Color drained from Jillian’s face. “Who told her?”
“I ran into her when I was headed to the barn and she asked where I was headed. I told her the truth.”
At the accusation in her expression, he placed his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. “Had I told her I was going someplace else and she discovered differently, Jillian, she would have wondered why I had lied.”
Jillian nodded slowly upon realizing what he said made sense. “What did she say about it?”
“Nothing. In fact I don’t think she thought much about it at all. However, she did say she was glad you were about to start medical school and she would appreciate any advice I could give you.”
Jillian swallowed tightly. He’d given her more than advice. Thanks to him, she had experienced her first orgasm today. “Okay, we’ll ride back together. I’ll just wait outside.”
She quickly walked out the door. He’d claimed what they’d done today would get them out of each other’s systems. She definitely hoped so.
* * *
When the door closed behind Jillian, Aidan rubbed a hand down his face in frustration. He couldn’t leave Denver soon enough. The best thing to do was put as much distance between him and Jillian as possible. She felt uncomfortable with the situation and now he was beginning to feel the same. However, his uneasiness had nothing to do with Dillon and Pam finding out what they’d been up to, and everything to do with his intense attraction to Jillian.
Even now he wanted to go outside, throw her over his shoulders and bring her back inside. He wanted to kiss her into submission and taste her some more before making nonstop love to her. How crazy was that?
He’d never felt this much desire for any woman, and knowing she was off-limits only seemed to heighten his desire for her. And now that he’d gotten an intimate taste of her, getting her out of his system might not be as easy as he’d claimed earlier. Her taste hadn’t just electrified his taste buds, it had done something to him that was unheard of—he was no longer lingering on the edge of wanting to make love to her but had fallen off big-time.
Every time his tongue explored her mouth, his emotions heated up and began smoldering. And when he lapped her up, he was tempted to do other things to her, as well. Things he doubted she was ready for.
Drawing in a deep breath, he straightened up the bedcovers before heading for the door. Upon stepping outside, he breathed in deeply to calm his racing heart. She stood there stroking his horse and a part of him wished she would stroke him the same way. He got hard just imagining such a thing.
He didn’t say anything for a long moment. He just stood there watching her. When his erection pressed uncomfortably against his zipper, he finally spoke up. “I’m ready to ride.”
She glanced over at him and actually smiled when she said, “You have a beautiful horse, Aidan.”
“Thanks,” he said, walking down the steps. “Charger is a fourth-generation Westmoreland stallion.”
She turned to stroke the horse again and didn’t look up when he came to stand next to her. “I’ve heard all about Charger. I was warned by Dillon to never try to ride him because only a few people could. It’s obvious you’re one of those people.”
Aidan nodded. “Yes, Charger and I have an understanding.”
She stopped stroking Charger to look at him. “What about you and me, Aidan? Do we have an understanding?”
He met her gaze, not sure how he should answer that. Just when he thought he had everything figured out about them, something would happen to make his brains turn to mush. “I assume you’re referring to the incidents that have taken place between us over the past two days.”
“I am.”
“Then, yes, we have an understanding. After today, no more kissing, no more touching—”
“Or tasting,” she interjected.
Saying he would never again taste her was a hard one, but for her peace of mind and for his own, he would say it. “Yes, tasting.”
“Good. We’re in agreement.”
He wouldn’t exactly say that, but for now he would hold his tongue—that same tongue that enjoyed dueling with hers. “I guess we need to head back.”
“Okay, and I don’t need your help mounting my horse.”
In other words, she didn’t want him to touch her. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
He nodded and then watched her move away from his horse to get on hers. As usual, it was a total turn-on watching her. “I want to thank you, Aidan.”
He took his gaze away from the sight of her legs straddling the horse to look into her face. “Thank me for what?”
“For introducing me to a few things during this visit home.”
For some reason that made him smile. “It was my pleasure.” And he meant every word.
“You're still not going home, Jillian?”
Jillian looked up from eating her breakfast to see her roommate, Ivy Rollins. They had met in her sophomore year when Jillian knew she didn’t want to live in the dorm any longer. She had wanted an apartment off campus and someone to share the cost with her. Ivy, who had plans to attend law school, had answered the ad Jillian placed in the campus newspaper. They’d hit it off the first time they’d met and had been the best of friends since. Jillian couldn’t ask for a better roommate.
“I was home last month,” she reminded Ivy.
“Yes, but that was a couple of days for your birthday. Next week is spring break.”
Jillian didn’t want to be reminded. Pam had called yesterday to see if Jillian would be coming home since Nadia had made plans to do so. Paige, who was attending UCLA, had gotten a small part in a play on campus and needed to remain in Los Angeles. Guilt was still riding Jillian over what she and Aidan had done. She hated deceiving her sister about anything. “I explained to Pam that I need to start studying for the MCAT. She understood.”
“I hate leaving you, but—”
“But you will,” Jillian said, smiling. “And that’s fine. I know how homesick you get.” That was an understatement. Ivy’s family lived in Oregon. Her parents, both chefs, owned a huge restaurant there. Her two older brothers were chefs as well and assisted her parents. Ivy had decided on a different profession than her parents and siblings, but she loved going home every chance she got to help out.
“Yes, I will,” Ivy said, returning her smile. “In fact I leave in two days. Sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine. I’ve got enough to keep me busy since I’m sitting for the MCAT in two months. And I need to start working on my essays.”
“It’s a bummer you’ll be doing something other than enjoying yourself next week,” Ivy said.
“It’s okay. Getting into medical school is the most important thing to me right now.”
A few hours later Jillian sat at the computer desk in her bedroom searching the internet. She had tossed around the idea of joining a study group for the MCAT and there appeared to be several. Normally, she preferred studying solo but for some reason she couldn’t concentrate. She pushed away from the computer and leaned back in her chair knowing the reason.
Aidan.
It had been a little over a month since she’d gone home