Ayden's Secret

by Cara North

  “Yes, ma’am.” Charlie nodded. “I’m really excited. Have you ever been there?”

  “Ben and I have gone a few times.” She glared at Ayden. He smiled back at her. He was definitely her child, defiant and stubborn. “I wouldn’t mind going again.”

  Ayden ignored the gesture. She wasn’t going to guilt him today. He was taking Charlie, and that was it. “Charlie said we had to be back by seven for the party.”

  “Yes. Do try to get back by then, before seven would be better.” Lacy dropped it. Ayden was telling her something he already knew. That meant if she pushed the Graceland issue they would be throwing a party with no birthday boy. “I have so much to do today to get ready.”

  Ben rolled his eyes. He knew all Lacy would do was direct him as to where everything needed to go. Noel had arranged for it to be catered. Ben looked at Ayden and felt bad. He didn’t know so many people were invited until this morning. He thought about telling him, but then Lacy would be devastated if he didn’t show up.

  “You ready, darlin’?” Ayden winked at Charlie. She nodded.

  Lacy watched them leave. Charlie was the first girl he had ever brought home. Even his high school sweetheart, Jessica, had managed to escape a family visit. She had heard them talk on the phone a few times, or rather Ayden make a few grunts and then hang up. He sure didn’t call her darlin’, and he never lit up at her name. Charlie wasn’t what she expected, but she was certainly what he deserved.

  * * *

  “Come take a look at this.” Ayden pulled her already tired body in a new direction.

  Charlie followed the man and reminded herself this was his birthday. Ayden was like a kid in a candy store all wired up and bounding with energy. They had been there for hours, and Charlie was getting hungry. Since Ayden had dressed in slacks and a shirt and tie, she wore a nice dress and heels. Charlie could handle dancing in heels for hours, but chasing Ayden was a challenge.

  “Shoot.” He snapped his fingers. “There’s a wedding.”

  “A wedding?” Charlie caught up to him and stood facing the Chapel in the Woods.

  “You must be here for the wedding, please come on in.” A woman grabbed his arm and escorted him to the party. Charlie followed. “Bride or groom’s side? No matter really, I’m late myself.”

  Ayden looked back at Charlie for help, but they were already in the church. The woman hustled them to a seat and then to Charlie’s delight let her slide in next to Ayden. They sat on the bride’s side and realized there were probably fifty people including them in the place. Surely, someone would realize they didn’t belong.

  It was too late to move once the music started. Ayden said a quiet prayer. He hadn’t meant to get caught in a wedding today. He just wanted her opinion about the place for future reference. It was bad enough they had Stephanie and Malcolm’s event next weekend.

  “Oh Ayden,” Charlie whispered into his shoulder. Everyone had passed except the bride. She now stood at the entrance in a full princess like gown. Her chestnut hair was pulled back with ringlets falling down the back. She was so beautiful.

  Ayden put his hand over Charlie’s that had grabbed onto his arm. She was such a girl, all teary eyed and emotional for a woman she didn’t even know. As the bride passed, he slid Charlie’s hand into his own, kissed the back of it, and patted it with his other hand. Now they would have a real good idea as to how a wedding at Graceland would be.

  Charlie dabbed at her eyes through the vows. The ceremony ended, and it was time for the reception, time for them to get out of there, but they didn’t have any luck with that. Apparently, the bride and groom weren’t hanging around after the wedding.

  “Oh get over there.” The same woman that had dragged them into the church was now pushing Charlie into the small group of single women ready to catch the bouquet.

  The bride counted off and sure enough, Charlie caught it. Well hell. Ayden shook his head. She rushed back to him with a flushed red face and a look of uncertainty.

  “I feel terrible.” Charlie whispered, “We aren’t supposed to be here. Look at this.”

  “I see it.” Ayden agreed. A young man approached and urged him to the floor. Ayden declined. The guy shrugged and went on. Of course, the groom decided to shoot the bride’s garter like a rubber band hitting Ayden square in the chest anyways. “Shit.”

  “We are crashing this wedding, Ayden.” Charlie pulled the garter that had bounced off, of him and onto her bouquet of flowers, off of the bouquet.

