His Reward by Emme Cox

Author:Emme Cox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emme Cox
Published: 2020-11-17T00:00:00+00:00

Eight

Beaver Bush is crammed full.

When Aiden and I finally get a seat, it’s too close to the karaoke speakers. The off-key singing is loud as hell combined with the cacophony of conversations coming from every direction.

The positive is that physical boundaries are tossed right out the window. Aiden and I are forced to sit really close and lean in to hear each other.

I’m bombarded by his warmth and the intoxicating earthy scent of his cologne. His lips and his soft breath move against my ear every time he says something to me, and the backs of my naked arms shiver.

I can’t believe I’m getting aroused from his simple questions like how are the sweet potato fries? They’re fricking good, Aiden. So good, they’re making me wet.

Is he affected by my nearness too? Sometimes, when I smile at something he says, his gaze fall to my mouth.

And sometimes when he looks at me, it’s with half-lidded eyes and a secretive smile on his lips like he’s thinking about something dirty.

Across from us, a guy from another table smiles at me again when our gazes accidentally connects.

It’s the third time it’s happened. I’m starting to think that the guy is just staring at me, waiting for me to turn my head in his direction.

The first two times it happened, Aiden and I joked about it. This third time, Aiden loops his arm over the back of my seat and sweeps his hand down my arm.

Oh my god. That’s like an unspoken she’s mine message from one man to the other, right?

But I’m really quick at reading more into things and I’m desperate for confirmation bias. It feels possessive but maybe for Aiden it’s just protective.

Still, my brain cells have lost coordination. There’s no room for any other thought. Every part of me is focused on Aiden’s hand on my arm. His palm, all five of his fingers, his thumb rubbing back and forth across my skin.

He leans in, his low voice filling my ear.

“Ready to go?”

Yes, please. Get me the hell outta here before I fling myself at you in public like a thirsty dog.

I quickly nod in silence.

Outside, the quiet night welcomes us like a comforting hug after the chaotic noisiness we endured in the pub.

“It’s different,” Aiden says, frowning at the pub’s entrance. “There used to be pool tables instead of karaoke.”

“The food was really good like you said, though.”

“I’m glad that didn’t change.” He jerks a thumb across the street. Past the grassy slope, the dark lake stretches out into the distance. “Want to take a walk on the path?” He glances at my foot. “If you’re up to it.”

I smile. “I’m up to it.”

We cross the road and head down the slope onto the winding path. Streetlights casts pools of yellow on the cement paving, chasing most of the darkness back to the lake. The short, metal railing and half a foot of stone edging is the only protection from stumbling into the inky water.

As we walk, the lake and the night swallow the sounds from the street above.

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