He looks at me with amusement. “You’re my clumsy girl.” He laughs, planting another kiss on me.
“I’m not that clumsy. Plus, I’m not fragile, you don’t always have to protect me.” I don’t want to tell him I love how protective he is.
He pulls me close and whispers in my ear. “You will never be unprotected. I don’t give a fuck if I die. I’ll find you and protect you beyond this world.”
I bite my lip, looking up at him with admiration. How can he care so much for me? I want to wrap my arms around him, but I refrain out of respect for Ashley. I look over to see her gaping at us. “What?”
She shakes her head and laughs, grabbing Ricky’s hand. “I just never imagined Aiden being so gentle with anyone.”
Aiden throws a handful of sand in her direction.
She dodges it by throwing a blanket up. “Nice try loser.” She sticks her tongue out.
I laugh.
Ricky clears his throat. “So, the bar–”
Aiden cuts him off with a hand and smile. “No work talk. We’re here for the girls. You too, Ricky, you deserve a vacation. You’re a hard worker and I’m thankful for you.” Aiden stiffens as though surprised by his own words.
Ricky beams, grateful to have the support and recognition. “Thanks, man.”
Aiden opens a beer for me, and I take a sip. I don’t care for the taste but after a few, it grows on me. With a nice buzz, I sit by Ashley on the blanket. I had to pull myself from Aiden’s grip, but once I tickled him in front of Ricky and Ash, he practically pushed me to her. So serious in front of other people, but I like it. He’s only playful with me.
Her eyes are a little glazed like mine. We laugh as the guys tackle each other on the dark sand. All is perfect. The four of us here, enjoying life. The threat of everything is back at home. Security lurks in the shadows, but I try and forget why they’re here.
“I never tell you enough how much you mean to me.” I tell Ashley with as much seriousness as my tipsy voice will allow.
“Aww, Em! I love you so much!” She wraps me in a tight drunken hug.
We watch Aiden take Ricky down for the fifth time. Aiden doesn’t tire, but Ricky does. We try to warn them of their injuries, but they ignore us.
After a few hours of us talking about life and our plans for the week, Aiden tosses me over his shoulder and carries me caveman style to the room.
I playfully hit him, but he doesn’t feel it. “Put me down, caveman!” I yell drunkenly.
Ashley laughs behind us as they stumble in the sand back towards the house.
He pounds his chest with one hand. “You. Woman. Me. Man.” He jokes in a deep voice.
That night, I drift off into sleep with a peaceful trance that I haven’t felt in a while.
Happy. Secure. Safe. All in Aiden’s arms.
∞∞∞
The next days are spent in bliss as we jet ski along the coastline and eat local food from the seafood market. All I wanted was a nice, normal date with Aiden. Look at what he’s done for me.
How did I get so lucky?
All the negatives aside, my life has changed for the better since he’s come into my life. I was a shell, a naive girl who didn’t know herself. I’m still learning, but he’s taught me my worth and showed me confidence. He’s brought back my drive to follow my passions. Yes, he’s protective. Yes, he’s possessive of me but that’s what I want and need in a man. Especially someone as powerful as him, as sweet as him, as sexy as him.
Aiden and I walk hand in hand down the busy streets of Brazil where the locals have set up booths along the cobblestone streets. I stumble over a smooth, protruding rock at the same moment as a girl bumps into me. Aiden peers at us critically from where the girl and I lay in a heap on the ground, our legs tangled.
She apologizes profusely as I shake my head, laughing at our equal clumsiness.
“It’s totally fine!”
Thankful she speaks English because I don’t speak a lick of Portuguese.
Aiden relaxes and laughs.
As the couple walks away, I hear her boyfriend laugh as he guides her through the crowded pathway. “Scar, be careful!” He jokes, helping to adjust her dress.
I spot a yellow dress at one of the colorful booths. It looks to be handstitched, made with talented hands. Aiden follows my admiring gaze and asks the woman at the counter for one in my size. I want to argue about spending more money on me.
He looks at the dress and whispers, “That would look fucking amazing on you.” His fingers graze my bare shoulders.
Even in the hot Brazilian sun, chills wreck my body.
We head to a zipline park after. My terror grows as we rise above the tall trees of the Amazon Rainforest. I had been confident, but while standing at the edge as a man buckled me into a harness tight, I got nervous.
Aiden stepped up possessively and double-checked his work. When Howard came around and checked it a third time, I rolled my eyes.
“Guys! I’m not going to fly out,” I joke.
Aiden crosses his arms in warning before smiling when the man releases the rope.
I scream as I race down and over the treetops, going way too fast. I manage to calm myself after a few minutes to enjoy the view. The lush forest beneath me, and the sounds of animals. The skyline dominated everything. It was unreal.
I grin as Ashley lands on the platform after me. Her normally perfect hair is a tangled mess, which I braided for her while waiting for the guys. Aiden and Ricky are full of adrenaline after the zip line. I don’t blame them. It was exhilarating but I’m exhausted and hungry after a long day of
