Mindy

Mindy

M indy

This was not how I wanted to get closer to Aiden, but I wasn't complaining.

Why did the power have to go out? Why does there have to be a tornado warning? Why do I have to be so damn afraid of thunderstorms?

“Any better?”

Nodding, I gave his hand another squeeze as I forced myself to take a deep breath, noting the slightly musty smell of the basement mixed with laundry detergent and fabric softener. It was home-y and comforting. “A little, yeah. Thanks.” The absolute giddiness I felt at being comforted by this man was doing wonders in keeping my anxiety from overwhelming me. A strong gust of wind made the house creak and the tornado siren sound warble a bit, and I leaned into Aiden's side harder. It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine. “I’m so glad I'm not sitting in my car right now.”

“Me, too. It was damn lucky I even looked out my kitchen window and saw your car’s hazard lights blinking out there, but I’m so glad I did. ”

As the thunder and wind got louder, I started to tremble. This reminded me too much of the night many, many years ago when I wasn’t sure if my parents and I were going to survive a tornado outbreak. When glass shattered upstairs, I shrieked. Aiden pulled me so I was straddling his lap and covered me with a quilted blanket I hadn't noticed was laying on the back of the couch. I wanted to make a smartass comment about how the fabric wasn’t going to protect me from much, but the comfort that washed over me at him being so protective won out. After taking another shaky breath, I snuggled against his chest and wrapped my arms around him. He smelled amazing, like body wash and something that reminded me of oranges and cloves, and there was no missing how muscular his chest was.

He said he’d protect me… and he is. There were few people outside of my parents and best friend who followed through on their word with me, and experiencing it outside of my circle was a surprise, but absolutely delightful.

There was more tinkling of glass breaking, and a few thuds as more than one something hit the floor. My heart pounded a little harder with adrenaline and panic. Breathe. Just keep breathing. I swallowed hard, focusing on how warm he was and how protectively he was holding me. I also took stock of my surroundings. With the shorts I was wearing, I felt every stitch of the scratchy fabric of the old couch, the rough texture of his jeans, and the smooth leather of his belt. My hands gripped his soft t-shirt. “Which window do you think that was?”

His chest moved up and down as he took a deep breath. “Either the one above the kitchen sink, or the one next to the dining table.”

The wind roared even louder, and I swore I heard a train in the distance.

We weren’t nearly close enough to tracks for that sound to be what I wanted it to be.

I glanced over my shoulder, around the basement, desperately looking for anything that could better protect us from the looming danger. When the small window in the opposite corner exploded in, and a book slammed against the wall across from it, my panic spiked to an all-new high. “Aiden?”

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ve got you, Min. I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you, and I intend to keep that promise to the very best of my abilities.” The wind was now roaring through the broken windows of the house, making it difficult to hear him, even though his lips were practically touching my ears. “Hold on.” Aiden tightened his hold on me.

I swallowed hard and pressed myself against his chest even harder. “Not letting go.”

In a talented motion, he rolled us off the small couch and pulled on the back, making it tip over and cover us. The coldness of the concrete floor touching the side of my calm made me gasp, but I felt better touching something solid. The sudden temperature change also distracted me from my panic for a second.

“It might not do much, but I feel better having more cover on you.” He paused. “Min, look at me. Open your eyes, please.”

At Aiden's request, I slowly opened them, not realizing that I had squeezed them shut in my blind panic. He had somehow pulled the little lantern under the couch with us so it wasn't completely dark, and it warmed my racing heart. The fact he was completely wrapped around me and laying on top of me helped a little as well.

“There are those beautiful blue eyes.”

I let out a shaky laugh as I stared into his grey ones. “They didn’t go anywhere.”

His classic little smirk appeared on his face as he tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Maybe not, but I wanted to see them all the same.”

The wind gusted again, and more loud thuds sounded beyond the safety of our makeshift couch hut. I could only assume there was more debris from the tornado hitting the house. Every muscle in my body tensed up as I clung to Aiden, digging my fingers into his back.

Please don’t let us get sucked out of this basement.

He kissed the side of my head this time. “We are making it out of this alive, Min.”

More glass shattered upstairs, this time the sound coming from a different part of the house, and I wasn't sure if there was going to be any house left once the storm passed.

