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TWENTY-NINE

LENNOX

Oh, he wants to play. We’ll mother-freaking play. I kick my shoes into my closet and remove each article of clothing piece by angry piece.

All night, I was tormented by the knowledge that he was in my apartment and I was at dinner, fending off pass after pass from Ryder. Because, of course, Aiden was right. The man wasn’t interested in hearing my pitch for the wedding. He wanted to just “get to know” me.

I said Aiden’s name more tonight than I did in the entirety of our relationship all those years ago, trying to drill into the imbecile’s head that I have a boyfriend.

Fake fiancé, really. Once we get a ring. And make the announcement. But whatever. The point is, I’m a taken woman.

Ryder didn’t get the message.

I left dinner without a yes for my boss. Instead, I reluctantly agreed to having lunch with Ryder next week “to discuss.”

I thought that was what dinner was for.

Clenching my fists, I do a jumpy dance and bite back the scream just begging to be let loose. The frustration coursing through me was only compounded when I walked into my apartment to find Aiden acting totally casual, like he isn’t the least bit fazed by the prospect of sleeping beside me tonight. Oh, and the ass was freaking shirtless.

I’m horny, and I’m agitated. Some people get hangry, but I get hagitated.

And there is only one thing that will cure this.

I stalk out of the bedroom in all my naked glory, head held high. “Want something to drink?” I call to him as I head to the kitchen.

He’s lying on the couch, pretending to watch TV.As I peer over my shoulder at him, he looks up. His eyes practically bug out of his head, and he shoots up to sitting when he realizes he’s staring at my bare ass.

“ Lex .”

I spin, giving him a full frontal. “Yes?”

Catapulting off the couch, he slaps a hand to his face, covering his eyes. “You’re… naked .”

“And you’re shirtless,” I say. “Thought we were getting comfortable since it’s our apartment. This is what I wear when I’m at home. Can you not handle it? Ready to admit you’re catching feelings, Hockey Boy?”

Aiden’s chest rises with a heavy inhale, drawing my attention to the defined pecs, then the cut abs on full display. “Come on, Lex. You can’t walk around naked and expect me to stay over here.”

“Who said you have to stay over there?”

He pulls his hand away from his eyes, only to fist it and bite down on it, clearly using all his restraint to keep his eyes focused on mine. But I see the longing there. The want. The desire. It fuels my next words.

“We should probably set some rules.”

With a thick swallow, he nods and drops his hands to his sides, fists still clenched tight. “Right. Rules. Yes, I know I got carried away the other night, but I get it. We’re just friends, and I can apparently look”—he gives me a once-over, his lips parting—“but I can’t touch.”

My heart lurches. “What? No.”

Aiden frowns. “What do you mean no ?”

I put a hand on my hip. “There was no mention of forced celibacy while we’re living in this charade. For all we know, this could take a freaking year. No sex for a year? No thanks.”

He scratches at his face, trying so hard to keep his focus fixed on my face rather than my plentiful assets. “So you want to, what, have sex with other people?” He grimaces, a vein in his forehead pulsing.

Ah, unhinged Aiden has finally made an appearance. It’s a relief to see behind the polite, unaffected mask he’s so good at wearing.

Glaring, I step closer. “You touch another woman, and I’ll cut your pretty dick off.”

His brows shoot to his forehead, and he coughs out a laugh. “You think my dick is pretty?”

Teenage Aiden’s dick sure was. I have a feeling adult Aiden is going to rock my world and ruin me.

“I have no idea. It’s been years since I’ve seen it. Played with it. Sucked it .”

Aiden stares at me, eyes wide and unblinking. “You want to fool around?” His voice is hoarse, thick. “Just us, no one else, for as long as we’re pretending?”

I arch my back, forcing my tits higher. Aiden’s Adam’s apple bobs in response. And in those athletic shorts, there’s no hiding that he’s just as turned on as I am. The outline of his erection is prominent.

“Yes. Fiancés with benefits. All the sex. All the fucking. All the orgasms. All the time.” I smirk. “ None of the feelings. Can you do that, Hockey Boy?”

Aiden’s chuckle is dark, almost angry. “You set the rules, Princess. I abide by them, right? So yeah.” He crosses the room so we’re toe to toe. “I can handle them.”

For a heartbeat, I think he’s going to lean in for a kiss, like he’s going to give us what we both want. Instead, he brushes past me and saunters to the kitchen. “What are you doing?”

Aiden returns quickly, holding a can of whipped cream, his eyes blazing.

Excitement courses through me, lighting up my nerve endings.

“You have your rules, and I have mine.” He pops the cap off the whipped cream, letting it clatter to the floor, and rests his finger on the nozzle. “I always have something sweet before bed.”

My pulse quickens, and my knees tremble in anticipation. “Okay?”

His grin is wicked, his dimple popping. “And I always have whipped cream on my dessert.”

He stalks forward, the abrupt movement sending me stumbling back until he has me pressed against the wall. With sin in his eyes, he presses the cap down. The whipped cream explodes all over my tits, the sputtering sound of the can drowning out my gasp.

Then Aiden’s mouth is on me, sucking hard, making me arch in surprise.

“Holy shit.” The words are breathless, desperate.

He swipes his tongue against my nipple, circling and sucking and then teasing me with his teeth. With each nip, heat pools in my core until I’m a puddle of need.

“Please, Aiden.”

“So you do know the name of the man you’re dating,” he teases without looking up.

“I need your cock,” I whimper, grasping his waistband.

Before I can yank his shorts down, he shuffles back. He’s still sucking on my tits, but he’s backed up far enough to keep his hips out of reach.

“First,” he grits out with a lap over one nipple, “I want you on the bed, on all fours, ass up. Once I get my fill of you, maybe I’ll fuck you like you so desperately need.”

“Yes, I’d like that,” I pant, so dizzy with desperation, my vision goes dark.

He finally looks up at me and leans in so his lips are pressed against mine. “You may be their princess, but I’m not your pet.” His voice is rougher, darker than I’ve ever heard it. “In bed, your rules go out the window. I’ll fuck you rough when I want to, and soft when I need it. Do you understand?”

Swallowing past the boulder in my throat, I nod. Speaking is impossible. Hot, fiery need radiates from him. His eyes are molten, and he’s practically vibrating with the effort it takes to hold on to his control.

It’s clearer now than ever that the hurt I inflicted years ago has changed him, molded him, from the boy who wore his heart on his sleeve to the man who’s got it locked in its rightful place, out of reach. He’s protective of himself. As much as I hate that I broke his heart, I can’t help but be relieved that he’s not taking my shit. That he’s pushing back. If he didn’t, I’d be worried about us moving forward. But for the first time since we started this dance, I’m not. Aiden’s in control now, so I’ll let him stay that way.

With a pinch so fierce it pulls a shout from me, he presses his mouth to mine, swallowing the sound and kissing me brutally. Yes, I think I like this version of Aiden very much.