AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How do you feel?” He brushes my hair out of my face. There’s no hurry to get up, though I definitely need a shower, no rush to start the day. This soft slowness of the morning only makes what happened the night before more perfect.
“Good,” I say, hiding my smile and burying my face in my pillow. He’s having none of that, though, snatching the pillow out from under me as I laugh. “Really good.”
“No regrets?”
I shake my head. “Of course not.”
“Good, because I’m not letting you go.”
I grin at him, and he steals my breath with a kiss that leaves me wanting a repeat of last night. He smiles against my mouth as though he can sense where my thoughts have gone.
“As much as I want to keep you in my bed all day, you need to eat something.” I start to complain, even though I really am hungry. Aidan nips at my bottom lip in warning. “I told you I’d take care of you, and I meant it. How do you take your eggs?”
The question is like every one of my daydreams about romance come to life. “Sunny side up.”
“Go shower.” He drops one last kiss on my lips before he pulls the duvet back and gets to his feet, stretching. Shamelessly, I take in the glorious display of tanned skin and rippling muscles. “Breakfast will be ready when you get out.”
He shows me the bathroom, just as nice as the rest of his place, and gives me a fluffy towel before leaving to go start breakfast. I shower quickly, wrapping myself up in the towel after because my clothes are still on his bedroom floor.
I pad through the apartment, finding him in the kitchen—cooking in nothing but sweatpants. He turns when he hears me come in, grinning.
“Sit. Breakfast’s ready,” he says.
We eat together at the dining table, and I have to admit the eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee were definitely needed.
“So what do you do on your days off?” I ask as we’re finishing up, sipping my second mug of coffee.
“Well, usually, I hike,” he answers, pinning me with a look. “But I fully intend on spending every available second I can with you now.”
My heart is a pile of goo in my chest at that. “I like hiking,” I tell him honestly, setting my mug down. “I hate the gym, so most of my workouts are hikes. Plus…I feel the same way. I don’t want this to end.”
Aidan reaches for my hand, twining our fingers together. “Didn’t you hear me, Autumn? You’remine.This? Us? It’s never going to end, sweetheart.”
I nod, unable to form the words to respond. God, I want that so badly.
“Come on,” Aidan urges, tugging me to my feet. “You need to put on more than that towel or we’re not leaving this house today.”
I laugh at his teasing even as I shiver under the heat of his gaze. I find yesterday’s clothes, tugging on my leggings and socks but frowning at my jumper. I’m going to boil alive if I hike in that.
Aidan must have the same thought because seconds later he tugs something over my head. I wriggle my way into the clothing properly, then look down at myself. The t-shirt is huge on me, but it smells like Aidan and is super soft.
“Jesus, seeing you in my clothes is so fucking hot,” Aidan groans behind me, and I turn to find him staring at me with his own t-shirt half on. “Fuck, Autumn. No matter what you wear, you’re the most stunning girl alive.”
“Stop being so damn sweet.” I blush all the way to my toes and hurry to find my shoes while Aidan finishes dressing. Then, we’re finally ready to leave.
Just as we’re about to reach the front door, his buzzer rings. I jump at the unexpected noise, laughing at myself for the overreaction as I realize what the noise is.
Aidan frowns, crossing to the little metal box beside his front door and pressing the button to speak to whoever is ringing his bell.
“Hello?” He shoots me a look that makes it clear he’s as impatient to leave as I am.
The voice that comes back through the buzzer is grainy with static. “Who is this?”
Aidan and I lock eyes, confusion passing between us. Why is this person buzzing Aidan’s door if they don’t even know who lives here? Unease trickles down my spine, making me shiver. What’s that expression?Like someone’s walked over your grave.
Yeah, that weird foreboding feeling I can’t explain. That’s what that staticky, questioning voice gives me. Ugh.
It’s nothing, I try to reassure myself. Maybe the person’s just lost. I’m only on edge because I want to get out and hike, to spend more time with Aidan. That’s all.
