Beth ignored Connie’s eye roll in her periphery.
“Thank you,” she replied softly.
The pie was finished quickly. Beth was appreciative of every compliment she received and noted with immense satisfaction that Aidan looked especially pleased after he finished his second piece.
Following dessert, Olivia suggested their guests move over to the couches while she and Beth did the dishes. Nathan, Connie, and Matthew took her up on her offer, but Aidan remained at the table. He tucked in his chair and reached for Beth’s plate as well as his own.
“I’ll help you two clean up.”
Beth met his dedicated gaze. “I’ll take care of everything. Just relax.”
With the way he stared back at her, it was as though he was reluctant to agree. Finally, his lips lifted into a small smile. “Okay, if you’re certain.”
Beth nodded and he joined their friends. She and Olivia cleared the table and cleaned the dishes quickly, choosing to leave the pots and pans for later.
Upon their return to the living room, they brought out ashtrays. Matthew, Connie, and Nathan lit up, but even after Beth’s encouragement, Aidan did not. In fact, he never smoked around her. She hoped he wasn’t refraining on account of her personal aversion.
During their post-meal conversation, Matthew invited them all to his New Year’s Eve concert at the Copa Room in the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Apparently Frank Sinatra played there all the time and raved about it.
Connie said she didn’t see the appeal of flocking to a desert town, out of state, when Palm Springs was just as accessible and much more developed, but Matthew predicted good things for Las Vegas in the near future in terms of gambling and night life. Nathan, Aidan, Olivia, and Beth said the concert sounded like a fun way to ring in the New Year and agreed to check their schedules to see if the trip was plausible.
“Does anyone want another drink?” Beth asked during a lull in the conversation.
“Actually, Connie and I should get going.” Matthew took Connie’s hand and they rose from the sofa. “Connie has an early call at the studio, and I tee off with Pat Boone at six.”
Beth and Olivia received compliments on their hostess and cooking abilities as they walked the couple to the door and retrieved the correct coats and Matthew’s hat from the closet. The group exchanged good-byes, and then Matthew tipped his fedora and escorted Connie out of the apartment.
Olivia closed the door behind them. “I’m so glad everything went well.”
“So am I,” Beth replied.
Nathan placed his hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “I should get going, too.”
She pouted. “Already?”
His lips curved into a frown. “Darling, you know I don’t want to, but I have an early start tomorrow as well. We’ll see each other again at lunch in the commissary.”
Olivia sighed. “Oh, all right.”
As Beth retrieved Nathan’s fedora from the closet, she wondered if his departure meant Aidan would leave now, too.
Nathan put on his hat. “As always, I had a wonderful time with all of you this evening.”
“Thank you for coming.” Beth gave him a hug.
Olivia removed her coat from the closet. “I’m going to walk him to his car.”
Nathan shook his head. “Liv, that’s not necessary—”
Olivia cleared her throat pointedly. Beth’s heart hammered as she realized her friend’s intention was to give her some alone time with Aidan.
Nathan looked sheepish as he appeared to clue in to the same thing.
“I mean, sure, that would be great,” he said.
Olivia winked at Beth on her way out of the apartment with her beau. Beth closed the door behind them with a click that echoed through the apartment so loudly it was as if she had slammed it shut. She closed her eyes for a moment and released a slow breath before facing Aidan.
The beating of her heart kicked up as he pulled her into his arms, eradicating her awkwardness and reigniting the warm, tingling sensations she felt earlier.
“I’ve wanted to do this all evening,” he murmured, drifting his hands up her back.
“Me, too.” Beth closed her eyes and let out a blissful sigh against his chest, stroking the soft fabric of his sweater. Their recent separation made her forget how good she felt whenever they were alone together. There was no reason to feel nervous about spending the night with him in Santa Barbara. She trusted him to take care of her and believed wholeheartedly he would never push her beyond her comfort zone.
“Beth?” His gentle voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She opened her eyes. “Yes, Aidan?”
“May I kiss you?”
Beth’s nod was immediate. She could only hope she remembered how to do it properly and avoid disappointing him.
Aidan dipped his head, his stare ablaze with an attentiveness that made her feel beautiful, desirable… home. She closed her eyes, feeling his warm breath on her face and his arms tighten around her, bringing her trembling body flush to his.
In spite of their patient pace, Beth was completely unprepared for the surge of desire that took her captive when he brought their lips together. She whimpered into his mouth as he kissed her carefully, his hands placed respectfully on her hips as if cemented there. The effect of their intimacy was so intense, and she was so far gone, she didn’t question it or care. Her only focus was reacquainting herself with his touch, his lips… his tongue.
The moan that rumbled in Aidan’s throat as she moved her hands to his hair and kissed him deeper erased her concern over whether she was serving him well. His reaction also gave her the courage to increase the urgency of her lips, hoping he would follow suit.
Abruptly, Aidan broke their kiss and brought his forehead to hers, his breathing heavier and faster than normal. His eyes were screwed shut and his face coiled, as if stopping them had caused him physical pain.
“I should go.” His husky voice sounded reluctant. “You have to get up early tomorrow.”
