His to Cherish (21 page)

He flashed Camden a wink and whispered something into her ear that I didn't catch, but her back straightened and her shoulders pulled back.

With a wave to our table, he stepped away. “See you ladies around.”

“Man, I love that guy,” Trina said, watching him walk away. How she could think tall, lean, and handsome David was worth watching when she had her large, muscular, and sexy-as-sin Declan in her bed every night I had no clue.

“What did he say to you?” I asked, leaning in to Camden.

She swallowed a glass of water, chugging it as if she needed to cool down. “Nothing.”

“Oh, come on,” Suzanne prodded. “You have to tell us after that reaction.”

“He thinks I'm pretty.” She waved a hand as if it were nothing and refilled her margarita glass. “Can we move on now?”

I took in her pinched lips and the tightness in her cheeks.

“He's pretty hot.”

She shot me a glare. “He's a bartender.”

Ouch. It sounded harsh, and I knew she hadn't meant it as badly as that sounded.

I tried to let it go when Paige said, “Yeah but he's a hot bartender and he wants in your pants. There's nothing wrong with that.”

Said the girl who'd been married since she was twenty-two and who had been with only one guy, her husband, Lucas, her entire life.

I snorted, covering my laugh.

“Actually, he's not,” Trina said, her eyes narrowed on Camden in a way I'd never seen.

I remembered Trina had mentioned he'd helped Declan and her months back when they had gone to Chicago, but she'd never expounded. “What do you mean?”

Trina slid another glance toward Camden, who didn't yet look chagrined at her comment in any way, and then shrugged when she turned back to me. “Never mind.”

“And what do you know about getting into a guy's pants anyway?” Suzanne teased, taking in the strange moment I just had and turning back to Paige. “You've only ever been with Lucas.”

Paige pouted. “Just because I've never participated in one-night stands doesn't mean there's anything wrong with them.”

“I'm not sleeping with that guy,” Camden snapped.

I jerked back and watched as red crept up her neck and her cheeks. Camden hated it when she blushed. Her chest and neck would turn red and blotchy, and I knew she was aware of it this time when her hand covered her exposed throat.

Leaning in so I didn't embarrass her further, I whispered, “But the blush says you want to, sweetie.”

“Shut up.” She grinned, tossing a napkin at me. I threw my head back and laughed. It was cute, and sometimes frustrating, being friends with Camden when she felt like she had to struggle to maintain some sort of “perfect” appearance and life.

From across the table, I saw a devilish plan taking shape silently in Suzanne's eyes. Her gears were turning as she looked to Camden and then swiveled slightly in her chair to get a better glimpse of David at the bar.

From the way she grinned, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, I knew exactly who was on Suzanne's “set-up” list next.

I leaned back, smiling into my drink, and allowed Camden to think we were dropping the subject.

We moved on to talking about Paige's job as a teacher, both of us excited that school would be out for summer in just six short weeks when I sensed a change in the atmosphere at our table.

My back was to the door, but I noticed the way Suzanne grinned, looking behind my shoulder. I turned my head to see what had caught her attention, but I already knew.

Aidan stopped at the bar and I watched him clasp hands with David before his eyes moved directly to mine and he pushed off the bar with a wink toward David.

“Girls' night out?” Aidan asked as he reached our table. One hand went to the back of my chair, and even though he wasn't touching me, I
felt
him everywhere.

I shifted in my seat.

“Want to join us?” Paige asked sweetly.

Aidan looked to me and I smiled. “You can; we're just talking about work and celebrating Suzanne tonight.”

“What's to celebrate?” he asked, looking up.

I hesitated for a moment, we all did, before Suzanne smiled and announced. “I just found out my husband and I are expecting our first child.”

A sadness flickered in Aidan's eyes before his hand shifted from the back of my chair to my shoulder. “Congratulations.”

His thick voice rumbled over me and his hand squeezed.

I looked up and saw him peering at me, a question in his eyes I couldn't fully make out.

“I don't want to interrupt,” he said, looking at everyone but coming to a stop on me and smiling. “I just wanted to say hello and pick up some dinner Declan made for me.”

“You can stay and eat,” I told him hesitantly. Not that being around five women would be spectacularly fun for him.

He shook his head and leaned down, brushing his lips against my cheek. “I'm good. I'll talk to you later?”

“Yeah.” I sighed when he pulled back. “Sounds good.”

