by Tina Saxon
Stone wraps his arms around Addison and gives her a hug when she comes up. I tilt my head, wondering what the hell. Jealousy. I can mark that one off the list now. He looks at me and winks. I narrow my eyes. He laughs, letting her go.
“You doing okay?” he asks her. I’m not surprised by his question. Hell, he knows everything she’s been through.
“Better than I have been in a long time,” she says, looking at me. I stand a little taller hearing her say that. I want to beat my chest and yell, “She’s mine.”
Then, I about fall over when he says, “Hey, Syd, you’re looking pretty hot in that jumpsuit.”
She giggles and says in her southern accent, “Thanks, Stone.” Oh, shit. I shake my head. Stone has no idea what’s about to happen.
I glance over at Max, waiting. Because it’s coming. His expression is solid. I’ve been trying to read Max for over half my life. I still don’t know what the hell he’s thinking half the time, but I know his reactions. Precise and to the point.
“Stone, I need you to do the parameter check when you get back. Hudson had something come up this afternoon.”
There it is. Stone’s eyes go wide in surprise, but he knows not to question it. I want to laugh at the whole situation, but I think it’s best I keep quiet.
The parameter check is the shit job. And usually you get it when you screw up. Max has acres of land, and the check consists of riding along the parameter, checking each of the security checkpoints for hours on an ATV in the rain, sun, snow … doesn’t matter. It sucks no matter what the weather is.
I help the girls get on the plane after Stone stomps his way to the front of the plane. When Max gets behind me, I turn and smile. “Strong-arming it, huh?”
He pats me on the back. “Don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” He laughs.
“Well, you could’ve waited until we were ready to jump to issue a punishment, asshole.” Now I have to fly in a plane with a guy who’s really ticked.
He freezes, just realizing his mistake. “He wouldn’t dare.” I shrug. Too late now.
The engine starts up. “Maybe I should get Hudson.”
“No fucking way. I’m more afraid of what he’d do than Stone,” I say, hopping in the plane. He’s right behind me because I’m sure he agrees.
I sit behind Addison, pulling her into me. She relaxes, rubbing her hands down my legs. We watch out the window as the ground gets farther and farther away and the sky opens up, welcoming us. The ride is smooth, and we reach our targeted altitude.
I make sure we’re attached and whisper, “Just you and me, sweetheart. Leave everything else up here.”
Clarity. I’ve decided to name my jumps. This one is definitely clarity. My mind is free of the fog that has been taking up space for too long. Eight seconds of free falling seems to clear my mind. At least for the moment.
I’m a survivor. What happened to me, happened. Nothing will change that. But I am in control now. Memories can trip me, but I won’t let them make me fall. I’m breaking free. It’s time to let go. Free fall.
As we drift closer to the ground, Aiden instructs me to hold the handles. This time, I’m excited to be in control. I know exactly what’ll happen if I move them side-to-side. Instead, he weaves his fingers through mine. The warmth of his hands covering mine feels good. Everything about Aiden feels good.
“Oh, wait,” I say, removing one of my hands. The tug it takes for me to pull my hand back from his has us turning a little. I laugh out loud at the unexpected thrill. He straightens us out.
“What are you doing?” he asks as I unzip the pocket on my side. I pull out my phone, hoping like hell I don’t drop it.
“I told Lexi that I’d take a picture of us while we were skydiving,” I say, turning it on and finding the camera app. Doing it all with one hand usually isn’t difficult, but with the pressure of not dropping it, it’s a lot harder than I thought.
Aiden chuckles. “Only a woman would think to take a selfie while skydiving.”
I hold it up, finding the perfect position that doesn’t make me look ridiculous. Because there’s always that one angle that makes anyone look bad. Click. Click. Click.
“Damn, woman, I think you have enough.”
“You always have to take more than one,” I say incredulously. “I mean, what happens if we get on the ground and the one we took looks horrible or blurry?” I put my phone back in my pocket and make sure to zip it back up.
“I can’t imagine you’d look bad in any picture,” he whispers in my ear, goosebumps cover my body.
