On Monday morning, I awaken alone in bed. Hearing the shower, I decide to join Aiden and give him dessert before breakfast. As I walk in, he’s singing along to the MP3 he has set up throughout the penthouse. The song is “Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay. His voice is deep, but he can hit those high notes too. I wonder what people would say if they knew he is not only the most gorgeous man on the planet, but he can sing as well. Opening the door, I step in and wrap my arms around his waist. I lay my head against his back. “Good morning. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You look so peaceful sleeping I didn’t want to disturb you.” The song finishes and the next one on the list starts. “Viva la Vida.” “You like Coldplay?”
“Yes,” he says, “they’re my favorite band.”
We have always talked about my favorite band, One Republic. I never asked him what his favorite was. The night he told me about what he liked to listen to, he mentioned different bands but never singled one out. “When you got One Republic to play for me on our wedding day, I naturally assumed that they were who you liked too.”
“I do like them, and I know how much you love them. I wanted to do that because you and Shannon never got the chance to see them in concert even though I promised you would see them. I will do anything and everything for you—whatever it takes to make you happy.”
“You. Having you in my life makes me happy, Aiden. Being your wife, sharing your life with you. That’s all I will ever need.”
The next song comes on: “Fix You.” “I’ll put some One Republic on for you, baby.”
As he’s about to exit the shower, I stop him. “No, you gave me the best wedding present ever by having them come play my favorite song for me on our special day. I can’t bring Coldplay to you. But we can sure as hell listen to them as often as we listen to One Republic.”
He picks me up, giving me one of his half smiles. His eyes have a gleam in them, and I know what that means. Before I can say a word, his mouth is on mine. He bites my lower lip. I tilt my head to the side, open my mouth, and let him in.
The kiss is a heady one—when he releases my mouth, I am gasping with the desire to have him in me. Aiden lowers me, turns me around, wraps one arm around my waist, and with the other positions himself to take me. In one swift move, he does just that. I moan in ecstasy.
While he still holds me tightly with one arm, the other comes to my breast. He squeezes it. I have both of my hands on the tile of the shower. The feeling of the warm water hitting me while my husband pounds into me fast and hard is one I’ll never get tired of. “Oh Aiden, oh yessss.”
With the orgasm hitting me, my toes are curling. I bring my hands around to his ass to have him in closer. He starts to bite down on my shoulder.
“Alexis, I love you.” He leans his forehead against my back, both of us panting from the pure pleasure of the ride we just took.
***
While I’m brushing out my hair, Aiden is on the phone with Brandy. He informs her that we need to meet up for lunch to discuss the next couple of months. After he ends the call, I tell him that I need to go to the office and tend to some paperwork that can’t wait.
“I think you also need to get Michael to assign someone else to work with Chris.”
“Aiden, please don’t tell me how to do my job.”
“That is not what I’m trying to do, you know that. But given the fact that he’s in love with my wife, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request.”
“I’m not saying it’s an unrealistic request. I’m just saying that I don’t need to be told how to do my job. For your information, I had already planned on asking Michael to do that.”
We finish dressing. I am wearing a simple cream-colored V-neck dress with a pair of stilettos in a darker cream color. The sleeveless dress hugs every curve I have. Aiden is wearing a dark brown button-up shirt, jeans that fit him perfectly, and dressy boots. As he walks into the bathroom to adjust himself and spray on my favorite cologne, I can’t help but admire the way those jeans fit his ass. I’m still standing there with the goofy grin on my face when he walks back out to the bedroom.
He stops in his tracks, smiling at me. “Alexis, what has you grinning?”
I shake my head. “Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the view from behind.” I pat his ass, then squeeze it.
He lets out a small yelp. “I feel like a piece of meat.”
Walking away, I turn my head back to look at him. “That’s my piece of meat. Remember that.”
We both start laughing. I see he is coming to grab me and start running for the door. We both hurry down the stairs, laughing. In the kitchen, Ms. Miller greets us with a smile on her face. “It does my heart good to see my boy here happy. Knowing that you are the reason makes me love you just as much as I love him.”
Aiden puts his hands on her shoulders. “She does make me happy and complete.”
I can feel my face turning red. “You two are making me blush.”
When we sit down at the island, Ms. Miller sets our plates down. As usual, she’s made a big breakfast. Everything looks and smells so good. After eating as much as we can, we head to the office.
