“Yes, of course!” I say, throwing my arms around him and giving him a kiss on the lips. I feel like he needs someone to take care of him in this moment, even though he won’t admit it. And that’s okay. I’m here for him.
“I’m just a little embarrassed over the state of my apartment. I had a little too much to drink.”
“By the way, I’m looking forward to reading your book.”
My heart clenches up. Oh my God. I can’t believe this thought didn’t even occur to me earlier. I mean, of course, he would want to read it. My face flushes red as I unlock my apartment. I try to hide my embarrassment by immediately starting to pick up dirty dishes from around the kitchen counter and throwing them in the sink.
Aiden walks into the living room and looks out of the big window, at the leafless trees below.
“You have a nice view,” he says. I don't know if he’s actually oblivious to my embarrassment or just lost in his own thoughts.
“Thanks. It’s nice when there are leaves on the trees. But you know, it’s October in New York.”
“Yeah, it can get a bit dreary here, right?”
“Yep. Honestly, I thought I was the only one who noticed.”
“Really?”
We watch as the drizzle outside turns back into big powerful rain drops, as if in an effort to prove our point.
“It’s kind of funny that I’ve lived on the East Coast my whole life, but I’ve never been a big fan of winters here. Or the spring for that matter,” I say.
“Me either,” Aiden says, turning to face me.
For a moment, I’m taken aback by how beautiful he is. His strong jawline accentuates his perfect lips and his slightly elongated nose is a perfect complement to his forehead. His dark hair is getting a little long, like he’s a week or so overdue for a haircut, but I’m in love with the way it falls into his almond-shaped eyes.
“I think spring here is the worst. Unlike in Europe, where every day in March seems to get warmer and warmer, the weather here tends to oscillate between winter and summer. Some days are pretty warm and others, the wind blows in and it’s as if we’re never going to reach summer.”
I smile.
“What?”
“I don’t know,” I say with a smile. “I never knew that you were such a big fan of warm weather.”
He shrugs. “Yeah, I think I like the idea of snow. But the reality? Not so much. Would love to go sailing around the Caribbean and wear nothing but flip-flops all year round.”
“I’ve never been to the Caribbean,” I say. “I mean, I’ve been to South Florida, but not the islands. The sunsets there are magnificent.”
“Yes, they are. So is the snorkeling and the diving,” he says. “Maybe I’ll have to take you there sometime.”
That catches me off guard. I’d love that, of course, I would. But I never expected him to bring up going on a trip so soon into our relationship.
“What’s wrong?” Aiden asks, taking a step closer to me.
“Nothing,” I say, smiling. “Nothing at all. You saying that just makes me very happy.”
As Aiden puts his arms around me, I suddenly feel safer than I have ever felt before. It’s like he’s a warm, luxurious blanket that engulfs me, protecting me from everything that’s evil in the world.
When he presses his lips to mine, the muscles deep within me clench up in a delicious way. I had forgotten the electricity that somehow managed to surge through my body just with one look or kiss. The first kiss is merely a peck, but it quickly morphs into something more. His lips are slow and firm. They are demanding and strong. As they push and pull against mine, I feel him molding mine into what he wants them to be.
“I just wanted to tell you.” Aiden pulls away slightly, keeping his eyes on me. I feel hypnotized, waiting for the next word that will come out of his beautiful mouth. “I still want to read your book. Just because we’re doing this, that doesn’t mean that I have forgotten about that.”
Chills rush through my body. Aiden tugs at my sweater, kissing my neck and collarbone. Then he pulls it off my body with one swift motion. It takes me a moment to remember that I didn’t put on a bra before I went to Strand. His eyes light up when he looks at my bare breasts. He even takes a moment to take a step back and admire the view. It doesn’t last long enough to embarrass me, thank God.
“You are so gorgeous,” Aiden whispers. “I don't know how I managed to forget how beautiful you are.”
Now, I’m officially embarrassed. I feel my face flush and I try to look away. But he doesn’t let me.
“I am going to tell you how beautiful you are over and over again,” Aiden whispers. “Until you believe me. Until you know it to be the one true thing.”
He is holding my cheeks, forcing me to focus my eyes on his, and I feel my cheeks getting hotter under his touch. Every time that I try to look away, he refuses to let me go. His piercing eyes look through me to my very core.
I give a little nod and he kisses me again. He buries his hands in my hair, grasping both sides of my head. It feels like he’s cradling me, coaxing me. His hands slowly run down my neck and down my back as he presses me closer to him. He squeezes me tightly. Then one hand returns to the back of my head, pulling slightly on my hair, activating every strand with electricity. His other hand runs down my spine and toward the small of my back, hesitating slightly before going all the way down my butt. As I press against him, I feel his large erection pushing back against me, sending shivers up my body.
Before I can stop myself, I give out a moan. It’s in the middle of a kiss and I feel like I’m moaning right into his mouth. I can barely contain myself, but the moan just turns him on even more. I want him. I want to pull off his clothes and plunge him deep within me, but I hold on and wait. Things are always better with a little anticipation, right?
