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I wanted to sob. Because the emotions inside me felt like too much, like they needed somewhere to spill over.
As he navigated the winding roads, we moved away from any heavy words. The conversation flowed like a gentle breeze. I was fascinated by every word that came out of his mouth. I wanted to knoweverythingthere was to know about him. I felt like I’d been talking in a secret language my whole life, that no one else could understand except Ari Lancaster.
It felt like maybe I could give him my sadness someday.
And he wouldn’t want to run away. He would just understand.
That the fact that my parents had irreparably broken something in me all those years ago wouldn’t scare him away.
The world outside the car had dissolved into the night, and there was only Ari and me, a cocooned universe I never wanted to leave.
With every mile, the anticipation in the car grew like an enchanting spell, a dance of emotions that rose to a fevered pitch. Arousal mingled with longing, creating a heady cocktail of emotions that pulsed through our veins. We both knew what was coming when we got to his house.
Finally we were there, and we pulled into his enormous garage, the soft rumble of the car's engine coming to a gentle rest. As the garage door closed behind us, I noticed two other vehicles in the cavernous space, a striking red lifted truck, and a sleek black motorcycle.
Ari’s vehicles were freaking hot.
“You look like you’re interested in a bike ridelater, sunshine,” he chuckled after he opened my door for me and saw what I was drooling at. I didn’t miss how he emphasizedlater.
I was all about thelateras well.
Ari took my hand loosely, our fingers intertwined, and led me into the house. His other hand gently grazed my face as he leaned in for a kiss. But before our lips could meet, I pulled back slightly, my cheeks burning with sudden embarrassment.
"Can I...can I take a shower first?" I stammered, feeling self-consciousness wash over me. I smelled like food…and sweat. And he smelled like sunlight and sex and fuck…it was the best smell on earth.
Ari's fingers traced a gentle path along my jawline. “Sure thing, sunshine," he purred, his voice tender. "As long as you borrow my clothes when you’re finished.”
He winked at me and I was a pool of lust. Men that looked like him, acted like him, breathed like him…they should not be allowed to wink.
Ari led me into his master bathroom. The moment I stepped through the door, I immediately loved it. It was fancy, all marble and glass, shouting out luxury and comfort. Soft, warm lighting filled the room, making it feel cozy and inviting.
Right there in the middle of it all, was an enormous bathtub. It gleamed like a pristine oasis, just waiting for someone to dive into it—aka me. Above it, a chandelier sparkled, scattering light into a thousand little shards.
The vanity was made of polished marble and decked out with shiny silver fixtures. He showed me where the heated towels were and then he stopped, his cheeks turning red.
‘There’s a drawer,” he muttered, pointing to one in the vanity. “It’s for you.”
I shot him a confused look and slid the drawer open, only to find fancy toiletries laid out neatly inside—many of them my favorite brands, ones I didn’t buy now that I was trying to live out from under the shadow of the Shepfields’ money.
“Um Ari…is this a drawer for women you invite over?” I asked softly, feeling hot and icky all of a sudden.
“No!” he practically shouted. “I bought—well, my housekeeper bought—these for you. No one else. No…no one’s been here but you.”
“Oh,” I blushed. “In that case, thank you.” I was embarrassed by my reaction, but he seemed to be more worried about it than annoyed.
Ari smacked a kiss on my lips. “I’ll give you some space for now…but just know that next time, I’m joining you,” he said huskily, before he literally left the room at a run, muttering something about needing to “leave now while he could.” There was also something in there about tacos, but that one just left me confused.
Taking a deep breath, I undressed and stepped into the shower, the hot water soothing my skin as it cascaded down like a gentle rain. The scent of his shower gel surrounded me, a subtle reminder of his presence that made my insides warm. I hurried through the shower, wanting to see Ari again.
When I was finished, I dried myself off with one of the warmed towels he’d pointed out and I reached for the pile of his clothes. This felt like a big step. There was something about wearing your man’s clothes that just did something to the female population. I slipped into his shirt, and it swallowed me whole, like a cocoon of soft fabric as it hung off my shoulder. The sweatpants were loose and comfortable and I pulled the drawstrings tight so they were able to stay up.
As I made my way to the kitchen, I was greeted by the sight of Ari, now dressed in a pair of joggers that hung low on his hips, showing off those dimples right above his ass that were one of the sexiest sights on earth. He was shirtless, the butterfly on his back standing out in stark relief, and the sight of his tattooed sculpted chest and defined muscles made my breath catch in my throat. His hair was wet and slicked back, and there were still some droplets of water glistening on his tanned skin from the shower he’d obviously taken somewhere else in the house.
"Hey," he said, his voice husky and inviting as he turned to face me. The air between us crackled with tension, as his eyes devoured me, bouncing all over my body. It seemed like the sight of me in his clothes did as much to him as wearing his clothes did to me. Ari was squeezing his fists at his sides, like he was trying to hold back from reaching for me.
"Hi," I replied, my voice soft and uncertain. I couldn't help but feel a rush of desire, a yearning to be closer to him. His presence was both overwhelming and comforting, a contradiction that made my heart race.
He gestured to the kitchen island, where he had put together a spread of food that smelled incredible. “I only know how to make one thing. But that’s okay because it’s the best food in the world, so I know you’re going to like it,” he said, gesturing proudly to the island. “It’s taco time, baby.”
