Page 14 of The Sky Between Us

The music ended and I stopped trying to control my breathing. I was unbelievably out of shape. It was a miracle I didn’t fall flat on my butt after the first turn, but my muscle memory saved me. After all, I’ve been practicing the same moves since I was seven. I pulled my hair out of my face and tried to breathe normally. My heart pounded loudly and for a moment I thought it would jump out of my chest.

“Wow, you are incredible,” an impressed voice sounded behind me.

I felt the familiar shiver run down my spine and turning my head, I knew Aiden was standing there. I accepted the fact that my body had its own reaction to his presence, touch and voice, but I liked to think my mind was in control.

“How long have you been standing there?” I asked, thankful for the dim light. I didn’t want him to see me blush. I never minded when people watched me dance, but after five years of imprisonment, this dance felt highly personal.

“I’d say not long enough,” he gave me one of his sweet smiles. Not the flirting one, which caused every girl to drop their panties. Nor his egoistic one, which made me want to punch him. It was one of those cute smiles that made him look innocent and adorable. The smile which caused my heart to beat out of control. The one that was able to get under my skin.

I stared at him for a few seconds longer and slowly shook my head to remind my body that my mind didn’t give it permission to act like a teenager. I wanted a new, functioning body. One that didn’t react to Aiden Hitchings. I also needed to remind myself that every single girl in our university felt the same way towards him. It was a normal human reaction, one that I should have been welcoming, since I thought for five long years, I was dead inside.

“Sorry,” he said, once I didn’t reply and his face fell. “I didn’t mean to prey on you, I just walked in.”

“It’s okay,” I said slowly, and suddenly I couldn’t recognize my voice. It almost sounded nice. It was missing the usual edge and it had a hint of emotion threaded in it. Aiden’s eyebrows shot up and his eyes glimmered with amusement. I cleared my throat and gave him a half smile. “I’m glad you were impressed with me.”

“I always am,” he smirked back and winked.

My cheeks flushed.

“Can you turn off the music?” I motioned towards the radio, changing the topic.

Aiden studied me for a quiet moment, his eyes burned my skin, but I resisted the weight of his eyes. I couldn’t give in anymore. It was all too much.

“Only if you entertain me. I’m not working in silence,” he said, turning off the radio, and I could finally breathe again. “Why do you hate music? It looked like you were into it when you danced.”

“Music makes me want to dance,” I explained shortly. I couldn’t resist the urge anymore, so I needed to get rid of the temptation. Yet, the biggest temptation was standing right in front of me. Dancing might have been the lesser evil.

“I’m not following,” Aiden shook his head and stopped only a few inches away from me. Heat radiated from him, yet it made me feel cold.

I crossed my arms and stepped back. “Will you play with Sky today? You don’t have practice,” I switched topics again, keeping my voice flat and emotionless. “You finish at five, right?”

“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or scared that you know my schedule,” he smirked and reaching across the distance between us, he tried to tug my hair back.

“Stop,” I hit his hand away and took another step backwards, keeping my arm extended in front of me.

Aiden followed my movement, until my palm was pressed against his chest. I felt his heartbeat under my fingertips, and it was beating just as much out of control as mine. My eyes fell onto my hand, fingers spread on his chest, and suddenly that one tiny touch wasn’t enough. I wanted to move my hand and explore his body. I wondered how hard his muscles would feel under my touch. But his shirt and the apron were in the way, so my mind took another turn and imagined him shirtless. I saw pictures of him, since his Instagram was full of them, but I’ve never seen it for myself, nor touched him. I felt the pit of my stomach fall and familiar desire started burning inside of me. I knew my mind was going too far, but I couldn’t turn back. It’s been years since I’ve felt like this.

“Hazel,” my name was barely a whisper on his lips.

My gaze traveled up his body and settled on his ocean blue eyes. This time his eyes weren’t the color of the calm ocean, I was expecting. Instead, they were dark with desire, just like a wild stormy ocean. Aiden might have been able to keep his cool on the outside, but his eyes were giving him away. He was the perfect calm before the storm, and I loved dancing in the rain. I was walking into the arms of danger. Every inch of my body was aware of it, yet I couldn’t care. Some people really never learn, and apparently, I was one of them.

I let my arm drop, allowing him to move closer until our bodies melted into one. His strong and firm frame crashed into my body. I reached up, sinking my fingers in his sandy blond messy hair, just before our mouth crashed. Aiden kissed me with such passion and desire as no one ever before him. His hands caught my waist to steady me or to not let me pull away, I wasn’t sure which one, but I had no intentions of running. On the contrary. I urged him to take it deeper, and once our tongues met, they started to perform a dance I didn’t even know they practiced. We were perfectly in sync and everything about that moment felt right.

Except for one thing.

Sky.

I pulled my hand from his hair, and sliding it down his neck, I heard him groan. I made a mental note to keep in mind what he loves, but I knew I’d never need that information. There couldn’t be a next time. My hands moved to his shoulders and gripping them tightly I pushed him away.

Aiden blinked and confusion crossed his face. Guess he wasn’t used to rejection, or girls changing their minds. Especially not while making out with him.

“Sorry, we shouldn’t have done that,” I said, my voice still a little hoarse.

“This is the part when you try to convince me that you didn’t want it, or you will simply make a joke about testing my abilities?” he lifted a brow and pulled me closer. “Save your breath, I don’t believe you.”

I took a deep breath and smiled up at him with my usual mean smile. The one I used to practice in front of the mirror to keep people away. “No, I had a bet to make you fall for me. It was pretty easy, but I don’t want you to fall too deep. It wouldn’t be fair, cause I’m out of your league.”

“Nice one,” his eyes darkened, but this time there was no desire burning behind them. Only anger. “You are scared, I’ll figure you out.”

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