Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (63 page)

“
Who told you about Maxine?”

“
Hitler. That maniac you employ. He wanted me to know that the devil is alive and well in you, Aiden. That you only want what you can’t have. In fact, he worked really hard to convince me that we don’t fit. Isn’t that what you pay him for?”

Aiden looked at his phone. She could see his face twisting with rage. Daisy calmed her voice. She spoke in a reasonable tone. “Mama had no right to turn you away. She didn’t. But you had no right to give up! Not after everything. Stop this thing with Pete. He’s Amy’s father, and he’s part of the package, Aiden.”

“
Don’t you think I know that?” he said through clenched teeth.

“
Do you? Hell, I just faced it this morning. Last night I told Amy you were still her father right before I ran out in the middle of a storm and tried to catch you before you boarded that flight. I have never done anything to jeopardize my daughter’s happiness, and even now I’m all over the place trying to force that happiness to be you. I’m losing control, Aiden. It has to stop. You were the one that convinced me of us.”

“
That’s just it, sweetheart; I had to convince you. Can I keep it up? Keep making you believe?”

“
That’s not what I mean.”

“
It’s exactly what you meant.”

“
So what if it is? Love is hard. It’s messy. It complicates and changes things. So what? And yes, you will have to work at it the old-fashioned way. Earn every bit of my trust just like I will have to earn yours. Can you tell me that after all you’ve done and been through that this… me and Amy is what broke Aiden Keane?”

“
I’ll destroy it,” he choked out. “He had no fucking right to tell you about Maxine. But it’s true. I destroyed her, because it’s what I do, eventually. It’s only a matter of time.”

“
I’m not her. That’s not us.”

“
How do you know!”

“
How do you not?” Daisy threw her hands up in defeat. “You swore, Aiden, that
it
was what you wanted. You came looking for it.”

“
I shouldn’t have.”

“
What does that mean?”

“
It means you were right to shut me out. I shouldn’t have made that promise to you.”

Daisy closed her eyes to the chilled answer. “Truth time. Answer me and I’ll believe you. Do you love me? Do you love Amy? Or was it always just about winning?”

She braced for the answer, unable to control the spasmodic trembling within her. She clenched her hands until her nails broke the skin in her palms. Her breath solidified in her throat. The silence was even worse. It loomed between them. He said nothing. And there was her answer. Daisy took a step back, then another. Her eyes opened to see him turn away.

“
I should have never… never trusted you with my heart. Fool me once, Aiden… fool me twice.” The rest failed her. She turned blinded by hurt and tears and ran from him. Stopping to grab her purse, she rushed through the wrong hall, having to backtrack while crying uncontrollably.

When she reached the door, he was on her. Evidently, he had been calling her name, but she hadn’t heard. Aiden came up behind her with such a force she was pushed into the door as it slammed back shut. His hands on either side of her head, he pressed her flat into the door and kept her trapped. His forehead bumped the back of hers, and pressed her head to the cool but abrasive surface. She groaned in deep frustrated anger. “Get off me!” she hissed, trying to shake him off.

“
Don’t go.”

“
Let me out!”

“
I can’t.” His heavy breathing matched hers. He hit his hand into the door. “I wish I could.”

“
You don’t want me, Aiden. You just want another reason to be miserable.”

“
I’m sorry.”

“
Don’t be. I don’t need an apology. Just get off. Let me go!”

“
I can’t!” He slammed both hands into the door. “I love you, damn it, and her. I love you both. I do… I can’t stop… and… and I need to.”

“
Aiden, I want out of this. I’m not going to fight you, not anymore.”

“
I’m trying to protect you. Can’t you see that?”

“
That’s bullshit!”

“
I can’t hurt you… not again. And I will, Daisy.”

“
Fine! Give up! Just let me out.” She reached for the doorknob, turned and pulled, but he slammed it shut once more.

“
I can’t stop wanting this. I won’t get it right. I’m out of ideas how. I tried, sweetheart. I really did try. I really did.”

