Starbright (6 page)

“Good night, little dove,” he said softly.

“Good night, Aidan.” Beth’s voice wavered under the weight of her sorrow.

Following his departure, she locked up and rested her forehead against the door, releasing a quivering breath. If she wanted to learn more about how to please a man properly and rid herself of her nervousness before spending the night with Aidan in Santa Barbara, she needed to take Olivia up on the offer to have
the talk
. Pronto.

“Penis.”

“P… Penis.”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “Again.”

“P–penis,” Beth repeated.

“Better, but still not great,” Connie said. “Try again. But this time, don’t hesitate.”

Beth exhaled a shaky breath and looked around Connie’s bedroom, anywhere but at her two friends sitting across from her.

“Penis,” she said with a firm nod.

Olivia traded glances with Connie. “That one wasn’t bad.”

Beth sighed. “I don’t see what this has to do with me becoming more intimate with Aidan.”

“If you can’t even say the word, how are you ever going to feel comfortable with him in an intimate situation?” Olivia replied.

Connie smirked. “Yes, if you want to touch it, you have to be able to say the word out loud first.”

Beth gaped at her friends. “Goodness, we’re a long way off from… from that!”

Connie shook her head. “You say that now, but once you two are in the throes of passion, things may move quicker than you expected.”

Beth related Connie’s comments to her experience with Aidan on Thanksgiving. Her friend was right.

“What’s next on the list?” Olivia asked.

Connie consulted her notepad. “Vagina.”

A blush flooded Beth’s cheeks. She wished she was spending her Saturday afternoon elsewhere. Even helping Nathan and Matthew with Aidan’s move appealed to her more.

“Perfect!” Olivia’s eyes danced with excitement. “All right, Beth. Say it.”

“Vagina.”

Olivia shrieked and jumped out of her chair. “You said it without hesitating! I told you this was going to benefit you.”

Beth eyed her friend skeptically. Saying the word was one thing. Exposing herself in front of Aidan was another.

Olivia sat back down and folded her hands in her lap. “I think we can move on from the list.”

Connie tossed a smile in Beth’s direction. “How about you pick up the book again and read the next paragraph.”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Beth stared at the romance novel resting in her lap. The cover featured an illustration of a muscular, half-naked man and a curvaceous woman clutched in an intimate embrace. His lips pressed to her chest and her face looked to the heavens, her eyes closed and her mouth open in a way that suggested she was releasing an erotic cry.

Connie and Olivia stopped Beth from reading the book aloud after she stumbled through the word
clitoris
. Based on her mispronunciation, Connie knew Beth had no idea what it was and insisted she receive a proper explanation. After a very graphic description from Olivia and a tutorial from Connie on how it was the secret to a woman’s pleasure, they moved on to Connie’s body parts list, which had been compiled especially for today’s session. Beth had hoped they’d forgotten about the novel.

With a trembling hand, she reopened the book and found her starting point. “His finger swirled around my clit… clitoris, making my body quake with pleasure, as his lips drifted down my neck,” she read. “His soft kisses and sensual touch made my vagina moist and I felt my wetness dripping down onto his hand, coating him in my essence.”

Beth made a sour face at the description. “I was ready to take his penis inside me whenever he pleased. Desire burned in my veins as his mouth moved lower. The anticipation drove me wild. He stopped just above my breasts. My nipples tingled as he cupped his supple lips over one of my peaks and…”

Beth cleared her throat. “… Kneaded his palm to my other breast with an animalistic passion that only made me want him more. He slipped two fingers inside me, and I moaned with pleasure.” She scanned the next few words. “I’m sorry, but I can’t read the rest.”

“You can’t stop now,” Connie said. “You’re just getting to the good part!”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts, Beth.” Olivia wagged a finger at her. “This is for your own good.”

Beth looked at the page again. “He sucked hard on my breast and swirled his hot tongue around my nipple. My vagina throbbed for him as I moved against his rock hard body. I needed more. I needed to feel his penis inside me immediately. ‘Please, Fabio, take me now,’ I begged.”

