††  Ellis  ††

Arriving at Risk a little before I was due to meet Jason I was shown up to the Deck and told to wait.

But not being one to do what I was told I drifted over to where a bunch of people were heading through open double doors and it piqued my interest. 

Closer,  A head of dark hair caught my eye and it caused my balls and stomach to tighten, although I knew I was being stupid. It wouldn't be her. 

A few more steps...

Fuck.

No.

It couldn't be.

It fucking was.

She's here.

What was she doing here?

My mind was fucking blown wide open.

Was Zack here too?

A few steps more and I came to a stop and stared. It was definitely her. Sasha Darling was a 10 in any room. This one was no different. The silver dress she wore clung to every inch of her sexy as fuck body in ways that should be criminal, it probably was in the middle east.

I smirked when I noticed no panty-lines. She was a self-professed hater of thongs so I decided already she would be naked underneath.

Fuck. Was she trying to kill me?

Except, she doesn't know you're here, idiot.

I cringed at the reminder. That, and I hadn't answered any of her messages. Blanked her completely.

I hadn't wanted to ignore her. Of course, I wanted to talk to her. I'd been in this weird place every single day since I left her standing there, crying, pleading with me not to go.

Three miserable weeks without seeing her face. Three weeks without hearing her sultry voice and shiver-inducing laugh. A voice that if I didn't know any better I sworn was haunting the dark recesses of my brain along with her sweet smile. I even missed her bitchy mouth when she put me in my place.

There was nothing I didn't miss and our time together spent in London might have been short, but fuck me, it left its mark. Sasha Darling was under my skin. In my heart, and no matter what I tried, I couldn't shake her.

And right now, just setting my eyes on her had me coming to life. My pants got tighter and my heart was now sprinting.

I didn't know why she was here. Honestly, I didn't care.

This was fate.

That's what this was.

It had to be.

My eyes continued to soak her in as some asshole leaned in and murmured something into her ear. And in a flash, my heart was painfully squeezing in my chest.

It was safe to think I knew Sasha enough to say what kind of guy she went for.

And that guy was definitely her type.

His hair colour, size and the way he held himself, he could almost be Zack.

Fuck.

She's moved on.

Before I could worry what happened between her and Zack an even more worrying idea floated inside my head. What if I had to watch that asshole strip her and do what some of the other doms were doing to their subs?

My stomach soured and a growl wormed its way out of my throat, which yeah, I know I have no fucking claim on her.

I walked away.

But... It didn't stop my feet from moving a step closer, and about to take another, I caught the look she gave him and then watched her shoo him away like he was an annoying fly. 

She was putting him in his place.

There was a God and I stayed rooted to the spot and just gawped as Sasha flipped around and walked off, toward a display where a Dom was pouring wax on a sub.

I smirked and now I was moving, slowly trailing behind her.

The right thing to do would be to tap her on the shoulder and when she turned around get on my knees and apologise for being a prick and leaving her and then ignoring her.

But I didn't. Instead two long strides and I had my arm wrapped around her slim waist.

God, this felt right, like I was finally awake. I tightened my grip on her with one arm, and dropped my hand to her opposite hip, squeezing it before sweeping my lips across the sensitive skin behind her ear.

Fuck I missed her smell.

I might as well admit it because I sure as hell didn't understand it but I was already halfway if not the whole way in love with this woman.

"Tell me, if I slip my hand under your dress, will I find you naked and wet for me?" I whispered, but kept from using her name although I had hundreds of names I'd love to call her.

Duchess. Baby. Good girl. Perfect little slut. Whore... and maybe, hopefully, one day. Wife.

Yeah, it's crazy, but one thing was crystal clear. She would be... Mine.

Once I'd convinced her.

Sasha froze and I wasn't sure she'd stopped breathing, and my brain told me to unwrap myself from her and step back. But I'd walked away from her once. Not making that mistake twice. So when her brain inevitably fired up and she joined the dots, I was ready.

"Ellis!" she hissed. "What the hell?" Her body went rigid as she tried to pull away but I refused to let her go. My arm tightened around her waist, maybe a little too tight, but I held on pulling her even closer. Every inch of her now pressed against every inch of me. Perfect.

