by Kate Stewart
“Okay,” he said, lifting the last part of the word and awaiting further explanation.
“The reason is completely ridiculous,” I said, grabbing my wine and taking a sip. “I just…for one day wanted to be someone else, that’s all. God, it sounds sad, doesn’t it? Anyway, I never planned on coming back to your bar.”
“But you did for me,” he said with a confident smile. “I like that, little liar.” He dropped the subject then, and I breathed out a sigh of relief. I stared at him, my own curiosity getting the best of me.
“Why are you singing in a bar?” I asked, then apologized quickly when I realized how demeaning the question came across. “I mean, not that there is anything wrong with it. It’s just that you could be on a real stage somewhere. You could be really successful at it.” He smirked before taking a bite of his perfectly cooked steak as I awaited his reply.
“I had the chance once. I passed it up.” He didn’t seem upset at all about that fact in the slightest. Wow.
“Well, I’ve never heard a voice quite like yours,” I said, forking a bite of fish.
“Maybe you just like me,” he said, dismissing his talent. I looked up to find him watching me.
“Maybe you’re putting the cart before the horse,” I said slyly. “Are we on a date?”
“I certainly hope so,” he said with isn’t it obvious humor.
“Well, what are your intentions with me?” I asked boldly, putting my fork down and matching his steady gaze.
“Not sure yet, but when I know, Nina, you will too,” he said seriously. After paying for the bill, he grabbed my hand and led me to the tiki bar adjacent to the restaurant then steered me down toward the sand. He bent over, removing my sandals then held them in one hand as he laced our fingers together with the other.
We walked in silence for a few minutes until we reached the edge of the water. The moon was only half full as we strolled through the chilly sea foam.
We walked and talked for what seemed like hours while I spoke freely about who I was before I became a millionaire, blood-seeking adulteress. We talked a lot about music and our preferences, and I told him how impressed I had been with his bar playlist. He kept our hands firmly clasped as we made our way back toward Tides.
“So, divorced?” he said sadly, as if he knew the pain I’d gone through.
“Yes, but it was really for the best,” I said, trying to hide the effect of his thumb sliding over the top of my hand.
“Then why are you so sad, Nina?” he asked as he turned to me, his hands stroking my bare shoulders.
“I’m not…sad. Or if I seem to be…I’m fine, really.”
“Why am I so comfortable with you?” he asked, his back toward the water. He peered down at me while towering over me, and I damn near gasped at the hunger in his eyes. “Everything in me wants to take your mouth, stroke it with my tongue, snap that dress off with my fingers and bury myself inside of you, but something else is telling me not to.”
Holy…Mary…Mother of God! Please listen to the first voice of reason.
“I’m not sad,” I repeated.
“You’ll have to convince me,” he said, reaching in to stroke my chin and lips. I kissed the tips of his fingers and saw him visibly inhale. I no longer felt like talking. Leaning up on the tips of my toes, I brushed my lips against his. He leaned in to kiss me further, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest.
“Thank you for dinner, Aiden. But I don’t have to convince you of shit.” I heard his laughter as he followed behind me on the walk back to the hotel. I stomped through the sand, certain it was Devin’s voice I had just heard demanding that I adhere to him. Another arrogant man who assumed I would bend to his will.
Well, fuck that.
“Nina, stop,” he said, still chuckling. “God, you are a pain in the ass already.” He laughed, picking me up so I was cradled against him. “Hard to get your name, lying, and now you’re making me chase you…again,” he added as he hugged me to him.
I pushed at his chest again and swung my legs down. I was forced to look up into his beautiful face to confront him, but I would not let it sway me. “Let me make something perfectly clear to you. A pretty face and good fuck…I’ve grown immune to those as a way of manipulation. So you might want to do yourself a favor and save yourself the trouble.”
“Wow,” he said animatedly, and with a hint of a smile on his lips.
“I know how I sound right now, but I’m serious, Aiden. If you can’t show me something different, treat me differently, I’m walking. I don’t need some demanding horse’s ass telling me what to think, how to feel, and when to come.”
