TouchStone for giving (The Story of Us Trilogy) (46 page)

and yet, the biggest wonder of them all is a mere six feet away from me, dancing to
Locked Out of

Heaven
by Bruno Mars.

These two grown men are trying to out-dance each other and doing a mighty fine job of it.

A brash, blonde woman sidles up beside me squeezing through the smallest of spaces like a chick

ruffling its feather. “It’s show time.”

That singular thought makes me smile.

“So who’s the cute guy with the Armani suit?” she asks, tipping up her chin in Ayden’s direction.

“My future husband,” I reply casually, keeping an inner smile tucked safely away.

“Yeah, right,” she snarls, looking me up and down contemptuously. “You wish.”

Her words ring true and right here, right now, it hits me. This is not a dream. This is the beginning

of a new chapter in my life. Like flicking the page in a book I turn to face her, lean in and say

unfalteringly, “Yes, you’re right. I did.”

The second verse begins and I tuck my clutch under my arm and join in with the clapping. Ayden‘s

pulling his tie from his collar and spinning around, scanning the crowd for … for me.

I take a step back but there’s nowhere to go. I’m ringside with no means of escape and this sexy

God of a man in a black Armani suit is about to wrap his tie around my neck.

Fuck!

Charlie is relieving me of my clutch, leaving me no alternative other than to step forward to dance

with this fiend with sparkling eyes and a coming-to-get-you smile. How can I refuse? Feeling his

hands around my waist I dip and sway to the music, until he slips behind me and begins to gyrate,

pulling me against him until we are glued together.

With the song ending, the applause ripples around us on all sides and Ayden spins me round so we

are face to face, eye to eye, lost in the gravity of the moment. “Tell me what you see,” he urges.

“I see the man I adore with a heart full of love and eyes full of desire,” I state passionately,

swathing his handsome face in my over-heated palms.

An approving smile forms. “Then you see right through me Beth.” Oblivious of our witnesses, he

cups my face and, with total conviction, whispers, “I love you more than life itself.” His kiss is deep

and long-lasting. Different. The kind of kiss a soldier gives as a parting gift when leaving for the front

line, knowing he is facing certain death.

As onlookers disperse, they become no more than a soundless blur; faceless Friday night revellers

never to be seen again. To them our kiss is of little significance but, for me, it’s unforgettable for all

the wrong reasons.

17

At
1 a.m. we tumble into our suite, a ramshackle quartet high on champagne and life. I make coffee

and we sip it on the terrace, allowing the cool night air to mingle with the steaming brew. Ayden is

overly attentive which does little to reassure me, especially in the aftermath of his dance floor

declaration of eternal love. Every minute seems more precious than the last, for reasons best left to

my overzealous imagination.

Hand in hand, Charlie and I prepare to say our farewell. She knows I have Celine and a fleet of

specialists to prep me tomorrow and will see me at the Vegas style chapel on The Strip. She thinks my

impetuous choice of a movie star marriage is hysterically funny and so do I. The whole thing is crazy!

But, it’s what I want and now she’s here, why the hell not.

When we are alone, Ayden and I return to the terrace and stretch out on the sofa bed. I lie between

his legs and rest my sleepy head on his chest, wrapped up in his arms and a blanket. There are no stars

out tonight or, if there are, there’s way too much earthly light to single them out. I feel the weight of

his chin on my head and anticipate soft words, poetry perhaps … But there is only silence and the

gentle whisper from the occasional gust of Nevada air.

I could fall asleep in his arms; I am at peace here.

“Can I tell you something Beth, before I go?”

Go where?

“Where are you going?” I ask, keeping the timbre of my voice under tight control.

“I’m going to another suite, just for tonight. I want you to rest and be your beautiful self

tomorrow.”

Why do his words sound unlike his own?

“You don’t have to do that Ayden. I think tradition went out of the window the minute we set foot

off the plane.” I manufacture a playful smile, even though I know he can’t see it.

