Whispering waves splashed along the shore as the salty scent of the island breeze wisped around us. My husband and I soaked in the peaceful serenity of the island, swaying back and forth in adjacent hammocks nestled beneath the thick grove of palm trees. With the thumb and forefinger of my right hand, I rotated the new piece of jewelry Aiden had placed on my ring finger. As I pondered the meaning of his words, I was reminded of the role I’d played in our breakdown. I was guilty of the same thing of which I’d accused Aiden. I hadn’t been true to my vows either—I’d shut him out.
Thinking back, I could easily see why Aiden had fallen off course. He’d been hit by something he hadn’t prepared for—something all his knowledge and power couldn’t fix. And it had knocked him down before he’d even started out the gate. Aiden knew how to handle a business deal gone wrong. He possessed the cunning edge to maneuver hostile takeovers. Those were walks in the park for him, but what had he known of being a husband? Just as little as I’d known of being a wife. So, like me, he’d worked through his issues in isolation. It was easy—practically effortless—to articulate promises in the presence of happiness and good fortune. But the true test rested in the challenge of maintaining those words when you’d been hit with the worst. And that’s what Aiden and I had faced—the most horrific and dire of circumstances. And instead of keeping our promises, we’d reverted to type.
Even after the therapy, when I’d had the tools to repair my relationship with Aiden, I’d refused to do it. Instead, I’d found I was closing off parts of myself again. Afraid of what was coming, and feeling we wouldn’t be able to face whatever it was. But I’d been wrong. Aiden and I could face anything. We’d once told each other those very words, and it was time we put action behind them … and that time was now. We’d suffered a tremendous loss—one that would always remain with us—but we were still standing. We’d been torn apart by distance and physical constraints, our very lives had been threatened, and we’d taken on the Raine patriarch. We’d gone through it all, and we were still standing. Because that’s who we were. Sienna had gotten that part right: together, Aiden and I were unstoppable.
“Why so quiet? Are you trying to figure out why you put up with me?” Aiden asked.
I giggled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. However did you guess?”
“Seriously, have you ever asked yourself that?”
“Hundreds of times.”
Aiden sat up. “So?”
“So what?” I asked.
He reached for my hand and tugged me from the hammock. “Why do you do it? I mean, we both know my tendencies.”
My comment had been somewhat of a joke, but Aiden’s tone was serious. He really wanted to know. I looked up, studying him, reflecting on the question that caught me off guard, and then I finally replied, “Because sometimes you get it right. And when you do, it’s such a heartfelt display of love that it’s practically impossible to see or feel anything but you. And once you’ve felt something as deep and raw as that, nothing can erase it. Nothing.”
He fell silent, his mouth slightly agape.
Did he not know how deeply he’d penetrated my soul? How could he not? “You’ve made me walk through a door I swore I’d never open. You’ve made me vulnerable. And even after the pains and sorrows we’ve suffered, I’d never want to change that. I’ve risked it all for you. I’ll always risk it all for you.”
His gaze searched my face, his vivid green eyes deep with emotion. “God, I love you,” he said.
“Just as I love you. I’ll never stop loving you, Aiden. I once thought I had a heart that love couldn’t find, but that was never true. My heart was simply waiting for you.”
He pulled me close, holding me tight against his chest. “And there’s no me without you.”
For endless moments, we stood wrapped in each other’s arms, saying nothing … only feeling. I never wanted to let him go and I never wanted to forget how it felt to be so close, so connected to the mirror image of my heart. Exhaling a sigh, he finally released me from his embrace. He was smiling, and his eyes were soft and tender. “I don’t think I ever told you that I like your hair,” he said, sifting my brown locks through his fingers.
“No, you never did.”
“What made you change it?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Guess I wanted something different. I’d grown tired of looking in the mirror and seeing the person whose entire existence seemed to be one long-ass battle.”
His palm cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
*****
I’d thought Aiden was gone so when I stepped into the bedroom, I was surprised to find him lying on the bed … naked. I gasped, halting my steps as I clutched the top of my towel. Almost on instinct, my eyes darted to that area they probably shouldn’t have. What was he doing? If he was trying to communicate that he was still suffering the side-effects of the accident, it was definitely not the way to do it.
