21. Ella
21
ELLA
I t’s been a week since Ollie arrived, and I took a header, giving myself a concussion. Between my brother and Theias, I’ve barely been able to walk from the bed to the bathroom or the den to the kitchen.
Today, I’ve been cleared by Dr. Edwards and a concussion specialist to resume normal activities, which is a relief because I was starting to feel smothered.
“You heard her, right?” My eyes remain on Theias’ stressed face. He’s not a fan of me being able to leave his estate. He won’t stop me, either, which is where the stress comes from. “I can go to the bookstore today, right?” I’m giddy over the idea of spending the afternoon with nothing but books and fictional love stories to keep me company.
“Yeah, you can go,” he grumbles, eyes narrowed, mouth flat-lipped, and a tick in his temple from his rapid pulse.
“You could join me,” I suggest.
I already know his answer, but he rubs a hand across his jaw like he’s contemplating. “If I didn’t have to train.”
Each day since coming home from the hospital, he’s been training for this fight against the man he stabbed on one of my first days here.
“I could wait until you’re finished.” I wouldn’t mind. I like the idea of him shopping with me for both baby books and romance novels.
Theias stops at a red light, puts the car in park, and wraps his hand around the back of my neck before pulling me as close as the seatbelt will allow. “Doll, as much as I want to keep you in my line of sight for the rest of my days, I don’t want you to lose your independence.”
Licking my lips, I meet his intense stare as he ignores the honking cars behind us. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Daddy.”
Slamming his lips over mine, Theias delves deep into my mouth with his tongue, nipping and licking me like I’m his sweet candy. Moaning into the kiss, I grip his shirt and pull him closer until there isn’t an inch of space between us.
“You’d better be because I’m never letting you go,” he groans into my mouth.
A statement like that should send me running for the hills given my past, but his words make me shiver with anticipation and need, not fear.
“I like the sound of that.” Pulling back, I drop into my seat, out of breath and feeling a clench in my belly for more of Theias.
“Tonight, you’re all mine, doll. When I get home, you’d better be in bed and naked, waiting for me.” The need in his voice steals my breath.
Biting my lip as he begins driving again, I close my eyes and try to calm down, or I might not make it to this evening. I’ll be a bundle of lust until I get his hands on me at this point.
The remainder of the drive home is uneventful, and when we arrive, Lucas and Caleb are waiting on the front lawn. Owen has likely gone to pick Oliver up from the private school he now attends.
“Ella.” Lucas holds out a hand for me, a look of concern on his face, while Theias goes over to Caleb, and they start speaking in hushed tones. “I’ve got some garlic cheese bread waiting for you before we head to the bookstore.”
“Is everything all right?” I glance back to my man, his face a mask of rage from whatever Caleb is telling him.
“It will be. Just a little hiccup in Theias’ plans for the fight tomorrow night.”
He continues to pull me along until they’re out of sight, and I can smell the melted cheese and marinara sauce we made yesterday.
“Is it still on?” I haven’t heard much about the fight, just that it’s not often Theias jumps in the ring anymore. Back in his day, however, he was undefeated, so I’ve been told not to worry too much.
My concern hasn’t wavered.
I’ve seen MMA and UFC matches on TV. I know they can be dangerous, and since this one isn’t sanctioned and is considered underground, I’m more than aware of how much more dangerous it can and likely will be. Especially considering the amount of animosity there was between Theias and Tank during that one encounter.
“It will be. The issue is with one of the guests Theias has personally invited. The man is trying to make some off-the-wall demands. Thinks he’s a bigger asset than he is.”
I don’t think I’ll ever understand their business. I don’t think I want to. At least not right now.
“Has Owen gone to get Oliver?” Changing the subject is better than trying to figure out the secrets they don’t want me to know.
“Should be here anytime. He coming with us?”
Debating it for a second, I shake my head. I don’t need my little brother getting a look at the kind of books I like to read. He once got his hands on Dee Garcia’s Festive AF books, and his eyes popped open wide when he landed on a page of “Cupid’s Chokehold” before blushing like crazy. I don’t think he’ll want to join me anyway.
“No, he can stay home and do some homework or go with Theias to the gym.”
Lucas agrees and cuts up the steaming bread before plating it and handing it to me with a ramekin of marinara. Dipping a piece in the sauce, I take a huge bite. The flavors of garlic, butter, and mozzarella cheese explode on my tongue. I moan deep and loud as I close my eyes. “God, that’s good.”
Glancing at Lucas, I find him doing the same and nodding along. We eat quietly before I head upstairs to change into one of the new sundresses Theias bought me. This one is a pastel yellow with blue daisies on it. The straps are thick, and the bodice hugs my breasts without squeezing them, while the hem reaches just above my knees. I love how frilly and girly it is. Blake would never have allowed me to wear something so revealing. Even if it’s not all that revealing at all.
Shaking my head, I put him out of my mind before slipping on a pair of tan wedges and grabbing my purse and a tote bag for books.
I hear voices downstairs before reaching the landing. Theias’ face is a thundercloud of murderous rage until he spots me, then he morphs into the cinnamon roll he seems to be for me only and saunters over while his eyes eat me up.
