Following The Light (Out of the Dark Book 3)

by Arlene Gonzales

  Shannon writes down the color we have chosen. “Okay, what type of flower should we go with, or do you want to go with the traditional white roses?”

  As if on cue, Aiden and I say the flower of choice at the same time, “canna lilies.” We look at each other and smile.

  “When I sent you those flowers, I somehow already knew in my heart that you were the one I would spend the rest of my life with.”

  “Oh, is that why you wrote that I started a fire in you and was the only one who could put it out?”

  “Yes, baby, but I honestly don’t think the fire between us will ever be put out.”

  Johnny waves his hand in front of us in an attempt to get our attention. “Hey, you two, you have a whole lifetime to go down memory lane. Right now, we need to plan a wedding.”

  Shannon chimes in. “Okay, so we have the flowers and the color scheme for the wedding. Do you know how many you want in the wedding party?”

  “Um, it’s not like I know a lot of people here or have a lot of close friends. I guess Brandy and Ysabel can be bridesmaids. You will naturally be my maid of honor, right?”

  With a smirk, she says, “Well, since I am your sister, duh, of course. Try and stop me.”

  “I think we’ll be fine with just you three. Of course, I’ll be the best man.”

  We all look at Johnny. Aiden grins. “Yes, little brother, you will be my best man.”

  Seriously, I ask Aiden, “You think Brandy would even want to be one of my bridesmaids? I mean, I haven’t even asked her yet.”

  “Yes, amore, she thinks very fondly of you. I’m sure she would jump at the chance.”

  “And this will also be your chance to meet Ysabel’s boyfriend.”

  The smile vanishes from Aiden’s face as he turns to look at Johnny. “Boyfriend? When in the hell did my baby sister get a boyfriend? She’s just a kid.” He has the concerned look of a father.

  I slide my hand around his broad shoulders. “Sweetheart, didn’t you say she was twenty already?”

  “Yes, but that is way too young to be interested in boys. Much less have a boyfriend.”

  “Aiden, I’m twenty-three, that’s only a few older.”

  He looks like he’s searching for the right words to say. As if he just realized that Ysabel and I are so close in age. Johnny pats his shoulder. “Don’t worry, big brother. Dad has been very relentless at making sure that Gianni is treating Ysabel right and with respect.”

  “So his name is Gianni? What’s his last name?”

  I pat his leg. “Sweetheart, what are you going to do?”

  He turns to me. “Nothing. I just want to see for myself that he comes from a good home and what his intentions are toward my little sister, is all.”

  Johnny tells him, “Dad already had him checked out. Come on, Aiden, Ysabel already got very upset with Dad doing that. Don’t you make her mad too.”

  Shannon gives her opinion as well. “Aiden, don’t go all overprotective on her. She won’t like it.”

  Looking between all of us, he puts his hands up. “All right, already. But I do intend to let her know that I’m here if she needs me.”

  I kiss him on the cheek and tell him, “I’m sure she already knows that, but it’s always nice to hear your big brother is watching out for you.”

  Clearing her throat, Shannon says, “Okay, can we please get back to the wedding details now?”

  I give Aiden a comforting squeeze on his thigh. “Yes, we can.”

  “Good. Are you going to be giving the wedding party little gifts of appreciation?”

  “Yes, of course. I need to go shopping for maybe a necklace or a bracelet.”

  “Oh goody, I can help you with that.”

  Laughing, I tell her, “No, you can’t.”

  She gives me her pouty look. “Hello, I’m the maid of honor. I’m supposed to help you so that you don’t stress out. Remember?”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. “Not with this certain part of it, you don’t.” She is about to say something, but I put my hand up and shake my head. “No, and that is final.”

  We have actually ironed out a lot of the details when I tell everyone that it’s late and we’re the only ones left in the restaurant. We all look around and see a couple of the waiters sitting down. There are no other customers in the whole place. We embrace and say our goodnights. Walking out, we hug each other again. Shannon whispers in my ear, “Look at us. You’re a married woman, and I am in a very committed relationship with the most amazing man.”

