by K. C. Enders
“What do you want me to order for you?” Aidan calls from the other side of the room.
There’s a piece of paper tucked into one of the shoes. I close my bag, biting my lip to hide the smile I know will scrunch up my eyes.
“Lis, what do you want for dinner?” Bag in tow, I head for the bathroom to get ready.
“I thought you were taking me out tonight. Showing me off to the world?”
His head whips up just as the door slams shut behind me.
Chapter 29
Aidan
The restaurant takes my reservation, though at this hour, I probably don’t need one. I’d have been more than happy to stay in, wrapped up in Lis and order room service. But when she opened her bag, and closed it as fast as she could, she asked if we were still going out to dinner.
Yes, I’d told her I couldn’t wait to take her out and show her off to the world. I meant that, but tonight I just want to be with her. And love her.
I do—I love her. But I’m afraid that telling her will spook her again.
I check my watch and push myself out of the chair. “Are ye ready, love? They’ve a table for us, we should go soon.”
Not a fucking thing could prepare me for the sight of her walking out of the bathroom. There is nothing revealing about the black dress she’s wearing—high neck, sleeves to her elbows, full skirt to her knees. But it hugs her tits, cinching in at her tiny waist, flaring over her hips and arse. Sweet Jesus.
My eyes blaze a trail down her body, lingering on every delicious curve, but the best part? She’s wearing those fucking shoes. The dark red ones from last night. The ones I couldn’t get out of my head.
Licking my lips, I drag my lascivious gaze back up over every one of those bloody curves until she extends her arm, a slip of paper in her hand.
“Not sure if this is for you or me, but it’s from Gracyn.” She’s got a brow cocked and the smirk on her blood-red lips is distracting as all hell.
I’m rooted to where I stand, knowing that if I move, it’ll be to scoop her up and take her back to bed. Fuck the dinner reservations.
The sway of her hips as she saunters toward me, skirt swishing back and forth, toes peeping out of those sexy-as-fuck shoes. By the grace of God, I get myself together enough to take the paper from her delicate fingers.
You’re Welcome!
My chuckle is low and husky, I wrap a hand around her waist and pull her to me.
“I’ll be sure to thank her, but if we don’t go right now, we’re not going anywhere.” I lean all the way in and kiss her cheek, just below her ear. I’ve time to taste her red lips later.
Hand in hand, we walk the few blocks to the restaurant. The soft evening air, salty from the breeze off the water, swirls Lis’ skirt around her legs. Sailboats bob and sway in the moonlight, the rigging whispers and sighs across the night.
Every head turns as we walk through the restaurant. She’s that stunning.
As I requested, we’re shown to a table that looks out over the water. The room is intimate despite the full tables. The lights are low, and with very little effort, it feels like we’re alone.
The waitress delivers our drinks—whiskey for each of us. They don’t serve it nearly as elaborately as Lisbeth does, but the amber liquid fuels the fire in me as it slides down my throat. Christ, the fact that she doesn’t order a fussy, frilly drink, but whiskey on the rocks, is another plus for her.
“Thank you, again, Aidan. This—this is amazing.” I watch as she brings the tumbler to her perfect red lips, and I’m fucking jealous. Jealous of the glassware. Jesus.
Last night, I was consumed by nerves, terrified of the outcome of our dinner. It seems impossible that it was just yesterday. Tonight though, I’m much more relaxed. Leaning back in my chair, I sip my whiskey across from the woman I’m moving in with me. My ring sparkles on her hand as she swirls her drink around in her glass. The diamonds catch the light with each small movement. The stone in the heart, her lips, those bloody shoes—Christ, I can’t get them out of my mind—are all the same deep sultry red.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me before, thank you.” Her eyes wide and her face open and full of—love?
God, I hope.
“Lisbeth, anything—absolutely anything for you. Anything at all, love.” That shoe peeks out from under the table with each bounce of her foot as we wait for our dinners. It’s distracting as hell.
