happy unless she was being punished or feeling pain of some kind or another. She’s one fucked up
lady.”
“But …”
That suggestion of a smile is widening, softening his features and stealing the breath from my body.
“Here comes the but …”
“But, I assumed it was you.” I slide my hands either side of his cheeks, still feeling patches of damp
skin. Lovingly, I wipe them dry with my thumbs.
“So did she. That’s why she left it for you, I think. She insisted I give her a copy off the security
camera down there.”
I’m shocked! “There’s a camera?”
He nods. “There was. I’ve since had it disconnected.”
“Good.” I visibly deflate. “I don’t get it. Doesn’t she want you to be happy? Must she hold what
happened to her over you like a guillotine? Forever?”
“There was a time when I would have said yes to that question, Beth. But, not anymore.”
“You’ve redeemed yourself. This isn’t making up for something in your past. It’s blackmail. Can’t
you see that?”
He’s nodding in agreement. “Not until now.”
I’m shaking my head. How could this woman have so much power over such a man? “My God!”
“The sins of our youth Beth … “
“Sins! What sins Ayden? You were a ten year old boy who almost died trying to protect her. What
happened to her and how her life turned out has nothing to do with you.”
Tenderly, he folds a strand of hair behind my left ear. “I realise that. I do. I only see a future that
involves you and I. My heart is full Beth. There’s no room for anyone but you.”
With a firm hand caressing my hair, he pulls my mouth onto his; it’s a delicious kiss, sweetened by
wine and sealed with adulation. He telegraphs his love through touch, through silence and a smile,
communicating so much without a single word. There is no more to be said. His once aching heart
calls out to me. His arms reach out to me.
I take him in my embrace. “Welcome home Ayden.”
No-one kisses like Ayden. If there was a kissing competition, he would win hands down. It’s an
effortless, breathless meeting of lips and longing. I’ve missed him, my body cries out for his touch. I
wrench myself away, only to see eyes that are blazing with a mixture of gratitude and desire.
He scans the room quickly. “This will be our home for now. And if we need somewhere bigger or
whatever … we’ll move. Home is where you are Beth.” He frames my face with his hands; the warmth
of his touch creates a wave of heat, so intense it causes every painful thought to melt away. “We’ve
both come home baby.”
Yes, we have.
I have no response to that. All I can do is nod and allow my face to dissolve into a smile.
“This is our wedding night and after what’s happened, I’m determined to make it special.” He runs
his thumb along my lip, softly, deliberately. “This is what we’re going to do. “
I wait for my instructions silently, wide eyed and full of sensual anticipation.
“You’re going to change into something less … corporate and I’m going to arrange things upstairs
…”
Upstairs …
He responds to my frown. “There’s a rooftop terrace. It’s cosy up there and it’s private.” He raises a
brow, mischievously.
“How private?” I ask, tipping my head, enjoying our repartee.
“Private enough.” He laughs softly, winking at the prospect of our naked bodies writhing. Or,
perhaps that’s me projecting. “Off you go.” He slides me off his knees, watching my tight skirt ripple
down my thighs, over my pull up stockings. Without saying a word he looks up at me through dark
eyelashes, licks his lips and places both hands just above my knees. The vertical climb is unhurried,
sensual, considered. His thumbs are looping under the material and running along the line of broad
elastic. My eyes are fixed on his, but my thoughts are elsewhere …
“I so want you right now,” he whispers, confessing his thoughts. “I only have to think of you and
my cock starts twitching.” His declaration causes my pulse to race. He knows exactly what he’s doing;
seducing me with his words.
“I know Ayden.” I ruffle his hair. “We don’t have to go upstairs …” Those curious thumbs of his
are easing under the elastic on my panties, seeking me out, brushing against plump flesh. An
involuntary moan leaves my mouth.
“You have no idea how you affect me Beth, body and soul.” He’s shaking his head, disbelieving his
own admission. “Nothing and no-one will ever come between us. I promise you. What we have is
bigger than us, bigger than that constellation of auspicious stars that formed and brought me to you.”
He removes his hands and eases down my skirt, leaving me breathless with his caress and his
confession. He wraps his arms around my body with a gravitational pull, until we are two earthly
bodies attuned, in perfect harmony with each other. His left cheek rests against my stomach and I can
do no more than bend over him, cocooning his head against me.
“I know I gave you a child and she or he is growing inside you.”
I kiss his hair. “You can’t know for sure Ayden. These things take time …”
With a startled expression he looks up at me. “I know.”
With everything he is, he wants this to be real and, truth be known, so do I. “I think you’re right.
Our love needs no greater validation but this … this would be a wonderful reward for all those lonely
nights spent dreaming and waiting for you.”
“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere. I will always protect you and I will never hurt you …”
“Prove it!”
There’s a look I rarely see. Total surprise. “How?”
