Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3)

by Alexandra Richland

  Beth’s legs came around his waist and her back met the wall between two open, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. Amidst a mild summer breeze and a spotlight courtesy of the moon, Aidan positioned himself between her thighs. She gripped his shoulders and deepened their kiss, hanging on to him with everything she had, as the sheer curtains rippled and billowed like sails on a ship, enveloping them in white satin. He possessed her mind and soul wholeheartedly. There would never be enough of this—of his words, his kisses, his caresses, his—

  With a grunt, Aidan entered her. Beth threw her head back and squeezed her eyes shut. Her grasp on him tightened as he rocked his hips in a dedicated rhythm…again and again and again and again and—oh, the sensations, the desire he ignited in her…it was all so mad, so consuming. Needy, gentle, passionate, this was the moonlight serenade of a man in love.

  “Baby, you mean everything to me.” He thrust again, filling her completely.

  “Oh, Aidan!”

  And again.

  “Baby…

  And again and again…

  “Baby…baby…”

  Aidan carried her across the room and set her down on the mattress, which lay on the floor because their new bed didn’t arrive until tomorrow. Beth reached for her diaphragm on the nightstand and inserted it with ease. Her lips parted on a sigh as Aidan traced his finger down her throat and circled her breasts. Then he was on top of her, panting, sweaty, and perfect, and their bodies reconnected.

  Cushioned by crumpled cotton sheets and pillows without slipcovers, Aidan pressed his mouth to the center of her chest and dragged sideways to capture her nipple between his teeth. With a tug from his lips, Beth’s control slipped. She moaned and tangled her hands in his hair as he moved inside her, deeply and powerfully connecting them beyond their physical position.

  Showering her with reverent kisses, Aidan grabbed her hands and entwined their fingers. Palm to palm, he placed their linked hands beside her head on the pillow, and they came together faster, pushing and pulling, searching for the soul-connecting release they both desperately needed.

  Beth felt pressure building. One more grind of his hips caused her to gasp and arch against him. Her orgasm arrived with earth-shattering intensity, bringing with it an explosion of starlight behind her closed eyelids and a feeling of floating, of weightlessness.

  Aidan held her tight while he threw himself into her once, twice, before he tensed and came undone, too. They cried out each other’s names. The tremors that blasted from their bodies seemed to shake the entire apartment.

  They drifted back down together, their labored breaths calming and their racing hearts slowing. Then Aidan settled next to her on the mattress and pulled her close. When Beth rested her hand on his chest, her engagement ring caught the moonlight.

  He lifted her hand and kissed the diamond. “I love you, little dove.”

  “I love you, too.” Beth exchanged smiles with him, followed by kisses and caresses that continued well into the morning.

  Although they still had a lot to unpack, their penthouse didn’t feel bare at all. Because even after they painted, wallpapered, and filled every room with furniture, the greatest asset to their apartment would always be their devotion to each other and the opportunity to cultivate their relationship without boundaries. For even the most opulent fixtures could not compete with love’s ability to truly make a house a home.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to unify this man and this woman in holy matrimony before God, this church, and all of you, the couple’s distinguished guests.”

  Aidan stood across from Beth with the largest grin on his face. They had rehearsed the service, but now that it was official, the additional weight attached to the priest’s words—the significance, the sanctity—really sunk in.

  When Aidan initially entered the church, he was concerned he didn’t belong. However, united through his friends and fiancée, he believed in his goodness and his right to be here today, even when the ceremony wasn’t focused on him at all.

  “Matthew Bartholomew McKenna, do you take Constance Annette Murphy to be your wife? Do you promise to be true to her in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love her and honor her all the days of your life?”

  Matthew nodded. “I do.”

  “Constance Annette Murphy, do you take Matthew Bartholomew McKenna to be your husband? Do you promise to be true to him in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love him and honor him all the days of your life?”

  Connie’s eyes glistened with tears. “I do.”