“You taking a cab home? I can come back and get you.”

“I'm driving tonight,” Suzanne said, and my head gave a slight jerk.

I blushed. I'd just forgotten all my friends were at the table watching us, even though we'd been talking about them.

“Nine months of a guaranteed designated driver, we're totally taking advantage of it, too.” Paige grinned and lifted her glass as if to say “cheers.”

“Don't mind them,” I whispered. “My friends are insane.”

“Your friends are great. Text me when you get home so I know you're safe.”

I grinned and said goodbye. Then, five sets of eyes watched him walk to the kitchen, and when Paige sighed and mumbled something about all our men having the best asses, I giggled right along with her. When he came out a few minutes later holding a white bag filled with take-out containers, he didn't stop by, but I was certain, based on his grin and the coloring in his cheeks, he was well aware of being on the receiving end of our female appreciation.

I squirmed in my chair, flashed him a wave goodbye when he winked in my direction, and then sank into my seat, flushed and heated and tingly all over.

“You liiiike him,” Paige sang in my ear once he was gone.

I gave her a sly grin, before taking a sip of my drink. “Shut up.”

Next to me, Camden snorted. “Like is a severe understatement.”

I finished my drink, not responding.

There was nothing to say when she was absolutely right and already knew it.

Home safe.

I pressed Send on my phone and climbed into bed.

We'd only stayed for another hour after Aidan had left, and it wasn't too late, but my body was warm from tequila. Even though I'd only had a few drinks my eyes felt barely half open.

My phone buzzed on my nightstand and I smiled before reaching over and reading Aidan's response. I expected a simple good night, but his reply made me smile.

Can you talk?

I didn't answer by texting. I pressed the phone icon next to his name and started laughing when he answered before I even heard his phone ring.

“Are you okay?” he asked immediately.

“Yeah, why wouldn't I be?”

I heard him sigh and imagined him running his hands through his hair. “With Suzanne's baby announcement, I was worried about you.”

My heart flipped inside my chest. That was what his sadness was about at the restaurant? “I thought you got sad when she mentioned it because of Derrick.”

“I did. But I thought of you, too. It can't be easy for you.”

I was quiet for a minute, stunned into silence as my pulse fluttered inside my ears.

“Chelsea?”

I shook off the daze. “Yeah, I…I'm good. I'm just surprised, I guess, that you'd think of that.”

He exhaled a breath into the phone, and when he spoke, he took of breath mine with him. “I think that's why I was so pulled to you in the beginning…at the wake that night. You seemed to understand my loss, I suppose, more so than anybody.”

My own voice quivered. “It's not the same thing.”

“I know,” he said, his voice gruff. “But you know loss in a way many people don't, and that makes it similar.”

“Aidan.”

He coughed, breaking the heaviness of the moment. Right then I wanted to say,
I love you so much, come be with me.

But the moment was gone, and tension crackled through the phone when he cleared his throat, changing the subject.

“What are you doing right now?”

I shifted under my covers into a more comfortable position. “I'm in bed, talking to you.”

“In bed?” His voice lifted.

“Um, yes?” I said, suddenly shy but not fully understanding why. My skin began buzzing and I could feel my previously tired body awaken as Aidan asked, “What are you wearing?”

A brittle laugh escaped my lips. “Are we doing this?”

“Trust me, Chelsea, I'd like nothing more than to be there with you, touching you myself, but I promised we'd take this slow.”

I wasn't sure phone sex was taking anything slowly. I felt exposed in a way I'd never experienced before.

“A tank top and underwear,” I whispered anyway, despite my nerves running rampant.

My hips rolled under the comforter, suddenly seeking some type of friction and relief.

“You?” I asked.

He grunted and I heard a shuffling sound. “Nothing. Now.”

Oh my gosh. Wetness seeped into my boyshorts and my thighs pressed together.

“Aidan…”

“Touch yourself.”

My hands shook and I glanced at the phone, afraid I'd hung up on him. But the time was still counting on the phone call so I bit my lip, sighing.

“Okay,” I whispered, blowing out a soft breath. I could be brave. I could do this because I wanted to and because the sounds of Aidan's heavy breathing coming through the phone were turning me on.

He was already touching himself.

“Where?” I asked huskily.

“If I were there, what would you want me to do?”

Oh God. I could do this. “My nipples,” I gasped. “I'd want you to lick and suck my nipples.”

