Page 56 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

As the shower shut off, I leaped from the couch and sprinted for the door leading outside. Quietly, I pushed it open and tiptoed onto the tiny porch. My eyes darted around the backyard, seeing the late evening sunlight make an appearance through the leaves and branches of the large oak tree. Once I determined I was alone, safe even, I let the door shut behind me.

I drew in a deep breath, the humid, sticky air getting stuck in my lungs. We’d been in the apartment for only twenty hours, and I was ready to crawl out of my skin. I’d barely slept, and today we tried watching TV, but were clearly far too aware of each other to really pay attention.

The grocery bags were stacked against each other at the bottom of the wooden staircase. I’d only taken a few steps when Alden pushed open the door and stepped outside. Beads of water dripped down over his massive shoulders and down his chest. I watched while one bead ran down to curve over his collarbone, then over his pec, and then down over his sculpted abs.

As that same rivulet continued its downward path, my gaze trailed Alden’s sexy V. I had to clench my teeth together when the water seeped into the top of his shorts. I so badly wanted to follow that line with my tongue instead of my eyes.

“What’re you doing? You can’t just leave like that,” he grumbled at me.

“Don’t be a dick, Alden. I’m going down the stairs to get the groceries.” I jerked my thumb in that direction like he couldn’t see the pile below.

He ran a hand down his face. “I know it’s frustrating, but you need to be careful.”

“Turn around and go inside, Alden.” Normally, I’d have a sassy comeback, but not tonight. Tonight I needed him to go back inside and put on a damn shirt. I still hadn’t mentally recovered from the sexy, distracting thoughts about him that already had my body screaming for his touch.

Didn’t he have a clue how hard this was for me?

“Jess, it’s for your own good.”

He had to know how attracted I was to him. I was pretty sure he was still attracted to me, and right now the only thought in my mind was to prove it. Whether it was for myself or him, I didn’t know and didn’t care.

I slowly walked back up the stairs until I stood on the one right below him. Alden leaned back, regarding me with narrowed, suspicion filled eyes.

I bit my bottom lip, making sure to slowly let it slide back out of my mouth. Looking up at him from under my lashes I lowered my voice to a husky whisper. “Now, Alden, did you come out here half naked so I’d be tempted to lick this rock hard chest of yours? All you had to do was ask.” I licked my lips, my eyes never leaving his. A part of me knew this was childish and petty, but the other part of me needed to prove that hewasattracted to me. That maybe it was time to act on our desire instead of hiding it.

“Jess,” He groaned, but didn’t move.

My breasts grew heavy at the thought of him reaching out and touching me. At the picture of him sucking at my nipples, his hand sliding around my waist to hold me flush against his mouth. My core clenched.

It would only take a second to run my hands over his chest, to lean in and trail my tongue over the hard muscle of his pecs, catching the lone rivulets of water sluicing down his body. But I didn’t. He didn’t deserve me forcing myself on him like that.

“Jess, what are you doing?” his voice rasped. Alden’s body had grown rigid, making me wonder if he was holding himself back from touching me too.

“Nothing.” I gave him a sexy pout to cover up the fact that my pounding heart was about to leap out of my chest.

That pretty much went to shit. I was trying to get him back, turn him on. Instead, my panties were now dripping wet. It wouldn't surprise me at any moment to feel a line of it roll out from under the shorts I was wearing. To take my mind off of my attraction I turned back to grab the groceries.

“Jess, I’m not going to let you get these all by yourself.” Alden brushed past me. I shivered the moment his arm brushed against mine. I was pathetic. My body was so starved for him that the slightest touch was all it took. I think in the next shopping trip I needed to order a vibrator. At least it would help take the edge off.

We each gave the other a wide berth on the stairs, waiting for the other to finish coming up or down before we made a move to get more bags. By the time we got it all inside and unpacked, I was itching for something to do.

“Why don’t I make us lunch,” I said, immediately regretting the words the moment they were out of my mouth. I didn’t know how to cook or prepare any type of food. I’d never had to as a child or as an adult.

Alden wasn’t quick enough to hide the surprise that crossed his face. “You cook now?”

“It’s been nine years, Alden. People change,” I huffed.

Fuck!My mind frantically discarded the things my chef made for me. Nothing seemed simpleoreasy. Why hadn’t I just admitted I didn’t know what the hell I was doing in the kitchen.

Alden pulled out one of the stools at the island and sat down to watch me. Nothing like an audience to try and make me sweat. I opened one of the cupboards in the small kitchen and pulled out a loaf of bread. Sandwiches. I didn’t say what I’d make, and sandwiches were easy enough.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alden lean back in his chair with a smirk. It was like his judgy face was saying,see you still can’t cook. Damn him. Now I had to bring it to the next level, but how?

My mind raced. Grilled cheese! People did gourmet grilled cheese all the time. It would seem deliberate in why I chose the bread and by cooking on the stove it would look like I made more of an effort.

I totally had this and Alden could suck it.

I opened the refrigerator and pulled out the cheese. I’d watched a show once where the main character had to make a grilled cheese and I was pretty sure she put the butter on the bread, not in the pan. I’d faked it until I made it plenty of times as a social influencer; this wasn’t going to be any different.

---