I walk us a few blocks away to the beach. She stops to take off her heels, and then walks next to me. I whip off my shirt to put it on the sand so she can sit next to me.
“I don’t care about the dress, you know.”
“Stella will. I don’t need her showing up next.”
“You’ve already decided that you’re not coming back with me? That’s just fucking great.”
I hear her tears before I turn to her, and see them. “You don’t want me.”
“You’re all I want, Aiden.”
“What I did to Dave. It was…”
“Amazing?”
“You came here just to lie to me?”
“I’m not lying. I love the fact that you were so serious about avenging me. What you did to him was exactly what needed to be done.”
“I saw you hiding your face. While Nate was holding you.”
“I’ve never been good with blood and gore. You know that. I can punch, kick, shoot, or stab someone, but I don’t like to look at the aftermath. I have to, because if I didn’t, they might get up and kill me, but it grosses me out. I wanted to jump up and down and cheer for you while you were hurting Dave, but I couldn’t look.”
“I-I thought you were disgusted by me.”
“You should’ve stuck around and asked me. Or better yet, maybe checked on me since I was forced to kiss and touch that bastard.”
“I knew you’d go to Nate first.”
“Actually, if you hadn’t gone after Dave, it would’ve been you I ran, too. I was waiting for you to finish so I could ask you to hold me. And I could hold you. But then you left, just like you always do. You left me again.”
“Nate took care of you, though, right?”
“Yes, but that’s not his job. He should just be taking care of Jade, and himself. I’m guilty of relying on him too much because I could talk to him about everything without feeling embarrassed since he was victimized, too. And he knows he’s guilty of using me to build himself up. He’s sorry, by the way.”
“I hate that I’m jealous of my best friend.”
“You have no reason to be jealous. He could help me for the rest of my life—which he will if I need him—but he’ll never be more than a friend to me. A brother. I have plenty of them already, but he’s one I chose because he loves my best friend more than his next breath, and because he loves you like that, too. In a different way than he loves Jade, thankfully, but your bond is just as strong. Even if he had never helped me with what I’ve gone through, he’d always be important to me because of those two things.”
I reach out to run my finger over the semi-colon on her foot. “These tattoos made me a little crazy. I love what they represent for the two of you, but it hurt.”
“If you weren’t so intent on keeping your body free of tats, we could’ve done what Nate and Jade did.”
“What did they do?”
“They went and got romantic matching tattoos. And Jade got something to honor ours, too.”
“She did? I always thought that she must feel the same way I was feeling. That she was just hiding it better.”
“Jade knows without a doubt that Nate loves her. He barely even registers when another woman is in the room with him if it’s not her. They also have more sex than half the population combined, so she’s pretty confident in that area, too.”
“I know you love me. I never questioned that.”
“So it just doesn’t matter to you.”
“What? Of course it does.”
“That’s why you keep leaving me.”
“Ellie, no. It’s my own issues that make me leave.”
“If I was enough for you, you wouldn’t go. You’d stay and fight for me. For us.”
She is enough. She’s everything. How do I make her understand that now, after I’ve walked away from her so many times? What can I do to prove once and for all that I’m all in with her? That I’ll never leave her again? I just don’t know. I can say the words, but they won’t be enough. I’ve said them before, but then I walked away. Again.
“Since you didn’t respond to what I just said, it’s time for me to go. You can work at the bar for as long as you want to,” she tells me as she stands up. I stand up, too.
“I thought you were coming back to see the show.”
“I was just being a bitch about that. I didn’t like that woman thinking I wasn’t hot enough for you. I figured you’d kiss me or something in front of her once I talked some sense into you.”
“Ellie.”
“Goodbye, Aiden.”
“Marry me.”
She stops in her tracks and turns back to me. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do. I have a ring. Not here, because it’s too special to just carry around. But I have it.”
“Why are you asking me now?”
“I need to do something to prove to you that you’re enough for me, you’re it for me. You’re The One. You’ve seen yourself listed like that in my phone, and it’s the truth. I’ve said words to you—so many words. Ones that were romantic and made you cry. And ones that hurt you, and hurt me. Words are powerful, but they’re not enough. Let me put my ring on your finger, and claim you for the world to see. Let me be your husband, and stay by your side forever.”
“Hawk,” she says, covering her mouth with her hands.
I drop to my knees, and stay there. One knee isn’t enough for her. “Please do me the honor of being my wife, Elletra Gallagher. I’m a stupid, jealous, bastard, and I’ve fucked up more than any one man has a right to. But I love you. I will always love you. I promise to not just say the words, but to show you. Every second of every day for the rest of our lives.”
With the wind blowing her loose hair into her face, and her eyes shining with tears, Ellie finally smiles at me. A real smile, full of love and promise. “Yes, Aiden Ford. I will marry you. Just know that if you ever try to leave me again, I’m tying you to our bed until you come to your senses.”
“You can tie me to our bed, anytime, Doll. I’m never leaving you again, though, so you’ll have to get used to that. You know, having me stay to fight with you may not be as great as you think.”
