Beautiful Disaster (The Bet) (37 page)

Ellie quietly closed the door behind her, wiping the tears with a sniff. She was a mess and she hated that Nicholas's abandonment did this to her. All the other things in her life she could handle, but this emotional roller coaster Nicholas kept strapping her in was doing far too much damage. It made Ellie wonder whether the unpredictable twist and turns were worth it. Could she handle being with Nicholas for the long haul if this was how it was going to be?

It pained her to have doubts about their relationship after having gone through so much already. But right now, right this very second, Ellie couldn't seem to get over Nicholas pushing her away. Always he withdrew within himself when he was hurting, only to return when he needed a little ass. And always, Ellie gave it up to him. Like a stupid fool, eager to sooth, eager to take, eager to please, eager to wait until Nicholas was ready to trust her. A trust they should've had from the very beginning. How much more could this deep rooted love last before it withered and died?

"Thoughtless asshole." She muttered despondently, hands fisting at her sides the more she thought of Nicholas.

"I have my days." The voice brought everything to a screeching halt in Ellie's world and she nearly cried out when her heart slammed against her sternum, the impact of which brought her hand to her chest.

He looked like her worse nightmare and her sweetest fantasy combined in one. Angry as she was at him, Ellie wasn't immune to Nicholas. She hated how her body betrayed her from just the sight of him. Sexy as sin, he looked good enough to eat in his attire.

He looked as if he had just stepped out from a GQ editorial. Arrogantly sexy face, perfectly coiffed hair, swept back from said sexy face, with that one rebellious lock of hair falling across his forehead. The whole of his athletic body was poured into pinstriped slacks and a white dress shirt he'd rolled up to the elbows. A steel blue tie hung loose around the throat that Ellie suddenly wanted to wrap her hands around and squeeze. The fucking prick.

"Who said I was talking about you?" She asked flippantly fire in her hazel eyes. "I could've been talking about another man."

"Yeah?" he quietly queried, one perfectly arched brow lifting just the slightest bit. Ellie silently cursed him as she began to walk around her bedroom, picking up discarded clothes from the floor. The small task temporarily curbed the urge to throw herself in his arms. If Nicholas could abandon their relationship at the drop of dime without so much as a by-your-leave than Ellie didn't see why she had to make a complete ass of herself by falling into his arms---again.

"Yeah. You're not exactly the center of my universe, Nicky." Which was a big fat lie, but the bastard didn't need to know that. She picked up a dirty sweater and mindlessly began to fold it.

"Pity that, because you're the center of mine."

Unbelievable, un-fucking believable! Ellie looked at him, took in the blank features and her anger mounted. She threw the sweater at him with all her might only to have it tossed aside as if it were nothing. He stood poised to block anything else Ellie dared throw at him and it only added fuel to the roaring fire blazing in her.

"No!" she ground out, low enough not be heard by anyone but the man who began stalking her around the room. "Stay the hell away from me, Nicky."

"It's not for my lack of trying, Ellie. Believe me." His lips quirked. "I'm incapable of staying away from you."

"Try harder. Don't come near me!" She hated herself for crying, for showing how much he could hurt her,
had
hurt her. Always she was the one to shed tears.

"And if I refuse?" Nicholas softly challenged.

"I'll scream so loud that Gabe will come running in here with his gun," She'd managed to stupidly back herself into her armoire, with only a lukewarm half-emptied bottle of water between her and the lover with steel grey eyes. "And this time I won't stop him. In fact I'll be the one who pulls the trigger."

"Really?" Nicholas loomed, a predator having cornered his prey and relishing the scent of fear. "Would you really shoot me, Ellie?" He was only an arm's length away now, his magnetism crashing against Ellie, further pinning her to the spot.

Nicholas snatched her right hand, the move far too quick for Ellie to anticipate before flexing her fingers from the clenched fist she'd formed. He flattened her hand to his chest, open palm over his heart. "Because if you did, I would want you to make it one clean shot. Right here." His hand covered hers as he took that final step, his body bracketing hers. "If you missed and shot me anywhere else, I would always come back for you." He lowered his head, eyes holding Ellie hostage before nuzzling her cheek. "
Always
." He whispered a kiss at the corner of her mouth, lingering, warm, heartbreakingly tender.

