Chapter 7
IVY
Ace is such a tease. For the past two days, we’ve been doing everything—he sucked me, I sucked him, he made me come with his fingers, and I jerked him off.
He even put me down sideways and fucked my thighs.
It was amazing, and I never felt as powerful and as sexy as at that moment. But why is he holding back?
Why doesn’t he claim me already?
Though he left for a couple of hours yesterday because of training, Ace and I got enough time to talk.
He made me waffles and told me about how he met my brother.
We talked about our families, and I think he finally understands my predicament.
How my parents want to marry me off for money and how my fiancé cares for nothing but a breeding cow with a rich dowry.
His eyes change when I tell him that, and I think he’s pitying me.
I don’t want his pity. I want his love, but something is stopping him.
Something is holding him back. He doesn’t surrender, though he caresses me and looks at me with longing in his eyes.
He told me about how his parents were the opposite of a happy family and how being an only kid made him feel lonely.
He said he wanted a big family someday, then shot me this loving look that made me think he wanted a family with me and no one else.
If I were falling before, nothing readied me for this. I’m head over heels for him, completely in love, and these words almost escape my lips when he kisses me goodbye in the morning.
The wishful part of me thinks he wants to say something, too. Then he leaves.
He doesn’t tell me where to, but I’m guessing he’s going to training again. Then I remember it’s Saturday. Do soccer players work on Saturdays?
He stays away for a couple of hours, so I stay in bed a while longer and then hop into a shower. After I’m done, I go into the kitchen to fix myself some breakfast.
Celia is not here today, so I put into action what she taught me. I brew coffee and make some toast, then sit down at the island with a pencil and a new sheet of paper and doodle away.
The drawing keeps me distracted and I take my time eating. Once I’m done, I bring the sheet of paper up and inspect what I created.
I never let myself think too much of what I’d do if I ever escaped.
Now that I’m almost free, the idea of making a living with my drawings seems reachable.
Can I do that? My drawing is full of curves and intricate designs, and they are colorful in my head.
I can picture them in a purse or on wallpaper.
My heart beats faster. Is that a thing? Drawing and making a living out of it?
There’s so much wonder in my head I almost miss the knocking on the door. A smile springs to my face. Did Ace forget something? Maybe his hands are full and he can’t touch the digital lock. I race to the living room and yank the door open, grinning as I wait for him to pick me up and kiss me.
My stomach plummets. It’s not Ace standing there, but Eaton. The sight of him is a punch to the gut. I stumble back in surprise and miss the opportunity to slam the door in his face. When I think of it, he moves faster, gripping the door and stopping me from closing it.
There’s a glower on his face, pure hatred in his eyes as he sneers at me.
“You fucking slut,” he roars. “How dare you leave me at the altar?”
I tremble from head to toe. “What are you doing here? How did you know where I was?”
He snorts. “You kidding? Your brother gave me the address, of course. The owner of the house has been patient with you, but enough is enough. It’s time for you to leave and keep your word.”
“I never gave you my word.”
He grips my arm, pulling me closer to his body. I always hated the way he smells, and that, with the fear roiling inside me, makes me nauseous. Eaton drags me to the door. I pull my weight down, slowing him.
“Keep up, you fucking slut.”
“No! I won’t go with you.”
“You don’t have a choice. Your parents already got their part of the deal.”
“I don’t care! They never asked me what I wanted!”
“This is not my problem.” He drags me to the door, then stops. I gape up at him, hoping he has changed his mind. “Where is the dress?”
“What?”
“The wedding dress. You think that was cheap? And he drags me back into the living room. “Where is it? We’re taking it. Ace Alvarez doesn’t need the money.”
“Ace won’t like this. You’re breaking into his house.”
He shoots me a glance. “You think he doesn’t know? Please. The man set a date. He wanted you gone.”
My throat clenches. “That’s not true.”
Eaton shoots me another glance and shakes his head in disappointment. “I can’t believe they found me a stupid girl like you.” He jerks my arm, and it almost pops off the socket. “Keep up, bitch. Don’t make me hit you before the wedding. No one wants you bruised up in the pictures.”
I can only hope a hole opens up on the ground and devours me. Ace said something about Saturday. Was that what he meant? Is that why he’s taking longer to come back?
Because he was aware Eaton was coming and he didn’t want to deal with me?
Tears spring from my eyes and I let them come down in a waterfall. Eaton will drag me back home and force me into a marriage. And the worst part is that I fell in love with a man who doesn’t care.
Ace used me, like every other man in my life. The pain of this realization is a knife to the chest, twisting. I sob, all hopes of a future leaving me.
This is it. I have no other way out.