There you are Nina fucking Scott!
He charged me, backing me up against a post underneath the pier before clamping his hand over my mouth. I uselessly fought him as he whispered in my ear.
“I have a filthy fucking mind, Nina, and I won’t apologize for it. The possibilities are endless when I look at you and your ridiculous body. I want you.” He ground his hips into me so I felt his erection. “It would seem right now you have all the power.” I closed my eyes, trying to stifle my moan as he continued. “But I won’t let you ruin an almost perfect first date because of what some asshole did before me. I’m not him.” I opened my eyes as he lifted his hand, still holding our bodies tightly together. “I will most definitely never tell you when to come. I won’t have to,” he rasped out as his breath hit my neck. My entire body molded to his as I slumped against the post, all of the fight in me exhausted.
“And I haven’t even kissed you…yet,” he said, feathering his fingers through my hair then cupping the back of my head. “Tell me, Nina, when is the last time a man made love to you?”
I laughed nervously as my heart pounded in my chest, his lips a whisper away from mine.
“I thought so,” he said before brushing his lips over mine. He pulled away then grabbed my hand, and I immediately felt the loss of his body and groaned inwardly.
It took me the length of a football field to find my voice. “What would have made this date perfect? You said it was almost perfect.”
He chuckled. “Out of all that, that’s what you ask me?”
I shrugged as we got to the parking lot. He turned to me and said, “I was pretty disappointed you don’t like Rush. Seriously a great band.”
I laughed loudly as he put his arm around me, walking me back to his club.
“I have another set in about twenty minutes. Will you stay?” he asked, sounding hopeful, as we stood outside the entrance.
I almost answered yes, but didn’t want to see women ogle him. I wanted to keep the intimacy of belonging to him for just one night a bit longer.
“I have a long day tomorrow. My vacation is officially over.” I could see his disappointment, and it thrilled me.
“Hey, I never actually asked you what it is you do,” he said, taking a step forward and placing his hands on my hips.
“I cater to the wealthy. I feed their greed,” I said with disgust.
“Wow, that seems like a far shittier job than singing in a bar,” he chuckled.
I opened my mouth to apologize again, but he silenced me with his finger, then replaced it with another infuriating brush of his lips. When we separated, I was panting, and disappointed, while he wore a satisfied smirk.
“If I kiss you, Nina, I won’t be able to stop.” I looked around the busy street with an eyebrow raised. “I don’t think you would get away with that here.”
“Should I be flattered you want to kiss me, or do you want to test my theory and be fucked in the street?” he asked, smiling wickedly.
Wow.
“Goodnight, Aiden.”
“Goodnight, Nina.” He leaned in, running his hands up my back and gripping my neck with his fingers, stroking the skin softly. I was instantly warm. He did this for several seconds before leaning in one last time and giving me that same chaste kiss. When he pulled away, he said nothing and simply smiled before turning to head into the bar.
&nbs
p; I had no idea what I was expecting, but I certainly got a lot more than I bargained for.
And I wanted more.
“Greed is a fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.”
― Janwillem van de Wetering
§§
“Well, this is beautiful,” my mother noted as we stepped out of the car to make our way out onto the rooftop at The Pavilion Bar. I quickly ordered a mojito, officially declaring myself an alcoholic. I’d had a drink every day this week.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been up here,” I lied, knowing my mother had been in hiding the better part of her life. I took in her expensive designer dress and perfectly manicured hair and was happy that the latter part of her life had changed because of my success.
“Nope, not once,” she said, taking in the three hundred and sixty degree view of Charleston. We made small talk as we ordered lunch, and I was working on my fourth mojito when she decided to drop a bomb on me. “I’m glad you made time for me, honey. I wanted to talk to you.”
Shit. I just wanted to eat my salad, drink some rum then leave. Come on, Mom!
“I’m divorcing your father,” she said, staring at me as if weighing my reaction. I sat, mouth gaping, as the sun began to burn the crown of my head.