Instead, I run my fingers over the outline of his strong biceps and the muscles that peek out from his shoulders. I move my hands up to his face, over his lips, and into his hair. His hair is soft and unruly, and my fingers get buried in each wave. As I curl my fingers slightly and tug his hair against his head, Aiden gives out a moan. His eyes roll to the back of his head with pleasure and I tug again. He groans again, eventually bringing his eyes back to meet mine.
“That feels really good,” he says.
“I love burying my hands in your hair,” I whisper.
Aiden bows his head for a moment before running his hands over my bare breasts. He presses my nipples in between his fingers slightly and now it’s my turn to moan.
He pushes me back toward the couch until I feel it behind me. I’m about to lie down, but he props me back up. Instead, he drops to his knees in front me, grabbing my hips with both hands. A familiar warm feeling starts to build at my very core as he licks his lips and then pulls me toward him.
“You smell so good,” he whispers.
“I want you,” I mumble, enjoying the kisses.
He takes his time taking off my boots. I never knew that having someone take off your shoes could be so…sensual. But when it comes to my pants, he pulls them and my panties off with one quick swoop.
Before I get a chance to even be embarrassed for standing stark naked before him, Aiden stands up and unzips his jeans. He unbuttons his shirt and drops his jeans to the floor. He keeps his eyes on mine as he removes his boxer briefs and then grabs my hand.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Your bedroom. Which one is it?”
I point to my room and let him pull me toward my bed. When we get there, he pushes me down on the bed and pushes my legs apart with his body as he squeezes himself in between my knees.
After kissing my neck and collarbone, he leans over and kisses the inside of my thighs, creating a long trail of kisses up and down my body. His lips travel up toward my belly and focus their attention on my navel. He continues his journey up, eventually pausing again at my nipple.
Pressing his hand around my other breast, he remarks, “you’re a pe
rfect fit for my hand.”
My face flushes red as my breasts swell under his touch. My nipples get even harder than they were before. Aiden presses his lips around one nipple and pushes it gently between his teeth. I feel trapped and owned at the same time. The feeling sends electric impulses through my body. Every nerve ending in my body feels as if it’s on fire.
“Aiden,” I moan, tossing my head back.
Slowly, he sends his arm down my body, continuing to hold my nipple in his mouth. As soon as his fingers enter my body and make their way deep within me, I start to feel that warm sensation building somewhere in the pit of my stomach. My breathing speeds up. I grab a hold of his large erect cock and massage it in a slow manner.
“You’re so wet,” he whispers. “Oh, wow.”
“And you’re so hot,” I say, speeding up my hand motion a bit. Through his kisses, I hear him groan, moan, and start to lose control.
“I have to have you now,” he moans and gets on top of me. I want him inside of me more than anything.
I spread my legs open for him and welcome him inside. He fills me up like I’ve never been filled up before. Or maybe I’ve just been feeling rather empty recently without him. Our breathing and movements match up as we start to move together in sync. My hips are his hips and my body is his body. I feel absolutely no separation between our two selves and it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Suddenly, my throat tightens up as the warm sensation at my very core starts to build and build.
“I’m getting…” I don’t get to finish saying that I’m getting close, before I give out a big powerful moan and surrender myself to him completely. Aiden continues to move inside of me for a few more moments before also reaching a climax.
“That was…” Aiden says, trying to catch his breath. “Amazing.”
“Yes, it was.” I nod. I’m keenly aware of the fact that I can’t feel my legs and I don’t care.
“I love you, Ellie,” Aiden says without pulling out of me.
“I love you, too.” I smile.
“I wish we could stay here forever.”
“Me, too.”
Chapter 20 - Ellie
When things aren’t exactly what they seem…
Lying next to Aiden after making love to him, I run my fingers over his perfectly sculpted chest and listen to his breaths. They are steady and calm. He breathes in with his nose and out with his mouth like they taught me in yoga class - the way that I couldn’t quite get used to breathing in my everyday life.
“Well, that was a nice surprise,” I say.
“Yes, and for me, too.”
“Oh, c’mon, don’t tell me that you didn’t know what was going to happen.”
He stretches his arms behind me, flashing a smile. “I had a hunch, but I wasn’t sure. I mean, you can never be sure of these things, you know?”
I shake my head, not believing him for a second.
“But this isn’t really why I came over,” Aiden says.
“No?”
He shakes his head.
“I really missed you. I had to see you.”
I love the sound of that.
“I missed you, too,” I say.
It’s still hard to believe that it’s physically possible to miss someone you have just seen. I mean, up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea who Aiden Black was and I went about my life just fine. I actually thought I was doing okay. And now? Now, if I don't hear back from him throughout the day or don't see him, it feels like a part of me is missing. But now that he is in my life, all of my thoughts seem to focus entirely on him and what he is doing. I know that this may not be entirely healthy, but I don't really know what else to do with this insatiable need to be with him.