“It did,” he mutters. “But I have things to see to and I don’t want to wake you … Celine will be here

around 8 a.m. I’m certain you and she will have
lots
to do before we leave at midday.”

“We will. I want to look my best for you.”

He inhales my hair. “You personify beauty Beth. You’re always beautiful in my eyes.”

“People will say we’re in love if you keep saying things like that.” I snigger, making light of a bad

situation. “Or you’re infatuated with me.”

He stills. “Do you think what we have is infatuation, Miss Parker?”

I play along. “Sort of. You’re always in my thoughts …”

“And you in mine.”

“Well … it’s infatuation then but not in an adolescent kind of way.”

His chest rumbles beneath me. “No? This I’ve got to hear.”

“Infatuation is more like a crush and I don’t have a crush on you.”

“You don’t?”

“No. You said I was the prize, remember?

“You are.”

I roll around so I am stretched out, covering his body with mine. “You’re my prize too; my Mr. P in

every sense … my perfect prize. Although, I hate to break the news to you at a time like this but …” I

crawl up his body until my mouth is against his left ear. “I won Ayden.”

I feel the shape of a smile on my neck, a single second before he lifts my chin until we are eye to

eye. “We both won Beth. And tomorrow, in front of God Almighty, I will pledge my allegiance and

my love to you.”

“Like Prince Charming?”

He sniggers at the thought. “If you say so.”

“Minus the white charger.”

With thoughtful strokes he stills my hair, catching fine tendrils caught in the air. “Oh, I don’t know.

I may be able to arrange that.”

“I’m past being surprised by anything you do.” I take a breath and settle down onto his firm chest,

at peace with myself and with us. “I thank my lucky stars for you Ayden.”

His lips linger on my hair for a second longer than needed. “Me too Beth, but I have to go. You

have to trust me.”

This is one of those conversations when my words will go unheard. I play along. “I suppose you’re

right. You’d only get in the way and it’s unlucky to see a bride on her wedding day.” I turn to face him

and see unease; the lines across his forehead are a little deeper than usual and those Catherine wheel

specks of fire that usually dance in his eyes are sitting this one out. What is it I see? Is it regret?

Resting my hand on his heart I prepare to put his mind at rest. “We don’t have to do this, you know.

You don’t have to prove anything to me. “

“Yes, we do,” he whispers.

Before I can continue, he rolls me over onto my back and pins me to this oversized cushion with a

stare. “Stop! If I seem distant it has nothing to do with you. I want us to be married. I want you to be

my wife and nothing, I repeat nothing will change that. Do you understand?”

Taken aback by his outburst, I offer a minimal response. “I do.”

“Good.” In one swift movement he is upright and pulling me to my feet by both hands. When we

are toe to toe, I feel a velvety kiss brush against my lips and, when I open my eyes, he’s gone.

I slump back down onto the sofa bed and grapple with my thoughts. Why has he left me? Does he

think I’ll be safer if we’re apart?

The enormous master suite seems to have grown in square footage since I last stepped inside it. The

oversized bed rests in the centre of the room covered by an overnight sprinkling of snow; white

bedding can be so cold and uninviting.

When I glance at the bedside clock it’s 3.30 a.m., but sleep is no friend of mine. Even that has

abandoned me. In no more than a robe I wander onto the terrace, seeking a distraction and images to

go with the music in my ears. Kele sings of
Devotion
and I look out onto the heart of Sin City, closing

my eyes, willing the Vegas night to seduce me with its bright lights and illusions. Anything is better

than this.

I’m rubbing my forearms, reminded of an emotional scar; that which has left me branded unworthy.

I had regarded myself as soiled goods for over six years. Feelings like that don’t simply disappear like

magic. Now, more than ever, I’m tormented by my own sense of unworthiness. Will I ever live up to

my own expectations or see myself as Ayden sees me?

