TouchStone for giving (The Story of Us Trilogy) (57 page)

look at me?”

Like a broken boy he turns to face me, his eyes glossy with tears unshed, held back by years of

fearlessness and sheer willpower. “I can look at you Beth. All I’ve ever wanted to do is look at you. I

look at you and see the best of me reflected; I see the man I strive to become … and yet, here I am.

Nothing.”

I won’t let him believe that. I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing

his hair. Slotting my knees either side of his hips until my skirt ripples and concertinas around my

thighs. “Don’t ever say that. Don’t even think it. It’s not true Ayden. You’re everything to me, you

always have been. You’re the only person who has loved me and stayed with me.” I feel a heavy hand

against my hair, anchoring me to him.

“I was so lost Beth. I always tried to do the right thing but, somehow, it all got shot to hell and blew

up in my face.”

“I know. I understand.” As I inch away, our eyes meet; dark puddles of rainwater and a cloudy blue

sky both shimmering with tears. “She can’t hurt us Ayden. She’s tried and it didn’t work. She got you

to fuck her …”

“Me!”

Why does he look so baffled? “Yes, you tied her up and fucked her in the basement, I recognised

the bed …”

“And you thought that was me?”

I rest back onto his knees. “I saw you …”

He’s shaking his head. The faintest of smiles is playing on his lips. “It wasn’t me. I wasn’t even

there. I couldn’t do that, not with her ...”

My body sags and I rest my hands on my thighs. “So who did?” Before he can speak, I answer my

own question. “Jake?”

He nods. “That’s why we used candle light and had her blindfolded.”

“So you never touched her?”

“Touched, yes, but nothing else. What she wanted … it was too rich for my blood. She wasn’t

happy unless she was being punished or feeling pain of some kind or another. She’s one fucked up

lady.”

“But …”

That suggestion of a smile is widening, softening his features and stealing the breath from my body.

“Here comes the but …”

“But, I assumed it was you.” I slide my hands either side of his cheeks, still feeling patches of damp

skin. Lovingly, I wipe them dry with my thumbs.

“So did she. That’s why she left it for you, I think. She insisted I give her a copy off the security

camera down there.”

I’m shocked! “There’s a camera?”

He nods. “There was. I’ve since had it disconnected.”

“Good.” I visibly deflate. “I don’t get it. Doesn’t she want you to be happy? Must she hold what

happened to her over you like a guillotine? Forever?”

“There was a time when I would have said yes to that question, Beth. But, not anymore.”

“You’ve redeemed yourself. This isn’t making up for something in your past. It’s blackmail. Can’t

you see that?”

He’s nodding in agreement. “Not until now.”

I’m shaking my head. How could this woman have so much power over such a man? “My God!”

“The sins of our youth Beth … “

“Sins! What sins Ayden? You were a ten year old boy who almost died trying to protect her. What

happened to her and how her life turned out has nothing to do with you.”

Tenderly, he folds a strand of hair behind my left ear. “I realise that. I do. I only see a future that

involves you and I. My heart is full Beth. There’s no room for anyone but you.”

With a firm hand caressing my hair, he pulls my mouth onto his; it’s a delicious kiss, sweetened by

wine and sealed with adulation. He telegraphs his love through touch, through silence and a smile,

communicating so much without a single word. There is no more to be said. His once aching heart

calls out to me. His arms reach out to me.

I take him in my embrace. “Welcome home Ayden.”

No-one kisses like Ayden. If there was a kissing competition, he would win hands down. It’s an

effortless, breathless meeting of lips and longing. I’ve missed him, my body cries out for his touch. I

wrench myself away, only to see eyes that are blazing with a mixture of gratitude and desire.

He scans the room quickly. “This will be our home for now. And if we need somewhere bigger or

whatever … we’ll move. Home is where you are Beth.” He frames my face with his hands; the warmth

of his touch creates a wave of heat, so intense it causes every painful thought to melt away. “We’ve

both come home baby.”

Yes, we have.

I have no response to that. All I can do is nod and allow my face to dissolve into a smile.

“This is our wedding night and after what’s happened, I’m determined to make it special.” He runs

his thumb along my lip, softly, deliberately. “This is what we’re going to do. “

I wait for my instructions silently, wide eyed and full of sensual anticipation.

“You’re going to change into something less … corporate and I’m going to arrange things upstairs

…”

Upstairs …

He responds to my frown. “There’s a rooftop terrace. It’s cosy up there and it’s private.” He raises a

brow, mischievously.

“How private?” I ask, tipping my head, enjoying our repartee.

“Private enough.” He laughs softly, winking at the prospect of our naked bodies writhing. Or,

perhaps that’s me projecting. “Off you go.” He slides me off his knees, watching my tight skirt ripple

down my thighs, over my pull up stockings. Without saying a word he looks up at me through dark

eyelashes, licks his lips and places both hands just above my knees. The vertical climb is unhurried,

sensual, considered. His thumbs are looping under the material and running along the line of broad

elastic. My eyes are fixed on his, but my thoughts are elsewhere …

“I so want you right now,” he whispers, confessing his thoughts. “I only have to think of you and

my cock starts twitching.” His declaration causes my pulse to race. He knows exactly what he’s doing;

seducing me with his words.

“I know Ayden.” I ruffle his hair. “We don’t have to go upstairs …” Those curious thumbs of his

are easing under the elastic on my panties, seeking me out, brushing against plump flesh. An

involuntary moan leaves my mouth.

“You have no idea how you affect me Beth, body and soul.” He’s shaking his head, disbelieving his

own admission. “Nothing and
no-one
will ever come between us. I promise you. What we have is

bigger than us, bigger than that constellation of auspicious stars that formed and brought me to you.”