“Oh, come on, Agent Roberts, you can do better than that corny pick-up line.” I giggle.
He barks out a laugh and instead of trying again, we’re suddenly in a tailspin. I scream in excitement.
This, I love.
We straighten back out as we get near the ground. I see Syd and Max a little higher than us. I laugh to myself, hoping Max really doesn’t fall on Syd.
With our feet on the ground, I start to take off my harness and find Aiden watching me with a salacious grin. Remembering our first jump floods my memory. The first time I told him I loved him. The first time we made love. So much has happened since then, but my love has only grown stronger for this man.
Putting my hands on his face, I stand on my toes and bring my lips to his with a soft brush of my lips.
“I love you, Aiden,” I whisper on his lips. His lips curl against mine.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I won’t ever let you go,” he whispers back. His hand puts pressure on my back, pulling me into him as it moves into my hair. He pulls my ponytail out, releasing my hair, only to wrap it around his hand.
He pulls it back, giving him full access to my neck. His soft lips slowly kiss across my neck. After each kiss, he whispers, “I love you.”
My already overly sensitized nerves from the adrenaline are crawling with desire from his heated breath, soft touches, and loving words. My eyes roll back, feeling everything.
Birds are chirping above us. The sun is low in the sky, but its rays are still heavy with heat. My body soaks it in. I’m burning up. I can’t seem to catch my breath.
But I don’t want Aiden to stop.
I grip his shirt to steady myself. My breathing is heavy as he assaults my neck. He drags his lips up to my mouth, kissing me deeply. I start to get dizzy. I have to pull back to gasp for air. I’m drowning from the heat of his love. He rests his forehead on mine, panting just as heavily as I am. He closes his eyes, draws in a few deep breaths. I know he feels it, too.
“Forever,” he says breathless, tucking his head into my neck.
“Forever,” I repeat.
We stand there, embraced in a hug for a few more minutes. Aiden looks down at me and softly smiles.
“Let’s go find Max and Syd.”
Oh, shit! I totally forgot about them. My eyes go wide as I look around. Aiden chuckles.
“They’re in the next landing spot, right past those trees,” he says, jerking his head toward a line of trees. He kisses me on the forehead before releasing me.
We pack the parachute and head their direction. As we clear the trees, we find Max and Sydney. I gasp in surprise, bringing my hand to my mouth.
Sydney is in Max’s arms, and they are lip locked. Aiden clears his throat. Sydney immediately stops, hops down, and runs to me, jumping into my arms.
“Oh, my God! That was so … unbelievable!” she screams, jumping up and down in my arms. I’m still staring at her with wide eyes, wondering when we’re going to address what we just walked up on.
She finally sees the surprise on my face.
“Oh, that was just a thank you for not getting me killed.” She waves her hand in Max’s direction. His laugh echoes in the field. “Adrenaline and all that.” She laughs, still jumping up and down. “That was insane. I could see everything. The ocean! The ocean was beautiful. Everything was so beautiful.”
I can’t even keep up with her rambling. She�
��s talking so fast that I give up and laugh.
“I’m glad you loved it.” I hug her tight. She needed this as much as I did. I know she’s been through a lot these last few months, even though she’ll never admit it.
“Alright, women, our ride is here,” Aiden says, pointing to the two Jeeps coming our way. Max finishes packing his parachute and walks past us.
“You’re welcome, Tink, and any time.” He winks at Syd.
Syd rolls her eyes, giving him a dismissive wave. Then starts talking nonstop about the jump again. I’m still stuck on them kissing that I don’t even hear what she’s saying as we walk to the Jeep. I shake my head. It must have been the adrenaline.
Syd and I hop in the back seat. With the other Jeep in front of us filled with a couple of Max’s guys, we head back to the hangar. Syd and I stand up in the back of the open Jeep, letting the wind rush past our outstretched arms.
“Shit,” I say, spitting out dirt that flies in my mouth. Well, that was fun for about one minute until dirt started to peg us from the Jeep in front of us.