“Maybe these dresses were a bad idea,” he mutters, running a finger along my cleavage and hissing as a blush erupts up my body. “Turn.”
I smile to myself and do as he says, kind of excited that he both loves and hates them. “What do you think?” I know he won’t stop me from wearing it or going out. However, he’ll be a beast in bed tonight.
“You look too fucking good.” His growl rushes shivers down my spine.
Pushing up on my toes, I lean into him, kissing his cheek and whispering, “Thank you, Daddy.” He groans but doesn’t stop me from backing off and heading to the door with Lucas.
“She better come back in one piece, Luke.” The warning leaves me breathless.
Lucas chuckles and ignores him as we head to the car just as Owen and Oliver pull into the driveway.
“Ella.” My brother waves, a massive smile on his face. The bruises have almost disappeared now. “Where you going?”
“Just to the bookstore. How was school?” It’s been a while since I’ve seen him quite this happy.
“Good, got an essay to write.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so pleased about that.
“I’m guessing you like this new school?” He reacts to my question enthusiastically.
“Owen said if I get caught up, he’ll take me to get my learner’s permit next week.”
“He did, did he?” I glare at the man looking anywhere but at me now, lips twitching as he tries not to laugh. “Go on in and get started on that essay. I’ll help you once I get home.”
After kissing my cheek, Oliver runs off.
The bookstore, Turn the Page, is an independent one that I was excited to find. They specialize in romance novels by indie authors and a mix of other books for women. Their selection of baby books is a huge draw as well.
Lucas parks, and I suddenly feel shy. “You can, uh, wait out here if you want to.”
He gives me a dubious look like I’m nuts.
“Right,” I say.
We get out of the car and cross the parking lot. He holds the store’s door open for me, and the tinkling bell draws the woman behind the counter’s attention as she scans books in her system.
“Welcome to Turn the Page. Let me know if I can help you find anything.” The woman’s eyes are bright and happy as she smiles at me, not hovering like so many others sometimes do.
“Baby books?” I inquire, wanting to start there.
“Sure! Are you expecting, or is it for a friend?” Her question is friendly enough, but I see Lucas tense at the personal question, eyeing her critically now.
“Myself. I’m having twins.”
The woman claps her hands and jumps a little. “That’s so exciting. Congrats, girl!” I follow along until she stops on one wall. “Funny enough, these bad boys sell almost as much as the romance books.” We share a secret laugh over that. I can only imagine.
“Did you happen to get D.L. Gallie’s newest book, ‘Finding You’, in yet?” I ask, wanting to know where to go next. I’m in love with Gallie’s hockey series, and since this one is one of her personal favorites as well, I can’t wait to read it.
“At the counter,” the clerk gushes. “I was scanning them in. They’re even embossed with a signature by the author. I’ll set one to the side for you.”
Leaving me to browse, she heads back up front.
“Romance is popular, huh?” Lucas asks, eyeing up a table of viral must-reads. “Lots of baby making,” he muses with half a smile.
After grabbing a general pregnancy book, a book of names, and one specific to carrying twins, I move on over to the romance section that is filtered by tropes and sub-tropes. Finding the Morally Grey Hero section, I make a beeline for the alternate edition of “Raw Bloody Power” by Dee Garcia, grabbing it up quickly. Spotting the Drowning in Sins duet by A.R. Hall, I grab those, too.
“The Scars of Us” by Nikki Sparxx catches my eye, so I grab it without reading the blurb. Lucas offers me a basket for the heavy load in my arms. “Thanks.” He holds it for me as I move from shelf to shelf, grabbing books by Susana Mohel, Kimberly Knight, and Annelise Reynolds before I finally decide I’ve got enough.
Heading to the counter, the woman’s smile brightens as she notices my haul. “Fantastic choices.” She places the D.L. Gallie book she held for me on top and rings me up. “We get a new shipment of books the first Saturday of each month.” With a wink, we head out, and my stomach grumbles.
“I didn’t realize we were in there for so long,” I whisper when I notice the time on the dashboard.
“I wasn’t about to tell you to finish up.” Lucas laughs. “You looked like you were in heaven.”
“I was,” I sigh.
Until I met Theias, I’d have said there’s nothing better than a good romance novel. Now, I think they come second to him.
“Is there something wrong with me?” I whisper. It’s almost all I can think about. The me from a month ago was terrified of intimacy. She would shrivel in the face of a man like Theias. He broke down all my walls in a single argument.
“Why would you ask that?” I feel Lucas’ eyes on me.
“You know what Blake did to me.” It’s not a question; they all do by now. “I shouldn’t be so content. Right?”
He’s silent for a while; I’m afraid he won’t answer me. “You should be happy, Ella.” His tone is quiet but no less impactful. “You survived what so many…too many women don’t. You got out before he crushed your soul. You’re seeing beauty in the things around you, and you’re living in spite of what he did to you.”
I wish it were so simple to believe him. To know that he’s right and accept that it’s okay for me to love and be loved by a man who, in all likelihood, is ten times more dangerous than Blake could ever dream of being.