Page 48 of Hard Knock Hero

I smiled against him. We didn’t say anything else. My breaths found a rhythm with his, and it was exactly what I needed.

I dreamed about cozy wooden cabins surrounded by snow. Breathless kisses. Fear and danger blotted out by broad shoulders and strong arms. Safety.

A refuge.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Jessi

When we woke,the sun was bright yellow, forcing its way through the blinds. I didn’t usually sleep this late, and if I was going to open the diner, I had a ton of work to do.

Yet I didn’t want to move.

I was cuddled against Aiden’s rib cage. The size of him had unnerved me before. But now, he felt like a perfect fit. I was lounging on him like he was my own personal body pillow. My leg was draped over him, foot tucked beneath his calf. I could tell by the way he was breathing that he was awake. But he hadn’t moved either. As if he was just here for me and wanted me to enjoy cuddling up to him to my heart’s content.

“I would love to stay here as long as possible,” he finally said. “But I have to go to the bathroom.”

I laughed, propping my chin on his chest. “So do I. You can go first.”

I kept my eyes averted when he got up. I knew he had an erection. I’d felt it brush my hip. He’d had one in the bathroom last night, too. I’d felt the heat of him when my hand got near. The pheromones in the air had nearly made me drunk.

I’m being careful, I reminded myself.I’m going slow.

Even though I wanted to maul him right now. Or better yet, for him to maul me.

While Aiden used the restroom, I tugged on some jeans. Then we traded places, and when I left the bathroom, I found Aiden was dressed as well.

“You opening the diner today?” he asked.

I nodded. “For lunch, at least. Like yesterday.” Although I would have to get creative with the special because I was running low on supplies, and I still hadn’t had any deliveries come through. Technically our town was accessible right now if you approached from the west, since that part of the highway wasn’t damaged. But a lot of delivery trucks weren’t eager to make the trip just to Hartley before turning around. We were an awkward, isolated spot for a dead end.

But the bridge repairs had to be getting close. Trace had been on the road for almost a day now. “I’m going to check on the bridge repairs,” I said, reaching for my phone on my nightstand. “And I’ll see if my brother has any updates.”

“Sure. I can get things started downstairs.” Aiden went to the door and removed the chair that he’d used last night to barricade it. He flipped the lock.

But before he could twist the doorknob, I said, “Aiden. Wait.”

He turned around. I set my phone down without even checking it and crossed the room toward him. Stopped less than a foot away. His nostrils flared as he inhaled.

“Would you kiss me?” I asked.

His gaze softened and he took a step, his hands lifting. His palms cradled my face. We still hadn’t kissed, really kissed, since outside the cabin on Refuge Mountain yesterday. And that one had been pretty tame. But now, we had an understanding between us. And I knew what I wanted. What Ineeded.

I needed his mouth on mine.

This time, the touch of his lips was pure electricity. A spark that jolted my body entirely awake. He pressed his mouth to my upper lip, my lower. My tongue darted out, and he responded by opening up. His tongue stroked into my mouth. Petted mine sweetly.

I put my hands flat on his chest. His heart thrummed into my palm. We kept going like that. Gentle yet deepening kisses. Tasting each other. Aiden was fresh like mint on the surface, but with something richer beneath. Hungry. And he hummed the same way he had when he’d tasted my lemon tart a few days ago. Like I was delicious and he wanted more. Yet at the same time, he let me take the lead, responding to my every cue.

I was the one who escalated things.

I slid my hands down and under his T-shirt. I pulled it upward, and Aiden helped me take it off of him, tossing it aside. My hands went back to his chest and rubbed his bare skin and the dusting of dark hair. Blood was rushing in my ears. Distantly, I thought I heard a noise downstairs. Maybe a knock? But I didn’t pay it the slightest bit of mind. The diner’s doors were locked, and I was too wrapped up in the gorgeous man before me.

Aiden’s lips found mine again, but now he wasn’t nearly as controlled. He took my mouth with dominant strokes, his hands sinking into my hair as he walked us backward into the center of the room. Closer to my bed.

Then the door to my apartment flew open, and somebodyscreamed.

Aiden and I both turned to look, his hands still in my hair and mine on his chest. Scarlett stood in the doorway with a look of pure, scandalized shock on her face. “What are you—but you, I—”

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