Page 52 of Wreck Me
The butterflies in her belly that had started to flap took flight. And her heart did a slow flip in her chest, making it hard for her to breathe for a moment. “Really?”
“Yeah. Unless, that is, you don’t want to.”
She swirled her fork through the syrup pooling on her plate, unable to meet his eyes. “I just thought you might be one and done.”
He stared at her for a moment before dropping her hand. As quickly as her happiness set in, it fell away. Was it something she’d said? But then he pushed out his chair and motioned her over. “Come here.”
When she stood and started around the table, he snagged her waist and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. She fell onto that warm chest, and when her bare shoulders touched his skin, sparks set off like little fireworks.
Aidan pinched her chin to bring her gaze to his. “Listen to me. Are you listening?”
She nodded, her heart racing in anticipation of what he was about to say. Would it destroy her?
“Good. While you’re here, there will be no one else but you. I don’t want anyone else but you. Hell, I haven’t wanted anyone else since you showed up in town. And I haven’t been with anyone in a while now.”
She smiled, but shifted her gaze to where his pulse bumped in his neck before looking back up at him. “I want you too. It’s been a while for me as well.” She sighed. “But I am leaving in a few weeks.”
“I know.” His tone was solid and strong, sure. But for a split second, there had been a shadow that crossed his eyes before that confidence settled back in. He paused for a moment as though mulling something over. Finally, he tapped her leg. “I have something for you.”
“For me?” she asked as she stood.
He didn’t answer, just crossed the living space and headed up to the loft. A few minutes later, he returned with a medium sized rectangular cardboard box in his hand. He dropped into his chair and pulled her back in his lap before setting the box in hers.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Just a little something I found the other day.”
She smiled and lifted the edge of one flap so that all of them opened. When she pushed aside the white tissue paper, she gasped. “Oh my God, Aidan. Where did you find this?”
“In one of the antique shops in town.”
With both hands, Megan lifted the vintage Polaroid camera and turned it from side to side. “It looks just like the one we had when I was a kid.” She pulled on the top and when it popped out, she laughed in surprise. Aidan’s bare chest rumbled against her back when he chuckled.
“I don’t know a lot about cameras but this one was in the display window at the Old Towne Antique Shop. When I saw it, I thought of you.”
She swallowed back tears that wanted to clog her throat, and for a moment she couldn’t speak. Memories of her parents and Nate flashed through her mind. It was bittersweet to think about that time, and the grief rushed back in, overwhelming her.
Aidan rustled around in the box and produced a blue and white box of film. “Art, the owner, actually had two boxes of film for it that weren’t expired. He put one in the camera and said you could actually buy it online.” He chuckled. “I didn’t even know they still made film for cameras like this.”
She continued to stare at the camera as the memories faded and Aidan’s deep voice brought her back to the present. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she brushed it away but not before he saw it.
“Megan? Why are you crying?” His body tensed under her and his eyes widened.
She nearly laughed at the panicked look on his face. “Don’t worry, Aid.” She patted his chest—his warm, smooth, bare chest. Between that and his thoughtful gift her insides were beginning to warm again. “These are happy tears, I promise.”
The knitted brow and crease that formed between his eyes when he was worried eased away. “Okay, good. It’s never good for a guy’s ego when he gives a girl a gift and she starts crying.”
She hugged the camera to her chest and leaned forward, kissing his cheek. “It’s the best, most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given me.”
A growling sound came from his throat, and his hands began exploring, setting off those fireworks along her skin. “I’ve got some other places I’d rather have you kiss me...”
She wiggled against his growing erection. “I know you do, but first let’s take a picture.”
“Megan…No.” His tone was a warning. One she ignored.
“Please?” She leaned forward and rubbed her nose against the side of his neck, his Adam’s apple bobbing when she let her tongue take a swipe against his skin. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Fine,” he growled out. “Take a picture.”