  We pull away, still with our hands on each other’s shoulders. Staring at her for a second, with a sigh and a quick laugh, I say, “Yeah, look at us.”

  Aiden comes up behind me and put his hands on my shoulder blades. “Okay, you two, I need to get my wife home now.”

  Johnny also stands by Shannon. “We need to get home as well, babe.”

  I laugh and playfully tell him, “Look at you, getting all domesticated.”

  With one last quick hug, we all say goodnight.

  ***

  The whole drive home I rest my head on Aiden’s shoulder. He gently runs his hand up and down my arm. Exhausted from the day, I close my eyes. My head is pounding so I can’t really fall asleep, but I don’t want to alarm anybody. I know my husband—he will undoubtedly make a big deal out of it.

  Finally arriving home, we enter the elevator. The pain is subsiding a bit; now it’s just the feeling of a small headache. We walk into the penthouse. “Would you like a glass of wine, amore mio?”

  “No, what I want is a warm bath and to have my husband join me.”

  He smiles. “Your husband would be only too happy to join you.”

  After filling the tub with water and scented oils, we both sink in. I lie back and rest my head on Aiden’s chest. He wraps his arms around me and gets the sponge off the tray by the tub. I tilt my head to the side to look up at him. “Tell me this is not a dream. That we are really finally together forever. That you and I are truly husband and wife.”

  He kisses me softly on the lips, then rubs his nose against mine. “Baby, it’s not a dream. We are right where we should be. Together for the rest of our lives.”

  Turning to face him, I put my hand out and ask for the sponge. Lovingly, starting at the crook of his neck, I run it down his chest—circling his abs, sliding across his torso, then back up his arm, never taking my eyes off of his. I ask him to close his eyes and lean his head back. “Relax and let me make you feel good.”

  Nibbling the side of his neck, I work my way up to his jawline. Kissing and sucking down to his pecs, I see he is getting goosebumps as I gently continue going farther down. Reaching down to the take his cock in my hands, I gently squeeze it, then start to slowly lower myself to take him into my mouth.

  “Alexis, you can’t go underwater to suck on me.”

  Smiling, I reach around him and take the plug out. As the water drains, we sit still, neither of us saying a word. Once the water is low enough, I lower my head and take him all in. The moaning sounds coming from Aiden’s chest fuel my excitement. Arousing me, consuming me. I suck on him harder, licking him from the tip of his crown to the base of his cock. Feeling the muscles on his thighs tense up, I know he’s close. I take him in and out of my mouth harder, faster. His hand grabs ahold of my head.

  “Yes, baby. Fuck, Alexis.”

  The hot liquid going down my throat excites me to the point that I am ready to combust. Still with him in my mouth, I swallow the last drop. He pulls me up. “Baby, that was amazing. I’m going to have to repay you.”

  Standing and pulling me up with him, he wraps a towel around me. Once he dries me off and brushes my hair out, he picks me up and carries me to bed. Slowly he lays me down. He stands there, his eyes working their way over the entire length of my body. “You have the most breathtaking body I have ever seen. The goddess Venus would be envious of you.”

  My body is on fire from his touch, his words. Now it’s me with the goosebumps. As Aiden lowers him
self and wraps my body with his own, I don’t know whose heart is beating faster. His lips are warm and tender as he kisses mine. I open my mouth to let him in; our tongues do their familiar dance. A dance of bliss, of lust, and of love.

  It starts out tenderly, softly, then seems to engulf us both, igniting and fueling the love we have for each other. Aiden is running his hands up and down the sides of my body as if he can’t get enough of me. I have one hand on the back of his head and the other is on the small of his back. My nails dig into him with the urgency to have him inside of me. Releasing my mouth, he lifts himself up. It’s funny, but even after all this time, I still get surprised at how much power he has to take my breath away. How he can bring every cell in my body to life. We stare into each other’s eyes for a moment.

