Chapter 25 #2
I rub my hands on my shorts. “When I was younger, I spent weekends at my grandparents’ house and watched the way they were with each other.
Hell, he used to buy her favorite snacks at the store and bring her flowers just because.
” I shake my head at the memory. “He talked about her like she was the best part of his life, that he didn’t know how amazing life could be until he met her, and how much she changed his for the better. ”
“Damn. What a lucky girl.”
“Oh, she loved him too. But after my grandpa died and my grandmother shortly after, the only example I had for a relationship was my parents. And let’s just say they showed me the ugly side of what love can do to two people.”
Dilynne clears her throat. “I’ve always sort of picked up on a weird tension between them. What do you think caused that?”
Talking about this instantly makes me grow uneasy. I shift in my seat, trying to get more comfortable. “Not many people know because protecting our family’s reputation has always been of the utmost importance. ‘Thornes don’t discuss personal matters,’” I say, mimicking my father’s voice.
“Spot on impression of your dad, by the way,” Dilynne says, making me chuckle and lightening the topic of conversation slightly.
Fuck. I love that she can do that for me, a detail about her that I’ve overlooked for years.
“Thanks. But I think not talking about our feelings is part of the reason why he thought bringing Tori back was a good idea—because he was unfaithful to my mom, and when she found out, she just…acted like it never happened.”
“What? How?” Dilynne barks out. “When I found out that Vinnie was cheating on me, I bought bear shit and put it in the engine and fuel lines of his Bel Air!”
I stare over at her, a little concerned. “Uh… where does one even purchase bear shit, Dilynne?”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “There are people out there who understand the motives for revenge. Let’s just…leave it at that.”
Sighing, I brush a hand through my hair. “Well, plotting revenge would mean that my mother would lose her posh life she’s become accustomed to, so…”
“Do you think your mom knows about what’s going on with your dad? Or Tori?”
“Probably not. They’ve never been the type to handle issues together. Dad controls everything, Mom just nods along and keeps swiping her cards.”
In fact, if she did know anything about this issue with my grandfather’s will, she’d be the last person to speak up about it.
“I’m sorry, Elliot.”
“What are you sorry for?”
“For the fact that your parents have both disappointed you. Unfortunately, I know what that feels like too.”
Staring over at her, it dawns on me that she just put a name to exactly what I’ve been feeling for years when it comes to my mom and dad. “I keep asking myself what I’m going to do when Rhonan gets the information that I requested from him.”
“Have you landed on anything yet?”
“No.” I rest my hand on the armrest on the passenger door. “I guess part of me hopes he’ll find nothing, but I’m smarter than that.”
“You know, I offered to do some digging too not so long ago. My offer still stands,” she says. “I could get Tori alone somewhere and coerce some information out of her. I have plenty of tools I can use to persuade her as well, if you catch my drift.”
I twist to face her. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I need to wait until I have all of the pieces.”
She reaches for my hand and then pulls hers right back, clearing her throat uncomfortably. “Well, just remember I’m here to help.”
“Is that right?”
“Look, I know this whole fake engagement was my idea, but it was because the last thing I wanted was to see you be taken advantage of again. I hate seeing people hurt. Maybe it’s some subconscious flaw from my childhood,” she states with a shrug.
“And having me there when you see Vinnie helps you avoid hurt too.”
She nods, but inside, I think I just solved part of the puzzle that is Dilynne Marie Clark.
“Do—do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if your parents weren’t drug addicts?”
Her silence is earned from my question, but she finally answers after a minute. “I used to, but my therapist really helped me see that by doing so, I was living in a past that wasn’t a part of my future anymore.”
Looking out the windshield in front of me, I scoff. “Yeah, I get that.”
“And if they hadn’t left me and Henley, I think I’m more scared to find out what my life would have looked like if they had stayed.”
“What do you mean?”
She adjusts her grip on the steering wheel.
“I never would have met Nick, he never would have introduced me to cars, and I never would have been forced to figure out who I was beyond my parents’ identity.
I mean, I know I was young when they were still around, but our parents were known as druggies, Elliot.
Henley fought to keep me shielded from a lot, but I wasn’t that na?ve.
Moving to Blossom Peak gave us a chance at a life where we weren’t their kids, a life that I’m so fucking grateful for.