“
Dear God… Aiden. You just don’t get it.”

“
I do. I get it. I love you so much.” He kissed the back of her head and pressed into her, refusing too budge. The center of her brow burned at the spot connected to the door. She turned her face for relief, her cheek now up against the cool wood. His body covered hers, hard and warm to her backside. One hand lowered for him to touch her, run across her hips, circle to her midsection and go up to her breast. She should have objected to the violation, but she didn’t. Despite the battle, she loved him and she couldn’t deny that. She gave a deep moan and didn’t try to resist any longer.

“
I’m sick of your excuses, Aiden. If you don’t trust me, just tell me.”

“
Mmm. I do need you and want you. I burn for you.”

“
Not the physical.”

He rubbed his face into the side of hers. She flinched from the unshaven hairs on his jaw that scraped across her skin. With his breathing heavy in her ear, she could feel his desire for her mounting as he brushed his lips over her jaw line. “You’re my angel. It goes beyond the physical. You fill me with… what I’m missing… I’ve screwed up so bad, baby, but I do love you,” he panted.

“
Then why do you keep pushing me away? Do you want me to go?”

“
No. No.”

“
Then what? I can’t stand much more of this. Everybody is telling me to stay away from you. Everybody says we don't fit.”

“
Don’t listen to what they say.”

“
As oppose to what? To what you say? Remember, you just found the courage to say the word love. It’s so hard with you.” She pushed back and he released her. She turned and faced him. Her eyes searched his face for answers.

“
I know,” he said. His fingers wiped at the tracks of tears left on her cheeks. She shivered under the touch, and it continued as he grazed her cheek lightly, moving down her throat. Just the tips brushed ever so lightly, awakening the sleepy cells of her body and setting them all to yearning.

“
Then talk to me,” she moaned, trying to shake off his touch and how disoriented she became. “Be with me. We can figure it out. I can’t do it alone. Not when you act like this… when you fight so hard against us. When you hurt yourself, you hurt me too.”

“
I could never hurt you again. I’d let you go first.” His hands caressed her neck and he stared down into her eyes. Both hands travelled over her shoulders, down the sides of her arms. She dropped her purse under his spell. Her eyes closed as she came under his spell.

“
That’s right,” he gave a seductive whisper. “I’m not letting you go. You’re my angel. Who knew heaven was in Kentucky?” He smiled, getting close, closer, closer. “I’m an idiot. Forgive me. I say things I shouldn’t. I do things I shouldn’t. Remember, I’m the bad guy. But I’m trying so hard, sweetheart, so hard to be good.”

“
Prove it.” Her eyes opened to find his face inches from hers. “Come back with me and stay with me… unless you don't want to.”

He smiled, his mouth so close, the warmth of his breath came out over her top lip and her senses were filled with him. Aiden spoke, only centimeters from a kiss. “I can’t fight it anymore,” he rasped, sucking in a deep breath between his teeth and drawing away. “I’ll come back with you if you’ll stay with me tonight.”

“
I said I would.”

“
Be my wife.”

“
What did you say?”

“
You heard me.”

“
No. I don’t think I did.”

He reached again, putting his hand in her hair, fingers grazing her scalp and pulling through her long locks. “It’s killing me not being able to tell you what you mean to me. I rather show you.”

“
Marriage? You and me?” Daisy stared at him in utter disbelief, knocking his touch away so she could be certain. “You want to get married?”

He wiped at his jaw and looked down with a heavy blush spreading over his face.

“
I’m not rejecting you, Aiden.”

“
Then what?”

“
What? Did you just propose to me? You go from not being able to say you love us, you want us, to just… just blurting that out?”

“
I wouldn’t do it that way. Propose I mean. I just said it because it’s what I want.” He looked up at her sheepishly. “Then I’ll know you want me too.”

“
That’s not a reason to get married. Because you want to be sure I won’t leave you. Marriage isn't the answer”

“
I said I love you.”

“
Did you mean it?”

