I pump into her hard, knowing she can take it. I’ll make slow, sweet love to her later. Right now, I need a hard fuck to finish me off. Once she’s gotten off again. Ladies first.
“Aiden, oh God,” she says as I hit her G-spot over and over again.
“Come on, El. Milk my cock again.”
This time, she can’t hold back her scream, so I cover her mouth with mine, and muffle her cries. She’s the one muffling my yell a minute later as I unload everything I’ve got left inside of her.
I brace myself on my forearms as I collapse over her. Her legs drop, and I love knowing I made her as boneless as she made me. “I can’t move, but we have to.”
“Really? I think I could still take a couple of your brothers if they came for us. Even in my current state.”
“One, you are not fighting my brothers. And two, I do not need them to see me half-naked and freshly fucked.”
“Everyone’s going to know you’re freshly fucked when we go down there,” I tell her, a wicked smile on my face. “You look like you’ve been well-satisfied by my big cock.”
“Caveman.”
“You know it.”
I lift off of her, and grab some of the towels from the stack nearby. How nice of her parents to keep their deck well-stocked. After cleaning us both up, I find her panties, and slip them back on her. I also put her top back on.
“I should totally be helping you, but I like it when you take care of me.”
“Good. I like it too,” I tell her as I put my jeans back on. “Do you think my shirt is still down there?”
“Honestly, no. My aunts have probably hidden it somewhere.”
“You’re going to protect me, right?”
“You need my help?” she asks, cocking an eyebrow.
“Yes. I do. Please help me, Ellie.”
“Always, Aiden Ford. Always.”
She kisses me hard, and I have just enough brain cells to remember her other present. “Oh, I have something else for you,” I tell her as I pull the bracelet from my pocket.
“It’s cool,” she says, as I slide it on her arm.
“Do you know what it is?”
She shakes her head. “A cool rubber bracelet?”
“No. Well, yes. But it’s more. It’s called a Lokai bracelet. The white bead has water from Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth. Or it did. Sometimes if evaporates, but the water is infused into the silicone of the other beads so it’s always there somewhere. It represents humility. You humble me with your unconditional love and support of me, Ellie.
“The black bead contains mud from the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. It represents hope. I never had hope for much until I met you. You give me hope that I can be a great man, the man you deserve. And hope that I can one day be your husband.”
“You can be my husband any time you want to be.”
“Good to know. Lastly, the clear beads represent clarity in times of joy and sadness. Or in my case, clarity in a time of being as ass. I love you so much, Doll. I should never have pushed you away, and I never will again. You’re stuck with me now.”
She’s crying again, and this time I lean forward to catch every tear I can with my lips. “Where did this romantic side come from?”
“You inspire me.”
“I’m a mess now.”
“You’re gorgeous. But please say they’re happy tears when we get down there, or I will have to fight your brothers.”
“If one of them tries to touch you, I’ll knock them on their ass.”
“That’s my girl.”
“Damn straight.”
Chapter 19
Ellie
This is hands down my best birthday ever. I’m slightly buzzed—my family members are bar owners, after all—as I dance with the man I love. My new puppy, whom I still need to name, is nipping at our feet while we sway to the music, and my hands keep wandering to Aiden’s ass. He keeps moving them back up, making me pout.
“Your family is here, Doll.”
“That didn’t stop you from stripping for me, Hawk.”
“We sent the kids inside. They’re out here now. If you keep grabbing me, I’m going to be pitching another tent.”
“Fine. I’ll behave.”
“Just until we’re alone, right?”
“Oh yeah. Once we’re alone again, all bets are off.”
“It’s your birthday, but I feel like I’m the one getting the best present.”
“I am pretty great.”
“You really are.”
I kiss him, because really, how can I not. He’s turned into this super romantic guy, while still being all alpha and hot. Every wish I could make on a birthday cake, star, or eyelash have come true in this man, and I can’t wait to go home with him. To his apartment, or mine. I don’t really care where we live, I just know we’ll be together.
“All right, it’s my turn for a dance,” my mom says, pushing us apart.
“Um, Mom, I don’t know.”
“Relax. I won’t molest him. Much.”
Aiden looks at me with wide eyes, but I just shrug. “I can’t save you this time, Hawk. You’re on your own.”
I kiss him and do a little twirl as I walk away. My dad grabs me before I get far, and pulls me into his arms. “Having a good birthday, Ellie Bear?”
“I am.”
“You know I’m pretty open-minded, but watching that young man strip for you was a little much.”
“He was trying to win me over.”
“I gathered that. Is he your forever?”
“Yeah. He is.”
“No one will ever be worthy of my little girl, but if he makes you happy, I’ll overlook the fact that your mom is trying to grab his ass.”
I whip my head around, taking in Aiden’s pained expression. “Seriously? Daddy, you need to go save him.”
“I’m on it,” he tells me, kissing the top of my head before walking over to them.
He pulls Aiden away, and starts walking him over to where my brothers are waiting. Oh shit. That’s not what I had in mind. I start to head that way, when Nate grabs my arm. “Don’t. He needs to prove himself to them. If you go and save him, they’ll never respect him.”