"Damn you, Nicky." Her emotions were raw, evident in the sound of her voice. "You're a fucking bastard."

"One can only hope." He replied derisively.

He kissed her than then, a soul raping kiss that had her gripping his shoulders for mercy and more. She was allowed breath for only a second before he claimed her mouth again. His leg found its way between her thighs, compelling Ellie to ride and grind to her heart's content and she wantonly did, unable to resist the simple sex he so generously offered.

And that right there was the problem, Ellie realized. Here Nicholas had walked back into her life unannounced, appearing from seemingly nowhere without an explanation and Ellie was expected to open her legs because he wanted to fuck? Not gonna happen.

"No!" She managed to push Nicholas away with enough strength to still remain standing afterwards, although she was thankful for the sturdy armoire behind her. "I can't do this anymore, Nicholas. I'm good enough to sleep with but not good enough for anything else?" she had to force herself to say those words and as much as it hurt, they needed to be said.

"Don't." suddenly the infallible façade cracked a bit and Nicholas, for a brief moment, allowed Ellie to see the agony. But just as quickly as it had come, the look fleeted away and Mr. Ice returned. "You know I love you…"

"Fuck you!" it was months of pent up anger that burst out like a volcano refusing to be quelled. "You don't even know the meaning of those words! How easy is it for you to say those words and actually mean it? Are they the magic words for you, Nicky? Parrot I love yous to me and I'll just spread my legs for you? You fucking cowar…" Ellie didn't get a chance to finish her words as she was slammed against the armoire, Nicholas's hand precariously wrapped around her throat.

"You think it's that easy for me? You think I just parrot my sentiments just to get a fuck from you? Hmm, Ellie?" his body was agonizingly close, the weight of it and his anger crushed Ellie. "I love you." he mockingly whispered against Ellie's cheek. "Come on sweetheart spread them for me," he shoved his leg in between Ellie's own, no longer coaxing, no longer for her pleasure. "I love you." Ellie struggled, but Nicholas kept her where she was as he yanked and tore the buttons on the short-sleeved shirt she wore, exposing her to his roving gaze.

"You prick." Ellie panted out, aroused and angered all at the same time.

"Ah, but you love my prick, Ellie. You’ve proven that more times than I can count. You want it don't you, baby?" he made quick work of the jeans she wore, tugging them down her legs with ease.

"Are you going to moan and tell me how hard you want it, Ellie? I love how vocal you get." He touched her and she inhaled sharply, his large warm hand gliding between her quivering thighs gradually ascending. "Think you can keep quiet? You think you can stop yourself from screaming my name?” he asked harshly against her cheek.

“If you get too loud, I'll gag you with your panties. It's always been a fantasy of mine, but of course that's what the one who loves you just for a good fuck would do. Isn't it?" Nicholas spun her around then, he was still clothed and she was helplessly naked. The feel of his clothed body upon her naked flesh appallingly sensual. He was rock hard, his erection pressed snug between her cheeks. And involuntarily Ellie pushed back against him.

He chuckled, his breath warm at her nape. "My cock, your cunt, perfect fucking fit." He laughed when she shuddered in his arms. "Where's your self-righteous anger now, babe?" he taunted, unzipping the front of his pants.

"I may not know the meaning of love, Ellie, but I know the feelings I have for you are stronger than anything I have ever known. I can't seem to function unless I have you around me. Being around you has made me more human than all the passable fucks I've had in my life. So don't ever,
ever
think to demean my feelings for you. Because you can't even began to fathom how deep they run." He entered her then, one rough jerk of his hips and he was sheathed within Ellie's consuming heat.

Like a stallion mounting his docile mare, Nicholas bent Ellie over and fucked her with enough force that stars danced in her vision. It was a tantric movement of two bodies moving simultaneously and yet Nicholas had all control.  He wielded his power with the awesome strength of a man who knew the entirety of his lover's body. He knew where and when to rotate his hips to have Ellie groaning, he knew where and when to draw the spear of his tongue over her nape and down her spine to have Ellie pushing further back against him.