***
Kathy looks up. “Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds.”
“Good morning, Kathy. I’m just here to take care of some paperwork and talk to Michael, if he’s not too busy.”
“Would you like for me to let him know you’re here?”
“No, I’m going to my office first, then I’ll peek in and see if we can talk. Thanks.”
Aiden sits on one of the chairs when we walk into my office and while I gather the files on Lisa Smythe. I need to see about setting up some radio interviews to get her more exposure. The lady is definitely funny. She just needs the right break, and I’m going to help her get that. With the files in my arms, I ask Aiden to get my briefcase from the couch I have in my office. When I open it, I notice there is an envelope addressed to me inside. Looking inside of it, I see it’s a letter from Chris. Not wanting Aiden to get angry, I slip it back into the briefcase. I’ll read it later and see what it says—hoping against hope that I don’t end up regretting it. We did promise each other no more secrets, no more lies. This isn’t really a lie, though; I just don’t want him to get mad.
Knocking on Michael’s door, I take a deep breath, look at Aiden, and smile. “I hope he doesn’t get upset that I can’t work with Chris anymore.”
“Baby, I’m sure that he’ll understand.”
Hearing Michael say, “Come in,” I open the door. “Good morning, Michael—are you busy, or do you have a minute to talk to us?” We both poke our heads in.
“I’m never too busy for my favorite couple.”
I feel nervous. Aiden has his hand on the small of my back, running it up and down as if trying to soothe me. I look over at him and he winks at me. Sure, he’s not the one who has to ask his boss to let someone else take over another client. I feel guilty because it seems like since I started working here, it has been one situation after another. I don’t know many bosses who would put up with so much from an employee and still keep them on. Of course, I’m good at what I do. “Um, Michael, can we talk about Chris?”
“I was wondering when the subject would come up. Yes, Alexis, Aiden, have a seat.” We sit in the two chairs in front of his desk. Michael takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“I realize that since you’re married to Aiden and seeing as Chris has feelings for you, it will be hard to keep a professional working relationship between the two of you.”
“I am so sorry about the strain this may put on you or the company. I wish things were different. If there was anything I could do to make things work between us, I would, but I don’t see any other way.”
“Well, sometimes things have a way of working themselves out. In the meantime, Julie can take over his files and oversee his work, interviews, and photo shoots.”
Aiden leans forward in his chair. “We appreciate this, Michael. I for one am very grateful to you for understanding. I just would not be comfortable with my wife having to work with him knowing how he feels about her. Now we really must get going—we need to meet up with Brandy to discuss the plans for the wedding. Plus, the next photo shoot with the Givenchy people.”
Hand in hand, we start to walk out. I turn and go back to Michael, giving him a quick hug. “Thank you for how much you have done for me, for us. For being an amazing boss and person. For agreeing to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day in Italy.”
He pats me on the hand. “You are very welcome. Now go plan your wedding. Will you be coming into work tomorrow?”
Smiling, I tell him, “Bright and early.”
***
Anthony drives us to Phoenix Park. It has become one of my favorite bar and grills. Upon entering, I see Julie, a waitress who dislikes me because she thinks I took Chris away from her. How can I take someone away who was never yours to begin with? I look directly at her so she knows that I see her, then shake my head and chuckle a little. She narrows her eyes and quickly turns away. I guess I made my point.
Aiden places his hand on my back. “Baby, who was that?”
“Oh, nobody, just one of the waitresses that works here.”
“Well, she didn’t seem too pleased to see you.”
“Maybe she’s jealous because I’m with you. Her loss, huh?”
“Amore mio, exactly.”
God, why did I just lie to my husband? Great, Lexie, that’s twice today already, and it’s still early. What happened to no more lies or secrets? Jeez, I’m going to hell.
No, just shake it off. I’m sure she is a little jealous of me being with Aiden. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Yeah, keep telling yourself whatever you need to in order to make yourself feel better, Lexie.
Reaching the table where Brandy is already seated, Aiden pulls out my chair and is about to sit down when a couple of girls walk over.
“Could we have your autograph, Mr. Steffan?”
Always the gentleman, he smiles and agrees. Each girl hands him a piece of paper. He asks their names and signs for them. Afterward, they ask if they can take a picture with him. Again, he says yes. They pull their cell phones out and take turns taking the pictures. One of them looks at me and asks if I would be willing to take a picture of the three of them.
