Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy #3) (3 page)

Aidan grinned. “I think your missing front teeth lend you a lot of character. It’s nice to find out more about you, even if it’s just a glimpse from a photograph.”

“I’ll ask my parents to send some more pictures with their next letter, then.” Beth hung her stole in the closet and picked up the mail. “I’d be happy to show you more of my childhood.”

They made their way to the kitchen. Beth turned on the light and placed the mail on the counter. They embraced again by the icebox.

“I bet you looked adorable when you were a boy.” Beth brushed his hair back, admiring him with a devoted twinkle.

Aidan shook his head. ”I was a short, chubby kid with a bowl haircut and buck teeth. Then, when I had a growth spurt in my early teenage years, I was extremely lanky. It was my most awkward phase.”

“Well, you certainly grew out of that.” She traced her fingers along his jaw. “I would love to see some of your childhood photographs.”

Aidan frowned. “I don’t have any in my possession. My pop has them all, unless he got rid of them after I left.”

“Oh, Aidan. I’m sorry.” Beth’s gaze softened. “I know you don’t speak to your father, but perhaps you could write him a letter, requesting a few photographs. I’m sure he’d send them to you.”

Aidan’s eyebrows furrowed. “To tell you the truth, there’s not much about my childhood I want to remember. It’s best if those memories stay buried.”

“What about photographs of your mother? Surely you’d like some of those.”

Aidan shrugged and looked away.

Beth patted his cheek and smiled. “I’ve been thinking about buying a scrapbook so we can save our photographs and articles. Like the
Los Angeles Times
article and the
Life
magazine article from your Santa Barbara race. Our Central Park photograph…”

Aidan’s grin returned. “A scrapbook. I like that idea.”

Beth linked her hands behind his neck. “Aidan, do you think when we return to New York for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship in June, we can stroll through Central Park again? I loved it there.”

Aidan brushed his lips to her ear. “Anything you want, baby.”

“Anything? Well, what if I want to spend tonight in your arms…naked?” She trailed her hand down his chest.

Aidan groaned. “I’d love that.”

Beth led him out of the kitchen. Once they reached her bedroom, their clothes were stripped off in record time, every item discarded on the floor. Their lips met in a frenzy and their hands roamed, petted, and squeezed. Aidan was careful—he’d always been careful with her—but there was no denying it. This was primal, needy, and desperate from both sides.

Beth pried her lips from his. “Aidan, will you please make love to me? I’m not sore anymore.”

“Baby, you never have to ask.” He collected all of his strength and pulled away from her. “I’ll wait here while you put in your diaphragm.”

She batted her eyelashes. “I already did. In the bathroom at Matthew’s house.”

Aidan couldn’t help the curse that escaped him. “Damn it, Beth. What are you trying to do to me?”

Within seconds, he had her spread out on the bed. She’d planned this, wanted him all evening. And he was more than willing to deliver.

Beth gasped as he showered her breasts with kisses and tugged at her nipples. Then her hand found his arousal and pumped him hard, and the need to take her instantly overcame him. He settled between her legs. Her warm, wet flesh caressed him, providing a sample of what could be his if he took her up on her offer. But he couldn’t. Not like this.

He rolled onto the mattress and lay beside her. “Baby, the only way we can do this right now is if you’re on top, so you can be in control. You just started feeling better. I don’t want to do anything to hurt you.”

Beth pouted. “But we’ve never done it that way. What if I fail to please you?”

Aidan took her hand and kissed it. “That’s impossible.”

“All right. But maybe we can switch positions later on.”

Aidan nodded. “Only if you’re not in pain.”

“Deal.” Beth crawled over him. A blush tinted her cheeks. “Can you help me?”

“Of course.” He grasped himself and prepared for her descent.

Beth spread her legs wider and lowered onto him slowly. A grimace tensed her features and she halted abruptly.

Aidan throbbed for her, even though they had just gotten started; he’d missed this connection between them far too much. But he couldn’t feel pleasure from it, not when she didn’t feel it as well. “We should stop.”

“No, please.” She opened her eyes. “It doesn’t hurt. I promise. It just feels a bit tight.”

