Page 72 of Pucking Off-Sides With My Brother's Best Friend

“Thank God,” he murmurs into my hair. Then, pulling back to look at me again, he adds, “But I meant what I said, Aurora. Pregnant or not, I want you. I want us.”

The intensity of the moment starts to fade, leaving us both a little raw and exposed. I can see the emotional toll etched on Aiden’s face, and suddenly, I’m struck by how exhausted he looks. It makes me want to wrap him in a blanket, herd him to bed and make him sleep for days.

But of course, this is Aiden we’re talking about. He’d never admit to needing a break. Instead, he scrubs a hand over his face, trying to compose himself.

“C’mon, come lay down. You’ve had a hard week.”

When he looks at me again, there’s a hint of his usual bravado, but I can see the vulnerability lingering in his eyes.

“I can’t do a pity fuck. Not from you.”

“Pity fuck?” I ask, my voice going shrill. “Why the hell do you think I would give anyone a pity fuck? I like you, idiot. I gave you my virginity for crying out loud.”

Aiden blinks quickly like he’s trying to take in all my words. “I mean, yeah. But that was—“

“If you diminish my first time, I will hit you.” When his mouth closes with a click, I can’t help but giggle.

“Get this through that puck-hardened skull of yours. I like you, Aiden. I like when you’re grumpy from not getting enough sleep and when you scratch your balls in the morning and pretend like we can’t all see it. And when you stand up to your dad or let yourself be vulnerable with me, I love you even more.”

His mouth gapes open and closes like a fish, and I can’t help but smile. It’s rare to render him speechless, and I’m happy with the achievement.

“You said you loved me.”

My smile widens before I nod. “Caught that, did you? Now you’re getting it. Good job.”

“Good job my ass,” he says before grabbing me and swinging me around in a circle. But I’m not embarrassed by my squeal of surprise, all I can focus on is his laugh, and the way it makes the sides of his eyes crinkle.

“You love me, huh? What do you love most about me? My good looks? Banging body?”

I roll my eyes, but the grin on my face doesn’t lessen. “I think I love your humility the best.”

“Humility is for people who don’t get to come home to you,” Aiden jokes. “Fuck that. I’m going to gloat.”

His mouth swallows my laughter, and the sound transforms into a groan of pleasure.

My parted lips welcome him in. I’ll never get tired of kissing him. It’s one of my favorite things to do, and I hope to do as much of it as possible until I don’t know how it feels to not kiss him.

I moan softly when the soft press of his teeth grabs my bottom lip, and I’m just about ready to do the same when I hear Jax’s voice behind me.

“For fuck’s sake! Can’t you guys do that shit behind closed doors like normal people?” Jax asks, his voice going high. I almost jerk away from Aiden, but his grip on my waist stops me from moving too far.

I turn to Jax with a sheepish grin. I hadn’t really thought about the fact that if Aiden is home, Jax wouldn’t be too far behind him. By the looks of it, he’s not going to get used to this.

Jax is covering his eyes with a hand while holding the other one out like he could swat us away. I giggle but don’t let go of Aiden.

“Does this mean we’re together?” I ask, turning back to Aiden. “I mean, I know we said we like each other, but we didn’t exactly say what we plan to do after that.”

“You didn’t even ask her to date you?” Jax asks shrilly. “What the fuck, dude?”

“I’m getting to it, but then she fucking kissed me,” Aiden shoots back. “You try talking with your lips attached to someone else’s.”

Jax makes a gagging noise, and I can’t stop my giggles.

“Fucking hell, sis. Have some self-control. At least make him take you out first.”

I roll my eyes. “You should probably leave now because I’m going to kiss him again.”

“Oh my god, I’m leaving, you horny fuckers.” Jax turns back around, stumbling loudly when he hits the doorframe.

---