Because of You (Swanson Court Series Book 5) Read online

  I meet Landon at the main reception. He’s with Rachel, who’s about my age, with a lovely, expressive face, unassuming expression, and eye-catching waves of red-gold hair.

  No wonder Landon turned the city upside down to find her.

  Her eyes widen when she sees my face up close. My resemblance to Landon usually has that effect. I like that she has none of the hard-edged sophistication of Landon’s usual dates. It’s refreshing.

  “You must be Rachel,” I offer before Landon can introduce us. “I’m Aidan.”

  Her smile is sweet and unpretentious. “It’s great to meet you, and your play was very enjoyable.”

  Mostly thanks to Liz. For a moment, I wonder where she is and what she’s doing. “I hope the critics thinks so,” I tell Rachel, chasing off my obsessive thoughts with a laugh. “But let’s forget about work. What’s a nice girl like you doing with my brother?”

  “None of your business.” Landon’s voice is gruff, but also amused, and relieved, I think. He likes that I like her.

  Making a face, I watch as Rachel bursts into laughter. Landon’s eyes soften. “How’re you coping with your ingénue?”

  Liz. Again.

  “Don’t ask.”

  “I thought she was wonderful,” Rachel says.

  “Spellbinding, actually,” I admit, though words are too bland to describe the combination of allure, torture and talent Liz represents to me. “But as I said, let’s forget about the play. Landon promised to take me out for a drink. I hope you’re coming?”

  At the bar, I focus on entertaining Rachel with every hilarious anecdote I can remember from when Landon and I were kids. Landon pretends that he wants me to stop, but I can see how he drinks in Rachel’s laughter, how he looks at her as if he would hand her the world if that would amuse her.

  I’ve never seen him like that with anyone.

  After a few more drinks, Landon escorts her to his car. He’s staying behind, no doubt to make sure I’m all right, that after the success of the preview, I’m not about to crash like Icarus after flying too close to the sun.

  He returns after a few minutes and settles opposite me, looking me over with his sharp gaze. “You look much better than you did last week.”

  “I’m much better, thank you.”

  “So, it was the play?”

  No. It was a girl. A beautiful, innocent, talented, maddening, infuriating, sexy girl I can’t get out of my mind.

  “Stop fretting,” I reply with an exasperated groan. “Let’s talk about Rachel. I like her.”

  Landon’s smile is wryly amused. “Good, I like her too.”

  Like I couldn’t see that from half a mile away. I remember our phone call from before the preview. I wouldn’t say it’s as defined as that, he’d said when I asked him if they were dating now.

  “But…she’s not your girlfriend, and it’s not as defined as that?”

  “Pretty much. We’re good together. That’s really all it is.”

  “It’s hard to believe you’re okay with that,” I prod. “You seem really into her.”

  There’s a faraway look in his eyes, and I just know he’s thinking about her. “Liz was great tonight,” he says after a moment, changing the subject.

  I look down at my glass. “She’s a talented actress.”

  I can feel his eyes on me, studying me, trying to decide if that’s all there is to it.

  “If today is any indication,” he says, segueing away from the topic of Liz. “On opening night, we’ll be talking about awards.”

  With Liz’s performance tonight, it’s almost a certainty. “Yeah…We’ll see how it goes.”

  We spend about an hour together before he drops me off at my place. Alone, in my empty apartment, my mind goes back to Liz.

  Already, across the internet news-o-sphere, people are talking about the play, and about her, the new face who’s going to blow audiences away.

  The way she’s already blown me away, professionally, and personally.

  Disney Junior indeed.

  One day, when she’s a legend, she’ll tell people what her first director said just before auditioning her, and they’ll laugh and wonder how he could have been such a tool.

  By then I’ll be little more than a memory in her life.

  By then, she would have forgotten all about me.

  But I’ll still be thinking about her.

