Page 99 of Lucky In Love

“That’s my girl.”

My brain stopped functioning. I’d never been one to react to being called ‘good girl,’ but being called his girl hit so much differently. When I raised my head, Aiden gave me another one of those damn soft kisses on my lips, and I loved the sweet and smoky taste of the whiskey that lingered. As I leaned into the kiss, his hand ran up and down my side, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Between him claiming me and all the physical affection, I didn’t want this moment to end.

The fear from the storm and the dark had dissipated in the soft glow of the lantern and warmth of the alcohol, and was turning into something much more sizzling. I could feel everywhere our skin pressed together. I didn’t know what made me say it, but the words came out as a rushed whisper. “I used to have a huge crush on you.”

His whole body froze, and even with me laying on his chest, I wasn’t even sure he was breathing. I opened my mouth to apologize for the statement, but his response stopped me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sitting up so that I could better see his beautiful stormy-grey eyes, I looked at him like he was crazy. “What? You were the ridiculously hot guy my parents hired to prep their property for the sale, and I’m just.. Well, me. Also, I…” I let out a frustrated breath. “I'm not supposed to hit on the help. That feels disrespectful on some level.”

Aiden grinned as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “What if that hired help thought you were the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on?”

I shook my head back and forth. There’s no way he just said what I think he said. “What?”

He nodded as he lifted his hand to cradle my cheek. “I still do.” Heat bloomed under his touch, and I bit my bottom lip as my focus dropped his before lifting again to meet his gaze. “Maybe I still have that crush on you.”

I had to remind myself how to speak. “Y--You do?”

Aiden nodded again and rubbed his nose against the side of mine. Making my next breath falter. “I do. Any chance I can make good on that request you made earlier?” When I just stared at him and tilted my head to the side in confusion, he smirked. “You asked if we could make out if we made it through the storm alive. I know I was kissing you before, but I’d like to do it again now that you’re in less of a panic.”

Oh. Oh! “Oh, hell yeah.”

Almost immediately his lips were pressed against mine and all other thoughts disappeared from my mind. The kiss was everything I'd hoped and dreamed it would be. While the one during the storm was sweet, careful, and soothing, this one was commanding, needy, and lustful. I had already loved whiskey before, but tasting it on his lips was my new favorite way to enjoy it.

Too soon for my liking, Aiden leaned back, and our faces were so close together that I could see every fleck of color variation in his eyes. “Your freckles are darker than I remember.” His hands were still holding my face, and his thumbs gently rubbed my cheeks. “And your eyes are more beautiful. How did you make them extra sparkly?”

I arched an eyebrow. “Extra sparkly?”

He nodded. “Yeah. They’ve always been the most stunning shade of emerald green, but they seem extra sparkly tonight.”

I blinked and had to remind myself to breathe. “I… Maybe being scared earlier did it.”

Aiden kissed the tip of my nose. “Well, I hate that you were scared, but I won't complain about it bringing us closer together.”

I felt the words as much as I heard them as my mouth was just above his, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed him again.

I went to lean back, but Aiden wrapped his arms around me and held me in place. “I’m not done kissing you yet. I’m not sure I'll ever be done kissing you.”

If I am dead for some reason, thank you for whoever decided this needed to be my afterlife. “No complaints here.” I slid my hands up over his chest and neck and into his ginger hair, holding onto him as I kissed him like it was my last day on Earth.

It almost was.

When I broke off the kiss to breathe, Aiden kissed along my jaw. When his lips made it to just below my ear, I couldn't control myself and tensed up as pleasure overwhelmed me. Something about him kissing that spot cleared my brain of every thought and just about took out my ability to control my body. It also turned me on faster than I’d ever experienced, and I let out a whimper.

What in the hell was that?

He let out a low chuckle and kissed that spot one more time, making me shiver in pleasure. “I see where one of your spots is. I could get into a lot of trouble.”

All I could do was nod as I tried to catch my breath.

Aiden gently rubbed my back. “I’ll be good tonight. You asked to make out, not get mauled.”

Tonight? Meaning he wants to do this again? Once I could, I lifted my head and looked him in the eyes, relieved and pleased to see the same level of desire in them that I was feeling. “How about another night?”

Lust flared up in his eyes as he nodded. “Name the time and place, Min. I'm at your beck and call.”

Aiden

Once I couldn't hear the rain anymore, I knew I needed to get up and check on the house. I did not, however, want to stop snuggling with the woman I'd been obsessed with for almost a year. Not when I had been handed a second chance with her. I loved how it felt to have Mindy in my arms, her lips on mine, and making her feel safe. Letting out a sigh, I kissed her forehead. “I should really go upstairs, see what the damage is, and make sure it’s still safe for us to stay here. Do you want to wear your wet shoes and come with me, or do you want to stay down here?”

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