That comment rewards me with a get real look.
“Don’t worry.” I give her a thumbs up. “Your back checked out just fine.”
“Aaron.” She stomps the ground in front of her, causing me to smile. “I’m being serious. I’m in a committed relationship, and we almost kissed. I can’t be kissing you, not when I’m with someone else.”
“We can fix that easily. Just break up with him. See? Simple.” Although I know it’s anything but simple.
“What? No.”
Even though she’s saying no, I see the way she looks at me, the way her body reacts to mine. There is still something resting heavily between us and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to act on it.
I walk toward her, my eyes trained on hers. Slightly scared, she backs up until she’s against the wall. I take that as my cue and close in on her, pinning her against the wall with both my hands on either side of her head.
I have her just where I want her.
Chapter Fifteen
AMELIA
This is not good.
This is sooo not good.
He’s too close, dangerously close.
And I can’t stop staring at him, taking in the way his muscles contract with every movement he makes, the way he sears me with just one look, the way he smells like fresh laundry and pure masculinity.
And I also can’t stop licking my damn lips.
There is only one reason for my behavior. From the way my body responds to his, I’m so not over this man. Not even close, despite how much I wish I am. Every time he’s near me, my stomach flips, my heart rate picks up, and memories of what used to be immediately replays in my head.
He has me locked against the wall right now, and as a woman in a healthy relationship, I should easily be able to push him away from me, and say, “No, no, sir. I’m spoken for.”
But instead, the juncture between my thighs aches. No, it burns for him, as my pelvis slowly dry-humps the air in his direction.
Classy, so fucking classy.
I’m just horny, that’s all. I haven’t seen Trey in a few weeks, and I haven’t heard from him in a couple days. And when I don’t see or hear from my man in a few days, I get stir-crazy. That’s it.
It’s not the six-foot-six, giant muscle of a man hovering over me, piercing me with his seductive eyes, and filling me with an impossible sensory overload that my body’s only response is to casually dry-hump the air.
It’s not that at all.
“You might be in a relationship, Amelia, but you want me,” he says, his voice rumbling over my body like the thunder outside.
“Not true,” I answer meekly, but we both know it’s a lie. My hands reach out to hold on to his waist, but I stop them and tuck them behind my back. There is no touching . . . God, but I want to touch him. Everywhere.
Leaning in closer, he runs his cheek against mine and presses his lips against my ear, sending chills down my body. He smells so good, like soap and rain. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Until you’re ready to admit it, I will sit idly by, waiting for you.” For some reason, I don’t think sitting idly by is something Aaron can actually do.
The scruff on his cheek rubs against my face, his lips a whisper away, his breathing just as heavy as mine. What can one little kiss do? Just a taste? I mentally shake my head. I know exactly what it would do. This is Aaron. It wouldn’t just be one little kiss. It would turn into something more, something dangerous, something I wouldn’t be able to stop even if I put every ounce of effort I had into doing so.
I can’t kiss this man.
“I’m with Trey,” I state with panic as my nipples harden when I catch another whiff of him.
“And I’m truly happy for the son of a bitch.” There is humor in his voice. He pulls away and tips my chin up, his eyes heavy on mine. “I’ll wait. I’ve waited this long, no point in rushing the inevitable.”
“You’re so confident,” I state, trying to calm my racing heart. I want him. I want him. I want him.
“I am. For once in my life, I’m sure of one thing. You’re mine, but until that day comes when I can claim you as mine again, I’ll be your friend.”
God, that smile. It’s probably one of the first things I noticed about him. It’s smug yet sweet. Dangerous. And seriously unfair when I’m horny. But he’s also stepping back to give me space. He knows I’ll kiss him if he leans in any closer. Yet, he’s gallant. Kind of. He is protecting me, yet again, from hurting myself . . . and Trey inadvertently. “You’re back to that friend thing again?” I ask, swallowing hard, grateful there is some space between us.
“I’ve always believed you need to be friends with the one you love because how else are you going to get along?” He retreats to his entertainment center that’s rustic modern and opens a cabinet, pulling me out of the Aaron fog he almost drowned me in.
I can’t see what he’s doing over his large frame, but when he stands, he holds out a pack of cards and Jenga. “Now, friend, what would you like to play, cards or Jenga?”
This overly confident Aaron, the one who’s wiggling his eyebrows at me right now, the one who looks like he’s had ten thousand pounds lifted off his shoulders—he’s dangerous. I can feel it already.
He can wiggle his eyebrows all he wants, but I’m with Trey, and it’s staying that way. My relationship with Aaron was wonderful, but I was young. He was attentive, kind, passionate, all-consuming. Even though Trey and I are the same age, our relationship is more mature. Yes, I can admit I want Aaron. Physically. Because I know it would be good. Incredible. It always was. But Trey doesn’t deserve my unfaithfulness. Trey didn’t push me out his door to chase my dreams or because he didn’t trust me to know my own mind. He let me leave, knowing he’d come after me. He loves me, and he will follow me. Trey won’t break my heart. He picked up the pieces Aaron threw away, albeit for noble reasons, and cherished me. Cherishes me. It’s that knowledge I’ll cling to. I’ll probably never stop loving Aaron because he was my first. And well, because he is one of the most wonderful men I’ve ever met. But despite his confidence, I have given my heart to Trey.
***
“Do you still eat six eggs every morning?”
Aaron smiles at me over the Jenga tower. “Eight eggs now.”
I thought Jenga would be safe to play until Aaron decided to change the rules up and add a little spice to the game. If you secure a block on top, you’re allowed to ask the other person a question—within reason, that was my addition—and so far, it’s been fun. It’s like we’re meeting each other again with our easy getting-to-know-each-other-again questions.
As friends.