It certainly hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, and meeting you definitely has added to the irritation I feel on a day to day basis.
” I reach over and pinch the top of her knee. “Hey! I’m driving here!”
“Watch that sass, woman.”
She peers over at me with a playful smirk on her lips. “This is who I am. Don’t act surprised.”
I smile back over at her. “I’m not. In fact, I think my surprise about this thing between us left my body the second I kissed you.”
She looks back out in front of her, avoiding my gaze. “Then that kiss affected you more than it did me.”
“You know, you’re a really bad liar.”
“No, I’m not. I’m just being honest, like you’re trying to be.”
“Yeah, well? We’ll see about that later.”
“And what’s happening later?”
But I don’t answer her question. If this woman wants to play stupid and act like she isn’t as affected by our connection as I am, then I guess I’ll be forced to use alternative methods to get her to see reason.
And I think I know exactly how to make that happen.
***
“I’m sorry. I—I booked a room with two beds.” Dilynne taps her credit card against the counter resting between her and the hotel receptionist.
“I can see that, but unfortunately, our system must have malfunctioned. We have rooms still, but only those with one bed.”
I slide my card across the counter to the woman standing behind the computer. “One bed is fine, thank you.”
Dilynne twists to face me. “Elliot…”
I pull her flush against me, lining my mouth up to her ear.
“If you think that I need a bed at all to fuck you in, Dilynne, then I guess I have more to prove to you than I thought. Besides, I have a feeling there won’t be a lot of sleeping going on in our room anyway.
” Dilynne’s quiet gasp makes my dick twitch.
The woman clearly overhears me, indicated by the way she uncomfortably clears her throat as she slides my card back to me. “There you are, Mr. Thorne. And just so you know, we serve a complimentary continental breakfast from six to ten each morning.”
I take my card back and slide it into my pocket, not bothering to return it to my wallet because that means that I’d have to let go of Dilynne. “Thank you. We are definitely going to need some food come sunrise.”
“You are out of control, Elliot.”
“Not yet, but soon I will be.”
Holding her next to me, I lead Dilynne back out to the car once I’ve secured our room keys, and then she drives around to the side of the hotel where our room is located so we don’t have to walk as far and she can keep an eye on Raven.
“At least it’s clean,” Dilynne says as we step inside the room. I lock the door before taking our small suitcases over to the closet and placing them inside.
“Don’t worry. We’re going to dirty it up soon enough.”
She spins around to face me. “Elliot…” I lift my shirt and toss it to the side. “What happened to no sleepovers in the same bed? I believe that was rule number three.”
“The only reason I suggested any rules is because I didn’t trust myself around you.”
More truth.
Another piece for her to process.
Popping the button on my shorts, I push them and my boxer briefs down in one swift movement before fisting my cock that’s already hard as a rock.
“But now that my restraint snapped and there’s no hope of going back, I think it’s safe to say breaking every rule with you just might be my new favorite pastime. ”
Her eyes dip down to my cock. “You’re so hard.”
“I’ve been hard since you picked me up.” Twisting my wrist toward me so I can read my watch, I say, “Now, by my calculations, we have two hours before we need to meet the guy for the part, so that means I could fuck you four times, easily.”
Her eyes widen. “Four times?”
“Maybe five.” My hand keeps moving up and down my shaft.
“Let’s see how fast I can recover.” I reach out for her, and she takes my hand as I yank her into my chest. “Come here.” I cup her face in my hands, staring down into her beautiful brown eyes that sparkle from the crack of sunlight breaking through the curtains.
“You think you can lie to me about how much our first kiss affected you?”
“You’re still hung up on that?”
“Hell yes. I’m pretty sure you’re lying because you don’t want to admit that there might be something else going on here besides sex.”
“But sex is simple,” she counters.
“Simple? Dilynne, there is nothing simple about the way I’ve been fucking you.”
“Your ego is gonna get too big to fit through the doorway if you keep this up,” she replies.
I stroke her jaw with my thumb. “I’m not just talking about how I fuck you.” She sighs, leaning into me. “I mean there’s more to this than just fucking, and you know it.”
She stiffens slightly and closes her eyes, and I can practically see her walls going back up.
So instead of pushing her, I try to connect with her the best way I know how.
The one thing that Dilynne can’t deny is our physical chemistry, and maybe that’s the only way I am going to start breaking down those walls.