“I haven’t felt like this in a very long time,” Aiden says after a moment. “Actually, I don't think I’ve ever felt like this. It’s strange to say, but it’s like I’m obsessed with you, Ellie. I have to know what you’re doing. I want to see you all the time.”
“I know what you mean,” I whisper.
“I just want to be with you all the time. It’s like the world is a better place with you by my side.”
I give him a small kiss on the lips and tell him that I feel the same way.
“Especially with everything that’s going on with Owl,” he adds. I look into his eyes. They are downcast and lacking in luster. The mere mention of his company, his life’s work, and what’s happening to it is enough to send him into a downward spiral of depression and sadness.
“I wanted to ask you about that,” I say after a moment. I wait for him to continue, but he doesn’t.
“I was watching CNBC…” I start.
“Oh, those assholes don’t know anything.”
“Okay, so what is going on?” I ask again. I want him to open up, tell me every last detail, but the mere thought of Owl seems to shut him down.
He looks away, somewhere past me, and then gets up.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
Aiden pulls on his boxer briefs, then his pants, and buttons up his shirt before turning back toward me. He sits down on the bed. I clutch the bedspread toward my bare shoulders and wait.
“It’s all falling apart,” he says after a moment. “Blake is a lot more powerful and influential than I ever thought he could be. I really underestimated him. And the worst part? I don't know what to do about any of it. I’ve called all the investors, practically begging them to reconsider, but it was all to no avail. He has convinced them and now they are happy to lose a little bit of their investment rather than go down with the whole company.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper.
“And the thing is that they don't have to lose much at all. I mean, if they all decided to stay. But since they’re falling like dominos, there’s not much I can do to stop it. I need them all to suddenly change their mind if I want to salvage any of the losses. But I can’t.”
Aiden won’t meet my eyes. Instead, he watches the rain pound against the window. I wish there were something I could do to help him. But I barely know what’s going on. Then something occurs to me.
“Do you need money?” I ask.
“What?”
I repeat my question. I know that he will be tempted to lie, so I search his face for the truth.
“No, I don't need money,” he says with half a chuckle.
“You gave me a lot of money, Aiden. Too much actually. So, if you need help…” I say with my voice drifting off at the end.
“First of all, I did not give you a lot of money.”
“I made like thirty thousand a year at my job, Aiden. And after a night with you and then the week, I have more than I could ever spend.”
“Okay, I know it was a lot of money for a regular person. But Owl has lost over a billion dollars already. Probably a lot more. A few hundred thousand won’t make a big difference. And you know that, right? I mean, you have to know that.”
I did know that. I mean, it’s not like they lost a million dollars or even ten. A billion dollars is such an astronomical sum, I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much that is. “So, what’s going to happen now? Do you have any money saved?”
“I have no idea what’s going to happen. I’ve never lost anything this big before. But my lawyers are already mentioning that I might have to step down for the good of the company.”
“Step down?”
“The investors are pulling out because of me, so I might not have a choice if I want Owl to survive.”
“Oh my God,” I whisper. I put my hand on his shoulder, but he just brushes me off.
“It’s all up in the air. No one really knows what’s going on.”
I don’t know how to help him. I want to do something, but I can’t think of anything. I mean, what can you do for someone in this position? Eventually, I coax him into having some tea with me. I’ve always been under the belief that tea has the ability to make everything okay, and if not totally okay, at least better. I toss of bag of mint
tea into my cup and Aiden opts for a cup of English Breakfast. I find a box of sugar cookies in the back of the pantry and place those on the table as well. He barely takes a bite of his.
Sitting here, across from him, I feel completely helpless. And stupid. Mainly, I feel stupid because I actually thought that he was better. I mean, he came to see me and we had awesome sex. I thought that things were turning around for him. But he’s actually just as distraught, if not more distraught, than he was before.
“I’m sorry, but I’m just so caught off guard by how messed up you are over Owl,” I say and immediately regret the words that have just come out of my mouth. They sound so selfish and self-centered.
“What do you mean?” Aiden asks without seeming like he has taken any offense.
“It’s stupid. I’m sorry I said anything.”
“No, tell me.”
“The last time I saw you, you were so fucked up. And when you came to see me this time, and we made love…I don't know, I just thought…that things were better.”
He stares at me. At first, I think he’s cross with me, but after a moment, a sly coy smile pops up at the corners of his mouth.
“Things aren’t better,” he says, shaking his head. “But making love to you did take my mind off them for a bit. And for that, I want to thank you.”
“It did?” I ask.
“Yes. I really needed that. I’ve been feeling nothing but shit for a very long time, and this afternoon just made me see that maybe there’s more to life than work. And even if I were to lose everything…” Aiden’s words drop off. His smile disappears and his face falls as he ponders that possibility.
I put my hand over his hand and wait.
Aiden nods. “What I wanted to say is that even if I were to lose everything, at least I know that I have you. And that makes everything better.”
I smile and wrap my arms around him. “Yes, of course. I’m here for you. No matter what.”
“I love you, Ellie,” Aiden whispers.
“I love you, too.”
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