Spark (21 page)

“
May have?
”

“I may take some further convincing.” My mouth curls into a mischievous grin.

“Challenge accepted, Eevie, although you should know that I can be
very
persuasive and I
never
back down from a challenge.” His voice is riddled with sexual undertones, setting fire to places deep within me.

“I have no doubt.”

****

The wind picks up, and I shiver. Aidan gallantly drapes his jacket around my shoulders without saying a word. The tantalising aroma of aftershave on his jacket almost distracts me from the soft sweet tones in his voice … almost.

Aidan’s phone startles me as it beeps from within his jacket pocket, which happens to be sitting right on one of my nipples. I giggle as it vibrates, and pull out his phone and hand to him. Aidan is clearly amused.

“Rob was just checking we made it home okay. They’re gonna stay in the city tonight,” he says.
Whoops
.

I gasp. “Shit! I’d forgotten all about his party.”

“Everyone’s probably gone home by now, anyway.”

“What time is it?” I ask, having no idea how long we’d been missing in action. I try to stifle a yawn, but a weird
yah
noise comes out of my mouth instead.
Way to impress.

Aidan raises his eyebrows. “Wow, it’s nearly four.”
Wow, that is late
.

So we get in a cab. Destination—my place.

Apparently Aidan
had
planned to crash on the sofa, and his car is already parked out front.
How convenient
. And Crystal and Rob aren’t home tonight, and I remember she said they were driving down the coast for a few nights. So we’ll have the place all to ourselves.
Mmm
. My little friendly butterflies from earlier make a reappearance.

In the short cab-ride home, we barely speak. Strangely, the silence isn’t the least bit uncomfortable. We hold hands, Aidan stroking the top of my knuckles with his thumb. How can something as simple as holding hands be so arousing? Or is it the fact that we are going home together?

Call me organised, but I take a mental inventory on what I’ve discovered tonight about the man that is Aidan, along with what I already knew.

Aidan Stone.

Gentleman.

Country boy.

Sincere.

Driven.

Funny.

Gorgeous.

Incredible kisser.

Has me
literally
weak at the knees.

But best of all, I can be myself with him. He is interested in me, and what I have to say.
I think I’ve hit the jackpot …
Aidan ticks almost every box on my list. Time will tell with the remaining few, but so far, it’s looking promising.

****

Aidan grabs the backpack from his car before we go in. “Are you sleeping on the sofa tonight?” I joke as he holds the door open to my apartment, both our eyes focusing on the ready-made bed. I walk in first, and dump my purse and keys on the table. I begrudgingly remove his jacket, and hang it over the back of a chair.

“Not a fucking chance,” he replies with certainty, grabbing my waist with both hands, and spinning me around to face him. He kisses me loudly on the lips, leaning me back. “Now I’ve had a taste of you, just try and keep me away.”

Wow, and wow
.

A tingle runs through me from my head to my toes, and I get a sudden twinge in my chest.

“Ditto,” I whisper.

He winks. No one in the history of the world has ever looked so sexy winking.

“I get to see the inside of your bedroom, huh?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow. I walk in front, holding his hand, leading the way. I almost have to pinch myself as I do.
Is this really happening?

I stop in the doorway, and turn to face him. His eyes fix on my lips as I press them together, summoning the guts to say what I’m about to.

“Yeah, but don’t get any ideas. I’m not that kind of girl.” I try for some honesty. I don’t know what he knows about me, and even though we have this powerful connection, I want him to know I won’t give in easy. I didn’t have my wits about me with Alex. The late-night drink binging and partying, I did things I wouldn’t have done with a clear head … not with someone like Alex. This time, I don’t want to get hurt.

“I know,” he says seriously, and it takes me aback, “and you’re the girl I want.”

What does he mean by
‘I know’
? Does that mean he knows I’m a virgin?

My heart stalls in my chest like it’s forgotten its critical role to pump blood.
Pump, damn you!
I take in a deep breath as we enter my room, not knowing what to say. I wrap his tie around my hand, and pull his face close to mine.
So help me God, Aidan Stone,
if you hurt me, I’m gonna take this tie and strangle you with it.
I kiss him tenderly on those soft, luscious lips, and move back and momentarily lose myself in those perfect blue eyes.