Slowly, slowly, she sank, clenching his arousal like she could barely accommodate him. Aidan clamped his jaw shut. Tight. Man, she wasn’t kidding.

Beth lowered herself completely and let out an erotic gasp. Aidan’s eyes rolled back as he finally allowed himself to succumb to her warmth, her wetness.

“Yes, yes, yes.” Beth moved her hips, working his erection like she craved it.

As difficult as it was, Aidan didn’t meet her thrusts.

Her lips dipped into a frown. “Does it not feel good?”

His eyes widened. “You feel incredible. I just don’t wanna hurt you.”

“I swear it doesn’t hurt. Now, come on. Please.” She lifted her hips and dropped back down so he was inside her fully again.

Aidan shut his eyes and grabbed at the sheets next to him, struggling not to lose control.

“Take me, Aidan. Whatever you want from me is yours.” Again and again, Beth rocked into him, taunting him until his resolve disintegrated.

Releasing a growl, he flipped her onto her back.

“That’s it, Aidan. More…
please
.” Beth arched her back, urging him on.

“More is not something you want to say to me right now.”‎ Aidan grunted as she raised her hips, pushing him deeper inside her. “Trust me, baby. More is dangerous territory.”

“Let go, Aidan. Show me what you want from me, what I inspire in you. And don’t hold back.” Her eyes locked on his. They harbored no hesitancy. No regret.

Aidan tried to convince himself it wasn’t right. He shouldn’t. But then…

“Ah, fuck it.” He planted his hand on her hip and thrust forward, hard, his body and mind set to one purpose: her pleasure.

Beth whimpered and closed her eyes. Worry halted him before he attempted his next thrust. But her face still wore no fear, no pain, no disgust. Just pure desire.

Aidan tested her readiness again, thrusting with the same strength. The smile that drifted across her lips held a femme fatale twist. Dangerous territory, indeed. But damned if it didn’t feel amazing to claim her this way.

Again, he thrust. Her body tensed and she released his name on a moan. A green light.

More.

And more he gave. More thrusts, more caresses, more words of endearment, of lust, of ownership, of submission. More of his love, more of the honor she cultivated in him, more of the darkness stirring within him, the darkness he tried to repress whenever he was around her.

He liberated everything, plunging inside her over and over, hurling himself deeper, filling her with his good, his bad, his vile, his beautiful. And she took it all greedily. Needed it. Gasped in protest whenever he pulled out—that instant before he drove into her again, sheathing her completely, seeking that special spot inside her, which he wanted to own right now above all else.

“Aidan…oh, Aidan…”

He pumped harder, faster.

“You’re so beautiful.” He sucked gently on her neck, worshipping her with his lips, his tongue, his erection, wishing he could touch every inch of her inside and out and all at once. “My beautiful little dove.”

Beth’s head flew back into the pillow and a wild cry escaped her throat. “Oh, yes!”

Her breasts bounced against his chest as her thighs gripped his hips and she clamped down on his arousal, rocking into him, pulsating, gasping, riding out her climax like she was possessed by him and all he made her feel.

Aidan screwed his eyes shut and pumped into her one last time. “Oh, fuck…Beth.”

His orgasm seized him. He jerked and emptied inside her, holding on to her like the precious gift she was.

When they were finished, Aidan collapsed onto the bed, panting as if there wasn’t enough oxygen to sustain him. Even the most rigorous boxing training didn’t compete with this lovemaking session.

“My goodness!” Beth shrieked with laughter and gave her legs a little kick. “That was magnificent!”

Aidan couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her smile was so large there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he’d satisfied her. She was radiant. Glowing. All on account of him.

He should’ve been smiling, too. He should’ve been proud of his ability to bring her such happiness…but instead, he was occupied by the overwhelming concern that he’d been too rough with her, used language that was too crude.

Aidan was always adamant never to expose Beth to his more reckless side, especially when they were intimate, no matter how much she begged for it or how much his actions were driven by his feelings for her and his desire to please her. It was his duty to protect her, and fueling her pleasure by tapping into his pain, his unpredictability, and his obsession wasn’t healthy for her.

