Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
R upert
“Tell me more about your childhood. I realise we both had a totally different upbringing. Your life hasn’t been easy at all,” I pointed out when we were finally sitting in a pub in one of the villages we’d passed after we’d left the hospital. It was early afternoon, and I was still a bit tense. I had to admit though, I was glad I’d gone through this challenge today. Also, Veronica knew how to instantly calm me down.I felt stronger when this was all said and done.
She drank her smoothie and stared at me for a few seconds before she answered.
“Like I said before, we lived on a council estate. Mum worked all the time, and I hung around with the boys. I studied pretty hard and managed to get a scholarship, so I went to university. My father left when I was toddler, and I don’t even remember him. To be honest, Rupert, there isn’t much to talk about. I had a pretty basic and ordinary life, then after I graduated, I got involved with that guy who made me lose all my money, so I had to start over,” she said, pausing for a moment to look out the window. Something flashed across her features that I wasn’t quite sure what to make of. Regret? Sadness? Something was unsaid there. “I think we’re similar in a way. I have anxiety when it comes to money, and I know I have to work on this, but I’m always scared I might lose it all, so that’s why I keep working at Emperor.”
I reached out for her hand. So soft… She was right about us being alike when it came to anxiety.
“I understand, but you have that potential deal with the brand. I learned that we have to work through our fears and limited beliefs. Veronica, you’re an amazing woman, so never sell yourself short. You have accomplished so much,” I encouraged her.
“What are you talking about? You said it yourself that I work as an exclusive whore. That’s not an accomplishment,” she snapped..
“You graduated and you’re building your brand. I was wrong about you. I made assumptions when I didn’t know anything about your life. Soon, you won’t have to do this work anymore, so be proud of yourself now. Look how far you’ve come,” I kept talking, seeing her in a different light. The club was a dealbreaker for me, and yet I couldn’t see myself letting her go.She was doing her utmost to lift herself up. How could I not admire that?
“You’re sweet, but I still have a lot to do. I hope things will work out with that brand, but you know sometimes doubts slip in,” she confessed.
“Trust me, you’re talented and you’re the most amazing woman I’ve had the privilege of knowing. I mean it, Veronica,” I said—and that wasn’t a lie. I wanted this woman with all I had in me. I had been patient and hesitant, but this was getting incredibly difficult.
Yes, I wanted her. Needed her. I hoped she felt the same.
Veronica gave me a confident smile, and my whole body warmed. We finished our food quickly, and then I drove us to her mother’s place, which was modest and small.
The area seemed sketchy at best, with several young people hanging out on the staircase by the entrance. This place was grim, and I could tell Veronica was apprehensive for me to go in with her, but I didn’t want her to be by herself. I was surprised that her mother lived here.Not just that, but lived alone.
“Oh, my Lord, it’s so stuffy in here. I’m so sorry, Rupert, but I have no idea what happened here as I haven’t visited in a while. This is not like her,” Veronica said, walking inside and opening all the windows.
The small flat smelled of damp, too. It looked like her mum kept things tidy, yet I couldn’t judge her. The carpets were old, the walls were yellow, and the cooker needed replacing.This place was something that I was never accustomed to, yet I couldn’t pass judgement because I knew that not everyone was as lucky as I was.
“Let me help you with that,” I said when she walked into the bedroom and tried to open the window right next to a giant bookshelf crammed with things.
Veronica was petite, and I had a glimpse of her amazing arse when she stood on her toes as I approached her. She struggled to reach the window.
“This whole place needs to be updated. How long has your mother had this flat?”I ask her.
“Several years. She bought it after I moved out because it was very cheap, but she never had the money to do it up,” Veronica said, stepping away from the small stool.
I climbed over the bookcase, reaching the window and trying to push it, but the seals were rusty. All the windows in this flat needed to be replaced.Honestly, much more than the windows needed replacing.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it,” I growled, putting all my strength into pushing the window as the bookcase rattled. I swore under my breath when the seal finally gave in and jerked forward. A few heavy books went flying off the bookcase, one of the big ones hitting me right in the crotch. I hissed, and the pain knocked me down on the floor.I couldn’t think for a moment, pain reverberating through my body.
Veronica went to steady the bookcase because it would have fallen right down on top of me. I howled, holding my fucking cock as the pain was unbelievable.
“God, are you okay?” Veronica asked, going down on her knees.
My eyes fucking watered, and my cock, along with my balls, felt fucking numb. What the hell was this shit? Why was I always the unlucky one who got it in the groin?
“No, I can’t feel my cock … fuck, it’s all numb.” I groaned, closing my eyes for a moment and telling myself to breathe. I didn’t know how long I lay there for on the dusty floor.
Veronica fussed over me, trying to get me to sit down, but I refused to move. My whole groin area was on fire, and I was certain that my cock was injured by the thick encyclopaedia that probably weighed a tonne. Half an hour later, I managed to sit on the sofa, thinking that this day had gone from bad to worse.
“Rupert, please say something. I feel so bad. Should I take you to A and E?” she asked with concern in her eyes.
“First, Laura nearly took off my nuts, now the fucking book,” I growled, arching my head so it rested on the back of the sofa.
