The Heartbreak Hotel (Sandy Springs #1)

Chapter Fourteen

Riley

“That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” Riley propped up the pillows in her bed and laid against them. Her blonde hair was still a little damp from the water and cascaded down her front, tickling her chest.

“Me neither.” Ella laughed, rolling onto her front and jiggling the mattress. “You just showed me how not to surf.”

“We skipped ahead a little. How to hit yourself in the nose with the board is supposed to be lesson three.”

Ella laughed harder, giving a snort, and the sound made Riley grin. She loved it when she did that. Ella covered her mouth with her hand and groaned. “Sorry, I’m snorting again.”

Riley grabbed her wrist and pulled it away, revealing Ella’s pursed lips. “I think it’s cute.”

Ella’s gaze combed Riley’s face. Then the corner of her mouth twitched. “Well, I think it’s cute that you tried to show off and failed miserably.”

“I must be spending too much time with you.”

Her eyebrows arched, her voice squeaking. “What does that mean?”

Riley struggled to bite back her amusement. “That your clumsiness is rubbing off on me.”

Ella dug her fingers into her ribs, scowling when she didn’t react. “Don’t tell me you’re not ticklish.”

“Nope.”

Ella’s hands pressed harder, searching up and down her torso for a reaction. When Riley continued to watch her with amusement, she grumbled, resting her hands on her stomach. Her pouting face was pretty adorable. Her deep brown eyes flicked to hers. “How are you feeling?”

Riley felt the bridge of her nose. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore. Just a little nosebleed.”

“It was quite a lot of blood.”

“I’ve had worse.” Memories of the accident tried to prise their way into her mind, but she pushed them away.

Not now.

Ella brushed her hands over Riley’s abdomen, grounding her. “Have you ever broken a bone?”

She swallowed. “Just once. Here.” She pivoted her wrist to show her the scar running down her skin.

“God.” She grasped it, tracing the white line softly with her fingertips.

Riley shivered at the touch. Screeches ripped through her eardrums. Glass smashing. Elodie’s scream. The wailing sirens. Heat spread up her neck. Her lips felt suddenly dry. She moved to sit up, but Ella stopped her.

“What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”

The kindness in Ella’s eyes pinned her for a moment, and she let out a breath. “I’m okay. I don’t want to be a nuisance.”

“You’re not. The medic said you shouldn’t do anything strenuous.”

“But—”

“Just…let me take care of you. What do you need?”

She acquiesced, softening under Ella’s gaze. “Just some water, please. Thank you.”

Ella filled a glass with water in the kitchen and returned to her, waiting until she took a few gulps before placing it on the wooden bedside table. She rejoined her on the bed, leaning on one elbow, the other hand draped over Riley’s torso.

The cool liquid soothed Riley’s throat. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me.” Ella traced the geometric pattern on Riley’s T-shirt, moving dangerously close to her hip bone. “I…like taking care of you. ”

Jesus. Ella’s fingertips running over her made her swallow. How could such an innocent movement send shivers down Riley’s spine? Her breathing quickened, but Ella continued, unaware. Gentle. Soft. Teasing.

Riley’s breathing hitched when she grazed the bare skin where the cotton had ridden up.

Ella glanced up at her. “Are you okay?”

Dammit. Her mouth was dry again. Her focus dropped to Ella’s fingers, now still on her skin.

Ella suddenly burst into a grin. “Wait. Is this tickling you? I knew it!”

Riley chewed at her lip. “Sorry to disappoint. It’s quite the opposite.” Her heart thumped loudly against her ribcage, making her unsure how to articulate the feeling curling in her belly. “It’s…nice.”

Ella raised an eyebrow. “Nice? Oh…” A mischievous look sparkled in her eyes, and her fingers started tracing over her abdomen again. “ Nice, huh?”

Tingles spread over Riley’s arms, and when Ella eyed her, searching for permission to continue higher, she nodded, her chest pulling tight.

“You know…” Ella began, lifting Riley’s T-shirt to expose her belly button. Her warm fingers grazed just above the top of her boxer briefs, and Riley sucked in a breath. “I’d like to take care of you in other ways too.”

A deep ache rolled through Riley’s stomach, heat slipping between her thighs.

Ella’s eyes held hers. “And you can just…lie right there. ”

“Mmm.” The idea of Ella touching her made all the blood rush to her clit, and she couldn’t form anything cohesive.

Ella hooked her finger underneath the waistband of her boxer briefs, her eyes glancing back at hers. “Keep talking to me. Tell me anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“I trust you.” The words rushed from Riley’s lips. But before she had time to overthink their meaning, something flickered across Ella’s features, locking them both in a swirl of energy, and any anxiety melted away.

