by Amy Brent
I wanted to tell her to relax, not to let mother see that she was stiff with nerves, but then, as if reading my mind, she let out a long-held breath and gave me a nudge.
“I’ve brought someone here to meet you,” I knew that Ella had seen my mother on a few occasions, but they had never been introduced formally and certainly not since I’d started seeing her.
“Ella Ford, it’s so good to meet you. I was wondering when Aiden was going to bring you around. I was beginning to think the tabloids would have to tell me everything I wanted to know about the two of you.” I gave Patricia a hard glare, but Ella took it in stride.
“I’m so sorry about that. I can only think that Nola hoped to gain something from spilling that tea.”
“I think you’re right,” I said, pulling out a seat for Ella across from my mother. I sat beside her and motioned to Oliver, who worked on our staff to bring more of what mother was having.
“It’s a good thing that we’re not weaker people who would let something like that bother them. Especially knowing the truth.” Ella’s words caused my mother to smile even though it was a direct dig at her.
“I like her,” said Patricia leaning in close to me and pouring Ella a cup of juice. “You’re a lot like your mother. She never put up with anyone’s bullshit either. A hell of a woman.”
“A hell of a mother.” Ella lifted the glass Patricia offered and drank as if toasting Layla’s memory.
I thought it was the perfect time to drop the bomb on my mother, and hoped that Ella had lightened her mood enough that she wouldn’t protest. “I’m going to be staying at the beach house for a while. I’d like to be a bit closer to Ella, and I’m hoping that things work out to where I will be selling it, maybe finding Ella and I a more permanent place together.”
Ella’s eyes lit with a smile. “You’re more than welcome to stay at my house, Aiden.”
“Oh, I plan on it, and vice versa of course.” I flashed her a wink, and my mother covered her mouth not wanting me to see her smile.
“What?” she lifted her shoulder. “Can’t a mother be happy for her son?”
“Oh course, it’s just I thought you’d protest the move. I will still be around, of course, to run operations with the company and of course to keep an eye on you.”
Zep and Halle took the opportunity to enter the room. My best friend had insisted on bringing her around to my mother’s dismay, but the two were doing the same thing she and Nola had with pretending to like one another. You could see it in her expression as Halle locked her arm with Zep’s and they approached the table.
“Are you taking this one with you?” My mother gestured to Zep and Ella and I both chuckled.
“Taking me where?” Zep took a handful of grapes from the table and tried to feed one to Halle who curled her lip and pushed his hand away.
“I’m going to live at the beach house. You’re welcome to come.”
“Actually, I’m getting an apartment across town. It’s going to be one of the new locations for Halle’s show. I’m the new love interest.” He straightened the collar of his t-shirt and slicked back his hair giving me a wink.”
“It’s not like you’re playing a part,” snapped Halle. “We’re in love.” She held up her chin and dared the rest of us to make a remark, and we all looked down at our plates, smiling.
But then Zep just had to take it farther. “Yeah, man. Who would have thought we’d be dating sisters?”
Patricia and I both glared at him as Ella coughed, clearing her throat.
“I suppose we are sisters, aren’t we? It’s strange having one that doesn’t look like me. It’s nice being the prettier sister still.” She glanced around the table and then laughed. “You people, you’re all so uptight. It was a joke.” She met Ella’s eyes across the table. Something had changed in her expression. “I’m sorry for the way I behaved. I’ve not been a very good boss or friend to you. I wish you well, Ella. The both of you.”
Zep smiled wide and gave me a glance as if to say, See, she does have a heart.
Ella gave her sister a warm smile. “Thank you, Halle.”
“Well, we better go before it gets any sweeter in here.” Zep took Halle’s hand, and before they could walk away, my mother was standing to leave too.”
“I’m so glad I got a chance to meet you, Ella. I know my son loves you very much, and I’m glad we’re friends.” With that, Ella teared up a bit, but only as Patricia walked away.
“Do you think she means that? She really likes me?” Ella seemed to relax even more as if she’d been holding her composure for my mother’s sake the entire time and it had taken some effort.
“Yes, and she going to love you as much as I do in time. Mark my words.”
“I like hearing that, you know.” Ella moved closer, and we kissed.
“I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time I saw you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “The first time? When I looked hideous and spilled that drink on you?”
I held back my laughter. “Okay, let me rephrase that, I’ve loved you since the second time I ever saw you.”
We shared a laugh, and I pulled her in for another kiss and then over into my lap. “I wish my father could have met you. He’d love you too.”
“My mother would have been happy for us. She’d have loved you too.” She lay her head on my shoulder, and we stayed that way a moment thinking about the one’s we’d lost, but happy that we had each other. My mother had been right, it was time to stop mourning my father and settle down, and I could do that with Ella. She understood like no one else what I’d been through. She was my perfect match.
Epilogue
Ella
I had worked so hard getting ready for the grand opening of my new boutique that I hadn’t taken the time to eat lunch. I was grateful that Aiden would be arriving soon to take me to dinner.
