Troubles (Beekman Hills Book 1)

by K. C. Enders

  Captured in black and white, is my pale neck, exposed and open to him by the tilt of my head and the strap of my tank that’s slipped down my arm.

  “Maybe I should be taking pictures of you.” His lips are right there when I turn my head. Right fucking there.

  “Maybe you should use me like I offered earlier. Practical applications, yeah?” He’s so close. And not smiling anymore. Heat and desire are flushing my chest and burning through me.

  He leans forward placing his camera on the coffee table and I run my nail down the exposed muscles in his arm. He stills sucking in a breath.

  Grabbing at something from the table, Aidan straightens and pierces me with his dark gaze. “Take this,” he rasps as he hands me a pen and reaches behind his head. He pulls his shirt off, leaning back into the arm of the couch. “Mark me. Label the muscles.” His voice is low and husky.

  I shift closer. This is such a good idea—and such a bad one.

  The pen cap pops as I pull it free. He’s laid out for me, his breathing slow and deep. His eyes flash darkly from the pen in my hand to my eyes, to my lips. I know I’m biting the bottom one, trying so hard not to shake as I move the tip of the pen to the skin at the base of his neck. He’s not a bulky gym rat, but he is well defined. Really well defined. He holds his breath as I drag the pen across his skin outlining the muscles of his chest. Holy shit. His nipples harden and his skin pebbles up.

  “Lisbeth,” my name rasps across his lips, “name them. Now.”

  Barely making contact, I feather my fingertips across his skin, naming each of the muscles, circling his nipple, scraping the skin there with my nails.

  Heaving out a harsh breath, he grabs my wrist. Neither of us move. We’re stuck here, searching, deciding, reading each other. I know he can feel my pulse is racing. With my hand held firmly in his grasp, he sits up and pulls me closer.

  “Lisbeth.” He breathes my name across my lips.

  I full-on shiver as he pulls me so I’m straddling him.

  With one hand wrapped around my wrist and the other on my hip, Aidan shifts me closer still. All thoughts I’d had that he didn’t want me fly away as he moves his hips again, grinding his cock against me.

  Finally—finally—our lips connect, his tongue sweeping along my bottom one. Pushing his way in, he licks my top lip and deepens the kiss, exploring me, devouring me. Ripping my breath away. He places my hands around his neck and grabs me by the backs of my thighs, standing like it’s no effort at all.

  His lips never leave mine as he carries me up the stairs to his loft bedroom.

  Turning, he sits on the bed, pulling me with him. He slides his hands up my sides, taking my shirt with them, pushing my arms over my head as he launches my tank to the floor. His hands land on my hips and squeeze—just a little—before trailing heat back up my sides to my breasts. They tighten and tingle as his thumbs caress the sides driving me crazy with need before his fingers trail up, pulling the straps of my bra down my arms—pinning them to my sides. Not really trapped, but Aidan stops, holding me there.

  “Lisbeth? This okay?” My name rasping across his lips steals my breath away.

  All I can do is nod, my fingers tremble as they seek out his plump lower lip. I want this. I’m scared, but I want this.

  Reaching behind me, Aidan unhooks my bra and adds it to my tank on the floor. He leans in, whispering, “Gorgeous,” against my skin. I barely catch the word as he kisses across my breast—licking, scraping his teeth along my skin—pebbling my nipples to hard almost painful peaks. Twining my hands in his silky black hair, I gasp at the scrape of his stubble on my sensitive skin.

  He pulls back checking my eyes. Okay with what he sees, he slides his hands around to unbutton my shorts, his fingertips trailing along the top of my panties.

  I’m surprised, shocked, when he pushes me off him, my feet landing on the floor. I barely keep my balance as I reach for the button, certain he’s changed his mind. Pushing my hands away, he hooks his inside the waistband of my shorts.

  “Do you want me to stop? ’Cause I don’t want to, not in the least,” he rasps as he presses open-mouthed kisses from one hip to the other.

  “Don’t.” I squirm, his kisses tickle as they fuel the need and desire coursing through me. He starts to pull away. “No, Aidan. Don’t stop.” The words come out on a breath, and I press my hands to his shoulders.