  The priest acknowledged their declared consent to be married, and then Aidan and Nathan—as Best Men—handed over the rings to be blessed.

  Matthew slipped Connie’s ring on her left hand. “My dearest Constance, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  Connie secured his ring on his finger. “Matthew, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

  Aidan’s gaze wandered to Beth. Blanketed by stained-glass-filtered sunlight, she looked resplendent in her dark blue dress and upswept hair. One day soon, this would be their reality. For so long, acting was the only thing that defined him. Now there was no greater role than that of her husband.

  When Aidan traveled to Clarkson to ask for her parents’ permission, his nervousness rivaled his guilt over withholding the truth from her. His first meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Bates had been shaky, to put it mildly. Now he was showing up at their door unannounced, hoping they would recognize his honorable intentions and accept him as their son-in-law.

  His feelings for Beth ultimately prompted him to open his heart. Surprisingly, Mr. Bates gave his blessing and even apologized for his abrasiveness during their initial encounter. Mr. and Mrs. Bates told Aidan they appreciated his candidness about his past. They also believed him when he promised that his family values were very much intact, even though he was estranged from his father, and he would cherish Beth and commit everything he had to their marriage. Then Mrs. Bates prepared dinner, and the three of them enjoyed casual conversation well into the evening.

  Matthew and Connie scaled down today’s affair considerably from the circus they had planned in partnership with Starlight Studios, despite continued pressure from various publications to turn their nuptials into a grand spectacle. Only their close friends and family were present.

  Matthew and Connie signed the Declaration of Marriage, and then the priest recited a prayer. Connie had chosen a Catholic ceremony because she had been baptized Catholic, attended church regularly while growing up, and desired to reconnect with her religious roots after abandoning them upon her move to L.A. While she found her religion in the Catholic Church, Aidan found his in Beth. Love often made people believe in a higher power, but in his case, there was nothing greater than what he felt for his fiancée.

  “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The priest made the sign of the cross along with everyone else. ”What God has joined, man must not divide. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. McKenna, you may kiss your bride.”

  Matthew lifted Connie’s veil and brushed his lips to hers. The room erupted into cheers, and the organist commenced a tune. As the newlyweds rushed down the aisle, Aidan focused on Beth again. She fastened a dazzling smile back at him.

  Behind Nathan and Olivia, he escorted her out of the church amongst the photographers hired to record the event. It was the ideal weather for a wedding—sunny and warm, complete with a bright blue sky and a temperate breeze. Reporters and spectators lined the quaint Southampton street, peacefully minded by local police. Society papers as well as notable trade publications reported on the wedding for weeks, in spite of Matthew and Connie’s efforts to keep it secret. The crowd was respectful, though. They tossed rice and cheered as the bride and groom walked to
the limousine, which was decorated for the occasion with roses and a Just Married sign mounted on the trunk. Aidan and Beth were showered with rice, too, as they made their way to their chauffeured Bentley.

  As the car pulled away from the church, Beth pressed her head back against the headrest and sighed. “That was such a lovely ceremony.”

  “Yeah, it was.” Aidan removed grains of rice from her hair, admiring her pink cheeks and thoughtful smile. Unable to resist, he brought their lips together. He didn’t care if their driver was getting a show. He’d wanted to kiss her properly all day, and in the quietest moment they’d had in hours, nothing was going to stop him.

  When they arrived at their destination, even Aidan was impressed with the reception hall’s décor. There were no indications that Matthew and Connie had arranged everything on a modest budget, especially the head table, which was decorated with a three-tiered wedding cake, bottles of champagne, and elaborate flower arrangements.