“You’re right. I just don’t want to scare him away.”
“Ellie, he just stripped in front of your entire family, gave you a puppy, and very obviously fucked you senseless when the two of you disappeared. I don’t think he’s going anywhere,” Jade says, coming up on my other side.
“He gave me this cool bracelet, and said he wants to be my husband one day, too,” I tell her, holding out my wrist, and smiling.
“It’s about damn time he came to his senses,” she says.
“We may take our time admitting that we’re wrong, but once we do, we’re all in. That’s just the kind of guys we are,” Nate tells us.
“The best kind of guys,” Jade says, leaning up for a kiss.
“Aw, you two are adorable.”
“Yeah, we are. Um, listen, I know I said you shouldn’t save Aiden, but if you don’t Matt and I may have to,” Nate says, looking over my head.
I turn to see Aiden standing with his fists clenched, while my brothers are surrounding him. “Fuck,” I say, pushing my way through the crowd to get to them.
* * *
Aiden
I told Ellie I could handle whatever her brothers and dad want to dish out, but this could get ugly fast. They aren’t interested in talking—they just want to kick my ass. They’re looking out for their sister, and I think my dance may have made a few of their wives happier than they liked, too. I didn’t do it for anyone but Ellie, but I know I got a few other women riled up. The guys should be thanking me, not looking like they wouldn’t mind going to jail after killing me.
“Hey guys, what’s up?” Ellie asks, breaking through their little circle, to stand next to me.
Would it be inappropriate for me to drop to my knees and kiss her feet? This having your woman protect you thing is tu
rning out to be a great idea. I mean, I know I could take her brothers, but I don’t want there to be any bleeding at her birthday party. I didn’t see any other way out of this, but she came to save me.
“We’re just having a conversation with your young man,” her dad says.
“Conversations usually happen with beer and a table to sit around. Or at least some chairs. You look like you’re planning to jump him like this is some gang initiation. Which would go very badly for you.”
“He can’t fight us all.”
“Actually, he probably could. He was Special Forces. Plus, his best friends would help him out. You remember how excited you were to meet Nate Anderson? He’s best friend number one. Matt Corrigan is bestie two. Shall I move on to Jake Mason?”
“Shit. You hang with those dudes?” one of the brothers asks. No one introduced themselves, so I don’t know his name.
“Yeah. They’re my guys.”
“Oh, and did I mention that his dad is the Vice President of the United States?”
“Seriously?” her dad asks, and I nod.
“And none of that’s even why you should be worried. You should be worried because if one of you so much as lays a hand on him, I’ll kick your ass myself.”
“Ellie Bear.”
“Don’t Ellie Bear me, Daddy. I love him, he loves me, and we’re going to get married one day. That’s all you need to know.”
“He hasn’t asked me.”
“I didn’t officially ask her yet, Sir.”
“But you plan to?”
“If that’s okay with you, yes. I mean, if it’s not okay, I’ll still ask her, but I’d rather have your blessing.”
Her dad looks me over, and then nods before holding out his hand. “You have my blessing. I’ve never seen my daughter happier.” He doesn’t let my hand go right away. “But, I’ve also never seen her sadder than she was before you did your little dance. I have a feeling both emotions belong to you. Don’t let me ever see her cry over you, because I don’t care who your father, or your friends are, I’ll take you down all the same.”
“Understood.”
“Go on, and eat some food. The cake should be out soon. I’ll keep my wife away from you. I’m sorry she was trying to molest you earlier, but that dance was sure something else.”
“I promised Ellie I’d dance for her one day, and while I was planning to do it in private, I needed a grand gesture for her.”
“I get it. Just try to keep your pants on from now on.”
“While we’re in public,” Ellie says.
“I do not want to know about your private time. Ever. Now run along.”
Ellie hugs each of her brothers, and then I take her hand again. “Thanks for saving me.”
“Always. I’ll always save you. While you’re saving me.”
“Speaking of that, let’s try and find a quiet table so we can talk.”
“That sounds ominous,” she says, loading her plate up with a burger, potato salad, and mac and cheese.”
“It’s not. I just want to see how you’ve really been doing.”
“Okay. We can sit on the pier.”
“Perfect.”
We get settled, and then I take her hand. She’s not looking at me, so I know it’s been pretty bad for her. I lift her chin up so we’re eye to eye. “I know I hurt you. Both when I flipped out at my dad’s house, and also when I grabbed you and said the things I did at the bar.”
“Yeah. You did.”
“Walk me through what happened.”
“We don’t have to do this, Aiden.”
“Yes we do. Nate has been really open with Matt and me about his therapy. I know there’s no quick fix for him—or you. I need to be involved in your recovery. Whether it’s just to support you, or if you want me to go to some therapy sessions with you. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
“I called my shrink as soon as I got back to the townhouse in D.C. She stayed on the phone with me for hours while I cried. Jade, Isa, and Faith came over and stayed with me, too. I-I wanted to just disappear, Aiden. Just be gone from the world. I don’t think I could’ve killed myself, but I didn’t want to exist anymore.”
