Spark (23 page)

Aidan sits further back in the chair so he isn’t touching me, taking with him the warmth of his body. He pauses before he squirts the cold sunscreen on my back, making me jump. His strong hands lightly massage along the back of my neck, over my shoulders. It feels so unbelievably good that I have to stop myself from moaning out load. As his hands glide over my skin, the small callouses on his palms give a strange sensation of hard and soft, turning me to putty in his hard-working hands. He stops, pauses, and I jump again as he squirts more sunscreen onto my lower back.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” I say as he starts massaging again.

“More than you know. When did you get the tattoo?” he says as he gently runs his fingers over it. It has healed well.

“Not long before Christmas … it’s the Chinese symbol for strength.”

“Did it hurt?”

“Yeah, but it was bearable. I was pretty numb at the time with all the shit going on with my family, and what happened with my ex. I think I always wanted to get one, so it seemed right to get it at the time I needed it most … strength that is. It’s symbolic really.” I never expected the day Cassie came over with a container of soup would end up with me getting a tattoo. It was totally unexpected, the pain almost surreal, but ironically I think it was the turning point for me to exit self-destruct mode and take charge of my life.

“I like it. Nice to have meaning behind it, rather than just a crappy butterfly. Now … lie down on your stomach,” Aidan says as he gets up from the chair.

I lie down, my arms falling either side, my forehead resting on the towel beneath me. Aidan kneels on the chair, his knees either side of my thighs. He continues massaging my lower back, rubbing the cream down my sides, reaching around to my stomach. He lifts up the string on the back of my bikini top, rubbing my back under the strap, and grazes the sides of my bare breasts as he rubs the cream in towards my front.
Clearly, location is not going to get in the way.
I shudder beneath him.

“You know, strutting around in this is gonna get you into trouble,” he says as he tugs at one of the bows on my bikini bottoms.
Crap. Did I put in double knots?

“You might be right,” I say as I roll over underneath him and rest my hands behind my head, giving him an eyeful of cleavage. He can barely take his eyes off them.

“Of course I’m right,” Aidan teases, making me grin. “Mmm, you missed a spot.” He shoots cream right between my breasts, and I yell out in surprise. “Want help rubbin’ it in?” he asks, giving me his dirtiest smile yet. His eyes beckon an answer.

Do I want to be an old lady with crazy hair and a house full of stray cats? Or do I want this beautiful man to touch me?
To hell with it
. I’m gonna enjoy it. A man like this doesn’t land in your lap every day, and right now, he’s exactly where I want him to be.

“You’d better.” I squirm beneath him, arching my back. The look on Aidan’s face changes, his eyes bright, like he can’t contain his excitement. He dips his fingers into the blob of sunscreen, and starts rubbing thick, white cream down the nape of my neck, trailing his fingers between my breasts, and under the string resting at the base of my sternum. His fingers dip in again, and he rubs his hands together and circles my belly button before sweeping them up towards my breasts. Each touch has my insides turning to volcanic mush. His fingers brush underneath the triangular cups.
Fuck.
His gaze seems to seek permission to explore. I take off my sunnies, and put them on the table, returning my hands behind my head.
Surely this indicates to him that I don’t want him to stop.

“Close your eyes,” Aidan whispers as he dips into the remaining blob of sunscreen. I shut my eyes, breathing faster as I wait for more of his touch. His hands return to the bottom of my bikini top, but this time his fingers explore further. He makes a low growling soundas his hands move underneath the bikini top, taking hold of both of my breasts, his fingers running over my nipples. They harden in an instant. My eyes spring open, and I stare into Aidan’s eyes as my heart rate spikes.
Holy shit.

“Eevie,” Aidan says as he gently squeezes, and releases my breasts. He lowers himself on top of me. His hot breath warms my ear, and his breathing quickens in time with mine. With the weight of his body on me, his hardness is obvious. “Do you want me to have my way with you beside the pool?” he says in a deep gravelly voice. I sweep my hands around his lower back, my fingers stroking up and down the firmness of the muscles along his spine.

“Um,” I say, reeling from his touch. My nipples tingle, and words fail me.

“You’re at least thinkin’ about it, then. That wasn’t a no,” Aidan whispers. I can’t see it, but I feel his smile as his stubble grazes my neck. He nibbles my ear, trailing kisses down to my collarbone.
Is he going to continue this out in public?

