CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
With time on my hands, I called Tabitha. She answered against a background of noise. “At last, you’ve remembered me.”
Where are you? Can you move somewhere quiet? I don’t want to yell,” I said, trying to keep my voice down.
“Hang on, I’ll just step outside,” she yelled.
When the line grew quiet, I said, “That’s better. Where are you?”
“I’m at Regina’s, that new swanky bar that’s just opened.”
“Who are you there with?” I hoped it wasn’t cheating Steve.
“Josh. He’s this new guy I’ve met.” She sounded overexcited. I’d been there before. Tabitha was frequently convinced she’d met the love of her life.
“How did you meet?” I settled onto the bed and propped myself up against the velvet cushions.
“We met at the supermarket of all places. Isn’t that weird? He’s so cute. We’ve been together all week. We haven’t had a minute apart.”
“Doesn’t he have a job?”
Tabitha laughed. “He does. He’s an actor.”
“Shit, Tabs. Not an actor. Remember the last actor you were with—what was his name, Jamie—the egomaniac?”
“Josh is different. And anyway, he’s got stamina.” She crooned.
“You’re wicked, Tabs. But I do need some of your badness.” I sighed.
“Why? What’s happened? Damn it, Clary. I need to see you!”
“Tomorrow for breakfast. Afterwards, we’ll go shopping. I’ll buy you those jeans you’ve been salivating over all month.”
“Oh my God, seriously? Aren’t you meant to be working? And how can you afford them, anyway?”
“I’ve just received a bonus. It’s substantial and generous, most unexpected,” I said, expelling a deep breath. “It’s hard to process this luck. And then there’s Aidan.”
“Mr. Hottie. Tell me, has he tried to hit on you?”
“It seems to be going that way.”
“Yay. I want details,” said Tabitha.
“Well, for starters, I’m on his yacht as we speak.” I paused to give Tabitha time to overreact. Sure enough, one loud scream followed. I held the phone away from my ear.
“In his yacht? Fuck, has he tried to kiss you?”
“We’ve come close. It may happen. I hope so,” I said, barely able to hide my excitement, my heart beating madly.
“Where’s he now?”
“He’s arranging dinner. I’m in hiding.”
“In hiding? Clary that sounds seedy,” she exclaimed.
“Coming from the queen of seed,” I said, laughing.
“So anyway, are you going to let him, you know… it’s about time, and having someone so sexy for your first time. Although it might hurt if he’s…”
That was why I’d called my best friend and sex advisor: I needed to know what to expect. I was nervous. “What were you going to say?”
“It will hurt if he’s well-endowed. It’s always painful the first time. After that, it’s divine.” She stretched her vowels, and her voice was breathy again.
“I don’t know if he has, although I suspect so. After swimming his shorts were wet, and, you know...”
“Oh, lucky girl! Okay, make sure he makes you come beforehand so you’re all nice and wet. It will slide in easier that way.”
Eek! “I guess I’m not so worried about the pain. I’m just embarrassed about being a virgin. What if he mistakes me for someone who won’t have sex until she’s married? And we’re forgetting that I work for him. He’s my boss, for God’s sake. I shouldn’t go there. It will get messy.”
“Have you finished?” she said, sounding annoyed. “How do you know? It might be true love. And I’m sure you’re grown-up enough to manage if it’s just a fling. Now, listen: make sure he takes it real slow. By the morning, you’ll never want him to stop. Trust me.” She laughed.
“Tabs, you’re such a slut,” I said, giggling.
“Oh, and make sure he wears protection. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about getting you on the pill. Boyfriends like skin to skin. So do girlfriends.” She giggled.
I was all hot and bothered. Sweat poured from my armpits. “He may not even want to. He may be gay,” I said although unconvinced of that after what had just transpired between us.
“Don’t talk silly nonsense, Clarissa Moone. You’re one hot babe. Just those boobies alone will have him shooting a load.”
“You’re talking gutter again.”
Aidan had just entered the room. “I’ve got to go. Speak to you in the morning.” I turned the phone off abruptly.
He leaned against the doorway. “Speaking to your boyfriend?”
“No. I don’t have one of those,” I said, stepping out of the bedroom.
His gaze held mine again. A slight smile touched his lips and traveled all the way to his heavy-lidded eyes, drugging me again.
“Dinner’s ready. I’ve sent Will off, so the coast is clear,” he said with a wicked grin.
My tummy was so knotted, I didn’t feel like eating. But then I smelt the grilled fish. My stomach relaxed and even rumbled. “Mm... that smells very appetizing,” I said, sitting in the chair that Aidan held out for me.
“We have salads. I thought that would suit such a hot night.” He pointed to the potato salad, coleslaw, and green salad.
He picked up the platter and served me one whole fish. “Will that do?”
