Page 81 of A Cowboy's Bride
The hug felt amazing even if he was probably just getting ready to find some way to let her down easily. But when he tucked his strong fingers under her chin and tilted her face to his, no more anger or confusion or frustration covered his face. Just a one hundred percent Aiden smile full of amusement and mischief.
He leaned their foreheads together. “Thank God. That means I’m not the only one.”
Shock, sudden and deep. “Really?”
“Really,really,” he confirmed. “Although I’ll admit that whole conversation we just had sucked. I had no idea what was going on for a big part of it. I don’t like being angry and sad and worried and devastated, especially when I had hoped this evening would finish with me telling the woman I care about deeply that we should consider being more to each other than pretend.”
Petra shook her head. “All that shouting and frustration was for nothing?”
“Well, I don’t know about that.” Aiden curled his arm around her waist, connecting their torsos. “We haven’t had a fight before. That means we can have makeup sex.”
“Wasn’t really a fight,” Petra pointed out. “It was just me making things way too convoluted. I’m sorry.”
“I am too,” Aiden said. “That means we can haveno more convoluted conversationssex, yes?”
She stroked her fingers up the side of his neck and into his hair, teasing as heat wrapped around them. “I have a feeling that no matter what we decide to call the conversation, there’s going to be sex involved at the end.”
He pressed a series of kisses along her jaw line to under her ear and spoke quietly. “I have no problem with that plan. As there’s no pretending involved.”
He nipped her neck, and in spite of the fire beside them, a shiver raced up her spine.
She cupped his face in her hands and stared into his blue eyes. “I’m sorry for making things confusing. Here is me being crystal clear. I’d like to go and have sex with you, because you’re an amazing guy, Aiden. You’re funny, smart, and the way you move with me turns me on.”
A gasp escaped as Aiden lifted her off her feet, carrying her down the hallway to their room.
He settled her on the bed, going to his knees on the carpet in front of her, pausing to stare into her eyes. “I know we probably don’t need this, but I did get you a birthday present or two. Hang on.”
“I don’t need anything—” Petra protested, but he’d already grabbed her decorative paper bag from beside the bed, dropping it into her lap.
“I want to use them,” he said, “So you have to unwrap them right this instant.”
She laughed as she dug into the bag and pulled out a tissue wrapped cylinder. She ripped away the paper and discovered a candle, this one labeledNetflix & Chill. “Oh my God.”
“They get better,” he said taking the unwrapped one from her and putting it to the side.
Petra dipped back into the bag. Wrapping paper flew, and her laughter grew louder as she read the labels on three more candles.
Thanks For All The Orgasms.
Light Me When You’re Horny.
Big Dick Energy Candle (when this candle is lit, give me that dick). She dragged in air, her hand pressed to her stomach. She lifted the last one in the air, tears pouring down her cheeks. “Oh. My.God.”
Aiden smirked. “Truth in advertising,” he said as he nabbed each candle, lit it, and placed them around the room. Then he turned off the overhead lights and it was only candlelight as he came back to the bed and rolled her to the middle.
He wiped away her tears, staring at her face far too solemnly. “I know it’s been a roller coaster, but I do want to wish you happy birthday. I hope this coming year is full of things that make you smile and things that make you happy, but mostly I hope it’s full ofreal. No more pretending.”
He pressed their lips together, brief and gentle, not as if he were teasing but as if he were savouring every moment. Every touch.
He stripped away her blouse, kissing each bit of skin as he revealed it. Coming back between over and over to her lips. He caressed her breast followed by a kiss. Licked a line down her ribcage, and another kiss.
“Aiden.” She breathed his name, threading her fingers through his hair and tugging him back up when he lingered too long at her belly.
The kiss went deeper this time, more heated. Petra opened her legs and cradled him between them, naked from the waist up as his hands roamed over her, touching and caressing and teasing.
He nipped her lower lip, and when she gasped, he smiled down at her. “Stay right there,” he ordered.
This time when he worked his way down her body, unsnapping her pants and easing them and her underwear off her hips, he stayed down. Fleeting licks of his tongue against her skin, small bites to the inside of her thigh. He grasped her knees and separated them.
