over. He steps in front of me and clears a path forward with his sheer size.
Now it’s my turn to be amused, because I noticed that his half-brother did the same thing. In the kitchen, Aiden grabs us each a cup of punch, hands me mine, and then heads toward the front of the house.
He gets through the entire house relatively quickly. People move out of his way and I just scoot along behind him. Aiden gets out the front door and down the steps without a glance back. He just expects me to follow.
Aiden doesn’t stop when he’s outside, though. He stalks to the end of the driveways, then across the highway. I hurry to keep up, my shorter stride making it a challenge.
When he gets down to the beach he stops and turns, sipping from his cup while he gives me a pointed look. I’m a few steps behind him, returning his gaze bashfully. His dark eyes are so intense right now, as if he sees right through my clothes and skin, right down to my bones.
I get a chill just meeting his gaze. Behind me, waves crash on the beach with a hiss.
One of his eyebrows lifts. “You were just going to do that, then?”
I’m chewing my lower lip, which I only realize just now. “Do what?”
He shakes his head and glances away, draining his cup. “Carter,” he grouses. “You were all over him.”
My face goes red. Still, I’m more than a little annoyed at his tone and antics. “Are you seriously slut-shaming me right now?” I give a disbelieving half-laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re the biggest man slut I know. And besides, I wasn’t doing anything with Carter. We were just talking.”
“Just talking?” he asks. “I’ve seen how that goes. First he plies you with drinks, then he makes you laugh. Then at the end of the night, you end up in his bed.”
I set my cup down and then cross my arms. “First of all, you are wrong. I have my own mind. I make my own decisions. And second, even if I planned to spend the night with Carter, so what?”
His expression instantly turns into a glare. Tossing his empty cup down, he circles me. “So what? That’s what you want me to say when I hear you’re planning on giving your virginity to another man?”
I go bright red, glancing around. “Shhh! Aiden!” Grabbing his forearm, I lead him farther from the road even though no one is remotely close. The only thing around to shelter us is two mostly dead trees, one fallen and one still standing. I tow him over to them, facing him once again under the dead branches of the one that is still stubbornly gripping the sand below.
“I would like to keep my sex life private.” I level my gaze at him.
His expression is haughty.
“So what? People might think less of you because of who you choose to fuck? Newsflash, honey. Everyone judges. And everyone fucks. Everyone but you, apparently.” He’s so cocky that I want to slap him. Aiden looks me up and down suggestively. “We could fix that right now, though.”
I blush, but I keep my head held high, looking him right in the eyes. “You’re just saying that. You just want what you can’t have, like some… some spoiled little boy!”
Slipping an arm around me, he pulls me flush against his body. He glares at me as he leans down to whisper in my ear. “You don't want Carter, though. You want me. Am I wrong?”
Flushing at the closeness of his lips to my ear, I give my head a tiny shake. “No. You’re not wrong at all. But… Carter is here. And he’s available…”
Aiden uses his thumb and forefingers to pull my chin exactly where he wants it. Then he kisses me, slow and heavy. I melt against him, even though I should be running away.
When he pulls back an inch and looks down at me, his gaze is heavy with need.
“I’m here,” he whispers, placing another kiss on my lips. “I’m here right now. I want you. Are you going to say no?”
He flexes his hips against mine, making sure I can feel the outline of his cock. It’s thick and long, just like the rest of Aiden’s body. My whole body tingles with anticipation.
This is what I wanted. It’s what I need. Letting my eyes sink closed, I offer one last reason.
“What about Grayson?” I whisper.
His pause is so long