I just had to hope she listened to what I had to say. And I will happily take whatever she throws at me. Do anything she wants.

Begging—She's got it.

Wants to punch me—Have at it.

Hell, she could ask me to lie down and leave puncture marks all over me with those sexy 6-inch stilettos she had on if it proved to her how sorry I was.

Bring it all on, I say.

"Miss me, Duchess?" I murmured with a chuckle. Her free hand wrapped around the forearm banded over her middle, and she dug her sharp nails into my skin. I huffed out a breath. "Fight me all you want. I'm not letting you go again."

There. I'd said it. Plain and simple.

She paused, then let out a humourless laugh. "Why would I want someone who walked away without a glance back and wouldn't even take my calls or return just one message, prick."

My smirk turned into a smile. "That's not a no, Duchess."

Her nails scraped down my skin so roughly I wouldn't be surprised to see blood. "Oh, you need me to say—"

"I'm sorry, Sasha," I breathed, cutting off her adorable tirade as I rubbed my thumb over her hip in soothing strokes. "I made a mistake. One I won't make again. And whatever you want from me to make this right. You only have to ask. It's yours. But I'm not leaving here without you. I missed you. I want you. I think about you non-stop and I was a fucking moran to let my pride get in the way and not come get you."

In response to my words, her entire body shuddered. It took her a moment to soften a little and even longer to fully sink into me, but when she did, It felt like I'd won the lottery.

And, when her head tipped back, giving me full access to her long, swan-line neck, I didn't need an invite to let my tongue take a swipe.

"Sasha, who the fuck?" a voice interrupted.

She wiggled free and spun around. Her cheeks were beautifully flushed and her eyes a little glassy as they met mine.

I held her gaze for a second before I turned to the guy. My nostrils flared and my eyes slit. "Who the fuck are you?" It's the same asshole from earlier—the one she dismissed with the flick of her hand.

Was he a Dom? He had that vibe—there wasn't a servile bone in his hard-looking body.

He moved to stand beside her and slid his arm protectively around her waist. "Her fiancé."

The what now?

"Ellis?"

A familiar voice had my head whipping around.

Shit, Jason.

And Emma was standing next to him smiling up at me. He didn't look pissed, if anything he seemed amused. How long had he been standing there?

Who do I deal with first? Well, there's no competition. It's Sasha. Looking back at her. "Fiancé?"

Sasha lifted his hand from her and stepped away from him. She glanced between me and Jason. "Who are they?"

She hadn't answered my question, but I would indulge her. "Jason Bents and Emma, his sub."

She blinked rapidly. "Jason, the guy from the grad party?"

Oh, yeah. I'd told her about that.

I nodded and now something else flashed in those blue eyes of hers. Flickering blue flames. Oh yeah, She's pissed at me.

"He's a Dom, and—" she stopped and stared at Emma. "Are you scening with them?" Her voice pitched. "The three of you?"

"No. Yes." I shrugged. "Maybe."

Her lips sank into a frown, and she made a gurgling sound in her throat as her eyes bounced back to me and spat out through gritted teeth, "Which one is it, Ellis?"

"Never mind that," I batted back and repeated "Fiancé?" with my eyes slipping down to see the big fuck off ring sat on her perfectly manicured finger.

"Yeah. No. Kinda," she answered and then dropped another question with a bone-chilling glare. "You replaced me already? Was it that easy, Ellis?"

Obviously she's put two and two together and come up with five.

"This. Me. Them. Is not what it looks like." It wasn't. Jason helped me figure some shit out and now I was here just to learn. "And don't try and turn this around, Duchess, when you're here at Risk with the same idea and what's worse you're halfway to being married! I mean c'mon, what the fuck?"

"Sasha who the fuck is this?" He looked at me like I was something he'd stepped in. "Boy!?"

Boy!? Oh, he was asking for it and I squared my shoulders.

Sasha rolled his lips in thought. Beautiful lips. Full, firm, kissable... before shaking her head with her eyes filling. "I can't do this. For weeks I—"

Shit. She looked like she was going to cry and it had me bravado deflating. I stepped toward her but the asshole moved, planting himself between us. "Back off. I'm warning you," he threatened.