  Aidan and Beth sat at a table with Nathan and Olivia, Matthew’s agent, Mervin Lewis, and his wife, Lorraine. Traditionally, the wedding party occupied the head table with the bride and groom, but this alternative arrangement allowed Connie and Matthew’s parents to sit there instead and spend time with their children. A quartet played pleasant music, waiters served appetizers, and photographers made the rounds. Aidan wasn’t one for small talk, but with everything going on, he wasn’t tied up with the same people for long. He and Beth exchanged words with Matthew and Connie, too, but overall, left them to their other guests, whom they didn’t see regularly.

  Matthew serenaded his new bride, and they shared their first dance as husband and wife. Connie threw the bouquet, which her sister caught, and then she danced with her father. When they were done, Matthew waltzed with his mother, sweeping her across all corners of the dance floor while photographers captured the moment.

  Aidan watched them with a foreign sense of calm. He would never dance with his mother at his wedding—in fact, he would have no family in the traditional sense present when he married Beth next year. Six months ago, that would’ve destroyed him. He really had come a long way, hadn’t he?

  Following dinner, Connie and Matthew cut the cake and guests of honor were due to give toasts. Matthew had spoken at Nathan and Olivia’s post-wedding meal at Tavern on the Green, and Nathan would speak at Aidan and Beth’s wedding. Therefore, at this soiree, Aidan would say a few words. Initially, improvisation seemed like a good idea, as he was famous for in his profession, but now he wished he’d written something down.

  Connie’s mother was the first speaker. Alice Johnson looked a lot like her daughter—voluptuous, platinum blonde, and elegant. She declared how proud she was of Connie and how happy she was to have Matthew join the family. Given all Connie had been through to finally be free from Mr. Mertz’s control, Aidan could tell her mother’s praise meant a lot to her.

  Before long, it was his turn. He claimed the podium next to the head table and acknowledged Matthew and Connie with a nod before casting his gaze to the audience.

  “I first met Matthew at The Brown Derby just over a year ago through our mutual friend, Nathan Taggart, at a time when I was really wary of the whole Hollywood scene and yet on the cusp of superstardom. Matthew demonstrated with great poise how to deal with fame and take this peculiar life we lead in stride by focusing on the good even in not-so-good times.”

  Aidan wrung his hands to keep from raking them through his hair. Somehow, the words came to him without hesitation. Maybe following his heart like he’d done when communicating with Beth’s parents really did inspire articulacy, after all.

  “Matt became not only a mentor to me, but also a dear friend. He was there for me when I landed myself in the hospital, tossing out jokes to lighten the mood, yet treating his duty as my self-proclaimed brother with seriousness, love, and enthusiasm. Without a doubt, I’m a better guy for having met him.

  “Now, Constance…” A grin formed on Aidan’s lips. “She and I didn’t exactly start off on the right foot, but I think she’s a swell broad and, well, I didn’t know Matt before he met her, but I see the way he is when they’re together, and she really brings out the best in him. Connie has proven time and time again that she’s a special, strong woman, and I’m really glad to know her, too.”

  Aidan looked toward the back wall, hoping to better his chances of reining in his emotions. Opening up in front of the camera or onstage was cathartic. In other circumstances, it was downright nerve wracking.

  “These last few months have been difficult. The six of us—Beth, Connie, Matthew, Nate, Olivia, and I—left L.A. when everything was one heck of a mess at the studio, and we stuck together through it all. I know I speak for the other three when I say, if not for Matt and Connie’s support, we wouldn’t have recovered as well as we did.

  “The magazines declare them an attractive couple, the epitome of Hollywood glamour, and that’s true. But a side of them that’s often overlooked is that Matthew and Connie exemplify the essence of generosity and true friendship. It’s a great honor for me to stand up here today and speak on behalf of a room full of people who hold them so near and dear to their hearts.” Aidan pitched his grin at the newlyweds. “I wish you both the very best of everything, including a long, fruitful marriage filled with happiness and love.”

  Amongst polite applause, he walked back to his table and sat down.

  Beth welcomed him with a smile. “That was wonderful.”