  His thumbs dig into the waist of my panties, shoving them and my shorts over my hips until they fall to the floor. Pulling me with him, he moves back to the middle of his bed. His lips gliding up my torso to the underside of my boobs.

  I feel exposed as he lies back, his gaze taking in all of me before he meets my eyes again.

  “Lisbeth, this is all you. This goes at your pace, love. As fast or slow as you want—or stop when you say.”

  My heart skips a beat. He knows me and how much this means to me. He has been so considerate of me. Telling me I have control, when I know deep inside who’s really in charge—and that’s okay with me.

  I drag my fingers down his torso and reach between us. Popping the button on his shorts, the zipper spreading wide, I run a fingertip along his boxer briefs, circling the dot of moisture at the tip of his cock. He’s hard—really fucking hard.

  Gasping, I fall forward as he bucks his hips, my hands landing hard on his chest. He shoves his shorts and briefs down, his cock exposed. Thumbs press in at my knees, spreading them wider before sliding up the inside of my thighs.

  Once again, he pauses silently asking permission—waiting for the dip of my chin before touching me. He slides his thumb from my opening to my peak, spreading my arousal. Circling my clit changing the pressure as he does, bringing me right to the edge. Heart racing, my eyes wide.

  He stretches to the side, grabbing a condom from the drawer next to his bed, ripping the package open with his teeth. I whimper when he takes his hand away from me to roll it down his length. The whimper turns to a gasp as he grabs my hips and slides me back and forth over the hard length of his dick. He had me so close before, it takes nothing to set me on edge again.

  Aidan relaxes his grip on my hips, giving control back over to me. Letting me make the next move.

  Leaning forward, I lift my hips and reach between us, positioning his cock and sliding slowly down his length. I rest my hands heavily on his chest, his wrap around my hips—fingers pressing into my flesh—supporting me, holding me.

  His jaw clenches, muscles ticking. Neither of us move, savoring the moment, allowing us both to adjust. Holy shit. I release a trembling breath through pursed lips, closing my eyes and feeling all of him.

  “Look at me, Lisbeth. Open your eyes—I need to see you.”

  He holds himself back until my eyes, soft and glassy, drift open to meet his heated gaze. Only then, when he’s got that contact, does he start to move—sliding out and thrusting in, the drag of his cock pushes me again. Pushes me back to the edge I’ve already been on too many times. It takes nothing for me to get close—close, but not quite.

  He whispers, murmurs, tells me he’s got me. “That’s it, love. Let go…” I’m so close. I can feel my pussy grip him—tightening, squeezing his cock. I just can’t quite get there. I don’t know what to do, how to move, how to make this happen.

  “Help me, Aidan. I…can’t…please…” My heart slams in my chest, on the edge of exploding

  He pulls me down to him—chest to chest—moving me, taking the control he had the whole time. The change is all that I need—the change gives me the pressure, the friction I need.

  To. Come. Undone.

  Chapter 19

  Aidan

  And there it is.

  The look on her face, the sounds that she makes, the moment she falls apart, it’s all I’ll ever need again. And I follow her. Every muscle in my body tightens, contracts, and then relaxes as we both shudder, panting to catch our breath.

  After tossing the condom into the bin, I slide back in bed and wrap myself around her. Her h
and in mine, both of them pressed firmly to my heart. This feels like more.

  More than a shag, more than a fling.

  Just more.

  The moment she gave herself over to me, needed me and asked for, pleaded for my help, something changed. Lisbeth has been burned and burned badly, but in that moment of putting her needs and desires first, something shifted.

  She trusted me.

  And I want to cherish and honor this.

  Feeling her heart beat and listening to her soft, even breaths, I lose myself to a sleep I’ve not slept since arriving in Beekman Hills.

  Several hours later, I only just register the sounds of the boys coming home from the pub. I can hear everything in this fucking loft and usually they’re louder than a pack of wild dogs when they come in after work.

  Lis’ things strewn about, and my fucking shirt on the floor down there must not be lost on Finn and Jimmy. The volume drops and other than a few whispers and a quiet chuckle, I hear little else.

