“Maybe we should give them some privacy,” Xander said and grabbed her around the waist. “Maybe we can go to your room.”
“Nope,” Liv said and shook her head. “Alice and I were planning on watching TV and talking. If you guys want to stay, you can just watch TV with us.”
“Do we have to?” Aiden made a face and looked at me. “I had much more exciting plans for us.”
“They will have to wait,” I said and grinned at Liv. “We had a girls’ night planned. If you guys want to stay, you’ll just have to participate.”
“What does that mean?” Xander asked.
“It means I’m painting your nails.” Liv grabbed his hands. “You can choose the color.”
“Ugh.” Xander groaned, but he was still smiling. “I’m going to need a beer—or ten.”
“Coming right up,” I said and pulled away from Aiden. “Do you want anything?”
“Besides you in the bed right now?” he said softly as he whispered in my ear.
“Aiden,” I groaned as he caressed my back. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“Besides your juices as you come in my mouth?” he whispered again, and my face grew bright red.
“Aiden!” I slapped his shoulder. “Go into the living room with Xander now.”
“Yes, Aiden.” Liv pointed her finger at her brother. “You’d better behave.”
“Or what?” he retorted back.
“Or I’m going to show you what happens to boys who don’t behave.” I grabbed the top of his shirt and pulled him towards me. “I bought a paddle online and it arrived while we were gone.”
“A paddle, huh?” His eyes sparkled down at me.
“Yes, a paddle.” I pulled him even closer to me. “And I’m not afraid to use it.”
“I hope you’re not afraid to feel it as well,” he said softly. “‘Cause my hand is itching to give you a good spanking right now.”
“Oh yeah?” I said and then whispered against his lips, “I think I’ll have to make sure that doesn’t happen, then. I think tonight I’ll handcuff you to the bed.”
“Oh yeah?” he said and tugged on my lower lip.
“I’m going to tease you until you beg me to take you.” I licked his lower lip and he groaned.
“What if I beg you right now?” he said and pulled me into him so that I could feel his hardness against my stomach. “What if I begged you to take me right now?”
“It wouldn’t matter.” I gave him a quick kiss and pulled away from him. “I’m the one in charge right now. We’ll go to bed when I say.” I watched his jaw drop open in surprise, and I grinned as I walked back down the corridor to the living room while swaying my hips. I looked behind me as I got to the living room door and I saw Aiden just standing there, looking at me with narrowed eyes and a huge grin on his face. I walked into the living room feeling warm and excited. This truly was the beginning of something wonderful and adventurous between us.
Chapter Seventeen
Waiting Is Part of the Fun
“No Monopoly tonight,” Liv said as we all sat around her parents’ dining room table. She spoke directly to Aiden and he made a face at her.
“Fine,” he said as he held my hand under the table. “What do you want to play, then?”
“I don’t care,” she said and then looked at Elizabeth. “What do you want to play?”
“Who, me?” Elizabeth blushed. “I’m just happy to be here. I’m surprised I was invited.” She looked at me. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me being here.”
“Oh, I’m fine.” I laughed. “You were a great actress, but you were always nice. I’m glad you’re here. Liv and I need another girl in the group.”
“Aww, thanks. I’m so happy to be here.” She smiled at me and then at Liv. “I’m so glad to make some new friends in town.”
“Oh, I thought you made friends quite easily,” Scott said with a weird look on his face.
“I’m glad I gave you that impression,” she responded with a tight look on her face.
“I think we all got that impression, didn’t we?” Scott looked around the table, and I could see that he looked slightly annoyed. Liv and I gave each other a look and I was dying to talk to her about the weirdness between them. What was going on there?
“I’d be happy to show you around town,” Henry said from his seat next to Scott. His green eyes looked friendly as he smiled at her and he was clearly oblivious to the tension in the room. Typical man!
“Oh, thanks.” She smiled back. “I’d like that.”
“I’m sure you would,” Scott said and then chugged his beer down. “So what are we going play, then?”
“I think we should play whatever Liv and Xander want to play,” I said. “This is their game night.”
“Yeah. I agree,” Chett said and jumped up. “Sorry, guys, but I just realized that there’s a NASCAR race on. I’m going to check it out. I think Mom and Dad have gone to bed, so I can change the channel.”
“Chett!” Liv said and laughed. “Fine, go and watch your car racing.”
“Hey, at least I came.” He grinned. “Gabby didn’t even show up.”
“That’s not a shock.” Liv laughed and Xander wiped his forehead.
“I can’t say I’m complaining.” He made a face. “I’ve had enough awkward with Gabby to last the rest of my life.”
“I know!” Liv clapped her hands. “Let’s play truth or dare.”
“Okay.” Aiden nodded and sat back. “Is everyone in?”
“Yes,” Liv, Xander, Scott, Henry, Elizabeth and I all said in chorus.
“Okay,” Liv said. “Let’s go in a circle. I’ll start the questions and Elizabeth will be first up, then we’ll just go round, okay?”
“Okay.” We all nodded.
“Okay, truth or dare?” she asked Elizabeth.
“Truth,” she said with a smile and made a face. “I hope I don’t regret this.”
“Why did you take the fake-girlfriend job?” Liv asked and I was surprised by her question, though I had wondered myself.
“Because I needed the money.” Elizabeth looked at me. “I’d lost my job, and this was the first offer I’d got and I needed to pay rent. Plus, Aiden didn’t seem sleazy, and when he explained to me that he was trying to see if the girl he loved really cared about him or was just playing games, I kinda felt for him. And then I met Alice, and I knew that they were perfect for each other.” She smiled at me. “I have to admit I felt bad, especially when I had those cuff marks on my wrists. I thought it was going too far, but I think Aiden got a bit carried away.”
“I did.” He nodded and kissed me on the cheek. “I wanted to see how far I could push you. I’m sorry. I just wanted to see what you’d do. I kinda liked seeing you jealous.”
“Aiden!” I hit him in the shoulder. “You’re awful.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Guys.” Liv grinned at us. “This is Elizabeth’s time. You guys will have your chance later.”
“Sorry.” I grinned back at her.
“So do you have a job now?” Liv asked Elizabeth and she shook her head.
“Not yet.” She sighed. “I’m still looking.”
“Maybe I can help,” Scott interjected. “I’m looking for some help.”
“Oh, really?” Elizabeth looked at him, her expression unsure.
“Yeah, we’ll talk later.” He nodded.
“Okay,” she said, and Liv looked at me with a huge grin. The game continued on for a few rounds and almost all of us chose dares instead of truth. It was crazy when Xander dared Henry to kiss Elizabeth. I wasn’t sure what he was playing at, but if looks could kill, Scott would have killed both Xander and Henry.
“Okay, you’re up, Aiden,” Liv said. “Truth or dare.”
“Truth,” he said simply, and Liv looked thoughtful for a while before speaking.
“When did you realize you had a thing for Alice?” she asked softly, and my heart thudded as I stared at him. This was something I’d been wondering as well and I loved her for knowing to ask him.
“Aww.” He grinned and looked at me. “I should have known this was coming.”
“Answer, please.” I grinned back at him.
“I first knew I was falling for Alice many summers ago,” he said and held my hands to his heart. “It was the summer after I’d graduated from college. I was in the kitchen with Mom, and you came sailing through the doors like sunshine and rainbows and you gave me a huge smile and my breath was just taken away. I remember standing there and staring at you and thinking that you’d blossomed into a beautiful, beautiful girl.”