I look around, feeling imaginary eyes on us. It’s almost as if Aidan has weakened me—not that I want to move, but I feel powerless to try.

I take in a shuddery breath as his stubble tickles me, and also in response to his words.
Funny man
. He’s right. I didn’t say no, and I’m starting to realise more and more the effect he has on me. It seems my rational thought is off with the fairies. I hope it’s having a fab time.

Aidan rests his forehead against mine. “I was joking, Eevie. When you’re ready, there’ll be no eyes watching. I want it to be everything you want it to be.”

Holy hell. Now my bikini is drenched.

“Oh,” is all I’ve got.

“But if you change your mind,” he whispers in my ear as his hardness rubs where I’m desperate to feel him. “I’m up for that too. Just sayin’.”

He keeps this up, I just might.

“Hi guys,” an excited female voice shouts from outside the pool fence.
Crystal
. Her timing is impeccable. Perhaps I’ll thank her for it later. Blood rushes to my face—I’m practically wearing nothing, with Aidan lying on top of me, hardness and all. Not exactly the kind of position I want to be sprung in … not in public. Aidan and I turn our heads to greet Crystal as she approaches. It appears that Aidan is happy to stay put.
So bold
.

“Hi Crystal,” I say, my voice breathy under Aidan’s weight. I purse my lips as I push his chest, attempting to lift him.

“Hey Crystal,” Aidan says, and grins like the Cheshire cat. He gradually lifts himself off me, but faces his body away from Crystal, hiding the bulge in his shorts. He rubs against himself discreetly, staring directly at me. I purse my lips to stifle my smile—it’s like a secret joke between us, with Crystal none the wiser. For a split second I imagine him naked, but shake off the thought. He’s already got my pants wet.

“Weren’t you off to the coast?” I ask Crystal, recalling that she was leaving sometime earlier today.

“Yeah, we’re on the way. I just forgot something. I’m sure you guys won’t mind if we don’t stick around.” Crystal raises an eyebrow.

“Where’s Rob?” Aidan asks.

“He’s waiting in the car, I just ran upstairs to my room when I saw you guys down by the pool.”
Oh, crap. I wonder how much she saw
.

“You look a bit hot and bothered, Eevie. I think it’s time to cool down,” Aidan says, sweeping me off the chair and into his arms. I squeal as he carries me over to the edge of the pool.

“Really?” I giggle, knowing in seconds from now, we’ll be underwater.

“Yes, and I can’t wait to get you wet,” he mutters in my ear.
Too late for that.

Aidan launches us into the cool, refreshing water. As we surface, Aidan holds me tight, his feet, barely touching the bottom. I wipe the water from my face, and stare into his eyes as he swirls me around, my hands clasped around his neck. His pale blue eyes sparkle against the reflection of the crystal-clear water. I am mesmerised … lost in his eyes. The way he stares back at me, it’s as if he’s looking straight into my soul. Unable to resist, I kiss him deeply. He holds me tighter.

“I guess I’ll leave you guys to it,” Crystal says as she walks over to the edge of the pool. Lost in a trance, I’d forgotten she was there—how rude of me.

“Sorry Crystal, I hope you guys have a nice time, enjoy yourselves,” I reply. I can’t hide how happy I am right now, nor would I want to. It’s the happiest I’ve been in so long. Crystal returns the same smile.

“Thanks. Be good, you two. Bye,” Crystal says as she closes the pool gate. I give her a wave, just as Aidan plunges me under the water.

I splutter, and laugh as I re-surface. “Are we going to play
that
game are we?”

“Eevie, any game you wanna play is fine with me.” Aidan laughs, as I struggle to push him under water. It requires all my strength.
This man is strong
. Once we are above water again, Aidan sweeps his hair back, and wipes the water from his face. He pulls me close again, our eyes locking.

“I can’t stop staring at your eyes … they’re so, hypnotising,” I say, and sigh.

“You are,” he says, diverting the attention back to me.

“I bet you get told that all the time. They’re just gorgeous. You’re gorgeous.” I smile, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek.

