“Did that really work?” I chuckled.
“No, not at all.” He laughed. “But since my dad was a highly sought after photographer, he started insisting that she was used to cater all of his shoots and events. Finally, as Mom would put it, he’d worn her down.” I smiled as my eyes found Scott and Sophie walking hand in hand as they strolled together across the lawn chatting with guests. I loved their connection. They were a perfect vision of two people who were deeply in love. I felt a little envious.
“You have a lovely family.” I smiled at him with genuine warmth. His lips curved up into a lopsided grin. Instead of speaking, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor. We spent the rest of the afternoon trying not to look as old as we felt next to all of the kids crowding the dance floor. Aidan attempted a few dance moves, unsuccessfully I might add, to the utter embarrassment of Maddie and Isabella. I decided to stick with a safe two-step, no matter the song.
Finally giving up on dancing, I went back to the house in search of the bathroom. I entered the kitchen through the French doors and was about to venture down the hall to my right when I heard a strange muffled noise in the distance that made me curious enough to find out what it was. Just off the kitchen was a large pantry with the door open. I stood gaping at Scott who had Sophie pinned against the far shelf with her long leg resting on his hip, grinding into her fully clothed, kissing her ravenously. The muffled sound was Sophie moaning “Scotty” into his mouth, her hands fisting into his hair as she pulled him tightly against her. I quietly started backing away feeling embarrassed to witness this private moment.
Whoa.
Even after thirty years of marriage the electricity between them was humming through the room. I could feel it. I quickly tiptoed down the hall in the opposite direction, slightly dazed and hoping with all my heart that I would have that for myself one day. Suddenly an image of me and Aidan together doing the exact same thing thirty years from now filled my head, and I knew I was in trouble.
Chapter Eleven
After Maddie’s party, Aidan and I went back to his house for the night. He placed his iPod on the docking station and pressed shuffle. We were sitting next to each other on the barstools at the counter, drinking bottled beer and eating some of the party leftovers Sophie shoved into our hands to take home.
There was a comfortable silence between us and at the same time an undeniable magnetic pull. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from repeatedly glancing his way and grinning when I found him looking at me, too. Finally, Aidan grabbed my hand and pulled me into his room. We slowly undressed each other, trying our best to methodically kiss each piece of skin we’d uncovered. I pushed him down on to the bed, climbed on top, and lowered myself onto him. There were no thoughts in my head other than the feel of him beneath me, his hands roaming my body, caressing my breasts, my stomach, and hips.
Enjoying the overwhelming sensations, I threw my head back and rocked harder. The soothing melody of “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges was flowing from the living room and my hips moved in time with the beat that seemed to go perfectly with the mood. Slow, relaxed, and passionate as I found myself rolling my hips, moving my hands to touch my breasts, pinching my nipples and moaning softly. I was brought out of my dreamlike state by the sound of Aidan groaning below me. I open my eyes to see him staring at me, eyes filled with smoky passion and something that resembled wonderment.
“What?” I asked, my voice husky as I began to feel a little embarrassed by my loss of awareness.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Josie. I love watching you let go.” His voice was as thick as mine, and the sound caused my inner muscles to clench involuntarily around him as I grew even wetter. I bit my bottom lip as goose bumps formed on my skin before smiling down at him. I couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss him. He met me halfway, his mouth devouring mine. We moved to a sitting position with our lips never separating.
One of his hands fell to rest on my hip, the other wrapped behind me at the base of my neck. He guided our pace, still keeping time with the song. It was as if we’d left this world and somehow landed in an alternate universe where it was possible to become one with music. Nothing else around us existed, just the feel of his hands on me, our warm tongues entwined, and the way he moved deliciously inside of me
“Oh God, Josie. This is?.?.?.” His voice trailed off as he groaned against my mouth. I could feel tiny bumps cover the surface of his skin, too.
I pulled back to look into his half-lidded eyes and whispered, “I know, Aidan. I feel it too.” It was an awakening. From what? I wasn’t sure. I just knew that I’d never felt it before, and I would never be the same. I returned my lips to his as we exploded simultan
eously, shouting into each other’s mouths as our release took control and carried us away.
He smoothed back my damp hair and placed soft kisses along the curve of my neck, our lower halves still pulsing against each other. It was clear that neither of us wanted to break the connection or the moment we’d just shared.
“Baby.” Aidan turned his head and gestured to the unused condoms on the nightstand. “I’m sorry, I wanted to say something but when you sank down onto me I couldn’t think about anything else.”
“It’s okay. I’m on the pill.”
“Even if you weren’t, I would take care of you. You know that right?” I looked into his eyes and I knew that he would, so I nodded. He was a good person. The exact kind of person that I’d always wanted to find.
Something had changed between us and we both knew it. Except, I’d created a situation where I had no choice but to move thousands of miles away very soon. Cruel how life worked sometimes. I wasn’t ready to let him go, and I was having a hard time admitting it.
I wouldn’t realize this until much later, but I didn’t think about Derek once that entire weekend.
****
Early the next morning Aidan and I were standing next to my car, staring at each other. He had his arms wrapped around my waist as he held me against him.
“I want to keep seeing you,” he said against my neck, and I closed my eyes. I don’t know why either of us thought this would be a five-date thing. “I don’t want you to move to California.”
“Aidan.” I sighed. “I can’t stay even if I wanted to. I’ve already sold my house.”
“That’s no excuse. There are plenty of places here to live. Just stay.”
“You know why I need to leave.”
“Why? Because of him? What about me? Don’t run away from me, too. Stay.”
I wanted to. I really, really wanted to, but I was terrified to open my heart to someone else, especially after it had been completely torn to shreds by the last person I tried to give it to.