“The make-up sex will be.”
“Oh yeah. Definitely.”
* * *
Ellie
When we finally make it back to the bar—after some PG rated kissing on the beach—Aiden tells Rod that he needs his bag from the safe. I don’t miss the glares I get when he holds up our linked hands to kiss mine before going into the office. I just smile in return.
When they come back out, Aiden has one hand closed. “Is that my ring?”
“It is,” he tells me, opening his hand and making my jaw drop.
The ring has a giant cabochon stone in the middle. It’s a gorgeous shade of blue, and I can’t believe he remembered that it’s my favorite stone. The band is platinum, and covered in rows of sapphires in various different shades of blue. It’s like looking at the ocean we just left.
“It’s gorgeous,” I say, holding out my hand. “You remembered the cabochon.”
“I remember everything you’ve ever told me.”
He places the ring on my finger, and it takes me a moment to notice that the entire bar has gone silent. I don’t blame them. They’ve been seeing Aiden turn down women every night, and then I just walk in and get a ring. An amazing, one of a kind, ring.
“You asked her to marry you?” the blonde from earlier asks.
I can’t help myself. I know I should, but I just can’t. “Yep. He’s going home with me, too.”
“Be nice, Doll,” Aiden whispers in my ear, giving it a little nip.
I smack him. “That was me being nice. She’s still standing.”
“True.”
“You’re staying for the show, right?” Rod asks him.
“Of course,” Aiden says, looking at me. “You gonna play with me, El?”
“I could probably be persuaded. I do have to run an errand, though.”
“Should be.”
“Get going then. On your ‘secret’ errand.”
“You’ll like it, Hawk.”
“Tease.”
“You know it.”
We kiss goodbye, keeping things going for longer than we probably should. I don’t want to let him go now that he’s officially promised me forever. A small part of me is still scared, but I know he meant what he said about showing me he means it.
“Go,” he says, smacking my ass. “Before I drag you to the storeroom, and neither of us makes it behind the bar in two hours.
I salute him before dodging his arms again. “Yes, sir.”
Chapter 22
Aiden
I hear the whistles before I see her, and then I turn and nearly drop the glass I was drying. Ellie’s “errand” apparently involved some clothes shopping. Or more accurately, some lingerie shopping. She’s got on a black satin bra that has straps crossing down below what it’s covering, and she paired it with black leather shorts. Incredibly tiny shorts. Her ass is practically hanging out, and those lacy boots that go to her knees aren’t helping the drool factor in the room. The giant ring I put on her finger isn’t deterring the looks, either.
She ignores them all as she swings her long, loose hair around for my benefit alone. Her eyes never leave mine as she steps on a stool, using it to hop onto the bar. When she spins around, I step between her legs and kiss the fuck out of her.
“Hi,” she says when we come up for air. “Did you miss me?”
“You know I missed you, but are you trying to cause every man in the city to have a heart attack?”
“Nope. Just trying to compete with you once you take your shirt off.”
“Since most of the women in here are looking at you like they might be curious, I think you’ve succeeded.”
“I bought something else. But that’s just for you to see. Later.”
“I think we might have time for a quickie.”
She pushes me away. “It’s been too long for either of us to be satisfied with a quickie. It would only make things worse.”
“You’re right,” I tell her, groaning.
“I know. Now will you please help me down so we can play?”
“Yes, but what are we playing?”
“Body shots. Just us, licking and sucking while they all watch.”
“Holy shit. You want that?”
“I think I need it. To be watched on my own terms, with the one man I trust to join me. I couldn’t ever do it all in public, but I can do this. If that’s okay.”
“You know whatever you want is okay. Same rules as always. If you feel even a little uncomfortable, you stop, and we just throw around some bottles like I’ve been doing.”
She nods, and I lift her off the bar, pulling her into my arms for a long hug. Once I let go, she reaches for my shirt, pulling it up and over my head. She runs her nails over my abs as she licks her lips, and I nearly blow my load right then and there.
“Ready to play, Hawk?”
“Game on, Doll.”
She smiles before licking across my collarbone. I didn’t even see her pick up the salt, but she’s flipping the shaker over the line her tongue just made, and then reaching for the bottle of tequila. The crowd has started to realize what she’s doing, and they go a little wild. Truth be told, I’m feeling a little wild at the moment, too. I pick up a lime and dribble it over the biceps on my left arm. She pours her shot, and hands it to me, nodding.
When we played this way before, we were alone, but I don’t care about the crowd. As far as I’m concerned, the only difference between then and now was that when we were alone, clothes came off. More than just my shirt, or hers. Our clothes will stay on in this bar, but it won’t be any less erotic. I know that, and so does my cock. This is going to be both amazing, and excruciating at the same time, and I’ll love every minute of it.
Without hesitation, Ellie leans over to lick the salt, turns to have me slam her shot in her mouth for her and the sucks the juice off of me. The crowd goes crazy, and she gives me a big smile. Oh yeah, this was one of her best ideas ever.