Interlocking his hands, he placed them behind his head as he watched me. A sexy smile curved his lips as his gaze followed mine. “Touch it,” he said.
“What?”
“Touch my cock. I know you want to.”
Obviously, I’d been wrong about his condition, and now, finally faced with the object of my desire, I was seemingly frozen in place.
“Come on, Aria,” he coaxed with an arrogant grin. “I know it’s a bit daunting, but you can’t possibly be afraid of my cock.”
My gaze moved along his torso, traveling at a slow, sensual pace until finally resting on his manhood. It lay heavily against his thigh … growing, swelling and revealing the veins that coursed its length. My mouth watered and my heart started to beat in an unfamiliar pattern.
“Since you haven’t moved, I’m guessing you don’t want it,” he teased.
My eyes flew to his, but I remained planted by the door, wondering if I should do as he’d asked. Wondering if I should touch it.
“Make love to me, Aria,” he said, halting my thoughts.
“What?”
“You’ve told me how much you love me,” he said. “So show me.”
“You want me to …”
“I want you to do whatever you want. I want you to take control. You need it as much as I do, so why not share it? Would you like that?” he asked.
Kingston had been in working order all along, which meant Aiden had been waiting for the right time. This must have been the other surprise he’d referred to; he was giving me something I’d asked for when we first started dating.
He extended his hand. “I think this would work much better if you were just a tad closer.”
Shaking off my mini-stupor, I stepped over to him. As I reached for his hand, he grasped the bottom of my towel, pulling it away. “Better,” he said, his eyes darkening as they slid over my body. “Do you want me?”
I swallowed. “Yes.”
“Show me.”
He really wanted me to lead us to an orgasm. He was voluntarily submitting himself to me. This wasn’t like our visit to Seducente, when I’d liquored him up and practically begged for his submission. This time he was yielding of his own accord, and I knew all too well how he hated giving up that type of control—even to me.
I joined Aiden in bed, and he positioned his hands underneath the pillow. As I straddled him, the lips of my sex grazed his abdomen. The slight contact was enough to tease the part of me that was already so close to the edge. Unable to resist, I ground my pussy over his taut skin, moaning and panting as his eyes followed me. The heat of his gaze was on my face, sliding down to my chest and then lingering on my breasts. I looked down at them, too, getting hotter as I watched my nipples harden for him. That’s what he did to me … with his eyes alone.
I felt the familiar heat between my legs that accompanied the quickening thump of my heart. It was so loud—it was beating to a rhythm of a woman in heat. A woman who wanted to lose control. I was moving back and forth and then side to side, teasing myself and wetting Aiden’s stomach. I could have easily come if I didn’t stop. And I tried to, but Virginia had already taken the reins. I stroked my cleft against the contours of his abdomen, rolling my hips, circling faster and plunging deeper, inviting my clit to join the party. The stiff bud, stimulated by the repetitive friction, was the point that broke me. Unable to hold back, I let it go, whimpering as I gave in to the orgasm and let my juices lace Aiden’s stomach.
With my breath labored, I looked down at him. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. This is your party,” he said, his mouth curving into a slow, mischievous smile.
I sure hoped he meant that. My eyes fell to his seductively wicked mouth, and I leaned down to kiss him, caressing his soft, full lips as my hands cradled the contours of his jaw. My kiss grew deeper, loving the way he held back, allowing me to take the lead. I kissed him like it was the last kiss I’d ever have. It was slow. It was soft. It was deep. I slipped my tongue into his mouth, giving it to him as I awaited his. When he surrendered it to me, I claimed it as my own, sucking and moaning as I drifted further into our own special paradise.
Aiden’s throaty groan enveloped me as I broke our kiss. As my tongue moved over the scruff of his jawline, I eased my hand down to find the long, thick hardness of his arousal. Kingston was ready to reclaim what was already his. I stroked his length, my fingers moving up and over the head of his cock, moistening the thick crown with its own special brand of lubricant.
“It’s yours. I’m yours. Take it,” Aiden whispered, his velvet tone sending chills across my skin.
I lifted my body over his and re-introduced his delightful juices to mine. After one full plunge, I stopped—severing our physical connection. I wanted him to ache for me. I wanted him to want me so badly that he felt it in his soul. My mouth moved over his skin, breathing in the scent of him as I traced my tongue along the length of his body.
