☼  Sasha  ☼

The awareness of him this close coated my skin with a prickle of goosebumps.

"Give me another chance, Sasha. Let me prove it."

I bit into my lip.  Could I?   And for some crazy reason, delicious heat flared inside my chest.

I shouldn't want to. I shouldn't want him.

Not when I'd begged and he walked away and definitely not when it had crushed my heart every time my messages and calls went unanswered.

However, he did seem sincere... But  that's how hearts get broken when you believe in their promises, the little whispers reminded me.

Ugh. What to do? 

And how exactly had I ended up here? The memory of coming home was elusive and vague because I'd been hijacked by a green-eyed harpy who was seething at Ellis for moving on with him and her.

Not even yoga helped unknot my emotions and then the next minute I was lying on my bed underneath Ellis Jenson's hard body.

It was jarring and worrying.

Had he put some messed up juju spell on me?

Another problem with him this close was the wet patch in my yoga pants...expanding.  As well as producing a pretty hard, throbbing lady boner. My clit had never felt so swollen as he pressed his clothed erection into the seam of my thighs.

Ignore it. Ignore it. Ignore it!

Ellis cut into my inner turmoil "I want you. I want you so fucking bad that I'm starving without you. Do you get that?" His breathing was laboured and there was a slight tremble in his voice.

Weirdly, it was overwhelming. Intoxicating. Everything.

Something else I should ignore but I swallowed thickly and my hand moved of its own free will. My fingers found his button-down shirt and tangled in the fabric, twisting it roughly. I wasn't sure if I was trying to pull him into me or push him away. "Can I trust you?" I murmured and this time I was the one to shush him when he tried to interrupt.

That lifted something in him and it was like I was seeing him for the first time. His eyes seemed a brighter blue with the odd silver fleck that I'd never noticed. His dark blonde hair looked softer and clean and was slicked back loosely in a haphazard style that screamed I spent six hours making it look this messy. I wanted to grip it and pull. His skin was tanned, like mine but unlike me, Ellis had had a dusting of pale freckles across his nose that I found utterly adorable. Not that I'd tell him.

"Look, I get it, you need to learn to trust me again." He ran his knuckle down my cheek. "But I'm going to be adamant, aggressive, and stubborn as hell in making you believe me."

Yeah, that I believed.

The bitter part of me wanted to tell him to take his sweet words and sexy ass right on outta here. Don't pass go, and head straight to hell.

But I didn't.

"You're smooth, I'll give you that." And before he could come back with another smart-ass reply, I carried on. "If I agree to give this—you a second chance..." The way his eyes lit up made my heart skip. "And when I say this, Ellis, I'm talking about a relationship. Exclusive."

The corner of his mouth crooked up and my gaze narrowed as I broke it down for him. "That means you can't go off to any club and scene with anyone else either." His brows rose slowly, perhaps because I was being so forthright. "I want dates and dinners. Scented candles and a love sonnet with long walks on the beach and holding hands."

Now I was just tossing out every romance scenario I could think of. I wasn't interested in beach walks, poetry or holding hands...well, maybe holding hands, I did like a man who could openly show and indulge me in affection.

He was surprised but actually seemed to like my demands judging by the wolfish grin. "Do you need me to sign a contract for all that?"

I scoffed, rolling my eyes at his suggestion. "Do you need one to behave?"

He gave it some consideration with that now glorious smile lingering on his stupid beautiful mouth. My eyebrows rose as I eyeballed him "Well?"

"Anything you want, Duchess... Starting right fucking now!"

His head dipped and I shoved my hand over his mouth before it landed on mine. "What? Do you expect to get laid before you've even coughed up for dinner? Were you not just listening, huh?"

I was only messing with him because it was fun watching his face contort with disbelief.

He pulled back a little now looking like he was in pain and with his voice strained he said, "Duchess. Fuck. Can we rain-check dinner? Tomorrow, I'll take you any-fucking-where you want to go. Dinner. Dancing. Movies—whatever—but right now." He gulped.

I opened my mouth to tease him a little more but he cut into my thoughts.

