~Joan~
I curled further into the warm, firm body pressed against me, letting out a soft sigh as I tried to ignore the golden rays of sunlight creeping onto my face. I wanted to savor the moment just a little longer before peeling my eyes open, only to come face-to-face with Aaron’s still-sleeping form.
The good news? He was still out cold, giving me the rare chance to study him without interruption.
His stubble had felt prickly under my fingers yesterday-definitely time for a shave-not that I expected Aaron to bother anytime soon. His dark lashes fanned across his cheeks, his lips now tinted faintly red, thanks to my lipstick.
His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer, and I became acutely aware of his very obvious arousal pressing into my stomach.
Okay?
I hated to admit it, but Aaron was beautiful-if that was even the right word for a man. And he knew it too, never missing a chance to use his looks to his advantage.
A low groan escaped him, and his eyelids fluttered. I shut my eyes quickly, pretending to still be asleep. The last thing I wanted was for him to catch me staring at him like a complete sap.
“I know you’re awake kitten,” his voice rumbled, low and husky from sleep, sending a shiver through me.
Damn. His morning voice should come with a warning.
I cracked one eye open and immediately caught the amused glint in his eyes
“I just woke up,” I muttered, trying to sound casual. “Amazing to see that you actually slept, Thompson.” I leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of his mouth. His eyes lightened up.
“Maybe you do have a charm, after all,” he murmured before pulling me into a deeper kiss, his teeth grazing my bottom lip in a way that made me forget every coherent thought I’d ever had.
“Now that’s a proper good morning kiss,” he said, his groan rumbling through his chest as he shifted, pressing harder against me.
I wrinkled my nose, trying to focus. “You snore. Really bad, just so you know.”
His head shot up, his expression a mix of confusion and mild curiosity.
“I don’t snore,” he said flatly.
I nodded solemnly, doing my best to keep a straight face as I sat up. The sheets slipped down, and his eyes flicked to my breasts before locking back onto mine.
“You wouldn’t know what happens when you’re asleep, Thompson,” I teased. “Trust me, you snore. Loudly.”
He frowned, clearly trying to decide if I was serious. The look on his face was too much-I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
“You’re joking, right?” he said, grabbing a pillow and chucking it at me.
“Fine, you don’t snore,” I said, inching closer to him with a grin. “You’re just the perfect man pillow.”
That earned me one of his signature smug grins. His ego was absolutely insufferable-and maybe a little endearing.
Aaron stood and stretched lazily before heading toward the bathroom.
“We’re showering and then heading into the city. There’s a lot I want to show you,” he said, pausing to plant a kiss on my neck. His lips lingered there for just a moment, sending a delicious warmth through me.
“But first, let’s take care of this boner,” he added, his hand sliding down my waist before scooping me up effortlessly. I barely had time to protest before he carried me into the bathroom and kicked the door shut behind us.
Later, after a long, steamy shower and another round of sex, we dressed and headed out onto the deck.
I was surprised to find the yacht anchored back at shore. While Aaron chatted with the sailor, I wandered toward the railing, gazing out at the endless stretch of ocean glittering under the morning sun.
Paris really was beautiful. I made a mental note to convince Rhoda to take a girls’ trip here someday.
Speaking of Rhoda…
My stomach tightened. I needed to have the talk with her. She wasn’t going to be thrilled when she found out I’d been sleeping with her brother for the last three months, especially when she learned it started back in Spain-and continued in New York.
Aaron’s arm slipped around my waist, pulling me back to the present.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice softer now.
I forced a smile. “Nothing. It’s nothing. Are you done here?”
He studied me for a moment, as if he could sense there was more I wasn’t saying. But he didn’t press further.
“Let’s go,” he finally said, taking my hand and leading me off the yacht.
Back at the hotel, we changed clothes before heading out to explore the city.
I couldn’t deny how much fun I had with him that day. For all his flaws and edges, he could be surprisingly thoughtful when he wanted to be.
I started to see glimpses of the “heart of gold” Rhoda always claimed he had, though I doubted Aaron would ever admit to it.
He wasn’t the kind of man who wore his feelings on his sleeve, but that didn’t bother me. I loved the private version of him-the one he didn’t show to the rest of the world. The one I got to wake up next to.
“I’m exhausted,” I groaned, collapsing onto a bench at the edge of a playground.
Aaron raised an eyebrow at me. “I’ll get you some ice cream,” he said, gesturing to a stand across the park. “Stay here.”
He ruffled my hair before walking off, weaving through the crowd with that easy, confident stride that always made me smile.
My phone buzzed in my bag. I pulled it out, unlocking the screen to find a new text message.
The details made my stomach drop.
Luna De Luca.
Your Mother.