I held his big, beautiful cock in my hands as I looked up at him. “Tell me,” I whispered, my lips sweeping over the wide crest of his manhood. “Say it. Again.”
“Make love to me, princess.” He reached for me, grasping my hands and guiding my body over his.
Our faces were close, our lips almost touching. I loved this. I loved him. He really wanted us to be equals in every way possible, even in the privacy of our bedroom.
I leaned in closer, inhaling his breath and stroking my tongue across his bottom lip. When he opened for me, I slid my tongue into his mouth. Moans surrounded us as his hands moved over me, a strong, but tender touch that caressed my body. Softly. Gently. And my kisses mirrored his touch. My lips brushed his cheek and then his neck, sweeping my tongue across the seductive musk of his skin. Aiden groaned, whispering my name as I placed my lips flush to his nape and bit into his skin.
He gasped, his large hands gripping me tighter, his thick cock pulsing against my thigh. I started a slow tour of his body, my kisses sweet and wet as I trailed my way to the pecs of his chest. Stopping to flick my tongue over his nipple, I nipped at it with my teeth and my hand snaked down his body, to reach the passion of his manhood.
Aiden hissed as my fingers curved around him, moving up and down his length, stroking and caressing as my grip rotated between firm and soft. I traced the light dusting of hair at his abdomen, gracing each smooth ripple of exquisitely toned muscle with a soft, wet kiss. I moaned, my fingers clutching his thighs as his love, his passion called out to me. And I answered, crawling toward his body, my eyes melded with his and telling him a story of two lovers, of a husband and a wife, who were ready to reaffirm their love.
I positioned myself between his legs, my hands grasping his ankles, and guiding them up so that his knees were bent. “Can you remain in this position for me?” I asked.
“That depends. Are you planning to give me a reason to?”
“I’m going to give you the very best of reasons, baby,” I said and smacked his left cheek.
Aiden’s eyes widened.
That’s right, Mr. Fuck Me. Now it’s my turn.
“Don’t get too carried away,” Aiden warned.
“Calm down,” I said and smacked his backside again. “I’m going to make you feel real good, Mr. Raine.”
I placed a palm on the back of each of his thighs and pressed down, holding him in place. He was perfectly exposed. I had a full view—and access—to his ass.
He’d said I could do whatever I wanted, and although his tone was calm and reassuring, I knew a great deal of anxiety accompanied the exchange of control. With a man as dominant as Aiden, I expected nothing less. Hoping to soothe his disguised apprehension, I pressed my lips against the taut skin of his buttocks, endowing him with soft reassuring kisses. He was smooth and hairless—a thoughtful preparation that indicated his previous objections weren’t as unwavering as I’d thought.
I inhaled the musky scent of his skin, moaning as I led a trail of kisses to the puckered opening of his rear. With the tip of my tongue, I outlined the constricted band of tissue. To my surprise, he didn’t resist ... in fact, quite the opposite. The length of his muscular thighs relaxed, granting me his consent.
He exhaled a breath, releasing the air he’d been holding, and my hands cupped his cheeks, kneading and caressing, as my tongue traced the seam of his anus. Another low sound stemmed from his chest, and he further relaxed into the sensation of my tongue fluttering over his firm opening. I was patient. I was soft. I was gentle. I was confirming that tonight wouldn’t be the impassioned coupling that exploded into fits of uncontrollable lust. Tonight was about our mutual respect. Tonight was about a newfound trust. Tonight was about a never-ending love.
As his groans surrounded and captured me in their embrace, I concentrated on making this as special for him as it was for me. Preparing him for my entry, I laced the tight hole with my saliva. When he was nice and wet, I pushed the tip of my tongue inside him, moving back and forth with slow caresses. He gasped my name, urging me to give him more, so I did, sliding my tongue deeper inside him.
Deep grunts resonated from his frame. The salacious noises intensified the ache between my legs. It was an ache that had grown several times over in the weeks since our reconciliation. I was anxious. I was hot. I was hungry for the love of my husband. I trailed my way upward and gripped his cock. He was hard as steel and he was throbbing with an intensity that pushed me further. Pumping his length and quickening my thrusts inside him, his erection throbbed in my hand and his bottom pushed into my mouth. And then he was coming. His body jerked as he growled my name, his cock constricting as thick drops of semen erupted, falling on my hand and his skin.
