Page 76 of Hard Knock Hero

I already knew I would be thinking of this night, picturing the incredible heat of this moment, for the rest of my days.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

Jessi

I hadmy head pillowed on Aiden’s chest, my hand resting on his stomach. His fingers smoothed through my still-damp hair. The sun was dipping toward the western horizon outside, and I was hungry. A delicious smell wafted upstairs from the kitchen. Yet it was so hard to move. I was pretty sure I could exist right here until the sun swallowed up the earth, and I’d be content.

Except I also wanted to do what I just did with Aiden. Again…and again.

Having him inside me had been everything I’d needed. More, even. Because no man had ever made love to me like that. Attentive to my every reaction, finding out what I liked best and playing my body like it was an instrument, and he was some kind of virtuoso. Or like a chef who’d made himself completely at home in the kitchen, elevating an everyday thing into an art form.

How was I so gone for him after four days? How could it only be that much? It felt like a different lifetime since Aiden had walked into my diner out of the snow.

And changedeverything. Changed me.

When tomorrow morning came, it would be over. That thought made my throat tighten up. I was determined to stay in this moment and enjoy it, as if I could stop time altogether by concentrating hard enough. By ignoring everything else but the two of us, right here and now, in this bed.

My finger traced a line down his shoulder over his tattoo. “Why did you pick this design? The ocean waves. Is it because you grew up by the coast?”

He blinked lazily at me, a hint of a smile curving his lips. “Probably. The ocean represents freedom to me. It’s dangerous and untamed because that’s its nature. It exists according to its own rules.”

I lay my cheek above his heart. “Freedom is important to you,” I remarked.

“Sure. It’s noteverything, but it’s close. Don’t you think? Choosing the life you want for yourself. Not letting obstacles stand in your way.”

I nodded. I did want that kind of freedom. But I liked the idea of belonging to a place, too. Belonging to the right person. Compromising so we could have a lifetogether. I’d been dreaming of that since I was a kid. Listening to my mother’s romantic songs. I was a lot more cynical now. Yet I still wanted that kind of connection with someone.

That wasn’t what Aiden wanted, though. He wasn’t that kind of man, and he’d told me days ago after we’d first kissed.I don’t think I have that in me.

My brain had listened. But my heart hadn’t. Yet I didn’t blame myself for it, either. Aiden was the cowboy who showed up in town, made the woman fall for him, and rode off into the sunset. It was inevitable. That was who he was. If anything about him had been different, would I have felt this way?

I ignored the hunger gnawing at my belly until Aiden insisted on getting up. He tugged on his jeans, went downstairs, and returned with a plate holding two pulled-pork sandwiches. I couldn’t begin to describe how delicious they were. Tangy sauce and smokiness and buttery, yeasty rolls. We sat on my bed, blankets over us as we shared the one plate. Aiden got sauce in his beard, and I wiped it away, laughing.

The next time I glanced at the window, it was fully dark outside. We still had the whole night ahead of us.

Aiden set the empty plate on my nightstand. He stripped off his jeans so we were both naked again. We kissed and talked and cuddled. He told me about the wedding on Saturday, the prep he needed to start tomorrow. The long list of ingredients his sous chef was supposed to hand-select from local Colorado markets, everything grown in greenhouses or hydroponically since it was winter. The bride and groom were family friends, and that was why they’d hired the Shelbornes’ catering company to come all the way out for this destination wedding. It sounded like a fancier party than I’d ever attended in my life. Jake would be there, along with his wife, Harper. And Aiden’s parents and other siblings too.

That was the life Aiden had chosen. Glamorous events and expensive ingredients. California sunshine, blue waves, and his big family close enough to drive him crazy on any given day.

But me? I loved Hartley. The mountains and the history and small-town feel. I had fought to make this my home.

I belonged here. Aiden didn’t. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. I was never supposed to get attached to him. To havefeelingsfor this man who had insisted from the beginning that he wouldn’t stay.

So why did this hurt so damn much?

We hadn’t turned a light on. It was dark in my room when Aiden pushed aside our blankets. Laid me on the bed and kissed me as our bodies met, skin to skin. I was glad for the darkness because it meant he couldn’t see the tears in my eyes.

He kissed me and touched me until I was breathless. Gasping and clinging to him. Begging again for more. I had more condoms in my nightstand, and I got another one out. They were actually Scarlett’s. Before leaving earlier, she’d dashed home quickly and brought them back for me, passing them surreptitiously so Trace wouldn’t notice.

Aiden lay on his back and lifted me up. He set me in his lap this time so I was straddling him. His cock slid into me, pushing so deep. His hips bucked up to meet me, concentrating all the pleasure of my existence into the joining of our bodies and the rhythm and heat we built as we moved. He whispered things to me, how beautiful I was and how incredible it felt to be inside me, but I couldn’t utter a single word in response. Just bitten-off gasps and shouts.

I never wanted this to end.

Then he flipped us over. I was on my back. Completely in his control. Aiden held my arms above my head, his weight almost too much as he pressed me into the mattress. Drove his thick shaft into me. But it was perfect. His eyes moved over me reverently, as if he wanted to memorize this. Every detail. He captured my mouth with his and swallowed each one of my moans like he was greedy for every part of me.

I wanted him to hold me down. Stay here with me. Be every dream I never thought could come true.

Even though I knew he couldn’t.

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