  The thought crosses my mind, with her body pressed up against me, to wake her and have her. Have her again. But as much as I can hear them downstairs, they can hear every move I make up here. This thing we have between us is not something I’m willing to share. I won’t do that to her, she’s mine.

  Trust.

  I wake with Lisbeth’s head in the crook of my shoulder and a hand on her hip. My other hand, though. It’s resting on my chest—with hers pressed firmly between it and my heart. Like she owns it. Like it’s hers. I lie there relishing this for as long as I can. My body screaming for another go. To explore every curve, hear every sigh, every moan. And like a bucket of cold water, those thoughts are washed away. Those sounds are just for me. Mine. I’ll not take advantage and share that with anyone, especially the two arseholes sleeping below us.

  Sliding from the warmth of her body, I grab my jeans and head downstairs for coffee. As it brews, I look through the fridge taking note that there’s still bacon and eggs. I’ll make Lis breakfast when she wakes and then dive right in—to studying, helping her.

  I grab my phone and steaming cuppa, stepping out onto our minuscule deck. Three texts and a missed call. Mostly work—photography inquiries, but there’s one from Lorna.

  Lorna: Hey. Sorry for not getting back to you before now. Can we talk? Soon? xx

  Aidan: Yeah. I’m committed to something for a couple days…I’ll call.

  Aidan: Sunday?

  Lorna: Yeah. Good.

  She’s yet to tell me about the baby. We’re going to need more than a quick chat for this.

  Liam’s seen her a couple times since we talked, but I can’t figure why she’s been avoiding me. It’s got to be tearing her up. They had been trying for a family before my brother’s diagnosis. Jesus. I still can’t believe how quickly he went. Fucking cancer.

  “You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.” Her soft voice washes over me as Lis ghosts her fingers lightly down my spine, a trail of goose bumps showing in its wake. She presses a small kiss to the Celtic cross on my shoulder. I reach behind me, grabbing her hand from where it rests low on my back and pull her into my arms.

  “Hmmm… Just thinking of some things going on in Dublin.” This moment doesn’t need to be ruined by my brother’s death. I’ll tell her later, when she’s not worried about her studies. Leaning in and taking the kiss I want—need—the topic is laid to rest.

  “Coffee’s ready. We can get back to your studies after breakfast,” I murmur, bringing her hand to my lips to press a soft kiss to her knuckles.

  Inside the kitchen, I push her up against the counter, trapping her. Molding my body to hers, as close as I can, feeling every curve. I take a final kiss and tear myself away from her to hide adjusting my cock. The last thing I want is for her to think that’s all I’m after.

  The moment I turn to hand her a cup of coffee, she meets me with a warm cloth, rubbing away the ink trails from my shoulder and chest. She’s so gentle with me. Trading coffee for the cloth, I rub at the marks and have them just about taken care of when Jimmy stumbles out of his room to plop down at the table. In his fucking boxers.

  “Making the eggs? There tea or just feckin’ coffee?” I want to smack him upside the head, but he at least gets us back on track. “Mornin’, Lis.”

  And, of course—fucking of course—Finn shows his face only when the smell of bacon fills the flat. Grabbing his plate, he pulls a chair up next to Lis. “You the reason I couldn’t sleep?”

  “What? No…” Lisbeth stutters as her neck flushes pink.

  “Thought that was you I heard screamin’ all night.” Finn winks, thinking he’s being funny, but Lis is uncomfortable and I’ll be kickin’ his arse soon. I’ll kill him.

  “Finn.” Jimmy lifts his head from the table, shooting him a warning.

  “I’m going to go…um…” Her words get lost in the embarrassment swirling around her as she escapes up to my loft.

  “Christ, Finn. Are you fuckin’ stupid? Why would you do that?” I growl, hands clenched, muscles quivering. “She—fuck—no fuckin’ class. Might want to look at yourself—see why you’re not near as slick with the girls as you think you are. Fuckin’ arsehole.” I pace the length of the small kitchen trying to keep calm. “Out. I need you out of the flat today.”