  “This is ridiculous.” Ayden propped his hands on his hips. “I just wanted to show you the damn chapel.”

  “It’s beautiful don’t you think?” Charlie was lost in all the stimulus of the wedding and the fun she was having. No one seemed to notice or care that they didn’t belong there. “If years from now you want to marry me, we should do it here.”

  “Years from now?” Ayden was glad she liked the chapel, but years from now, oh no. He wanted kids in the next couple of years, not a wedding.

  “You two kids get over here.” The bossy biddy was back. “Sit with us.”

  They complied; it was the least they could do at this point. They had the bouquet and the garter. How could they skip out on the toast and first dance? Ayden pulled Charlie’s chair and sat next to her. His mind was reeling as to what she wanted from their relationship. He assumed that by tracking him down and telling him she loved him that meant marriage and kids. Maybe not.

  Charlie sat at the table and fidgeted with the flowers in her hand. She wasn’t giving them up, invited guest or not. She wanted nothing more than to marry Ayden and have a family with him, but she knew Ayden. He was private and reclusive, and he took his time deciding on everything. He would no doubt want a long courtship and then a decent engagement before an actual wedding would take place. The fact he didn’t cringe when she mentioned marriage gave her hopes it may actually happen someday.

  The bride and groom said their final good byes and thanked everyone for coming. They were leaving for Hawaii in a few hours and wanted their guests to stay and enjoy the party. It was a fine time to leave.

  Ayden pulled out her chair and began escorting Charlie out of there, but Elvis stopped them. Not the man himself, or even an impersonator, but the music. Charlie turned into him as the words wise men say started in the background.

  “I can’t dance, darlin’.” Ayden had plans to work that out soon as well.

  “You’re an amazing lover, Ayden. You can surely dance.” Charlie wrapped herself around him and began swaying her hips.

  “Say that again.” He followed her motions and held her tight. If dancing with Charlie meant being this close to her and feeling her hips move slowly against his own, then yes, he could definitely dance. “The amazing part, not the dancing.”

  “You’re an amazing lover,” she whispered into his neck. Ayden rewarded her by pulling her impossibly closer and singing low and on tune in her ear. He couldn’t tell her he loved her, but Elvis was saying it for him.

  Once the music picked up, they really did have to go. Charlie had held him on the dance floor for two more slow songs. Time was escaping them, and a birthday party was waiting.

  * * *

  “I think we’re a little late.” Evelyn shut the door on the truck as she got out. Joshua, poor thing, had bought plane tickets, but she hated to fly. It was Ayden’s birthday, and she promised Noel they would be there.

  “Well we made a few stops along the way.” Joshua stretched as he walked. Good thing he found out she wouldn’t fly yesterday, or they wouldn’t have made it at all. “I didn’t hear any complaints then.” Evelyn smiled.

  “And you won’t on the way back either.” Joshua opened the door to the house, and they stepped inside.

  The birthday party was just getting started, which surprised Evelyn since Noel had been insistent they get there by six. Ayden headed over to her followed by Charlie. Evelyn had a new list of questions for Charlie. The newspaper clippings made no sense. They had spent hours tr
ying to figure something out but came up with nothing.

  “Birthday boy!” Evelyn hugged her monster of a brother. “Charlie.” She smiled and hugged Charlie, too.

  “Hey, we thought you two were flying in?” Ayden asked Joshua.

  “Could have told me she didn’t fly.” Joshua shot him a look.

  “I’m over assuming I know anything about anyone anymore.” Ayden gave him a look of commiseration.

  “Charlie wearing you down, Wolf?” Joshua lifted a brow.

  Ayden looked off into the kitchen where Charlie talked with the other women. Wearing him down, winding him up. Was there a difference? “I’m a Wolf, not a dog. I don’t get led around on a leash thank you.”

  “Neither do I.” Joshua nudged him.

  “Joshua, go get Ayden’s gift from the truck please.” Evelyn smiled widely at her husband.

