He lowered his voice. “You are awfully distracted today.”
A retort was ready to leave my lips, but the way he looked at me, with that brand of deep concern that melted my heart, killed it before it could ever come out.
“You are awfully distracting,” I said just for him.
His eyes glazed over, and I could see how he was stopping himself from pouncing on me. But we were at our workplace, and we were always meticulously professional. Not because we needed to, as everyone knew and respected our relationship, but because we had made that choice.
So, I switched to a safer topic. “I’m also a little nervous.”
“I know,” he admitted as we made our way down the hallway, carrying the packed laptop bags we had brought to the meeting. “Our luggage is already in the car, so we’ll make it to the airport just in time to pick them up.”
We entered the empty elevator, Aaron placing himself close beside me, our arms brushing softly.
“I checked earlier, and their flight will land as scheduled,” he said as the metallic doors closed.
“Thanks,” I breathed out, unconsciously inching closer to him. “But I’m still a little anxious. It’s their first time in the US, and everyone is coming. That’s a lot of Martíns in an aircraft for everything to go smoothly. What if the flight was too much for Abuela? What if Papá forgot the medication for his tension? You know, I had to FaceTime him to explain to him how to set a reminder on his phone, so he would take it, but even that way, he probably snoozed it and forgot about that too. And I’m scared of what Mamá packed in her suitcase. Remember I told you that one time she wanted me to bring back a whole pata de jamón in my carry-on? That’s a leg of a pig, Aaron. What if she is carrying some illegal produce, and customs thinks she’s smuggling something into the—”
The elevator came to a brisk halt.
Then, Aaron’s lips were on mine, the sudden kiss rendering me immediately speechless. Disarmed. Weightless. I melted into him, my legs turning to butter. I couldn’t help it. Aaron would always have that effect on me; I knew it.
“Baby,” he breathed into my mouth. “Stop overthinking.” He took my lips in his again, his arms coming around me. His body gently pushing my back against the cool surface behind me.
“Did you just stop the elevator, Mr. Blackford?” My voice sounded breathless, not that I cared.
Aaron was fully aware of the power he held over me, and I wanted it that way. Neither of us wanted a single unsaid thing between us. There had been plenty of those in the past.
“Yes.” He brushed his lips along my jaw. “And we have three minutes to get all those worries out of your head before the front desk is called.” His mouth trailed down my neck, warm palms falling on my waist.
My lips parted. “Oh. Okay,” I murmured as he nibbled at the sensitive skin. My blood started swirling, certain parts of my body demanding attention. “I like how that sounds.”
“I made sure your dad would take his pills with him when I talked to him on the phone before they left the house.” Aaron’s hands trailed up, reaching the swells of my breasts. “Cristina is only bringing a few cuts of cured meat,” he continued as his legs crowded mine. “It wasn’t easy, and I might have promised a few things I shouldn’t have, but she compromised.”
A low chuckle left my mouth, but all humor died when his hips rocked briefly against mine.
“Abuela will be fine; she’s tough as nails. Or don’t you remember how I had to literally pluck her off that dance floor last Christmas?” He tugged at the lobe of my ear with his teeth. “And Isabel’s pregnancy doesn’t put her at risk; Gonzalo called the airline to ask. Twice.”
I whimpered, relishing in the sensation of feeling Aaron all around me—his warmth, the strength of his body, his breath and voice falling on my skin—but also in how deep his words and actions ran. How much love and attention there was in them, in him.
“It’s crazy how much my family adores you,” I told him, grasping both his arms with neglected need running through my body. “You are like a Martín Whisperer. How did you manage to do that?”
“I thought that my success in convincing them about how serious I was about you after we confessed the truth about our deal was pure luck, but I might have a way with words when it comes to the Martíns,” he whispered like it was his biggest secret. “With one particular Martín though, I want to believe I have a way with more than just that.”
My hands trailed up his strong arms, passing across his rounded shoulders and finally clasping behind his neck. “You do,” I murmured. “I adore you too. Treasure you. Love you. Want you. Need you.” I pulled him closer.
“Who’s being awfully distracting now?” he rasped.
I answered by grinding myself against his hard body, briefly but intently. A grunt fell from his lips.
“Look at you, teasing me like this. What an adoring and distracting woman I have in my hands.”
> “How much longer do we have?” I arched my back, pressing our chests together.
He exhaled roughly. “Not nearly enough for what I have in mind.” His palm fell on my behind, as if he couldn’t stop himself. He squeezed me possessively, proving his point. His voice turned low. “Later, I swear. As soon as I get you alone in our room.”
Aaron kissed me deeply then, silently promising all the things he’d do to me much later. Hours from now, when we finally reached the house we had rented in Montauk for the weekend and our family was settled comfortably inside.
“Okay.” Cupping his face in my palms, I brushed one last kiss against his lips. “Have you talked to your dad?”