Rico Claiborne, a private investigator, was married to Aidan’s sister Megan. Jillian was aware that Rico’s PI firm had been investigating the connection of four women to Aidan’s great-grandfather, Raphel Westmoreland. It had been discovered during a genealogy search that before marrying Aidan’s great-grandmother Gemma, Raphel had been connected to four other women who’d been listed as former wives. Rico’s investigation had confirmed that Raphel hadn’t married any of the women, but that one of them had given birth to a son that Raphel had never known about. Evidently, Jillian thought, at some point Rico had traced that son to the Outlaw family.
“Ready to head back to the ship?” Aidan asked, interrupting her thoughts.
She glanced back at her watch. “Yes, it’s getting kind of late. You can join me and the book-club ladies when we go shopping tomorrow if you’d like.”
He shook his head. “No thanks. Although it’s a beautiful city, I’ve seen enough of Rome for now. But I will bring you back.”
She lifted a brow. “You will?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“For our honeymoon. I hope.” Aidan then got down on one knee and took her hand in his. “I love you, Jillian. Will you marry me?”
Jillian stared at him in shock. It was only when he tugged at her hand did she notice the ring he’d placed there. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my God!” Never had she seen anything so beautiful.
“Well?” Aidan asked, grinning. “People are standing around. We’ve gotten their attention. Are you going to embarrass me or what?”
She saw that people had stopped to stare. They had heard his proposal and, like Aidan, they were waiting for her answer. She could not believe that here in the beautiful city of Rome, on the Spanish Steps, Aidan had asked her to marry him. She would remember this day for as long as she lived.
“Yes. Yes!” she said, filled with happiness. “Yes, I will marry you.”
“Thank you,” he said, getting back to his feet and pulling her into his arms. “For a minute there you had me worried.”
The people around them cheered and clapped while a smiling Aidan pulled Jillian into his arms and kissed her.
* * *
Aidan walked down the long corridor to his suite. Jillian had sent him away an hour ago with instructions not to return until now because she would have a surprise waiting for him when he got back. He smiled thinking she had probably planned a candlelit dinner for their last day on the cruise.
It was hard to believe their two weeks were up. Tomorrow they would return to Barcelona. After two days in Rome they had spent two days at sea before touring Athens, Greece. While there they had taken part in a wine-tasting excursion and visited several museums. From there they had toured Turkey, Mykonos and Malta. Now they were headed back to Barcelona and would arrive before daybreak.
He couldn’t help the feeling of happiness that puffed out his chest when he thought of being an engaged man. Although they hadn’t set a date, the most important thing was that he had asked and she had said yes. They talked every day about their future, and although they still had at least another year before she could join him in Maryland, they were okay with it because they knew the day would come when they would be together.
They decided not to wait until they went home for Adrian’s wedding to tell the family their news. Some would be shocked, while others who knew about their affair would be relieved that their secret wasn’t a secret any longer. They would head straight to Denver tomorrow when the ship docked.
He chuckled when he thought about Jillian’s excitement over her engagement ring. The book-club ladies had definitely been impressed as well, ahhing and ooing every night at dinner. Jewelry by Zion was the rave since Zion was the First Lady’s personal jeweler. Jillian hadn’t known that he knew Zion personally because of Aidan’s friendship with the Steele family, who were close personal friends of Zion. Zion had designed most of his signature custom jewelry collection while living in Rome for the past ten years. Thanks to Dominic, Aidan had met with Zion privately on board the ship in the wee hours of the morning while Jillian slept, when they first docked in a port near Rome. Zion had brought an attaché case filled with beautiful rings—all originals hand-crafted by Zion. When Aidan had seen this one particular ring, he’d known it was the one he wanted to put on Jillian’s finger.
When Aidan reached his suite’s door, he knocked, to let her know he had returned.
“Come in.”
Using his passkey, he opened the door and smiled upon seeing the lit candles around the room. His bride-to-be had set the mood for a romantic dinner, he thought, when he saw how beautifully the table was set.
Closing the door behind him he glanced around the dimly lit suite but didn’t see Jillian anywhere. Was she in the bedroom waiting on him? He moved in that direction and then felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and his breath caught. Jillian wore a provocative black lace teddy that showed a lot of flesh. Attached to the teddy were matching lace garters and she wore a pair of stilettoes on her feet. He thought he hadn’t seen anyone as sexy in his entire life and he couldn’t help groaning in appreciation.
She leaned close, swirled the tip of her tongue around his ear and whispered, “I’m about to give you the lap dance of your life, Aidan Westmoreland.”
The next thing he knew he was gently shoved in a chair. “And remember no touching, so put your hands behind your back.”
He followed her instructions, mesmerized beyond belief. Her sensual persona stirred his desire. His pulse kicked up a notch, followed immediately by a deep throbbing in his erection. “And just what do you want me to do?” he asked in a low voice.
She smiled at him. “Just enjoy. I plan to do all the work. But by the time I finish, you will be too exhausted to move.”
Really? Him? Too exhausted to move? And she would be the one doing all the work? He couldn’t wait for that experience. “Now will you keep your hands to yourself or do I need to handcuff you?” she asked him.
