Chapter Twenty-Four
That night Aidan made love to her tenderly. It was almost as if he was imprinting himself on her body. He didn’t stop touching her, kissing her. As sunrise slowly warmed the morning, Aidan woke her for more of his red-hot kisses. As she succumbed, time and time again, to his touch her heart broke in two. Was this the last time? Was that why he was so desperate?
After they both had yelled out their climax, Aidan leaned over Bethany and kissed her brow.
“So tell me about your acting, and why you never spoke of it before.”
Bethany sighed. “I loved it, but was never sure of myself.”
“Michelle said you were great.” Aidan kissed her cheek and began to nuzzle her neck.
“Michelle is my best friend. It’s her job to think I’m great at everything I do.” Bethany moaned slightly as Aidan bit her in that spot under her ear that made her melt.
“Why did you give it up?”
“I didn’t. Not really. Sometimes I still audition for the local theater and take on roles, big and small. Last year I was Anna in The King and I.” She smiled proudly.
Aidan smiled. “I bet you were really good, too.”
Bethany beamed at him. “According to Michelle, no one has ever done a better job at that particular role.”
Aidan laughed as he kissed his way down her body. “She is a good friend. I’m glad we were able to help.”
“Mmm,” was the only response out of Bethany as she slipped, once more, into the sensual mood Aidan had created.
Aidan pressed a kiss at the nest of curls between her legs and then reached for a condom.
“Let me help,” she said, reaching for the box of condoms.
“Have you ever helped before?”
“With you?”
Aidan frowned. “Bethany…”
“No, I haven’t ever helped, please let me.”
Without waiting for his response, Bethany opened a foil packet and began to clumsily roll the condom down his hardened length.
“Hey! Easy! Damn it, Bethany, I’m going to come before you even—Stop! Let me do it!”
He quickly sheathed himself and lifted her legs, spreading them wide. His exasperated look turned warm and sensual. “You are so beautiful,” he said, eyeing the center of her body with a heated look.
Bethany’s eyes rounded in horror. “Are you looking at my…”
Aidan smiled. “Yes, I’m looking at your…” He raised his eyes for a moment to wiggle his eyebrows at her, and then his focused returned to her sex. “And it’s beautiful.” He settled himself between her legs. “Damn, you feel good,” he said as he began a slow sensual thrust.
“Too much, Aidan,” she moaned. There was something different about this time; he was making her feel way too good. It was an insistent ache that was so piercingly sweet all she could do was whimper.
“Not by a long shot,” he said, panting. Then he rotated his hips, grinding into her, and he bent down to suck on her breasts.
Bethany exploded in climax and clung to Aidan’s sweaty back as if it were a lifeline.
Aidan followed her, burying his face in her neck as he groaned out his release.
“Are there that many saints, Bethany?”
“What?”
“You were praying to Mary, Jesus, Joseph and some I didn’t even know.”
Bethany blushed. “Well, I really don’t remember saying anything at all.”
Aidan tweaked her nose. “Just kidding, it was more like—Oh Gawwwwd, oh my, oh my Gawwwd.”
Bethany shoved a pillow at his face.
Aidan laughed, grabbing her and cuddling her close. “Bethany?”
“Hmm?”
“The next couple of weeks are going to be really tough for me.”
“I know,” Bethany said, tracing her fingers down his chest to his stomach and back up again. “I read the script. You are in practically every shot.”
Aidan quieted her hands and looked at her solemnly. “That’s right. Do you want me to just come over when I can?”
“Of course, I do.”
“I don’t want you to feel I’m just coming over for sex.”
“Well, that’s good, but still I expect some sex when you come over.”
Aidan’s grinned roguishly. “Really?”
“You better believe it.”
“Well then, my sweet, I will do my best to provide that service for you.”
“I appreciate that.” Bethany smiled at him. Inside, her heart was breaking. The ending was coming far sooner than she wished. “Shall I heat up some scones for you before you go?”
Aidan frowned. “I can’t. Tomorrow I’m to be naked.”
“So? You look fine naked.”
Aidan gave her a big smacking kiss. “Thank you, luv. But the camera adds ten pounds and all that.”
“Are you saying you’re turning down my scones?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But I will take a rain check. Just as soon as I finish the nude scene, I’ll be demanding an obscene amount. All right?”
Bethany sighed. “Would a cup of tea ruin your diet?”
“No, luv, it wouldn’t, and I would appreciate that quite a lot.” Aidan cupped her face with his hands, kissed her thoroughly, and walked naked toward the bathroom to shower.
Bethany shook her head. A scone or two would not ruin that beautiful body. But then, what did she know about Hollywood and their ways? She headed to the kitchen to make tea and perhaps some dry toast and fruit. The man had to eat something.
“Aidan?” The shower had stopped a few minutes ago.
“Yes?” he said, as he came into the kitchen with only a towel wrapped around his waist.
Bethany stopped lightly buttering the toast and stared at the nearly naked man. For a second, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. A condition she suffered from constantly around him. “I have some toast for you.”
Aidan grinned. “I have something for you, too.”
Bethany eyed his tented towel. “I see that. But you have to go soon, and I’m…”
Aidan kissed her, thrusting his tongue deep into her mouth. Breaking away from her, he whispered, “You’re…?”
“What?”
“You said I have to go soon and that you’re…”
“Too sore.”
“Poor darling, did I misuse you last night?”
“And this morning.”
Smiling, Aidan hugged her, kissed the top of her head, and gave her bottom a friendly swat. “What kind of toast is it?”
Bethany shook her head as if to clear her mind. “It’s seven-grain bread. Very healthy.”
“What did you smear on it?”
“A tiny bit of butter.”
Aidan groaned. “God, Beth, I really want that, but I can’t eat it.”
Bethany propped her hands on her hips. “You have to eat something. You can’t work all day without eating.”
Aidan smiled. “I could eat you again, no calories there, and you’re so delicious.”
Self-confidence filled her, and she smiled. Aidan had given her such a gift, and he may never know it.
“I don’t think we have time,” she said. “Plus that wouldn’t really help your hunger.”
“Oh, yes, it would.” Aidan winked and then pressed another kiss to the top of her head, sighed and scooped her up for a big hug. “Bethany, you are my sweetheart, aren’t you? Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I’ll eat a salad with protein in it, and that will keep me full enough, trust me.”
“No bread?”
Aidan shook his head. “No bread.”
“But…”
Aidan tipped her chin up and kissed her, it was a sweetly romantic kiss, one that was both innocently courting and darkly sensual. “I have to go get dressed.”
Bethany nodded solemnly. “I know.”