Page 55 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

Igt could be the cocktail that’s making me brave, or just the fact that this dress makes me feel incredibly confident and sexy, but I lean in even closer. “I need your help with something in the bathroom.”

I can feel my cheeks redden, but I hold my head high and show him the lust I’ve been trying—and failing—to hide.

He gets a mischievous look on his face. “You go first. I’ll meet you in there.”

I excuse myself from the table and head to the ladies’ room through the bustling restaurant full of customers enjoying their Saturday night dinner.

The bathrooms are relatively secluded. There are no communal facilities with multiple stalls; instead, there’s a hallway lined with individual bathrooms, conveniently offering the ultimate privacy. It’s a pleasant surprise, but after seeing everything else here, I now know why this place has its exclusive status.

I stand outside one of the doors, waiting for Arden to join me, so he doesn’t have to waste time checking rooms. It doesn’t take him long to come around the corner, and the second he gets to me, his lips are on mine and he’s pushing me through the door.

The faint click of the lock alerts me to the fact that we’re now alone.

“What did you need help with?” Arden says as he breaks away, already a little breathless.

I don’t answer. Instead, I do something that I’ve been wanting to do for weeks.

I gently push Arden backwards until his back is up against the wall opposite the door. The soft smile that lights his face affects me in a way I can’t explain. All I know is there are tingles. Lots and lots of tingles.

At first, I hated Arden.

Okay, fine, I didn’t reallyhatehim—I just don’t think I liked him as a person. Once I got to know him, my traitorous body started reacting to him. But above all that, he needed help, and I was the one that had to do it.

Well, I probably wasn’t the only one who could help him, but I was the person he sought out when he wasn’t actually aware of his actions. Part of me likes to think that subconsciously, maybe Arden was attracted to me too, even back then, before the whole pretend marriage and rehab intervention.Somethingkept bringing him back to Grumpy’s every night. It was a foreign feeling having somebody wanting to spend time with me, even though he mostly just sat at the bar while I worked, and we occasionally talked.

I was so angry when I realised he didn’t remember any of our conversations or know what he was doing. But that’s what made me decide I needed to help him.

I never thought we’d actually end up in a genuine relationship, but from the time I realised I was attracted to Arden, I always wondered what it was like to be with him.

My question was answered yesterday in the limo on the way down here, then again—thoroughly—once we were settled in at the beach house.

Last night was lovely. When I was ready for bed, I expected Arden to just come and tuck me in, but he surprised me by saying goodnight to everyone and lying down with me, wrapping me in his arms while we talked about everything and anything. We talked about what the doctor had said, and we talked about the beach house. He also filled me in on some blanks about his friends and family. It was nice just cuddling together and enjoying an intimate moment without having sex. His decision to leave his family and friends surprised me—I got the feeling that wasn’t a choice Arden would normally make.

Reaching up and pulling his head down to mine, I kiss him thoroughly, imbuing my actions with as much appreciation for this amazing person as I can. He is very detail-orientated and driven, and he’s also one of the most passionate people I know. I think it’s admirable how much he just wants to look after his friends. He may flash his cash around occasionally, but never in a way that makes any of us jealous.

He genuinely wants them to be carefree, and he enjoys being able to do that. He wants them to have the jobs, education, and the life they want, and he’ll be there in whatever capacity they need him in. He has well and truly earned my admiration and gratitude.

Smiling, I nip Arden’s bottom lip before pulling back from our passionate kiss. I keep my eyes locked on his as I drop to my knees.

“Ella, what . . . are you doing?” Arden’s voice is low and gravelly, and it sends a wave of heat through me.

“Something I have wanted to do for quite some time now.”

I slowly unzip his jeans and lower them just enough that I can pull his briefs down and free his perfect cock.

Like, how can a penis be perfect?

His is, though.

It’s the perfect size.

The perfect girth.

Even the thick vein running up the length is perfect.

My core throbs in anticipation of what I’m about to do. I’ve always liked giving blowjobs, but I’ve never been with someone I care for as much as Arden, so I can already tell this is going to be different. Previously, it was just a means to an end. I’ve only ever had a casual boyfriend here and there—nothing that was ever going to last—because I learned quickly that not many people know what to do when someone is sick and in pain. It was easier to be on my own.

I take Arden’s perfect cock in my mouth, slowly moving up and down, savouring him.

---