Twenty-Four
Veronica
I didn’t know how to get off the roller coaster, only that with Aiden it was worth the struggle. It was worth the fight. Worth the tears to have him next to me again. Because from now on, we would work together. We would fight for each other.
He loved me. And through this craziness I had fallen in love with him too. It was the reason I ran. The reason I felt every emotion so strongly.
His smoldering eyes landed on mine and I inhaled slowly.
“Make up sex, baby.” He grinned.
“Yes,” I purred as he pulled the clothes from my body.
I loved being naked with him. I loved how he possessed me. How he filled me. How he fucking loved me like I was his and no one else’s.
I watched him pile our shirts on the floor, followed by underwear.
He nudged my leg to the side, settling his thick cock against my heat. I groaned feeling how hard and solid he was.
He kissed my lips, dragging my bottom one with his teeth. He pinched my nipples.
“Ohh,” I moaned. He twisted them harder and I rocked into his hands.
He licked the hard nub, flicking his tongue wickedly. An electric current ran from my nipples to my core. He always had a way of unleashing the lightning inside my body.
“I need to fuck you deep,” he groaned. “So deep inside you.”
I nodded, knowing what he meant. We had to reconnect. Promise each other our bodies.
I rolled to my stomach, lifting my hips in the air.
“More,” he growled, dragging me to the edge of the bed, where my feet touched the floor. He spread my legs as he soaked his cock in my honey.
I panted, waiting to feel him thrust inside me. I need it. I need him to fuck me like this. To feel his strength and power consume me.
“Oh God, please, Aiden.”
“Please, what?” he teased, pushing against my entrance then withdrawing, letting the cold air hit me.
“Fuck me,” I begged. “I need you inside me.”
I heard him inhale before he gripped my hips. I clung to the sheets as he pushed inside me, the first slice going to new depths.
“Ohh,” I hissed. It was a beautiful reunion as he began to pump in and out. Our skin gliding against each other with rough hot friction.
“You feel so fucking good,” he groaned. His fingers curling into my waist.
I tried to match his thrusts, throwing my backside into him.
We were on a course that couldn’t be derailed. Our fire was burning out of control. We picked up the pace. Rocking. Panting. Sweating. And fucking into sweet oblivion.
“You’re mine, Ronnie. Always,” Aiden grunted as he spread my legs with a new angle.
I gulped, gasping for air. “Yes, yours,” I moaned. “Only yours.”
My head was spinning. I had lost gravity.
I clenched at his cock. I was going to come. I had no more control over my body. I had given it to him. This time it meant something different. I loved him. And he knew it.
His arms lifted me and the ceiling shifted as he tossed me on my back.
“I have to see you when I tell you. When I’m buried inside you.” He sank into me. “I love you, Veronica. I love you.”
My legs wrapped around his waist. “I love you.” It was the only thing I could put together as the orgasm hit me with a massive wave starting at my toes.
My body began to shake as Aiden made me his with one glorious thrust after another.
He grunted in my ear as he let his release shoot deep in my walls. We stared at each other as our bodies slowed.
He kissed my forehead. “Make up sex,” he breathed.
I giggled. “It was the best.”
“That’s what you think.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“That wasn’t a challenge,” I teased.
“It wasn’t?”
I shook my head. “Oh no. No, no, no.” But it was too late, Aiden had already scooped me up and was carrying me to the shower.
He turned on the hot water. “We’re just getting started, darlin’.”
I smiled. I knew in my heart it was true.
Epilogue
Aiden
The water stung my ankles like tiny needles jabbing around the bone every time the surf rushed over my skin. My feet sloshed through the ripples. My toes sank deeper in the wet sand. I picked up a shell and skipped it across the breakers. It sank twenty feet from where I stood. What was it about this place?
It didn’t matter what I did, where I traveled, or how long I was gone; the island pulled me back like a relentless tide.
A gull swooped over a sandbar, diving head first between two swells.
I shoved my hands in my pockets, wiping the salt water off in the process.
A year ago I arrived here a bitter man. An angry man. I thought I was in control, but I wasn’t. The hurt was. It would be easier if I could label it as pain. But it wasn’t that alone. It was mixed with embarrassment and humiliation. Time had eased parts, but I knew it was a wound that would never truly heal.
I felt closer to him here. Whether that was a good thing, I still hadn’t decided. I finally was getting to know the parts of him I never met. The other life he had tucked away here between the dunes. Cole. Lisa. The Dune Scape. This stretch of beach where he used to fish. I moved to the side when a strong wave pushed on shore. My charcoal pants were rolled a few cuffs above my ankles.
I felt the heaviness settle in my chest. The weight of the questions sinking from my head to my lungs. What was here wasn’t enough. I’d never talk to my dad at Hank’s while we sat at the wooden bar. I’d never understand why he chose to raise Cole and not me. I’d never know why he left my mom.
Instead I had pieces. Scraps and discarded bits like the shells under my feet. Broken wholes thrown on the beach with only half of their story visible.