“So tomorrow, what’s the plan? Are we spending the day?” I nod, watching as she swipes a drop of whiskey from the rim of her glass.
My nod turns to a slow shake as she sucks the amber liquid off the tip of her finger. I don’t even think she’s doing it intentionally—driving me crazy. That’s part of what makes her so alluring. None of it is contrived—it’s just the way she is. Fucking perfect.
“We can take a boat out. I think there are a ton of little islands off the coast—hundreds, if the tide is out. Or hike? Maybe go to a brew house. I think there’s a good one in the next town over,” she suggests.
“We’re booked here through tomorrow night, so we can do whatever you want.”
The server tucks our plates in front of us, checking to see if everything looks okay. Lisbeth moans as she takes her first bite and the rest of the meal becomes a battle to control myself. And to make that struggle worse, she picks the same dessert from our very first date. Her lips wrapping around the chocolate cake, sliding it into her mouth is all I can focus on. I’m completely captivated. Until I feel a ghost of a touch on the back of my calf. She’s staring out at the water, her expression neutral.
I think maybe I imagined it, but when it happens again, she smirks and sets her fork down, dabbing lightly at the corner of her lips.
“Maybe we should just get the check?” Fuck, yes.
Tonight, I want to feel those shoes on my arse when I wrap her legs around me.
This girl is brilliant. She drinks whiskey neat and can keep up with me through the restaurant and the few blocks back to the hotel, all while wearing those fuck-me heels. She’s perfect.
We practically run through the lobby. Our laughter filling the small alcove by the lifts as I skid to a halt. Lis’ skirt spins out around her, showing more of her gorgeous legs than I want to share with the men sitting at the hotel bar. Of course, she catches me staring them down over her shoulder.
“You going a little caveman on me?” she teases, winding her arms up around my neck. And my heart swells—amongst other things.
“Would that bother you? The last thing I want is to scare you away now that I have you.” I’m only half joking. Getting to this point was a hard-won victory.
I grip her hips, guiding her backward into the open lift, set to take advantage of our ride up when a hand slides between the closing doors. They bounce back open and two other couples step in. Since the tension and desire isn’t nearly thick enough between us, Lis tortures me by slowly swiping a fresh coat of gloss on her deep red lips.
It takes far too long to get to our floor.
LIS
Aidan climbs back in bed and pulls me tight to his side covering us with the crisp white duvet. The cool air in the room feels almost cold as it chills the fine sheen of sweat clinging to my skin. I nuzzle his chest painting it with kisses, and he settles my hand above his heart.
The past couple of days have been a roller coaster of emotions. My insecurities have more than gotten the best of me and I know I need to get them under control before they ruin this thing between Aidan and me. I’m getting better, stronger, and that can all be attributed to Aidan and his patience.
Never—never before—would I have been confident enough to flirt the way I did at the restaurant tonight. Licking whiskey off my finger, running my foot up and down his leg. I sure as hell did not need an extra layer of gloss on my lips in the elevator. That was all for him. For Aidan.
He has checked all the boxes. Every one of them would have a big old red check, if I had a list of things that a guy needed
to do, to show, to complete in order to own my heart. He’s done them all. He has made me a priority at every turn. Always making sure that I’m okay, that I have what I need and then some.
Maybe he feels my brain working overtime, I don’t know. But he presses my hand firmly to his chest, the other hand twisting and sifting through my hair. Lulling me to sleep.
Chapter 30
Lis
The smell of rich dark coffee pulls me from the kind of sleep I never knew existed. I stretch, feeling the twist of muscles I didn’t know I had.
“That’s an image I want framed on our wall.” Aidan’s propped against the wall, shorts slung low on his hips. I should be embarrassed by that comment—I would have been before him. But the first thought that pops into my head is that he said our.
Our wall.
We’re going to have our own walls, our own apartment. I pull the fluffy duvet over my head and wiggle further down in bed laughing like a fool.
The bed bounces as Aidan climbs over me pinning me right there with the covers I wrapped myself in.