"Fuck this," he said with his lips crushing mine in an unstoppable collision. his tongue was hot and searching flicking against my hesitant one as he took what he wanted. I tried, honestly, to wrench away but he was too strong. I bit his lip, but he only growled and kissed me harder, his weight pinning me to the bed. 

I was helpless to stop him, but not because of his superior strength.

No, I know I'm weak because it's what I want. What I need.

And, oh god, I'd missed this. Missed him.

I melted into the kiss, my hands fisting in his thick hair and pulling him closer, giving him an unspoken licence to do whatever the hell he wanted. He broke the kiss and hovered his lips barely an inch from mine. "Tell me you want this, Sasha—" My name left his lips on a plea. "—You want me."

I stared hard at him and in his eyes I saw past the cockiness and he might've looked younger than me if it weren't for his chiselled jawline and day-old stubble and those sexy hooded eyes, fringed in thick lashes that promised things.

Dirty, painful things.

Things I wanted and I trembled at the thought and hated myself for craving it.

So with that raw beauty in his seductive eyes, a whisper passed between my ears, the kind that couldn't be unheard once acknowledged...

He's the one.

And I gave him those three little words and opened myself up. "I want you."

Our eyes locked for a fraction of a second, and whatever he saw in mine sent him into a frenzy. Before I could take another breath, he was yanking my yoga pants down my legs so roughly that I was pretty sure I'd have friction burns. But I lifted my hips to help until they were all the way off.

He draped my legs over his broad shoulders, my bare pussy on show for him to do as he wished. He breathed out my name as he trailed rough bites and kissed up my inner thighs. "I've missed you so fucking much."

"Please, Ellis," I curled my fingers in his thick hair, pulling him closer to where I wanted, and needed him.

"I know, Sasha," he groaned. "Fucking dreamed of doing this." His tongue snaked up my thigh, and I bucked my hips, desperate for a little friction to curb the growing ache.

He sucked my clit into his wickedly talented mouth and swirled his tongue over the swollen ache. My back arched off the bed, but he wrapped his forearms around my thighs and held me in place so he could keep control as I came apart on a breathless scream.

Blood pounded in my ears as my eyelids opened. I hadn't realised he'd moved and was now knelt beside me. "This would look much better on the floor," He didn't even bother taking the time to pop each button, no, he ripped open my thin shirt with a button almost taking his eye out to which he laughed.

His hand grabbed my breast and squeezed with his head dipping and mouth latching on, sucking and licking with need and adoration. Every touch of his lips and feverish caress of his hands heated my arousal, spreading it outward and reheating my body for another orgasm.

"Were you this attentive with all those other women?" I couldn't believe I asked that question. That jealous harpy was back reminding me how he said he had used other women to unseat me from his head.

And now she was out, it hurt and made me want to claw at his pretty face.

Yank out that tongue that might have spoken those same words to others.

I wanted to hurt him like he hurt me.

But it's just the jealousy talking.

Truth was.

The last person I wanted to hurt was Ellis.

He stopped and looked up. "If you're thinking about other women, then I'm doing this all wrong, Duchess." He moved up and bit my bottom lip. "But to answer your question. No, I used them to get me off. Nothing else. I'm a selfish bastard apart from when it comes to you. I want your happiness before my own."

I didn't like it, but could I be so judgey, when technically we weren't in a relationship?

"But now you're telling me there's an us I won't look at another woman. Don't need to." His cocky smirk was back. "Trust me you're more than enough for me to handle."

"Good, because I don't share, Ellis." Well, not with other women. There would only ever be one person...

I quickly dismissed the thought.

Stupid dreams.

"Same. And now that's cleared up. Up. I want you on your hands and knees.  I want to play with my little sexy, hot slut."

Ah... the magic word and my inner sub preened wanting what he was offering.

Ellis pushed up and I followed, although still a little lightheaded from my orgasm. But moving, I pulled off my tattered shirt and yelped when he flipped me over digging his fingers into my hips to steady me.

"Fucking perfect," he muttered. "Missed this too..."

The first slap was pure bliss.

The next, had I not been gushing already, that would have done it.

The third... there wasn't a third and I half turned my head to roast him when he ran his pointer finger up along my slit, making me squirm and moan. "Damn, did I cause this?" He scooped up some of my wetness and sucked his finger into his mouth.

