Page 20

20

Hex

I blame the mind-blowing orgasm Aran gave me for falling asleep before I could tell him about the progress I made at the Lynxes’ party. It’s a good problem to have, I suppose, and it’s made better by the fact that I find my dream man watching over me from a chair by the bed that he’s dragged over from the lounge.

If I had to guess, he didn’t or couldn’t sleep all because of me and how deeply he loves me.

I throw the blanket over my head and curl under it, muffling my giddy squeal. Holy shit, I can’t believe this. Aran and I kissed and jerked off together. He touched me and he made me come and it was the best thing ever.

My dick gives a twitch of approval, stirring in interest. Aran was so fucking hot, the way he manhandled me, the rumbly sounds he made, the intensity of his kiss. My hackles rise, my skin humming with pleasant shivers. Just remembering the dark look in his eyes is enough to ignite the fire in me anew. I want his hands on me again, I want his lips, his taste, the feel of his heated skin with no clothes between us.

I lift the blanket slowly and peek from under it, making sure he doesn’t notice me observing him. He’s holding a tablet in one hand, reading from it, while sipping coffee with the other one.

Has he slept at all? I wouldn’t put it past him to have stayed up all night guarding me like my own personal knight in shining armor.

The first thing I notice is that his hair is messier than usual, which tells me that he must’ve run his hand through it more than he normally does. It happens when he’s anxious about something, or when he doesn’t know what to do, so there is definitely something weighing on his mind. If I’m lucky, it’s me and how amazing it felt to have my hand on his big cock.

Because it was big. I only felt it through his pants and mostly with my ass, but it was rock-hard and hot and thick and definitely past average length. My eyes drop to his crotch, though I can’t see much as he’s crossed one leg over the other. I can picture what’s hiding there regardless, pulling on my memory from last night as my mouth fills with saliva.

I want to suck him. I want to get up from this bed, sit between his legs and make him come with my mouth so hard his brain short-circuits.

“You should get up if you are awake. You have yet to tell me what you found out last night,” Aran says sternly, cocking an eyebrow as our gazes meet.

I shove the blanket over my head, my face burning. Shit, did he catch me ogling him? My heart launches into a mad dash, pounding loudly in my ears as I clasp my warm cheeks.

Why am I embarrassed when I ogle him all the time? He’s used to it, and so am I.

But even if I tell myself that, something feels different. Something has changed and now just the thought of showing my likely flushed face in front of him causes hundreds of butterflies to gather in my stomach.

The chair moves and I hear fabric rustling, then footsteps. A few seconds later, the bed dips with added weight.

“Tien. I was really worried. I still am. I need to know that nothing happened to you while I wasn’t around,” Aran says in a voice both gentle and fond.

Swoon. I’m dead.

Does he realize what he’s saying? And how he’s saying it?

My cheeks burn even more as funny things happen to my stomach. After what we did, I don’t really know what to do with myself. I want to look at him and at the same time I want to remain hidden from his captivating brown eyes or they might see past any attempt I make to act normal today.

“Tien. Look at me.”

Ugh. Why does my name sound so nice when he’s the one saying it? That has always been the case, but it’s suddenly ten times worse.

Begrudgingly and with my heart sprinting wildly, I peel the blanket off myself and sit up in the bed. Aran’s imploring gaze settles on my face and he reaches with one hand to stroke my heated cheek.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, rubbing his thumbs along my jawline.

I should grin and pretend the hand job he gave me isn’t a big deal, but it kind of is. And those kisses…

“Horny…” We stare at each other for a couple loud heartbeats. “I mean hungry! I’m like super hungry. We should have breakfast and talk because I my brain doesn’t work on an empty stomach.”

Aran chuckles and stands, giving me an amusement-laced once-over. “I’ll make you something.” He points at the clothes on the nightstand. They are mine and they are folded, even though I’m pretty sure I left them in a pile on the floor yesterday. “Get dressed and join me in the lounge.”

“Wait!” I grab him by the sleeve and hop out of bed in my boxers.

His nostrils flare as his eyes drink me in from head to toe. I feel my entire body flush and wish I was wearing at least a T-shirt, so I am a bit less exposed because, oh my god, I don’t think I’m ready for this.

My dick, on the other hand, finds this situation very agreeable. In no time, it’s tenting my underwear, before I can even attempt to hide it. Aran’s eyes flick down to it, the black in them growing. He inches in closer, draping his long and elegant but deadly fingers over my shoulder.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he tells me in a voice that’s a notch hoarser.

Well, yes. It’s not a good idea because it’s, in fact, a great idea, if his hungry eyes that can’t stop roaming me are anything to go by. At the same time though, I’ve suddenly forgotten all the knowledge I have obtained from watching romance series and porn, so seducing him kind of flies out the window.

Aran leans in, tilting my head as he brings his lips to my ear. A thrill slides down my spine at his closeness, prickly and invigorating.

I do the only thing I can before I explode from embarrassment and his teasing. I toss an arm around his neck and attack his mouth. If I can’t manage words, I might as well render his aloof and cool self speechless too, right?

Well, it kind of backfires, because he’s kissing me back. With passion and like he’s been waiting for this all night. His tongue is slick and dominant, hungry for me as it pushes past my teeth, as it maps every corner. I can’t get enough of it as time freezes and just the two of us exist in this moment.

All I can smell is Aran. All I can taste and feel is him. My world has narrowed down to him, to the way he devours me as if I am the one thing that keeps his heart beating. It’s a first, and I am immediately addicted.

Slowly, Aran pulls away, stroking my jaw. “You need to stop tempting me or I don’t know what I might do.”

I blink at him, my mouth hanging open.

“I am serious, Tien. I… This was never supposed to happen and now that it has, I don’t know how to navigate it. I told myself that I’d make things go back to how they were before, that you and I will return to being a bodyguard and his best friend’s son, but—”

“Nope,” I cut in, shushing him with a finger. “Nuh-uh. Not happening. No backsies. The only way is the way forward.” I step back and plant my hands on his chest, pushing him away. “And just like you are my way forward, I am yours too, so you better accept that.” I cross my arms and arch an eyebrow at him. “But luckily for you, I can be patient. Sort of. So, I’ll give you some time to get used to this, because I am nice like that.”

Shaking his head, Aran lets his mouth curve up into a smile. “You are impossible.”

I shoot him a grin as giddiness invades my chest. He didn’t deny anything or disagree or argue with me. “And hungry. I want pancakes.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?” I parrot back, baffled. “You won’t argue with me and try to convince me that I should have muesli and yogurt because it’s healthier?”

“Not today. I think you burned some extra calories.” He outright evil-smirks at me. “Now, go shower before you catch a cold.”

I’m gawking at where he was standing for a long minute after he leaves and starts clattering in the kitchen. I hear a groan and the noises pause, continuing shortly after. It didn’t sound like Aran… Frowning, I try to place it, just now remembering that Mong is in the other room. Mong who we kidnapped and knocked out so Aran could pose as him. Good job me for forgetting that tiny detail.

When no screaming or shouting follows, the budding anxiety in me subsides. Our poor victim must still be asleep. That’s good, very good. He didn’t hear me moaning like a porn star last night while Aran’s hand took me to heaven.

We got this.

But as I pad out of the room and under the shower, I do wonder one thing—should we wake Mong up and offer him some pancakes too? It’s been more than twelve hours, so he must be very hungry by now.