The guys up front are laughing, shaking their heads. Oh, he thinks that’s funny, huh? I squeeze in the middle of the front seats and bring my dirt-filled mouth to Aiden’s. He doesn’t skip a beat though, pulling me forward and pulling me up top of him. I’m straddling him, and he kisses me like he can’t get enough.
I move back, biting my lip as I stare at him through his aviators. Reflections of myself shine back at me with his smug smile.
“Sweetheart, nothing … and I mean nothing would stop me from kissing you.” He rubs his tongue on the inside of his mouth and smiles again. “Gritty.”
I shake my head, laughing, and try to push off him to return to the back seat. His hands grab my thighs, not allowing me to get up. I tilt me head and raise a brow.
Aiden leans forward and whispers, “You’re the one who came up here, now I’m rock hard from your hot pussy rubbing against me. So now you’re staying up here to keep it hidden.” As he sits back, he thrusts up into me while pushing down on my thighs. Heat curls down my spine as I try my hardest not to react. I mean hell, Max is sitting right next to us.
He flashes a slow, smug smile, his sexy dimples on full display. Oh, he is not going to win this one. I lick my lips, biting the bottom one.
I have to grab onto the side of the Jeep as the unpaved road has us bouncing everywhere. Well, that and the fact that every bump has Aiden’s cock hitting me in that oh so perfect spot. I need to steady myself. It’s weird watching myself in his sunglasses but a little erotic at the same time. My cheeks flush and my mouth is slightly open, wishing his lips were on mine right now. But I won’t be the first to give in.
We continue our standoff, or rather sit-on, with no words. Just body language. Desire radiates between us. The tenseness of his jaw. The bite of my lip so hard I’m surprised it’s not bleeding. His hands grip my thighs, and I’m sure they’ll have bruises. The wetness pooling in my panties, right on top of his hard cock. Nothing exists around us. It’s only him and me.
I gasp audibly as we hit something in the road and Aiden thrusts up hard. Bastard. His lips curl and then his tongue darts out, licking his bottom lip.
He mouths, “I want you.” I exhale shakily.
I slightly shake my head. Cheater. I didn’t know words were allowed.
I mouth back, “I want your cock in my mouth.” My mouth waters just thinking about last night and how he felt in my mouth. How much power I had making him lose control.
Just like I’m doing now. He’s barely holding on. His jaw is clenched and his grasp is almost painful.
A booming laugh makes me jump. “Brother, I don’t even know why you try.” Neither of us look over, but Aiden busts out laughing.
He leans forward and tells me in my ear, “He can read lips.” I jerk my head to Max, and he has a devilish grin on his face. Oh, shit.
Heat rises to my face from embarrassment as I fall into Aiden’s chest. Thank God we’re parking a minute later.
Max hops out. “Come on, Tink, they’re going to need a few minutes to finish their game,” he says with humor in his voice.
I watch Aiden to see what he’s going to do. My breathing accelerates with anticipation. He pushes up my sunglasses. “I hated not seeing those beautiful eyes.” His hands move up my ass and ascend to my back, pulling me closer to him.
I give him a curious glance. “What next?”
“You’re about to find out.” He smiles, hopping out of the Jeep with me still around him. I squeeze my legs to hold on and wrap my arms around his neck.
We walk past Max and Syd, who are taking off their jumpsuits. “Meet you at the car in fifteen,” Aiden says with authority. He’s on a mission. My body shivers. I’m the mission.
He takes me into a room with a bed inside the hangar, kicking the door shut behind him. I don’t have an ounce of fear right now about what we’re going to do. All I want are his hands, his mouth, his cock on me. In me.
“You better hurry. We only have fifteen minutes.” I giggle.
The second my ass hits the bed, we tear at each other’s clothes.
“Sweetheart, I hate to admit that it’ll only take five.” He growls. “Now wrap your hand around my cock,” he demands.
“How about I—”
“No.” He interrupts me, his stare is hard. “I hate saying this, but this is purely one hundred percent for me. I have been hard since you had my cock in your mouth last night and that fifteen minutes of you bouncing up and down on my cock about killed me,” he says, his voice straining. His hand grabs my breast, thumb flicking my erect nipple. I moan, lifting my chest off the bed. “I need to taste you. I have homework to finish.” He winks at me, sliding his hand down my stomach to my clit. Who knew homework could be so exciting?
