Chapter 25
25
Aiden
Friday night I’m in my usual seat, front and center at XO’s, with a cold beer in my hand. I flip through the latest texts on the family thread featuring a series of photos from Jack. Whitney and Soren were released from the hospital yesterday afternoon, and the proud new father is keeping us well supplied with all Soren’s firsts as they settle in at home.
I pause on the photo of Lucy and Bennett holding their new brother. My chest tightens at the little trio. Bennett beaming proudly at the camera while Lucy looks a little less enthused at being outnumbered. I have no doubt that she’ll rock her role as big sister to these two boys. After she has some time to adjust, of course.
The still-buzzing phone goes in my pocket as Isla’s set ticks closer. The room is at capacity tonight. With Halloween coming, the girls are dressed in costume. Apparently this has attracted a larger crowd. The increase in attendance has my awareness on high alert. I find myself scanning every face— twice —committing as many as I can to memory.
Could the man in the front to my right, with the light brown hair combed to the side, a wiry mustache, and square glasses be a person of interest? Or what about the stout man, mid-thirties, standing in the left corner with his eyes pinned on the stage? Any one of these fuckers could have dangerous intentions, and I have no way of knowing that information.
Our relationship has become more complicated, muddied in a way I didn’t expect. I might have started with good intentions, of wanting to help someone I cared for, but now it feels like I’m protecting someone who’s solely mine to protect. The stakes are higher than ever before.
Sutton and Silas have said the detectives are no closer to finding this guy than they were after the last murder. They try to reassure me. That he’ll slip up eventually. But what if that eventuality is when Isla’s the one in his crosshairs? I’m no longer willing to leave her alone long enough to take that chance.
She hasn’t brought up our arrangement in a while, but even if she asked me to let her go, I’m not sure I could. Not with this guy still out there. We weaved a tangled web, our friends and family caught up in our lies, and I’m not sure I even want to dismantle it anymore.
Not sure if I ever did.
I clock Lucien near the side of the stage, his gaze on the act rather than the crowd. Typical. This guy is as dirty as they come.
The stage lights dim before brightening again as Isla begins her act. At over twenty weeks along, she’s no longer able to execute the tricks she used to—both for safety and strength reasons. I trust she knows her body enough to know what it can and can’t do.
The audience most likely won’t even notice her change in routine. She uses that pole like a prop, twisting and grinding. She can still pull herself up into several moves, but the days of inverting are on hold for now.
After one pole set, she lowers herself to the floor. As she leans back and grinds against the pole on her knees, I notice the presence of her baby bump for the first time during her dance. The round protrusion is slightly more pronounced on top of her overall voluptuous figure.
God, she’s so fucking sexy.
I love her size. I love everything about her. Her confidence. The way she carries herself. I’ve never met a woman who captured me so quickly. So thoroughly before even speaking a single word beyond polite exchanges the few times I saw her with Juniper.
I’m gone for her in a way I never thought was possible for me.
In a way I never want to be for anybody else.
Now that I’ve had her, made her come, heard her whimper and beg just for me?
That’s it. I’m done for. Game over.
But how do I tell her that in a way that doesn’t sound like I’m just some guy who fell for the woman who took my virginity? How do I tell her that I fell for her over pancakes and sleeping next to her in bed and when she laughed at my bare ass and practice kissing that was never really practice but the real thing all along?
Just as the last track ends, a loud bang sounds from the back of the room. Isla immediately freezes on stage, her eyes fixated on a point I can’t see in the darkened room. I’m on my feet, moving to the front of the stage as Lucien crosses my path in the direction of the sound.
“Go!” I shout at her, needing her somewhere safe. My heart pounds as she meets my eyes and nods before scampering off behind the curtain.
I cut left and move down the hall to the dressing room door. I raise my hand to knock, but before my knuckles connect, the wood swings open to reveal Isla’s scared face on the other side.
The tremble of her lower lip tears my heart to shreds.
“I’m done,” she announces, grabbing my wrist and dragging me into the forbidden room. “I’m so done.”
She’s burrowed into my chest in half a second, and I kick the door shut behind us. If anyone in the room objects to my presence, they keep it to themselves and go about their business. Some of them fully going about their business sans clothing .