“What are you doing, love?” The smile I hear in his voice consumes me when he pulls the duvet down, just uncovering my face. Squirming does nothing to budge him off me, not that I want him gone. The weight of him on me, being completely at his mercy, I like it—love it. “You’re hiding from me? How long do you think you’ll be able to get away with that?”
“Uh, probably just for a few more days? When do you get the keys?”
“We get the keys next week.” My heart. He has been so patient with me. So understanding of my hesitancy. And he’s still here, taking care of me, putting me first—loving me. “I ordered breakfast, hope that’s okay.”
He brushes a kiss across my lips, lulling me into that sweet sense of security. “You’re very vulnerable here.”
“I am. I'm at your mercy.” Sweet kisses rain down the side of my neck. I tilt my head, granting him more access. My body reacting to his, desire fluttering through me. I feel absolutely wrapped up in him.
“It would be a crime to let breakfast get cold, though. Why don’t you get comfortable and I’ll serve you?”
He hops off me with a smirk, and he throws me his shirt. Wait, what?
“I was perfectly comfortable.”
Aidan adjusts himself as he crosses to the tray. At least I’m not the only one who thought this was going in a different direction. I tug his shirt on while he lifts the silver dome, I all but forget my disappointment.
The room fills with the sweet savory smells of French toast and bacon. This is the last little snowflake that causes the avalanche.
Tears well up in my eyes watching him fix my coffee with the perfect amount of creamer. They start to fall as he adjusts the silverware on the tray. And I blink at them, smiling when he places the tray across my lap.
“You alright?”
“I couldn’t be any better.” I try to rein the emotion in and fail spectacularly. “You are so incredibly good to me, Aidan. I—I can’t begin to imagine what it is that you see in me. You keep breaking down my walls. I never thought—wasn’t looking for this—any of this. I think, I’ve tried to push you away more than once, but you stuck with me anyway.
“And you know all my favorite things—how did you know this was my most favorite breakfast? I’ve had it once, maybe, when we’ve been out. You picked my favorite apartment to rent, everything we do, everywhere we go—they’re all the things I love. You’ve done every little thing to take care of me.” I sniff hard and let the breath out, lifting my eyes to meet his. “I tried to fight it, but I love you. I tried to keep you out, but I can’t—I don’t want to. For the love of God, I'm ruining the sweetest moment ever.” The tray rattles on my lap as I press my shaky fingers to my lips. “I’m sorry.”
Aidan beams at me and swipes at the tears that have escaped my lashes. “Lisbeth.” He pulls my hand from my mouth, rubbing circles on my wrist. “I love you. That’s the answer to every question you have. Because I love you. You make my life better in every way possible. I sure as hell was not looking for love when I came to the States. I came to escape something that came out of nowhere—something I never dreamed I’d have to deal with yet. My brother was my best mate, and I didn’t think I’d ever get that back. You’ve given me so much more. I want you to let me love you, to show you every day that you’re the most important thing in the world to me. And you have nothing to be sorry for—nothing.” Careful not to topple the tray full of food, he presses the sweetest, most loving kiss to my swollen lips. “Just let me love you, yeah?”
All I can do is sniff and nod. I have no more words.
Breakfast is perfect. Aidan is perfect. Everything is perfect.
I know—know—there is no such thing as perfect, but all of this is as close to perfect as anything can get.
We spend the day walking through the little town of Madison, visiting shops, walking through galleries showcasing local artists and browsing through a book store. An actual real live bookstore. One that just sells books—no Starbucks, just books. Our pace is unhurried. There is nothing we have to do, nowhere we have to be, no school or work, no roommates. Just us.
There’s no time that we’re not touching in some small way. Holding hands, stealing kisses, wrapped up in each other. I love yous whispered against each other’s lips, making up for all the time I spent trying to protect my heart.
There was no need, he owns it. And after all the ways he’s shown me he loves me, I trust him with it completely.