“Don’t take me to the terrace. Take me to the basement instead.” I keep him focused with my
captivating stare.
“After all you’ve seen?” He grips my hips tightly.
“What did I see? Jake fucking Elise? Why would that change anything?”
“Because I was there and I set it up …” He turns away, looking shameful and troubled by his
involvement. “I knew it was wrong, immoral even, but I did it anyway. It wasn’t my finest hour.”
“Better that than you fucking her!” I exclaim, surprising myself with my venomous outburst. “I
don’t know what I would have done if you had.”
“Why would it have mattered who it was? That was long before we met.”
“But it wasn’t the who. It was the how. It was brutal Ayden and I would always imagine you
wanting me that way, and I’m not sure I could ever be part of that.”
“I wouldn’t want you to Beth. It was her fantasy, not mine. She got off on the brutality. I’m sure
you can work out why.” He’s shaking his head.
“I can appreciate it but I will never understand why anyone would want to repeat some of the worse
experiences in their life; to prolong the agony like that. Can you?”
“No. But it’s over! I don’t want us to spend our special night discussing Elise and her fucked up
life. She can handle herself, believe me.” He huffs at the thought. “I want to give you everything. You
know that. And us having fun in the bedroom is part of that. But it’s not the only thing that matters
…”
“But what about Alenka and her photos? You took them, you fucked her in any which wa
y you
pleased in the basement. You did that because you wanted to …”
“I did it because I could.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No. I’m not the man I was then. I … took advantage of Alenka. I knew she was in love with me
and would do anything for me. Playing dress-up was just another way of filling my time until you
came along.” He reaches up to caresses my cheek. “It was fun while it lasted, but I never intended for
it to last. She got her photos and I got … I’m not sure what I got, exactly.”
“You got a fuck-fest!” I recall Jake’s words and Ayden recognises them as belonging to someone
else, the minute they leave my mouth.
“Where did you hear that?” He tips his head and waits for my reply.
“I read it somewhere. It’s true though, isn’t it?”
“Yes, when you put it like that.”
I shake my head free of those images of bondage and subjugation, reminding myself of the man in
front of me. I have a devoted husband. I can’t allow the events of his past life to overcrowd my
thoughts and cloud my vision, I see the man I love and this is our wedding night. That’s all that
matters.
“You’re right Ayden. All that’s in the past. I don’t care. I have your ring on my finger and your
child inside me. And that’s everything.”
He closes his eyes and opens them slowly as if greeting a new day. “You have the best of me Beth.”
“Yes. I do.”
I’m treated to the softest of smiles. “Go change. I’ll organise the terrace. We have forever to fool
around in the basement.”
“Alright.”
He stands and hands me my jacket. “You looked as sexy as fuck in this suit, by the way. Don’t ever
come to my office wearing it.”
“Why not?”
“Because every appointment will be cancelled and we’ll be having our very own fuck-fest!”
“That’s not such a bad idea …”
“It’s bad for business.”
I’m laughing and walking away, feeling better for having aired some of his dirty washing. He has
no secrets left … surely?
Returning to the scene of the crime, Dan Rizler steps from his car, taking confident strides. The
black Fiesta is parked in the same spot, with his pound coin still intact behind the front tyre. ‘Elise
was right,’ he muses. ‘They are out of the country. All clear.’
Before entering Elm Gardens he does a quick sweep of the area, noticing the lights are on in 53b,
but 53a is in darkness. More proof, if proof were needed; beautiful Beth is not home. It’s time to add a
little window dressing.
Making a meal out of it, he offloads the large, boxed table top from the boot of his car, carrying it
with both hands to the security door. Feeling like a lightweight parcel, it’s easy to manoeuvre up the
three flights of stairs to his apartment. He leans it up against the wall while he opens up. Once inside,
he uses a kitchen knife to remove the cardboard wrapping and assembles it easily; four spindled legs
screw into a pine circular table top. It’s up on its own four legs in a matter of minutes.
He descends, whistling with the packaging stuffed under one arm, half expecting, half hoping, Pat
will make an appearance. She doesn’t.
He repeats the process with the chairs and makes his way downstairs for the last time, feeling
disappointed.
Just as he reaches her door, there’s the rattling of locks. A sneer forms. He knew she wouldn’t be
able to miss an opportunity to gossip. He retraces his steps and is a yard from her door when she calls
him.
“Good evening Daniel.”
“Hello Pat. How’s things? Any more burglaries to report?” The smile is the sweetest he can muster.
She’s shaking her head, dramatically. “Oh, good heavens, no. I’m sure it was a one off.”
You’re right about that.
“The last thing we want is a spate of them round here.” She’s folding her arms and leaning back on
the door frame, in the mood for chat.
“Must have been some guy fancying his chances. Ground floor apartments are bound to be hit first.
I think we’ll be safe up here,” he sniggers, much to her amusement.
