In her ambitious state, Ellora didn’t hold back. She dove right in, tilting her head for better access as she sought to deepen the kiss. Her tongue explored his hot, expectant mouth. Behr growled roughly as he gripped a fistful of her shirt, and Ellora couldn’t help but smile. He was losing his grip on his control, his muscles flexing and twitching from the stress of holding back. But, she didn’t want him to. She wanted him to let go.
Daringly, she locked her leg around his hip, and when she pulled him in tighter, Behr finally reacted. Reaching up, he grabbed hold of the elastic holding her hair up and yanked it out. Behr couldn’t wait any longer. He ran his hands through the silky strands, gently pulling her head where he wanted it. Strong lips crashed down on hers with a desperate need to possess. His movements became dominant and demanding, pushing the kiss deeper. All that could be heard was their panting breaths mingling together in the silent warehouse. The sound echoed around them, heightening their need for each other.
Ellora willingly gave herself over to Behr as he sought to devour her. Pushing his tongue past the seal of her lips, he stroked hers with intoxicating friction that drove her wild. Without warning, he untangled his hands from her hair and wrapped them behind the backs of her thighs. He brought her legs off the ground, effortlessly lifting her in the air. She reflexively wrapped her tiny legs around his solid steel waist.
Behr groaned out against her whetted lips, “Yes, my love, I want to feel your warmth wrapped all ‘round me.” He worshiped her with his attentive mouth. Each tender touch and glide of his expert tongue had her climbing higher and higher, needing a release. From what, she wasn’t sure of yet. Ellora coiled her hands in his thick, dark hair, tugging him impossibly closer.
“Behr… I Love you. So much.”
After her quiet admission, Ellora swayed with the rhythm from each commanding step Behr took, moving with purposeful steps across the room. A breeze created by the swiftness of his stride tickled the back of her neck. Her back met the cracked stucco wall moments later, and a wave of exhilaration flooded Ellora as he pressed his weight into her, caging her in.
A breathy moan escaped her lips the moment Behr’s body pressed into her. Ellora submitted herself to the beautiful pressure he created as he deliberately ground his hips against hers in a rhythm that was soon to be her undoing. For the first time, neither one of them stopped. They desperately needed to be closer to each other. Their bodies called out to one another, needing to feel skin against skin. No matter how close they got, it was never close enough. They always wanted more… needed more.
Ellora’s breathing grew ragged as his strong, roughened fingers dug into her thighs, massaging the flesh of her quivering legs. Her skin grew hot under the provocative path of his possessive touch. Ellora was surprised at where her thoughts were headed, because she desperately longed for his demanding hands to continue their torturous pressure further up her thighs where her ache was growing more and more powerful.
“I love you, Ellora. You. Are. Mine. Always,” he proclaimed against her throat as he dragged his lips down the length of her neck. His stubble abraded her heated flesh and sent shivers down her spine.
Loud cat-calling and whistling had them snapping their heads up and over to the door. There stood Gavin and Adelle, wiggling their eyebrows and smiling at the hot couple. Ellora wasn’t sure how long they’d been standing there, but the pair looked very entertained by the free show they unknowingly provided. Not quite ready to let go, Behr continued to place wet kisses over her cheeks, chin, forehead, the tip of her nose, and both eyelids. He was completely undeterred by their invading company.
“Ugh!” Ellora groaned in frustration, “We’ve got to start doing this in private. We are always getting interrupted… right when things start getting good.” Pouting up at her very own dreamy alpha male, she jutted her bottom lip out like a petulant child. Behr nibbled the protruding lip she offered, slowly lowering her back down to the ground. Once the dazed girl’s feet touched the dirty concrete floor, reality set in. Ellora flushed scarlet at her very brazen, public act.
Behr ran his thumb over her reddened cheeks. Nuzzling into the hair beside her neck, he whispered low in her ear, lacing his tone thick with the lust he tried so hard to keep at bay, “Soon, love. Very soon, I will have you all to myself. And I promise you, no one will interrupt us.” She gasped in surprise as he growled his own frustrations and bit her neck. Excitement and anticipation for time alone with Behr had her trembling all over. She couldn’t wait for that promise to come to fruition.