She giggled, so I opened my eyes.
“I’m sorry, but Laura did tell me about it. Apparently, you cornered her at the party and accused her of some horrible stuff,” she said, staring at me with her wide green eyes.
I breathed hard.
“And now my cock is going to fall off because I got hit by a book,” I snapped. “Do you realise that I might be disabled for life? I would never ever be able to make love to you now.”
Veronica bit her bottom lip and gave me a lazy smile. She wasn’t getting it. Sex was the last thing on my mind right then. My cock throbbed with agony, all the numbness going away, and I was certain that this heavy book had left permanent damage on my genitals.
“Don’t worry, hotshot. I can be abstinent, although your beautiful, pierced cock is very tempting,” she said licking her lips.
Her sexy tone didn’t work. I couldn’t fucking feel a thing. So much for my plans of fucking her ten ways till Sunday later. The whole evening was ruined, and that was the end of it.
“I’m really sorry. I knew I shouldn’t have dragged you all the way here, Rupert. I feel terrible.”
“Help me out, sunshine. You need to get me some ice and then maybe you can fully inspect it all while I ice it,” I said, looking around. This whole place needed to be renovated. I couldn’t let her mother live in these conditions. Tomorrow, I would get my team to inspect the whole thing and see if they could get it done quickly enough, before her mother got discharged from the hospital. I know it was a short time to complete a job, but I have done more with less time.
I didn’t even know how I managed to get up, but twenty minutes later, I was in the car, icing my whole groin area, until I was lucid enough to drive.
Later, we reached our small cottage that luckily was on the outskirts of town. By that time, I felt a little better—at least my cock had stopped throbbing. I liked the way Veronica fussed over me so much. She really loved the place I’d chosen, and I had no idea what had gotten me to choose two bedrooms, but now I was kind of glad. As much as I was craving her company at night, I needed a good night’s sleep.Also, there was no way my dick was going to be able to perform tonight.
When I took off my clothes, my cock and balls looked all right. There was no bruising, but it was still bloody painful. Veronica glanced over it, joking that she would be missing a lot tonight.
“It all looks okay to me,” she muttered, licking her lips.
As much as I wished I could fuck her right then, I was in too much pain still to even think about it. Then my head ached on top of that, so I took some painkillers and told Veronica that I was heading to bed. She didn’t say anything, and I sensed she felt a little guilty. Thankfully, I slept like a baby and woke up with a bruised ego, but without any pain around my crotch area. In the morning, I called my doctor and asked him to arrange a private checkup for Veronica’s mother.
“Morning, sunshine. I hope that coffee is for me,” I said, walking into the kitchen.
She was already dressed in a navy dress, of course looking fucking stunning, but I told myself that nothing was going to happen between us until I saw my doctor for a quick checkup. I still wanted to make sure that huge book hadn’t damaged my genitals. She gave me a bright smile, and I was glad to see she was in a much better mood than yesterday.
“Of course, hotshot.” She grinned. “How is your sac this morning? You snore, by the way.”
I took the cup, and our fingers brushed. Electricity soared through my body, then a jolt of current reached my cock. I nearly jumped when a sharp, stabbing pain followed. Something was definitely not right there.
“It seems fine, but you can take another look at it. You know, to make sure it’s all good,” I said, smirking. I sipped on my brew. Damn, this woman made an amazing coffee.
She bit her bottom lip again, probably knowing it drove me crazy. The memory of that blow job at the club kept flashing in front of my eyes as she walked around the kitchen worktop to get closer.
“Gladly. Maybe I can see if I can kiss it better,” she whispered, then got on her knees.
Lord have mercy.
I groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman, and I think right now in a literal sense,” I growled, but undid my fucking jeans. This was dangerous territory, and I hoped she was aware she couldn’t suck me off right now.
“Don’t worry, soldier. I’m only inspecting it. You truly do have a beautiful cock,” she said, pulling my boxers down.
I was semi hard already and had to admit to myself that it felt more painful than I expected. Veronica licked her upper lip and directed my hips closer to her face. Her hot breath fanned my cock, and I fought with myself not to beg her to at least lick the tip. This was a pure torture. I was one unlucky guy.
“Fuck, Veronica, you have to stand up. I don’t think I can’t take it when you’re staring at it like that. Brings back memories... You have no fucking idea how much I want you to have it in your mouth again, but this is too risky,” I said.
She’d already seen the vulnerable side of me back in the hospital. She also knew I was ready to hand her my heart if she asked for it.
She brushed her fingers over my shaft. I tensed up as a fresh wave of arousal rippled through me. Then she stood and pulled my boxers up.
I could smell her perfume, and that scent alone drove me crazy. One that had been haunting me in the past two years. We both lived in London, so close and so far away at the same time. Maybe there was a reason why the universe had kept us apart. The timing might not have been right when we’d first met.
“You might be right, Rupert. You need to take it easy over the next few days, and I need to see Mum, make sure she’s not trying to refuse any further tests,” she said.
“You’re not going anywhere alone. Come on, I’ll accompany you, plus we both know that your mum loves me already,” I told her.