I drag my fingers along his impressive cock. He jerks and almost falls over on me, cursing under his breath. A growl escapes his lips as I rub my thumb across the tip. He whips his body around so his cock is at my lips and his face is planted between my legs.
I’ve never been a fan of sixty-nine. It’s really hard to concentrate on pleasing a man while he’s tongue fucking you, but with Aiden, sign me up! Every day.
“I think Dr. Price is going to give me an A-fucking-plus,” he says confidently as we lie side by side, sated and panting. I giggle. I know I do. I didn’t realize how much I missed those fingers and that tongue. How much I needed his touch.
“Honor Roll, right here,” he says, leaning up on his elbow. He looks down at me and flashes a sexy grin.
I narrow my eyes. “I think you’re supposed to have more than one A to be on that list,” I tease.
“Exactly.” He nods as his grin widens and reaches his eyes. He bends down and gives me a quick kiss before pushing off the bed to get up. While putting on his clothes, he mumbles, “Never got so many A’s in my entire life.” Then he chuckles to himself.
I’m sitting up on my elbows, wondering what he’s talking about. Of course, I’m enjoying the view, too. I definitely give his body an A-plus-plus. When he notices that I’m not moving, rather watching him, his eyes rake over my naked body.
He inhales sharply and moans. “Now that’s a picture I wouldn’t mind taking.” My eyes grow as big as saucers. I don’t think I’ve ever jumped up so fast in my life.
“That would be a no,” I say quickly, picking up my clothes. My luck, that picture would be leaked somehow. That’s all I need. My life is already too public. “And, Agent Roberts, you of all people know that someone could easily find that picture.” My words are rushed as I hop into my shorts.
Aiden grabs my hips while I’m slipping my top on. “Hey. Calm down, Addison. I was kidding,” he says, his tone turning serious. He leans down so he’s eye level with me. “I would never put you in that position.” I exhale loudly and drop my head, leaning against his chest. Why would I even think Aiden would do something like that? I know he wouldn’t.
“I’m sorry. I just …” I want t
o go back to just being Addison Mason. Not Travis Stein’s daughter. Not the girl who went missing and was found beaten and raped. Not the girl who killed a serial killer. Just plain, old Addison.
“No need to explain,” he says, putting his finger over my lips. When I nod, amusement fills his face. “We’ll talk later about exactly what positions I’d like to put you in though.”
And just like that, all seriousness is gone.
We walk in the beach house right as the sun is about to disappear into the horizon. I don’t even have time to drop my bags before Syd is dragging me to the back door.
“Wow,” she says in amazement when she steps outside. Aiden steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He rests his head on my shoulder, and we watch in silence as the sun disappears.
Lights turn on and illuminate the backyard and pool. I look up to Aiden, sending him a curious glance.
“Max.”
I forgot Max knows everything about this house.
“What the hell happened in here?” Max asks from inside the house.
Aiden’s head falls back and he mumbles, “Fuck.”
I turn in his arms, wondering what Max found. My spine stiffens thinking that Jessie did something. I peek around him and see Syd walking in. “Oh, my.”
I try and get out of Aiden’s grasp, but he squeezes a little tighter.
“Aiden? What are they talking about?” I don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Well, with the way Syd immediately dragged me outside I didn’t see anything at all.
“So …” He pauses looking down at me, biting his lip. I lift an eyebrow wondering where this is going. “Remember when I left for those few days?” I slowly shake my head, not having a clue what the hell he’s talking about. “When I found out what happened with my dad and your mom?” Oh, those days.
“Yes,” I say slowly.
“Well, I came here to the house.” He sighs. I’m waiting for whatever the hell he’s holding back, so I stay quiet. He shakes his head. “Come on, it’s best if you just see.” His shoulders drop as he grabs my hand.
When we walk into the house, I gasp audibly. I look at him and he shrugs. I look back to a wall that has five holes punched into the sheetrock.