“Ha! Yes. I hope so.” She unravels her arm to point upstairs. “Are you moving more of your stuff
in?”
“Yes, bit by bit. My old place came furnished so I’m buying bits each week,” he explains casually.
“Good for you Daniel. You work long hours, you deserve a nice place to rest your head.”
“Well, I’m getting there, slowly but surely Pat.” He edges away. “Anyway, I’m off to see the
girlfriend, so I’ll see you later. Bye for now.”
“Goodbye Daniel. Have a nice evening.”
“You too,” he calls out, knowing he’s made a good impression. He’s Joe Public and she’s fallen for
his charm, like they always do.
22
Feeling more like myself, I ascend in the lift with the lightest of material floating around my
knees. I’ve opted for a neat, summer dress from Zara covered in pale pinks and lavender flowers, and
a matching cardigan. I feel pretty and much less business like.
As I move to open the door out onto the terrace, I hear music. It’s a new addition to my playlist,
another song from Tom Odell. I remain poised, patiently listening in to Ayden’s private phone call.
Through a crack in the door I watch him pace, taking short, laboured steps in no particular direction.
His voice is deep, detached; it has sharp edges and he has no qualms about injuring whoever is on the
other end with his words. The song builds to the chorus … Another Love and I think I can guess who
he’s talking to.
“ … What the fuck were you thinking … you came into my home with the sole purpose of putting
that fucking SD card where you knew Beth would find it? Don’t deny it …
What do you mean, what we had? I never gave you the impression I was serious …
So … And …
I don’t owe you anything. I fucked you and you screwed me. We both got what we wanted. It’s as
simple as that. I didn’t …
Don’t fucking go there Elise. What happened to you had nothing to do with me. I’ve paid my dues. I
don’t owe you anything …
Enough! I won’t be sending you the allowance after this month. You should have enough put by to
set you up… do us both a favour Elise. Move on. Don’t threaten me … Nothing you can put me through
will be as bad as what I’ve put myself through for over 20 years.
I have to go … and don’t come here again. The alarm and the locks have been changed and I’ll have
you arrested. Don’t test me.
Goodbye.”
In the aftermath of his verbal sparring match, Ayden stands motionless, rigid; the fighter in him
apparent in his clenched fists and upright stance. Even battle weary, his striking silhouette exudes the
kind of sex appeal that draws the eye and has my mind wrangling a cluster bomb of lascivious
thoughts.
I picture Elise on the other end of the line; shell-shocked, her lips trembling, her heart racing at the
prospect of never hearing from him again. For a split second I feel sympathy for her. Then, in the
blink of an eye, it’s gone.
Sensing my cue I step from the lift, noisily closing the door behind me, stopping only to take in the
view.
On seeing me, Ay
den sprints over. “Hello, pretty lady.” He kisses my forehead and takes my hand.
“Come and sit down by the fire.”
I remain stationary. “Give me a minute. You’ve seen this before but I haven’t. I had no idea this
was up here.” The hairs on my arms raise and tickle as the cool night air ascends from the street
below.
Laid out in front of me is a kind of Swedish cabin, sunk into a lower level, two steps down. Along
the floor and framing an enormous sofa is wooden panelling. In the floorboards small white lights
blink back at me, leading like a runway to the centre where a flaming gas fire flickers and licks at the
chill night air. Across the top is a white canopy that reminds me of the enormous drapes at our
wedding chapel. It’s stunning.
Ayden appears from the side of the sofa with two long stemmed glasses, raising them aloft, inviting
me to join him. His pale jeans are creased from having me sat across him; his white T-shirt is rolled
over his pockets and he’s kicked off his shoes. This is a very relaxed man I see before me.
We nestle next to each other. The white leather sofa accommodates our combined weight and folds
in around us like ocean foam. “Ayden, it’s lovely. Do you often come up here?”
He rests his chin on my head. “No. Never!”
“But it’s so cosy and look at the view across the rooftops …”
“I wasn’t even sure how to work the fire,” he confesses, stretching out a hand to test the intensity of
the flames.
“I like it here.” I feel his left hand tightening on my shoulder protectively.
“Me too.”
When the silence becomes too much, I look up at him with the sole purpose of marvelling at his
masculine beauty. In the manmade glow he seems cloaked in shadows; his features are well defined
but his eyes aren’t dancing the way they usually do. The emerald hues are masked by half-light and
more secrets. I just know it. My heart sinks a little at the prospect of more revelations.
“Beth …” Here it comes. “I have something to show you that’s going to surprise you.”
I sit bolt upright and place my glass on the floor. “Will it be a good surprise or one of your shock
the hell out of me surprises?”
His mouth twitches. “A good surprise, I think.” Leaning backwards, he retrieves something off the
TouchStone for giving (The Story of Us Trilogy) Page 45