  Always.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Liz

  Stuff gets crazy in the weeks after the preview. In the countdown to opening night, things go wrong, installations malfunction in the middle of performances. Everyone goes a little crazy. It’s exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.

  The buzz for the play is crazy too. I’m still floating on the high from all the flattering feedback about my performance since the previews began.

  …making her own name…

  Sets the stage alight…

  A pure new talent.

  Aidan Court’s new star.

  I haven’t talked much with Aidan since he left early on preview night. It’s understandable. He has a lot to deal with as we barrel toward opening night, but even though our last conversation didn’t end very well, at least, it was something.

  Something more than watching him hurry away after rehearsals every day without a word to me.

  I’m no longer pretending that what happened between us meant nothing, but it makes no difference when the only words we exchange have to do with the play.

  On opening night, my dad makes sure to tell me how much it costs to replace each leg of the battens, and how, if I broke them, it would be worth it to replace them all.

  Aidan sends a cookie basket filled with star shaped cookies.

  Aidan Court’s new star…

  In my dressing room mirror, my reflection looks calm and composed. My makeup is done and I’m already in costume, waiting for the final call to go down to the stage.

  I want tonight, so badly, and somehow, my desire for success has become so entwined with wanting Aidan that I don’t know how to differentiate them anymore.

  Something flutters in my stomach. All the butterflies in the state of New York have found their way there. I take a deep breath and close my eyes, saying a silent prayer to Ethel Barrymore, Vivien Leigh, and Katharine Hepburn.

  There’s a knock on my door.

  “Come in,” I call out.

  The door opens and my heart skips when I see Aidan in the mirror.

  We’ve been working together for weeks and even shared intimate moments, yet, whenever his amazing blue gaze focuses on me, I still feel like I’ll melt.

  “Hi.” My voice sounds breathy. I don’t care.

  “Hi, Liz.” He gives me a gentle smile, and I turn around to face him. I wish he wouldn’t be so gentle. I wish he would back me against my dressing table and tell me again how much he wants me. I want to crash into him like a wave crashing onto a cliff and who cares if I break into pieces?

  I don’t.

  I let my eyes roam over him. His hair is combed back, waving around the collar of his cocktail jacket. Even dressed semi-formally, he looks like danger and desire combined into one irresistible package.

  “You look good.”

  He chuckles. “Me? You’re the one who looks…” He stops and lets out a breath. “I came to say, break a leg.”

  I nod. “I got the cookies, thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He shrugs, and then he’s holding my gaze again, and time seems to stop. Silence stretches between us like an ocean. A memory fills my head of his face hovering over mine, his lips capturing mine in a hot, searing kiss. I want him so much.

  Too much.

  I push the thoughts away. I can’t afford to think them right now.

  “I’ll see you after?” My voice sounds like a plea.

  He takes a few steps toward me, stopping just in front of me. I pull in a breath, filling my senses with his divine scent.

  He lifts a finger to my cheek and strokes it
gently. His eyes stay on mine, piercing and intense. “You were made to rule the stage, Liz. Out there, they’ll have no choice but to love you.”

  I want him to kiss me, but his encouragement is almost as good. “Thanks,” I breathe.

  He takes a deep breath and steps away just as my call comes through the speakers, then he leaves without a word, and it feels as if he’s taking my heart with him, tearing it out of my chest.

  Which makes no sense, because he’s had my heart for a long time now.

  I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with Aidan Court.

  “Five minutes, Liz.” I hear Cruz announce from outside my door.

  I take a deep breath. Later, I’ll think about Aidan. I’ll think about everything that’s not the play.

  For now, the only thing that matters is giving the audience, and Aidan, the best performance they’ve ever seen.

  The applause is deafening. Cheers ring out inside the auditorium. A group in the audience is throwing loose petals at the stage. Tears fill my eyes.

  I did it.

  We did it.

  Kyle is squeezing my hands, and Arthur can’t stop smiling.

  “Congratulations,” he shouts over the applause.