"Warning me?" I eyeballed him. Yeah, I could take this asshole down and my hands balled into fists reading to do just that.

I heard a huff from behind him and then Sasha was walking away, well, more like running.

Fuck. "Sasha, hold-up!"

I went to leave—to follow but Jason stopped me with his hand now wrapped around my arm. I turned around and almost growled at him as I yanked myself free. "Ellis, That's Sasha, from London?"

I nodded watching the asshole take off after Sasha.

"I can't let her go. She's back in the US. Zack isn't here..." I stopped to breathe. "I need to find out what the fuck is going on. Can I call you?"

His eyes locked on me with guarded focus, then he nodded. "Good luck. I think you're gonna need it."

Yeah, but Sasha Darling doesn't know it yet, but she's mine. Body, mind, heart, and fucking soul, and I'll prove it to her.

Even if she fights me every step of the way.

Outside Risk, I look left and right. She or the asshole were nowhere to be seen. Shit. But I ain't quitting. Not now. "The more you run, Duchess, the harder I chase."

Where would she go? Her dad owned a few properties. A beach pad. An apartment and the main house. The beach pad was closest. That would be my first stop.

Two hours later, two fucking long-ass hours, I was at the final location. The beach house and the apartment were dead ends. So, she had to be here, right?

Unless she'd gone home with that prick. Her fiancé? And if that was the case, I would start searching for her tomorrow. Get my dad to ring Ryan, her dad.

Pressing the doorbell, she's either not here or ignoring me. I stepped back and moved to a small window and peered inside. I could see the staircase and at the bottom were a pair of shoes—hers.

She was here. I walked around the house to see if I could find a door or window open.

Yeesssss!

I wanted to fist pump. This was even better.

There she was.

She was sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat, her spine straight, shoulders relaxed. Her hands rested gently on her knees, palms facing upward in a gesture of openness. Her eyes were closed and I stared as she breathed deeply, her chest rising and falling rhythmically with each inhale and exhale.

She looked beautiful earlier with her hair all done up and that fancy dress. But the sight of her here, her hair a sexy ruffled mess piled on top of her head. Wearing yoga pants and a thin shirt.

Daaayum.

She's stunning. Fucking incredible.

How had I ever fooled myself into thinking that tiny bit of time with her would be enough?

I moved closer, almost stalking her but she's deep in the zone and not even twigged I was here.

I halted my steps as she transitioned from a seated position into a pose known as the downward-facing dog. She planted her palms firmly on the mat, fingers spread wide, and lifted her hips towards the sky, forming an inverted V-shape with her body. Her heels pressed down towards the floor as her tailbone lifted, elongating her spine.

In this pose, her ass sat high in the air, creating a noticeable curve in her lower back, while her head hung loosely between her arms.

Christ. Her perfect-sized ass with just enough curves to hold onto was begging for my hand to spank it, remembering the lovely shade of red it went last time she was over my lap.

My dick liked that idea too.

Get on with it, asshole. Time to surprise her ."Sasha..." I spoke her name softly.

Startled, she almost lost her balance, teetering precariously before regaining her composure. With a swift movement, she righted herself and stood up and whirled around with her huge blue eyes locked on my face.

"Ellis?" She looked around. "What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded not holding anything back practically spitting fire as her small hands balled into tight fists.

Something else that I'd missed. That fire.

"Y'know what!" she started. "I don't care. Leave."

Her lips parted. Her eyes glimmered, and her perky tits rose and fell with her angry breaths—all of it filled me with immense pleasure.

I could spend the rest of my life watching her react that way...while she's bouncing on my cock.

And shit, she wasn't wearing a bra. The pale pink shirt may as well be transparent. Dusky nipples brushed against the fabric, peaked tight little buds.

No way my dick was behaving now, damn thing was practically waving at her through my slacks and I resisted the urge to adjust my boner. "Forgive me, Duchess, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I asked you to leave. We have nothing to talk about." Her tone wasn't as bitter as the smile she was now wearing.

But I needed to keep on track. "Where is the fiancé?"

She huffed out and her hands uncurled. "He's not my fiancé—not really." I don't have a clue what she means but she carried on "It's a fake engagement and as soon as my dad sorts out my mom, then I won't be pretending any longer."