He couldn’t help smiling at the thought of that. Did she really have handcuffs? Would she be that daring? He decided to find out. “I can’t make any promises, so you might want to handcuff me.”
“No problem.”
The next thing he knew she’d whipped out a pair of handcuffs slapped them on his wrists and locked them with a click to the chair. Damn. While he was taking all this in, he suddenly heard music coming from the sound system in the room. He didn’t recognize the artist, but the song had a sensual beat.
While sitting there handcuffed to the chair, he watched as Jillian responded to the music, her movements slow, graceful and seductive. She rolled her stomach and then shimmied her hips and backside in a sinfully erotic way. He sat there awestruck, fascinated, staring at her as she moved in front of him. He felt the rapid beat of his heart and the sweet pull of desire as his erection continued to pulsate.
Although he couldn’t touch her, she was definitely touching him—rubbing her hands over his shirt, underneath it, through the hair on his chest, before taking her time unbuttoning his shirt and easing it from his shoulders.
“Have I ever told you how much I love your chest, Aidan?” she asked him in a sultry tone.
“No,” he answered huskily. “You never have.”
“Well, I’m telling you now. In fact, I want to show you just how much I like it.”
Then she crouched over him and used her tongue to lick his shoulder blades before moving slowly across the span of his chest. He would have come out of his chair had he not been handcuffed to it. She used her tongue in ways she hadn’t before and he heard himself groaning out loud.
“You like that?” she asked, leaning close to his mouth, and licking there, as well. “Want more? Want to see what else you’ve taught me to do with my tongue?”
He swallowed. Oh, yes, he wanted more. He wanted to see just what he’d taught her. Instead of answering, he nodded.
She smiled as she bent down to remove his shoes. Reachi
ng up, she unzipped his pants and he raised his hips as she slid both his pants and briefs down his legs. She smiled at him again.
“You once licked me all over, Aidan, and you seemed to have enjoyed it. Now I’m going to do the same to you and I intend to enjoy myself, as well.”
Moistening her lips with a delicious-looking sweep of her tongue, she got down on her knees before him and spread his legs. Then she lowered her head between his thighs and took him into her mouth.
As soon as she touched him, blood rushed through his veins, sexual hunger curled his stomach and desire stroked his gut. Her mouth widened to accommodate his size and she used her tongue to show that with this, she was definitely in control. He watched in a sensual daze as her head bobbed up and down while she fanned the blaze of his desire.
He wanted to grab hold of her hair, stroke her back, caress her shoulders but he couldn’t. He felt defenseless, totally under her control but he loved every single minute of it. When he couldn’t take any more, his body jerked in one hell of an explosion and she still wouldn’t let go.
“Jillian!”
He wanted her with an intensity that terrified him. And when she lifted her head and smiled at him, he knew what it meant to love someone with every part of your heart, your entire being and your soul.
While the music continued to play, she straightened and began stripping for him, removing each piece of clothing slowly, and teasing his nostrils before tossing it aside. Sexual excitement filled his inner core as he inhaled her scent. When she was totally naked, she began dancing again, touching herself and touching him. He’d never seen anything so erotic in his entire life.
When she curled into his lap and continued to dance, the feel of her soft curves had him growling, had his erection throbbing again, harder. “Set me free,” he begged. He needed to touch her now. He wanted his hands in her hair and his fingers inside her.
“Not yet,” she whispered in a purr that made even more need wash over him. Then she twisted her body around so her back was plastered to his chest then she eased down onto his manhood and rode him.
Never had she ridden him this hard and when she shifted so they faced each other, the feel of her breasts hitting his chest sent all kinds of sensations through him.
“Jillian!”
He screamed her name as an orgasm hit him again, deep, and he pulled the scent of her sex through his nostrils. He leaned forward. Although he couldn’t touch her, he could lick her. He used his tongue to touch her earlobe and her face. “Uncuff me baby. Please. Uncuff me now.”
She reached behind him and he heard the click that released him. When his hands were free he stood, with her in his arms, and quickly moved toward the bedroom.
“You’re the one who was supposed to be exhausted,” she mumbled into his chest.
“Sorry, it doesn’t quite work that way, baby.” And then he stretched her out on the bed.
He straddled her, eased inside her and thrust, stroking her, wanting her to feel his love in every movement. This was erotic pleasure beyond compare and her inner muscles clenched him, held him tight and tempted him to beg again.
His thrusts became harder, her moans louder and the desire he felt for her more relentless than ever. And when he finally exploded, he took her along with him as an earth-shattering climax claimed them both. They were blasted into the heavens. Jillian Novak had delivered the kind of mindless pleasure every man should experience at least once in his lifetime. And he was glad that he had.
Moments later, he eased off her and pulled her into his arms, entwining her legs with his. He kissed the side of her face while she fell into a deep sleep.
Their secret affair was not a secret any longer and he couldn’t wait to tell the world that he’d found his mate for life. And he would cherish her forever.
Epilogue
“So, you thought you were keeping a secret from us,” Pam said, smiling, sitting beside her husband on the sofa as they met with Aidan and Jillian.
“But we didn’t?” Jillian asked, grinning and holding Aidan’s hand.