"Asshole," I huffed.

He chuckled softly, and his warm breath was now teasingly close. Not close enough but still I shivered. "Not the worst thing you've ever called me, Duchess." Then he trailed his hot tongue from my slick opening to my clit, and I moaned his name.

That had him laughing harder. "I love how fucking desperate you get for me when my mouth is on you."

"It's not on me right now," I snarked back.

His hand collided with my ass three more times in rapid succession.

Then it stopped and he was now leaning over me, still clothed as his hand came around and gripped my jaw twisting my head and my husky cry was cut off with his hand over my mouth, then his lips, as he kissed me into a boneless goop. 

With his body bowed over my back and his fingers in my pussy, his other hand shifted and I heard his belt buckle and then his zipper coming down. His hard cock was gripped in his hand as he rubbed the broad head across my backside, slipping it between my legs. It was so hot and hard, it felt like a molten steel bar slowly easing its way in.

It's not enough.

I want it.

I needed it rough and deep right now, but I managed to gather enough brain cells to say, "That's all you got?"

With a harsh laugh, he fisted my hair, wrenched my head to the side, and breathed heavily, fiercely, against my neck. "You're about to get what I've got, brat..." He promised but then pulled away and the bed moved beneath me. 

My head whipped around to catch his reflection getting off the bed. I was about to protest but he started to undress, slowly.  

Ugh.  Could I call him a pussy-tease?

My grumble was loud and impatient.

"Don't worry, it will be worth the wait." His cocky smirk had me narrowing my eyes, more in frustration.

With another huff from me, he climbed back onto the bed behind me and then in one smooth move, he thrust, burying himself to the root.

Hallelujah.

I choked on a soundless scream as my body stretched around his cock. Ellis groaned deeply, gutturally, and his hands secured onto my hips, yanking me tighter against him as his forehead dropped to my spine.

Holy shit, I'd forgotten how thick and huge and hard... and so fucking hot I was sure my ovaries were panting.

"Jesus, Sasha." He ploughed into me with ruthless strokes. "I feel everything. Every ridge inside you. Every tight clench. It's so good. So damn good." He stared down at where we were joined, grunting with each thrust and sighing through every exhale. "Wish you could see this. The way your cunt grips my cock. It's fucking perfect."

My nipples hardened, and my breaths slammed in and out of my lungs. I felt him throbbing inside me, swelling and lengthening as I fastened down around him. His groans were like a drug. The tremors in his hands were the elixir.

Ellis was just as affected by this, by me, and his heady responses fed my addiction.

He kneed my legs further apart, adjusting my body the way he wanted it, and drove his hips into a frantic rhythm. "Watch me. Us."

I turned to catch our reflection in the mirror and in that moment his expression was so full of heat and dare I think it, devotion.

My stupid heart pounded in my throat, fully engaged and begging for forever.

Don't walk away again.

He leaned over again, tangling his fingers in my hair and forced me up to fetch his mouth to the corner of mine and nipped my lip.

Don't hurt me.

He kissed a trail along my jaw that ended at my ear with his breaths caressing my neck. He never broke eye contact in our reflection, never slowed the pace of his thrusts. The connection, the fusion of our bodies, the grip on my hair, and the intimacy of his eyes—all of it shoved me over the ledge.

Falling. Falling. Falling.

I came apart around him, grinding and moaning and clawing at the bedsheets. He rocked me through it, rolling his hips and cradling my head, with his open mouth pressed against my jaw.

"That was amazing." He kicked his hips, tormenting my overstimulated pussy. "We're good together, me and you, fucking perfect."

There was no holding back my smile.

After our highs dissipated, he dragged me to the shower where he washed me and held me whispering words I never knew he was capable of.

Beautiful.

Mine.

Forever.

Ellis's fingers gripped my ass and lifted me. Pushing me against the smooth tiled wall. His cock slid inside me. It was short, rough and to the point, but I didn't care, I felt more connected to him when we were like this.

"Oh, oh...God, Ellis!" And the second I cried out, Ellis let go of any shred of his control and his hips jerked with him cursing before slowing and resting his forehead against mine. "I'm never letting you go, Sasha."