“Can we make out if we get through this alive?” The words popped out before I even realized what I was saying. I didn’t even care. If these were my last moments in this world, I wanted it out there that I wanted to kiss this man.

Aiden chuckled. “I’m more than happy to take you up on that request when I don’t have to worry about you blowing away.”

For the next agonizing eternity, he held me tight, rubbing my back and whispering encouraging things into my ear. Every time the house creaked or popped, or there was an ominous crack or thud from outside that made me jump, he’d kiss the side of my head just above my eyebrow. When there was the unmistakable crunch of splintering wood, I buried my face into his chest and whimpered, once again inhaling the citrus and clove scent of the man quite literally holding me together.

Please don’t let us die here. Please don’t let us blow away.

When something hard hit the couch, I screamed, and Aiden held me tighter, whispering in my ear. Even with his lips brushing against my ear, I didn't hear or comprehend anything he was saying, and my breathing sped up even more. But when he pressed his lips to mine, my mind went silent, and my heart raced for another reason entirely. The wind somehow roared louder, sending more debris flying into the basement. Something that felt like small rocks hit the bottom of my feet, and I pulled Aiden tighter against me. Every single one of my muscles tensed up again, but Aiden never broke the slow, sensual kiss he was giving me.

Fucking hell. This man can kiss.

Without loosening his hold on me, he pulled back slightly. His eyes were full of heat, and I was definitely feeling it as well. He simply held my gaze, and with his arms wrapped tight around me, and I suddenly realized just how wrapped around each other we were. Every inch of him was pressed into me. I don’t know if it was minutes or hours, but eventually the wind lessened, and I could hear the sound of rain pounding against the side of the house and the droning wail of the damn tornado siren.

“I think the worst might be past us now.”

When he went to move, I squeezed tighter, feeling my entire body tremble. “Not yet… Please.”

Aiden tightened his hold on me, shifting, so I was laying on him more than the floor, and rubbed my back. “I’m not going anywhere, Min. We’re not moving until that siren stops.”

I let out a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”

“What are four things you can feel?”

Why is he asking? “Your hand on my back, the scratchy fabric of the couch cushion, your jeans rubbing against my legs, and your tshirt on my cheek.”

He kissed the top of my head. “Good. What can you smell?”

It finally clicked that he was trying to help me settle my anxiety. “Wet dirt, the fabric softener from the blanket, and whatever deodorant or cologne you are wearing.”

Another kiss was pressed to my forehead. “You’re doing great, Min. What can you hear?”

I let out a sigh, feeling a couple muscles relax ever-so-slightly. “That damn tornado siren, and your breath and heartbeat in your chest.”

The thunder was down to low, deep rumbles, and when the siren finally wound down, the relative silence was almost deafening. I let out a deep, relieved sigh, finally accepting the fact I lived through a tornado. “Okay, we can probably put the couch back and sit on it again.”

It took a minute to get off the floor and reset the lounge area. The basement looked better than I was expecting. Aside from the broken window, the debris that blew in, and the only light source being the lantern, everything else was fine.

Aiden helped me onto the couch, but stayed standing. “Would you like some whiskey?”

“Oh, my god, yes.” I needed something to help me dull some of my chaotic thoughts and lingering anxiety.

He grinned and gave my hands a squeeze. “You want a glass, or are you okay with being a rebel and drinking straight from the bottle?”

I let out a tense laugh. “Bottle. Please.”

Aiden walked over to the mini fridge, opened the tote on top, and pulled out a bottle. Smiling at me, he opened and handed it over. I immediately took a large swig, letting the burn of the alcohol warm and calm me from the inside out. After taking another sip, I let out a long breath.

“Better?”

I glanced up at Aiden, who looked genuinely concerned. “Sort of.”

He crouched in front of me, resting his hands on the couch cushion on either side of my legs. “How else can I help?”

“Can you hold me again?” I loved and hated how safe I felt in his arms.

He’s just being nice. It was an emergency.

“Of course.” He took the bottle from my hands long enough to take a sip of his own and then set it on the floor. Once he sat on the couch sideways, Aiden pulled me over so I was laying on top of him. “Just relax, Min. I’ve got you. We can stay here as long as you need.”

As we laid there, he occasionally kissed the top of my head, temple, forehead, murmuring comforting sounds. It took a while before I wasn’t clutching his shirt in my fists. After a few more minutes, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, finally feeling the last of my anxiety melting away.