“What ya thinkin’ about?” he asks, furrowing his brow.

I blink a few times, snapping back to the present.
Honesty.
I’m going to be completely honest with him. “I don’t want to get hurt again.”

“I promise I won’t hurt you, Eevie. I like you too much,” Aidan says softly, a genuine smile meets his eyes.
Ba-boom, ba-boom; my heart beats faster.
“Maybe you should think about letting go of my tie,” he says, and clears his throat.

“Sorry,” I say. “I didn’t realise I was holding it so tight.” I flatten my palms against his warm chest, and wince as I put my full weight on the balls of my feet. “I’ve really gotta get out of these shoes.”

“Sit down,” he says.

I sit on the edge of the bed, and watch him as he kneels at my feet. He lifts one foot up high, my leg straightening out. I squeal as I’m forced to lean back on my elbows. He slowly undoes the buckle on the side of my shoe, grasping my calf muscle with one hand, the other slipping off my shoe. I can’t help but smile, although it’s more with my eyes than my mouth. Who would have thought having a guy take my shoes off would be so damn hot? He’s ticking boxes that haven’t even made it onto my list.

“Do you know how sexy you look right now?” he says as he runs both his hands down from my knee to the tip of my toes, sending ice and fire through my veins. He lifts my other leg, doing the same.

“No,” I say, embarrassed, lowering my eyes. I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me before, certainly not like that. Words like that go straight to the long-term memory bank.

“Well, believe me, you’re mesmerising,” he says as his hungry eyes devour me.

“Really?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Didn’t you notice the guys gawking at you?” he asks as if I’m completely nuts.

“Like who?”

“Dean, for one.”
That loser?

“Dean’s just a friend,” I say brushing him off.

“Friends don’t look at other friends like that, and I reckon he’s had it bad for a while.”

“How would you know?” I ask.

“Dare I say we have somethin’ in common, but apart from him, I lost count of how many heads turned your way.”

“Well, I didn’t notice. I was too busy enjoying myself.”
You were the only man in the room tonight that I did notice.

“You know, tonight when you walked over to me, sexy as all hell in this dress … do you know how hard it was for me just to talk to you?” He shakes his head ever so slightly, resting his hands on my knees. Another box … tick.

“I think I know what you mean. You’re not, by chance, trying to sweet-talk your way into my bed, are you?” I attempt to chastise, but a beaming smile breaks through.

“I’m already going to be in it. There’s just somewhere else I’m trying to
sweet-talk
my way into.” He smirks.

I swallow the lump in my throat, and the little heart-skipping-a-beat thing is back. The fire in my cheeks re-ignites, but what surprises me the most is the overwhelming carnal need deep within.

It’s desire.

Heat.

Spark.

I want to rip our clothes off, and find out if this man can fulfil my every dream, desire, and find that passion I’ve longed for.

This
feeling is everything I wanted. It screams from my every pore.

But.

There’s always a but.

But, I don’t just take home someone I barely know and sleep with them. Even if it is Mr Drown Happily In My Blue Eyes. I don’t want to move too fast.

I sit up, and rest my hands on his. “May I remind you of our earlier conversation? I’m not that kind of girl, remember?” I try to read his facial expression.

He smiles. “I haven’t forgotten.”
Good
to hear
.

“Good. I’ll be back.” I smile as I fetch my short pyjamas from under my pillow.

“I’ll be waiting,” he responds distantly as I reach the bathroom. Oh yes, I know you’ll be waiting. In. My. Bed.

As I start to undress, I remember Crystal had to do up my dress at the back.
Shit.
I quickly return to the bedroom. Aidan has loosened his tie, and is sitting on the edge of the bed untying his shoes.

“Um, could you please help with my dress?” I ask shyly, embarrassed to ask for help with something so intimate, particularly after his sweet-talk comment.

“Of course,” he says, and smirks. He comes closer, so that we are practically standing chest to chest. He slowly turns me around, one hand on my waist, the other sweeping my hair from my right shoulder over to my left, exposing my neck and the zip. His long fingers softly travel to the top of the zip, unhooking the clasp. He slowly lowers the zip, grazing my skin down to the dip in my back, just above the top of my panties. As well as his touch, Aidan’s hot breath on my neck becomes heavier. At this rate, I’m going to need a new pair of underwear.

