Page 37 of Six of Hearts
"Then maybe you should stop waiting," Julian suggested, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Before you drive yourself crazy."
"I'm trying not to rush her," I said. "Or pressure her. She's already dealing with a lot.”
"She's also a grown woman who can make her own choices," Ethan pointed out. "And from what I've seen, she's very clear about what she wants."
"Which is?"
"You, you idiot," Ronan said, but there was affection in it. "All of us. She's all in, Gab. The question is whether you are."
I thought about that—about Aria curled up on my couch in leggings and a sweater, about the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn't watching, about how right it felt when she was in my space.
"I'm in," I said. "I've been in since the day we met her."
"Then show her," Noah said simply.
The rest of the night passed more easily. Either someone had stacked the deck to keep me happy, or I was on a lucky streak, because I won most of the hands we played. By the time I left, I was in a better mood than I'd arrived in, already thinking about what I'd say to Aria when I got home.
I knew she'd be with Caleb—she'd agreed to work overtime on poker nights, and I was grateful for it even as I felt guilty about it. She'd already put in long hours this week.
But when I opened the door and saw her sitting on the couch in the living room, all thoughts of guilt evaporated.
She was wearing a V-neck sweater and black leggings that hugged every curve, her hair down and loose around her shoulders. She looked up when I walked in, and the smile that spread across her face did something to my chest.
"Hey," I greeted, closing the door behind me.
"Hi," she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "How was poker?"
"Wonderful for me. The other guys not so much," I said, moving closer.
She stood up from the couch, and I caught the scent of her perfume—something light and floral that I'd started associating with home.
"Well, someone has to lose," she said. "At least it wasn't you."
"I knew I liked you," I said, and meant it more than she probably realised.
Her head tilted to the side, and I felt a shiver run down my spine at the look in her eyes. "Oh yeah?"
I took a step toward her. "Yeah."
She closed the distance between us, and suddenly we were inches apart. "Funny," she said, her voice dropping lower. "You haven't done anything to show me how much you like me."
Christ, she was going to kill me.
"Don't tempt me," I warned, my voice rough. "I'm not a gentle lover."
Her eyes flared with heat. "That's okay. I like it rough."
"You are unreal," I said, reaching for her.
"If you think that's good, I have great news for you," she responded.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her against me, my other hand tangling in her hair. She let out a soft gasp and slid her hand down my stomach, over my belt, pressing against the hardness there.
I was already rock hard and ready, and for the first time in months, I didn't have to deny it. I started to guide her down to her knees when my phone erupted, shattering the moment.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I growled, pulling it from my pocket. When I read the message, I wanted to throw the damn thing across the room.
"Fuck!"