“Then pretend I'm there, Chelsea. I love the way I brush my thumb over your nipple and it hardens from my touch. Your breasts are so full and your nipples are so pink, I love licking them and tasting you.”

My fingers, somehow moving of their own accord, brushed my nipple beneath my shirt. A tingle of pleasure shot through my body at the brief sensation.

“Oh God,” I moaned, my hips rolling again. Everything began to heat and tighten inside of me. The need for release was already beginning to curl tight, waiting for the moment.

“Pinch them.”

I did, another gasp escaping my lips, and the burning tingle increased. My body lit up as I flicked and pinched my own nipple, my hand moving slowly down my abdomen.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my breaths harsh and panting. “Are you touching yourself?”

“Hell yes. I'm so hard, Chelsea. Those sounds you make drive me crazy. Are you wet?”

“Yes,” I gasped, my fingers finding my slick flesh. My boyshorts were soaked and I groaned as my fingers slid through my sex. “Aidan,” I groaned as I pressed against my clit.

“Touch yourself, Chelsea. I love the way you taste, so sweet and pure. Imagine it's my tongue sliding around your beautiful clit and licking you.”

I groaned, my hips shifting and pressing against my fingers for more contact. My knees fell wide open and I gyrated against my hand.

“So close.” I swallowed and another groan came through the phone.

“That's it. Slide two fingers inside, keep your thumb on your clit.”

I listened, imagining his callused hand moving up and down his own thickness, cupping and massaging his balls. The way his thumb would swipe over the head as he'd tug on his dick.

“Aidan.”

His voice was quick, his breathing harsh. “God, Chelsea. Me, too, I'm so close.”

I chased my release quickly, being more turned on by the sounds coming through the phone than maybe I'd ever been in person.

Pressing my fingers inside, I found the ridged flesh and pressed the heel of my palm against my clit.

“Aidan!” I cried out, my body igniting. “I'm coming.” My body tensed and coiled before I fell over the edge, my forehead lined with sweat. My thighs shook and my abdomen tensed until I heard the forceful grunts and moans of Aidan's voice coming through the phone.

“Yes,” he hissed, and grunted one more time. “Damn.”

I swallowed, my cheeks flushed with pleasure and embarrassment as we regained our sense.

His breathing slowed, while my heart still beat rapidly against my ribs.

“That was incredible,” he murmured.

It was. Oh my gosh, it was
incredible.
My lips tilted up. “Imagine how good it could have been if you were here.”

“Soon,” he said, his voice shaky but deep. “Good night, Chelsea.”

Some mornings I dreaded waking up and would rather curl under the covers, staying cocooned in my warm bed. Wearing nothing more than yoga pants and an old shirt, I could have lost myself in a
Gilmore Girls
marathon. I never did, because I'd have been bored in an hour, but even if I had wanted to, today was not one of those days where I was even allowed the guilty fantasy.

Aidan and I were not only going to over to Beth Johnson's house, we were welcoming Shane home for the first time in a month.

I was still uncertain whether having additional people at his house was best for his homecoming, but Beth assured us that he wanted to see us.

He wanted us to see him doing well…better.

Which made me smile, because I felt as if we were all doing a little bit better. It'd been almost three months since Derrick's death and school had ended yesterday. With summer quickly on the horizon, Aidan's construction business was picking up, so we didn't see each other except for late at night and on weekends.

His laughs started coming quicker and a little bit louder. His smiles were more frequent and his eyes weren't constantly tinged with sadness.

He had his bad moments, the sad hours and the mournful days, like I knew he always would.

But today as we drove toward Shane's house, I felt as if nothing could stop us.

Nothing could keep all of us from continuing to heal and remembering there was more to life than loss.

There was more to life than pain.

There could be joy even in the mourning.

“You okay?” Aidan asked, squeezing my hand as he parked in the Johnsons' driveway. “You've been really quiet today.”

“I'm good,” I said softly. “I'm looking forward to this, but I don't want to overwhelm him.”

He squeezed my hand and brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles before opening his door.

“We'll only stay for a little while so he can get some rest. Besides,” he said, hopping out of his truck, “I've got plans for you tonight.”

The door closed and my body began to come alight with anticipation.

We hadn't made love since before our first date, which was two weeks ago. Aidan hadn't been kidding when he'd said he wanted us to slow down and do things right. The night on the phone was the last time we'd found our release together. In the succeeding nights, we'd slept together, but Aidan put a stop to any activity as soon as it became too heated.

