Wylde (Arizona Vengeance 7)

I had done some reading up on the Vengeance and their journey to win the Cup this year. It’s a bit of a sports miracle.

Aaron places a palm on the floor to brace himself, his face warming at the nostalgic memory I’m placing before him. “The feeling of that win… there’s nothing like it. I’d go so far as to say it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

Aaron spells out the word R-A-T, and I snicker as he calculates his measly points.

“What’s one thing you would change about yourself if you could?” he asks as he picks out his new tiles.

It’s a deep question. I study him thoughtfully until his gaze rises to meet mine. He shrugs. “I’m just curious because I think you’re practically perfect. But, admittedly, I don’t know you all that well. Just trying to speed up the process.”

Okay, now that’s adorable. When coupled with the fact the man came into my house to play Scrabble with me because he knows how nervous I am and that I’m not sure what in the hell I’m doing, and I’m afraid my heart is starting to take a bit of a tumble for him.

I look at the ceiling, pondering his question. When I return my attention to him, I say, “I wish I could be more spontaneous. Not have to overthink or plan out everything.”

Aaron’s lips curve up, his eyes warm with understanding. It’s obvious he appreciates the truthfulness of my answer. He leans forward across the Scrabble board.

We meet in the middle for a soft, sweetly tender kiss that says nothing more than, “Hello again… I think I really like you.”

It almost seems too romantic to be true.

But then his tongue touches mine, and the kiss takes a deeper turn. Before I know it, we’re both on our knees and are making out like two fevered teenage kids. My breasts are mashed into his chest, and both his hands are in my hair to hold me still so he can ravage my mouth. Our breathing turns heavy, and I have the strange desire to rip all of his clothes off so I can touch every inch of his body.

Aaron tears his mouth from mine, and even though he still holds my head, he leans back so he can look me in the eye. His chest is still heaving, as is mine.

His smile is regretful and amused all at the same time. “We should slow down.”

My brows knit together, and the minute he sees my confusion, he leans into me for a quick but tender kiss. “We can take our time, Clarke. It’s actually kind of refreshing, to be honest…”

I can’t help myself. If there’s something else I wish I could change, it’s the insecurity that comes from having been publicly called a terrible lay. It makes me doubt myself.

Aaron is beyond perceptive, though. Whatever my expression is revealing of my inner thoughts, he latches on to them and starts vehemently shaking his head. “Oh no you don’t,” he orders in a commanding growl. “Don’t you even start thinking I don’t want you.”

Well, damn… that’s exactly what I was thinking.

To my shock, Aaron’s fingers band around my wrist, then he starts to drag my hand right down to the bulge straining against his jeans. My eyes widen as I take it in just a mere second before he presses my palm to it.

And it’s huge. Massive. Causes excitement to start pulsing between my legs, but I’m distracted by his low baritone voice, which causes my eyes to lift and lock with his. “Don’t ever have any doubt about how much I desire you, Clarke. But I want you to be with me all the way. I want you to entirely trust me, and not just get carried away by physical lust.”

We stare at each other, faces mere inches apart, and my hand pressed firmly against his erection. All I can do is nod my understanding because my throat is absolutely parched right now.

“How about dinner tomorrow night?” he murmurs, leaning in to graze his lips softly across mine at the same time he releases his hold on my wrist. “I found this great Greek place last month.”

“How about I cook for you?” I suggest instead.

Aaron pulls back, regarding me with deep contemplation. What is that going to look like… tomorrow… him back in my house for a home-cooked meal?

He grins. “Now see… that’s spontaneous.”

I can’t help but laugh. My palms going to his chest, I lean forward to rest my forehead there for just a moment. I feel Aaron’s lips press to the back of my head, and I realize even if he doesn’t feel it… I trust him.CHAPTER 13Wylde“And that’s the last of it,” Baden says as he puts an empty cooler in the back of my truck before closing the tailgate.