Troubles (Beekman Hills Book 1)

by K. C. Enders

  “Are you done here? Is Finn—”

  “Finn was supposed to be here anyway, I just couldn’t be still this morning, so I opened the bar. I took a couple days off—planned on spending them with you.” My words come out low and gravelly.

  She tugs me down the street toward her flat. “Come on. Gracyn is home, but we need to talk. She’s—I talked with her this morning. God—that’s why I came to the pub. I was going to grab us some donuts and then come find you. Your car was there, so—And then Rob and Maryse—”

  She starts and hops through her thoughts too many times for it to make any sense. I pause at the steps leading to her door. Lis turns, up one step to face me. It’s just enough height on her that I have to lift my chin to meet her eyes.

  “Why did you come to find me?” She pulls on my hand trying to move me up the steps looking back and forth between my face and the door. I shake my head slowly. “Tell me, Lis. Why were you coming to me?”

  “Yes. I wanted to tell you yes.” She shifts closer to me, her cool palms on either side of my neck, her thumbs barely brushing my ears. It takes a minute, but then, with a whoosh of relief the tension that’s been with me since last night, drains out of my shoulders.

  I pull her body flush against mine and kiss her deeply. “You mean that? Truly?”

  “Yes, I need to help Gracyn find a roommate, but I want to do this—I want to be with you.”

  With my hands on her hips, I squeeze, digging my fingers into the sides of her arse. “Go pack a bag, not a lot, just for a day or two. I’m taking you away—stealing you and keeping you with me always.”

  I fight with myself to let her go for even a minute. She said yes and God help me, I’m afraid it’s a dream.

  “I’ll be back in an hour. You’ll be ready, then?” My mind is whirring through the things I need to do—through the places I can take her. Much as I love the vibe and pulse of New York City, I want something quieter, more intimate. I nip at her bottom lip, the one she bites when she’s thinking hard about something, and I back away.

  “Where are we going? What do I need to bring?”

  Nothing. You don’t need to bring a fucking thing. “Beach, whatever you need for the beach.” I take two steps back to her and kiss her like I can’t stand the idea of being apart. Because I can’t.

  Her laughter follows me as I run back to the pub to grab my car. I add finding a nicer vehicle to my list of things to do. Not for today. I only have an hour, less than that really.

  On the way to my flat, I call a client from a couple weeks ago. He’d told me of a quiet little beach town on the Connecticut coast. He offers to have his assistant book us in for the next two nights. The confirmation for the Madison Beach Hotel pings through on my phone as I log in to my Airbnb account to take care of renting the townhouse Lisbeth likes.

  I shove clothes in my bag—shorts, swim trunks, a couple t-shirts. My phone pings with an email as I debate bringing my trousers and a nice shirt. Just in case. Christ, we really don’t need to bring a fucking thing. Room service is all we need.

  I take the steps to Lis’ flat two at a time, reading my email as I go. Three sharp knocks to the door, and I wait. And wait. Gracyn’s voice filters through the door, “Lis—can you get that?”

  As soon as the door opens, I stalk in. Hands weaving through her hair as I push her up against the wall. Her hands come up underneath my arms, gripping tightly. The kiss is hungry, desperate, and full of how much I missed her in the past hour.

  “Aidan. Oh my God.” She’s breathing me in, just as much as I am her. When I’m sure I don’t care that her roommate is here, Lis pushes at my chest. I pull back just enough for her to speak. “Let me grab my bag.” I pull her in, kissing her again before I release her.

  But I don’t really let her go. Hands firmly on her hips, I follow her to her room. Gracyn steps out of Lis’ room, looking like she’s holding tight to a secret.

  I drag my hands from Lis, not wanting to let her go. “I owe you a lifetime of gratitude. I promise to take good care of her and always put her first.”

  Gracyn looks me up and down, trying hard to look parental. Hands on her hips, toe doing a little tap-tap-tap on the floor. “I warned you months ago what will happen if you don’t. Just keep that in mind, and treat my girl right.”

  With a kiss on her cheek and a wink, her smile peeks through.

