Tending Their SECRET by Crystal Perkins Read Free Book Online Page B

accept our help. You know
that.”
    I do know that, and it kills me. If I
could just tell him what really happened during his lost days, and
everything else that goes along with it, he’d be absolved of his
guilt. Or at least most of it. But, if I did that, he’d shut us all
out, and take his revenge game to a whole new level. While the guy
behind all of this definitely deserves it, Aiden doesn’t. I love
him too much to let him sacrifice himself completely.
    “May I cut in now?” Aiden asks.
    “Of course. Thank you for the dance,
Ellie.”
    “Anytime.”
    “Are you okay, El? I mean with my dad
touching you?”
    “Yes. I know I’m safe with your dad. He’d
never hurt me.”
    “I wouldn’t either.”
    “I know.”
    I know that more than I know anything in my
life. But I also know that I’m not ready for Aiden’s touch. Not
when I still associate it with what happened to me. It’s wrong, and
messed up, but it is what it is, and I can’t push myself. That
would be disastrous for both of us.
    “You ready to get out of here?”
    “Yes, please.”
    We make our goodbyes and pick up his car
from the valet. “You still want to come over?”
    “Yeah. I do. If it’s okay?”
    “Of course it’s okay.”
    Once we’re inside his apartment, I start to
freak out a little. What if he gets angry about what we can and
can’t do? Or hurt? I’m leaning towards him being hurt, when he
speaks up. “What parameters am I working with, Ms. Gallagher?”
    I bite my lip, and look everywhere but at
him. “I want my hands all over you. My mouth, too.”
    “While that sounds like the Heaven I know
from experience it will definitely be, what can I do for you?”
    “Not much.”
    “I’m okay with that. Just tell me.”
    “You can hold my hand, my hips, and my face.
And you can…” God, how do I tell him? Ask him for what I want?
    “I can what, Doll? Tell me, because I’m down
for anything when it comes to you. Do you want me to Magic Mike my
way out of my clothes, because you know I can dance?” he asks,
rolling his hips as he raises his hands over his head.
    I laugh, just like he wants me to. “No. I
mean, yes, one day I would love for you to strip for me. Not
tonight, though. Tonight…you can…you can use your mouth. No hands
or fingers anywhere else, but your mouth will be okay. I
think.”
    “Fuck yes. I love using my mouth on you, so
I’m not sure why you’re going so shy on me all of a sudden. And if
it’s not okay, you just tell me. Immediately. Understand?” he asks,
coming over to cup my face in his hands.
    “You’re not upset? I know Jade was hurt when
she couldn’t touch Nate.”
    “Because my idiot friend didn’t offer her
anything else, and she was scared to even touch his face or ask for
a kiss. This is a totally different situation. And honestly, you’re
offering me more than I’d hoped for.”
    “Thank you.”
    “No more of that. Unless it’s to thank me
for your orgasms later.”
    I smile, but I’m still scared inside.
Really, really scared. Not that he’ll hurt me, but that I’ll freak
out in the middle of everything and ruin it. I don’t want to ruin
it—for either of us.

Chapter 5
    Ellie
    My fears fade a little as I watch Aiden kick
off his shoes and start to remove his clothes. I’ve seen him naked
hundreds of times now, but it never gets old. Watching the planes
and dips of his lean muscles appear before me makes my mouth go
dry, and my panties get wet. When he drops his pants and boxer
briefs to let his long and thick cock free, I unconsciously lick my
lips. I still can’t believe it’s all mine. That he’s all mine.
    “Everything okay?”
    “Better than okay. You know how good you
look.”
    He shrugs. “I work out
hard, but I always love the way you look at me. Clothed or naked.”
    “Norma and the other women look at you like
I do.”
    “No. They look at me like I’m something they
want. A body they desire, nothing more. You look at me like a man
you respect,