Hard to Handle (Love in the Balance 2)

Sadie scurried into the den, decorated in deep, forest-green carpeting and burgundy and cream plaid wallpaper. A rolltop desk and bar stood on one side of the room, a large leather wraparound couch and fireplace on the other. It was a guy’s space, furnished by Aiden’s dad, she guessed, given the deer head mounted on the wall. Ew. She made a face and entered the adjoining room, closing the door behind her with a quiet click.

This looked more like Aiden’s space. The furniture was more feminine than it should be—picked out by his late mother, she assumed—but Sadie could tell Aiden spent his time here. His shoes were lined against the wall, workout clothes tossed over the back of the desk chair, and a sleek black laptop rested next to a lamp near his bed.

His bed.

Never before had an unmade bed—with rumpled black bedding—looked so inviting. If Aiden could make her eyes roll back into her head in the corner of a banquet room, what could he do with all this space and a closed door?

Tonight she’d find out. She dropped her high heels on the floor and padded over the neutral gray carpet to the attached bathroom to freshen up. After she used the facilities, washed her hands, and repaired her helmet-head with damp fingers, Sadie stepped back into his room.

Aiden was sitting on his bed, but stood when he saw her, rubbing his palms down his suit pants in a nervous gesture. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

“I have everything ready.” He pointed to a rolled sleeping bag and duffel on the floor.

Sadie approached the pile of gear as warily as she would a cobra in a basket. Camping? Please, not camping. Sadie’s idea of camping was a cheap motel.

Aiden lowered his eyebrows as he studied her. “What’s wrong?”

“This makes it look like we’re braving the elements.” She gave him a pleading smile. “Can’t we just stay in here?”

He shook his head, stalking toward her with dark intent in his eyes. He glanced at the ceiling. “My dad’s room is over this one,” he said, keeping his voice low. “And I do not want your screaming to wake him up.”

Sadie’s eyes went wide. “Screaming?”

Aiden leaned forward and kissed her, a rough, possessive kiss as he slid his hands beneath her dress. His palms cupped her bottom and he lifted her, settling her onto his lap as he sat on the edge of the bed. She clutched his neck as she straddled his legs. “You don’t strike me as a girl who can keep it down during sex,” he whispered, his hot breath in her ear sending trails of goose bumps down her arms.

He moved his lips to hers.

“I can control myself,” she breathed against his mouth.

He kissed her again, deeper, with tongue.

“I mean, I think I can,” she breathed when he pulled away.

“Think so, huh?” Challenge flared in Aiden’s eyes. There was nothing she liked seeing more. He reached behind her and unzipped her dress, sliding her top to her waist. Sadie’s breaths came rapidly as he revealed her breasts. He stared for a few seconds before running his hands over her nipples. They peaked in response.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, leaning forward and laving her skin. His tongue circled one nipple, leaving it to cool as he moved his head to work on the other.

Sadie’s head dropped back on her neck. His fingers gently pinched one nipple as he suckled the other. It was too much. It wasn’t enough. She wiggled against him, aware of the high mewling sounds emitting from her throat as he tongued and pulled her. The pulse between her legs grew to a painful throb.

“Aiden,” she whispered. Or squeaked. She couldn’t quite get her vocal cords to do what she wanted them to.

He extracted her nipple with a soft pop, then darted his tongue around the bud, biting her ever so softly. She pressed her lips together to keep the cry from pushing out of her throat. Aiden smiled against her skin, knowing he had her, and did it again, this time pinching her other nipple in tandem. She bucked against him and let out a brief whimper she was powerless to hold in.

He took the sound as encouragement to continue and dove back in, pinching, licking, suckling, and pulling as Sadie clutched on to the back of his head for support. Then she was flying apart, releasing his head to cup her mouth with both hands to keep from wailing Aiden’s name at the top of her lungs.

She collapsed against his shoulder, one arm holding on to his neck, one palm secured over her mouth. She dropped her hand only when she was sure she wouldn’t yell the word more!

Aiden swept his hands up her back and held her against him. When she finally had the strength to lift her head, she found him grinning to beat all.