  “Eye. Eye. Ma’am.” Joshua saluted and felt the nudge from Ayden. They headed back out to the truck. “Just because I do what she asks when she says please doesn’t mean she leads me around on a leash.”

  “Lie to yourself, big dog, but don’t lie to me.” Ayden leaned against the truck. “Women. Shit I can’t say anything about it really. My life as a wild man is over. I almost told her I loved her today.”

  “What?” Joshua turned. “Since when did you grow a heart, and please tell me since when did you start talking about emotions and shit?”

  “Fuck you. You’re such a pussy when it comes to my little sister. I’m surprised you’re not wearing a thong right now.”

  “Actually I’m not wearing any underwear because your little sister wants emergency access at all times. Call me a bitch if you want, but I’m rewarded well for being a good boy.” Joshua threw the package at Ayden before he could tackle him. “I suggest you warm up to the idea partner. Once they get a hold on you, it’s all over. You live in her world now.”

  “She lives in my world.” Ayden barked and followed Joshua back into the house.

  “Ayden, you can’t open that now.” Charlie took the box from him and headed to the table of gifts.

  “I see that clearly.” Joshua laughed.

  The party roared on, and so many drinks were passed around that, Charlie was amazed Ayden wasn’t drunk. She wasn’t sure how he would be after a few since he never drank more than a beer in front of her. The gifts were opened and cake was served. All in all it was a lot of fun. The guests left, and his mother, Evelyn, and Noel cleaned up and stored leftovers from the caterers.

  “Well, you ready for bed, birthday boy?” Charlie slid her hands over his shoulders and massaged.

  “No.” Ayden let out a long satisfying groan of pleasure. “I’m ready to take you down to the lake though.”

  “You’ve been drinking and are in no shape to drive, cowboy.” Charlie continued to rub his shoulders and neck.

  “I haven’t had anything to drink.” Ayden nodded toward Ben who was passed out. “Every drink I got I passed on to him. When he passed out, I dumped them in the plant. I have big plans tonight, darlin’. I still owe you for this morning.”

  “Don’t be silly. You don’t owe me for anything.” Charlie rubbed his temples. Like always, massaging Ayden was turning her on. The fact he was threatening to take her parking was really working her up. “But I never got to finish this morning, so I suppose…”

  “Let’s go.” Ayden stood in one fluid motion and headed through the dining room out the front door.

  Chapter 22

  “It’s really beautiful out here.” Charlie looked through the truck windows and took in the night sky. “Do you miss it?”

  “Not really.” Ayden shrugged. It was home, but he had been gone so long that no place felt like home anymore.

  Charlie looked across the seat at the man behind the steering wheel. His brown hair had grown out some, and he wasn’t cutting it. That seemed strange since he normally kept it military short unless he was working on a case that called for a less stark hairdo. His baby blue eyes were dancing with flecks of light from the moon. He gripped the wheel with both large hands and sat almost rigid in his seat. Maybe he was just always a rugged and hard bodied man. He may never relax.

  “You look so tense. Didn’t you have fun today?” Charlie slid across the seat and pushed one hand into his hair while the other pulled at his hands on the wheel.

  “I don’t like crowds and fuss.” Ayden closed his eyes at her touch.

  “Me either, but you deserve a big fuss. And the crowds at both the wedding and the house were small.” Charlie continued to play with his hair and rub his scalp.

  “I like this crowd the best though.” He sighed, finally starting to relax. Charlie had a way of touching him that settled him down. It calmed him and soothed all the stress away. The burdens of life seemed to lift away when she touched him.

  “Mmm. I like this crowd best, too.” Charlie pulled at his T-shirt. “Tell me your wildest fantasy.”

  “You first.” Ayden wasn’t telling her anything. She knew enough about him. He was really eager to learn this about her.

  “You are my wildest fantasy.” Charlie blinked at him confused.

  “That’s not a fantasy. I’m here. Tell me something you always wanted to do, like skinny dip or have sex in an airplane.” Ayden opened an eye to let her know he wasn’t giving up. “It’s my birthday and what I want is to know your wildest fantasy. Unless it has more than one guy in it. That, you can keep to yourself.”