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Eevie. Come on, let’s go dry off in the sun,” he says as he carries me towards the shallow end of the pool. He lets me go, and I walk up the steps, squeezing the excess water from my ponytail as I head over towards the lounge chairs. I turn and watch Aidan swim the length of the pool underwater and back. It’s some time before he comes up for air. When he does, he walks towards the shallow end, up the steps and approaches me, my staring obvious to him. The water drips from his hair, down his firm muscular torso, and my eyes are drawn to the trail of hair below his belly button. I can see why they call it a happy trail—or will soon enough.

I turn, taking my hoard of naughty thoughts with me, and grab a towel and dry my face, laying it back on the chair. I put on my sunglasses and position the chair so it is propped up, and sit down. Aidan grabs a couple of Coronas from the cooler bag and opens them, handing me one.

“This is the life, hey,” I say, holding up my bottle, clinking with his. “Cheers.” The first ice-cold mouthful is divine. “Mmm. This is delicious.” Aidan gives me a wicked grin.

Lying on the chair next to me, the sun catches tiny glistening beads of water scattered over his body. He looks like a model, for God’s sake. I could study him
all
day long.
How did I get so lucky?

“What ya thinkin’ about?” Aidan asks curiously as he turns his head towards me, one hand shielding his eyes from the sun. My cheeks burn as he catches me mid-thought.
Crap
.

“Just enjoying the view.”

“Anything I can do to make your day brighter.
Anything
.”

****

Escaping the hot sun, we retreat inside and shower … separately. I tie my wet hair up into a messy bun, slip on a white cotton sundress, and join Aidan in the lounge room. I flick on the air-conditioning, and Aidan tackles me into the couch. I yell out as we fall together in a crumpled heap.

“I can’t keep my hands off you any longer,” Aidan says, his voice low and hoarse as he envelopes me in his arms, the length of his body pressing against me. He runs his long fingers over my forehead. I close my eyes, taking in every sweet touch as his fingers travel down my neck, across my collarbone, and down my arm. Aidan’s hot breath tickles my ear, and he playfully growls as his teeth bite down on my earlobe. I breathe out as his tongue sucks where his teeth were moments before, causing a twinge down south.
Fucking traitor ears.

“Damn, you smell good,” he mumbles into my neck.
Thank you, Hugo Boss.
My stomach lets out an almighty gurgle.

“Are you hungry?” I ask, trying to distract him, but more to distract myself.

“Nah,” Aidan says, brushing the strap off my shoulder. He leaves a trail of delicate kisses around my jaw and neck.

“I find that hard to believe, Aidan,” I say sternly, trying to meet his eyes. “Boys are always hungry.” Running my fingers through his damp, unruly hair, I bring his face to mine.

“Okay, I’m starving, but there are some things I’d forego food for.”

“Like what?”

He raises an eyebrow. “You … This …” His mouth is hard against mine. Our lips glide together before his tongue searches my mouth.
Man, he can kiss.
My breath catches in my throat as he catches me off-guard with a kiss so delicate, yet so passionate, that my heart kicks it pounds in my ears. I writhe beneath him as the ache between my legs deepens. His leg moves between mine, and I wrap my leg around his, needing to feel him close. Aidan breathes in deeply through his nose as he kisses me harder.
Fuck.

I slowly remove my lips from his, and close my eyes. When I open them, Aidan is staring intently at me, his mouth curled up at the side. I gaze deep into his eyes as I run my fingers through his hair and breathe out loudly.
I want this … I want him … so why am I stalling? Self-preservation?

“I know what you’re doing …” he says, his eyes crinkling at the sides.

I frown. “What?”

“You’re thinkin’ about my balls again, aren’t ya?” He flashes me a ten-volt smile, showing off two rows of perfectly white teeth.

“Aidan!” I giggle, and playfully push his chest. I’m certainly thinking about them now. “What is it with you and your balls?”

“What? They’re awesome, and I happen to be very attached to them, but I’d hate you to think my intentions with you are less than honourable.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There are so many things I want to do to you … do with you, but I promise, all of them are good. Real good.”

I bet.

Aidan runs his thumb over my lower lip, releasing it from my teeth. My stomach growls again, but this time Aidan notices. “Did you say somethin’?” Aidan says and chuckles.

“Come on, I need food,” I say, sticking my finger in his side. His ticklish body jerks in response.