  Aidan shrugged in an effort to convey indifference. Honestly, he worried he hadn’t done the couple justice. “Thanks. It’s hard for me to, you know…”

  She took his hand and squeezed. “It was perfect.”

  Aidan squeezed back. He valued her unconditional support more than he could ever express verbally. Even though they had been seeing an analyst, he believed Beth was the most integral part of his transformation. Without her, he’d be no better off than he was before he came to Hollywood—a lonely pessimist, hiding out in a dark apartment, leaving only for work, a shell of a man without genuine human connections or a true purpose in life.

  When the quartet resumed playing, Aidan asked Beth to dance. Following her consent, he guided her to the sea of couples already on the floor. Holding her close, he showed her the best moves he had. One song soon turned into four. The fifth tune was a fast one, and not in his comfort zone, so he led her back to their table, where he obtained the attention of a waiter and ordered two flutes of champagne. Once they finished their drinks, Beth announced her departure for the restroom.

  A slow song commenced as she left the table. The dance floor was still busy, and all around him people engaged in animated chatter. While Matthew spoke with a well-known record producer, Connie sat at the head table alone, watching her guests with her famous movie star smile. But this wasn’t the same smile that had graced the big screen or red carpets on countless occasions. This one burst with happiness, lending it a sincerity rarely seen on her previously.

  Aidan walked over to her and extended his hand. “Would you care to dance?”

  Her eyebrows rose. “You want to dance with me?”

  He smirked. “Yeah, well, don’t get used to it or anything. It may never happen again.”

  She giggled. “In that case, yes. I accept your offer.”

  Aidan ushered her to the dance floor. The other guests dispersed, allowing them the middle all to themselves. Once they reached a prime spot under a sparkling chandelier, they faced each other in proper form.

  Connie blinked rapidly. Tears toppled down her face.

  Aidan’s eyes widened. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I am.” Her lower lip trembled. “I don’t mean to cry. I must look frightful.”

  “No, you don’t. You make a beautiful bride, Connie.” And he meant it. Draped in white satin and lace, she looked prettier today than she did in any of her motion pictures to date.

  She sniffled. “Thank you, Aidan.”

  They picked up their pace
in time with the music, but Connie’s persistent frown made Aidan stop them midstride. “If you wanna go back to your table, you can.”

  She shook her head. “I’m enjoying your company. It’s just been an emotional day. It doesn’t help that I haven’t gotten much sleep recently while planning the wedding.” At her instigation, they continued dancing. “Aidan, I want to apologize for how I treated you. You’ve been wonderful to Beth. Nathan and Matthew love you, and Olivia told me so many times to give you a chance, but I refused. I let my past with Luther Mertz get in the way of a possible friendship between you and me. It was wrong, and I’m sorry.”

  Aidan shrugged. “Hell, you don’t have to apologize. I wasn’t exactly cordial with you, either. I thought you were a spoiled, untalented contract star. I never gave you the benefit of the doubt or made an effort to get to know you better.”

  Connie shared a sheepish smile. “I guess we both made mistakes, huh?”

  Aidan chuckled. “I used to do a lot of that.”

  “Me, too.” Her eyes lost focus.

  At the start of the second verse, Aidan lifted his arm and twirled her. His attempt to cheer her up worked. With carefree laughter, Connie completed her rotation. They replaced their hands, returning to form.

  “Thank you for helping me realize I deserved more than what I experienced when I first came to Hollywood, Aidan. Also, that I was worthy enough to find happiness again, even though my behavior years ago wasn’t exactly honorable.”

  Aidan looked down at his feet, but he wasn’t monitoring his steps. There was a lot of baggage that went along with what happened in Mr. Mertz’s office. It was difficult to talk about, difficult to look someone in the eye and admit wrongdoing. However, to officially make amends with Connie, she needed to know he was sorry as well, that he was ashamed he had been so quick to judge her. His past struggles perpetuated his standoff nature and negative behavior. He should’ve recognized the same in her, too.