  “Love, before we go, can I use your printer? I want to sign and send the contract for the flat back.” I flip open her laptop and see a familiar picture saved in the lower right-hand corner.

  I print the contract and sign it. While it scans through and into my email, I click on the image. It’s me. My school photo from primary.

  “Were you stalking me?” I tap at the screen eyebrow cocked, smirking at Lis over my shoulder. “I’m flattered.”

  “I Googled you—God, ages ago. I thought you were adorable and saved it. I might have cropped out one of your school friends, though.” Nose wrinkled and her eye-closing smile takes over her face. “I guess that is kind of stalkerish. Do you mind? Want to email, canceling that contract?”

  “Hmmmm—I don’t. I want to take you away. I want to spend every minute with you—loving you.” I grab her hand and her bag, pulling her along behind me.

  LIS

  Tension hangs heavy in the car. The two-hour drive through Connecticut is an exercise in patience and self-control. One that I’m not prepared for. One that I’m failing miserably at.

  “So, you’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”

  “I’m not. You’ll have to wait and see,” he quips like he knows what I’m thinking—that I have no patience.

  “I really suck at surprises. Maybe you should give me a hint?” I turn in my seat and lean toward him. I absolutely hate the car’s console right now; I feel like it’s separating us by miles.

  The scruff on his jaw rasps as he runs his hand up and down. “I don’t know. I planned this trip, packed for it, and secured our flat in less than an hour. I think you should let it be a surprise. Maybe let me take care of things. Maybe let me treat you to a few days away, where you don’t have to worry about a thing.” He struggles to hold a serious look on his face, and his cheeks start rising in a smirk. “Maybe, you should just lean back, enjoy yourself, and thank me for wanting to treat you to something special.”

  “Maybe.” It rolls off my tongue as I sit back and watch this man. How am I this lucky?

  Before I can reach into the back seat to grab my bag, Aidan’s pulled it out on his side of the car. The strap resting across his chest pulls at his t-shirt highlighting all the peaks and valleys. The lines and the muscles I know by heart.

  I didn’t know that men like him existed in real life. Kind and protective, a gentleman—but not spineless or weak. He ushers me into the lobby and checks us in.

  The concierge explains the hotel’s amenities as she clicks away at her keyboard. The beach, the restaurant, complimentary cocktail hour.

  I hear her talking, trying to pull Aidan into conversation, hanging on his responses. He’s polite, but short, clipped almost, trying to move things along.

  “Thank you.” He tucks the plastic room keys between his teeth while shoving his wallet back in his pocket with one hand, pulling me toward the elevator with the other.

  When the doors are closed, Aidan hits the button for the fourth floor. And all politeness is suddenly gone. He crowds me into the corner, hands on the walls on either side of me. Caging me in.

  “Lisbeth, we’re not goin’ to make that cocktail hour. Ye okay wit’ that?” His eyes are dark, his voice is darker, accent thicker.

  He steps back as the doors open at our floor. I smile at a couple with a toddler and baby, loaded down with beach bags and a cooler as we exchange places.

  “Probably a good thing they’re headed out. Nap time would definitely be ruined,” he mutters as he pulls me down the hall.

  Stunned, a little off kilter, I look from the elevator to Aidan and back
again. The woman hands her toddler a shovel from their beach bag and winks at me as the doors slide shut.

  Chapter 28

  Lis

  Our room faces the ocean and the view is breathtaking. I gaze at it briefly before hearing the thud of our bags hitting the floor.

  I turn just as Aidan reaches me and backs me up against the glass door. His arms are braced on the glass by my head, his body pressing mine into the glass. “I want to do this right. Last night didn’t go how I hoped, but I don’t want to wait to have you.” His eyes are dark, like the sky at midnight. They bounce between mine. “I will take you to dinner to celebrate. I will show you off to the world, but I need you, love.”

  It takes a moment, a heartbeat more, for my brain to catch up with his body, but when his lips crash against mine, nothing else matters. Not a thing. I wrap my hands around his back, pushing his shirt up. His muscles shift and flex as he slides a hand behind my neck. He palms the back of my head before tangling his fingers in my hair. Gripping it tightly, he tilts my head back holding me just where he wants me, deepening the kiss. And my need for him takes over.