  “I doubt I could handle more than you, and I really doubt any other man would measure up next to you.” Charlie bit her lip. “But if you want to know.”

  “I do.” Ayden opened both eyes and faced her. “And if it’s something we can do tonight, we’ll do it.”

  “Oh I can do it.” Charlie closed the distance between them and slid her fingers across his lap. He started to protest, but she engaged his lips with her own.

  Ayden didn’t get a chance to coax any secrets from her. Not that he minded now. Charlie was like a wild woman feverishly kissing and groping him. He could barely keep up with her pace. She had his pants undone and shirt off in no time.

  “Jesus.” Ayden gasped for air.

  “How do you get this seat back?” Charlie began pushing buttons and feeling around for levers. Ayden adjusted the seat, and as it laid back, Charlie watched as he reclined underneath her. “Better?”

  “No, you still have clothes on.” Ayden reached for her top, but Charlie swatted his hand. “That’s not fair.”

  “It’s not supposed to be fair.” Charlie pulled the offended hand to her lips. She licked over two fingers then took them in her mouth, sucking on them. Ayden groaned and bit into his bottom lip, an expression she was now familiar with when he was really turned on. She pulled his fingers from her lips and kissed them each in turn. “I love tasting you, Ayden. I wish I could just stuff you in my mouth and swallow you whole.”

  “Cannibal.” He groaned out. Charlie was kissing his wrist licking and sucking her way up his arm.

  “Yes. And I’m going to eat you alive.” Charlie trailed her way across his chest and down his other arm.

  “Paybacks are hell, darlin’,” he warned her.

  Charlie smiled at that. She moved down the ripple of abs avoiding his erection, flexing and straining for attention. She moved beside him so that she could give his muscled thighs the same treatment. Ayden swatted her butt and she yelped. “What was that for?”

  “You’re killing me here.” He ground out through closed teeth. Charlie hadn’t so much as breathed on his cock.

  “Oh poor baby. You want this?” Charlie softly gripped the steel erection with her fingers. Ayden’s breath hitched, and he gripped her butt cheek with his right hand. “I see. Well tell me what else you want.”

  “You know what I want.” He lifted his hips trying to get any friction possible from the feather light grip she held.

  “No, you have to tell me.” Charlie loosened her grip even more. “I told you everything I wanted you to do
. Now, I want to hear it. I love your voice, Ayden. Just listening to you talk makes me wet.”

  The appearance of pre-cum on the tip of his penis let Charlie know he felt the same. “Tell me what you want, Ayden, please.”

  “I want you. I want you to tighten your grip, and I want you to suck on me. I want you to put all of me in your mouth and swallow me whole, just like you said.” Ayden successfully pushed his hand from her butt to under her shirt. Maybe he could talk her into taking her clothes off. He wanted that, too.

  Charlie’s breath hitched as she did exactly what he asked of her. She was aware his hand was up the back of her shirt and even more aware when he unfastened the bra clasp. Charlie deep throated him taking every inch of Ayden she could stuff inside her mouth. When his fingers found her nipples, she worked harder and faster, moaning as her stomach clenched and desire panged inside her.

  “Charlie. Take this shirt off.” Ayden growled. He could barely speak as she sucked him off in a frantic manner that made him wonder who was enjoying it more.

  Charlie removed her lips from his cock with a pop. She stared at him a moment then lifted her arms as he pulled the shirt over her head. She was getting lost at his touch, and the more he had touched her, the more she worked to please him.

  “Come here.” Ayden pulled her closer to him. “Look at these beautiful nipples, just crying out to be touched.”

  Charlie surprised him by touching them herself. “You like to watch me, don’t you?”

  “Yes. But not as much as I like to suck on those nubs myself.” Ayden covered her hands and pushed her breasts together. He then took both nipples into his mouth at the same time sucking and licking. Charlie’s head fell back on a moan, and her hips wiggled against him. “You like that?”

  “Mmm.” She couldn’t answer in full words. Ayden was sucking one nipple and tweaking the other. Amazing how much more sensitive her breasts seemed to be at his touch. Each suck pulled at her uterus sending shocks of pleasure like lightning within.