  “Congratulations,” I shout back as my father, Aidan, and the rest of the production crew join us on stage. We bow, and the applause peaks again.

  It’s magical.

  Backstage, my father has tears in his eyes as he draws me into a tight hug.

  “You were spectacular, Liz.”

  “Thanks dad.”

  “I…” His eyes close. “Your mother would have been so proud.”

  My eyes sting. “I know.”

  He releases me. “See you at the party later.”

  He goes to schmooze with his business partners and sponsors and after a few more excited hugs, congratulations, and cheers backstage, I return to my dressing room to take off my final costume and makeup for the night.

  I undress and put on a robe, then wipe my face free of the stage makeup. I’m so excited I could burst. My whole body is pulsing with a barely contained magic that feels like a potent drug in my system.

  Where is Aidan?

  I glimpsed him after the final curtain. I want to see him, desperately. I want to share the uncontainable excitement with him.

  Only him.

  Someone knocks and opens the door. It’s one of the production assistants, Jules. Smiling at me she sets an armful of flowers on the floor by the mirror.

  “They’ve been coming in since the intermission,” she tells me.

  “Wow!” I pick up a bouquet and inhale. “It feels so…” I search for a word. “Surreal.”

  “I can imagine,” she tells me. “You were phenomenal.”

  My eyes mist. “Thanks.”

  The door opens again, and this time, my heart almost bursts at the sight of Aidan.

  “Liz.” He doesn’t even see Jules by the door. He makes straight for me, a steely determination in his stride that makes me weak in the knees.

  “Aidan.”

  He pulls me into his arms. “God, you are magic.”

  So close to him, everything else disappears, except for him, me, us.

  “You think so?”

  “Am I blind, and deaf? Of course I think so.”

  I can feel his heart beating in his chest, each thud is like a drumbeat directing me to surrender everything to him. “I was nervous.”

  “You had no reason to be.” His eyes are shining. “There is no critic in the world who won’t be singing your praises after tonight.”

  “And yours,” I whisper. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “I think you could have.”

  “I imagined how it would feel,” I close my eyes and breathe. “It’s more than I thought it could be.”

  Aidan laughs. “Believe me, Liz. This is just the beginning.” His arms tighten around me. “They loved you.”

  And I love you.

  I don’t say the words out loud. “And you?”

  He chuckles. “You said you would blow me away. You did. More than you know.”

  He’s so close I can barely breathe. His lips are curved in a small smile, his eyes roam my face. Desire roars like a tornado inside me.

  “Kiss me.”

  At first, I’m not aware that I said the words out loud, but then his eyes darken, and his hands slide down to clasp my waist. Through the silk of my robe, it feels as if he’s touching my bare skin. My breath catches. One moment, I’m looking up at him, and the next, his mouth seizes mine with a hunger that verges on desperation.

  Oh, Aidan.

  My whole body ignites. His tongue delves deep into my mouth, tasting, each stroke like a new lick of flame, setting my body on exquisite, beautiful fire.

  I don’t hear Jules leave, or the door close behind her. All I know is Aidan’s lips, his tongue, his hands. He tosses off his jacket then unties my robe, sighing as his hands encounter my underwear clad body beneath.

  Still kissing me, he lifts me and places me on the edge of my dressing table. One warm hand cups the back of my neck and his finger massage my scalp. “Liz,” he whispers.

  “Hmm.” My breasts are aching, and the throbbing need between my legs is driving me close to crazy.

  He pulls my robe off my body, letting it fall to the ground in a whisper of silk, then with a flick of his wrist, he undoes my bra before pulling the straps off my shoulders.

  “Jesus, Liz.” His face is almost reverent as he cups my breasts in each hand. He draws his thumbs over each nipple, and I suck in a breath.

  “I’ve thought about this.” He looks at me and smiles crookedly. “I’ve obsessed, more like, and fantasized.”

  I swallow. “I’ve waited a long time. It feels like I’ve been waiting all my life.”