As his cock pulsed one final time, I continued stroking him. He was not as hard as before … but it was Aiden, which meant he was still more than able to satisfy any notion I could concoct. But not tonight. I wanted it simpler. I wanted it right.
My fingers, wet with the thickness of his semen, still gripped his length as I moved my hand up and down, stroking his erection. He knew what I wanted. I saw it in his eyes. I felt it in his cock as it hardened for me. I sensed it in the air around us as I whispered soft, dirty words about how tight my pussy was, how hot and how wet it was for him.
“Fuck, Aria.” He growled. “You drive me crazy.”
“Then we’re on equal footing in every way, because you drive me just as crazy.”
He was still positioned beneath me with his legs bent, the reverse missionary position placing his cock at a perfect angle—straight up.
“Aria,” he groaned, his large hands grasping my breasts as I sheathed his girth, slowly easing down, filling and expanding my core. His penis was long and thick, engorged with lust. He made me feel tight—too tight. But the singe of pain wasn’t enough to deter me. Taking him deep inside me—as deep as I could go—I absorbed the pain of his entrance, my mouth agape as I claimed what was mine. I started to move. I was tempted to go faster, harder, but that would be another time. For now, I wanted it soft, gentle and sweet. I had complete control of it all. I moved up and down on him, every angle, every plunge, it was all under my control, and Aiden was all the better for it. We both were.
“Ahh,” I panted as I sank to the root, my insides clenching around his cock. Aiden’s eyes rolled back in his head.
“No, baby. Eyes on me,” I said. “Watch me make love to you.” I wanted to see the expression on his face. I wanted to see the liquid molten darkness of his irises. I wanted them to tell me how desperately he craved my hot, wet flesh contracting around the thick hardness of his.
Aiden’s eyes were hot on my face; and his expression confirmed what I was already feeling.
“Yes. That’s it,” I said, rolling my body over his and filling my core with every inch of his thick penis. I felt it everywhere. The walls of my sex squeezed him, over and over, contracting and expanding. Our passion was hot—my pussy was tight and his cock was deep. It was an overindulgence of pleasure, as if millions upon millions of pleasure points were colliding inside me.
I felt the change in him, he was there. Aiden came with a low groan, whispering my name, as his seed coursed, blazing inside me, and pulled at my own orgasm. My hips rotated, my sex squeezing, squeezing, squeezing.
“Shit,” he grunted. “Ahh, Aria.”
I milked him, cried out to him, his frame shuddering beneath me as I gave in to my own need, coming with him, releasing it all, and spiraling in long, deep waves.
I released Aiden’s legs, and he reached for me, pulling me to his chest. He rolled us over and buried his face in the side of my neck, his hold on my body tightening. When he finally lifted his head, I was alarmed to see tears shimmering in his eyes.
I touched his cheek. “What’s wrong?”
He pulled my hand from his jaw, brushing it with his lips. “Thank you for giving me the chance to love you.”
*****
Standing on the patio, I breathed a sigh, my gaze absorbing the spectacular view of the Caribbean as a gentle breeze whispered around me. I didn’t want to say goodbye to our private paradise. It had been like a second honeymoon, one that rekindled and strengthened a bond that would never break. Every moment was perfect, and I was sad that it had come to an end.
“The crew’s here. I’m afraid it’s time to go,” Aiden said, having stepped behind me. His arms encircled my waist and he buried his face in my hair.
“This was so perfect. I don’t think I can say goodbye to all of it just yet.”
“We’ll be back,” Aiden said. “Whenever you want. And if you aren’t opposed, I think we should come here every year to renew our vows.”
Turning to face him, I kissed his full, perfect lips. “I’d like that.”
“I can’t wait to bring Lyric,” he said, with a wide smile.
We’d have a lifetime of fun-in-the-sun days here, I was sure of it. I could picture Lyric now, running around, tossing sand at his parents and giggling the entire time. “Remember that day in my office when you made a comment about our story not ending?”
“Yes,” Aiden replied.
“I don’t think that will ever happen. Our story will go on forever.”