Pulling my belt tight, I head in the direction of the bed settee, seeking out a space less vacuous than

the master bed. I pull the blanket around me and curl up on it, waiting for sleep to take pity on me and

receive me into its warm embrace.

I’m awakened with a start.

“What the hell are you doing out here? You’ll freeze to death.” Strong hands are slipping beneath

me and muscular arms are lifting me. I am cradled in Ayden’s arms, moving through the air, being

swept through curtains and …

“Let’s get you into bed. What were you thinking?”

Ayden’s lips are warm against my forehead and his breath is reassuringly hot on my face. I’m

beginning to melt in his arms. I blink my way into wakefulness. “You’ve come back. Did you forget

something?”

“Yes,” he murmurs. “You.”

He pulls back the covers and I slither into bed. “Are you staying?”

“Yes. I couldn’t stay away Beth.” With a gentle hand he brushes back my hair from my face and

slips away.

I watch him circle the bed like a moving shadow; he’s still wearing his suit from this evening.

“What time is it?”

“Late. Go to sleep. You‘ve a big day tomorrow.”

“We?”

He climbs into bed beside me. “Yes. You’re right.
We
have a big day tomorrow. Come here.”

I’m scrambling to his side of the bed, rolling and winding myself around him; draping my leg

across him, nuzzling his neck, grazing his chest with my palm. Now I can fall asleep.

In the darkness I listen to his irregular breathing. “Where did you go?”

“I have another suite down the hall. Hush. Go to sleep.”

“Couldn’t you work from here?”

“No. We have better equipment there. It’s a business suite …”

“ … We?”

“Yes, Jake and I. We had some business to attend to. But it’s nothing for you to worry about.” His

lips rest on my hair momentarily, silencing another lie. “Go to sleep Beth. I’m sorry I left you. What

was I thinking?”

I feel his arms constricting around me, to the point of suffocation. I try to raise my body a little and

he releases his grip ever so slightly.

“Were your two bodyguards with you?” I ask, knowing the answer even before the last word leaves

my lips.

“Yes. They were. But don’t worry about anything. Just close your eyes and go to sleep. Please. Can

you do that?”

I yawn and nod into his chest, flattening chest hair as it threatens to tickle my nose. “Goodnight

Ayden. I love you.”

As I drift, I hear his subdued reply. “I love you more.”

Feeling a little bewildered, I gain my bearings and look around.

Where am I?

My mouth is so dry I could down a pint of water in three seconds flat and the sound of running

water is doing little to ease my thirst. I pull on my bathrobe and enter the bathroom only to be

confronted by my fresh faced fiancé standing by the sink, brushing his teeth. I widen my stare to take

in the sight of him and of the towel balancing precariously on his hips.

Sensing his watchful eyes in the mirror, I fill a glass with water from the secondary sink. Even with

a mouthful of toothpaste I can tell he’s smiling.

Feeling rehydrated, I slip behind him and rest my cheek on his muscular back whilst enveloping

him in my arms. “Good morning fiancé,” I whisper softy.

“Good morning fiancée.” He grins, wiping the remains of the toothpaste from his lips. “To think I

may have missed this … you, wide awake and so affectionate too.”

I peep around, our eyes meet in the mirror. “When am I not?”

I see a sexy smile in response. “Never.”

He takes hold of my left hand and sucks on my fingers. At the same time he draws my right hand

the length of his body, sliding it inside his towel. His fingers rest over mine as we share the sensation

of his burgeoning arousal.

“Did you carry me to bed last night?” I enquire, formulating a seductive plan.

With eyes closed he nods between quickening breaths.

“Then maybe you should sit down.” Ducking under his arm I slide in front on him, positioning

myself between two hard surfaces. With two free hands I edge him backwards onto the toilet seat.

He’s smiling. We’re sharing a memory. Only this time we’re not 46,000 feet in the air and there’s

plenty of room to manoeuvre.

With eyes locked I straddle him, feeling no more than a fluffy towel between us. I place his hands