“You do?”
“Yeah.” Fuck. My heart was fit to burst out of my chest. But she was right—there was something between us—something I wanted to explore further.
I didn’t want to hurt her, though.
“But I need to be honest with you, freckles.” I touched my head to hers, breathing her in. “I’ve never done this before.”
“You’re scared.”
“Of hurting you, yes.”
“I’m not asking you for anything you don’t want to give me, Aiden.” She ran her fingers up my chest, her touch igniting a wildfire inside me. “We can take it one date at a time.”
“One date at a time, huh?” I smiled against her lips, stealing a chaste kiss.
“What do you say, hotshot? You think you’re up for the challenge?”
“I think I’m up to something.” Grabbing her hand, I pressed it against my rock-hard dick.
“Aiden!” she gasped, all shock and innocence, but I saw the heat in her eyes. The hunger.
“You love it, freckles.”
“Yeah, I think I do.” She curled up into my side, letting out a contented sigh. “Why is it like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like I want to tear your clothes off and—”
“And what?” I whispered against her ear, a bolt of lust shooting through me at the way she shivered.
“Aiden, don’t tease me.”
“I’m not teasing you, freckles. I want you to use your voice. Ask for what you want. Tell me what you like and what you don’t. I’m not going to push you for anything you’re not ready for, and I’m not going to ask for more than you’re willing to give. But if you want to explore… things with me, I’m down. So fucking down.”
She curled her fingers into the hair at the back of my neck and kissed the corner of my mouth. “People are wrong about you, you know. So wrong.”
“Only for you, freckles,” I said thickly because this wasn’t me. I didn’t whisper sweet nothings in girls’ ears and make them promises.
“Aiden, what’s wrong?”
“I just… fuck, Dayna. You’ve got me all twisted up inside,” I confessed.
“Well, I’m not exactly immune to your charm either.” She grinned. “I know you’re probably freaking out—”
“I’m not. At least, not in the way you’re thinking.”
“Look, let’s promise each other something.”
“I’m listening.”
“Honesty.” Dayna inhaled a sharp breath. “If you want to stop whatever we’re doing, you’ll tell me. And I’ll do the same.”
“That sounds very grown up and mature,” I smirked, and she batted my chest.
“Don’t mock me.”
“I’m joking.” I curved my hand around the back of her neck and drew her in for another kiss.