Beth struggled to come up with something she could say to contest him.
“Would you like a tour of the apartment?” She blushed as the words left her mouth in an overzealous rush.
Aidan opened his eyes and brushed his hand to her face, regarding her with steady intensity that implied a famine completely unrelated to food. The pause that lingered between them made her worry he wasn’t interested in her offer until he angled his head and closed the gap between their lips, gracing her with another sensual kiss that could only be interpreted as a resounding yes.
It took Beth a moment to regain her wits before she grasped his hand in hers and brought him to the first stop on the tour, the kitchen, which didn’t take long to show him due to its tiny size. Next, they ventured across the living room and down the hallway to the bathroom.
Beth opened the door and gestured inside, thankful that the toilet seat was down and the shower curtain was drawn, even though she and Olivia always kept the apartment very clean.
“This is our bathroom.” She lowered her gaze bashfully. “It’s small, but it serves its purpose.”
Aidan nodded and surveyed the room from the doorway, his hand joined with hers in the space between them. As Beth watched him, she felt ridiculous for bringing him here. He was probably feigning interest solely for her benefit.
“We didn’t have a chance to remodel it to our liking,” she rambled through her nervousness. “When we first moved in, we didn’t have much money, and then after we both signed at the studio, we were too busy. Now that we’re most likely moving soon, there’s no point.”
“That makes sense.” Aidan flashed the disarming grin he seemed to reserve only for her and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss that wobbled her knees.
With a playful smile, Beth pulled him down the hallway to the next door. “This is Olivia’s room.”
Aidan looked inside and grimaced at the colorful, overtly feminine décor.
Beth giggled as she pulled the door shu
t. “I told Liv that if we moved, I needed to have some input into the decorating process as well, even though she’s the design expert.”
Aidan chuckled. “That’s probably for the best.”
The rustling crinoline of Beth’s dress mingled with her increasingly hesitant footfalls as she escorted him down the hallway to the final room in the apartment. As they stopped before the closed door, anxiety struck her with the force of a race car gunning for the finish line. What on earth was she thinking giving him a tour of the apartment? At the same time, the temptation to continue was far too great to ignore.
“And this,” her heart thumped erratically as she opened the door and turned on the light, “is my bedroom.”
Beth tightened her grip on the doorknob, anxiously awaiting Aidan’s reply.
He peered over her shoulder from the hallway. “It’s, uh, very nice.”
Given he stood about two feet from the door, Beth knew he didn’t have a clear view of it.
“I can, um, show you around inside if you’d like.” As soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them. If he turned her down, she’d look like a fool.
Aidan rubbed the base of his neck. “Uh, yeah… sure.”
Beth stepped inside her bedroom tentatively. What if he agreed just to be polite? Either way, it was too late to back out now.
Aidan hesitated at the doorway but finally crossed the threshold. Beth was instantly excited by the reality of him in her most private dwelling.
She gestured to her surroundings and giggled nervously. “Well, this is it. The décor is simple, but it suits me fair enough.”
Aidan’s eyes darted around the room.
“It’s very nice,” he repeated.
Beth’s breathing became as ragged as her heartbeat. “Thank you.”
A significant silence filled the room.
She didn’t know what to say or do to diffuse the awkwardness of the situation. Perhaps it was best to leave. “How about we—”
“Hey, you kept my letter.” Aidan walked over to her nightstand and picked up the note he’d given her in New York.
Beth forgot to put it back in the drawer last night after she read it, which she usually did before going to sleep. She joined him beside the bed.
“Of course I kept it. Did you not keep my rose?” She flashed a teasing smile.
A ghost of a grin touched Aidan’s lips. “Of course I did.”
“There’s the photograph we took next to Central Park.” Beth pointed to the framed picture on her bureau. “And beside it is the music box you gave me.” She dropped her gaze, hoping to hide her blush. “I listen to it every night.”
“You do?”
She nodded.
“It makes me very happy to hear that.” Aidan placed the letter back on the nightstand and moved toward her, his face graced with a gentle smile.
Awareness of him prickled across Beth’s skin. She took a step in reverse, and the backs of her legs touched something soft. She gulped.
Her bed.
“Beth, are you okay?” A frown chased away Aidan’s grin.
“Um… yes.”
Aidan cupped her cheek in his palm, his eyes exuding sincerity and warmth. “You know I’d never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable, right?”
“Yes, I know.” This time Beth sounded much more confident because she believed every word.
Aidan brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Then what’s wrong?”
“I’ve… never done this before.” She felt a rush of blood to her face.
His eyebrows knitted together. “Done what?”
“This.” She motioned between them. “I’ve never kissed a man before you, aside from Will Everett, but that doesn’t count because we were acting and, well, I don’t have any romantic feelings for him. You’re the first man to ever touch me intimately or even hold my hand.”
She was well aware she was rambling again but couldn’t stop. “I’ve never felt this way—physically or emotionally—about anyone before you. This may sound fanatical, given how new our relationship is. I hope you don’t feel I’m coming on too strongly…” She snapped her mouth shut, determined not to embarrass herself further, and gathered the courage to look at him.