“Can we get an umbrella?” I shrieked at the empty hole in the center of our table. The waiter stared at me as if I was insane before turning to retrieve one.
“Ninabelle, listen, I haven’t been happy for some time,” she said.
“Trust me, Mom, you have made everyone aware,” I said dryly. My poor father, this would crush him.
“Don’t take that tone with me,” she snapped viciously. I simply nodded, knowing there was no winning this argument. She was the victim, always the victim. I slurped my drink, my anger building.
“I won’t buy you another house, and you are not forcing my father out of his,” I warned.
“And why is that? Because I am finally trying to make myself happy?” she hissed.
“I’m not your meal ticket, Mom. I set you both up for the rest of your life. Make it work,” I said, placing my card on the table for the bill.
“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked softly, trying to keep her voice weak so I would be sympathetic.
“No, Mom, why are you doing this to Dad? He’s put up with your abuse for years just to be able to stay married to you. Now because you finally have nothing to blame him for, you want to leave him? I solved your damn problem.” She gaped at me as I greedily sucked any remaining alcohol from my ice cubes.
Numb. Numb. Numb.
“I will not finance this divorce,” I said, resolute.
“Fine,” she said, closing down on me the way she always had.
“What happened to you?” I said, staring at her. She simply looked at me blankly. “I remember who you were before you became obsessed with money, and you were a cool lady.” My mother stared at me for a beat before she burst into tears. I looked around us, horrified.
“Mom, I’m sorry, but you have got to stop this. You are the parent.”
She refused to look at me as I threw my arm around her shoulder, leading her to the elevator. She cried the entire way back to her house while I apologized profusely. I knew better than to pick her up. Our relationship had soured years ago, and even more so when the calls started coming in about what I could “do” for her. It made me resent my money all the more.
She refused to acknowledge me when she exited the car. That’s when I knew I was in for it. She rarely forgave me easily. Her love wasn’t unconditional, and I had just purposely provoked her. I cursed my stupidity for the wrath I would be forced to endure. I would forever be sorry for hurting her, but not for what I said. My father deserved better. I may just give her what she wanted after all to save him from any more suffering.
I put my head in my hands in defeat as Carson drove away.
Fuck. My. Life!
My phone vibrated, and I looked at it, praying for a distraction.
Aiden: Plans today?
I couldn’t help my smile at my answered prayer. Then I thought about the state I was in. I had already unleashed on him unnecessarily. He didn’t deserve to have to deal with it again.
Nina: I’d make poor company. Another time?
Aiden: 2001 Palmetto Way. Half an hour.
I smiled as I gave Carson the address. I didn’t give a crap about appearances. I wanted to drink in those amber eyes, hear his chuckle. I simply wanted him.
Pulling out my mirror, I fixed the smudges beneath my eyes and smoothed down my one-piece, black silk pantsuit. I had on killer heels that wrapped around the cuffs. I was dressed for execution, and that was my plan. I wanted this man. I’d spent the better part of my morning fantasizing about him. I was less than satisfied with my whisper of a kiss.
We pulled up to a large beach house about forty-five minutes later. There was no way around Carson pulling up in my town car. I’d told Aiden I catered to the rich. I could easily say the car was borrowed. My wealth should have no bearing on our dating, but I wasn’t ready to come clean just yet.
Yeah, Nina, believe that lie all you want.
His home was beautiful, though it was far more modest than mine. I admired it immediately. It had much more of an ethereal feel. It was surrounded by palm trees and what looked like a private walk to the beach. I climbed his porch steps and shooed Carson away, making sure he was out of sight before knocking.
As soon as I knocked, the door opened. Aiden was standing, bare chested, and in swim trunks, his confusion clear as he took in my appearance. I was equally as stunned seeing the sleeve of tattoos that covered his right shoulder and most of his arm. It looked like half of a suit of armor. After a minute of appraisal, he smiled warmly.
“Hi,” he said, ushering me inside.
“Hi, back,” I flirted.
