21. Simon

CHAPTER 21

Simon

“She’s upstairs with Blake,” Luna McNeill says as Aidan and I approach the counter at Books and Buns bakery. “She just got off.”

I raise my eyebrows. Aidan snorts. We exchange a grin.

Luna laughs. “She got off of work , you dirty boys. Her shift ended.”

“So she’s getting off then,” I say cheerfully, eyeing the row of pastries in the case. “I doubt Wilder could resist the urge to get his hands on her first.”

“I agree.” Aidan glances toward the stairs. “Should we just go up or text her first?”

“If you think I’m going to waste an opportunity to barge in on Wilder unannounced then you really don’t know me at all.”

Aidan just clears his throat, but doesn’t respond.

I glance over at him. His expression is reserved.

We’ve just got back from having lunch together in my suite, something I had hoped would be more sex than salads, but he didn’t make any moves, so I didn’t either.

He and I haven’t had sex yet, even though it’s been over a week, and I want him desperately.

I sat through three courses with a raging hard cock waiting for him to indicate in some way he wanted to move the feast to the bedroom, but he didn’t.

He’s clearly holding back, and I know why.

Aidan attaches to people.

He’s already attaching to Elise. His blue eyes go soft whenever he looks at her, and he can’t resist the urge to touch her whenever he’s around her. Not just sexually, but casually. A hand on her back. A sweeping of her hair off of her cheek. Brushing his thigh against hers in the car. He constantly peppers her with little kisses and she laughs easily when he’s around, soaking up his attention.

In sharp contrast, he’s pulled back from me. He actually showed very little enthusiasm about having lunch together in my suite, suggesting a hot dog stand instead.

A fucking hot dog stand.

Nothing kills romance like questionable pork in a stale preservative-filled bun.

But he’s distancing himself from me because I’m heading back to London.

He knows this is temporary, and he’s protecting himself. Protecting his heart .

Because when he doesn’t know I’m looking, I see the way he looks at me too—with growing affection.

And I love it.

It feels incredible to have a man who is as solid and caring as Aidan look at me like I’m someone worthy of his love.

Not because I buy him things.

Not because I can introduce him to influential people or take him on a luxurious vacation.

But because he likes me .

It’s pushing me to the edge of falling head over ass for him.

How to handle it isn’t entirely clear to me yet, but I do know that I don’t want to initiate sex. I feel confident if I did, he would tumble into bed naked with me, and I don’t want him to have regrets. It has to be his idea.

Patience isn’t my biggest virtue, but my mum always said the harder you work for something, the sweeter it tastes.

Ironic coming from a woman who never worked for a damn thing in her life, but a valid sentiment.

Speaking of sweets, I point to the row of pain au chocolat. “I’ll take four of those. One for each of us.”

“I don’t need one,” Aidan says. “I’ll just take a coffee. Black. Thanks, Luna.”

Aside from his fondness for domestic beer and steak, Aidan is a healthy eater. He has no sweet tooth. He’s also stubborn. He’s already pulling his wallet out to pay for his coffee and I don’t say anything. I just let him pay for it.

I can’t remember what kind of coffee Elise drinks, which makes me feel terrible. But in all fairness, the morning after I stayed at her place, I was deliciously distracted. “A latte for Elise?” I guess. “And two more black coffees.”

I suspect Wilder drinks his black just to punish himself. He’s that kind of guy.

Luna packages up my sweets and puts the coffee cups into a travel case. I give her a generous tip. “Thank you. Much appreciated.”

“Don’t keep Elise up all night,” she warns us. “She’s opening again tomorrow and I don’t think my blood pressure can take another kitchen fire.”

Even though she’s smiling and clearly teasing, I still wince. “I feel responsible for that. She was utterly desperate to get back to me.”

Luna laughs. “Oh, I bet.”

Aidan shakes his head, but he’s smiling. “Ready? I feel like this is going to take more than ten minutes.”

The plan is not to have sex tonight, though I won’t object to it.

We’re supposed to be creating a mutual history for Blake and Elise so that when they meet his grandmother, they have a solid lock on knowing each other and their relationship timeline.

I’m looking forward to it because I want to know every little snippet about Elise that I can.

Also, I can’t wait to torment Blake.

He’s fun to poke.

And I don’t mean that literally.

“I feel like this could take hours ,” I agree. “He’s as stubborn as you are.”

“I’m not stubborn,” Aidan protests in surprise as we head toward the stairs.

I eye the coffee in his hand pointedly.

He makes a face. “Much.”

“We’ll just have to get the basics down. Family background, how long they’ve been dating, that sort of thing.”