Keeping eye contact, Ella moved her hands along Riley’s navel, drawing goosebumps over her arms. She smiled, confidence sparkling, and craned her head to kiss Riley’s stomach. The soft press of her mouth seared her, the heat leaving her skin tingling. Then she lifted Riley’s leg and adjusted herself so that her pretty face nestled between her thighs. Riley couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Ella caressed her thighs before squeezing. Riley let out a small groan, and a wave of arousal rolled through her, pulling her into deeper depths.

“I love how strong your legs are,” Ella said. Her fingers dipped under Riley’s T-shirt, lifting it higher and exposing her abs. “And your stomach.” She traced over the muscles, her tongue flicking out, wetting her lips.

Then she pressed a kiss to Riley’s belly. And another. And another.

God. Riley tensed underneath her touch, her chest tightening. It’d been so long, she was hypersensitive .

Or maybe it was because it was Ella touching her.

Ella pulled a hairband from her wrist and scooped her red hair into a bun. Their eyes connected, and the corners of her mouth curved into a seductive smile, sending a jolt straight into Riley’s clit.

Is this really happening?

The shot of panic wasn’t enough to overpower the throbbing between her legs. Sure, Riley wasn’t the type to just “fool around”, but if she admitted it to herself, she did miss romantic connection. It was a side of herself that had lain dormant for so long now, she wasn’t sure it was still there. But she used to love the push and pull of control, the way two bodies connected and spoke to one another through touch. The possessiveness.

Ella slid her hands up her top, letting her nails drag over her abs. She was watching her carefully, testing the waters before doing it again, a little harder, making Riley hiss and squirm.

Jesus. Yes, she wanted this.

Ella’s fingers gripped the waistband of her shorts, and after a nod of confirmation, she shuffled them down Riley’s legs, leaving her in her black briefs.

When Riley had pictured this before, lying in this bed or daydreaming out on the island, her mind had hijacked the fantasy. Her thoughts had always found their way into the spaces, taking any Ella fantasies and drowning them deep in the depths of the sea. At this moment, Ella held all of her concentration. Every touch. Every lingering look was making the feeling swell deep in her centre, begging for attention.

Ella dipped her head, just a breath away from touching her, and Riley gasped. Anticipating the feel of her mouth, she fidgeted, feeling more wetness pool in her underwear. She didn’t just want this; she needed it. She needed Ella. Desperately.

A loose strand of hair fell from Ella’s bun, and she tucked it behind her ear. “I want to taste you,” she murmured, low in her throat. Those big eyes commanded hers, pupils blown wide. “Can I?”

Riley’s cheeks warmed, words impossible to form. She swallowed and nodded, and Ella wasted no time in closing her mouth around her clit. Riley moaned at the contact. Even through the soft cotton of her boxer briefs, her whole body reacted. Her hands gripped the covers, and Ella kissed her harder, letting her tongue swipe over her.

Arousal peaked in her centre, making her ache everywhere. Fuck. She might combust at this rate.

“Please,” she begged, unable to stand the pressure building in her clit.

Ella slipped off her underwear, the cool air hitting her as her hungry eyes raked over her exposed skin. Time seemed to slow before she buried herself back between Riley’s thighs, and the relief from her hot tongue was immediate. She couldn’t contain it.

She whimpered, tightening her grasp as Ella took turns to kiss, lick, and suck at her. Her fingers spread Riley’s legs wider, and she angled her head so she could meet her gaze.

Their eyes locked, and a tremor of pleasure swelled below Riley’s navel.

“Do you want it soft?” Ella asked. Her tongue snaked out to brush delicately over her, and Riley cursed. “Or hard?” She sunk her tongue into Riley, then swiped harder against her clit.

Riley pulled back. “S–soft. Ish,” she managed.

Ella’s lips quirked, and the sight of her there between Riley’s thighs sent another surge between her legs. Her tongue flicked back and forth over her clit, a teasing pressure that hit her just where she wanted it.

“Like this?” Ella asked.

“Mmm.” Words failed her, but her hands gripped the back of Ella’s neck. Ella hummed at the contact, and the vibrations pinged pleasure along Riley’s skin.

Ella’s tongue slicked and lapped at her, and more wetness flooded her thighs.

“God. You’re soaked.” Ella drew a lazy swipe up her folds, her eyes flicking to hers. Before Riley could feel embarrassed, she added, “I fucking love it.”

Ella’s lips and tongue worked to draw whimpers from her, Riley’s chest coiling tighter as she got closer and closer to climax. Her hips bucked, her muscles clenching. Ella’s hands brushed her abs, hips, and squeezed at the tops of her thighs, as she pulled herself closer. Deeper.