Millie had come by to help, and she was out front while I walked to put some of the overstock in the back.
“Ella, there are flowers for you.” I turned to see Millie standing with a huge bouquet of red roses, her silver hair and blue eyes the only thing visible over the top of it. “Where do you want them?”
I hurried to help her and moved some of the things off the end of the front counter to make room. “Here’s fine. Oh, that Aiden. He’s going to spoil me.” I lowered my nose and took in a deep breath of the roses which were the darkest red I’d ever seen.
“When are you going to marry that man?” Millie asked as I took the card from the small envelope that had been tucked into the flowers.
I opened the small card and was shocked to see that the gorgeous roses weren’t from Aiden after all. “With love from your father.” I held the card to my heart and felt the tears pooling in my eyes. “He’s such a sweetheart.” He’d been doing his best to make up for lost time, and though I hated I missed out on all those years, I was grateful we had time together now to get to know one another.
He’d been in a bad place when my mother got pregnant with me and it turns out, I was the reason he got sober. He’d told me that in return for saving his life, he’d wanted to save mine, and he thought by staying away, he would. He knew he’d been wrong, but I’d told him not to spend another day worrying over it. Time was too precious, and life was too short. My mother would be proud we were trying to know each other, and that was enough.
“He’s so proud of you for opening the shop. He didn’t get to be around when your mother opened hers. He was on tour and with Nola, of course, but he was proud of her. He was always amazed by her talent and did you know that he’s the one who sparked her interest in jewelry? She wanted to be a clothing designer before that.”
“She’d told me that once, well except for the part about Scott.” I wondered how many of my stories had been altered to omit my father and imagined that the truth about a lot of things was still on the horizon. It was like I was unlocking little treasures from my life and so far, that was okay.
Nothing had
been worse than learning about Nola and that I had twin sisters. They had both cleaned up their act, Sadie going back to school, and Halle and Zep still seeing each other. He’d appeared on the most recent season of their show and producers were hoping the two would take things to the next level for the next season’s wedding special. Neither of them were sold on that idea.
I stood arranging the flowers and taking in the smell when Aiden came in a half hour later. I couldn’t stop fidgeting with them, and it kept my mind off my growling tummy.
“Hey, what’s this? Is there another man I need to know about?” I glanced over my shoulder and turned to greet him with a kiss.
I gave him a serious stare. “I’m afraid there is another man in my life.”
“Well, I would fight him for you, but Scott Blue isn’t getting any younger.” I gave him a nudge.
“How’d you know?”
“Because the only other man in your life is Zep and he’s too cheap to buy roses. You’d get carnations if you’re lucky. He used to bring my mother weeds from the back lawn. She acted like he’d brought her gold.”
“Were you jealous of him?”
“Maybe a little.” He gave a shrug, and I stood on my toes and gave him another kiss.
“That’s my cue, lovebirds,” said Millie, putting the last of the packing papers in the trash. “You’re all set to go, kid. I know you’re going to be a big hit.” She gave me a kiss on the cheek and then went to gather her things and Aiden, and I walked her out minutes later.
“I’ll go get my purse. I’m famished.” But he locked the door, behind Millie.
“I’m famished too. I’m starving for you, Ella.”
“Why do you say my name that way? Like an endearment, as if you’re saying honey or baby.” He’d always done that, and while I loved it, it just seemed curious.
“Because you have a beautiful name, and you’re my Ella.” He kissed me hard and deep and then pressed his erection against my hip. “Let’s go in back.”
I walked him toward my stockroom, and once we rounded the corner, out of sight from the front windows, he pushed me against the wall and hiked my skirt up around my hips. His mouth fell on my breasts, and I believed him when he said he was hungry. He rolled his tongue around my nipple and then pulled hard, sucking and nibbling as if he could devour me. His hand worked my mound, caressing and stroking beneath my panties as I pulled out his cock and stroked it. He slipped his fingers between my folds and found my tender clit, which he’d punished the night before. I moaned, and he smiled.
“That’s my girl. I’m going to fuck you so good, Ella. I want you to moan and moan.” He dropped his pants and stepped out of them.
As he lifted my legs up around his hips and buried his cock deep inside me, I did just that. I held on tight as he bounced me on his cock. “There’s a counter, take me there.” I pointed over his shoulder, knowing he couldn’t see, but he gripped my ass as I held on tight. After a moment, he had me on the counter and was over me, buried deep, his thrusts pounding harder and harder as I cried out. I was certain the people in the shop next door could hear, and I didn’t care.
Aiden lifted me up and walked me to a small wooden chair where he sat. Then he pulled me down as if he wanted me to straddle him. I lowered myself beside him instead and took him into my mouth, tasting the salt, sweet nectar I’d coated him with. Soon he was the one moaning, and I had forgotten all about my hunger.
“Ella, your mouth is so good. You make me feel so amazing.” I pushed myself down on him, and over the year I’d gotten so used to sucking his cock that I took it like a pro with no problems. Though he said he kind of missed me gagging on it, he loved that I could take him into my throat without issues.
