Rowan
My hand gripped her shoulder, the other braced against the grass as I drew in slow, steady breaths, forcing my pulse to settle. Then she clenched around me again.
If she ever doubted us—doubted me—I would fuck those thoughts out of her without hesitation.
Her eyes were closed, but the faint curve of contentment at her mouth told me everything I needed to know.
The script at the nape of her neck felt like validation beneath my lips. Nick had been right to mark her. I kissed the skin around the tattoo, lingering, before my hands slid from her shoulders down to her arse. When I pulled back, she moaned softly—and hissed when I withdrew.
A gush spilled from her, white against pink, a sight that never failed to satisfy. It dripped onto the grass between her spread legs.
I smiled when she didn’t move.
“Come on, sweetheart,” I murmured, helping her sit upright. “After that performance, I doubt Nick and Alec will stay at work long.”
She groaned and leaned back into my chest.
“Don’t you want them to fuck your pussy?” I asked quietly, rubbing warmth back into her arms. “Let’s get you fed. Get you ready for them.”
When she shivered, I reached for her clothes. I knew my phone would be lighting up inside—that was exactly why I’d left it there.
I helped her dress, tucked myself away, and we walked back toward the house together. Slowly. Carefully.
I’d have to be gentle with her in the coming months.
?
?
?
She shuffled into the bathroom, and I helped her step into the warm water. We’d never come together to care for a woman like this before, but with Ella it felt deeply satisfying—settling—in a way I couldn’t fully articulate yet. Perhaps it was because we knew what she carried.
Nick sauntered in, arms folded as he leaned against the doorframe.
“How’s she doing?”
Ella shot him a glare, lips pursed tight.
“I’m fine,” she snapped.
“Aww. Don’t be mad,” he cooed. “Alec’s changing the sheets. It was just a little piss.”
I coughed to disguise my laughter.
“You made me do it,” she grumbled, reaching for the washcloth. “You wouldn’t let me go to the bathroom.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” Nick said easily.
Even I knew he was a lying bastard.
“Maybe you should’ve done her in the garden,” I suggested innocently.
Ella’s head whipped around, eyes blazing.
“Get out,” she said flatly.
“She means you,” Nick added.
“Both of you.”
“What did I do?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she replied. “Which is why I want you out too.”
I grinned and hung a towel over the chrome radiator within her reach.
“Fine. I’m going.”
We both chuckled when she snorted, sinking a little deeper into the water.
“This is all your fault,” Nick said as we walked into the bedroom.
“Why am I getting blamed for everything?”
“You knew exactly what you were doing on camera,” Alec muttered.
“What he said,” Nick drawled.
“Sure,” I replied. “I forced you both to drive home, one of you picking up a speeding ticket, just so you could pile onto Ella.”
“Yep,” Nick said easily.
I shook my head, watching him stroll out of the room buck naked.
“Can’t lie,” Alec said, smoothing the quilt with deliberate care, “I’ve never seen you like that before.”
“I just put on a show,” I shrugged. “Same as you.”
Alec stepped back, studying me instead of the bed.
“I get it,” he said slowly. “But do you?”
“Why are you being cryptic?” I snapped. “Just spit it out.”
He chuckled and walked past me toward the bathroom.
“Where’s the fun in that?”
I stared at the closed door until the shower kicked on, their voices bleeding through the steam and tile.
I replayed the time with Ella in the garden, but all I felt was pride. Satisfaction. The way she’d given herself over to me so completely, so beautifully—it sat right in my chest.
Whatever Alec was circling had nothing to do with me. Probably his past rearing its head again. All that cocaine he’d snorted finally rattling what little sense he had left.
“Hurry up in there. I’m starving,” I shouted through the door.
Then I heard Ella giggle.
Just like that, the irritation drained out of me.
She sounded so damn cute.
I was halfway down the stairs when it hit me.
She hadn’t been mad at Alec.
I slowed.
What the fuck was he up to?
Was he buttering her up?
No. Alec was a dickhead to everyone. Equal opportunities.
I considered going back up to speak to Nick—but he had the emotional stability of a rock. Reliable. Unmovable. Not exactly insightful.
He had softened with Ella on the trip.
Well.
As soft as Nick was capable of getting.