I sit here for a few moments before I shake myself off, pass him the remote, and turn on my side. I nestle myself within the cushions and let a small moan slip free as he begins rubbing my feet. A girl could get used to this. Better remember that I shouldn’t. Although, he isn’t making it easy.
Tucker is a man of his word, he hasn’t made a move on me, and has even given up a few nights to Tom. It’s weird and I don’t know what to make of it. Is he really okay with all of this? Would he do it if he wasn’t?
It’s been a week since everything went down, Tucker claimed me, and Emmet has been going around like a bear with a sore tooth. He’s almost unbearable, and he does not like my new eating arrangements, but it isn’t like I planned any of this.
“Is this going to happen at every meal?” D asks under her breath, leaning in close so only I can hear her.
“I have no idea, but they’ve been doing it for the past week,” I reply back, staring at Tucker and Tom, who are sitting opposite us. For some reason, they’ve decided they would rather sit at our little table than theirs.
“Tucker, I have to ask.” She stares him down, but it doesn’t phase him in the least. “How did you know my homegirl needed saving?”
I never even thought about asking that, should I have? It just didn’t seem relevant at the time.
“I forget her number, but she was a Zero at one point. She tracked me and Aeron down, and told us Shane had ordered everyone to leave the two of you alone. I could barely keep up with Aeron. It was like someone had lit a rocket up his ass. Nothing would stop him from getting to you.” His eyes are almost soft. I’m confused, and a little smitten with the way Aeron took care of me.
“Any plans for Christmas?” she asks, as if this is a normal college, and we can come and go as we please.
“Oh yeah, loads.” It’s loaded with sarcasm and she grins at me, which I return in full force.
“We should go Christmas shopping. I’m sure I could convince Bradley to tag along. We won’t stay in this town, though. Way too many eyes,” Tucker says, and he’s shocked the ever loving life out of me.
“Really, we can go out?”
“Sure, why not? There are a few things I’d like to get, and you can help me pick something out for someone.” His neck is turning red and I nod eagerly. Anything to get away from this place for the day. Fuck, I cannot wait.
“Would you ask Bradley?” D speaks so softly, as if she’s nervous. This isn’t the girl I know, but then again, she’s been different for a while now. Before the retreat took place. And it’s only got worse.
“Sure, I don’t see any harm in it. I know women like to shop.”
“I don’t. I’d rather order everything online to save myself the hassle of looking around the shops and then having to wait in line and make small talk.” A shiver passes over me, and Tom is smiling like a fool.
“Can anyone tag along, or is this solely for those with a claimed girl?”
“No, I suppose not.” Tucker’s tone changes and he suddenly sounds cold and uninterested. Why not say no if he doesn’t want him to tag along?
“I’ve got to get to class,” I say as I rise from my seat, and I watch as Aeron strolls over to me and offers me his arm. I guess I’ve still got my chaperone, another thing that doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.
I bet he doesn’t even realize how much he is messing with my head, how confused I am by all of his attention. I’m not sure if I want more of it or for him to stop and go back to being a jackass.
“Come on, I’m heading your way,” He’s lying through his teeth, but there’s no reason to call him on it.
I tuck my hand in the crook of his elbow and he leads me away, Tucker and Tom fall into a conversation, and D stares at me with longing. I wonder what she’s longing for.
We leave the mess hall and head toward the cooking class, the atmosphere easy, and the silence is companionable.
“Why do you keep doing this?”
“I don’t know how to say it, Little Zero. Ever since I saw those finger marks around your neck and then fucking Shane,” he growls his name out through gritted teeth, and his eyes narrow to slits. I run my hand across his forehead and he comes to a stop, captures my hand, and kisses me on my wrist. Right where my pulse is thumping hard.
I stare up at him and he stares down at me, our eyes locked in a silent communication that I can’t quite decipher. I may be speaking it, but I don’t understand the words.
“I don’t want to be like Shane.” I go to cut him off, but he places a finger against my lips. “I don’t need your objections, I just need to get this out.” I nod my head and he pulls me into an empty classroom, before closing the door and flicking the lock in place. My eyebrows are up in my hairline, and he strokes his thumb across my forehead, and I sink.
“I don’t want to be like Shane or Scott, or any of those dickheads who tolerate him, and even egg him on at times. I know I could be, and in some ways, I fit in with that crowd better than Tucker and Tom. Mr. Sullen and Mr. Sensible.” I would never call Tom sensible, not after being in a car with him, but I guess Aeron knows him better than I do. “I want to be the guy you can see in me, the better version of myself. I’m not saying I won’t get high or fuck everything up, but I would like you to teach me how to be better. Luna, I have made more than my fair share of mistakes, but the only one I regret is releasing you. Out of some fucked up mixture of fear, jealousy, and my idea of chivalry. Can you forgive me?” His eyes are pleading with me, lines surround the edges, and he turns his mouth down at the corners.
“What do I need to forgive you for?”
“It’s my fault Shane came after you. If I hadn’t released you, he wouldn’t have been able to. I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.” He covers his face, and I grip his wrists to pull them away. My hands cup his face, and I draw him closer to me.
“There is nothing to forgive, it wasn’t your fault. Did it hurt that you let me go? Of course it did, and I felt so stupid for ever letting myself get to a point where you could hurt me. Aeron, despite everything and myself, I do like you. I have zero reservations with helping you, whatever you need.” I smile softly, and he lets out a breath.
“Luna, can I kiss you?”
I don’t know what to say, Aeron Harkwright is asking me, me, if he can have a kiss. I don’t think. I can’t. I just let my mouth fall open and prepare myself for whatever may slip free.
“Yes.” It’s nothing more than a whisper, but it’s all he needs. He moves my hands away from his face before he cradles mine, and brushes his lips lightly against mine. One brush, two, three. Feather light and barely there, yet I can feel them everywhere.
His hands don’t move as he finally, finally connects his mouth to mine, pressing gently. Open-mouthed but no tongue, his top lip closing over my bottom one, his tongue gliding across it, sending tingles shooting through my system like electricity. He glides across the seam of my lips, slipping inside as I gasp and grip onto his shirt. It’s slow and wrecking me in the best possible ways. He tilts my head and deepens the kiss. Still slow and gentle, but this is no friendly kiss or some experiment in the act. I’ve never felt so much from a kiss before, and my head is blank. Blissfully so.