He lifted a wet hand and ran it down her arm. She shivered beneath his touch and leaned closer to him. “What about our prom dates?” she asked as she placed her head in the crook of his neck. His hands began roaming all over her body and the pleasure his touch evoked was so strong, she could hardly stand.
“I’m not thinking about our prom dates,” Aiden said. “I wanted to ask you to prom, but you’d already said yes to someone else.”
Summer lifted her head from his shoulder. “You wanted to ask me to prom?”
“Of course I did.” He began rubbing his thumb in circles along her spine. “Who else would I rather take to prom than you?”
Summer let out a disappointed sigh. “I’d wanted to go with you, too, but I assumed you didn’t want to make things awkward.”
“Things with you are never awkward,” Aiden said as he began kissing her neck. His hands moved from her lower back to the apex of her thighs. Of their own accord, her thighs opened, giving him better access to the part that really craved his attention.
With each kiss he placed on her body, his hands grew bolder until, finally, he slipped a finger inside her core.
“Aiden.” She whispered his name as his fingers moved inside her. They hadn’t kissed since they’d played seven minutes of heaven and they definitely hadn’t done anything like what they were doing now.
Summer dipped one hand beneath the water and began rubbing his length in long, languid strokes.
“Damn, Summer,” he muttered as he adjusted the motion of his hand to match the rhythm of hers. His voice was so coarse, Summer barely recognized it.
Her knees began to buckle and her legs began to shake the more he moved his fingers inside her. Before she could comprehend what was going on, she moaned into the night as a rush of desire floated through her body. Despite the onslaught of pleasure, she managed to keep her hand moving along Aiden’s length. Within seconds, he threw back his head in a groan and joined her in his own release.
After they both started to come out of their erotic fog, Aiden didn’t loosen the grip of his arm around her waist. He stared at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
She smiled. “I’m perfect.” He returned her smile before he dipped his head and captured her lips. Her hands immediately went around his neck. Suddenly, it didn’t matter that they were friends. It didn’t matter that they’d gone to prom with other people. It didn’t matter they were going to different colleges. All that mattered was cherishing the moment and enjoying just how right his lips felt on hers.
Chapter 9
“Oh, Winter, that’s awesome! I’m so excited for you and Taheim.”
“Thanks, sis,” Winter replied on the other line. “We still have six months to go. We wanted to tell everyone the minute we found out, but we decided to wait until after the first trimester. We just told Autumn and Ajay right before I called you. They are already sending text messages about everything they want to do with him or her.”
Summer smiled as she listened to Winter explain Taheim’s initial reaction when she told him she was pregnant. Being a clothing designer, Taheim had already started working on a gender-neutral wardrobe until they found out the sex of the baby. Summer could hear her brother-in-law in the background talking about all the clothes he still wanted to design.
“I can’t wait to meet my niece or nephew. You’re going to be an amazing mom, sis.”
Winter grew quiet on the other line and Summer was sure she was thinking about what a terrible mother they’d had growing up.
“You won’t be anything like her,” Summer added, just in case Winter had any doubts.
“Thanks, sis. I know I won’t. Taheim and I also decided we’re going to visit Dad in France this Thanksgiving. Autumn said she’s spending Thanksgiving with the Reeds, so you’re more than welcome to spend Thanksgiving with the Reeds, too.”
Autumn was engaged to Taheim’s brother, Ajay. Every time Summer thought about her sisters and the fact that they’d ended up with brothers, all she could do was smile. They were always so close growing up that it just made sense they’d marry into the same family.
“Oh, and before I forget, Malik mentioned that you never RSVP’d for the joint Thanksgiving-Christmas celebration at his cabin in Michigan next week.”
“I know. I meant to tell him that I may not make it. I’m still trying to get the shop together.”
“Well, everyone needs a break and we would love to see you. Malik rented two of his neighbors’ cabins, as well, so there is plenty of room. Since we’ll all be in different places over the holidays, he figured he’d have a pre-holiday celebration.”
Their cousins Malik and Micah Madden also lived in Chicago. Malik and his wife, Mya, had a home in Chicago and a cabin in Michigan that they often stayed at throughout the year. Summer was still surprised that both her sisters and two of her six male cousins ended up in Chicago, but since Winter, Autumn, Malik and Micah had all married Chicagoans, it made perfect sense that they lived there now.
While Summer and her sisters had grown up in New Jersey, her cousins had been raised in Arkansas by their aunt Cynthia and her uncle Mason. Cynthia Madden was nothing like her sister Sonia, and luckily, Summer and her sisters were able to visit or talk to their aunt whenever they needed some womanly advice.
“Okay, I’ll try my best to make it.”
“Great, and if Danni or Aiden don’t have any plans, you can bring them, too.”
Summer laughed. “You’re not subtle at all. I’m sure you planned on telling Danni yourself, so if you want me to invite Aiden, all you have to do is say so.”
“Fine. Summer, can you please invite Aiden? Autumn and I really miss him and we’d love to catch up. And Danni already knows and she wants to come.”