“Try to steady your voice and read with more expression,” Connie said gently.

Beth shifted in her seat and resumed. “He removed his mouth from my breast and slipped his fingers out of my vagina. ‘All right, doll,’ he said, his deep voice the perfect pairing to the hot hunk of man he was.”

Connie and Olivia leaned forward in their seats.

“Flexing his pectoral muscles, he looked down at me, his eyes dark with lust. He rubbed his hand down his rippled abdominals, to his groin, stopping at his,” Beth gulped, “erect penis. He took his length in his hand and stroked himself slowly. I watched in wonder as he worked himself hard. He looked like an Adonis, my own personal Greek god sent to Earth strictly for my pleasure. ‘Lie down on your back and spread your legs, Betsy,’ he said in a low growl. ‘It’s about time you found out what a real man feels like.’ ”

Beth shut the book in disgust. “I can’t read this! Spread your legs, Betsy… It’s about time you found out what a real man feels like?” She scoffed. “How ridiculous!”

Connie sighed. “Fabio is so sexy.”

Olivia perched her chin in her palm and stared across the bedroom. “I miss Nathan.”

Beth regarded her friends in disbelief. “How can you possibly think this novel is romantic?”

Connie raised her eyebrows. “Are you telling me you’ve never had dreams where a man has taken control of your body and ravished you?”

Beth crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “No, I have not. When I dream of Aidan and me together, we’re always engaged in tender moments. Dream Aidan is never a brute like Fabio.”

Connie giggled. “Just because a woman fantasizes about raunchy sex every now and then doesn’t mean she’s any less respectable.”

Beth frowned. “I know, but I prefer Aidan’s gentleness. I don’t want to change him, even in my dreams. He’s wonderful as he is.”

Connie rolled her eyes.

“I understand,” Olivia said. “I enjoy Nathan’s gentleness, too, and would never want him to talk and act like Fabio. It’s all right in novels or motion pictures, but in real life, you want a gentleman.”

Connie waved her hand dismissively. “All right, fine. We’ll put the book aside for today. But you wouldn’t believe what Fabio does to Betsy in the next chapter! You’re really missing out.”

Beth placed the novel back on the table, more than happy to abandon reading about the couple’s further sexual exploits.

Given they’d been working for almost three hours, the women decided to called it a day.

“We’re very proud of you.” Connie patted Beth’s knee. “You’ve come a long way since we first sat down today. Although, I still wish someone other than Aidan was the object of your affection.”

Beth smiled. “I appreciate your interest in helping me.”

Connie stood from her chair. “Next we’ll get you fitted for a diaphragm, and then—”

“D–diaphragm?” Beth’s eyes darted between her two friends.

Olivia turned to Connie. “Looks like you’ll have to add that word to the list for next time.”

Connie scribbled on her notepad. “Yes, Beth, you need a diaphragm. The last thing we need is a little Aidan Evans running around, especially since your career is just starting to take off and the two of you aren’t married. As a woman, it’s your responsibility to protect yourself, not Aidan’s. Plus, men hate wearing rubbers.”

Olivia must have registered Beth’s hesitant expression because she quickly added, “Remember I told you about Connie’s doctor…”

“Yes, I remember. I just didn’t think I needed to get fitted so soon.”

“You don’t have to use the diaphragm right away,” Connie said. “But you should be prepared, just in case.”

“This is all happening so suddenly.” Beth placed her hand to her forehead.

“Are you all right?” Concern clouded Olivia’s eyes.

She forced a smile. “I’ll be fine. I just need time to process everything.”

“It’s only something to keep in mind, that’s all,” Connie said reassuringly. “We’re not pressuring you. Come to me when you’re ready and I’ll help you set up an appointment.”

“All right, I will.” Beth collected her purse and followed Olivia and Connie across the room.

“Before we go, I think we should complete one more exercise. A group exercise.” Olivia smiled mischievously. “We each choose a word we covered here today and yell it at the top of our lungs.”