I reached for another shell and watched it bounce twice when I threw it. I lowered my eyes to the water rushing around me.
I felt the warmth of delicate arms circle my waist and the heat of her body pressed against my back.
“What are you doing out here?” Her cheek flattened against my shoulder blade.
“Thought I’d take a walk before we leave.”
“I was almost afraid to bother you. You looked intense.”
I shook my head. “Just thinking.”
“Hmm.” She withdrew her arms, positioning herself in front of me. “It could only be one of a hundred possible things going on right now. Want to talk about it before I start guessing?”
I kissed her on the forehead. I loved her for asking. I loved her for loving me so much.
“Thinking about my dad. Letting the beach suck me in when I know better. Nothing is going to change.”
“Do you want to know what I think?” She smiled.
“Of course I do.”
“I don’t think it’s the beach’s fault. I think the trip has you worried.”
“What? No. That’s not it.”
She tilted her head to the side, her eyes squinting from the sun. “How could it not? You’re worried what people will think or how you even fit into the equation. They’re going to ask uncomfortable questions. And I know you’re good with awkward—you can charm, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect you.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, but it flew free anyway. It reminded me of the first time I saw her at the Cove. She was irritated and lost, a beautiful woman trying to get her bearings. A woman whose view of the world changed mine almost instantly.
“And then there’s the toast,” she reminded me.
“Yeah, the toast. That one’s really got me up all night.” I laughed at the look in her eye.
“Don’t mock me, Aiden. I’m the one person who knows how difficult the christening is going to be for you.”
“It’s not going to be difficult. I am happy for Kaitlyn and Cole and the twins. I’m honored they’ve asked me to be the babies’ godfather. Really
. I am going to dance with the most gorgeous woman there. I am going to give one hell of a toast. And then you and I are going on our mooncation.”
“You don’t have to pretend for me.”
“Darlin’, I’m not pretending.” I looked at my watch. “I think we better head back to the house before the car service beats us.”
She stood on her toes, tugging my neck with her hands. “Okay, but kiss me on the beach. We’re not coming back for a while.”
I dipped my head, taking her lips, pulling her into my arms. My mouth covered hers hot and urgent. My lust and love for her fired through my body. God, this girl could drive my crazy. My fingers snaked up the back of her shirt, eager to feel the softness of her skin.
“I love you, Ronnie.”
“Don’t stop,” she whispered.
“Never.” I pecked her check. “Now come on. I don’t want to be late.”
She rolled her eyes. “We have a private car and a chartered plane. Don’t they run on your schedule?”
Her fingers threaded through mine as we walked along the beach.
“So, you don’t have any reservations about seeing your ex in North Carolina?”
I stopped, my feet dragging in the sand. “Who said anything to you about Mary Ellen?”
Veronica’s hands went to her hips. “Kaitlyn might have mentioned it. It slipped when we were talking about the christening party her parents have planned.”
My eyes narrowed. “She’s the godmother. I’m the godfather. I can’t do much about it.”
“I know that. What about seeing her? Have you thought about it?”
“Once or twice, but not like what you’re implying. Our relationship never became serious.” I tried to think of how to phrase it so she would understand. “But it wouldn’t matter if I dated her for five years or five minutes.” I squeezed Veronica’s hand. “There’s only you. You are the girl flying to North Carolina with me. You are the girl I’m taking to the christening. And you are the only woman I’m going to spend two weeks with in France on an aptly named mooncation.”
She grinned and suddenly I realized she hadn’t been jealous. “I like it when you say things like that.”
“You do, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I like words, especially poetic ones.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
I looked up at the condo windows as we crossed over the Dunes boardwalk and passed Kaitlyn and Cole’s blue beach shack.
“Do you think our mooncation trend is going to catch on?” She turned slightly as she pressed on the latch, unlocking the gate to our boardwalk.
The wooden slats were chipped and the decking needed a coat of stain, but Veronica wouldn’t let me touch it.
“It’s perfect like this.” She eyed me the day we moved into the house when she caught me making a list of improvements.
She grabbed the pad from my hand. “Old and dated is okay. This place has character. I thought that’s why you bought it.”
I shoved the pen in my pocket. “I bought it because the final condo sold at the Dunes, leaving us homeless.” I saw the look in her eye. “And because you fell in love with it the instant the realtor unlocked the door.”
I had given in to the beach house, its crooked shutters, and the steps that creaked every time I climbed them. I chuckled to myself following Veronica up the stairs now. She didn’t care about high-tech sound systems, or security packages. None of that mattered to her.
“Let’s see. We are taking a honeymoon without getting married, but vacation is way too understated for what we’re going to be doing. I think more people will be mooncationing all over the place.” My hands immediately cupped her bottom as she bounded to the last step on the deck.
“I think I hear the doorbell.” She ran into the house before I could I could get my hands around her waist.
I walked inside, surprised when I saw we had guests.