“Okay, I’ll invite him and talk to Danni.”
“Thanks! Guess I’ll talk to you soon. Love you!”
“Love you, too.”
Summer disconnected the call and glanced out of her window at the sun rising over the ocean. Even though her living quarters were only temporary, she didn’t think she’d every tire of seeing the sun rise or set from the view they had in almost every window of the town house.
When she’d awaken an hour ago, she could hear Aiden moving around in the house. It had been three days since they’d shared an intense kiss, which meant her lady parts were screaming for a release. She knew living together would be difficult, but spending eleven days under the same roof with a man as tempting as Aiden was way harder than she’d ever imagined.
Since he’d been busy taking photos for his exhibit and she’d been busy at Bare Sophistication, they hadn’t seen much of each other. Summer knew that life really was hectic right now for the both of them, but she also knew that they were good at avoiding each other when needed. Just yesterday, she’d been doing yoga in the living room, since she thought he’d mentioned that he would be home late. She hadn’t known when he arrived home, but she’d heard his appreciative whistle right in the middle of one of her poses, which had caused her to lose her balance. He raced to her side and attempted to catch her, but they’d ended up in a tangle of limbs on the floor, which, of course, turned into a much more intimate moment. When they actually did communicate, she could really tell they were rebuilding their friendship.
So what if the sexual tension is so thick you can slice it with a knife? The important thing to remember was that they keep the lines of communication open. They were both taking the day off and that meant she couldn’t stay cooped up in her room all day.
She glanced down at her tank top and shorts. She should really change out of her pajamas and put on some workout clothes. It was the perfect morning for a beach run. I wonder if Aiden would want to join me. They used to run together all the time.
She cracked open her bedroom door to see if she could still hear movement in the
house. When all she heard was silence, she tiptoed to the kitchen to see if he was there. Just as she had been staring out her bedroom window, he was looking out the kitchen window holding a mug that she assumed was filled with cinnamon tea, since he’d loved drinking that for as long as she could remember.
With his back turned toward her, she had the chance to admire his physique without him knowing. Even in a plain gray T-shirt, his upper body was impressive, with well-defined biceps and contoured back muscles that she’d only gotten a peek at when she occasionally caught him walking from the bathroom to his bedroom after a shower. Since she’d been staying with him, he’d probably caught her admiring his upper body at least once a day.
As droolworthy as it was, his backside often made her mouth dry. Aiden had never liked his butt, and Summer had always assumed it was because so many girls had always talked about it. What he didn’t understand was that she’d never seen a butt so squeezable in her life. Add muscular thighs to that equation and her thoughts went from playful to downright naughty.
His skin always looked so smooth and his complexion flawless. If you didn’t know some of the things Aiden had gone through, you’d swear he’d never had a rough day in his life. She thought back to her observation about his complexion. Definitely hazelnut dipped in a rich chocolate-caramel blend. Back in the day, she hadn’t been the only one well aware of how attractive he was. It seemed almost every girl in school had shamelessly flirted with Aiden. They hadn’t called him “lover boy” in high school because he dated a lot of girls. Quite the opposite, in fact. Aiden preferred to only have one steady girlfriend at a time.
He’d gotten the nickname because Aiden was the epitome of every girl’s fantasy. He was charming. Athletic. Good-looking. And genuinely a nice guy. He had the persona of the boy next door with the dangerously sexy looks of a bad boy your parents would warn you to stay away from. It almost seemed unfair that he was so blessed.
“How long are you going to stand there and watch me?”
She gasped. Busted! He looked over his shoulder and caught her gaze.
“I was just making sure everything was okay,” she lied. He squinted his eyes in observation before turning back to the window.
“No, you weren’t.”
“Okay,” she said, coming from around the edge of the wall. “I actually wanted to know if you wanted to take a run with me.”
His eyes perused her attire, shooting a blast of heat through her body. “I think that’s a great idea. It’s such a beautiful day that I was thinking we could take a canoe ride in Crandon Park. I have a couple shots I want to take.”
“Sure, I’ve never been there. So, you aren’t taking the day off?”
“I’m not taking shots for my exhibit. I want to take a few nature shots.”
“Sounds good. I’ll go put on my running clothes.” She was almost to the hallway before she forgot Winter’s request.
“Also, I spoke to Winter and she reminded me that my cousin Malik is planning a last-minute pre-holiday party at his Michigan cabin. I’m leaning toward going, so if you can make it, my family would love to see you.”
“I’m sure I can make it. I miss them, too.”
“Great!”
When she was back in her room, she quickly discarded her pajamas in exchange for some black and baby blue workout capris and a baby blue tank. She threw on her favorite running shoes and grabbed a light black jacket. Once she reached her door, a light sparkle caught her eye. My locket... She grabbed the piece of jewelry from her necklace stand and clasped it around her neck. Lately, she hadn’t been wearing it whenever she was around Aiden and she wasn’t exactly sure why she’d made that decision.
