CLIO
Just keep moving forward-that had been my mantra for months. Nothing lasted forever, so I had to forge ahead.
But this time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. Not when leaving meant giving up the maddeningly sexy man in the beach house who made me feel safe, comforted, and on fire all at once.
This didn’t make sense. I’d felt desire before-I was human-but what I felt with Aidan was unlike anything I’d ever known. It was as if I’d die without his touch.
Cursing under my breath, I drove to my surf lesson. After our kiss in the kitchen, I’d fled to my room, tempted to pack and leave, but something stopped me. Why should I run?
I was mad at Aidan too. He had to know this was a bad idea, yet he kept urging me not to lie to myself. Who did he think he was? Sure, he made me want him, but who needed that kind of drama?
At least my anger killed any nerves about the lesson. Toni, my instructor, was a no-nonsense brunette who emphasized instincts. “Nature often defies logic. Trust your instincts.”
Her words stuck. I’d spent my life following logic, questioning if my choices were mine or others’. My breakup with Michael made me vow to chase what I wanted, but wanting Aidan felt cruel.
My brain said to stay away. My body disagreed.
Back at the house, I found it empty. After a shower, I went to the grand piano in the living room. It sat unused, a gift from a client, perfectly placed before the ocean-facing windows.
I’d wanted to play since we arrived but waited for privacy. Sitting now, I placed my hands on the keys, closed my eyes, and let my fingers move, playing a simple Bach piece that always calmed me.
For the first time in a while, I felt like myself. I could let go and follow my instincts-I did it every time I played the piano.
I was nearing the end of the piece when I felt a presence behind me. There was nothing to indicate that anybody else was there with me other than the prickling I felt at the base of my neck…and the hardening of my nipples.
I shifted on the seat to press my knees tighter together, hoping to assuage the ache that had flared up between my legs.
I knew he was behind me, he had to be, but for the first time since I’d learned that he was Lila’s father, I did not feel that thread of panic race through me. I was relaxed and ready for whatever happened next…at least, I thought so.
Slowly, I turned around to see Aidan leaning against the doorway that was directly behind the piano seat. “That was beautiful, Clio,” he said in a low voice, and I was satisfied to see how his eyes were watching me with a look of unfiltered lust. I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t go back to playing either.
After a long, tense stare down, he tore his gaze away and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Look, Clio, I wanted to apologize-”
“Don’t,” I said. He looked slightly reticent before continuing on, “I just thought-”
“Don’t do that either,” I said, deciding right then and there to go past the point of no return. I’m being in my own body and following my instincts for once.
Maybe if I’d done that more often, I wouldn’t have ended up quite so humiliated and the butt of so many people’s jokes.
“I don’t understand,” he said, confused, but he stepped closed anyway.
For some reason, I couldn’t handle that look on his face, so I turned back around to face the piano keys and started to play with them some more.
“I don’t either,” I said. “I just know I’m exhausted from not being honest with myself. I’ve listened to my mind my whole life, and so far, it’s only ended up in heartbreak and embarrassment and…” I played some more. “Maybe this would, too, but at least I could feel good for a while.”
“What are you saying, Clio?” he asked. I could hear the desperation in his voice. I was surprised at the delighted surge of power and excitement that raced through me.
“I’m saying I don’t want to fight my instincts anymore, but we have to agree on one thing first,” I said, stopping my playing and turning to find him right behind me, damn near ready to pounce.
“What would that be?” he asked huskily, his hands clenching into anxious fists at his sides.
“That this stays between us. Lila can never know-”
“I don’t know if I can agree to that, Clio, this…whatever this isn’t just a summer fling,” he argued.
“We don’t know that,” I insisted, “and there’s no reason to hurt her if it’s not necessary.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone either, you have to know that…but what’s between us, Clio, this isn’t going to just go away. You may not see that now, but…God, what am I saying?” he questioned, running a hand through his hair. Sucking in a deep breath, he looked at me with pleading eyes. “I’d rather have some of you then none of you, so if that’s your condition, then…”
I slid from the bench and faced him, my hands twisting together nervously, but I could feel determination blooming in my chest. Assertive Clio needed to take control for a change, so that’s exactly what I did.
Rising up on my tiptoes, I grabbed Aidan by the shoulders and pulled him down for a very unpracticed but equally passionate kiss. He needed no prompting from there, sliding his arms around my waist and bringing my body flush to his.
“Clio,” he moaned against my lips, and I relished the need I heard in his voice. I kissed him for a long moment before pulling back and looking into his eyes. Those slate-colored eyes had darkened considerably. I drank in the way he took in my face, looking like he could swallow me whole…and I loved every second of it.
He cupped my face in his hands. “Tell me what you want me to do, Clio,” he told me once again.
I tried to bite back my smile, but I couldn’t. I was going to go for what I wanted, come hell or high water. “I want all of you, Aidan…I want all of it,” I told him.
“Are you sure? Because I’m not sure I can hold back this time,” he warned.
I uttered a soft laugh. “That was you holding back?”
He smiled. “Oh, you have no idea, my dear Clio,” he said, tightening his arms around my waist and lifting me up against him.
I let out a squeal of surprise as he carried me a few steps back, then hefted me up onto the piano. “Aidan!”
“You tell me you want it all, that’s what I’m going give you, my sweet girl,” he said while he unsnapped the waistband of my shorts. He helped me shimmy out of my shorts, dropping them on the floor next to the piano.
His mouth then attacked my neck, sucking at the delicate flesh as his hands ran down my arms. I felt his fingers playing at the hem of my t-shirt, sliding them underneath and tickling the skin of my belly. He yanked the shirt up over my breasts, letting the material rest on top of the swells.