“It’s really too much,” I said, staring down at my plate, which was taken up by the fish.
“Eat what you can. They had a decent catch this morning. There’s plenty where that came from,” he said, taking a seat.
The food went down well. I only got through half the fish which Aidan had removed the bone from the center for me.
“Do you fish?” I asked, pushing my plate aside.
“On occasion. I didn’t fish this morning, though. Will’s the keen angler. He takes the boat out most mornings.” Aidan stretched his arms. He had polished off his fish and much of the salad. “The sea makes me hungry. And I do like to eat a lot.”
“It doesn’t show. I mean you’re not over-weight at all. Do you work out?”
“No gym. But I swim, play tennis. I trained hard in the army. I have some muscles left from that,” Aidan said.
He had more than some muscles left. That was for sure.
I followed Aidan back to the upper deck. The sea mirrored the sky in an alluring shade of orange-pink. “That’s spectacular,” I exclaimed, looking out to the horizon.
“It doesn’t get much better.” Aidan looked up and pointed. “And we have a full moon. How magical is that?”
The pearly orb looked gigantic against a backdrop of fiery reds and deep blue. Warm and balmy, nature had delivered well.
“How do you spend your leisure time, Clarissa?”
“I like to draw, read.”
“Do you socialize much?” Striding over to the bar, he held up the wine. “Can I top you off?”
“Why not,” I replied. “I’ve got a day off tomorrow.”
“What do you do for a Saturday night?”
“I don’t hang out in one place. But I go to Sammy’s, which is a bar my best friend’s brother works at.”
“A boyfriend?” He stood so close his breath was on my neck.
“No, I don’t have a boyfriend,” I said, taking a sip of wine.
“You’re incredibly beautiful, Clarissa Moone.” His hooded eyes held me. Low and seductive, his voice penetrated through me.
I didn’t know quite how it happened, but I fell into his arms. He held me tight. His heart beat hard against mine. “I have wanted to do this from the moment I saw you.”
Even though my body craved his touch, I had to pull away. “I love my job.”
“Clarissa”—he stroked my hair— “you’re way too talented. Thornhill Holdings won’t let you go.”
“It’s not that so much. I’m just sensitive,” I said. Aidan stood so close he made me tremble. The chemistry between us was so palpable that sparks seemed to fly off us.
“That’s what attracts me to you.” His expression turned dark. He pulled away. “Maybe you’re right. This is crazy.”
He sat down. His eyes remained fixed on me.
My body screamed, while my mind and heart squabbled. “I know nothing about you,” I said, clearing my throat.
He rose and sat close enough to me that my pulse raced again.
“What do you wish to know?” He asked, opening his hands out.
“I know that you were in the army. But I’m curious as to how you came to be
so…” Uncomfortable about prying, I stopped myself.
“Rich?” Aidan asked. “I played the stock market and won.” He sniffed. “Sounds clichéd, but that’s what happened. I had a spell of luck. With the profits, I bought real estate. After the 2007 crash, plenty of houses came available at bargain prices. I developed some. Others, I turned into affordable accommodation for those in need, mainly women from abused backgrounds.” He paused and finished his wine. “After a few years, my wealth built. And now, well, here I am, trying to seduce my PA.” He raised his eyebrows.
“I’m impressed by all your charity work,” I said.
He filled my glass with wine. I needed it to still my frantic heart. His hand brushed my cheek, leaving a fiery stain. He turned to face me again. “I have such a desperate need to kiss these lips.” His thumb touched my bottom lip. When he withdrew, I ran my tongue over it. Aidan’s lust-filled eyes became heavy again.
Placing his arm around my shoulder, he drew me close, his body, hard and accommodating at the same time. We fit so well.
Our eyes met and then our lips. At first his lips were cushiony, moist, and tender, then burning passion took over and his tongue parted my swollen lips. He groaned into my mouth as his hand slid over my thigh.
The heat from this exchange charged straight to my sex. I ached for his touch. My body pressed hard against his. Aidan undid the knot of my sarong. All the while, our lips remained locked as our tongues snaked together suggestively.
His lips traveled down to my neck, devouring my tingling flesh. Aidan smelt of the sea and raw male, so tantalizing I was breathless. The strap to my one-piece slid off. He kissed my shoulder and beyond, leaving a trail of sparks.
Aidan pulled down my swimsuit, releasing my heavy breasts. My nipples were so hard they hurt. His eyes devoured me as he caressed my breasts. Aidan growled as he cupped them. “My God, you’re magnificent, Clarissa. You’re every man’s dream.” He ran his hand across my nipples. His mouth followed, sucking and teasing them with his tongue.
I just melted into his arms. The sensation transmitted straight to my sex, which was now dripping wet. Sticky with desire, I was too weak to stop. I wanted all of him. Pain, ache, whatever—it would have been more tormenting not to have him.