“Fuck.”
“It wasn’t just you, though. It was what I went through, and just not knowing what would happen in my future, not knowing if I could go back to working as a functional member of the Society. Plus, even though I contemplated getting some cats, I didn’t really want to be alone for the rest of my life. I had just barely started being okay with you touching me, and I really couldn’t fathom having another man’s hands on me. It was a big jumble of me figuring out how to keep my friends if I didn’t work with them anymore, and how to one day be happy as a cat lady.”
“I have to say that I’m glad you didn’t want another man touching you, but damn. I need you to know that I never stopped thinking about you, or worrying about you, even when I was being the planet’s biggest asshole.”
“I wish I could say that it would’ve mattered if I’d known, but I need to get better for me, and not you. I’m sorry if that’s harsh, but it’s the truth. I need to do this for me. Yes, it will help our relationship, but if I do this for you—or anyone else—it won’t be real. Or right.”
“I get it. All I want is for you to be happy. I meant what I said about being here for you however you need me to be.”
“Even if I need you to tie me up?”
I nearly spit out the bite I just took of my burger. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“But you did, and it made me think about things. I may freak out, but I want to try. We used to have so much fun. I want to have fun with you again.”
“You don’t need to be tied up for us to have fun.”
“Which is why I want to try it—because you won’t ever ask me again on your own.” I start to protest, but she puts her fingers over my mouth. “Don’t. We both know how much you like to tie me to your bed. I used to love it, and I want to see if I can at least like it now.”
“Okay, we can try. But if you are even a tiny bit uncomfortable, you need to tell me.”
“I will. I don’t want to be scared. I’m starting to finally accept that I don’t have to always be strong, but I also know I have to set boundaries for myself, and for us.”
“Whatever you need. You just tell me, or show me.”
“I have something I want to show you.”
“Okay.”
She slips off her flip flop and holds out her foot to me. I see a little semi-colon tattoo. It’d been hidden by the strap of her sandal. “I saw them on the internet. People get them to show that their life isn’t over, even though they’ve been depressed or suicidal. Nate and I went in together to get them.”
“Wow. That’s cool. I wish I could’ve been there with you.”
She shakes her head. “We went alone. Jade didn’t even go. We did it for ourselves.”
I nod. A part of me still hates that my best friend can help Ellie in ways that I can’t. But the bigger part of me, the one who loves them both, is so damn grateful that they have each other. I would never wish what they went through on my worst enemy, but I’m glad they have each other.
“I get it.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. Thank you for being there for my friend, and thank you for letting me finally love you the way you deserve to be loved.”
“Are you trying to make me cry again?”
“No. Well maybe, if it’s a good cry,” I tell her with a laugh. “Were you really going to buy a bunch of cats?”
“I sincerely hoped it wouldn’t come to that. I’m not a cat person.”
“Good thing I got you a puppy then, huh?”
“Yep. You did good. With everything. Just please no more stripping in front of my mom.”
“No problem there. I promise to only strip for you in private from now on. It was pretty good, though, right?”
“Totally epic.”
The rest of the party goes by pretty quic
kly. Ellie blows out the candles on her giant cake, and then we grab the puppy and a blanket. We cuddle up together as the fireworks her parents ordered explode overhead. This is the best night of my life, but I know there will be better. I have Ellie in my life now, after all.
Chapter 20
One month later
Ellie
Tonight is a big Corrigan & Co. Foundation fundraiser. Aiden’s dad is attending, and I can’t wait to see him. Aiden spent a week with him and the guys after my birthday, fishing at his cabin. They needed to reconnect. Even though Tim knew what Andres was doing, and had time to come to terms with everything, his death was still hard on him. It left him without closure, despite me telling him what Andres said about Aiden. He hadn’t said much about Tim, and that left a lot of questions.
I’m glad Aiden could be there for his dad, but I was happy when he came home to me. We still haven’t officially decided exactly where “home” is yet. We trade off sleeping at each other’s apartments. Since they’re in the same building, it’s not a big deal. If one of us forgets something, we just run over to the other place. We’re supposed to talk with Chloe Griffin next week to make a final decision, and tell her how to mesh our styles together. Or really, how to mesh my style into his minimalistic one since he has nothing in his apartment except for furniture and the other things Chloe put in there for him.
I’m getting dressed at Stella’s apartment with all of the other women. She picked out a really cool black dress for me. It has one lacy black strap, is lace on top, and then goes asymmetrical as it covers just what it needs to on the bottom. There is a sheer layer with a few lace pieces that goes all the way to the ground. I absolutely love it, and I know Aiden will, too.
He comes to get me with the other guys. I bet they got ready together, too, although they’ll never admit it. He looks beyond hot in his custom tux. I want to just eat him up.
“You didn’t wear your hair down,” he says with a pout when he sees me.
“Is that all you have to say to me?”
“Yes?”
I smack him on the arm as he laughs. “You know you look gorgeous.”
“You should tell me.”
“You look gorgeous, Ellie.”
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