Beth’s mouth dropped open. “What about Connie’s household staff? They’ll hear us!”

“Don’t worry.” Connie fluttered her hand. “They won’t mind.”

Beth regarded her incredulously. “How can they not mind?”

“Come on, Beth.” Olivia nudged her in the ribs. “Are you in or not?”

Beth sighed. “I guess so, but one of you has to go first.”

“I’ll start,” Connie said.

The three women stood in a circle and joined hands.

“Ready?” Olivia said. “Go!”

“Clitoris!” Connie yelled.

“Vagina!” Olivia shouted.

Beth drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Connie gave her hand an encouraging squeeze.

“Penis!”

“What on earth?”

Beth’s eyes shot open. Matthew stood agape in the doorway, his fedora clutched to his chest.

“Oh, goodness!” She covered her face with her hands as laughter exploded around her, the loudest coming from Matthew.

“Sorry to interrupt your, uh, whatever the heck that was,” Matthew said through his chuckles. “I’ve come to pick up Connie for our date.”

“Beth, I’d say you passed your test with flying colors!” Connie wiped the tears from her eyes, still laughing. “The only thing that would’ve been better is if Aidan walked in on us instead!”

Beth’s stomach churned at the thought.

Matthew gave her a hearty pat on the back. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Sutton. Good job!”

As Beth looked around at her friends, she couldn’t help but laugh as well. Never in her life did she expect to be caught in such an unfortunate situation. If she couldn’t laugh about it now, there was no hope in her becoming more comfortable with Aidan intimately.

Matthew slinked his arm around Connie’s waist. “So, this game you’re playing… can I play, too?”

“Sorry, honey, but it’s for us women only.” Connie pulled him in for a tender kiss.

Matthew dropped his forehead to hers. “Maybe you and I can play our own game later on,” he said, his voice sultry and suggestive.

Connie winked. “Only if I can call you Fabio.”

She burst into laughter again, and Beth and Olivia joined in. Matthew looked confused but ended up laughing, too.

“How was the move?” Olivia asked.

“So far so good.” Matthew tossed his fedora onto the bureau. “I had to leave early because Connie and I are going out, but Nate and Aidan should be finished soon. We thought it would take the entire weekend, but it looks like that won’t be the case. They said they’d call you two when they’re done.

This morning, before helping Aidan with the move, Nathan accompanied Beth and Olivia on their visit to the house Olivia spoke about over Thanksgiving dinner. Beth agreed it was perfect for them and put in an offer with Olivia after Nathan promised her she’d get a contract extension. Now the deal was in the hands of Nathan and her business manager/agent, Saul Stern. They expected to hear if they were approved on Monday when the banks reopened. The deal was as good as done, though, since she and Olivia had enough money to purchase the house in cash.

The current occupants were moving out closer to Christmas so that gave them plenty of time to prepare and give their current landlord notice. Beth looked forward to having more room, a backyard, and a place they actually owned instead of rented. Although the house wasn’t large or fancy, it was still far nicer than anything either of them had lived in before.

Connie insisted her chauffeur drive Beth and Olivia home instead of them calling a taxi. Back at the apartment, while they waited for their beaux’s calls, they conversed in the kitchen. Beth decided to bake an apple pie for Aidan as a housewarming gift and hoped to have it ready before he and Nathan finished for the day.

Olivia looked on as Beth sliced and cored the apples. “Is this the same recipe you used on Thanksgiving? I really liked that one.”

Beth nodded. “I tweaked my usual recipe according to what Aidan liked most about his mother’s pie. It was such a hit with him on Thursday, I thought I’d bake him another.”

“Nathan’s mother died when he was a boy, too. Did you know that?”

“Yes, I did,” Beth replied. Aidan told her he’d conversed with Nathan about the passing of their mothers, though the two men didn’t share specifics about how they had died.

“And his father passed away in an accident on the family ranch in Salinas. Nathan was only seventeen at the time.”