“Aiden,” Harper squealed before tackling my knees.
“Hey, tiger.” I wrestled her free then tossed her in the air.
“We’re going to sit on your house.”
I looked at her quizzically and laughed.
Quinn walked toward us. “Harper, it’s called house-sitting.”
“Oh.” The little girl giggled.
Veronica handed Quinn a pair of keys. “Thanks for looking after the house for us.”
“Not a problem. We’ll come by every day after school and collect the mail.”
I listened while Veronica doled out the instructions for the alarm and told Quinn the watering rotation for the tropical plants on the deck.
I crouched to the floor. “Harper, what do you want us to bring you from France?”
She scrunched her face together. “A purple kite. A big one.” Her hands spread wide, demonstrating she didn’t want anything small.
“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”
Quinn pointed to the glass door. “I think I see the car service in the driveway.”
“Time to go.” I rolled the suitcases to the porch.
“I want to see those christening pictures when you get back.” Quinn followed behind us. “And Paris too.”
“I’ll text some to you.” Veronica gave her a hug.
The driver met us at the top of the stairs and lugged the bags to the trunk. We left Quinn and Harper with the keys, standing at the top of the staircase. The girl waved as hard as she could.
My hand clasped Veronica’s as we pulled out of the driveway.
“I didn’t know they were house-sitting.”
“I forgot to mention it. Sorry. It seemed convenient since they only have to walk a few doors down from the Dunes.”
“Makes sense to me.” I leaned into the seat. We had a forty-five minute ride to the airport. “You think they’re happy living there? I know they don’t have a yard or anything. And all their neighbors are over sixty-five.”
Veronica touched her finger to my lips.
“They love it. Letting her lease to own one of the condos was the best solution. An amazing solution.” She grinned. “You are brilliant sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?”
“And so humble about it.” She poked me in the ribs.
“Somebody’s gotta be, baby.”
I looked out the window as the car approached the bridge. On the other side was the resort construction site. The foundation was in. I couldn’t see it from the road, but I knew it was there.
We started to climb over the sound, the car carrying us to the other side. I reached in my pocket for my phone, but hesitated.
“I have something to show you.”
“What is it?” Her head was turned toward the opposite window. I had lost her to the sun bouncing off the water.
I debated whether I should even mention the information I had, but I had sworn there wouldn’t be any more secrets between us. Even if what I had to tell her would hurt her.
“This came through a few minutes ago when Quinn was at the house.” I handed her my phone.
At first she didn’t react. She studied the file on my phone. She scrolled to the bottom.
Her eyes flashed to mine. “What does it mean? What does James say?”
There was a copy of a rental agreement signed by Susan P. and a few pictures James found on a neighbor’s social media account.
“The email from James says the pictures are three months old. He flew into Portland yesterday and interviewed the neighbors.”
“But she’s not there.” Her voice quieted.
“No, but he’s close. Closer than he’s ever been. My hope is that when we get back from France we’ll know where Cassie is.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. “We’re really going to find them.”
“Yes. And make them safe. I swear to you. No one will go near your sister or Lexi. I will protect them.”
She leaned against my chest, her hair tumbling over her shoulders and I couldn’t help but pull her into my lap. I needed to hold her, touch her,
protect her.
“I’m glad you told me.”
I ran my fingers over her head and down her arm. “I promised you I would.”
She sat forward. “All these things you’ve done are because of me.”
“Yes. And I’d do them over again. No question.”
“You don’t regret any of it?” she asked, toying with the collar of my shirt.
I reacted to her fingertips on my skin. “No. My only regret right now is that we aren’t headed straight to France.”
She squirmed under my hands. “And miss the big event?”
“We can go to others.” My hands massaged her lower back.
“I’m not missing it, or the chance to see you and Cole in suits at the same time. It’s like a unicorn sighting. That’s probably only going to happen once…” She stopped, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
I brushed my mouth over hers. “Or twice,” I growled. I kissed her hard. I wanted her to know I wouldn’t let her down. I would be there for her. I would love her. Make love to her. Fight with her. Make up with her. Kiss her when she needed to be kissed. Hold her when she had one of those days. Laugh with her. Cry with her when she couldn’t hold it together anymore. Share secrets. Share life.
Damn it, I wanted her to know I loved her every way I knew how to love.
I smiled, folding her into my arms. Yes, there was only one way this was going to go from the beginning. Somewhere between the Cove and that sandy stretch of beach to the Dunes, I had landed the deal of my life. An unexpected, earth-shattering deal.
The car deposited us on the tarmac next to the jet. I helped Veronica out of the car and led her up the staircase.
She looked around. “This is going to be amazing. I can’t believe we have our own plane.”
“You have no idea.” I ordered two glasses of champagne.
The flight attendant placed them on the table in front of us. We waited for the pilot to finish his pre-flight checks before we could leave Texas.
“I bet Kaitlyn is crazy nervous right now with the twins,” Veronica tilted the glass to her lips.
Don’t Go Page 22
