Page 77 of One Time in Paris
She wanted to believe him, but how could she? He’d walked away from her several times already. It almost seemed as though Aiden had walked away from everything difficult in his life. His family. The military. Their marriage—although at least that one made sense.And he was about to leave me.
And now she was supposed to believe he’d suddenly stay?
Her throat ached, her hands still trembling against his chest, even as he held her. “You always leave, Aiden.” Her voice was barely a whisper, but the words cracked something inside her. “What makes me any different?”
Aiden pulled her tighter, his lips brushing her temple. “Because seeing you hurting is more painful than anything else I can imagine,” he said. “Because if I lose you, I lose myself.”
Wow. That’s. ..
“Can I just stay? Hold you?”
Isla squeezed her eyes shut. God, she wanted to believe him. He knew how to say the right things. But trust wasn’t given—it was earned. And Aiden still had a long way to go.
After all the back-and-forth, she wasn’t sure of anything anymore—except that if this was all the time they had,just tonight, sex or no sex, then she would take it. Take his promises at face value. Because somehow,hemattered to her in an indescribable way. Having him here with hermattered. And that was truly terrifying.
25
AIDEN
For the thirdtime in several weeks, Aiden had woken up in Isla’s room—but this time, she was in his arms.
They’d slept—only slept—which seemed like a miracle, considering he had the image of her pleasuring herself seared into his memory like a brand.
Holy hell, how can I ever erase that from my soul?
But they’d needed to sleep, apparently. Maybe it was just exhaustion or perhaps they’d both needed the comfort—a break from the push and pull that had been drowning them both.
Now, though?
Now he was hard as a rock, and he needed her. Needed to put an end to the torment that was Isla Scott.
Her body was already molded tightly against his, her arse tucked in tight against his groin, their legs entangled. His hand rested against the bare skin of her flat belly, and he grazed her skin with the barest touch until he palmed her breast, fitting it into his hand. Her nipples were silky smooth,fucking incredible, and he was on fire for her.
The sharp rasp of her breath told him she was awake now, and she snuggled into his touch. “Good morning to you, too,” she murmured, then shifted against his cock. “Is it morning already?”
“Unfortunately.” He kissed her shoulder with a featherlight kiss.
“Mmm...” Isla tilted her head back against his throat. “Did you sleep well?”
His palm made a circle over one nipple. “I was horny as fuck. But yes.”
She wiggled her hips against him, teasing, taunting.
“God, Isla.”
“You know,” she said, her voice light and teasing. “For someone who says he wants me as much as you do, you certainly seemed determined to take your time with it. Putting every obstacle in our way.”
Her hand moved between them, then she pushed it under his waistband, fingertips grazing the head of his cock.
Fuck. Yes.
“I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Hmm.” She enclosed her hand around his shaft. “I don’t know what you were thinking either.” She gave him a firm squeeze, then pulled away. “Because our first time isn’t going to be sleepy sex when I’m worried about morning breath. Besides, I don’t have a condom here, do you?”
Oof.He reached for her as she slipped free of his grasp and crawled out of the other side of the bed.Shite.
He raised a brow at her. “No, but what would we have done if I hadn’t stopped us last night?”