“Mmm.” Riley closed her eyes, moans catching in her throat as she hovered above release. Her thighs trembled.

So close.

Her heart beat furiously against her ribcage, breaths coming hard and fast.

Come on.

She was drenched, evidence of that slicked up her thighs and Ella’s face—and it felt so good—so why couldn’t she finish?

You feel too guilty.

Oh, no. The slip opened up the pathway for Riley’s mind to intercept her thoughts, and now the flow barraged her with them. One after the other.

You shouldn’t be doing this.

It’s all going to end badly.

She opened her eyes and focused on Ella. Her gorgeous mouth brought another hit of pleasure, which almost pushed her over the edge. Her lungs burned.

Ella’s going to leave you.

Her arousal plummeted off a cliff, and she let out a deep sigh, relaxing her legs as they started to cramp. Sensing a change, Ella switched her focus to her face, and she slowed.

Riley bit her lip. “Sorry… I, uh. I’m not sure I can…finish.”

“That’s okay. There’s no pressure to come.” Ella pressed her lips to her thigh, her mouth glistening with Riley’s wetness. “I just wanna make you feel good.”

“You do. You did.” Riley felt herself scowl. “I was so close as well, but… ”

“Hey.” Ella brushed her fingers over her abdomen. “It’s okay.”

“Sorry. It’s just frustrating.”

“You really don’t need to apologise.”

“It’s just been…a while.” Tears pricked behind her eyelids, and she wished them away.

Ella propped herself up on her elbow again. “It has for me too.”

Probably not three years, though.

Embarrassment crept up Riley’s spine, flushing her neck. Jesus. Suddenly, she felt very vulnerable, and she covered her face.

Ella climbed up her body to pull Riley’s hands from her eyes. She planted a kiss on her palm. “Getting to touch you in any sort of way is rewarding for me. Just being around you is. With or without clothes on.” She offered a soft smile. “We can do anything you want. At whatever pace. There’s no pressure.”

Her fingers cupped Riley’s face, her thumb stroking her cheek.

Riley inhaled and exhaled, letting her breathing return to normal. She leaned into Ella’s touch. “I do want this.” She blew out a big breath, trying to push her negative thoughts away. “It’s just…dusting off the cobwebs, I suppose.”

“Cobwebs.” Ella raised a teasing eyebrow. “That’s some sexy talk.”

Riley chuckled, feeling more at ease. Ella had a way of doing that. “I know. You’re very lucky. ”

“I am.” Her fingertips traced along Riley’s jaw before settling back on her chest. “And I don’t expect anything from you, either. Like you don’t have to touch me if you don’t want to.”

“But I do.” The words tumbled out before she could help it. But sometimes, she didn’t want to think, she just wanted to do. To follow the signals firing through her body. And everything inside her pulsed with the energy of Ella.

Their eyes connected, and the air in the room shifted.

Riley suddenly remembered Ella’s body, pressed on top of hers, and she started throbbing again. Taking it slow, she let her hands drift lower, over Ella’s curves, and cupped her round bum, giving it a small squeeze.

Ella didn’t need much more encouragement. She adjusted herself so that she pressed against Riley’s clit and rocked her hips. God. Riley tightened the grip on her arse, her eyelids dipping.

“You like this too?” Ella asked, her voice a breathless whisper. Her eyes studied Riley’s face, her lips pursing. “You can ride me. Use me to make you feel good. Whatever way you see fit.”

Riley’s stomach rolled. Any other thoughts melted away.

“Within reason, anyway.” Ella’s mouth quirked, her gaze fixed on Riley’s face. “But I like that,” she whispered, shooting shivers up Riley’s neck. “Whatever makes you feel good makes me feel good.”

Words stuck in Riley’s throat as Ella continued to grind their hips together. She needed to get her out of those shorts.

Now.

Ella gave out a little shriek as Riley flipped her onto her back. Looking up at her with wide eyes, she gasped, before Riley captured her lips in a kiss. She moaned into her mouth, her hands reaching for Riley and pushing their centres back together.

Riley broke the kiss to tug Ella’s shorts off, lingering at the sight of her hot pink underwear. Riley could never, but they suited Ella to a tee.

She rolled them down her legs, sucking in a breath at how wet Ella was.

Riley was the lucky one.

The thought struck her, knocking her from her rhythm. She used to be confident in this area of her life, but in the last few years, it’d become less of a priority. The idea of ever being close to someone again made her want to run for the hills. But Ella’s dark eyes looked back at her, her face tanned from the sun, her plump lips parted.

She was so beautiful.

