Starbright (60 page)

She giggled. “Yes.”

Aidan took her hand, humor alight with the longing in his eyes. “You’re lucky you didn’t tell me earlier or else we never would’ve made it through the ceremony.”

The wind blew most of the sand from Beth’s hair and gown as they drove away from the beach with all clothes and Oscars accounted for. Although they rushed through the initial part of their journey, when they pulled into Aidan’s driveway, he took his time leading her inside the house.

Upon their entry into the darkened foyer, Aidan tossed his suit jacket to the floor and brought his lips to hers. They walked down the hallway to his bedroom, kissing fervently, making only one pit stop for him to disconnect the telephone from the wall.

Kicking his leg out behind him, Aidan opened his bedroom door and pulled her inside. Their Oscars hit the floor. Beth placed her purse on the nightstand and tugged his tie from his collar, tossing it aside as well.

While she was confident in her decision to lose her virginity to Aidan tonight, her heart hammered with anxiety. She was concerned she might do something wrong and disappoint him, but she didn’t want to say anything and risk ruining the moment.

Aidan’s lips covered hers as he unfastened his cufflinks and dropped them to the floor. Their shoes were off next, along with his socks. Setting her concerns aside, Beth reached behind her back for the zipper of her gown.

Aidan stopped her with a gentle grip on her hip. “Please, allow me.”

She dropped her arms to her sides.

Aidan turned her around and gathered her hair, draping it forward over her shoulder. He grazed his lips across her neck as he lowered her zipper slowly. The gown slipped from her shoulders and pooled at her feet.

Aidan’s gaze swept her slipcovered body. “You’re absolutely perfect.”

With the reappearance of her blush, he took her hand and kissed it reassuringly.

Beth ran her other hand down his chest. “May I remove your shirt?”

“Baby, you can do whatever you want to me,” he said roughly.

Within seconds, the garment was on the floor. As they kissed, Beth fumbled with his belt and the button on his pants. His trousers dropped, replaced by the bulge of his erection straining under his briefs. Time stood still as he brushed his hands up her arms to her shoulders and found the thin straps of her slip.

“Wait.”

He pulled away at once. “Am I moving too fast?”

“No, it’s not that.” Beth lowered her gaze. “I have to put in my diaphragm.”

Aidan tucked her hair behind her ears. “You can use the bathroom. I’ll wait for you here.”

Beth gathered her purse and made her way down the hallway. Inside the bathroom, she placed her purse on the counter and braced her hands on either side of the sink, studying her reflection in the mirror. Her messy hair rivaled Aidan’s, except the tangled, sandy style looked wonderful on him and ridiculous on her. She patted it down as best as she could and reached for her purse.

She inserted her diaphragm easily, as she had practiced several times since her purchase, and left the bathroom with her empty case and purse in hand.

Aidan stood by the bedroom window, staring pensively out into the darkness. He parted the drapes enough to let in a sliver of moonlight, which cast an enchanting beam of silver across his handsome face and muscular body.

When he noticed her, he let go of the curtains and crossed the room, still fully erect under his briefs. “Is everything okay?”

Beth set her belongings on the nightstand and met him at the foot of the bed. “Yes.”

Aidan pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead, his hands drifting up her back and coming to rest on her shoulders. Slowly, he lowered the straps of her slip. The garment fell to the floor, leaving her standing before him in nothing but her brassiere, garter, hosiery, and panties. His eyes traveled down her body once before he advanced again.

Beth threw her head back as he kissed her chest and worked the clasp of her bra simultaneously. The undergarment was unhooked quickly and tossed aside, along with her hosiery and garter.

Aidan rolled his tongue over her taut nipples before taking turns covering each one with his lips and sucking gently. Beth shivered and perspired at the same time. He kissed her cleavage and slipped his hand beneath her panties. As he parted and entered her with his finger, her legs shook and her moans increased in pitch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, dropping her lips to his right shoulder.

Aidan fell to his knees, lowering her panties to her ankles and allowing her to step out of them. He kissed her stomach and trailed his hand up her thigh as she weaved her fingers through his hair. When he slipped his finger inside of her again, she whimpered, teetering on the brink of her release.

