Love Novel 103

Aiden’s fingers drum lightly against the steering wheel as he pulls into the driveway.
He doesn’t unlock the doors immediately, so I turn to him. The engine is still humming, the car thrumming around us. He
shifts and suddenly his lips are on mine, his hands cupping my cheeks.
He pulls away long enough so I can breathe.
“I don’t want to let you go yet,” he murmurs, leaning in before I can respond.
His lips press against mine again, slow at first. I smile into the kiss, but when he deepens it, tilting my head back with his
hand, I let out a soft laugh.
I try to push at his chest, but he keeps kissing me.
“Aiden,” I mumble against his mouth, pushing harder at his chest, “let’s go inside.”
He groans, his forehead dropping against mine. “Yeah, but the second we step inside, I have to share you. Right here, it’s
just us.”
I smile at him, but something in my stomach twists—not in the way it should. I force another chuckle, brushing it off like
it’s nothing, but the words settle in my chest like a weight.
I feel the heavy lump in my throat, but this is a deeper conversation that requires much more of my time and attention.
Aiden’s struggling. I can see it.
I can feel it.
He kisses me once more before finally pulling away and shutting off the engine. I grab my bag, step out of the car and
Aiden follows close behind, his hand ghosting over the small of my back as we head inside.
The house is quiet, the familiar scent of cedarwood and something sweet lingering in the air, like there are cookies in the
oven. My stomach grumbles at the thought.
I head into the living, and find Jake there on the couch. His laptop is on his knees, a glass of whiskey on the table beside
him. There’s a game on the T.V. but it’s muted and he has a frown on his eyes.
Things at his company are still in disarray.
He looks up when he hears me, exhaustion evident in the tightness around his eyes. It pulls at my chest and I make my
way toward him.
“Hey, baby,” he whispers, closing the laptop and setting it aside.
He runs his hands down his face and I comb my fingers through his hair. Just like that, some of the tension in his
shoulders disappears.
His hands find my waist and he pulls me onto his lap and kisses me. His arms hold me tight and he breathes, relieved, as
if I make him feel better just by being here.
Like he needs me.
“Jake,” I whisper, holding onto the collar of his shirt. It’s unbuttoned, giving me a view of his muscled chest. “Is
everything okay?”
His jaw clenches, eyes shifting to his closed laptop. “No, everything’s a mess. My CFO has apparently been stealing from
me.”
I gasp. “What?”
“I don’t think we would have caught him if he didn’t…die.”
He grimaces when he says the word, and I swallow, scooting impossibly closer to him. “What are you going to do?”
He shrugs. “Nothing? He’s dead. His family is mourning.”
I frown. “He stole from you.”
“But what good could come from it? I don’t want nor need the money. His wife’s been through enough.”
I cup his cheeks. “You’re a better man than they deserve.”
He presses a soft kiss to my lips and exhales against my mouth, like he’s been waiting all day just to do that. “Stay with me tonight?”
I hesitate, the request making my chest tighten. I’ve been planning to see Zaid all day.
“Not tonight,” I tell him gently, brushing my fingers over his cheek in apology. “Tomorrow?”
Jake sighs but nods. I stay on his lap, and we talk about our day as we kiss. Eventually, he tells me he has to finish some
reports and I kiss him one last time.
I head upstairs, anticipation running through me. I stop at my room first, freshening up and changing into a clean t-shirt
and shorts. Zaid’s door is closed, forcing me to knock.
“Yeah?” He calls, but it sounds distant, like he’s not paying attention.
I open the door, walking in to him sitting on his bed with his laptop and a frown on his face. I press my lips together. I want to smile just from looking at him.
He makes my insides jump, my heart race in my chest.
He gives me a sideways glance, and then his entire attention shifts from the screen to me. A relieved smile softly lifts his
lips. “Hey, love.”
I make my way toward him, crawling across his bed until I’m in front of him and I kiss him.
The moment my lips touch his, everything inside me warms. My body melts into his like I belong nowhere else but right
here. He exhales sharply against my mouth and he shoves his laptop to the side, placing me on his lap.
His hands tighten around my waist, pulling me even closer until there’s nothing between us but heat and the sharp edge
of wanting more.
He’s hard.
I rock against him and he moans. “Alina, love.”
“Yes?” I whisper, but give him no chance to answer.
My fingers grip his shirt like I might float away. A warm, overwhelming feeling rushes through me, like every good thing
I’ve ever wanted is suddenly within reach.
He’s the one the pull away, breathless and heart racing.
“I would love to keep kissing you and see where this leads, but I’m in the middle of class, love.”
My cheeks heat and I pull away. When I look toward his laptop, dread makes my stomach drop. An entire class and a
teacher awkwardly look at us through their cameras.
I gasp, shoving at his chest and scampering off his lap. I run away, slamming his door behind me as I make my way to my
room.