Page 50 of Make You Stay

I glance over my shoulder to where Aidan stands, arms crossed over his chest, a bemused grin on his face.

“In about a million more years, I might be decent.” Missing again, I toss down the pool cue. “Or not.”

Aidan strolls over, picking up the pool cue and sinking a ball. Damn him for making it look effortless. Why does he have to be good ateverything? “You might not win any billiards tournaments, but you’re incredible at so many other things.”

“You guys sound fantastic tonight.”

“I kept waiting for my favorite dancer to take the floor, but she never showed.”

“Sitting this one out,” I reply, pushing my glasses up my nose. Yes, I downplayed my looks tonight. What’s the point? At least I’mnotwearing leggings.

“Come here, my sexy librarian.” Aidan motions me to his side, handing me the pool cue and wrapping his arms around me. “I have my own theory about your pool playing abilities.”

Desperate to remain centered, I focus on the table, trying to gauge if I have a shot. “That one?”

“Sure,” Aidan murmurs, his mouth close to my ear. “My theory is you’re shooting like crap, hoping to get extra lessons.”

I snort at his egotistical insinuation, even if it’s right on the money. But hey, he doesn’t have to know that fact. “I think you’re giving extra lessons to get up close and personal with my ass, cowboy.”

A deep chuckle rises from his chest. “I think you’re right.”

“I think we both are.” Wriggling ever so slightly, I hear his breath hitch, his grip tightening around me.

“You’d better behave, Chloe.”

I tease him with another shake of my assets, just for fun.

“My ass has never been good at behaving. Besides, I’m responsible for the balls in front of me. You’re responsible for the ones behind me.”

“Might work better if we switched that around.” Just like that, Aidan takes back control of the banter.

But tonight, I’m fighting him for the crown.

I stretch back against him. To an outsider, it’s barely noticeable. But for us, it’s stoking an already smoldering fire.

The delicious prickle of his stubble moves across my neck, his lips hovering centimeters from my ear. “Focus, sweets.”

“Hard to focus when your mouth is so close to my neck.” I know I’m pushing it, testing the limits. Testingourlimits.

His teeth scrape against my throat, soothed by the gentle lash of his tongue. “Would you like me to pick a different spot?”

“How accommodating of you,” I manage, my heart racing.

“I prefer to think of myself as multi-talented.”

I search my brain for a quick-witted retort, struggling to regain equal footing with Aidan. Not happening.

As if sensing my internal battle, he removes his hands from the pool cue, curling his fingers around my hips. He presses against me, his erection straining against those sexy-as-fuck jeans, and I bite back a moan as my head drops back against his chest.

We should stop. I know it. He knows it. But our bodies demand to be satiated. To be fed.

“I wish we were alone.” Holy shit. Did I say that aloud?

His fingers tighten as he locks me between the pool table and his muscled frame. “You have no idea what you do to me. You are the ultimate aphrodisiac, Chloe.”

All I can manage is a low moan, my body teetering on the brink of self-control.

He rains kisses along the column of my throat as I reach behind me, scratching my nails down his thighs. “I wanted to stay with you that night. Why did you send me away?”

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