  “Ti amo, amore mio.” Lowing himself again, he is inside me in one swift move. With each thrust I hear him grunt quietly from deep in his chest. It’s exciting me to the core. My hips meet his with every bit of fire that builds up in me. In a split second, he rolls us over so that I am on top. Raising myself up, placing both my hands on his chest, I ride my husband. Tilting my head back, I let the pleasure wash over my entire body, moaning with the orgasm that consumes me. Aiden has his hands on my ass, helping me go faster, harder.

  He lets out a sound that is music to my ears. “Fuck, Alexis.”

  I collapse on his chest. We are still until our breathing slows down. I roll over to lie beside him. Turning my head, I see he is looking up with a smile. “Amore mio, ti adoro.”

  I get a towel from the bathroom to clean us both, then throw it onto the floor and get in bed, where he pulls me into his arms. “Aiden, do you really think your parents will like me? That your sister will like me?”

  He slides his hand under my chin and lifts up my face. “Baby, my parents and sister will love you. When they see what I have seen from day one, they will be enchanted with your heart. They will know what I have known all along: that you are the one for me.”

  With those words, I fall asleep with a smile, knowing full well that everything is as it should be.

  Chapter 6

  On Monday morning, I awaken alone in bed. Hearing the shower, I decide to join Aiden and give him dessert before breakfast. As I walk in, he’s singing along to the MP3 he has set up throughout the penthouse. The song is “Adventure of a Lifetime” by Coldplay. His voice is deep, but he can hit those high notes too. I wonder what people would say if they knew he is not only the most gorgeous man on the planet, but he can sing as well. Opening the door, I step in and wrap my arms around his waist. I lay my head against his back. “Good morning. Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “You look so peaceful sleeping I didn’t want to disturb you.” The song finishes and the next one on the list starts. “Viva la Vida.” “You like Coldplay?”

  “Yes,” he says, “they’re my favorite band.”

  We have always talked about my favorite band, One Republic. I never asked him what his favorite was. The night he told me about what he liked to listen to, he mentioned different bands but never singled one out. “When you got One Republic to play for me on our wedding day, I naturally assumed that they were who you liked too.”

  “I do like them, and I know how much you love them. I wanted to do that because you and Shannon never got the chance to see them in concert even though I promised you would see them. I will do anything and everything for you—whatever it takes to make you happy.”

  “You. Having you in my life makes me happy, Aiden. Being your wife, sharing your life with you. That’s all I will ever need.”

  The next song comes on: “Fix You.” “I’ll put some One Republic on for you, baby.”

  As he’s about to exit the shower, I stop him. “No, you gave me the best wedding present ever by having them come play my favorite song for me on our special day. I can’t bring Coldplay to you. But we can sure as hell listen to them as often as we listen to One Republic.”

  He picks me up, giving me one of his half smiles. His eyes have a gleam in them, and I know what that means. Before I can say a word, his mouth is on mine. He bites my lower lip. I tilt my head to the side, open my mouth, and let him in.

  The kiss is a heady one—when he releases my mouth, I am gasping with the desire to have him in me. Aiden lowers me, turns me around, wraps one arm around my waist, and with the other positions himself to take me. In one swift move, he does just that. I moan in ecstasy.

  While he still holds me tightly with one arm, the other comes to my breast. He squeezes it. I have both of my hands on the tile of the shower. The feeling of the warm water hitting me while my husband pounds into me fast and hard is one I’ll never get tired of. “Oh Aiden, oh yessss.”

  With the orgasm hitting me, my toes are curling. I bring my hands around to his ass to have him in closer. He starts to bite down on my shoulder.

  “Alexis, I love you.” He leans his forehead against my back, both of us panting from the pure pleasure of the ride we just took.

  ***

  While I’m brushing out my hair, Aiden is on the phone with Brandy. He informs her that we need to meet up for lunch to discuss the next couple of months. After he ends the call, I tell him that I need to go to the office and tend to some paperwork that can’t wait.