“That’s my girl.”

My brain stopped functioning. I’d never been one to react to being called ‘good girl,’ but being called his girl hit so much differently. When I raised my head, Aiden gave me another one of those damn soft kisses on my lips, and I loved the sweet and smoky taste of the whiskey that lingered. As I leaned into the kiss, his hand ran up and down my side, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Between him claiming me and all the physical affection, I didn’t want this moment to end.

The fear from the storm and the dark had dissipated in the soft glow of the lantern and warmth of the alcohol, and was turning into something much more sizzling. I could feel everywhere our skin pressed together. I didn’t know what made me say it, but the words came out as a rushed whisper. “I used to have a huge crush on you.”

His whole body froze, and even with me laying on his chest, I wasn’t even sure he was breathing. I opened my mouth to apologize for the statement, but his response stopped me. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sitting up so that I could better see his beautiful stormy-grey eyes, I looked at him like he was crazy. “What? You were the ridiculously hot guy my parents hired to prep their property for the sale, and I’m just.. Well, me. Also, I…” I let out a frustrated breath. “I'm not supposed to hit on the help. That feels disrespectful on some level.”

Aiden grinned as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “What if that hired help thought you were the most gorgeous woman he’d ever laid eyes on?”

I shook my head back and forth. There’s no way he just said what I think he said. “What?”

He nodded as he lifted his hand to cradle my cheek. “I still do.” Heat bloomed under his touch, and I bit my bottom lip as my focus dropped his before lifting again to meet his gaze. “Maybe I still have that crush on you.”

I had to remind myself how to speak. “Y--You do?”

Aiden nodded again and rubbed his nose against the side of mine. Making my next breath falter. “I do. Any chance I can make good on that request you made earlier?” When I just stared at him and tilted my head to the side in confusion, he smirked. “You asked if we could make out if we made it through the storm alive. I know I was kissing you before, but I’d like to do it again now that you’re in less of a panic.”

Oh. Oh! “Oh, hell yeah.”

Almost immediately his lips were pressed against mine and all other thoughts disappeared from my mind. The kiss was everything I'd hoped and dreamed it would be. While the one during the storm was sweet, careful, and soothing, this one was commanding, needy, and lustful. I had already loved whiskey before, but tasting it on his lips was my new favorite way to enjoy it.

Too soon for my liking, Aiden leaned back, and our faces were so close together that I could see every fleck of color variation in his eyes. “Your freckles are darker than I remember.” His hands were still holding my face, and his thumbs gently rubbed my cheeks. “And your eyes are more beautiful. How did you make them extra sparkly?”

I arched an eyebrow. “Extra sparkly?”

He nodded. “Yeah. They’ve always been the most stunning shade of emerald green, but they seem extra sparkly tonight.”

I blinked and had to remind myself to breathe. “I… Maybe being scared earlier did it.”

Aiden kissed the tip of my nose. “Well, I hate that you were scared, but I won't complain about it bringing us closer together.”

I felt the words as much as I heard them as my mouth was just above his, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in and kissed him again.

I went to lean back, but Aiden wrapped his arms around me and held me in place. “I’m not done kissing you yet. I’m not sure I'll ever be done kissing you.”

If I am dead for some reason, thank you for whoever decided this needed to be my afterlife. “No complaints here.” I slid my hands up over his chest and neck and into his ginger hair, holding onto him as I kissed him like it was my last day on Earth.

It almost was.

When I broke off the kiss to breathe, Aiden kissed along my jaw. When his lips made it to just below my ear, I couldn't control myself and tensed up as pleasure overwhelmed me. Something about him kissing that spot cleared my brain of every thought and just about took out my ability to control my body. It also turned me on faster than I’d ever experienced, and I let out a whimper.

What in the hell was that?

He let out a low chuckle and kissed that spot one more time, making me shiver in pleasure. “I see where one of your spots is. I could get into a lot of trouble.”

All I could do was nod as I tried to catch my breath.

Aiden gently rubbed my back. “I’ll be good tonight. You asked to make out, not get mauled.”

Tonight? Meaning he wants to do this again? Once I could, I lifted my head and looked him in the eyes, relieved and pleased to see the same level of desire in them that I was feeling. “How about another night?”

Lust flared up in his eyes as he nodded. “Name the time and place, Min. I'm at your beck and call.”