  His shirt is tight to his body and I struggle getting it out of my way. Aidan reaches back and pulls it off, breaking away only long enough to pull it past our lips.

  “Jesus, Lisbeth, I can’t get you close enough.” He dances his finger across my skin, popping open my bra as he kisses from my jaw down my neck to the crook of my shoulder. And just like that, my shirt and bra are gone and his huge hands are palming my breasts. Pushing them up and together, he sucks a nipple into his mouth. Sucks hard and bites down sending a zing of pleasure and pain straight through my core.

  I arch my back and slide down the glass, caught up in the exquisite things Aidan is doing to me. My nipple releases with a pop from his lips as he reaches down, wrapping his hands around the back of my thighs, lifting and turning me toward the wall.

  “No fucking way anyone gets to see you, only me ever again. Lisbeth, you’re mine now, yeah? Only mine.” His growled words send shivers down my spine.

  I wrap my fingers into the front of his waistband, pulling him to me while pushing him away at the same time. He groans into my mouth as my fingers brush against his cock. His skin hot to my touch. I pop the button and zipper, shoving at his shorts.

  “Need these gone, please.” My voice is husky with lust. This passion, desire, is not something I have ever felt before. I can’t get him in me fast enough. It’s almost desperation.

  With his hips pinning me to the wall, he pushes at his shorts until they’re gone. Kicked to the side with his shoes. He sets me on my feet, flicking the button on my shorts and slides his hands around my hips, pushing, gliding along my skin. As the last of my clothing slides down my legs, Aidan grips tightly to my hips, fingers stretching across my ass. My breath hitches as even his big hands can’t span that far. This is so not the time for my doubt to show itself. I try to fight it, but I know I tense.

  “Don’t you dare get self-conscious on me, Lisbeth. I love every-fucking-thing about you.”

  He wraps my legs around him again, lifting me up against the wall. After tearing at each other’s clothes it’s a relief to feel his skin on mine, feel the head of his cock drag across my clit as he tilts his hips. Slow, crazy friction makes me pant in anticipation.

  “Aidan, please…” I beg, “…Oh God, please… I need you, I need…” My words cut off as he fills me with one thrust. My mouth falls open, my gasp brushing across his neck.

  My world is centered here, in this moment. There is nothing but heat and desire. Full to the brim with Aidan and need and love.

  He pauses, for a fraction of a moment, giving me time to adjust. Getting himself under control. It doesn’t last more than a heartbeat and he flexes his hips, pulling and pushing, each thrust punctuated with a groan and a gasp. Building and climbing, each of us desperate for the other.

  All the pent-up frustration from last night, from the long drive, erupts with a snap of his hips and I fall apart. I gasp as I try to pull in a breath, shuddering around him, pulsing and trembling. Clinging to him with all that I have. Aidan draws out my orgasm, thrusting, chasing his own. With his face buried in my neck, panting and gasping, I feel his cock swell even more. His movements erratic, fingers digging into my flesh, he groans as he shudders and spills deep inside me.

  My hands grip at the muscles of his shoulder and the back of his head, holding this man as tightly to me as I can. Oh my God.

  “Jesus, love.” His words vibrate against my ear sending another wave of shivers through my whole body.

  Pulling his face from my neck, Aidan leans back to meet my eyes.

  “Do—do you need to put me down?” I start to squirm, but end up moaning as his dick twitches inside me.

  Aidan chuckles and does it again—the twitching thing—and gets rewarded with another moan from me.

  “I don’t. You need to quit that shite, Lis. You’re gorgeous, so just leave it, yeah? Hold tight.” As I brace my arms around his neck, he pulls us back from the wall and heads to the bathroom, carrying me like it’s no big deal.

  He sets me down on the cold countertop and pulls his cock out of me. His hands are heavy on my thighs as he leans back to watch. “Fuck, Lisbeth. I—we didn’t—” The realization crashes into him. We’ve always used a condom before. His wide eyes snap up to mine, panic evident all over his features.