Over the course of the next hour, we have licked and sucked every inch of exposed skin on each other from the waist up. Somewhere around the half hour mark, the other bartenders started pouring shots for the customers so they could play along. As I take my last shot off the back of her neck, I look over the bar and smile against her skin. I’m pretty sure Ellie’s dad is going to kill us both—drinking on the job is a big no-no, and turning his bar into a clothed orgy is probably against the rules too. I’m too buzzed to care right now, and I think she is, too. She said she needed this, so whatever reprimand we get for this will be worth it, even if I’m never allowed in a Gallagher bar again.
* * *
Ellie
I’m so turned on right now that I’m seriously contemplating that quickie in the storeroom before our flight. The buzz I’ve got going on is probably contributing to my reasoning, but I honestly don’t care. I want my man, and I want him now. Having our mouths on each other was so fucking sexy, and also the worst torture possible. I actually started to undo his belt at one point, but he stopped me with a kiss. Thank God he still had enough brain power to know that would be a very bad idea.
“Ready to go?” he asks, coming up behind me to circle me with his arms, and nuzzle my neck.
“The flight’s too short. I need you now.”
“Good thing I had Matt send your plane home and booked us a car back then, isn’t it?”
“Does the car have a privacy screen?”
“Yes, and a nice wide backseat for me to make love to you on.”
“Best fiancé ever.”
“I aim to please.”
“I know, and I appreciate it so very, very much.”
“You’re adorable when you’re buzzed.”
“I’m sexy,” I tell him with a pout.
“No doubt about that.”
“Oh, I need to change into my present. Is the car here? I can’t walk there with it on.”
“Yes. The car is here. You know I’m just going to rip whatever you put on right off your body right? So there’s really no point.”
I stomp my foot. Yes, I totally did that. “I have a plan.”
“Go on then, Doll. You get yourself all ready to be ravished by me.”
I giggle. Dear God, I just giggled. I shake my head to clear it a little. “I just giggled.”
“Yeah. Are you sure you’re up for this tonight?”
“I’m not that drunk, but thanks for checking.”
“Always.”
I grab my bag and walk outside before I embarrass myself any further. I’m pleasantly surprised to see the stretch limo. Aiden didn’t say we’d have a few seats, and the floor to use. I shiver as I think of all the things we can do.
Once I’ve got the topless corset and matching panties on, and have attached the stockings to my garter belt, I put on the simple black stilettos I bought. Aiden’s going to love it when my heels are digging into his ass—and shoulders. The simple things in life are sometimes the most appreciated.
I text him that he can come inside now—double meaning, totally intended—and then lean back on one of the seats with my legs spread wide. The door opens, and he climbs inside, closing it quickly behind him. I watch him as he sees me, and then practically lunges for the intercom.
“You can drive now. We won’t need anything from you until we get to Vegas. Thanks.”
He moves to me, and drops to his knees between my thighs. “Do you like my surprise, Aiden?” I ask, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear him say it.
“This is like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, my birthday, and every other major and minor holiday combined. I don’t even know where to start with you.”
He runs a finger over my panties and smiles wickedly at me when he sucks the wet digit into his mouth. We both k
now where he’s going to start. He takes off his jeans and boxers so that his hard and heavy cock pops free. He does just what he promised earlier, and grabs the sides of my panties in his hands, ripping them clean off of me.
“Holy fuck,” he says, when he sees the surprise I was hiding from him.
“You like my hawk?”
“Oh yeah,” he says, running his fingers over the tattoo that’s just above my bikini line. “I love it. Like really, really love it.”
“I finally decided what I wanted, so I had Zane do it for me last week.”
“I want to be mad that he saw you there, but if you’re okay with it, then I am, too. This is seriously the best thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
“I kept my panties on, so yes, I was fine. I was hoping you’d like it. If I ever saw you again, that is.”
“And if you didn’t?”
“Then every guy after you would’ve just thought I liked birds.”
“There will be no guys after me,” he says with a growl.
“Aren’t you glad you put a ring on it?”
Instead of answering me, he pulls me to the edge of the seat. I hold on as he spreads my legs wide, and then slides onto the floor. When he moves himself under me, I start to lean forward so we can sixty nine, but he holds me firmly above him.
“Aiden?”
“Not yet. I want you to fuck my face while you watch me getting myself off. If you come twice before I do, I’ll let you finish me off with your mouth.”
“And if I don’t?” I ask, trying not to sound too eager, because oh God, I want to watch him, and then finish him. I really want that.
“You’re going to watch me finish myself, and I’m going to fuck you twice before I let you put your mouth on me.”
It may sound like I’m winning either way, but I’m not. He knows how much I love to blow him. To see him getting himself off is going to make my mouth water, and yeah, I need to come those two times, so I get my turn.
“Can I help?”
He smirks at me before answering. “You want to play with your tits, Doll? Does my cock feel that good when it’s in your mouth?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Since you asked so nicely…no.” I groan and curse him as he laughs. “Are you ready?”
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