Because I Love You

by Amy Brent

  “That’s all for me for the day, kid. I’m far too old for all of this manual labor.” I followed as she went to the kitchen to get her handbag and phone from the countertop. “Call him.” I had a feeling her sudden urge to leave was Aiden related. She’d been pressing the issue, telling me how he’s the one who begged her to stop me from leaving until he returned.

  He had helped me and saved my life in many ways, and even though I missed him like crazy, he hadn’t called. I’d gotten one message that simply said: When you’re ready. I wasn’t sure he was still waiting. It had been long enough for him to move on or find someone new with less drama and scandal. I doubted his mother had been too happy to see that his name had been mentioned in the tabloids as my lover.

  I walked to the dining room table and found my phone next to the box of mason jars. I dialed Aiden and picked one up that was full of amber glass and rolled it on the table listening to the sound as the phone rang. Something about it was soothing, and I took a deep breath as I heard his voice. “Ella?”

  “Aiden.” I closed my eyes and savored the word on my lips.

  “I’ve missed you, Ella. Can I see you?”

  “Yes, I’m at my house if you want to come over. I’m still unpacking.”

  “I’d love to help.” I heard his keys rattle on the other end of the phone and then a moment later his door closing.

  “You don’t have to help.” He cranked up his car, and I shook my head wondering if he was going to insist.

  “I want to help. If you want me around.” The words broke my heart, and I hated that he thought I didn’t want him around. I had missed him so much it hurt.

  “You know I do, don’t you? I’ve only needed a little space to realize how much.”

  “I hope you mean it because I’m pulling into your drive.” He’d been at his beach house down the road, and I hurried to meet him out front with a smile as he pulled in and parked. He opened his car door, and I was there to greet him.

  “You were down the street.” I put my hands on my hips, and he got to his feet.

  “At the risk of sounding like a total loser, I’ve been there the whole time. I wanted to be as close as possible.”

  “You’re not a loser. I’ve missed you too.” He pulled me in and instead of a long hot kiss, he cradled my head against his chest.

  “I’ve missed you so much.” He released a long breath and let me loose.

  “Come inside. I want you to see my progress. It’s all coming together again.” I led him by the hand into the front room where he put his hands on my hips and stayed close behind as I walked him through to the kitchen.

  “It’s beautiful. I’m so happy it’s all working out for you, Ella. You deserve it.”

  “I’m not sure everything is working. I mean, there is that tabloid mess. I wanted to apologize about what they said.”

  “Why apologize? I mean, unless it’s not true? I mean the part about me, of course.” He lifted his shoulders and gave me a boyish grin. “I don’t mind being known as your lover.”

  I giggled, and he stepped behind me and pulled me close, whispering in my ear. “Do you mind it?”

  Chills went down my spine as the tingles pulsed through me, and I felt myself grow with desire, my nipples hardening, my core aching. It had been much too long since I’d been this close. His arm snaked around my front, hitching me closer as his stiff cock pressed into my back.

  I reached back and stroked it, and he hissed in my ear before spinning me around and walking me back to the table. As my ass found a place to rest, I lifted my legs and brought them around him.

  “Is this too fast, Ella? We can talk if you want? Talk about the two of us and where you want it to go. You do want this, don’t you?” He searched my eyes, and I smiled, pulling his mouth back to mine.

  I’d let my body do the talking. I ground my hips forward, standing higher on my toes rub against his cock, and then, to show him how much I missed him, how much I still desired him. I reached for his zipper and worked his pants down around his ass, enough to spring his cock free. It was hard for me, veiny and shiny at the tip. His red head looked like it must be throbbing, so I leaned over and took it into my mouth.

  Aiden’s hips bucked forward, and soon he was rocking his hips gently against me, letting me take him inch by precious inch until he hit the back of my throat. It had been a while since I tackled his broad girth and long length. I tried to relax, and myself take it, but before I could get too deep, he pulled me off.