I still wasn't following. "Does he know that?" He looked pretty damned possessive of her earlier. I thought he might whip out his cock and piss all over her.

"Oh, he knows." She angled her chin up in defiance.

She's not lying. And if he's not an obstacle then I don't give a shit about him. "You're mom? What—she's back?"

Her face fell. "Yeah."

I know Sasha has mommy issues and I didn't help with that.

"When and why is she back—now?"

She shrugged and now looked a little lost and sad, kinda reminded me of when we were kids.

She stared off into the distance, her voice lowering. "Just go, Ellis. You didn't want me weeks ago and it looks like you've already moved on."

Wasn't gonna happen and I prowled toward her. Sasha's head lifted and backed up.

"What are you doing?" she continued to step back with a flicker of heat dancing in her eyes. "Go on. Go. Leave."

The eyes never lie. Game on. "You should probably run, Duchess."

With a sharp inhale, she spun and darted into the house. My pulse spiked as I chased her heart-shaped ass through the kitchen and into the hall before catching her in front of the staircase.

It was an ungraceful impact of heavy breaths when I almost slammed into her.

I braced for a tumble, maybe even a half-hearted struggle. But what I didn't expect was the punch she threw at my head. I dodged it, anticipating a follow-through. Adrenaline flooded my veins as her second swing forced my body backwards.

She missed. I grinned. She grinned back and reared her arm for a third strike.

Bring it on, Duchess.

Owww... fucking hell.

Her knee connected with my groin to inflict the maximum amount of pain.

"Fuuuuck!" I doubled over at the waist, sucking in air with my eyes watering.

Holy fucking shit, that hurt.

"Oh my God, Ellis!" She hugged my bowed head to her chest and ran her fingers through my hair. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

Got ya, and I lifted her from her feet and moving fast pinned her to the nearest wall. "You should've kept running."

"Put me down!" Those blue flames were back. "Now. Ellis!"

It did nothing to stop me, but it did put a smile on my face. "How about we take this to your bedroom, huh?" Yeah, I was being very fucking presumptuous, but...

"Fuck you, Ellis."

"I'm ain't stopping you, Duchess." With my hand on her ass and what's surprising was my erection was back, I rolled my hips. "You can walk upstairs or I'm carrying you."

Her glare was lethal.

So be it. I threw her over my shoulder. It was an easy move taking us upstairs. She rained down curses and fists. I slapped her ass. "Keep talking, beautiful, you're only turning me on more."

At the top of the stairs, I headed straight for her room, kicking open the door with my foot. My smile widened as I spotted her dress from earlier on the floor. Less than three strides and I dumped her unceremoniously on top of her bed. And before she could scramble away, I was on top of her, my chest pressed against hers as I pinned her hands above her head.

"Get off me!" She bucked beneath me, kicking and writhing around.

"God, you're feisty." I trapped her legs with the weight of mine.

She speared me with another look and here was me thinking Zack was the King of scowls—she was a fucking queen.

"Shhhh." I shifted her wrists to one hand and gently brushed the hair from her face. "I'm not leaving until you hear me out."

"There is nothing you can say that I would want to listen to."

I released her arms and braced my upper body on my elbows putting a little space between our chests.

She huffed loudly. "I can't think when you're this close."

"You don't have to think. Just listen." I stroked her hair waiting for her to calm down. And when she softened I used a little manipulation, "Good girl."

Something else flared in the blue eyes that I'd missed so goddamn much but then she tried to hide it. "How's your balls?"

"Throbbing." I trailed my hand down her neck over the thin material of her shirt and over her tit. "That what you did was really badass, Duchess. A major turn-on."

She shocked me with a laugh and her eyes now sparkled. "Only you can take a shot below the belt and maintain an erection."

"Only you can give me an erection."

"You're so full of shit, Ellis."

With a hard pinch, I tweaked her nipple. She shivered as her breathing evened out, but I could still see she wanted to chew me out when she asked, "Why are you still here?"

"Leaving you was a mistake. I'm here to make it right."

Her chin trembled. "You can't." She turned her head. The plea cracking her voice felt like a fist in my chest.

With a gentle grip on her jaw, I forced her eyes back to mine. "I'm sorry, Sasha."

