“Seriously?”
“It’s therapeutic.”
“For who, the producers?”
“Shh,” I scold, curling into his side. “Let me rot in peace.”
When I go for my tea, he reaches over me to grab it first, testing the temperature like I’m made of porcelain.
“Too hot,” he warns.
“You’re insufferable.”
“And you love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
Leaning back, he grows quiet. “But will you tell me?”
Everywhere inside me surges with longing. “Tell you what?” But I know what he’s getting at.
Facing me, he bashfully blinks. “You know what, demoness. Tell me.”
I brush his hair off his forehead and smile. “I love you, Aiden.”
His thumb collects a wayward tear that escaped with my grin of joy. Hesitant breath and careful movement, he leans in and presses his lips to mine. It makes my heart flutter. He draws back enough to whisper, “I love you more.”
“Aiden, I wanted this. This is it. Right here.”
“No. Not right here.” He shifts until he tugs me up into the crook of his arm. My head rests against his pec, but I’m still able to see the screen. He holds my mug and gives me sips of tea. Then follows it with some snacks for me to nibble on as he finishes whatever I didn’t in one big bite.
“Righthere,” he says with his mouth full. Pizza crumbs dusting us both.
It’s comfortable. And I can’t help but remember all those diary entries I made about my crush from Crest and how I wish we could have done this forever.
Now, we’ll get to.
By the second episode, he’s stopped pretending not to care. He comments on the contestants’ stupidity, plays judge andjury from the other side of the bed, and even shouts at the screen once when someone picks the wrong guy.
“You’re way too invested,” I murmur through a smile.
“I’mnot,” he lies. “But this idiot ruined a perfect alliance!”
Somewhere between laughter and the low thrum of the credits, sleep steals me. The last thing I remember is his heartbeat under my ear and the comfort of his hand tracing lazy circles down my back.
And it’s everything I ever wanted. Or thought I did… Until I wake the next morning.
forty-four
Sheets warm,but slippery. Pleasure and wetness and heat and bliss and?—
“Aiden! Ohgods?—”
He’s already awake, hair a black tangle between my legs, grin slow and dangerous. “Mmm. Morning, baby girl.”
His mouth hums into my pussy, and as he lifts his head, his chin is covered in my blood. He looks like a feral animal, cannibalistically eating me until he’s coated with everything I have.
“What are you doing!” I murmur. “It’s messy.”