I looked around as he closed the door. The house was tastefully decorated in dark woods and pale accent colors, similar to mine. It was nice, far too nice for a bar owner. My curiosity was piqued, but I refused to pry, praying secretly for the same courtesy.
“I was just about to make margaritas. I didn’t know if you would show,” he said, grabbing my hand and leading me into his spacious kitchen. He had a door open, and I could hear the waves as I noted the spectacular view. The kitchen was slightly messy and had that lived in look.
Now this was a home.
I noted Lenny Kravitz singing “Again” from his docked iPod. Aiden watched me carefully from across the counter as I picked it up, scrolling through his library. I loved every single song he had programmed. After placing it back on the docking station, I turned up the volume a little.
I shook my head and looked up at him with a smile. “It’s uncanny. It’s like you know exactly what I love.”
“Does it make you nervous?” he said with a smile. I opened my mouth to answer, but he started the blender. I made a face I’m sure was less than alluring, and he stopped the blender. “What was that?” I started to speak again, but he turned the blender on a higher speed. I rolled my eyes and took a seat at his comfortable breakfast nook overlooking the water.
“Sorry about that. We can’t have your sassy mouth ruining another date,” he said, bringing me a freshly filled margarita glass.
I licked the salt then took a sip. “I said I was bad company today.”
“Oh, but you look so damn beautiful, Nina,” he whispered in my ear before grabbing my hand and leading me out to the deck. I sat in his oh-so-damn-comfortable-where-the-hell-do-I-get-one-of-these lounge chairs and watched the waves with my feet crossed at the ankles. Aiden picked up my discarded Louboutin and raised an eyebrow.
“Fair warning, I’ve already been drinking,” I said, ignoring the obvious question in his eyes, and taking a huge sip of the perfect frozen concoction. “And I plan on drinking more.”
“That bad?” he asked sincerely, placing my shoes underneath his chair.
“I don�
�t think you would believe me if I told you everything,” I replied, staring into my drink. “And I don’t want to ruin this…This is amazing,” I said, looking around me. I hadn’t actually braved a long look at Aiden. I knew if I did it would be impossible not to touch him. I couldn’t shake his stare. His eyes were on me, roaming every inch of me.
He’s obviously fond of silk pantsuits.
“This could be a bad pairing, you know. A bar owner, a newly ambitious alcoholic,” I said, laughing as I finally turned to him.
“Jesus, you’re beautiful.” His sincerity had me sitting straight up in my seat. I was beyond stunned as he washed me with his stare.
I fought hard to keep in my chair as I made a joke. “Have a few of these before I got here, huh?” It was anything but comical. I was having a hard time breathing as I let my eyes trail down his sculpted chest to the sexy light patch of hair just above his drawstring.
Fucking…yum.
“Well, Aiden, thank you, and you aren’t so bad yourself.” I lowered my lashes and batted them as I took another drink.
“Okay.” He grinned as if he knew I was trying desperately to clear the air. He grabbed my empty glass and came back minutes later wearing a t-shirt. He gave me a wink as I moved my head back and forth to Lorde.
“So I thought I would take you surfing in the morning,” he said, taking a sip and settling in the chair next to me. I set down my drink and turned to face him, leaving my head on the cushion and tucking my legs behind me.
“I forgot my toothbrush,” I said, clearly not giving a shit.
He chuckled and looked at me again. “What’s wrong, sad girl? What can I do?”
“Just be here,” I said, smiling. “This is good,” I said, honestly.
He exhaled loudly but dropped it as we sat soaking up the sun.
§§
I woke up as the sun was setting, and hadn’t realized I’d dozed off. Aiden had covered me in a blanket, and I shook it off quickly to look for him to apologize. I found him in his kitchen sautéing vegetables. He had showered, and his hair was still damp and lay loosely over his forehead. I watched him for a few minutes. His outfit was the same: a white t-shirt, shorts, bare feet, and completely and utterly fuckable. He smirked as he noticed me watching him.