A second finger followed.

Beth gasped. “Please, I need you.”

Aidan rose to his feet. Beth wasted no time and pulled down his briefs. His arousal sprung toward her, large and rigid. She allowed him to lead her to the bed. When the back of her knees hit the mattress, she took him in her hand.

He grasped her wrist gently, halting her first stroke. “You do that, baby, and I’m gonna finish very soon.”

Beth let go of him. “I’m sorry.”

Aidan shook his head. “Don’t be. I just want everything to be perfect for you.”

“Um… all right.”

“What’s wrong? If you’re having second thoughts, it’s okay.”

Her eyes widened. “No, not at all.”

Aidan brought his arms around her waist. “Then what is it? Anything you want from me, I’ll do it.”

“Can you open the window?” She peered at him sheepishly. “I’m feeling kind of hot.”

Aidan grinned. “Sure.”

He placed a kiss to her lips and left to do her bidding. As he traveled across the room, Beth studied the strong planes of his shoulders and his muscular behind. She’d never seen a more beautiful man.

Aidan opened the window and pulled the drapes together to afford them privacy yet still allow moonlight to filter into the room. The curtains danced in the breeze as he returned to her and gathered her in his arms.

He kissed her cheek. “Do you want the lights on?”

Beth cleared her throat. “Leave them off, please.”

Aidan met her timid gaze. “We’ll pace ourselves, okay? And I mean it—anything you want from me is yours. All you gotta do is ask.”

Beth always envisioned making love as a flurry of activity, with the man taking control and guiding the entire act. Considering this was her first time, she was grateful they were taking things slow and she had input as well.

She nodded. “Thank you.”

They ventured back to the bed holding hands and kissing, their passion surging in the air between them. Aidan lowered her onto the mattress. As she slid toward the headboard on her back, her nervousness returned tenfold.

“Please tell me if I do something wrong.” The words left her lips in a rush.

Aidan’s muscles shifted powerfully as he crawled over her. “I’m the only one who can fail here, little dove. Not you.
Never you.”

“Don’t say that. You could never let me down.”

Aidan’s mouth curved upward. “If I live up to that, then I’ll forever be a happy man.”

He bent his arms to close the gap between them. Beth looked down at his arousal, curious as to how something so large would fit inside her. Connie and Olivia said her first time would hurt, but she didn’t care. She longed to feel him, all of him, no matter what the cost.

“Do you want to be on top?” Aidan’s question drew her attention back to his face. “That way you have more control.”

Beth’s eyes widened at the notion of her, the virgin, being in control. “No, thank you.”

Aidan grasped himself in his hand and positioned between her legs. “Keep your eyes on me.” He lowered himself until she felt him against her. “And if you ever want me to stop, just say so and I will.”

Beth nodded, trembling under the heat of his body.

Aidan took her hand, and she felt some pressure. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m all right.” Beth didn’t realize she was holding her breath until the air rushed out of her lungs with her reply.

Aidan entered her slowly, his lips parting, his body tensing on a shudder. “Oh, baby, you feel… ahhhh…”A groan muffled the rest of his words as he penetrated deeper.

A mix of pain and ecstasy accompanied the action. Beth didn’t know whether to stop him or beg for more.

“I’m here, baby. I’m here.” Aidan’s eyes didn’t waver as he inched in further and squeezed her hand.

Beth exhaled deeply and tried to relax by focusing on the fact she was finally making love to her soul mate.

Aidan peered at her in concern. “Are you certain you’re okay?”

“Yes.” She nodded for extra assurance and spread her legs wider, eager to feel all of him yet also nervous to experience the unavoidable ache.

Aidan pushed his hips forward gently, filling her completely. A blinding pain blasted between Beth’s legs. She cried out and squeezed her eyes shut, digging her fingernails into his back.

Aidan halted all movements. “Please look at me, baby, and tell me the truth. Do you want me to stop?”

Beth breathed deeply. When the initial sting subsided, she opened her eyes. “I’m all right. I promise.”