“You’re okay,” I murmur reassuringly, rocking her side to side. Her fingers clench the sides of my jacket, pulling the fabric taut around my shoulders. At my words, a shudder runs through her body before she finally relaxes.
“I’m okay,” she repeats quietly.
“What did you see?”
“I couldn’t really see anything.” She pulls back and gazes up at me, so much trust in her eyes it physically hurts. “But I’m finished. I can’t do any more shifts. I’m quitting tonight.”
I know financially that’s going to hurt. Even three more days would put at least another thousand dollars in her pocket that she’s walking away from.
“Go get dressed. We can tell your boss and get out of here.”
She rises on her tiptoes to reach my cheek then scampers across the room. As I watch her go, I can’t help but wonder what’s in store for us if she doesn’t need me looking out for her anymore.
That conversation I’ve been avoiding looks like it’s going to happen much sooner. Instead of having days to figure out what I want to say, it’s now come down to a matter of hours.
Once she’s out of her costume and back into her regular sweats and baggy sweatshirt, her hair piled high on her head, we leave the room.
I relieve her of the duffel bag on her shoulder. “Good thing you’re quitting. Your roots are in need of a touch-up.”
“I don’t know, the brown is growing on me. I might keep the color.” She twists a loose strand around her index finger.
“Just say the word and your personal stylist is at your service. Or we can visit the salon.”
She squeezes my hand. “I think I prefer your treatment. I’m curious what other services you might provide.”
My cock twitches in my jeans. Her ability to compartmentalize the events around us astounds me as I struggle to let go of the anger over how this night is ending.
Her boss appears from a door up ahead, a radio in one hand. He stops as he sees us.
“What happened?” I ask him.
“Drunk fell off his chair. That’s all, my Stella.” He says sweetly, addressing Isla instead of me. “You’re safe.”
Isla jabs a finger into his chest and unleashes a string of fire. “I’d feel a hell of a lot safer if Lucien spent his time on the floor watching the drunks instead of watching my ass!”
Manny nods, his brow furrowed at what I assume is an unusual outburst from her. “I’ll talk with him.”
If I didn’t know her as well as I do, I’d miss the fight she has on her composure. She might be putting up a strong front, but she’s rattled. Rightly so.
“It doesn’t matter,” she says.
Manny cocks his head. “Of course it matters.”
“I quit, Manny. I know it’s only three more shifts, but I can’t do it anymore.”
His gaze drops to our entwined hand at our sides. “I assume I can’t persuade you to change your mind.”
She raises her chin a fraction. “No, nothing you say can change my mind.”
“Then you can pick up your last check on Sunday.”
“Thank you.” Tension leaks from her body at his easy acceptance. Isla turns to resume our way to the exit.
“Oh, and Stella?” Manny calls.
“Yes?”
“If you decide to dance again, do give me a call. You are a crowd favorite.”
I don’t miss the way her hand caresses her stomach. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The radio in Manny’s hand crackles, and with a distracted wave, he turns the corner and disappears.
“Should we go?” I ask as we linger in the hall.
Isla tilts her chin, a smile playing on her lips. “Yeah. Let’s go home.”
Home.
I could get used to her saying that.
The alarm panel beeps as I unlock the door. Holding it open, I sweep my arm out. “After you.”
Isla steps over the threshold, spinning to grab my forearm in both her small hands and drags me inside.
“What—” The duffel bag falls to the floor.
She pushes my back against the door, and fits her mouth to mine. I groan, my chest vibrating with the rumble beneath her palms. She drags the zipper of my jacket down and peels the material from my shoulders.
“Mm, baby.” My words are cut off as she attacks me again. “The panel,” I gasp, before retaking her mouth. We fight for the upper hand. I fit my palm flat against the small of her back and spin us against the other wall.
“Key it in,” she breathes before resuming the kiss. “Hurry.”
I nip her bottom lip, then move my attention to her neck. My teeth graze the sensitive skin between her ear and her shoulder as I watch myself key in the code. The alarm beeps three times to let me know it’s armed.
“Got it,” I growl, diving back into the heated kiss. I grip her pony with one hand, and with the other, I press our lower halves flush. My erection grinds against her stomach, hard and ready for whatever she has planned.
“Good,” she pants.
Nimble fingers find my belt buckle. The metal clanks loudly, joining our uneven breaths. Cool air brushes against my lower stomach as she parts the denim and shoves the material down my hips.
