No Kissing Allowed (No Kissing Allowed #1)(29)

I parted my lips, and Aidan pulled me flush against him, his tongue slipping inside my mouth. He took his time, exploring my tongue, my teeth, my lips, never rushing the kiss. It wasn’t urgent or full of want. It was something else, something deeper. His hands moved down my back, and a shiver rippled through me. Lauren could be home any minute, which meant I had a decision to make—either move this to my bedroom and explore Aidan in all the ways I craved, or pull away now and tread cautiously instead. Protect my emotions, my heart.

“Cameron…” he whispered, the words spoken against my lips. “This—it’s…”

I pulled away from him so I could better read his expression. “Are you afraid?”

His eyebrows drew together. “Afraid?”

“Of what could happen at the office if we continue this.”

Aidan cupped the sides of my face with his hands and stared into my eyes as though he were searching for the answer in me instead of himself. “The only thing in life that’s ever scared me is the fear of missing something. A deal. An opportunity.” He kissed me softly. “You. I don’t want to miss this.”

“But, what if—”

He kissed me again before I could continue. “Let me worry about the what-ifs. I won’t let anything happen to you. If it falls, it falls on me.”

My heart puddled onto the floor, and I realized I was afraid of the same thing—missing this. Despite his rules and mine, I didn’t want to miss this. For the first time in forever, I had that tingly feeling in my gut, that nervous ache for the next visit, the urge to smile anytime I heard his name. I finally had all those things, and I didn’t want to give them up. Risk or not. This might not be forever, but what was? What really lasted forever? Nothing. No one. The best we could do was live wholeheartedly in the few moments that genuinely made us happy.

Aidan made me happy. Label or no label, feelings or no feelings.

I smiled.

“Is that for me?” he asked, his own mouth curving up into a grin.

“Lately, they’re all for you.”

His smile softened as our gazes held, and he had just begun the lean-in when I heard a key in the door and then voices. For a moment, I contemplated just introducing Lauren and Grace to Aidan, despite our no friends or family rule. But then they were inside the small hallway, barely out of view, and another voice hit my ears, this one sending me into full freak-out mode. I shoved Aidan back, my eyes wide as I frantically motioned for the pantry door. He shook his head no, and I nodded yes, and I was ready to scream at him to get in there, when Lauren called Alexa’s name, and understanding crossed Aidan’s face.

I had just enough time to close the pantry door before they walked into the kitchen, feet away from the very spot Aidan and I had been kissing moments before. My heart sped up as my hands trembled from the adrenaline rush.

“Hey,” I said, the tightest, fakest smile known to womankind on my face. Dear God, get me out of this and I will go to church every Sunday for the next month. The girls stared at me like I’d sprung horns. All right, fine, the next year. Please, God, come on.

“Um, hey,” Lauren said, drawing out the y. “We ran into Alexa at the club and decided to just come back here for drinks. You okay?”

Grace turned around to grab wineglasses and a bottle from the fridge.

“I can help,” Alexa said, grabbing the glasses so Grace could uncork the wine.

My eyes widened at Lauren, and I nodded toward the pantry door, but she just shook her head like I was insane. “What are you…?”

I pointed at the hot chocolate, still untouched on the counter. Lauren shrugged, so I pointed again at the two mugs, then the pantry door. Please understand what I’m freaking telling you! She shrugged, and I was sure my body was going to explode from tension and frustration, when she glanced at the mugs again and then her eyes went wide and she whispered, “Is there a dude in our pantry?”

I nodded slowly.

Her eyebrows threaded together. “Why?”

Alexa and Grace went on into the living room, and I jerked Lauren toward me. “Aidan is in the pantry. Alexa works at our office, remember? I need you to get her out of here.”

She glanced back. “I can’t just throw her out.”

“Hey,” Grace called. “What are you two talking about in there?”

“Nothing!” we both shouted, and I closed my eyes. Oh my God. This wasn’t happening. Then a genius idea occurred to me. “Take her to your room.”

“What? No. That was only the one time in college. I don’t—”

I rolled my eyes. “Not to hook up with her. God. Go show her those shoes and bags you brought home from work the other day. She’s crazy about fashion. She’ll love it.”

Lauren looked more mortified than when she thought I wanted her to seduce Alexa. “What if she wants me to give her something?”

I almost laughed at Lauren’s blatant selfishness, but then I thought of Aidan on the other side of the door and panic ripped through me again. “Please.”

“All right, but if she takes something, you’re buying me a replacement.”

“Fine, whatever, just please go.”

Lauren disappeared out of the kitchen, and I heard her explain she’d brought home a few things from Bergdorf’s that had been sent to her boss in hopes he would agree to carry them the next season. A second passed, then just as I suspected, Alexa asked if she could see them, and they were all heading to Lauren’s room. I waited until Lauren’s door clicked shut, then yanked open the pantry door and began dragging Aidan to the front door.