How am I possibly going to be able to sleep with him in my bed? All these sensations have my head in a blinding spin. This is going to be the test of all tests.

“Thanks,” I whisper as I turn around, holding my dress at the front so it doesn’t fall forward. Aidan stands frozen, except for his expanding chest. I like it … a lot.

“Nice tattoo,” he says as I leave. I shuffle off to the toilet first, and then go into the bathroom, shutting the door.

I take off my dress and now drenched panties, and put on black pyjama shorts. I don’t quite know what to do with the singlet top—I’m not ready to go bra-less in front of him yet, so I put it over the top of my bra. I should wear full-length pyjamas, but in the peak of summer I’d be in a puddle of sweat next to him. If I did that, he might never return. I take out my contact lenses, brush my teeth, and splash cool water on my face. I stare at myself in the mirror. A puff of air escapes my mouth.

Does he know the power he has over me with an innocent touch here, or a passionate kiss there? I want to sleep with Aidan. How could I not? It’s just a matter of timing. I want to be ready, I want it to be special, and I’ve waited twenty years for it, so why rush now?

If he’s worth it, I can wait. It probably won’t be long, but nevertheless I can wait. This time, I’m going to be sure.

The bedside lamp softly lights the room. Aidan’s clothes are thrown over the chair in the corner. My eyes are drawn to my bed, where Aidan is half under the covers, lying on his side, propped up on one elbow. Of course, he is not wearing a shirt.
Fuck.
In the dim light, his golden skin glows, and my eyes follow the definition of the muscles on his chest, arms, and holy crap, his stomach. Just as delicious as the last time I ogled him, except now he’s in my bed.
Double fuck.
His hair is suitably messy, and he smiles so casually at me, as if he’s been in my bed a hundred times. Like he was always meant to be here. It’s completely unnerving. Isn’t he nervous, too? I briefly ponder the no-shirt-situation, and figure that it is the middle of summer.
Oh God, is he nude under there?
Panic sets in, and I feel the need to fan my face. But I don’t, because I’ll look like a fool.

“Relax, I’ve got boxers on,” he says, grinning.
Could he see it in my eyes?
“I got us some water.”

“Thanks.” I slip under the covers, not touching him. I don’t know what to do next. I am so tired, it’s nearly five in the morning, but the adrenaline, excitement, or whatever it is coursing through my veins is not going to make sleep come easy.

“Why don’t you turn off the light? You look exhausted,” he says, yawning. I lean back and turn off the lamp, returning to the same position. From the moonlight seeping through the curtains, I see his body faces mine.

“Mmm, I am tired,” I mumble, but I’m not ready to say good night yet. I don’t want the night to end, for fear of waking up alone, like it’s been a dream. I just hope my fragile heart can take whatever is to come of this.

Minutes pass, without a sound from either of us.

“What are ya thinkin’?” Aidan asks, his voice barely a whisper.

“Do you really wanna know?” I smile, knowing he can’t see it, and prepare to tell him what’s on my mind.

“Of course.”

“If you hurt me, I’m gonna have your balls on toast for breakfast.”

Aidan chokes with laughter, and pulls me into his arms, running his stubble along my cheek before his mouth rests on my ear. “I promise I won’t hurt you, Eevie. I only intend on doing
good
things to you.”

“
Doing?
”

“Yeah, and I assure you, I kinda like where my balls are.”

A soft giggle escapes me. Here we are, in my bed, talking about his balls.
Nice
.

“Face the other way,” he says, running his fingers through my hair. I roll over, curious as to why.

He moves his warm chest against my back, his hot breath caressing my neck. Shuffling to get comfortable, his stubble brushes against my shoulder, giving me tingles all over. He brushes my hair to the side, and runs his fingers along my singlet straps and around the back of my neck.

I freeze. I’m not ready … not yet.

“Don’t worry, Eevie, I’m not gonna take advantage of you,” he whispers in my ear.
What? Is he, like, reading my mind?
The tension in my muscles eases with his words. “I’ve waited a long time for you, Eevie. I’m just glad we finally got here.” His words melt into my heart, and although I’m dog-tired, I try to keep my emotions in check. It’s a strange feeling, like I want to cry with relief.