  “It’s okay, Aidan. Stop.” My hands on either side of his neck, thumbs caressing his cheeks trying to soothe his worry. “I have an IUD. We’re okay—it’s okay.” I guess we’ve not talked about this. We just have always, religiously, used a condom. His eyes bounce back and forth between mine, searching—almost pleading. “I promise, it’s okay.”

  The relief whooshes out of him in the breath he was holding. “I promised you I would take care of you, always. I shouldn’t have done that. I’ve always used protection. Always. You put your trust in me and I—Christ.” His words still carry the sharp edge of panic.

  “Stop. Trust me, Aidan. I would have stopped you if it wasn’t okay. Please let it go, we have to trust each other, it’s not just you proving yourself to me.”

  I pepper his lips with small kisses, willing him to relent and relax into me. But he’s not done.

  “I do—I trust you with everything I am, but you have to know. You have to know that I would never do anything to fuck with your dreams. Everything you’ve worked for—that’s what matters.” His words go straight to my heart. He’s so intent on putting me first, making sure I’m okay. That I’m taken care of.

  “I know.” I pull him to me and quiet him with a kiss, sweeping my tongue along the seam of his lips. Wanting to show him we’re good, begging him to open up to me and let this go.

  Finally, finally he returns my kisses—letting me in with a groan. Our tongues tangle, the kiss growing in intensity.

  He hikes my leg higher, my calf over the top of his ass. He keeps his hand on my leg, the other winding around my back. Fingers skate upward tracing designs I can’t quite figure out with the way he’s kissing me. I can’t think about anything other than the way he’s holding me, wrapping me up in him. I don’t need anything else, just this. Just Aidan.

  He angles his hips, hard again, his cock sliding through my slick center. Teasing me, getting closer and closer. Closer to where I want him with each pass, but not quite there.

  I squeeze my hand between us, running my palm down my belly. He rocks back, dragging the head of his cock down, teasing, driving me mad. A gasp escapes me as my thumb circles my clit, rubbing in lazy circles. I’m waiting, waiting for that moment when he moves to drag his dick back to my clit. As he drives up again, I push down with my fingers guiding him where I want him. Where I need to feel him.

  “Christ, Lisbeth. You feel like heaven. You’re sure this is okay? I don’t ever want anything between us again, but Jesus, Mary and Joseph…” He starts rocking gently, small concentrated movements, but with the way he’s locked his arms
around me I can’t move. He’s got complete control.

  The teasing, the buildup, the rock of his hips—where his cock is hitting me.

  “Yes…yes…oh God, Aidan…please…” I beg for him—to do what, I don’t know, but I’m breathless and needy. And I feel myself coming apart all around him. Pulsing and panting, I come undone.

  With my legs wobbly like jelly, I step under the hot steamy water. Aidan keeps hold of me, knowing I could melt into a puddle of goo at any moment. How did I get so lucky?

  It’s still so hard for me to believe this is all real. Aidan’s soapy hands glide over my shoulders and kneed at the muscles of my back before skimming down my sides. I yelp as he tickles me, grabbing tightly to him so I don’t slip and fall.

  “Hmmm—this is a waste of time. I’m just going to spend the rest of the night getting you dirty all over again.” His hands are all over me, running up and down me, around my ass and down the backs of my thighs as he lowers to his knees. My fingers tangle in his hair as he presses hungry kisses to my belly, his fingers sliding in toward my center.

  I feel it before it happens and there is nothing I can do about it. My muscles stiffen and Aidan looks up searching my face for the problem. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when my stomach chooses this totally sexy moment to growl—loud.

  Aidan’s eyes crinkle and the laugh that launches from him echoes through the shower. I could die of embarrassment—just die right here.

  “I’ll be quick, love. And then we’ll get you fed.” He mumbles something more but it doesn’t matter as he licks and nips his way to my pussy. I’m so sensitive, it takes no time for my orgasm to rip through me. He slides his body up mine as he stands, holding me tight the entire time. “You ready for dinner now?”

  Wrapped in a towel and brain still fuzzy from orgasms, I open my bag to grab panties and a t-shirt. Sitting on the top of the things I packed, are a cute dress and my maroon shoes.