“For a little while, maybe,” Dillon replied. But when you fall in love with someone, it’s hard to keep something like that hidden, especially in this family.”
Jillian knew exactly what Dillon meant. It seemed the bigger secret had been that she and Aidan had wanted to keep their relationship a secret. No one in the family knew who else knew, so everyone kept their suspicions to themselves.
“Well, I’m glad we don’t have to hide things anymore,” Aidan said, standing, pulling Jillian up with him and then wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
“You mean you don’t have to try and hide things,” Pam corrected. “Neither of you were doing such a good job of pretending. And when the two of you had that rift, Dillon and I were tempted to intervene. But we figured if it was meant for the two of you to be together, you would be, without our help.”
Jillian looked down at her ring. “Yes, we were able to get our act together, although I will have to give Paige some credit for bailing out of the cruise. Aidan and I needed that time together to work things out.”
“And I guess from that ring on your finger, the two of you managed to do that,” Dillon said.
Aidan nodded as he smiled down at Jillian. “Yes, we did. The thought of a year-long engagement doesn’t bother us. After Jillian’s first year at that hospital in Orlando, Florida, she’ll be able to transfer to one near me. That’s when we plan to tie the knot.”
“Besides,” Pam said, smiling. “The year gives me plenty of time to plan for the wedding without feeling rushed. These Westmoreland weddings are coming around fast, but trust me, I’m not complaining.”
Dillon reached out and hugged his wife. “Please don’t complain. I’m elated with each one. After Adrian gets hitched next month and Aidan is married in a year, all we’ll have to be concerned with is Bailey and Bane.”
The room got quiet as everyone thought about that. Only two Westmorelands were left single, and those two were known to be the most headstrong of them all.
“Bay says she’s never getting married,” Aidan said, grinning.
“So did you and Adrian,” Dillon reminded him. “In fact, I don’t think there’s a single Westmoreland who hasn’t made that claim at some point in time, including me. But all it takes is for one of us to find that special person who’s our soul mate, and we start singing a different tune.”
“But can you see Bay singing a different tune?” Aidan asked.
Dillon thought about the question for a minute, drew in a deep breath and then shook his head. “No.”
Everyone laughed. When their laughter subsided Pam smiled and said, “There’s someone for everyone, including Bailey. She just hasn’t met him yet. In other words, Bailey hasn’t met her match. But one day, I believe that she will.”
The following month
“Adrian Westmoreland, you may kiss your bride.”
Aidan, serving as best man, smiled as he watched his twin brother take the woman he loved, Dr. Trinity Matthews Westmoreland, into his arms to seal their marriage vows with one hell of a kiss. Aidan spotted Jillian in the audience sitting with her sisters and winked at her. Their day would be coming and he couldn’t wait.
A short while later, Aidan stole his twin away for a few minutes. The wedding had been held in Trinity’s hometown of Bunnell, Florida, at the same church where their cousin Thorn had married Trinity’s sister Tara. The weather had been beautiful and it seemed everyone in the little town had been invited to the wedding, which accounted for the packed church of more than eight hundred guests. The reception was held in the ballroom of a beautiful hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
“Great job, Dr. Westmoreland,” he said, grinning at Adrian.
Adrian chuckled. “I intend to say the same to you a year from now, Dr. Westmoreland, when you tie the knot. I’m glad the cruise helped, and that you and Jillian were able to work things out.”
“So am I. That had to be the
worst year of my life when we were apart.”
Adrian nodded. “I know. Remember I felt your pain whenever you let out any strong emotions.”
Yes, Aidan did remember. “So where are you headed for your honeymoon?”
“Sydney, Australia. I’ve always wanted to go back, and I look forward to taking Trinity there with me.”
“Well, the two of you deserve a lifetime of happiness,” Aidan said, taking a sip of his champagne.
“You and Jillian do, as well. I’m so glad the secret is a secret no longer.”
Aidan’s smile widened. “So am I. And on that note, I’m going to go claim my fiancée so you can go claim your bride.”
Aidan crossed the span of the ball room to where Jillian stood with her sisters Paige and Nadia, and his sister Bailey. He and Jillian would leave Bunnell in the morning and take the hour-long drive to Orlando. Together they would look for an apartment for her close to the hospital where she would be working as an intern. He had checked and discovered that flights from the D.C. area into Orlando were pretty frequent. He was glad about that because he intended to pay his woman plenty of visits.
Aidan had told Dillon about Jillian’s chance meeting with a man by the name of Garth Outlaw while in Rome and how she’d originally thought he was Riley. Dillon wasn’t surprised that any kin out there would have the Westmoreland look due to dominant genes. He had passed the information on to Rico. The family was hoping something resulted from Jillian’s encounter.
“Sorry, ladies, I need to grab Jillian for a minute,” he said, snagging her hand.
“Where are we going?” Jillian asked as he led her toward the exit.
“To walk on the beach.”
“Okay.”
Holding hands, they crossed the boardwalk and went down the steps. Pausing briefly, they removed their shoes. Jillian moaned when her feet touched the sand.
“What are you thinking about, baby?” Aidan asked her.
The Secret Affair Page 15