Sometimes, the lack of physical contact brought out my insecurities that lingered just below the surface, the ones that told me he might not be into me
that
way anymore. But then Aidan would flash me a look like the one he was giving me now, and everything on his face showed how much he wanted me.

He just wanted to wait.

I admired his self-control even though I desperately wanted him to lose it.

“Draws out the anticipation,”
he'd said to me before.

I had rolled my eyes then.

And I did it again when he took my hand and helped me out of the truck.

“You're blushing.”

I nudged his arm with my shoulder. “Shut up. I was thinking about what you could have planned for tonight.”

“You'll like it.” He leaned down and whispered into my ear. It sent goosebumps down my neck and my arms tingled. “I promise you.”

Beth stood at the open door as we walked up to her front porch. Without waiting for us to reach her, she took the few steps out of her house and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a warm hug so tight that I wondered if she might crack one of my ribs.

“Thank you for coming,” she whispered into my ear.

When she pulled back, she did the same thing to Aidan.

“Shane's inside. He's anxious to see you both.”

I reached out and took Aidan's hand for support—lending it and needing it at the same time.

I was still uncertain about my presence here. Aidan had known Shane since he was a kid. I'd just been the boy's school librarian and sometimes-confidant ever since I'd heard his screams…

I shook the thought out of my head and caught Aidan's eye. “Ready?”

“I was just about to ask you the same thing.”

I nodded, trying to be strong for him as well as myself.

It would do no good to have Shane see me on the verge of a mini breakdown.

As soon as we entered Beth's house, everything felt different from the last time I'd been there.

The windows were open and a breeze drifted through the house. It was warm and inviting in a way it hadn't felt last time, when I had come to talk to her about my concerns regarding Shane.

It had been only a month ago, but based on the peacefulness that was permeating the air, as well as the soft music playing on her kitchen counter docking station, the calmness in the house made it seem like a lifetime ago.

So much had changed.

“Hey, Mr. D.,” Shane said, pushing back the kitchen chair he'd been sitting in when he saw us.

“Son,” Aidan said, his voice tripping over the word and laden with emotion. My hand moved to Aidan's back, trying to soothe him, but I didn't know how much it helped.

Shane's eyes went wet right before Aidan pulled him into a firm hug. When he pulled back, his bottom lip sucked between his teeth, he gave Aidan a nod.

My own emotions began to bubble over when Shane let him go and wrapped his arms around me as well.

“Hey, Shane,” I whispered, holding him tight. I didn't let go, even when his arms fell back to his sides.

“Miss Dwyer,” he murmured into my neck. “Thank you for being there for me.”

“Anytime,” I choked out, wiping tears from under my eyes as I finally managed to let Shane go. His cheeks were pink and the bags under his eyes were gone. His eyes held a familiar sparkle. He looked good.

No,
great.

Healthy.

God, he was such a good kid.

“So,” Beth said, her own emotion evident on her wet cheeks. “I have some tea and coffee.”

“Coffee, please,” Aidan answered.

I smiled. “The same, and I'll help.” I nodded my head in Aidan's direction, silently telling him to have some time with Shane while we got the drinks ready. Neither Beth nor I moved while Aidan threw his arm around Shane's shoulder and ushered him into the family room. He was only fourteen, but he was tall and wiry. Soon he'd be as tall as Aidan.

“He's a strong man,” Beth said as we kept our eyes trained on the males in the far room. Her house was open, allowing us to see them talking quietly as they sat next to each other. “I imagine he has you to thank for some of his strength.”

“That's all him.”

I meant it, too. My insides fluttered as I watched Aidan, a man who just a month ago couldn't bear to see Shane in the hospital. Now he was holding his hand and comforting him—or instilling fatherly wisdom in a hurting young boy.

Beth and I were quiet as we filled three mugs with coffee and one with hot chocolate for Shane. I smirked when I saw the innocent childhood treat, but Beth shrugged, a slight smile on her face. “It used to be his favorite.”

I said nothing.

My emotions were on overdrive, threatening to spill over.

“You're good for him,” Beth said, catching me by surprise as she loaded cream, sugar, and spoons onto a tray. “I'm glad he has you.”

I looked out at Aidan and felt my eyes go hazy. “I'm glad I have him.”