Page 68 of Instigator

“Right now, I just want to hold you,” he murmurs. “This is… a lot.”

He pulls off the unused condom, dropping it on the nightstand, then rolls back to me. “Can I hold you?”

Everything in me melts. “Yeah, Wish.”

When he pulls me into his arms, I hear a click deep inside me. A missing piece of my personal puzzle slotting into place. It feels so good to be pressed against him, to hear the thud of his heartbeat beneath my cheek. He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear, his thumb lingering along my cheek. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do all of this,” he admits quietly.

My heart does this stupid, hopeful flip in my chest. “Sleep with me?”

His laugh rumbles beneath me. “Take you on a date,” he corrects. “Kiss you good night. Do all of it the right way.”

The right way.

I prop myself up on my elbows so I can see his face clearly. There’s no teasing edge in his eyes now. Just something steady. Certain.

“It was a blind date,” I point out gently. “You were basically tricked into going out with me.”

“And I’m already planning the next.” His hands slide down my back, settling at my waist like they belong there. “Friday. I’ll pick you up at seven. No take-backs.”

“You’re very confident for a man who just risked it all.”

He shrugs, but there’s a vulnerability in the curve of his mouth. “I don’t feel like I’m risking it.”

My chest tightens.

I lower myself back down, fitting against him like the space was made for me. His arms circle me without hesitation, holding me close, like he meant what he said.

Like he plans to keep me.

He presses a kiss into my hair. “Stay the night,” he murmurs.

I smile against his skin. “Okay.”

twenty-eight

. . .

Aidan

There’s a spring in my step and a whistle on my lips as I enter the practice facility. I didn’t want to say goodbye to Ceci this morning, but she has an early Pilates class, and I have a skate and then film review. If I had it my way, we would stay in bed all day.

She likes me. She really, really likes me.

“Oh, shut up,” Ryan mutters good-naturedly as I take my spot at my cubby. “You’re extraordinarily happy today. Date went well?”

I press my lips together as I consider how to answer. We didn’t talk about what we’d say, only that Hailey would eventually find out we’re more than acquaintances. Just because she thinks we should sleep together doesn’t mean she approves of us being together.

A relationship. A real, actual relationship. I didn’t think I’d be able to do this again, but when I think of Ceci, of Annie, I’m excited. I want this.

“It wasn’t bad,” I finally tell him. Playing it cool seems like a solid idea.

“Think you’re going to see her again?”

My heart skips a beat. “Yeah. I’d like to.”

“No shit?”

“For real.”