“Yes, of course I will.”
Brandy rolls her eyes. I can hear her say under her breath, “Take your time. I’m just starving here.”
I take the picture of the three of them, then give the girl back her phone. They both turn to walk away. As they do, I recognize them as the two girls who were looking at the billboard of Aiden, the one where he’s wearing those jeans that hug his ass so nicely. That was the morning I was jogging to clear my head after the week-long photo shoot. I search my mind, trying to remember their names. Oh yes, Debra and Dianne. That day, they were talking about what he would be like in bed. Asking each other if he was that good-looking in person. I was so tempted to tell them that he was a lion in bed. Everything they could imagine and more. The good girl in me won out and I simply walked away.
Today, I’m not so sure. Aiden and I have gone through so much to be together. I’ll fight like a lioness to keep what’s mine. He’s my husband.
Aiden touches my hand. “Is everything okay, Alexis?”
Brandy chimes in, “Lexie, you zoned out for a minute.”
I hadn’t realized I was staring into space. “Oh, it was nothing. I just have the wedding on my mind.”
The waitress takes our orders. Once she is gone, Brandy pulls out a pad and pen. I tell her that the color of the dresses is a light purple and fill her in on the choice of flowers we want, plus how I will be the one shopping for the gifts for the wedding party.
“Do you have the invitations yet? Have you picked the one you want?”
“No, we haven’t.”
She pulls out her tablet and starts to scroll through it. “Okay, I have a few printing stores here that I can call to see the designs they have on such short notice. You do know giving them only a few weeks to come up with a design you both like will be costly?”
“I don’t care what it costs. I want only the best for my wife.”
I look at him, smiling. “I love you, Aiden.”
“And I you, baby.”
“Oh god, it’s nauseating being around you two.” She laughs and shakes her head.
“Um, Brandy, would you consider being one of my bridesmaids? If you can’t or don’t feel comfortable doing it, I understand.”
Her eyes widen with excitement. “Oh my god, yessss. I would love to be one of your bridesmaids!” She stands, reaching over the table, and gives me a quick hug. As the waitress comes with our food, she sits back down. Still with a huge smile, she tells us how honored she is to be included in the wedding. “I’ll make sure that everything is absolutely perfect for your big day.”
“The wedding will take place at the church back home in Italy. It’s the one my parents have been going to their whole married lives.” I watch as he talks about his parents in such a loving way. He then asks, “Brandy, do you have the schedule of their arrival? You were able to book them first-class seats, right?”
“Aiden, have I ever let you down?”
I giggle. “You’re probably the only non-family member who can get away with talking like that to him.”
“Your parents and Ysabel land on Friday at one fifteen in the afternoon on Flight 1960, American Airlines, Gate A326.”
“Remind me again on Thursday.”
“Of course I will, Aiden.”
I know Aiden and Johnny have both told me not to worry about meeting them—that they will love me. Still, I get a knot in the pit of my stomach. These are my new in-laws, my new family, and I want to make a good impression on them. I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for the woman who saved my husband when he was only nine. If it wasn’t for her, the world would have never known him. I would have never known him. For this reason and more, it’s important to me that she knows I am the perfect wife to her son.
After we finish our meal and get more details of the big day worked out, Brandy tells us that she will go to a couple of the printing stores and pick out a few selections for us to look at. She’ll meet up with us this evening, so we can decide on one we think will be the best. I let her know that we’re on our way to see the doctor about my headaches and ask her to come by the penthouse for dinner.
On our way out, we pass the table with the two girls. They are whispering to each other, giggling and watching us. I stop, lean down, and say in a low voice, “He’s a lion in bed.”
Their mouths drop with gasps, eyes wide as can be. I straighten up and keep walking. Brandy has a look on her face that tells me at any second she is going to burst into laughter. As we exit, she lets it out. “I knew I liked you.”
Aiden puts his arm around my shoulder, pulling me in closely. “Baby, you do know you have nothing to worry about? Nobody compares to your beauty, to your heart, and your zest for life.”
I smile. “Yup, I know.”
Brandy goes to her car. She is on a mission to find the perfect invitation. She’s also going to The New York Times to run a full-page ad about our wedding. “Aiden, they are more than likely going to want to interview you both.”
“See if they are willing to do it on a weekend. Alexis goes back to work tomorrow.”
Anthony opens the door for us to slide in, then pulls out into traffic.