CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
Lucky
“This is such a beautiful night.” Aria sighs and turns her gaze toward the starry night, a broad smile splitting her face. She actually looks happy for the first time since I met her.
She’s so fucking beautiful,is all I can think, watching her smile at the stars and the moon.
How can I like this chick? I don’t just like her, but I genuinely fucking adore her, which is a recipe for disaster. I shake off the thoughts and take her hand in mine.
“So I guess you’re definitely the long walks on the beach kind of girl. Is that what your dating profile says?”
She doubles over with laughter. “No! It sounds so cliché to put in a dating profile, but I really do love long walks on the beach.” Her hand tightens in mine, and even with just the moonlight, I can see the blush staining her cheeks. “They’re nice, romantic even.”
“They are nice.” I agree as we advance slowly up the beach. “It’s not something I’ve ever done.”
“Not your thing?”
I sigh, trying to figure out how to answer the question without another fucking sob story about my shitty upbringing.
“It seems they are, but before this moment, I didn’t have time to walk along the beach. From the moment my ma died, I’ve been in survival mode, first on the streets, and then the military, and now the MC. Got a certain sexy princess I have to keep safe.”
I wiggle my eyebrows, making her laugh so loud the sound bounces off the rocks ahead.
“So I’ve converted you?”
I nod. “It’s nice enjoying the quiet with nothing but the sound of the waves crashing. The stars and moon cast a soft glow over a beautiful woman. What’s not to like?”
Aria’s bitchy and bossy, but she’s also a lost soul, so fucking fragile that every part of me wants to protect her. Still, there’s a layer of toughness and sass that I hadn’t expected, and that combination? Fucking irresistible.
“What are you thinking right now?”
I blink and turn to Aria. My brows dip at her question. “What?”
She smiles and lets out a long sigh as she stares at me.
“You have this serious look on your face, and I’m curious what were you thinking about to put that look there?”
Shit. Add to the list that she’s also fucking perceptive. “Honestly? I was thinking about how irresistible I find you.”
Her brows shoot up in surprise. “Irresistible?”
I nod. “Yep. And unexpected.”
“Well,” she sighs and steps in close, wrapping one arm and then the other around me. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me unexpected.”
“We’ve already discussed the fact that you’ve been surrounded by fucking idiots. Anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t paying attention.” It’s exactly what she wants people to see. “I know better now, Aria. I see you. For you.”
She lets out a shaky breath as a smile splits her red lips. “I know you do, and I kind of like that about you.” Her lips are close enough that they brush against mine when she speaks.
“You do?”
Aria nods. “Yeah. A lot.”
Then her mouth is right there on mine, her tongue teasing my lips and playing along the seam until I open up and slip my tongue out, lighting the fire that quickly rages between us.
Her hands fist in the fabric of my shirt as she pulls me closer as if only that act alone can give her the satisfaction she needs. She moans into my mouth, and I swallow it down, adding another piece of her to my soul.
She pulls back, panting and smiling.