Perhaps noticing her hesitation, Ella grazed her bicep, giving her a small pull to join them back together. Riley propped herself up on her hands, their faces so close, Ella’s breath tickled her nose.

She kissed her, and Ella wound her hands in her hair. Riley lowered herself as she took Ella’s lip into her mouth, biting when their hot, naked centres finally brushed together .

She almost collapsed at the sensation. The sound. The feel of Ella’s wet pussy sliding against her clit had her already quickening the pace of her thrusts.

“Oh my god.” Fingers tightened in her hair, teasing at her scalp. “That feels so fucking good.”

Riley pulled back to look at her. Ella’s eyelids fluttered, combing over Riley’s form as she rocked her hips, combining her wetness with her own. Pleasure rolled through Riley’s abdomen, and she felt an orgasm building again.

“I love feeling how wet you are.”

“I do, too.” Hearing Ella voice it out loud made it all the more obvious. She gave in to the craving completely, sliding over her and letting the feeling drive her.

Ella let out a moan as Riley ground harder, nails raking across her skin. “Just like that.” Her hands moved to Riley’s waist, brushing her muscles as they contracted. “Mm, Riley.”

Riley locked eyes with her, feeling a strong tug behind her sternum. A mix between a whimper and a grunt came from her throat as they came together. All of her senses blazed, feeling nothing but Ella.

She moaned, circling over her. The slippery friction built in her core, threatening to spill everywhere. “ Fuck …Ella.”

Ella cursed, too, legs quivering underneath her.

Riley’s clit ached, begging for release. She gripped the headboard, unable to support her shaking limbs, and pushed harder against Ella. Everything pulled taut, threatening to unravel.

“Oh, shit, Riley. Like that,” Ella moaned, her nails digging into her back. “Ah, shit. I’m coming—”

The sound of her orgasm pushed Riley over the edge, too, and with a long, drawn-out moan, hot, blinding heat pulsed through her. She tightened her grip on the headboard, her body trembling. Pleasure exploded in waves, rippling through her muscles and squeezing the air from her lungs. She couldn’t stay quiet if she tried. Ella’s orgasm melted into hers, and they rode it out, gasping and struggling for breath until Riley collapsed on top of her.

A dizzying wave fell over her, coating her in a feeling that buoyed her high up in the ceiling. She didn’t ever want to come down.

“Oh my god.” Ella sighed, stretching her body out like a cat. “That was so fucking hot.”

Sweat beaded over Riley’s forehead, and she pulled back to take her T-shirt off with a chuckle. “We didn’t even get fully undressed.”

Ella laughed, the sound light and airy, and Riley’s heart squeezed. “That’s proof of it being some time.” She wrapped her leg over Riley, and they snuggled closer together, despite the heat in the room.

“True.” A weight vanished from Riley’s body, making her light-headed. Her orgasm lingered, and she couldn’t stop a grin from stretching across her face.

“Though I’m not sure that’s what the medic had in mind when he said no strenuous exercise.” Ella planted a kiss on her shoulder, and she pulled her closer .

She turned her head to take Ella in. Cheeks rosy, eyes glistening, mouth pink and perfect. “Nothing wrong with breaking the rules from time to time.”

Ella mock gasped, laying a hand across Riley’s chest. “Who are you, and what have you done with Riley…?” She pinched her eyebrows together. “I don’t even know your last name.”

“Murphy.”

“That suits you.”

“So does yours, Miss Cargill.”

She shook her head. “Wait. How do you know that?”

Riley shrugged, feeling heat warm her neck. “I saw it on your suitcase.”

“Oh, yeah.” Ella poked her playfully. “I knew you liked me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Who says I do?”

Ella dug her fingers into her ribs before remembering she wasn’t ticklish. “Dammit.” Her eyes brightened. “I know a different way of tickling you now, though.” She traced her fingertips down Riley’s sternum, stomach, and hips, rippling goosebumps everywhere.

Riley let out a small groan and caught the way Ella’s mouth parted.

“You’re right, though,” Riley said, mouth curling. “That was really hot.”

Ella hummed, wrapping an arm around Riley’s waist. “You like it when you hear me come?”

Riley’s clit twinged, sending a jolt through her body. “I do. ”

“Maybe you can do it again sometime. If you’re lucky.”

Riley grinned, leaning forward to kiss her. “Maybe right now.”

Ella squealed as Riley rolled her onto her back. She kissed her again, savouring the taste, bathing in the happy feeling swelling in her chest. She didn’t want to lose this moment—or the new confidence firing through her system.

So she followed the tug of her heart, worshipping the woman in front of her, hoping that luck was on her side for once. Praying that the noises in her head wouldn’t come back and chase it away.