  “I think you also need to get Michael to assign someone else to work with Chris.”

  “Aiden, please don’t tell me how to do my job.”

  “That is not what I’m trying to do, you know that. But given the fact that he’s in love with my wife, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request.”

  “I’m not saying it’s an unrealistic request. I’m just saying that I don’t need to be told how to do my job. For your information, I had already planned on asking Michael to do that.”

  We finish dressing. I am wearing a simple cream-colored V-neck dress with a pair of stilettos in a darker cream color. The sleeveless dress hugs every curve I have. Aiden is wearing a dark brown button-up shirt, jeans that fit him perfectly, and dressy boots. As he walks into the bathroom to adjust himself and spray on my favorite cologne, I can’t help but admire the way those jeans fit his ass. I’m still standing there with the goofy grin on my face when he walks back out to the bedroom.

  He stops in his tracks, smiling at me. “Alexis, what has you grinning?”

  I shake my head. “Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the view from behind.” I pat his ass, then squeeze it.

  He lets out a small yelp. “I feel like a piece of meat.”

  Walking away, I turn my head back to look at him. “That’s my piece of meat. Remember that.”

  We both start laughing. I see he is coming to grab me and start running for the door. We both hurry down the stairs, laughing. In the kitchen, Ms. Miller greets us with a smile on her face. “It does my heart good to see my boy here happy. Knowing that you are the reason makes me love you just as much as I love him.”

  Aiden puts his hands on her shoulders. “She does make me happy and complete.”

  I can feel my face turning red. “You two are making me blush.”

  When we sit down at the island, Ms. Miller sets our plates down. As usual, she’s made a big breakfast. Everything looks and smells so good. After eating as much as we can, we head to the office.

  ***

  Kathy looks up. “Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds.”

  “Good morning, Kathy. I’m just here to take care of some paperwork and talk to Michael, if he’s not too busy.”

  “Would you like for me to let him know you’re here?”

  “No, I’m going to my office first, then I’ll peek in and see if we can talk. Thanks.”

  Aiden sits on one of the chairs when we walk into my office and while I gather the files on Lisa Smythe. I need to see about setting up some radio interviews to get her more exposure. The lady is definitely funny. She just needs the right break, and I’m going to help her get that. With the files in my arms, I ask Aiden to get my briefcase from the couch I have in my off
ice. When I open it, I notice there is an envelope addressed to me inside. Looking inside of it, I see it’s a letter from Chris. Not wanting Aiden to get angry, I slip it back into the briefcase. I’ll read it later and see what it says—hoping against hope that I don’t end up regretting it. We did promise each other no more secrets, no more lies. This isn’t really a lie, though; I just don’t want him to get mad.

  Knocking on Michael’s door, I take a deep breath, look at Aiden, and smile. “I hope he doesn’t get upset that I can’t work with Chris anymore.”

  “Baby, I’m sure that he’ll understand.”

  Hearing Michael say, “Come in,” I open the door. “Good morning, Michael—are you busy, or do you have a minute to talk to us?” We both poke our heads in.

  “I’m never too busy for my favorite couple.”

  I feel nervous. Aiden has his hand on the small of my back, running it up and down as if trying to soothe me. I look over at him and he winks at me. Sure, he’s not the one who has to ask his boss to let someone else take over another client. I feel guilty because it seems like since I started working here, it has been one situation after another. I don’t know many bosses who would put up with so much from an employee and still keep them on. Of course, I’m good at what I do. “Um, Michael, can we talk about Chris?”

  “I was wondering when the subject would come up. Yes, Alexis, Aiden, have a seat.” We sit in the two chairs in front of his desk. Michael takes off his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose.

  “I realize that since you’re married to Aiden and seeing as Chris has feelings for you, it will be hard to keep a professional working relationship between the two of you.”

  “I am so sorry about the strain this may put on you or the company. I wish things were different. If there was anything I could do to make things work between us, I would, but I don’t see any other way.”