Embedded in Aidan’s eyes was a lick of lust softened with admiration.
“Beth, the way I feel when I’m with you…” He exhaled a deep breath, as though steeling himself. “If you only knew… if I could only articulate it properly…”
“Growing up, I was always taught it was important for a woman to hold an air of mystery when it comes to men and to never be brazen with her feelings. With you, I find myself breaking every rule.” Warmth fanned across Beth’s face at her admission. “I can’t help it. The dichotomy is appealing but also kind of frightening.”
Aidan leaned in to her slowly. “Beth, you’re all I think about. Nothing about what you said scares me because I feel exactly the same way.”
Relief softened her features. “I’m so glad. I don’t want you to question my moral character—”
“There’s no one as good as you are, Beth.” He trailed his fingers up her arm, his eyes adopting a reverence that stole her breath. “You’re like a little dove, delicate and gentle.”
Beth’s heart warmed with the sentiment.
Aidan’s face lost its carnality as he closed the space between them and touched his lips to hers. Beth closed her eyes and kissed him back, her body melting into his without thought or decision, spawned by the heat that bloomed under her skin and pushed her mind beyond shame or shyness.
Aidan’s hands wandered respectfully down her arms, up her back, and along her sides, caressing her hips, her waist, and driving her mad with their closeness to her breasts, which she longed for him to touch but felt too ashamed to beg for outright.
“Everything I have, everything I am, is yours,” he murmured between kisses.
“Oh, Aidan, I need you. So much…”
In the wake of her declaration, Aidan’s lips moved with a sudden urgency she welcomed wholeheartedly. With every caress of his tongue and sweep of his hands, her mind grew hazier.
Fused in Aidan’s embrace and lost in his kisses, Beth fell back onto her bed, her legs dangling over the edge of the mattress, her shoes slipping from her feet to the floor. Aidan came down on top of her gently, bracing his hands on either side of her body, blanketing her with hard muscle and electric fervor, his lips never deserting hers.
Beth gripped his back and entwined their legs to pull him closer, desperate for more of everything he offered. The moans that reverberated from his mouth sent pulsations throughout her body, pumping blood that burned like lava to her cheeks, her breasts, and between her legs. Instinctively, she lifted her hips off the mattress. That was when she felt him for the first time, large and erect, pushing between her thighs.
Panic tore through her desire, stiffening her muscles and stilling her lips. Her eyes popped open.
Aidan halted in an instant, his eyes flushed with concern as they anchored on hers. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
Beth placed her hand to her bosom, struggling to control her breathing and make sense of everything. She looked away before answering with a shaky, “Nothing.”
Aidan ducked his head, his hair falling across his forehead as he sought her timid gaze. “Tell me the truth.”
“I’m scared. I trust you completely, but I’m so new at this.” Beth shook her head, embarrassed by her inexperience and angry with herself for not being more confident.
Aidan settled next to her on the bed and helped her into a sitting position. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to do this if you feel uncomfortable.”
“I’m sorry.” Beth squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t want you to think I lured you in here with the intention of being a tease. I want to do this. I really do.” She peered at him imploringly. “I can do better. I’ll try harder to please you, I promise.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize. As for pleasing me…” His eyes softened considerably. “Beth, you please me simply by allowing me to be in your company.”
She hung her head. “I shouldn’t let my nerves get the best of me. I’m an adult, we’re in a relationship… this is what couples do.”
“We can go back into the living room and watch television, or we can talk. Really, it’s cool.” Aidan’s lips lifted into a smirk that also lifted the somber mood in the room. “Couples do that kind of thing, too, you know.”
“I want to continue kissing you, but maybe we could, um…” She was unsure of how to speak her mind without sounding obtuse. It was a situation similar to the one she shared with him in his car at the end of their date in New York. She was disappointed she hadn’t come further since then.
Aidan slid off the mattress and extended his hand, as though he’d read her mind. Beth rose to her feet and he guided her away from the bed. The tension eased from her body with every step.
“Is this better?” He brushed a gentle hand to her hair.
Beth shivered from his pleasant touch. “Yes, thank you.”
Aidan leaned in, his gaze searching hers, as if asking for permission. Beth closed her eyes and submitted to him willingly. He pulled her into his strong arms and brought his lips to hers, his pace patient yet passionate. The moan she released was against the rules of civility she was schooled in as a youth, but so necessary and gratifying.
They started off slow, but as Beth tugged at his sweater in the back, digging her fingers into the taut flesh beneath, she found herself kissing him more desperately. He pursued her lead.
With her need devouring her rational thoughts, Beth backed up against her dresser and widened her stance, bringing Aidan with her. He stopped kissing her. She opened her eyes to determine why.
The desire that flamed in his gaze mirrored hers. “You sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes,” she said in a breathy whisper.
Aidan groaned and kissed her again. The movements of their lips grew more forceful and urgent, which Beth appreciated and used to her advantage. Her body moved by its own volition against him, her hips rolling, seeking more of the friction her actions generated.
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