“Holy...” I groan, the speed of things catching me off guard. Before I can get my bearings, gravity takes my boxer briefs and jeans to my ankles.
Isla finds her knees a second later.
She wraps a sturdy fist around my cock, pumping me from root to tip. My hips jerk forward. A second later, her hot mouth engulfs the crown.
“Fuck, starshine, your mouth feels incredible.”
I tip my chin skyward, the back of my head hitting the wall behind me with a thud. The pain doesn’t register, lost in the pleasure of Isla’s tongue running up and down my cock.
She works me over, her hand and her mouth dueling sensations. My fingertips press into the wall for support. For a moment, my eyes close as I drown in the absolute pleasure she wrings from my body.
She traces a thick vein running along my shaft with her tongue. As her mouth slips lower, she jacks my cock. The heat of her warm breath fans across my balls. She flattens her tongue, licking a broad stripe across them before sucking one into her mouth.
“You feel so good, oh my god, baby, you’re going to make me come.”
She practically mewls from her position on the floor. My eyes pop open at the sound, finding her beautiful gaze staring trustingly at me. With her eyes locked on mine, she licks her way back to the tip before sucking me down her throat. Despite my size, she takes all of me.
“Jesus,” I gasp, threading my fingers through the hair on the sides of her head, messing up her ponytail. Molten pleasure curls at the base of my spine as she expertly brings me close. “You like this cock?”
Isla moans, the vibrations reverberating down my shaft. “Mhm.”
“Fuck. You like sucking my cock? You want it down your throat?”
She pulls off with a wet sound, and wipes off her chin. “I want you to fuck it.”
“You want me to fuck your throat?” I practically growl, tightening my fingers in her hair.
“Please, Aiden. Make me choke.”
“My dirty girl,” I croon. “Open wide so I can fuck that pretty mouth.”
Opening and tilting her chin, she guides me back inside. Her tongue lies flat, stimulating the underside with every sharp thrust. The buildup is minimal. She already has me so close that I could blow in a few strokes, but I hang on to give my girl exactly what she wants.
The first few thrusts are choppy as I adjust to the new sensation. She keeps her gaze on mine as I slip deeper, feeling her muscles contract around my cock. I grip her tight. Hold her head in place and use her like she wants. Like she begged for.
“You’re so beautiful like this. Love the way your lips look around my cock,” I praise, swiping the hair off her forehead. “You take me so well, baby. I’m almost there.”
I drag her off, giving her a breath of air. I trace her swollen lips with my tip. “Where do you want me to come?”
“My mouth,” she pants, licking her lips.
“You want to swallow?”
“Every drop.”
I rub my thumb along the curve of her flushed cheek. “You’re a dream come true.”
Her amber eyes soften at the praise.
“Pull your tits out for me, baby. I want to watch them bounce.”
We part only long enough for her to drag her sweatshirt over her head. While she does, I yank my long-sleeved Henley off and toss it to the floor. She reaches out and with a fingertip, traces the grooves of my abs. My muscles contract beneath her featherlight touch.
I jack myself twice, then plunge back inside her willing mouth, groaning as her lips close. The force of me taking her mouth sends her tits rippling with every thrust. The tight, red nipples begging for my touch. I reach down and catch one between my middle and index finger, pinching the sides as I rub the tip with my thumb.
She whimpers around my shaft, and grinds her hips downward, her own neediness making itself known.
One, two, three more thrusts, my orgasm explodes, and I come with a shout down her throat.
She rolls her tongue around me, cleaning me as she slowly pulls off. Her tits heave with her breath, but the satisfied smile on her face lets me know she loved every second.
I drop to the floor beside her, kicking off my shoes and pants.
“Come here.” Hooking her behind her head, I crawl over, taking Isla to her back and kissing her. I drop my forehead to hers. “You’re incredible,” I murmur.
“You’re pretty great yourself.”
“Oh yeah?”
Her palms cup my cheeks. “Definitely.” She shifts beneath me, her hips rising from the floor.
Pressing my thigh between her legs, I grin against her cheek. “Need me to take care of that needy pussy?”
“Would you mind? It’s sort of your fault she’s all worked up.”
I suck the flimsy skin of her earlobe into my mouth. “It would be my pleasure.”