“You’re so shapely, pure female.” His voice resonated in breathy desire. Unable to get enough of my heavy breasts, Aidan helped me out of my one-piece.
He stripped off his T-shirt. I did what I’d been dying to do forever, and that was to run my hands up and down his rippling torso, so soft and hard at the same time.
Aidan had his hand on his waistband. I knew what was to follow, and the anticipation was so extreme that I almost hyperventilated. He lowered his shorts.
He had a huge erection. I was not experienced with penises. I recalled Tabitha saying that anything from seven inches up was yummy. Aidan’s was greater than that, I was sure. I wanted to devour it with my eyes. I wanted to touch him but having never held a man’s penis before I was out of my depth.
Aidan’s eyes held mine. I was sure he recognized hunger in my gaze. When his hands slid up my inner thigh, my breath hitched. He parted the lips between my thighs and with his finger rotated gloriously around my clit. We’d suddenly become very intimate. But I was too aroused to stop him. If anything, I encouraged him by opening my legs wider. Not that Aidan needed encouragement.
A rough and ragged breath left his parted lips. With two fingers, he went somewhere nobody had ever been: he entered me.
I expelled a sharp breath.
“Am I hurting you?” he asked, struggling to talk.
“No, it’s okay. Don’t stop,” I whimpered.
“Good, because you are very wet, and I really don’t want to stop,” said Aidan, his voice sounded strangled.
He lowered to his knees, and his tongue took over. I squirmed. “Do you want me to stop?” He looked up at me. My pubic hair against his face made him appear mustached, almost making me laugh.
“It’s just that I should have a shower,” I said. It was too late. His tongue ignored my concerns and fluttered masterfully over my clit. Oh my—it was beyond exquisite. I melted into the soft leather sofa and surrendered.
My muscles went into a spasm, and my toes squeezed from the torturous pleasure. Aidan persisted, determined to see it through, much to my delight, for I was seriously swollen as an orgasm brewed.
Waves of vibrating heat rippled through me. I found myself moaning uncontrollably. Then I just let go, and the eruption overtook my body. Such heated delight. My pelvis rose to meet his feverish tongue. Aidan continued to suck, flutter, and tease. I was ready to stop at that, but he was on a ravishing rampage. Then another wave built, even more threateningly pleasurable than the last. I’d only ever had one orgasm at a time, but I now hurtled towards another, even more intense than the first.
The walls of my sex went into frenzy as Aidan’s fast-moving tongue ravaged me steadfastly. I cried out and pushed my pelvis into his face, losing myself in a fierce wave of heat.
Aidan took my trembling body and held me. His lips glistened with my climax. “You are so responsive, and you taste sublime,” he said, wiping his mouth.
Then, insatiable for my breasts, Aidan’s hands were all over me, his mouth sucking, teasing my nipples which were drenched in his saliva.
Two orgasms had done little to assuage my appetite for Aidan Thornhill.
My hand trembled, more from anticipation than shyness, as I stroked his thick and long penis. It throbbed just like my heart. Aidan groaned. “I need to be inside you.” His devouring eyes were heavy with lust.
I let go of him, and in a pathetically thin voice, murmured, “I haven’t been with a man before.”
Aidan pulled his head back and stared at me, wide-eyed. “Do you mean you’re a virgin?”
His bewilderment was so acute I had to look away. I felt ashamed.
Aidan, meanwhile, shook his head in disbelief. “But how? I mean you’re twenty-one.”
All the heat had drained from my body as I stared down at my feet.
“You’re also the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, ever touched.” Aidan ran his fingers through his hair.
“It’s just that…I’ve never met a man I liked enough. Not until…” I needed a drink. I grabbed my sarong and covered myself. “Do you mind if I have a glass of water?”
“Yes, of course.” Aidan pulled up his shorts.
He grabbed a small bottle of Evian from the fridge. “Do you want it in a glass?
I shook my head. Aidan unscrewed the bottle and passed it to me.
After I took a long, thirsty sip, I said, “I’m so sorry.” I peered up at Aidan. “It doesn’t mean that I don’t want to, however.”
Aidan kept running his hands through his hair. It must have been a nervous tic. “Do you want me to be your first?” Aidan’s intense gaze penetrated so deeply it was as if he could read my soul. “My need to have you, Clarissa, defies words, but having said that, I seriously don’t want to pressure you.”
Our eyes met. The hunger I felt for Aidan was reflected in his deep stare.
Spellbound, I went to Aidan and fell into his arms.
He lifted me effortlessly. Aidan’s sweat-infused scent penetrated like a drug as my head burrowed into his warm neck. He carried me down the stairs and into the plush bedroom.