  He expels a breath, then lowers his head and draws one nipple into his mouth. His lips feel like heaven. His tongue feels like a sweet, sweet flame. My eyes close, and the throbbing between my legs intensifies. As if he can feel it, one hand finds the band of my panties and slips inside. He slides one finger between my folds and rubs the sensitive nerves of my clit, making my back arch as I cry out in pleasure.

  “I want to make this good for you.”

  “Aidan,” I sigh, already aroused beyond reason. “I only need you.”

  His chest rises, and he gets on his knees, sliding my panties down and tossing them away before pulling me to the very edge of the table and hooking my legs over his shoulders.

  Spread out like that, I’m totally exposed to him, but I don’t care. Anticipation renders me immobile as I wait for the first touch of his mouth, and when it comes, my body turns to liquid.

  He tastes my clit, then licks me all the way down, pushing his tongue inside me before going back to suck my clit again. I cry out and grip his hair, my breath coming in sharp gasps as he devours me.

  It feels so good.

  So perfect.

  Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.

  “Oh God! Aidan.”

  When I moan his name, he responds by brushing the pad of one finger against my core, teasing the entrance, sliding in, then out until I’m shaking, dripping wet, moaning, crying and begging for more.

  My climax takes me unawares. One moment, I’m rolling my hips against his onslaught. The next, I’m almost sliding off the table, moaning his name so loud, I’m sure everybody in the building can hear.

  Aidan’s hands grip my hips, holding me in place as he flicks his tongue over my throbbing clit again and again until I’m pushing him away, unable to take anymore. He rises to his feet, still between my legs, and I pull his face to mine, kissing him hungrily and tasting myself on his tongue.

  “You’re perfect,” he growls. His lips travel along the curve of my throat, spreading soft kisses that leave me shuddering in pleasure. “So fucking perfect. You’re making me crazy.”

  “Show me.” I reach for his zipper, feeling the hard ridge of his erection pressing a
gainst the front of his pants. I stroke my hand down his hard, rigid length and he groans.

  “Liz…”

  I undo his zipper and lift my face up to his. The hunger in his eyes is scorching, and the force of it makes me whimper. “Don’t even think about stopping.”

  With a sound like a growl, he flicks my hand away and frees his cock. My eyes widen at the sight of him, hard and stiff, and I reach for him, unable to stop myself from wanting to touch him.

  He doesn’t let me. He pushes my hand away and grabs hold of my thighs, spreading my legs even farther, then cursing under his breath, he reaches into his back pocket and retrieves his wallet, searching for a moment before finding what he’s looking for. A single condom.

  I don’t think about why he has it in there, or about all the other women he’s been with. I’m too eager, too hot, too aroused. He rolls the condom on, then meets my eyes.

  “You ready?”

  I nod, my tongue flicking over my lips in unrestrained anticipation. His fingers trail over my skin, the gentleness at odds with the hunger in his eyes, then gripping my thighs, he hooks my legs around his hips, presses the wide head of his cock against me, and slides slowly inside me.

  My breath escapes as he fills me, stretching me so tight, I feel like I might burst. I hold on to his shoulders for balance, gripping him as he slides out and in again, slowly at first, flexing his hips, his eyes fixed on my face, dark, aroused, hungry…and so hot.

  I’m moaning his name, almost in tears from the pleasure. His movements speed up, and sweet tendrils of exquisite delight snake up from my core and across my belly and thighs, until even my fingertips are suffused with the feeling. With each thrust, the pleasure builds until I can’t take it anymore.

  “Aidan,” I cry out.

  In response he fucks me harder and faster. Something explodes inside me and I cry out, my vision blurring as an orgasm rips through me.

  His fingers dig into my hair. He groans and plunges so deep inside me, it feels like we’re melded together. His body shudders as he comes. He lets out a shaky breath. One arm comes around me and he kisses my hair, then the side of my face.