"He can be the fucking pope, and it wouldn't matter." Aidan's voice turns curt. "He'd never deserve someone like you."
Gaaaah. This man is just so, so good at making me want to swoon and stomp my foot in irritation at the same time. He keeps saying things that make it sound like I'm every guy's dream come true when I know from experience it just isn't so.
"You should dump him—-"
"We have an understanding, okay?" I shove my hands deep into my coat pockets to keep Aidan from seeing how tightly clenched they are. "It's unfair of you to judge Jack like—-"
"What do you mean an understanding?"
"Just...that." My voice trails off awkwardly at the way Aidan's gaze suddenly bores through me.
"You should know right now. I can never be that understanding—-"
"Uh..." I actually find myself stifling a smile at this despite everything. "I never thought you'd be that, um, understanding."
"And you? You don't strike me to be the understanding type either."
"It's complicated."
"Try me anyway."
I'm already shaking my head before he's even done speaking. If I explain why I'm with Jack, I might as well throw away my pride.
Beautiful people like Aidan are used to having things go their way all the time. It's just how life is, and while I don't begrudge them that, I also know I'm not like them.
I was never meant to be someone special, but because of a stupid twist of fate, I now have the kind of life that almost every girl envies me for. I have almost a million followers who think I'm awesome, and...and I might not be drop-dead gorgeous like Aidan, but I...I have good skin. As well as...um...great taste in fashion...and...and...people think I'm classy!
God's given me so much already, it would be overkill to ask for Cupid to shoot my way as well. I'm already
living the kind of life that literally warrants the use of #blessed, and I just think I'd be shamelessly greedy to still want more.
God's already gifted me the moon and all the stars in the sky.
I don't think it's right that I ask Him for the sun, too.
Just not right at all, I remind myself fiercely, and so when Aidan and I finally reach my B&B, and the thought of him leaving makes me feel like the sun's about to stop shining...
Stop! Being! Greedy!
I force myself to look up and meet Aidan's gaze—-
Big mistake.
My chest tightens at the emotion blazing in his eyes, and I bite my lip hard to keep it from trembling.
I have no idea why he's so into me, but I need to be smart about this. I've been hurt too much too often to let myself be fooled again. It's only a matter of time before Aidan proves he's no different from all the other guys.
Just a matter of time...
So why not end things here and now?
I lift my chin and force myself to smile.
Just do it, Raffi!
But when I speak, so does he, and our words blend into each other.
"I'll pick you up at seven tonight—-"
"It was nice spending time—-uh, what?" Did he just say—-
"You're having dinner with me tonight."
My eyes widen, and I say automatically, "No, I'm not."
"Yes." Aidan moves forward. "You are."
And I'm unable to say anything else, with Aidan already cupping my face and covering my mouth with his.
Oh God.
I want to resist him, but I can't. Just the slightest touch of Aidan's lips burns me up, and instead of pushing him away, I find myself holding on to him.
"Open your mouth, baby."
A sensual shudder rocks my body. Baby. It's the second time he's called me that. Baby. I've never even imagined myself as the kind of girl a guy would like to call his baby, and to hear Aidan actually say it to me—-
What little control I have fades, and my lips part under him in complete surrender.
Aaaaah.
His tongue strokes in, and I can't help moaning. It's not my first time to have a man's tongue in my mouth, but when it's Aidan...
It's always so different with him, and I don't get it.
Just so, so different...that all I can do is moan as Aidan continues making love to my mouth.
The strokes of his tongue are gently coaxing, but as soon as my body falls against his, the thrusts of his tongue turn faster and deeper, and my fingers clutch his shirt more tightly. My mind is spiraling, all thoughts of right and wrong disappearing under the fierce onslaught of Aidan's kiss.
When he finally lifts his head, I can only gaze at him, dazed and scared at how this man has me completely in his thrall.
"Tonight, Serafina." His voice is gentle but resolute. "I'll be here at seven."
I watch him walk away, and it feels like he's taken a frighteningly large piece of my heart with him.
Not good, Raffi.
So not good.