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This was claiming and being claimed, a storm of emotion and flesh entwined.
She wrapped her legs around me, pulling me deeper, and I obliged with a strength and fury that left no room for anything less than total surrender. For either of us. We moved together, a rhythm born of old familiarity and new discovery, building toward an inevitable release.
Stella pushed against my chest, fierce determination in her eyes. Her hands were firm on my shoulders, and with a swift movement, she flipped our positions, leaving me staring up at her. She perched above me like some wild goddess, her back arching in an arc of pure seduction, hair cascading like a dark waterfall, catching the light that slipped through the open doorway.
“Oh my God,” I gasped, my voice ragged. The sight of her sent a rush of heat to every nerve ending, nearly sending me over the edge before we’d barely begun. Our bodies entwined fluidly, a dance as natural as the ebb and flow of the tide outside, pulling and pushing with a rhythm that was all our own.
Our kisses deepened, becoming even hungrier and more demanding. Our sighs and groans filled the room, melding with the creak of bedsprings, the whisper of skin against skin. We moved together in a primal dance, raw and unfiltered, the years apart only fueling the fire that now consumed us.
“Yes! God, Aiden,” Stella breathed out, her voice laced with the intensity of our connection. “Don’t stop. Never stop.”
Her words stoked the flames, and I felt myself spiraling toward a climax that had been building for what seemed like a lifetime. With every roll of her hips, every clench of her around me, I was drawn closer to the brink. She rode me with a fervor that matched my own, her body a vision of ecstasy that would be seared into my memory.
“Stella!” The name erupted from me, torn from the depths of my soul. Pleasure exploded within me, a release so monumental it was as if every pent-up regret, every moment of longing, burst from me in a deluge. My body shuddered violently, gripping her tight as if I could hold on to this moment and never let go. The world narrowed to the beat of our hearts, pounding in perfect unison, two lost souls finally aligned.
My fingers traced patterns across the small of her back as we clung to each other, riding out the waves of our shared oblivion. There was no past, no future, just the eternal present of Stella and me, united. This was where I belonged.
This was home.
Slowly, the sweat that beaded our skin began to cool in the evening air, yet the warmth between us only grew stronger. As I lay with Stella nestled in the crook of my arm, I felt a peace that had eluded me for years. Her breath against my neck was a soothing rhythm.
“Please tell me I’m not dreaming this,” I murmured, pressing my lips to her soft hair.
Her gentle laugh vibrated against my chest. “Believe it, Aiden.”
My fingertips traced the curve of her spine, savoring the smoothness of her skin. “I’m never letting you go again.”
Stella lifted her head, her brown eyes glinting. “Then don’t.”
And she sealed that promise with a kiss that tasted of desire and love. As her lips slanted over mine, each gentle press a reaffirmation, my heart sang. This woman, entwined with me in heart and body, was my anchor.
Contentment settled over us like a warm, comforting blanket. Our conversation dwindled to nothing more than shared breaths and the occasional brush of lips, a silent language that was louder than words. In the quiet harmony of our embrace, sleep crept upon us, a gentle tide pulling us into its depths. Stella’s breathing deepened, and her body relaxed fully against mine. I tightened my hold and wrapped her in my love. Finally, a smile stretched my lips and I followed her lead, letting the peaceful darkness take me.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Stella
The next afternoon, my stomach fluttered and flitted as I dragged my feet across the resort grounds, my sandals leaving fleeting impressions in the soft grass. The emotion felt so foreign compared to what I had been basking in—willingly drowning in—since Aiden and I had collided yesterday. I took a deep breath, trying to exhale the tight energy building at the task I was about to accomplish. Orchid’s rose-colored walls blushed in the sunlight, but that wasn’t my destination.
My gaze drifted over to where Ben Coleridge was working, the muscles in his back flexing as he gathered tools into his wheelbarrow. The landscaping crew was wrapping up their duties, their last day of transforming the resort coming to an end.
I hesitated for a moment, taking in the changes—the new flower beds bursting with color, the meticulously trimmed hedges. The palm trees were soaring and healthy, croton plants provided pops of color, and our new underground irrigation was hidden and invisible. I couldn’t fault the work Ben and the rest of the crew had done, even if it had been carried out under a cloud of misunderstandings and resentment. With a steadying breath, I approached him.
“Ben,” I called out softly, not wanting to startle him.
He turned, dirt smudged across his brow, and for a long moment, his movements paused. His eyes locked onto mine, and his guarded expression brought an embarrassed flush to my face. I watched as he straightened up, wiping his hands on his jeans, trying to brush away the soil that clung to his skin.
“Stella,” he acknowledged, his voice careful.
“I owe you an apology. I judged you unfairly… about everything that happened with the thefts.” I swallowed hard, my words laced with regret. “You didn’t deserve what I accused you of. And you didn’t deserve how I treated you.”
His face was a closely guarded fortress, shadows of emotions flickering behind his blue eyes. There was hurt there, etched deep, but also something resolute. As if he was used to accusations and adding more bricks to the walls he’d built to protect himself.
“Thanks for saying that,” Ben finally said after a heavy silence. His nod was slow, deliberate. “I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. I’m only trying to make things right now.”
I could see the weight of the past resting on his shoulders, not unlike the weight I had been carrying around until Aiden helped me set it down. “I hope you find what you’re looking for. Again, I’m sorry.”
He nodded, but his face remained inscrutable. Then his expression softened slightly. Not a smile, but the hard cast of his face relaxed. “Good luck, Stella.”