Yesterday, he had only used the gentlest of touches and was able to keep his passion in a safe zone, regardless of her encouragement to do the opposite. Where had the romantic hero gone? What the hell had happened between now and then?

Aidan collected her in his arms and kissed her temple. From now on, he wouldn’t take any risks. He wasn’t a monster. He was a man—a good one, according to Beth—and he’d taken great strides to earn that title. The ease with which he’d transformed tonight, however, set a precarious precedent and made him question how emotionally stable he truly was.

Charlie greeted Beth as she pulled up to the security hut at Starlight Studios. “Good morning, Miss Sutton. Congratulations on your Academy Award.”

She smiled. “Thanks! I still can’t believe I won.”

“Well, you deserve it.” Charlie eyed her Cadillac. “My, what an impressive car.”

“Oh, I forgot you haven’t seen it yet. This is only my second time driving it to the studio. The first time was just after Valentine’s Day. You were on vacation.”

“What made you decide to buy this model? That’s quite a lot of horsepower for such a young girl.”

Beth giggled. “True. But its safety rating is also unmatched—or so I was told.”

“I bet it is.” The security arm lifted. “Have a wonderful day, Miss Sutton.”

“You, too, Charlie.” Beth rolled up her window and proceeded toward soundstage five.

This morning, she was filming with Clive Geary, the actor playing Joe Oliver’s boxing trainer in
Golden Gloves
. Aidan wasn’t needed on set until after lunch. Although he offered to take her to work, she insisted on driving herself so he could keep his appointment to have his Porsche tuned up at nine o’clock. Olivia had a day off, a rare occurrence, and chose to spend it at home preparing for dinner with their friends tonight. Beth and Aidan would join them after filming wrapped for the day.

Beth looked forward to the shoot but also dreaded the end of
Golden Gloves
. Working on a film with such depth and such a talented cast and crew had
spoiled her. Aidan had control over the movies he acted in while she did not. What if Mr. Mertz assigned her to a motion picture filmed across the country—or worse, on another continent? And what if her next role lacked the complexity she found so creatively rewarding in her portrayal of Mary Oliver? It seemed that along with her budding fame came a slew of new worries.

This uncertainty made her cherish having Aidan as her costar even more, and she was determined to finish
Golden Gloves
on a positive note. Visiting Chicago was the source of much strife for Aidan because his father lived there, but she hoped filming a movie he loved and spending time with her in the city would make the experience enjoyable for him.

Inside the soundstage, the crew prepared for filming with so much energy it was impossible to tell it was six o’clock in the morning. With Beth’s appearance, everyone stopped what they were doing and broke into applause, offering her congratulations on her Oscar win.

She thanked them and headed to her dressing room to get ready. Aside from the application of foundation and mascara, and the swap of her pedal pushers and blouse for a light cotton dress, she didn’t look much different from when she arrived.

Back on set, Beth joined Elia Kazan in the living room of Joe and Mary’s apartment.

He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “I’m thrilled for you, Beth. No one deserved that Academy Award more than you.”

Beth didn’t think she could smile any brighter, but she was wrong. “Thank you. That means a lot to me coming from you.”

“Since we’re winding down the L.A. portion of our shoot, today will be an easy one.” Kazan motioned to the living room couch. “Have a seat and we’ll discuss the first scene.”

Beth sat down and picked up her character’s prop—a half-finished scarf and two knitting needles.

Kazan took a seat next to her to offer direction away from Clive and the crew. “Beth, as you know, in this scene, George convinces Mary to encourage Joe to return to boxing. George’s visit is nice, but unexpected. This man is from Joe’s past, a past that is painful for him but also the source of much of the joy in his early life. You’re grateful to George for coming by, but apprehensive, so do some business that shows it.”

“Some business, sir?”

He patted her shoulder. “Yeah. You’ll figure out something.”

Beth’s eyes widened. She was honored he was so confident in her. “Thank you, Mr. Kazan.”

“You’ll do great, kid.” Kazan stood and exchanged a few words with Clive before claiming his place beside the camera. “Okay, lock it up!”

“Lock it up!” yelled the first assistant director.

The red lights mounted over every exit illuminated. A buzzer sounded three times. All the talking died, and the clapperboard sounded off.