Adelle tip-toed carefully through the debris, trying hard to avoid the dirtiest spots. She cautiously avoided the glass littered all over the floor. “You are never going to get this place up and running if you spend all of your time necking on every surface and in every room available, you know. You two can christen the place with your love when it’s all done up proper.” Avoiding a low hanging cobweb, Adelle ducked and squeaked out, “Eeeew. It’s so dirty and disgusting in here! How is this even romantic?”
Gavin swiped the cobweb out of the way. Grasping her elbow, he turned her around to face him. “C’mon, Ellie… It doesnae hurt to get a little dirty… yeah?” Ellora smiled at them as he wiggled his brows, winking at her naughtily.
Adelle just rolled her eyes at his innuendo. “Aye, stop that!” She giggled when the beautiful man before her wiped his finger in a pile of dust and brushed it down the porcelain skin of her bare arm.
“Not so fast, pretty boy. Before this girl gets down and dirty with anyone, she expects to be wined and dined first.” Turning on her heel, Adelle crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly. She left his side and walked toward her friend. Gavin absentmindedly nodded his head. His serious expression looked as if he was taking mental notes and filing them away for later.
He adored her so much. Ellora looked on, hoping that Adelle would get over the past and give Gavin a chance to prove he’d changed his playboy ways. After all, neither one of them were kids anymore. Ellora took in a few calming breaths, attempting to douse the passion that Behr had ignited. She looked up, feeling him watch her intently. His eyes were dilated fully, blocking out the blue of his irises. Grudgingly, he let her go. Still hot and bothered, she stumbled on quivering legs a total of two steps before he grabbed hold of her hand, stopping her in her tracks.
Behr walked right up to her with a devilish glint in his eyes. His large, imposing frame towered over hers. Smirking, he bent low, like a gentleman greeting his lady. He lowered his lips to her knuckles and pressed a soft kiss, promising a ‘to be continued’ with his eyes. Ellora’s stomach flipped and clenched tight in response to his touch, the soft kiss, and the look that roved over her.
Reluctantly, she pulled away from him. If she didn’t get back to work, this place would never be ready... not anytime soon. Clapping her hands together, she psyched herself up for the job ahead. It was time to get down to business. “All right, guys. No more fooling around.” She looked right at Behr, who smiled broadly at her. Oh, this boy. That smile could melt the clothes off a nun. “Let’s get down to work. Gavin, hand me the wide broom and dust pan. Behr… please grab the large garbage can over by the back door. Time to get this stuff off the floor so we can really get some work done in here.”
Adelle interrupted before Ellora could assign her a job. “I brought over snacks from Kristy’s.” Adelle smiled brilliantly, lightly shaking a large bag dangling from her perfectly manicured fingertips.
“Good, I’m starving.”
“Aye, sister, you’re starving a’right… But, it’s for that man over there, I’d say.” She nodded her head in Behr’s direction, scrunching up her nose as she teased the flush-faced girl. Ellora’s wide, embarrassed smile was her only answer. Brat!
“All right, Miss Hollywood Glamour, I have a change of clothes for you.” Pointing a threatening finger in the fashionable girl’s direction, she continued, “You, Miss Thang… owe me a day of labor, and I’m collecting that debt today.” The dressed to
the nine, strawberry-haired princess grabbed the clothes she was handed and stuck her tongue out as she strutted into the decrepit bathroom to change.
Dalton remained motionless, his sharp eyes transfixed on the monitor in front of him. The brilliant light from the sizable screen was the only illumination in the otherwise dark room he occupied. The soft glow wrapped around him and faded away. His chin rested on his steepled fingers as he sat glaring with disdain. It took all of his willpower to keep his demeanor controlled and calm. He wanted nothing more than to jump through the monitor when that Neanderthal put his hands all over his dark beauty. It should be his lips tasting her. No one else was deserving.
The only thing that kept him from making his presence known was that he knew he was no match, physically, against that big beast hanging all over her. This was a game of chess. He had to choose his moves wisely. Dalton sneered as Ellora swept up the mess around her. “I’m going to have to work quicker than I had originally anticipated. I had no idea you were this desperate for affection, my love.” Dalton spoke to the object of his deepest obsession while he stroked his fingertips over her hair on the screen.