Once we were both back in my bed, naked, Ellis pulled me close to him. My ass, not even slightly sore from his spanking as he hugged me tightly. Right now, I wished I could pause the moment. To close my eyes and simply enjoy this gorgeous and sometimes infuriating man. So far I didn't regret taking a chance. The Heart wants what it wants, even if my mind tried to convince it otherwise.

"God, you smell good," Ellis hummed burying his nose in my messy, damp hair.

I remembered something he said earlier and asked. "What did you mean Jason helped you figure stuff out, with guys?"

His chest expanded against my back as he nudged my ass with his semi-erect dick. He swept the hair away from my ear and brought his lips to it and nibbled.

I smiled. "Quit trying to distract me, Ellis."

Ellish sighed. "I let a guy fuck me, Sasha." I shivered remembering how hot it was to watch Zack fuck Ellis.

But hold on he was talking about Zack, right? "You mean Zack?"

"What? Yeah, obviously Zack. You think I've been letting anyone shove their dicks up my ass, Duchess?" Oops, he was still a little touchy about the whole 'bi' thing. "Getting back to the US, hell even before then I didn't have a clue what was going on with me, so I stupidly went to some gay bar."

I kept quiet in the hope he might expand but he didn't... "And?" I finally prompted.

"I drank too much and nothing. Jason came and found me, but I was already leaving and he brought me back home and kissed me."

My stomach soured. The jealous harpy reared her head.

"Don't worry Duchess. It just proved whatever this shit is—it appears that only Zack fucks with my head."

He needed to know what Zack had told me. "It wasn't a game to Zack. He wasn't trying to hurt you, Ellis." And, although it wasn't my story to tell, Zack hadn't said I wasn't to say anything to Ellis.

So I told him everything, and when I finished, silence slipped between us as he processed it.

"Okay. Fine. He wasn't messing with me," he started. "But it doesn't change the fact I'm pissed at him for what he did to you."

"Do you miss him?" I hated the fact that I did.

He rubbed his nose into my hair. "Yeah, and I don't know what to do with that either."

We lay there quietly with his fingers drawing circles on my hip when he asked, "Can I stay, tonight, here?"

Fighting a yawn and a smile. "Yeah, I'd like that." Not sure how Daddy would feel about it, but I could sneak Ellis out early before he got up.

"And tomorrow, what's up first? We could head to the beach and later, me and you are going to dinner..."

Oh shit. "I can't—" I interrupted him and wriggled myself free and turned around to face him. "I have a prior engagement." Literally speaking.

His nostrils flared in irritation and my lips quirked with a smile at seeing that vein of his on his forehead get all pissy. "With who?" he asked.

"I have to meet my mother for a dress fitting for the engagement party." I huffed out.

"What the fuck. Are you serious? I thought you said it was fake?"

"It is, but the dress and the party are real." I blew out a frustrated breath. "I haven't even seen a guest list."

"None of this sounds fucking fake to me, Duchess."

"I'll speak to my dad in the morning."

"I can be there, he might as well know about us. We can tell my parents too."

Before I could spiral down that particular rabbit hole, I shook my head. "That's not a good idea."

Ellis's jaw clenched. "What, so we have to pretend we're not in a relationship and I have watch you with that asshole?"

Oh, man, his vein in his temple was doing overtime and it suddenly felt cramped in the bed with his massive, brooding presence. I cupped his cheek and softened my tone. "It's not for long."

That didn't pacify him. "If your dad knows it's fake, then why can't we tell him?"

I was worried about my dad. He wouldn't talk to me. Wouldn't even look me in the eye and I'd never seen him this stressed and that was saying something because two years back he had a heart scare, working all hours, not eating or looking after himself.

Whatever was going on right now, I was worried he might give himself a heart attack. "Let me talk to him in the morning."

"Fine. But I'm not keeping my mouth shut for long."

I didn't want to hide either and I moved closer and quietened him with a kiss... It did the trick, for now.

~ ~

A/N:  Sorry no update 22 May 2024.  As well as having a crazy week the next chapter turned into a shit-show and I won't post if I'm not happy with it!  Sorry!  Back next week.