Nicholas knew how fast or slow he needed to thrust in order to have Ellie's head snap back, her body arching like a well contented feline. His fingers dove through the tawny curls, tugging her up to meet his body. Back to chest, Nicholas cupped Ellie's chin and swallowed her moans, not faltering over the sweet rhythm they had going.

It wasn't gentle. The moment Ellie believed Nicholas slowed down, his thrusts picked up a maddening pace, hard and fast and she bit down on her lips to prevent herself screaming out loud. It was animalistic rutting that differed on so many levels from all the other times they had made love. This was sexy, hot and sweaty, pleasure and pain all rolled into one. It was the kind of sex porn stars could only dream about having. It was the kind of sex that had your toes curling, your face flushed from exertion, and the strong urge to bite and be bitten. It was kinky, and it gave Ellie the biggest orgasm of her life.

Nicholas caught her limp body, realizing that she'd fainted, he carried her to the bed. He dropped a kiss on Ellie's sweat matted head and made quick work of his shirt and slacks to join her. He spooned her to him, tight and snug against his own sweaty body and held her like life depended on it. And it did, he thought sadly as sleep came quick to claim him. Truly sleeping for the first time in weeks.

Chapter
Fifteen

Ronnie always had the habit of rising with the sun and Gabe's attempt to break her of the habit had yet to work. With the first rays of sunlight breaching the horizon, Ronnie slid out of bed taking care not to wake a snoring Gabe. Shrugging into her robe, she made her way out of the bedroom she now shared with Gabe.

Doing what she did every time she spent the night, which had been quite frequent as of late, Ronnie snuck into Sophie's room to check on her. She was all things sweet and sound asleep, Ronnie had expected no less. Unable to resist temptation, she stooped low and kissed her cheek before turning away, heading to Ellie's room. 

The young mother and her daughter had managed to wedge themselves in Ronnie's heart when she wasn't looking and now she couldn't help but love them with the same unrelenting intensity she felt for their guardian. With a smile, Ronnie entered Ellie's room, glad that it wasn't locked.

The first thing Ronnie noticed was the distinct smell of sex in the room and her gaze instantly flew to the bed. And it was probably a good thing Gabe wasn't awake yet, otherwise he would've gotten an eyeful of both his goddaughter and her very naked, semi-aroused boyfriend, who had a possessive arm slung across Ellie's abdomen.

"Ooh..." there really wasn't anything else to be said.

They really were quiet striking together, a painter's dream come to life. Caramel mocha, contrasted against pale gold skin in a tangle of limbs. Their faces peaceful and infinitely soft in slumber looked contented…satiated. Ronnie's cheeks flamed, knowing exactly the activity that could bring about such blissful expressions.

She glanced further up the bed and gasped as she was met sleepy, hooded dark grey eyes. Nicholas pressed a finger to his lips and mouthed. "Get out." Before turning the whole of his attention back to a sleeping Ellie.

Completely stunned and not in a right state of mind to object, Ronnie dazedly exited Ellie's room and made her way back to Gabe's room. Knowing if the raven haired man saw what she just did, he would probably bring down the house around them. Ronnie wanted to prevent that from happening. But she and Nicholas would certainly be having a few words before the day was out, of that Ronnie was sure.

Barely nineteen years old and already Nicholas felt as though he'd lived multiple lifetimes in a span of several months. The entirety of said life was a compilation of fuck ups and regrets that were now coming back to bite him in the ass. Karma as they said was a bitch and she was having a glorified bitch-fest on his behalf. Or maybe his ill-gotten luck stemmed from the curse of being born from a man whose Machiavellian ideals he feared were slowly rubbing off on him.

Either way Nicholas knew life had become quite complicated and all around ridiculous as of late and with each passing second he feared the inevitability of drowning in a cesspool of his own cynicism. A cynicism that began far too early in life and was now spreading through his being like a cancer destroying whatever good remained. He no longer knew how to stop it and did he have the knowledge, Nicholas knew he would've chucked it out the window and said ‘fuck it'.