She bit her lower lip and looked at Leni.
Brant offered a hand to Leni, too. “Come on. Let’s be the talk of the island. Just me and two beautiful ladies.”
Leni stood up, and Cait said, “You two dance. I’m good.”
“Come on, Cait,” Brant urged.
She stroked Dolly’s head and said, “No, thank you. Have fun.”
Brant looked at Deirdra. “Dee?”
“I’m good, thanks,” Deirdra answered, her skeptical gaze still locked on Jagger.
Brant and Leni danced a few feet away, and Aiden noticed Abby watching Deirdra and Cait as Cait and Jagger struck up a conversation. He loved the way her brow furrowed when she worried about her sisters and her friends. Hell, he loved everything about her. Her all-consuming kisses and loving touch, her laughter and smile, and the way she held his feet to the fire when he gave too much.
“Are you worried about one of them?” he asked. “Or all of them?”
“Neither. Cait looks content. We know she doesn’t dance, and Deirdra is more comfortable in her office than on a beach. She’s probably thinking of all the work she’s going to do when we get home tonight and how much she hates having sand in her shoes.”
“You’re probably right about that.” He gazed into Abby’s eyes and said, “Are you having a good time, Abs?”
“Yes. This has been fun, and today couldn’t have gone better. I was so nervous, and Deirdra floored me with her compliments. In case I haven’t said it enough, thank you for pushing me into the competition. I feel good about it now, and I never would have done it without you.” She gasped, and her unstoppable smile cut right to his heart as she said, “I still haven’t paid you back for the entry fee. I’m so sorry. I keep forgetting. I promise to write you a check tonight.”
He laughed. “Do you have any idea how much I adore you? You have paid me back a hundred times over by making me the happiest I’ve ever been. I don’t want your money, baby. You gave me your heart, and that’s the only thing I want.”
Her cheeks pinked up, and she said, “So you don’t want the sexual favors I have lined up for tonight?”
“You are the sexiest woman on the planet.” He lowered his lips to hers, kissing her breathless.
Her eyes went hazy with the unmistakable look of love and lust, and she said, “I don’t want to sound ungrateful for everything my friends have done, but I’d really like to lock up the Bistro and head home so I can wrap myself up in you for the rest of the night.”
She didn’t have to ask twice.
The girls hugged Abby, and the guys shook hands, tugging Aiden into manly embraces.
“We’ll get together when you come back for the grand opening,” Grant said.
“Have a guys’ night,” Jock suggested.
“Or go for a sail,” Brant offered.
“That all sounds good to me,” Aiden said, realizing he was going to miss them, too.
When the girls hugged him goodbye, Cait hung on longer than the others and said, “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you, too. I’m glad you and Abby and Deirdra have each other. Will you be here for the grand opening?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“Good. I’ll see you then.” Aiden kissed her cheek and said, “Take care, Cait.” He hugged Deirdra and whispered, “Have you figured out that I’m not after Abby for her inheritance yet?”
Deirdra laughed softly. “Yes, and you’re actually good for her. I haven’t seen my sister this happy since she was a kid. I wish we had more time to get to know each other.”
He glanced at Abby and said, “Hopefully we’ll have plenty of time for that in the future. Take care of yourself, Deirdra.”
“You, too. Cait and I will lock up the restaurant. Get out of here before my sister bursts.”
Aiden and Abby headed back to the house, making out all the way up to the bedroom and forcing themselves to remain clothed until they were safely behind Abby’s bedroom door. Then their mouths crashed together, shoes and clothes went flying, and the second they were naked, Abby dropped to her knees, taking him in her mouth, stroking and sucking, and holy hell, he couldn’t take it. Aiden hauled her to her feet, and they tumbled to the bed in a tangle of gropes and hungry kisses. “I’m never going to make it a month without you,” he growled, feeling feral. He reclaimed her mouth, rough and greedy, and she was right there with him, taking as much as she gave. She arched and writhed, getting the head of his cock wet with her arousal, rubbing her softness against his hard frame. Fuck, he was going to miss her. He tore his mouth away, needing to see her face. “The minute I’m back in the States, I’m coming for you, Abby de Messiéres.”
“Yes,” she panted out, her eyes glistening with sadness and love and so much more.
He grabbed her wrists, holding them by her sides as he moved swiftly down her body, kissing and loving, and finally, blissfully, feasting on her sweet, hot center. He wanted to stay right there, pleasuring her for hours, long into tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, but his leaving hung in the balance like a ticking time bomb.
“Oh Looord.”
She rocked against his mouth, her wrists pinned by her hips as he took his fill. But just as there was no end to his love, his need for her was endless. He moved his mouth higher, using teeth and tongue to make her gasp and mewl. Her thighs flexed, her hips shot up, and with one twist of his tongue, she cried out, loud and unabashedly. Her hips bucked as he released them and moved lower, feasting on her. She grabbed his hair, her hips rocking, a stream of indiscernible sounds flying from her lips.
“Aiden! Need you,” she pleaded.
He grabbed a condom from the box in the nightstand, sheathing himself faster than ever, and buried himself in one hard thrust. He covered her mouth with his, loving her with everything he had. She tasted of sunshine and happiness, sins and seduction, and all the other glorious things she brought to his life, including hopes of a future he so desperately wanted. She squeezed his arms, scratched his torso, and clutched his ass, her nails digging into his flesh. Everything she did—every touch, kiss, and sensual noise—was exquisite. Just as he felt her body constrict like a vise, heat shot down his spine, and they spiraled into oblivion together, crying out each other’s names, clawing, pawing, pleading for more, until they collapsed to the mattress, sated and spent in each other’s arms.
“I wish I could stop time,” Aiden said against her cheek, kissing her again and again, wishing he had better words, bigger words. Words that were as vehement as their love, but his head was spinning, his leaving hovering like a dark cloud.
She didn’t respond, just burrowed deeper into his arms.
“I love you, Abby. I love you so damn much.”
She held him tighter, burying her face in his chest.
“Look at me, baby.” When she lifted teary eyes to his, he felt his heart crack open. He kissed her softly and said, “Two weeks, Abs. In two weeks I’ll be back from overseas, and I’ll come for a weekend. That’s a promise.”
“And then . . . ?”
He brushed a kiss over her freckles, knowing he’d miss the sight of them, too, and said, “Then I’ll be back again for the grand opening, and we’ll figure it out from there. Once I handle my quarterly commitments, I can work from anywhere.”