Page 32 of Dirty Heirs

“Of course. It’s my favorite book. My mom always read it to me when I was younger.” I lifted my head, finally gaining the courage to look at his face. “You should think about working here. Sean would love your designs.”

His fingers wove through his short blond curls. “No way Pops would let me work at a tattoo studio. He already has my future mapped out for me. I’m lucky I can go to RISD with Alex.”

I moved between his spread thighs. “I know what it’s like to have no control. My dad and brothers are so protective I can only go to work and school without a security detail.”

Aiden’s eyes narrowed on me. “Why do you need security?”

I sucked down the nerves creeping up my throat and swallowed. “Last year, my mother was killed in our home.”

“Oh, shit,” Aiden grunted. “I’m so sorry, Ella. I had no idea.” He hooked his arm around my back. “If you ever want to talk…”

I slid my hands up his chest. “I don’t want to talk. But I’m sure we can find a way to keep ourselves busy.”

“Hmmm…” He stared at my lips. “We had a deal. I showed you mine. Now it’s time to show me yours.”

Chapter Sixteen

ELLA

I couldn’t back down, not after Aiden showed me his ink. He sat on the InkBed, thighs spread, jeans around his ankles. I stood between his legs, heart beating a mile a minute. My skin was slick with sweat, and I swore my heart was pounding so hard Aiden could hear it.

“Don’t chicken out on me, Cinders.” Aiden flashed one of his toothpaste commercial-worthy smiles. “We had a deal.”

I reached for the hem of my shirt and paused to calm my shaky hands. My experience with boys could be summed up to this moment. I was eighteen and hadn’t kissed a boy.

How pathetic?

I was a giant loser.

Fear slithered down my spine like a snake, curling around my insides. My clothes were suddenly too tight with Aiden’s watchful eyes on me. I quickly stripped off my tank top and flung it onto his lap.

Taking his bottom lip between his teeth, Aiden grunted. He leaned forward and grabbed my hip, pulling me to him. “You’re beautiful, Ella.” His long fingers traced over the shamrock on my shoulder and followed the path down my ribs and up to my breast. “Fuck. You’re perfect.”

His lips brushed mine.

They were soft and warm, and I was drowning in his scent. The cloves on his breath. The charcoal on his hands. The clean linen on his clothes. I wanted to get lost in him and forget about the world and everything but him.

A soft moan escaped my throat. He barely touched me, but the anticipation of the kiss sent a rush of adrenaline down my spine. I was desperate for more, needing so badly to connect to another person. I’d waited too long for my first kiss and dreamed about this moment.

Aiden threaded his fingers through my hair, his lips colliding with mine. As our tongues tangled, I was on cloud nine, breathless and drunk on pleasure as he stole one kiss after another.

Digging my nails into his shoulders, I clung to him for dear life. If I opened my eyes, would he disappear? Would this all be over? After years of being overlooked and treated like shit, someone finally desired me.

Aiden pulled back, ending the first and longest kiss of my life with one final peck on the lips. “I want to see the rest of the shamrock tattoo.” His index finger hooked beneath my bra, and it fell down my arm when he let the strap go. “It looks pretty wild.”

Celtic vines started around my shoulder blade, twisted over my shoulder, spread over my ribs, and curved around my breast before ending with a shamrock a few inches above my nipple. Two-toned green and yellow shamrocks were intermittently spaced along the vine trail.

I fiddled with the hook and missed, anxiety tearing through my insides.

Aiden took my other hand in his. “Look at me, Ella.” My eyes met his, and he continued, “It’s cool if you’re not ready. I get it.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I want to do this. I’m just… nervous. I’ve never…”

“Was that your first kiss?”

Artists were intuitive. He must have sensed my discomfort, reading the truth from my face.

I nodded. “It’s lame. I know.”

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