  “Mm. I’ve really missed you. I want inside you, Ella.” He rubbed me through my clothes, pressing firmly against my mound, and then he lay me back on the table and peeled my clothes away. I loved being naked for him, especially when I could feel his eyes on me, trailing down my body, stopping to take in the swells of my breasts, which he squeezed a bit tighter and all the way down to my little slit, which he rubbed his swollen cock against. He reached down and scooted me closer to the edge, and then I watched as he slowly inched inside me, his cock splitting me open, taking me to my limits as always. I settled around him and then he slowly ground himself against me, rolling his hips with the slightest movement.

  It wasn’t his usual fucking. He was making love to me, caressing my channel with his cock. I tilted my hips, and he stroked against my spot, the most tender one where all the nerves in my body seemed to connect, and it kicked my pleasure into overdrive. I writhed beneath him, my own pace going wild and he matched it long enough for me to come all over his cock.

  “That’s my girl.” Aiden’s words swelled my heart with pride. I had missed being his.

  Chapter 30

  Aiden

  I pumped into her, filling her tight, juicy channel with my cock, and worked it nice and deep as she moaned. I’d missed being with her, not only sexually, but day to day and I vowed as she looked up at me from that table, the look of pleasure on her pretty face, her mouth parted in ecstasy, that I’d never be without her again. “Tell me you want this, Ella. For us to always be together.” I slowed my pace so she could catch her breath and collect her thoughts. I wanted her to be absolutely sure. “I want you to be with me, Ella. We’ll take it slow, we’ll figure it all out, but I want you, I want to be everything for you.”

  “I want that, too,” she said as she looked deep into my eyes, her pleasure still in her expression as she milked my cock. “I’m so close again.” She threw her head back, and I felt a sense of pride as I brought her over the edge again.

  “Fuck yes.” I picked her up and held her against me, her little slit working me so good. That I thought I’d melt right into her. I walked her to the counter, and she pushed away some things behind her as I thrust deep.

  “Fill me, please.” The words were strangled on her breath, and I knew that in moments I’d oblige. I didn’t want it any other way. “I want it, Aiden. I want it all.”

  My head went light as my balls tightened and then my head swelled as I shot my come deep, grinding it in with hard thrusts. I rocked my hips, pounding it deeper, splashing it out onto the counter beneath her ass as it coated my balls and her thighs.

  “I love you.” It seemed like the right time to say it. She kissed my bare chest, and I rested still inside her, now and then twitching involuntarily.

  “I love you, Aiden.”

  “I’ve got to do things right, though, Ella. So, I want us to get cleaned up. I’m taking you to meet my mother.”

  Her eyes widened, and her hand shot straight to her hair which had pulled up into a messy bun and was now even messier. Her flushed face and swollen lips were beautiful, but a tale-tell sign of what we’d been up to.

  “Now?” I stepped down offering my hand with a nod, and she hopped down and crossed the room so fast that I nearly tripped over my pants that were still around my ankles.

  “It’ll be fine, Ella. She’ll love you too.” I caught up with her in her bathroom where she turned on the shower and was already letting down her hair.

  She stepped up into the showe
r and pulled the curtain closed, keeping her face visible as she peeked out. “I’ll invite you in, but if you don’t behave, we’ll never get ready.”

  “I can behave,” I said pulling the curtain open from the other side and stepping in under the warm spray with her.

  Another hour passed and we finally got out and dressed and made our way to my family estate where mother was on the patio having lunch.

  When she saw me walk in with Ella, her expression faded from carefree smiles to ones of concern. She was on edge, and for the first time, I think she was intimidated. I wasn’t sure that was a good thing or not, but I knew Ella could handle anything she dished out. If she didn’t like us together because of who Ella was and all of the recent scandal, which she’d already informed me bothered her to no end, then she could deal with it. Ella was my life and my future, and that wasn’t going to change based on Patricia’s opinions.

  “Well, Aiden sweetheart, it’s good to see you this morning, I’d thought you’d lost your way home.” She spoke to me, but her eyes never left Ella. Ella held on to my arm nice and firm, but she walked toward mother with her head up high and her posture as stiff as a board.

  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.”