We climb the stairs.

“Do you think they can pull off lovey-dovey?”

“I don’t see why not. They’ve seen each other naked.”

“That is true.”

Jostling the coffee carrier and the bag, I knock on the door. “We’re here.” I start to turn the knob.

“Should you just go in?” Aidan asks.

“It never occurred to me not to.”

“But that seems…”

“She’s expecting us.” I knock again to appease his sense of politeness.

I don’t get a response.

But I can clearly hear Elise moaning inside.

That has me turning the knob and shoving the unlocked door open.

What greets us is a thing of beauty.

Elise is naked, her ass moving up and down as she enthusiastically rides Blake on the one uncluttered spot that exists on her couch. Her hair is cascading down her pale back as his big hands grip her waist. I can see his pants are still partially on, and he's still wearing a shirt.

“Simon! Aidan!” she calls out, clearly startled.

For some odd and utterly adorable reason, she covers her bare breasts when she half-turns to us.

“I would say they’re pretty convincing,” I tell Aidan, glancing back at him over my shoulder. “That screams lovey-dovey to me.”

Aidan is intently staring. “That is straight up hot.”

“Oh, God, should I stop?” Elise asks breathlessly, even as she continues to bob up and down on Wilder’s cock.

“No,” Blake growls. “Don’t you dare.”

“Don’t stop on my behalf. I’m enjoying the view.” Watching Elise take her pleasure is gorgeous. I adjust myself in my pants.

“Absolutely not,” Aidan says. “I want to see you come, El. You’re going to come so hard, aren’t you?”

His voice has lowered, and his attention is rapt on her.

“Yes, yes, I am!”

“Then do it,” he tells her. “Soak Wilder with that sweet pussy.”

“Fuck yeah,” Blake says.

She releases her breasts and puts her hands on his shoulders. Then she grinds her clit against him while he uses his strength to lift her up and down.

Her head snaps back and she breaks.

“Jesus fuck,” I murmur. “You’re so beautiful, love.”

Wilder is coming with gritted teeth and a rough groan.

Then Aidan is behind her, shifting her hair off her dewy shoulder and pressing a kiss there. “That was incredible.”

“Oh my God,” she laughs softly. “That was an accident.”

I set the items I’m carrying on her coffee table. “Your clothes fell off by accident? Or the orgasm. In either case, I understand. Happens to the best of us. I brought you a latte.”

“I was in the shower and Blake got here and… well, anyway, thank you. I’d love a latte. I usually try not to add sugar, but that sounds amazing right now.”

Her cheeks are pink from exertion as I hold my hand out to her to help her climb off of Wilder’s lap.

Legs shaking, she brushes her lips over mine. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I wrap my arms around her and kiss her more deeply, running my palms over her spine. Her bare skin is warm, and she smells incredible—like sex and cinnamon.

My very own sweet treat.

“I should put some clothes on.” She steps back and stumbles a little over Blake’s enormous feet.

He catches her, but she does tumble back down into his lap. He tugs her hair and tilts her face to him, giving her a tender kiss that makes me smile in amusement. There’s a soft side there beneath all that facial hair and grumbling.

She lifts her hand again and Aidan takes it this time and it’s his turn to claim a kiss.

I love that this is so easy, the four of us.

It feels natural.

Right.

Which makes my chest tighten.

Elise slips past Aidan and pulls a silky piece of floral fabric off of a pile of clothes on her dining table. A second later she has it on and belted.

“Of course you have a silky robe,” I groan. “You are truly the perfect woman.”

She giggles. “Being at home isn’t an excuse to not look cute. Fashion is a full-time job.”

“You get no argument from me.” I shove a pile of papers off of a chair and take a seat. “So. How do we ensure Grandma believes yours is a love story for the ages?”

Elise bites her bottom lip and glances at Blake. He’s pulled his pants back up and zipped them. He stands up with a wince, condom in hand and disappears into the bathroom without a word.

“Did we interrupt something?” I ask, half-joking, mostly serious.

She shakes her head. “Nothing more than what you saw.”

I study her. She looks a little bewildered herself.

But she adds, “I didn’t mean to exclude the two of you…”

Aidan takes her the latte and cups her chin. “Hey. This is about you . You call the shots here. We all agreed to that, I’m pretty sure. You’re allowed to do whatever you want with us, separately or together.” He glances over at me. “Right?”

“Absolutely.” I open the bakery bag. “I’m content with my pastry. We need to focus on Operation Cabin Procurement. Would you like a pain au chocolat?”

