Page 110 of Pretender

Aiden pulls my underwear back and moves his hand up in front of his face. His fingers glisten with my arousal, and he licks it off while I watch.

His eyes flutter shut, and he sucks his fingertips with a satisfied groan. Fuck, I love his groans.

“I need you to sit on my face,” he says, and I laugh. “What’s funny?” he asks.

“I’ve never done that.”

“Have you ever been touched to climax in the back of a car? Actually, don’t answer that, I don’t want to hear about it if you have.”

“I haven’t. This was a first.” I like that he can’t bear the idea of me with anyone else. Even in the past. I’d rather not know how many women he’s done that to either, so I don’t ask. The thought that this isn’t special is not one I’d like to entertain.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, sitting up, still twisted towards me in his seat.

“What?”

“You tensed up. What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t do that, please. Tell me. Tell me everything.”

I pick on the seam of the seat. “I’m … jealous?”

“Of what? Whom?”

“Of your past, I guess?” Fuck, my ears are burning hard. “I want to consider what we do as special, and there’s this intrusive notion that you’ve done exactly this, said those exact words to someone else. Maybe not even that long ago.”

Aiden exhales, but he doesn’t move, just looks at me.

“We all come with baggage and history, Linnea. Everything I say and do with you is unique. It’s laced with emotion, with meaning, and an intent that I’ve never had with anyone. And as I told you before, I don’t sleep around like that. Yeah, I’ve had my share of sex—I love it—but not like that. Not charming someone who expects something else, I never led anyone on, so I’m not saying anything to you that’s just a line. Please accept me with my past, knowing that the present and future me only wants you.”

“Okay,” I breathe. I need to try. “I’ll remember that.”

“Actually, past me wanted you for a long time.”

“Really?”

“Since the day I met you. I didn’t realise at first, but I’ve been paying attention to you, drawn to you, thinking of you … for two years.”

I open my mouth. All the memories of Aiden since the start flood my mind. Charming Aiden whom I dismissed as my annoying client. Or did I push him away because I sensed how easily he’d get under my skin if I let him?

“I like you, Aiden. Quite a bit.”

He rolls his bottom lip, hiding his smile, but I’ll take the dimple. “Good,” he rumbles.

The car slows and I recognise the street signs visible from my low angle.

“We’re here.”

“Home sweet home,” Aiden says, lowering the privacy screen. “Thanks, Mo, you can finish up. I’m staying here.”

“Presumptuous,” I tease, but I already agreed with Jamie and Sophie that I’d pay for a hotel for them tonight and we’d hang out tomorrow.

He grins at me, as wide as his face allows. “You better believe it.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

promise?