Aidan brushed the hair from her face, the creases in his brow deepening. “I’m so sorry, but that should be the worst of it.”

Beth’s pleasure surged to the forefront, each pulsation between her legs tightening her grip on him inside of her. “I’m fine, really. Please keep going.”

Aidan pulled back slightly and rocked forward, filling her again. This time, the pain was considerably less. As he moved inside her, pushing and pulling slowly, steadily, his gaze never faltered, nor did he drop her hand.

Once the pain disappeared, Beth lifted her hips to meet his thrusts, angling herself so he could penetrate deeper. Aidan moaned in response. Taking this as a good sign, she increased her pace, a lead he eagerly followed.

As they eased into a comfortable rhythm, Aidan’s expression twisted with pleasure and he dropped his head, whispering something against the angel pendent resting on her chest. At first, Beth couldn’t make out what he was saying. But when he repeated it, she heard it clearly on his warm, labored breath.

Heaven.

She wrapped her legs around his hips. “Please, faster.”

Sweeping his hand to the back of her head, Aidan brought his lips to hers and moved his palm over one breast. Beth gasped, desperate to feel more of him. Using her grip on his hips, she pulled him deeper inside of her and relished the resulting extraordinary sensations. Their tongues battled as she met him thrust for thrust, their slick bodies gliding together, their wanton cries echoing throughout the darkened room.

With a sharp hiss, Aidan stopped moving suddenly. “Ah, hold on a sec.”

The color drained from Beth’s face. “Oh, goodness, did I hurt you?”

He let out a soft chuckle. “No, I’m just having a difficult time holding back. I’ve wanted to orgasm since I first entered you.”

Beth traced her hand down his stomach. “Then finish. Please, I want you to.”

He shook his head. “You first.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced her with a kiss and resumed his thrusts, incapacitating her with pleasure and driving the matter from her mind. Calling out his name, she pushed her head back into the pillow and held onto him with all the strength she had left.

Aidan cupped her breast while his other hand gripped the sheets beside her. With a whimper, Beth arched her back and they eased into an even faster pace. She pushed down on his shoulders and raised her hips to meet his, feeling her release build.

“Aidan, I’m so close.”

“I want to hear you, baby,” he said between grunts, his hair bouncing as he pushed repeatedly inside of her. “I want to stare into your eyes as you come apart beneath me.”

Aidan’s words catapulted Beth closer to orgasm. She shut her eyes as the remarkable feeling of him filling her so completely, so deeply, overwhelmed her.

When her climax approached, she opened her eyes. “Aidan, I’m going to—”

He let out a low growl. “Oh, baby. Me, too.”

His face twisted as he rocked forward, penetrating her all the way and keeping still.

As Beth’s release took hold, Aidan called out her name, and she felt him empty inside of her. The reality that he was filling her with the result of his own climax added to her pleasure until her thoughts grew hazy, and the noises that escaped her lips sounded more feral than ladylike.

When her orgasm abated, Aidan collapsed in a gasping heap on top of her. He took her hand in his, reminding her of his promise that he was here for her. As always, he hadn’t let her down.

Beth straightened her legs as he pulled out of her slowly. He made a move to roll off her, but she stopped him. “Please, not yet.”

“I’m not crushing you?”

She shook her head.

Aidan lay down again, pressing his cheek to her chest. Beth felt sore between her legs, but the connection they had shared, as well as the knowledge she was able to make him feel as good as he did for her, brought a smile to her face and enabled her to ignore the ache.

“I love you, little dove,” Aidan whispered.

Tears sprung to Beth’s eyes. “I love you, too.”

“Thank you for allowing me to share this with you.” He traced his hand over one breast and along her hip. “Words cannot express what you mean to me. Just please know that no matter what, I will always,
always
take care of you.”

With a lingering kiss on her lips, he moved onto the mattress beside her and then straightened the blanket, snuggling them comfortably underneath.

Cradled in the arms of her beau, Beth kissed his chest and closed her eyes, savoring the happiness that accompanied their lovemaking. Without a doubt, Aidan was right. This
was
Heaven. But she wasn’t the angel. He was.