonna be a problem, Princess?”

There’s no stopping the laugh that escapes me at his cockiness. “No problem for me. Just remember the rules, and we’ll be good.”

Pressing closer, he brings his mouth to my ear. “You set the rules, Princess. I’ll do whatever you tell me to.”

With that, he walks backward, a smile on his face, and goes back to singing “Blank Space.”