It was easy enough to find out who the previous owners of the warehouse were, and he knew full well his green-eyed goddess wouldn’t be able to resist a family business, or a cheap lease. Dalton had installed several hidden monitors a week before she signed the contract. Now, he could keep an intimate eye on her, learn what she liked and what she didn’t. He enjoyed appraising her every move.
The months she spent away from him nearly drove him mad. That was time he was determined to make up for. “You’ll be mine soon enough, Ellora Belle, and this time, I won’t let you go. You belong to me. Since the moment I laid my eyes on you… You. Were. Mine. In due time, I will own all of you. Mind. Body. And soul.” Kissing his fingers, Dalton pressed them firmly over Ellora’s stunning face, just as she seemed to look directly at him on the screen. “I will possess all of you.”
Pulling out his cell, Dalton confidently punched in the numbers he had previously been given and waited. He wasn’t sure until now, but he was going to have to switch tactics. Time was of the essence, and he had to up his game.
“Shannon? Hello, darling. I was told by an associate of mine about your situation. Well, I believe we can help each other out. Yes. We both have something the other needs. Let’s meet up and discuss it. Tell me your address. I will have my man contact you when I’m ready to collect you.”
Dalton ended the call without any confirmation from the girl. She didn’t know it yet, but her choices had officially ended. She was caught up in Dalton’s web, and just like the rest of his ‘employees’, she wouldn’t ever get out. Sitting back down in his chair, his eyes immediately located Ellora on one of the many monitors set up. The enigmatically disturbed man glared, infatuated with the one girl who had ever dared tell him no.
She was working herself into a sweat. He despised the idea of his girl getting her hands dirty. She deserved better. She deserved to be indulged and waited on hand and foot, not the other way around. She deserved riches, power, and status. She deserved to be in the presence of Dalton, and he would have her soon enough. Whether she chose to ignore that truth or not was no matter. That was a lesson she’d learn soon enough.
Being this close to his green-eyed temptress, and not at liberty to stroke her perfect skin, was driving him insane with months of pent up desire. He desperately wanted to be in a room alone with her. It became quite clear to Dalton from the very first week he arrived that he was going to have to get rid of Ellora’s new… admirer, and fast. If he waited too long, she would most certainly be tainted by the big man pushing his way into her arms, and most obviously, into her bed. Dalton wanted to get his hands on her first.
Many sleepless nights, Dalton fantasized about being the one and only man who got to break her in. There was no way this beast was going to be that man. He already had several back up plans lined up for getting this bearded brute out of the way. Permanently. There was no changing his mind… No one touched what was his and lived. No one ever had, and no one ever would.
Eva looked out over the tight-fitting, crowded circle of chairs. She was a little shocked when she caught sight of Giddeon hovering by the entrance, hesitating by the heavy metal door. It looked as though he was going to bolt at any moment. Obviously, he was completely out of his comfort zone here. The thought made her smile. He didn’t look like the man trying hard to scare and intimidate, like he’d done when she first met him. He just looked lost.
Giddeon scanned the room. His eyes connected, locking in on hers. They regarded each other for a few more silent moments, the tension rising noticeably. Slowly… very slowly, he willed his legs to move forward, inching his way across the room. All of his focus was on the beautiful blonde, Eva. Was it possible that she had become even more stunning since he last feasted his eyes on her? The room and all the people in it ceased to exist as he made his way over to his Angel. Staring at nothing else around him, his eyes were imprisoned by hers.
The expression that was ever-present on his face gave her pause as he approached. The counsellor’s stomach twisted itself into knots when the powerful pull from his dark onyx eyes were cast down on her.
He was dangerous. Not just biker bad boy dangerous… he was really a force to be reckoned with. She could see it in his unusually cold eyes, void of any emotion. That is, until he aimed them in her direction. She didn’t dare put a name to the look he struck her with.