He grabbed the back of my head and held me down on him, my tongue slipped out and licked his balls, and he surprised me by holding my nose. I knew he wanted me to struggle a bit, and so I did, allowing myself to swallow which milked his cock nice and steady.
“Careful, Ella. I’m going to fill that pretty mouth if you’re not careful.” He knew I liked getting his come inside me, and I wasn’t talking about my mouth. I pulled free and stood, straddling his cock as he stood it up tall and then I lowered myself on him, inching down and rolling my hips around so that I urged him deeper.
I gripped him with my channel and ground my clit against his pelvis, angling my hips so that I could feel every delicious inch of his manhood inside me grazing my g-spot as he thrust, stroking it.
My orgasm was on edge, and I held it off enough to tease it and make it that much hotter when it came. Moments later it did, and I quaked around his shaft, milking him, urging his release.
He liked to edge it too. We stayed that way a while as he did, speeding up and slowing down, kissing and caressing.
My tummy growled, and Aiden met my eyes. “You weren’t kidding that you’re hungry.” He rubbed his palm flat against my tummy as if to soothe it.
“I didn’t eat today.” I knew he was not happy the minute I said the words.
“I’ve told you about being so busy you skip meals. I want you healthy, Ella.” He bounced me on his cock and this time he increased the speed so that I was certain he wasn’t going to edge it again.
“It feels amazing. I’m going to come,” I blurted the words, and my walls gripped his cock. He moaned out as he filled me up with his warm load.
He kissed my shoulder. “If I’d known you’d missed your lunch, I’d have fucked you after dinner.”
“I’m fine and this way, you get to fuck me before and after.” I stood and walked over to the counter where we’d been and grabbed a paper towel to clean up, and then I let my skirt down over my hips as I found a wastepaper basket.
Then I picked up his pants, and something hit the floor at my feet. I thought it was his phone, but as I reached down, it registered. It wasn’t a phone. It was a small, black velvet ring box and when I looked up, he was wide-eyed and smiling.
“You’re not supposed to see that until dinner,” he said.
“Is there another woman I should know about?” I teased, but he stepped forward and took the box from my hands.
“No, you’re the only one for me, Ella Ford. And since there’s no time like the present—” He opened the box and presented it to me. It was a gorgeous princess cut diamond. I held my hand over my heart as he took a deep breath. “Will you marry me, Ella?”
“Yes!” I dove in for a kiss. When I pulled away, he slipped the ring onto my finger. It reminded me of the moment when he’d returned my other ring, which I still wore on my other hand. That was the moment I knew I loved him. “I love you, Aiden.”
“I love you, Ella. Now, let’s go get you fed, so you’ll have enough energy to celebrate after.” He wagged his brows and pulled me in close, and I kissed him knowing that he was mine forever.
*** Wait…this is not the end ****
Well, technically not because,
If you want more of Aiden and Ella, turn the page for an extended epilogue and an extra steamy deleted kinky scene from their life.
Super Dirty Kinky Bonus Sex Scene from Claiming Cinderella
The storm was rattling my windows with each thunderclap, and it was times like this I hated living alone. It was one thing to have Aiden down the street, but at this hour he was probably long asleep in his bed and unconcerned with the weather that had my nerves on edge.
I’d never liked bad weather, and on the nights when it got too scary, I’d sneak into my mother’s room and crawl up into her bed. Now I didn’t have that option. I had taken her room as my own, and there was no comfort here alone.
The wind whipped so hard that the trees outside were doing backbends and the puddles were deep enough for wading. In the distance, down on the shore, the waves crashed violently. The power flickered, causing the few lights I had on, to grow dim. I hurried downstairs and went to the kitchen where I knew I kept the flashlights, and I had just put my hand on one when the power went out. I stood in the dark for a moment a
s I struggled with the flashlight and tried to remember how to cut it on. It wasn’t like I’d expected, and I had to poke a button on the butt-end of it. I finally got it on and cursed as the dim light shined as if struggling.
There was no telling how long ago those batteries had been there, but I scrambled to find more, hoping I had some of the right sizes. As I fumbled in the dark, I heard a sound that grabbed my attention. It was a crash and then footsteps out on my front stoop. I took the batteries with me as I ran upstairs, knowing my phone was beside my bed, but as soon as I hit the bottom step, I heard a rattle coming from my front door’s knob.
I froze in place, my heart pounding from my chest and I knew whatever it was, whoever it was, they would be in and on me before I could reach my phone. I had to take that chance. I had to run for it, hoping that I’d not trip on anything in the dark. As I took a few steps in a hurry, the front door blew open, and a scream ripped from my throat.
“Ella?” Aiden’s voice brought me to my knees with relief. I hit the floor cursing in the dark.
“Dammit, Aiden. You scared me half to death!”
“I’m sorry. I was trying to be quiet, but I tripped over your plant stand. I’m afraid I owe you a new one.” He flicked on a small light, and it was barely enough to illuminate him as he wiped his feet and stepped inside. “Where are you?”
