Chapter 242
The sun is high and shining at its brightest by the time we get back home. There are long shadows cast before us, the lake behind the house reflecting all the light.
Aiden’s mouth drops open when Zaid pulls up the driveway. He gets out of the car and scoffs in surprise as he takes in the trees and the house. I smile to myself, knowing exactly how he feels looking at it for the first time.
We all step inside the house and Aiden looks around, grinning like a kid.
“This place is insane,” he says, dragging his suitcase through the entryway. “How did you guys even find this?”
I smile, cheeks warm, because I can feel Zaid watching me from across the room. “Zaid found it.”
Aiden whistles low, still in awe. I give him a tour before I lead him upstairs.
“You can drop your stuff here for now. It’s my room.” I say, stepping aside as he wheels
his suitcase in. He sets it down and then walks to my window to look out.
I’m about to walk to stand beside him when I feel Zaid’s hand slip around my wrist, tugging me gently toward the hall.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Aiden, and he nods, distracted by the lake view out the window.
Zaid pulls me into the art room, and the door clicks shut behind us.
He doesn’t say anything, he just looks at me, jaw tight, breath shallow. Then suddenly, his lips crash into mine, and I gasp as he presses me against the wall, his body hot, his hands framing my jaw.
I melt into it, my fingers digging into his back, my hips grinding into his. It’s fast and full of something desperate. When he finally pulls away, his lips are swollen and his chest heaving.
“What was that for?” I whisper, dazed,
He rests his forehead against mine. “Just needed it,” he says quietly. “I’ve got a few things
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to get done. Thought I’d give you two some privacy to catch up.”
I blink. “You’re leaving?”
He nods, stepping back, smoothing my hair with a soft touch. “Just for a bit.”
I nod too, even though part of me wants to reach for him again. He walks away first and I whisper to myself, adjusting my clothes as I slip back to my room.
Aiden’s still standing at the window, watching the ripples on the water. He turns when I enter. “It’s warm enough to swim, right?”
“I haven’t tried.”
“Then let’s find out.”
Before I can react, he throws me over his shoulder with a laugh, and I shriek, pounding at
his back as he barrels down the stairs and out onto the deck.
“Aiden, wait, I’m not wearing –!”
But he’s already running. Then we’re flying through the air.
The lake hits like a shock, cold and clear, and I come up sputtering and laughing all at
once, hair slicked back and clothes clinging to me.
“You’re insane!” I yell, splashing water at him, trying to kick him under the water.
He’s laughing, swimming toward me. “C’mon. You love it.”
He catches me, arms strong around my waist. I loop mine around his shoulders, breathless from the adrenaline. He tugs at my soaked shirt, lifting it over my head before helping me
with my jeans.
The water is cool against my skin. I watch as he undresses and shake my head. “You ruined my clothes.”
“We were going to take them off at one point,” he grins.
I roll my eyes, but smile.
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When he throws our clothes on the deck, he’s back to wrapping an arm around my waist. His hands slide down my back and he kisses me again.
It’s warm and familiar.
But something’s missing.
My eyes stay closed longer than they should. Maybe if I don’t look at him, I can pretend I don’t feel the difference. That this doesn’t feel like a memory trying to repeat itself rather
than something new.
He pulls back, helping me wrap my legs around his waist. “So, tell me more about this fellowship with your aunt.”
“Well, it’s my aunt’s fellowship. I’m just freeloading.”
That gets a chuckle out of him.
I smile and tell him the basics. He listens, nodding, listening as he looks around.
“You have to go,” he says after a beat. “It’s like me not taking the UCLA offer. You have
to.”
My heart thuds. It would be like that, wouldn’t it? I would tell Aiden he’s insane for not
taking it if he showed any signs of doubt. I wouldn’t ever let him choose me over an
opportunity like that.
So, why would I let myself choose Zaid?
His lips find mine again, and I kiss him back. He’s hard between his legs and his cock brushes against my thighs, making me tense.
He moves his lips down my jaw. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”
I nod, letting my body take his touch, take his kisses. I close my eyes, trying to lose myself in his touch.
He fucks me there as he stands on the shallow end. I come, my climax hitting me out of nowhere. But it all feels underwhelming. It’s not a fire. Not an ache.
Not Zaid.
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When he throws our clothes on the deck, he’s back to wrapping an arm around my waist. His hands slide down my back and he kisses me again.
It’s warm and familiar.
But something’s missing.
My eyes stay closed longer than they should. Maybe if I don’t look at him, I can pretend I don’t feel the difference. That this doesn’t feel like a memory trying to repeat itself rather than something new.
He pulls back, helping me wrap my legs around his waist. “So, tell me more about this fellowship with your aunt.”
“Well, it’s my aunt’s fellowship. I’m just freeloading.”
That gets a chuckle out of him.
I smile and tell him the basics. He listens, nodding, listening as he looks around.
“You have to go,” he says after a beat. “It’s like me not taking the UCLA offer. You have to.”
My heart thuds. It would be like that, wouldn’t it? I would tell Aiden he’s insane for not taking it if he showed any signs of doubt. I wouldn’t ever let him choose me over an opportunity like that.
So, why would I let myself choose Zaid?
His lips find mine again, and I kiss him back. He’s hard between his legs and his cock brushes against my thighs, making me tense.
He moves his lips down my jaw. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”
I nod, letting my body take his touch, take his kisses. I close my eyes, trying to lose myself in his touch.
He fucks me there as he stands on the shallow end. I come, my climax hitting me out of nowhere. But it all feels underwhelming. It’s not a fire. Not an ache.
Not Zaid.
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I kiss him again, and we get out of the water, sitting on the porch swing wrapped in towels. Aiden is unnervingly quiet, and I feel too distraught to say anything.
He finally looks at me after a moment, and he studies my profile. It’s long enough that I
turn to him, wondering why he hasn’t said anything.
His brow creases. “Did that feel different to you?“.
My chest aches and my nostrils flare. The last thing I want to do is lie. “Yes.”
He turns back to look at the water, his jaw clenching. We don’t say anything else until the door to the house opens and Zaid joins us. He looks at us with a surprised expression, no doubt wondering why we’re sitting outside naked.
Aiden looks at Zaid and just gets up and leaves.
I want to crumple, fall into the ground and disappear.
“What happened?” Zaid whispers, wrapping his arms around me as I fall into his chest.