Which was exactly why she had to try and stay away from him. Getting too close to a person like him was bad for Eva. She was having a hard enough time trying to keep her own life on track. Warning bells sounded off inside of her every time he was around, and she knew that Giddeon would drag her down into the darkness with him. After all, misery craved company. She’d experienced that first-hand growing up.
Dark and marked up, Eva knew he had been through the ringer, she just didn’t know what happened… yet. But, she would get to the bottom of it. Instinctively, she wanted to reach out and help him, help end the suffering he tried so hard to hide. That suffering, she recognized it all too well, and she would help him start fresh and enjoy living his life.
It would be extremely difficult to avoid him now that he would be in her group sessions. Detective Antonelli called her early that morning and gave a very brief overview of Giddeon’s story. Story… Yeah, right. He told her he had issues and tragedies that he had suffered as a kid, but gave no specifics. When she offered other groups available, besides hers, the Detective said Giddeon refused every other session… He specifically requested her.
When Eva asked why the sudden urgency, Dominick touched briefly on what had happened last night. Giddeon was a cutter. Oh, yeah, and the best part… he had a terrible anger problem as well. Great. Eva asked him to elaborate, but he said he wasn’t at liberty to disclose it. Eva’s curiosity was definitely piqued. What was the deal with this dark stranger?
He made his way through the circle of chairs with ease, as his sinister, ominous presence and marked up body parted the group like the Red Sea, all too eager to move out of his way. Giddeon stood next to Eva, shooting daggers at the man who currently occupied the chair next to her. Jeff, a man struggling terribly to kick a meth habit, twitched anxiously as the nefarious figure towered over him. Jeff looked everywhere but up at the menacing stranger.
“You’re sitting in my seat. Get up… Now.”
Jeff, not willing to pick a fight with a man who looked like he could be the Grimm Reaper himself, got up swiftly. The moment the chair was free, Giddeon grabbed the back of it and dragged it closer to Eva. Jeff nervously scratched at one of the many scabs on his arm, muttering under his breath when he was at a safe distance away, “Whatever. Prick.”
Oh, God, please keep me strong. I have to stay away from this dangerously delicious man, Eva silently pleaded to herself.
“Morning, Angel.”
Eva rolled her eyes at his insistence on callin
g her that. She couldn’t help but ask, “What are you doing here? There are other groups, other counsellors.”
He cocked his head to the side and flashed a self-assured, crooked smirk in her direction. His goal was to look confident, in control, but Eva could see right through him.
“I’m here to see you.”
She had seen this many, many times before. He wasn’t there to just flirt, or try to pick her up. He was there for a real reason and was struggling to keep that reason hidden. He needed help, just like everyone else in the group. But, there was something about this man that pulled her into his world. He was somehow different than all the other cases she’d seen or heard of.
Giddeon’s destructive personality mirrored that of a dark tornado, all-consuming and undeniably lethal. Instead of running in the other direction, like most seemed to do when encountering him, Eva was unfathomably drawn directly into the path of his destruction. The longer she was in his presence, the stronger the pull. She shook her head to free her wayward thoughts. He was already getting inside of her head, and he’d only uttered seven words total.
“Okay, guys, time to start. My name is Evangelina Baker. Please, everyone, call me Eva. I’m a survivor of the domestic and substance abuse I suffered at the hands of my mother and step-father. I am your counsellor and group leader.”
Everyone answered back mechanically through sheer habit, “Hi, Eva.”
All except Giddeon. She could feel him watching her every move from her peripheral vision. She snuck a quick glance in his direction, only turning her head slightly. His eyes were hyper-focused, penetrating, and infinitely intense. “Pleasure to meet you, Angel.” His voice came out sounding irresistibly low and rough, like sharp gravel. It did strange things in the pit of her stomach.
Eva didn’t like the way he used her nickname. Unlike the loving way her grandparents made it sound, the way Giddeon rolled the syllables off his tongue sounded uncomfortably familiar, intimate, and a little dirty. He had a way of manipulating her emotions. The way his tongue caressed the words as they left his mouth had Eva blushing as though she was put on display before him, completely naked and vulnerable.
Beyond Redemption (Marked Series Book 2) Page 6
