Chapter 13
Aiden
PACING THE LIVINGroom, I check my watch for the hundredth time, then look at May’s closed bedroom door. Her sisters and her mom left about twenty minutes ago, telling me that she would be out soon. But with every minute that passes, I wonder if she’s having second thoughts about going with me tonight. I wouldn’t blame her if she is, especially after spending time with her family.
Her mom and her sisters are just as down to earth and welcoming as she is, each of them making it clear I had their approval by the time they walked out the door. Which is likely to be the complete opposite of the welcoming my mother and even my sister will give May at the party tonight.
Frustrated and worried, I walk across the living room, tugging at the bow tie around my neck that feels way too fucking tight. How I wore this shit on multiple occasions before is anyone’s guess. I knock on the bedroom door, and when she doesn’t respond, I push it open and step inside, finding the room empty.
“Are you trying to sneak out the window to ditch me?” I ask, walking to the bathroom door.
“No, I’ll be out in just a minute,” she calls, then I hear her curse through the closed door.
“Are you okay?’
“Yes.” She sounds breathless, then curses again, barely loud enough for me to hear.
“I’m coming in.”
“No, do n—” I push the door open, cutting her off, and her full red lips fall open and her wide smoky eyes meet mine for a moment before I drop my gaze to the very sexy black lace strapless bra she has on, with her dress twisted awkwardly around her waist. “I had to pee,” she whispers, and I lift my gaze to hers and watch her cheeks that are already pink get darker. “I couldn’t do that with how fluffy the skirt is, so I had to take the dress completely off.” She lifts her hands out from her sides, then lets them fall. “I didn’t think about how I would get it zipped back up.”
“You could have asked me to help you,” I tell her softly while taking another step into the room.
“I wanted to impress you with the whole look.” She blows a strand of hair out of her face. “Instead, I get this awkward moment.”
Fuck, this woman has no idea the hold she has on me. “Babe, I’m sure you look beautiful in your dress, but seeing you like this is the best part of my night so far.” I close the distance between us as she blushes, then find the zipper on the dress that is curved over her hip from where she was likely trying to twist it and unzip it. It falls to the ground, pooling around her feet before she or I can catch it, leaving her in just her bra and a pair of black lace boyshorts.
My cock throbs behind my zipper as I lean down to pick the dress up from around her feet. Even though I want nothing more than to lift her out of the material and carry her to her bed that is just a room away, I slowly slide the dress up her legs, over her hips, then help her get her arms through the straps before I move to stand behind her. I watch her shiver as my fingers graze her back while I drag up the zipper, then my eyes meet her heated gaze in the mirror above the sink.
Over the last few days, I’ve made a point to slow things down any time they’ve gotten too heated. I haven’t wanted to rush her, not when she’s been so obviously anxious about everything that has happened and dealing with so many changes. That doesn’t mean I haven’t snipped down to a very short fuse, knowing it could ignite at any moment.
“Should we go?” she asks quietly, and I turn her to face me, then take her hands and step back, my eyes roaming over her.
“You look so fucking beautiful.” I shake my head, wondering what the fuck is wrong with me. I should not be taking her with me tonight, should not be putting her in a position where she might be uncomfortable, and I know that’ll happen. I’m sure my mother will be polite, because she won’t want to cause a scene, but I have no doubt that she will make it clear in other ways that she does not approve of May being there with me. “What if we stay here?”
“What?” Her eyes search mine as a small, confused smile curls her lips.
“We could change and order a pizza, then watch a movie and just hang out.”
“What are you worried about?” She steps toward me and rests her palms against my chest.
My jaw clenches as I cup her face and roll my thumb just under her bottom lip. “I don’t like that tonight I’ll be walking you into a room full of vipers who share my DNA.”
“Vipers.” She laughs, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss me sweetly. “I’ll be fine.” She lifts her fingers and swipes away the lipstick she left behind while holding my gaze. “If you can handle my mom hinting at marriage and babies all day, I can deal with whatever your mom throws at me.”
“I really fucking like your mom,” I tell her, and she laughs, dropping her forehead against my chest. Placing my fingers under her chin, I wait until she’s looking at me. “I want you to make me a promise.”
“What?” she asks in almost a whisper.
“Whatever happens, you come home with me at the end of the night.”
“You’re that worried?” Her eyes scan mine, and I lift my chin, because I know exactly what she will be facing when I walk in with her on my arm this evening. “All right. Whatever happens tonight, I’ll come home with you.”
“Promise?”