Probably because now that you’re around the real him, you don’t need the locket. She dismissed the thought as soon as it popped into her mind. The locket had brought her plenty of comfort throughout the years. But now that Aiden was back in her life at the moment, everything felt better than it had in a very long time.
* * *
There was something so nostalgic about taking photos of beautiful Crandon Park with Summer. For once, he wasn’t imagining that she was with him, walking by his side. She was actually here. They were finally in the same place at the same time. He felt like he’d waited years to have a moment like this.
“It’s really peaceful here,” she said, as they walked past a beautiful lake and a fountain. There weren’t a lot of tourists and it was pretty silent that early in the morning.
“It is. I’ve been here quite a few times since I moved here.” He watched her walk to the edge of the lake and close her eyes as she breathed in the fresh air. He expected her to open her eyes, but after about ten seconds, they remained closed. Aiden lifted his camera to view her through the lens.
She was so beautiful. Always had been. And it wasn’t just her outer beauty that had often left him speechless. It was her inner beauty, too. She’d always been one of the most confident girls he knew, and because her life at home was so difficult, she loved school.
Summer always teased him about the girls liking him, but all the boys in school had liked her just as much. He couldn’t count how many times he’d had to listen to a guy talk about wanting to take Summer on a date or ask her to a dance. Occasionally, one of those guys would be a friend and they would ask him if he’d mind if they asked her out. Every time he had to pretend that he didn’t care. Deep down, he didn’t want her going out with any guy if it wasn’t him.
That was the hard thing about falling for your best friend. On one hand, you already have this amazing friendship to build a relationship on. Yet, on the other hand, if you enter a relationship with each other and it doesn’t work, you may have ruined the best connection you ever had with someone.
Summer had always been afraid that they would venture into uncharted waters and ruin their relationship. Seeing that they hadn’t really talked in years, Aiden wondered if she still felt the same way.
He watched the rise and fall of her chest as she tilted her head upward to let the sun beam on her face. After their run, she’d let down her ponytail and her hair became a curly mass blowing in the wind. Aiden couldn’t remember the last time he saw her look so content.
Kneeling, he found the perfect angle through his lens. The sunlight was hitting her perfectly, and even though he’d already taken about a dozen shots of her, this was the one he knew he’d want to add to the collection of photos he had of Summer. Most of his pictures of her were from middle school, when he’d gotten his first camera, high school, when he’d taken his first photography class, and college, when he’d truly perfected his craft. He was sure the image he was seeing at the moment would be one of his favorites.
He continued to observe her through his lens as she began to open her eyes and turn his way. Her gaze leveled on his just as the wind blew her curls to the side, causing the tendrils to cascade around her face. His finger took two more clicks before she changed position.
Never mind, that’s the one. That’s the magic shot. While he stood there, he thought about all the people he’d taken pictures of over the years. Celebrities. Models. Strangers. Friends. Out of all the accolades he’d ever received for his work, the woman looking back at him still held the number-one spot as the person he’d loved photographing the most.
Before he’d gotten his first professional camera, he’d been taking Polaroids of Summer. Before he even knew the difference between a fast and slow shutter speed, he knew how to capture her perfect facial angles and her many expressions. He’d caught the look she made when she was concentrating hard on something and was oblivious to those around her. In a way, she’d always inspired him. Still inspired him.
“Aren’t you hot with your jacket zipped up so high?” he asked.
She glanced down at her jacket and slowly began unzipping it. When she removed it from her shoulders, he spotted something
gold and shiny around her neck. Without thinking about it, he reached out and touched the necklace.
“Is this the locket I bought you years ago?”
“Yes,” she said, touching his hand that still held her locket. “Twenty years ago, to be exact.”
Twenty years... She’s kept the locket for twenty years. Aiden remembered when he’d begged his dad for an early allowance to pay for it. He’d saved up for months and even done extra chores to raise money for it. A couple of times, his dad had reminded him that a 14-karat gold locket was an expensive gift to give a young girl. But Summer was never just any girl. She was his friend. His best friend. More importantly, he’d always felt like in some way, she was his and he’d had to get it for her.
“Come on,” she said, breaking eye contact. “Let’s keep walking.” They fell into a comfortable stride, neither too eager to leave the park.
“So, tell me, Summer. Besides opening up Bare Sophistication and quitting your job at the PR firm—which I think was a great idea, by the way—how has everything been these past eight years?”
She laughed. “You ask me that as if we haven’t kept in contact.”
“Social media, email and the occasional phone call are hardly viable ways to keep in contact considering the type of friendship we used to have.”
She nodded her head. “I guess you’re right.”
“And our high school reunion doesn’t count, either, because you ran off before I could even get to talk to you.”
“An hour was all I could take of Claysville High. After seeing the exact same decorations we used to use at school dances over twenty years ago and running into Rochelle and Sam, it felt like I’d stepped into an alternate universe.”
Waiting for Summer Page 9
