Page 127 of Between the Lines

“Here? Where everyone can see?” His mouth moves lower, lips feathering over my neck. My brain short-circuits. It always does when he kisses me there. “You’re very close to everyone seeingjustwhat kind of professional relationship we have.”

“I thought,” I murmur, “you wanted to hide me away. My clothing is indecent, after all.”

He mutters something against my neck. It sounds like a curse. Then his mouth drags back up, lips against the shell of my ear. “You won’t wear my jacket, so stealing you away is my only choice.”

He pulls me down the hall. I almost spill the tequila, and he shakes his head, taking the tray from me.

“Get in here,” he says and pushes open a random door. It leads into an elegantly decorated bedroom that looks sparingly used. He shuts the door and stands with his back to it.

His eyes drag over me. “That dress is going to be the end of me, Chaos. I was ready to fight all the men out there.”

I feel ten feet tall. Eternal, ageless, and in complete control when he looks at me like that. Intoxicated by the magic that happens when we’re together.

“I didn’t think you were the jealous type.”

He sets the little tray of tequila down on a nightstand. “I am when it comes to you and the see-through dress,” he says darkly.

Aiden looks from me to the tequila shots. There’s a little engraving on the side of the wood that saysbody shots encouraged.I see him reading it.

I take another step back, excitement racing through my system. “What are you going to do?”

He looks at me. “I’m going to take a shot, and if you insist on walking around dressed likethat,it’s going to be off you.”

“Oh.” My knees hit the edge of the bed, and I sink backward on the soft duvet.

Aiden grabs the tray, and suddenly it feels very real, here in this house, with the door closed and locked, and him standing in front of me.

I let my palms glide over the fabric. Velvet, maybe? Something soft and decadent.

“Lie back,” he says, “and be a good table for me.”

I smile and do what he says. “I’m just an object to you.”

He shakes his head and reaches for a shot. “You’re far, far more than that, but for the sake of rule one… sure.” He runs his free hand lightly over my body. Across my bare upper chest, between my breasts, down the center of my stomach.

He pauses at the hem of my dress. Grips it, and tugs it up to expose my midriff.

I’m breathing fast.

“Calm,” he murmurs and slides his hand over my waistline before pouring the cold tequila into my belly button.

His fingers glide upward, coming to rest by my jaw. “Open,” he murmurs and fits a slice of lime between my lips. I grip it gently with my teeth and watch him grab a pinch of salt. He deliberates for a single breath before leaning down and licking a stripe across my left nipple. It dampens the thin, sheer fabric, making it stick to my skin.

“There.” He sprinkles the salt on the spot.

Keeping his eyes on mine, he leans down again and kisses my lower stomach.

A shiver races through me. I feel like I’m holding my breath.

He kisses up another inch, and then he’s by the tequila. His lips are warm and so is his tongue as he drinks off my skin.

Aiden moves up, and then he’s only inches from my mouth. He tilts closer, our lips almost touching as he takes the lime from between my lips. He sucks for a second and then tosses it away.

Finally, he lowers his head to my left breast and fits his mouth around it. He sucks and then licks the nipple with a twirl of his tongue that sends warmth through me.

He looks up at me with eyes that are nearly black.

“I think that was the wrong order.” My voice comes out a little breathless. It’s usually salt first, tequila, then lime.

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