That's a first. Any other guy would be pushing me to have sex. I know Aiden wants it, but he's willing to wait, and maybe we should. He just broke up with Celine and I just broke up with Tanner. It seems too soon to take that next step.
"I'd like that," I say, looking up at him.
"What?"
"You holding me in your arms." I turn to him. "As much as I want to do more, I don't know if now is the right time. Are you really okay with us waiting?"
"Of course." He turns me so I'm sitting sideways on his lap. "Sophie, I need you to understand this isn't like relationships I've had in the past. Our relationship is so much deeper than just a physical attraction. It's why I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. And why I had to drive up here and tell you how I feel. Of course I want to be intimate with you but it doesn't have to be tonight, or next weekend, or some arbitrary date in the future. Right now all that matters to me is getting more time with you. Getting to know you more. The other stuff can wait until you're ready."
"I'm ready now but I don't think it's a good idea. You just got out of a serious relationship. I don't want to rush into doing this and then regret it."
"Trust me, I wouldn't regret it," he says with smile. "But I understand where you're coming from, and I have no problem waiting."
I get up from his lap. "So what do you want to do?"
"We could watch a movie."
"There's no TV."
"We could watch one on my iPad."
"Maybe we could just go to sleep. It's been a long day."
He gets up and goes over to the chair in the corner where his leather duffle bag is sitting and pulls out a pair of navy blue pajama pants. "It's hard to believe this place doesn't have a TV or wifi and yet people still want to stay here."
"I personally love that they don't have that stuff. It's like going back to a simpler time when people weren't attached to their phones."
He starts to lift up his sweater, then stops. "You mind if I change?"
"Go ahead. You want me to give you some privacy?"
He chuckles. "You're fine. We're dating now. That means you're allowed to see me without clothes."
"Are we? Dating?"
"Well, yeah, I thought that was clear." He takes off his sweater but not the t-shirt underneath.
"I guess it is, but when we're the only ones who know that we're dating, it doesn't feel official."
He walks over to me. "We're dating. It doesn't matter if other people know." He leans down and kisses me, just a quick one but it still stirs something in me. "You want to go get something to sleep in?"
"Yeah. I'll be right back."
I go in my room and straight to the bathroom to take off my makeup. For a moment I consider leaving it on, knowing how plain I look without it. But I doubt Aiden would even notice. He doesn't care if my eyelashes are thin or my cheeks are pale. I know because I wasn't wearing makeup that day we went hiking and yet he looked at me like I was the most beautiful girl in the world.
I return to his room with the t-shirt I brought to sleep in. "Can I use your bathroom to change?"
"Yes, but you don't have to hide in the bathroom." Aiden's stretched out on the bed, his long legs extended, his muscular arms folded behind his head. He's even handsome in pajamas. I can't believe he's mine. I've dated guys who are smart or good-looking or funny, but not all three. Aiden is all that and more.
"I'm not sure I want you seeing me naked yet."
"Then go ahead. Bathroom's yours. But if you think about it, what I did to you a few minutes ago was more intimate than me seeing you naked."
I feel my face getting warm. "I guess that's true." I hold up the shirt. "This is all I brought to sleep in."
His brows rise. "And why is that a problem?"
"It's not, except that I'll be kind of exposed."
What is wrong with me? I sound like a naive teenager. I'm a grown woman. I could sleep naked if I wanted to. I think I only made that comment because I don't trust myself. Being in bed wearing only a t-shirt and panties is going to tempt me to do more with Aiden. At least he's wearing pants.
Aiden chuckles. "It doesn't quite work that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Having your legs exposed doesn't mean we're having sex. We have to actually decide to do it. I admit it's more tempting when clothes aren't in the way, but I have a good amount of self-control." He pauses. "Or is this about you?"
"Me? No." I shake my head, even though it is most definitely about me. I totally trust Aiden not to try anything. Me? Not so much.
Aiden checks his phone. "What time do you need to be there tomorrow?"
"Eight, but check-in is at seven forty-five." I turn away from Aiden and take off my shirt and bra. I slip on the oversized t-shirt, then quickly yank off my leggings. I'm wearing plain, boring, cotton underwear. If I'd known Aiden was going to show up this weekend, I would've worn something sexy with lace.
"It's a good look on you," Aiden says as I turn around. His flirty tone and sexy smile are making me want to do so much more than sleep. But I really think we should wait, at least another week.
I go over to the bed as Aiden gets up from it, pulling the covers back. "Any particular side?"
"Either one is fine. How about you?"
"Same. I
