Free Brutal Discoveries by Kasey Millstead

mouth.
    I told him about Veronica and her flyers, about my desire to give back since I had a great life, which then segued into me telling him about my parents and childhood. 
    “What about you, your childhood?” I asked.
    “Dad died when I was two, work accident.  He had life insurance policies and his employer paid mom a lump sum, but still she worked in our neighborhood, doing odd gardening jobs and some cleaning.  She still lives in the same house. My older sister lives next door with her husband and kids.”
    “I’m sorry about your dad,” I whispered.
    “Long time ago, baby,” he replied softly.
    I smiled.  “I always wanted a sister or brother, but my parents just had me.”
    “Danni’s older than me by a year, she’s married to Hank and they’ve got three kids, lives next door to mom.  Georgia’s younger than me, she was just two months old when dad died.  She’s in Texas with her boyfriend, Mitch.”
    “Wow, your mom must’ve had her hands full.”
    He nods and grins.  “She handled it.  She’s a good woman.”
    We chatted throughout the appetizers and our main courses, and during that time, Aden consumed two beers before switching to water, but I was feeling loose, so I had just finished off the last of my fourth pina colada when the waitress cleared our table.
    “I need the bathroom.  Be back,” I informed him as I stood and felt the effects of the alcohol hit my system.  I gripped the table for balance, took a deep breath, and flashed him what I hoped was a sexy smile.  Then I made my way to the restrooms.  The alcohol filtering through my system had given my cheeks a glow, and with a belly full of delicious food, I was enjoying the buzz.  I wasn’t drunk, but I’d had just the right amount to bring me to the crossroads of alcohol consumption.  I could either stop drinking now and continue to revel in the sweet bliss of the buzz , or I could order another drink which would tip me over into sloshed , which would, in turn, mean I’d wake up in the morning with a killer hangover.  No thanks .
    I made my way back to the table to find Aden had paid for our meal.
    “You good?”
    “Yep,” I answered truthfully with a grin.
    “Ready to go?”
    “Sure.”
    The ride home was a little quicker, given the traffic had eased somewhat.  When Aden pulled the Camaro to a purring stop by the curb out front of my townhouse, I debated asking him in.  Those four pina coladas gave me a boldness I rarely possessed, and having him so close to me for the past couple of hours, plus knowing exactly how those soft lips felt as they melded with mine, had bolstered my courage.
    “Do you –” I started at the same time he spoke.
    “I had a great… sorry, sweetheart, you go first,” he offered.
    “I was just going to…” I swallowed the ball of nervousness that was sliding up my throat.  “Do you want to come in?”
    “Fuck, it kills me to say, baby, but I got an early shift in the morning,” he told me.  The regret visible on his face had me instantly believing him.
    “That’s okay,” I rushed out.  “I have to be at the bakery early anyhow,” I added softly.
    “I’ll stop by after my shift for a coffee.  Maybe we can make out in your office,” he suggested with a wink and a ripple of his dark eyebrows.
    “Sounds good to me,” I agreed.
    He reached across to cup the back of my neck with his palm and bring me closer to him until our lips met in the middle.  I sighed into his mouth and his tongue took advantage, sweeping inside and then back out again so he could seductively suck my plump bottom lip.
    “Mmm, Aden,” I moaned hoarsely.  The delicious torture he was inflicting on my mouth had my nipples straining against my bra and an appealing ache stirring between my thighs.  As he deepened the kiss, my hands went to his head, and I felt the rough stubble of his black hair scraping against my palms.
    He pulled back and my eyes slowly opened to find his molten depths