I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
I knew this wasn’t the time, but seeing Aaron getting scolded by his mom? The whole scene was unexpectedly hilarious:
Aaron, to my surprise, didn’t look the least bit guilty. Instead, he replied calmly, “She’s really shy. I didn’t want to rush things.”
“Shy? Oh, come on!” I thought, nearly choked on my own disbelief.
This was getting more ridiculous by the second.
1/2
Chapter 14
+25 BONUS
Aaron’s mother didn’t linger long. After exchanging a few words with Aaron and offering me another kind smile, she said her goodbyes and left.
Aaron rubbed his temples and sank onto the seat beside me looking like he’d been through the wringer.
The faint shadows under his eyes and the clear exhaustion in his expression made me bite back the teasing comment I’d had on the tip of my tongue.
“Uh, Aaron, did you just finish a meeting?”
He took a sip of water, his voice slightly hoarse. “Yeah. We were going over the project.”
As a tech nerd, I was completely out of my depth when it came to corporate projects, so I fumbled for something to say. “Is… is it going well?”
Aaron closed his eyes and gave a small nod, his head tilting slightly, as though he might drift off right there.
It suddenly hit me–before the New Year, he’d been pulling late hours, and even when I was on vacation after the holiday, I’d heard he was still working overtime.
He must be completely burned out.
Just as I was processing that thought, something heavy leaned against my right shoulder.
M
I jolted and turned my head, only to find Aaron resting against me, eyes closed, breathing soft and steady.
His eyelashes fluttered faintly, and that small mole just below the corner of his eye stood out against his pale skin, adding an unexpectedly sensual touch.
His lips parted slightly, and judging by the look on his face, he was already deep in sleep.
I stared at him for a moment, completely frozen.
But then-
“Dear lord, your head is really heavy, and my shoulder’s about to go numb,” I thought. “Alright, fine. I’ll let this slide. It’s my fault you’re in this situation. I won’t hold it against you.”
But I hadn’t expected Aaron to take it a step further.
Slowly, his weight pressed more heavily against me until he was completely leaning in. His soft, steady breaths grazed my neck, sending a faint tickle across my skin and an involuntary shiver down my spine.
“Uh, Aaron? Could you maybe…”
Half–asleep, he murmured softly, “Mmm, just let me rest for a bit. Wake me up in ten minutes.
I tilted my head back with an imaginary tear sliding down my cheek.
“But this is my lunch break too! I’m tired, okay?” I wanted to argue, but the words stayed stuck in my throat.
The sofa in Aaron’s office was ridiculously soft, ridiculously comfortable, and–most importantly–ridiculously spacious.
My eyelids grew heavy as I tried to fight it, but it was hopeless.
Before I knew it, darkness pulled me under, and I drifted off to sleep.