“I would love one.” She takes the pastry from me and bites into it immediately, giving a moan of pleasure. “So good.”

I love that Elise enjoys food and isn’t on a permanent diet, like some women I’ve dated in the past. She doesn’t deny herself life’s little pleasures and I find that, and her, incredibly sexy.

Aidan’s eyes have darkened, watching her flick her tongue across her lip to catch an errant crumb, but he sticks to the plan and just lifts his coffee to his mouth.

Blake returns and I realize he’s limping a little, though he’s trying to hide it. “You okay?” I ask in concern.

He nods, but it’s clear he’s in pain.

I follow him into the kitchen, where he’s grabbing a glass and filling it with water. I’m opening a cabinet for a plate I don’t actually need when I see him lift his closed fist to his mouth and shake pills in. He quickly swallows.

“New injury or old?” I ask, striving for casual.

He glances over at me. For a second, I don’t think he’s going to answer.

But then he says, “More like permanent. Hip flexor tendonitis. Inflammation of the iliopsoas muscle and tendons from overuse. It will probably get better after retirement though.”

I’m no expert on hockey, but even I know the goaltender goes up and down repeatedly during a game. Overuse seems like an understatement.

“I see. I’m sure you’re getting excellent medical treatment, but I know a great massage therapist if you need one.”

He nods. “Thanks.” He hesitates, then adds, “I appreciate it.”

“Sure.” I shoot him a grin. “And I’m happy to take over the task of fucking Elise from behind while you lay on the bed.”

He rolls his eyes. “Very fucking generous, Armstrong. You’re a real pal.”

But we’re both chuckling though as we return to the living room. Aidan and Elise are squeezed onto her couch together and he’s blowing on her coffee to make sure it isn’t too hot.

This guy. Always the protector. The caregiver.

I love that we all bring something different to the table.

Blake chooses to lean against the wall and now I understand him better. Sometimes what appears to be aloofness is just him being in pain and not wanting to show it. He’s resting his hip right now, not excluding himself from our group around the coffee table.

“We need the story of how you met,” I announce. “Elise, go.”

“We met at a bar.”

“We met through Crew and Luna,” Blake immediately protests.

“At a bar.”

He makes a face.

“What, that isn’t romantic enough for you?” I ask.

“Not really. That’s so basic.”

“But it’s the truth.” Elise sips her latte. “It’s always better to stick to the truth when possible. Lies can trip you up.”

Blake just grunts.

“What about your first date?” Aidan asks.

“I took her to dinner, then afterward we had a foursome with two other guys.”

That makes me laugh. “I suggest you skip the foursome part unless you want to give grandma a stroke.”

“Tell me about your family.” Elise takes another bite of her pastry. “I know you have a sister, but I don’t even know where you grew up.”

“Minnesota. How about you?”

“South Bend. I moved here for the fashion and the food. What’s your sister’s name?”

“Brooke. You’re an only child?”

She nods.

“Are you a cat or dog person?” Aidan asks.

“Dog.”

“Cat,” Elise says.

“What kind of toothpaste does Elise use?”

“This isn’t immigration, for fuck’s sake. It’s my grandma.”

“But do you know? You were just in her bathroom.”

Elise eyes him curiously. “If you know the answer to this I’m going to be amazed. There’s a lot going on in my bathroom.”

“It’s Crest gel. Cinnamon flavor.”

Aidan and I look at Elise.

Her jaw drops. “He’s right. Was that just a lucky guess?”

“No one uses cinnamon toothpaste, El,” Aidan says. “That is not a lucky guess.”

It does explain why she smells like cinnamon all the time. I just thought she magically absorbed the bakery scent into her skin.

“The only reason I know that is because it’s the only item in your bathroom that is recognizable to me. All the rest of it is girl shit,” Blake admits.

“Girl shit. Fair enough.” Elise eyes him with clear affection. “That's so romantic.”

“I can be romantic.”

“I’m sure you can.”

But then he shocks all of us by digging in his pocket and pulling out a ring box.

Elise gasps.

“Okay,” Aidan says. “I like where this is going.”

Blake moves over to Elise and he drops down onto a knee, giving zero indication that he’s in any pain at all. He flips open the box. “Elise, will you fake marry me?”

For a second, her eyes light up when she sees the ring, which even from my seat several feet away, I can see is high quality. That’s a clear-cut diamond.

Then Elise shutters her expression. “Of course I will fake marry you.”

She lets him slip the ring on her finger.

But I realize that Elise, for a brief moment, wanted it to be real.

We’re all in dangerous fucking territory.

But I have no intention of stopping what we’re doing.