He ran his hand back over his head, looking uncomfortable. “I want you and Amy to be my… family. I want to have a family. I never did before. I want to wake up with you, Daisy, and I want you here always. I never meant to hurt Maxine. I just didn’t want to be attached to someone I didn’t feel anything for. That’s why I ran. At the doctor's office, I ran because I knew my chance at fatherhood was pissed away by my checkbook. God has a good sense of humor. He made me want what I cast away. I just felt it all at once. But I drove, Daisy, for miles, and all I could think of was you… and Amy. I love her, and I don’t have a right to, but I do. I’m just not sure if I’m entitled.”

“
You are,” she smiled.

“
I am?”

“
She loves you too, Aiden. We did it wrong with her, the both of us. We have to fix it. Pete’s her father and that has to be respected.”

“
I know. I know,” he said, not wanting to discuss it.

Daisy smiled. “Good.”

His eyes returned to her. A step or two and he was in her space again. “You came for me?”

“
I did.”

“
Why? Why did you decide on us?”

“
My heart decided. I just followed orders.”

He touched her face again. “I’ve never wanted somebody more… never.” He placed both hands to her throat as he ran his thumb smoothly under her chin, his fingers circling her neck.

“
Never.” He pulled her off the door to him, moistened his lips and studied her breasts when they bounced lightly. She could read him so well. Arousal that only he could stir bloomed inside her from the way he held her. It radiated outward to send tingles through her limbs. His hand went down over the top of her breast then under travelling to her pussy where he cupped her. Her eyelids went heavy at his touch.

“
We have so much to talk about. I have to… to know.” She stayed his hand with hers covering and stopping him from going further. “You and me, Aiden. A team. This is what you want?”

“
Yes… yes.” He kissed her with no tongue. Pecked her lips again, and again and again. “Yes… oh yes,” he said, scooping her up into him. “I can’t fight it anymore. You make me so crazy… so fucking crazy.”

“
Then don’t,” she said, her mouth devouring his. He was the only man she’d ever loved this severely. Their lovemaking, the few times in between, were always intense. The first time, notwithstanding, she’d yet to really have him alone to herself. Her heart surged at the thought of them being alone, uninterrupted and the things she knew he’d do to her.

Aiden met her tongue with his own. She savored the saucy taste of liquored breath. Then his hands moved down stirring up her arousal as he cupped both halves of her ass and squeezed, hard. She whimpered.

“
I know,” he said huskily in response, kissing her harder, deeper. “Yeah, I’ll show you. ” He bit her bottom lip. The sucking kiss stung to a dull numbing pulse. His tongue then darted wickedly in and out of her mouth. Daisy was consumed by his kiss… by the fever in his lips. She grabbed his face, owning it, as he let his hands roam free over her curves, her thighs, ass and her breasts. Aiden fondled her, sucking her neck until she felt it bruising. The ferocity of his passion was exciting. She dug her nails through the soft hairs on the back of his neck, angling on her toes now to meet the full thrust of his probing tongue. It felt so good as she anchored herself to him.

Then his lips tore away.

“
Show me,” she said, and he did. His hand stroked her between her legs and her body shuddered. Her skirt lifted, tossed about her hips, so he could rub her clit through her panty. And when she looked into his eyes, it was on. Raw passion was all for her. Uninhibited, Daisy could barely contain herself.

She pushed him out of the way. His hand dropped from its naughty purpose as she walked back through the penthouse on shaky legs tossing him a look over her shoulder. He watched and followed. She went left instead of right. Her instinct told her that is where the bedroom was.

Daisy was right. Inside, she turned around to face him. He threw the door behind him shut, blocking any escape and she liked that. Aiden pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it. His hot gaze lingered on her hips before rising again to her eyes.

Without being asked, she reached behind her back, finding the tiny tab of her zipper to ease it down. His half smile was the sexiest to her. She smiled, feeling beautiful with him, wanting him to ravish her and burn away any doubts they may have. The driving need in her would be fulfilled and make it so she’d never leave and neither would he.