He removes his hands and eases down my skirt, leaving me breathless with his caress and his

confession. He wraps his arms around my body with a gravitational pull, until we are two earthly

bodies attuned, in perfect harmony with each other. His left cheek rests against my stomach and I can

do no more than bend over him, cocooning his head against me.

“I know I gave you a child and she or he is growing inside you.”

I kiss his hair. “You can’t know for sure Ayden. These things take time …”

With a startled expression he looks up at me. “I know.”

With everything he is, he wants this to be real and, truth be known, so do I. “I think you’re right.

Our love needs no greater validation but this … this would be a wonderful reward for all those lonely

nights spent dreaming and waiting for you.”

“I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere. I will always protect you and I will never hurt you …”

“Prove it!”

There’s a look I rarely see. Total surprise. “How?”

“Don’t take me to the terrace. Take me to the basement instead.” I keep him focused with my

captivating stare.

“After all you’ve seen?” He grips my hips tightly.

“What did I see? Jake fucking Elise? Why would that change anything?”

“Because I was there and I set it up …” He turns away, looking shameful and troubled by his

involvement. “I knew it was wrong, immoral even, but I did it anyway. It wasn’t my finest hour.”

“Better that than you fucking her!” I exclaim, surprising myself with my venomous outburst. “I

don’t know what I would have done if you had.”

“Why would it have mattered who it was? That was long before we met.”

“But it wasn’t the who. It was the how. It was brutal Ayden and I would always imagine you

wanting me that way, and I’m not sure I could ever be part of that.”

“I wouldn’t want you to Beth. It was her fantasy, not mine. She got off on the brutality. I’m sure

you can work out why.” He’s shaking his head.

“I can appreciate it but I will never understand why anyone would want to repeat some of the worse

experiences in their life; to prolong the agony like that. Can you?”

“No. But it’s over! I don’t want us to spend our special night discussing Elise and her fucked up

life. She can handle herself, believe me.” He huffs at the thought. “I want to give you everything. You

know that. And us having fun in the bedroom is part of that. But it’s not the only thing that matters

…”

“But what about Alenka and her photos? You took them, you fucked her in any which way you

pleased in the basement. You did that because you wanted to …”

“I did it because I could.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“No. I’m not the man I was then. I … took advantage of Alenka. I knew she was in love with me

and would do anything for me. Playing dress-up was just another way of filling my time until you

came along.” He reaches up to caresses my cheek. “It was fun while it lasted, but I never intended for

it to last. She got her photos and I got … I’m not sure what I got, exactly.”

“You got a fuck-fest!” I recall Jake’s words and Ayden recognises them as belonging to someone

else, the minute they leave my mouth.

“Where did you hear that?” He tips his head and waits for my reply.

“I read it somewhere. It’s true though, isn’t it?”

“Yes, when you put it like that.”

I shake my head free of those images of bondage and subjugation, reminding myself of the man in

front of me. I have a devoted husband. I can’t allow the events of his past life to overcrowd my

thoughts and cloud my vision, I see the man I love and this is our wedding night. That’s all that

matters.

“You’re right Ayden. All that’s in the past. I don’t care. I have your ring on my finger and your

child inside me. And that’s everything.”

He closes his eyes and opens them slowly as if greeting a new day. “You have the best of me Beth.”

“Yes. I do.”

I’m treated to the softest of smiles. “Go change. I’ll organise the terrace. We have forever to fool

around in the basement.”

“Alright.”

He stands and hands me my jacket. “You looked as sexy as fuck in this suit, by the way. Don’t ever

come to my office wearing it.”

“Why not?”

“Because every appointment will be cancelled and we’ll be having our very own fuck-fest!”

“That’s not such a bad idea …”

“It’s
bad
for business.”

I’m laughing and walking away, feeling better for having aired some of his dirty washing. He has

no secrets left … surely?

Returning to the scene of the crime, Dan Rizler steps from his car, taking confident strides. The

black Fiesta is parked in the same spot, with his pound coin still intact behind the front tyre. ‘Elise

was right,’ he muses. ‘They are out of the country. All clear.’

Before entering Elm Gardens he does a quick sweep of the area, noticing the lights are on in 53b,

but 53a is in darkness. More proof, if proof were needed; beautiful Beth is not home. It’s time to add a

little window dressing.

Making a meal out of it, he offloads the large, boxed table top from the boot of his car, carrying it

with both hands to the security door. Feeling like a lightweight parcel, it’s easy to manoeuvre up the

three flights of stairs to his apartment. He leans it up against the wall while he opens up. Once inside,

he uses a kitchen knife to remove the cardboard wrapping and assembles it easily; four spindled legs

screw into a pine circular table top. It’s up on its own four legs in a matter of minutes.

He descends, whistling with the packaging stuffed under one arm, half expecting, half hoping, Pat

will make an appearance. She doesn’t.

He repeats the process with the chairs and makes his way downstairs for the last time, feeling

disappointed.

Just as he reaches her door, there’s the rattling of locks. A sneer forms. He knew she wouldn’t be

able to miss an opportunity to gossip. He retraces his steps and is a yard from her door when she calls

him.

“Good evening Daniel.”

“Hello Pat. How’s things? Any more burglaries to report?” The smile is the sweetest he can muster.

She’s shaking her head, dramatically. “Oh, good heavens, no. I’m sure it was a one off.”

You’re right about that.

“The last thing we want is a spate of them round here.” She’s folding her arms and leaning back on

the door frame, in the mood for chat.

“Must have been some guy fancying his chances. Ground floor apartments are bound to be hit first.

I think we’ll be safe up here,” he sniggers, much to her amusement.

“Ha! Yes. I hope so.” She unravels her arm to point upstairs. “Are you moving more of your stuff