  “Jimmy’s on at the bar, I’ve all day to hang out wit’ you.” Finn grins, oblivious of just how close I am to throwing him out of the flat right now.

  “No. Out,” I grit out as I turn my back to them. “Get the fuck out, and don’t come back ’til tomorrow. Fuckin’ bastard. Don’t think I won’t kick your sorry arse.” Their grumbles follow me as I launch my body up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Finn will feel bad and apologize once Jimmy gets it through his thick skull what he did to fuck up, but for now, I can’t be near him.

  Crawling across the bed to her, I wrap my fingers around her wrists and I settle myself in front of her. “Lisbeth. Don’t let him…”

  “It’s fine. I’m fine. Maybe I should just go. Study at my place.”

  “He’s goin’.” I rub circles with my thumbs—caressing that spot—bring one wrist and then the other to my lips, planting a soft kiss on each. “He’ll be gone all day. Stay. Please. Jimmy’s goin’ to work. We’ll study and get you sorted. Please—let me do this. Let me help you.”

  “Your accent changes depending on what’s happening.” The smile creeps up her lips.

  “What?”

  “It does. When you’re mad,” she leans in, “when you’re drinking,” her warm hands slide up my legs, “and when you’re…” She squeezes high on my thighs, her thumbs pressing in right by my cock.

  “When I’m what?” Every time she moves, the subtle scent of her perfume teases me.

  “When…” Her eyes go straight for my crotch, making my cock twitch.

  “When I fuck ye?” I want to push her back and bury myself in her for the rest of the day. I want to hear my name on her lips. I want to make her scream, the way Finn was talking about. I want her to forget he said that shit. “They’re still downstairs, love. Much as I want to, I don’t want to share you. Not with them here to listen.”

  We’re wrapped up in each other’s breaths, hands twined through her hair, pulling her in. My lips sweep across hers; she darts her tongue out, licking my bottom one. Fuck. Her name comes out on a groan as she palms my cock, and rakes her teeth across my lip. Biting me. Squeezing me. She’s pushing this. She knows we’re not totally alone and she’s still going. Working me up, making me hard.

  The sound of the shower starting fills the loft as the front door slams. I pitch forward, shoving her into the mattress, silently pulling at her clothes and we spend the rest of the day completely wrapped up in each other. Finn stays away and Jimmy must find someone to go home from the bar with.

  The flat is ours alone.

  We spend hours studying for her exam until she knows her material inside and out. When Lis finishes packing away her books and papers la
te in the evening, I set her bag by the front door.

  I grasp her hand and lead her back up to my room and study the subject I’ve been yearning for all day. Her. What makes her sigh, gasp, and tremble. What makes her blush and beg for more.

  Her test is early Friday and I wake to the mattress shifting as she tries to leave. Wrapping my hand around her hip, I pull her back to me. “Aidan, I need to go.” God, I don’t like the feeling of her leaving my bed.

  “Just five more minutes.” I drag her so she’s lying almost on top of me, her heart aligned perfectly with mine—beating with mine.

  “I have to go home and clean up—change before my test,’’ she murmurs into my chest dragging her fingers across my stomach. “And I don’t want the weirdness from yesterday, again. I didn’t mean to spend the night—”

  “They didn’t come back, either of them. Take a shower here. I’ll get you coffee and something to eat on your way.” Squeezing her tight to me, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, I untangle us and leave the only place I want to spend my day.

  After Lis leaves with a bagel in one hand and her coffee in the other, I try calling Lorna but get nothing. No answer. Nothing Saturday. Nothing Sunday. Late in the day Monday, just as I catch Lis’ eye through the window of the bistro, Lorna phones. The tears are heavy in her voice and there is no way—no way—I can have this conversation in a bar. Closing my eyes, I back away just barely registering Lis’ expression as I turn and head to my car for what can only be a heart-wrenchingly emotional conversation.

  “Aidan—please come home.”

  Chapter 20

  Lis

  I walk out of my test exhausted and emotionally spent. I feel really good about the test itself, but I’m wiped out and I have to work all weekend to make up for the days I spent studying. Maybe, though. Maybe I’ll get through this.