Summer's End (Wildflowers #5) - Jill Sanders Page 0,25

say with a smile. She was so relaxed now that she hoped she would be able to make it to her bedroom and change out of the dress and heels before falling on her bed.

“Aubrey.” Aiden’s deep voice stopped her. “It’s just a kiss,” he said with another smile that had her knees going weak.

“Fine.” She waved her hands. She expected a quick peck on the lips, but his hand slid slowly around her waist. Then he pulled her closer until their bodies bumped together. Her breath hitched at the feeling of his hard body as more memories of what it felt like to explore, to enjoy, that same body had hers reacting.

When his lips finally brushed across hers, she was thankful he was almost holding her upright. Somehow, her fingers had tangled in his hair as she kept him captive.

“More?” he asked against her lips.

“Hm,” was her only response as she ran her tongue over his lips.

“My god.” The exclamation caused them to jump apart.

She’d removed her heels hours ago and had, before the kiss, been holding them. Now they were at her feet and she tripped over them as she tried to move away from Aiden. Thankfully, Aiden’s hands remained on her hips, keeping her upright.

“I can explain,” Aubrey said to Elle, who was standing at the base of the stairs, smiling up at them.

“Something tells me that’s not the first time the two of you have done that,” Elle said as she started up the stairs towards them.

“I can explain,” Aubrey said again, causing Aiden to chuckle.

Elle stopped in front of them. “Hey, cousin.” Aubrey watched her friend wiggle her perfectly manicured eyebrows at Aiden.

“Hey.” Aiden chuckled.

“So?” Elle asked him. “Am I right?”

“Don’t,” Aubrey warned, but it was too late.

“It’s not,” Aiden replied.

“So, how long has this been going on?” Again, Elle asked her cousin instead of Aubrey.

“Elle,” Aubrey started, but her friend’s narrow gaze flew to her and Aubrey shut her mouth.

Aiden glanced over at her before shrugging. “A while.”

Elle turned to Aubrey. “Confession time?”

Aubrey wanted nothing more than to slink away and pass out, but she knew her friend all too well. There would be no rest until she had the full story.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Aubrey asked, changing the subject.

Elle laughed. “It won’t work. I forgot my bag of things when I changed up here earlier. Now…” She motioned to the pair of them. “How long?”

“Three years,” Aubrey mumbled.

“Excuse me?” Elle gasped. “Did you just say…”

Aubrey grabbed her friend’s arm and rushed her into the apartment. Aiden followed them inside.

Elle had changed out of her bridesmaid dress and was wearing cotton pants and a flowing tank top. How had she changed so fast? Had Aubrey and Aiden been some of the last to leave the party?

“Three years?” Elle repeated.

“Close to it.” Aiden shrugged, then pointed towards Aubrey. “Her idea, not mine.”

“Thanks for that,” Aubrey hissed.

“What?” Aiden chuckled. “It’s true.”

“Why?” Elle moved over and sat on the sofa. “Why did you hide it from us? We’re your family.”

“Not that I don’t love you four, but let’s face facts. If you’d known about”—she waved between her and Aiden, unable to put a title to what they had other than sex-friends—“you would have assumed there was more than there is.”

“Three years,” Elle repeated slowly. “There has to be something more after three years…”

“No,” Aubrey answered quickly, then glared at Aiden, challenging him to defy her.

Thankfully, he remained quiet. Still, the look in his eyes told her it was killing him to not say anything.

“Three years,” Elle repeated as she shook her head. “I’m not buying it.”

“See.” Aubrey threw her hands in the air as she started pacing the floor, now fully sober and wide awake. “This is what I was afraid of.” She sighed and turned back to Elle. “Honest, we’re just…” She cringed inwardly, but held her ground. “Sex-friends. A means to mutual release.”

Elle glanced over at Aiden and frowned back at her when he didn’t even so much as blink in response.

“Fine.” Elle sighed. “I’ll leave whatever this is between the two of you.” She stood up and then walked over to grab up her bag. Throwing it over her shoulder, she walked over and hugged Aubrey. Instantly, Aubrey relaxed.

“It’s your secret. I’ll keep it if you want,” she said softly into her ear. “You’ll always be my sister, but…” She pulled back and noticed Elle’s slight frown. “Please don’t break my cousin.”

“I won’t. It’s just sex,” she added quickly. “I think after