After a light dinner on the deck of the hotel, we walk along the beach. Sand between our toes, collecting shells and smooth stones. Away from the lights of the hotel, Aidan pulls me to a stop and sits in the sand.
“Come ’ere, sit with me.” He pulls me down, nestling my ass between his thighs and wraps his arms around me. “I don’t want to leave tomorrow. I want to stay until we get the keys to our flat. I don’t want to spend another night without you in my arms.” His words are soft, just loud enough for me to hear over the sound of the waves.
I pull his hands around me, literally wrapping myself up in him. “I don’t want to go either.”
My life has changed so much over the past six months. Feeling Aidan all around me, there’s not a thing I would change. Not one thing.
I lean and twist just so my lips meet the scruff at the underside of his jaw. I breathe him in, bergamot and vetiver, spicy and rich, warmth spreading through me. “Love you more than anything.”
“Hmmm…I love you too, so much.”
The stars glitter across the sky, the constant shush of the waves and the warm body around me, lull me to the edge of sleep.
“Come on, love. Let’s get you to bed.”
The walk to the hotel, the ride to our floor, as we get ready for bed. All of it quiet and peaceful—perfectly in love, peaceful. Up to the moment that I crawl between the sheets and settle in next to Aidan. He rolls to his side, the simple kiss not quite enough. His teeth nip along my lower lip, sending electric desire through my core. And just like that, clothes are peeled away ending up in a heap on the floor.
As frantic as we are to get to each other, skin to skin, nipples brushing his chest, we go slow. So slow. An inch at a time, he enters me, infuriatingly, deliciously, slowly.
When Aidan’s hips meet my thighs, he stops, pauses. This is different, so different. Our confessions this morning impact every move, every action. Every little thing holds all the meaning we’ve not put voice to yet.
I rock my hips slowly, staring into his dark blue eyes. Seeing myself reflected there, I hope, pray, he sees himself in mine. Sees how he has invaded my soul.
He keeps his thrusts slow and deep. Every single move intentional.
I feel the build in the tightness of my muscles, in the soft grunts he makes as he exhales. The thump of his heart against the palm of my hand, like it’s beating just for me. My eyes drift closed, lost in the ecstasy of this moment.
“Lisbeth, look at me. Please, lov
e, look in my eyes.”
I only just get them open, meeting his gaze when the slow, beautiful burn of my orgasm rolls through me. I gasp, whispering his name like a prayer. He draws it out as long as he can, jaw tense, arms bracketing me in, holding me like I’m a precious delicate thing. And when he comes, it’s with my name on his breath and my heart fully his.
AIDAN
These two days, with just the two of us, have been everything I hoped they would be. I fell asleep with her tucked in at my side. Her head on my shoulder, hand pressed to my heart, legs twined together, her breath fanning across my skin.
I wake up to the featherlight designs she’s tracing on my chest and her lips pressed to my neck. It doesn’t get any fucking better than this.
“Mornin’.” I pull her tighter to me, planning to take full advantage of the time we have before we need to check out.
“Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you. Just needed to kiss you.” Lis shifts so she’s straddling me, her lips on a slow, lazy path across my chest. Tongue darting out to circle my nipple just before she bites down. No wonder she arches her back and fucking moans when I do that to her. Christ.
What started out as a sweet wakeup becomes a feverish, frenzied need for each other. She takes complete control and uses me, riding me, making me feel like a bloody king.
She was so shy, so tentative the first time we fucked. Afraid to ask for what she wanted, to demand what she needed. My girl has come so far. Gripping my cock as she slides up and down, taking what she needs. The sight of her, the feel of her—this. It doesn’t get any better than this.
I hate packing up our things to go back to Beekman Hills and draw the trip home out as much as I can. Instead of the highway, I take the back roads, winding through every small Connecticut town I can. We stop often, acting like tourists taking in the shops, and farmer’s markets along the way. Neither one of us want to go back to the real world quite yet. I want to fast forward to waking up with Lisbeth every fucking day.