"What about him at the club... and her."

Her jealousy was a good sign. "Your jealousy turns me on."

"I'm not jealous." She tried to feign outrage but I could see straight through her.

"Jason helped me figure out this thing—what's going on with me and guys, or namely, just Zack." Was I making sense? But I carried on. "And Emma, she's Jason's sub. I have no interest in Emma."

"Have you been with anyone else?"

My gaze roamed over her lickable body, and I slid her a smile that screamed I loved what I saw. "I'm not gonna lie, I've tried to get you out of my head using other women."

Her eyes narrowed.

"It didn't work. I regret leaving you, but I couldn't tell you that because I thought you wanted Zack more than me."

"I didn't," she insisted with two small lines appearing between her eyes but then her face relaxed as she said. "Zack doesn't want me—without you."

"Then that makes him twice as stupid as me."

Her eyes glassed over and I stroked across her flamed cheek. "Hey," I dipped and brushed my nose against hers. "I mean it. I'm sorry, Sasha."

"He was so cruel, Ellis and..."

My head yanked back. "Cruel? What did he do?"

She took a shuddering breath and told me what happened. By the time she's finished the range of emotions I was experiencing was almost crippling. Her words made me feel so insanely, barbarously protective of her. I'd never experienced that primal reaction with anyone. I'd never wanted to bring unholy hell upon a person, but I was burning to do exactly that now. "I'll fucking kill him."

Pale lines bracketed her mouth before a stubborn mask slid down, shielding her emotions. "It doesn't matter. I'm over it. He wanted to push me away and it worked."

Still, I wanted to punch the bastard but her next question caught me off guard.

"What do you want, Ellis?"

But it's an easy answer. "You, Sasha. You're the one I can't walk away from." I cupped her jaw, my eyes as steely as my voice. "And we don't need Zack."

She pressed a finger to my lips as she stared at my mouth.

I wanted to kiss her so bad but she had to take that leap forward.

And I waited with every cell in my body protesting.

But then she sighed. "I can't do this." and pushed at my chest. "I give you what you want and then what? When you decide it's not what you—"

This time I let her push me back and I moved to sit back on my heels as she sat on the edge of her bed with her back toward me.

"Tell me what to do here, Duchess."

"What I wanted was us. The three of us."

"What? You still want him after what he did to you?"

Another regretful sigh. "My head tells me I'm stupid but my heart tells me it's him..." she turned to look at me. "And you...Ellis."

"He's not here. But I am, Duchess. Willing to do whatever you want to prove to you I'm all in."

She shook her head. "I don't just want a Dom, Ellis."

"Okay, what do you want?"

"I want something real."

"Real? As in dating? A relationship?" It would be a first for me.

"Yes, see... The colour is draining from your face as I've said it."

"Duchess, you're reading me all wrong. You want this to be exclusive? You got it. You got me."

Sasha tried to hide the small smile behind her hand but it was too late I already saw it. "I think you want me, Duchess."

She sat up straighter. "I already told you my head says no and I've quit listening to my heart."

Smugly I carried on. "I think you'll put up a good fight but I'll win in the end." I grinned wolfishly.

Her eyebrows arched. "Oh really?"

"Yeah."

"And why's that?"

"Because you find me irresistible."

"Oh my god, Ellis, your head is huge!'

"I know, and you want it thrusting inside you. But I think we need to talk a little more first."

She gasped.

And I pulled her to lie down and I moved over her again.

"Ugh. You make it really hard..."

"And wet. Don't forget to get wet, Duchess. " I winked.

"Really, Ellis. Right now with the sex jokes?"

"I can't help it, you have a wet patch in those tight yoga pants and honestly it's distracting."

She looked mortified as she tried to glance down but I was blocking the view. "Shit."

"Take them off for me?"

She rolled her eyes and I think I may have just clinched this.

"I can promise you two things, Sasha."

She huffed out trying to look like she wasn't interested, but I knew she was. "What?" she said giving in.

"One—I'll always look this good." This time she laughed. "And two. I'm always gonna want you. Just let me be what you want. What you need."

I kept my eyes on hers and hers were swimming with emotion. "Give me another chance, Sasha. Let me prove it."