by Aria Cole
Twenty-One
Elle
Maxwell sat behind the circulation desk, soft lamplight caressing the hard angles of his jaw, while he read with a book propped in one hand. So endearing, so beautiful, so misunderstood. I wanted to crawl into his lap and listen to him read, then kiss away his pain and soothe away his worries. I thought I’d be able to at one point, but with the way he’d been last night, and then so short this morning… Even when he’d made up with me, he’d only done it out of obligation. He was a kind man; the protector in him was unable to walk away from someone in pain. I hadn’t been special and it led me to think that maybe he didn’t want me anymore. Maybe he’d used me. But for what? I had nothing that could appeal to such a beautiful, accomplished, well-rounded man as him. “Morning,” I finally offered when I entered the room.
“Mondays are slow. I’ve got shit to do in the back, so you won’t see me much. Call me if it’s an emergency.” He dropped the book on the desk, then stalked out of the room, leaving me more confused and more hurt than ever.
Crushed, I sat in his vacated seat and thumbed through the old volume he’d been reading. Monte Cristo, of course. Maxwell was a veritable stronghold himself with walls so high around his heart they were impossible to overcome.
I sighed, then glanced up at the clock, thinking I still had time to make myself a cup of coffee before the doors opened. I decided to make another cup for Maxwell, thinking it might cheer him up. Maybe caffeine would brighten his day like it did mine.
I padded back to his office a few minutes later, two steaming fresh mugs in my hands, and peered through the crack of his door. He sat at his desk, head in his hands, his hair wild as if he’d run his fingers through it a thousand times already this morning, before glancing up at me, a conflicted look on his face. His eyes burned with some intense pain that nearly shredded my heart with a blade. What could have this man so tortured?
I tried to lift my smile as I offered, “I brought you coffee.” I pushed my way in the door, thinking this may have been the wrong decision all together. His gaze sent chills racing down my spine.
“I only drink one cup in the morning. You wasted it,” he said blankly and, in those few words, my stomach rolled and I instantly wanted to crawl under the rug and never face him again. How could he take me like that? How could he use me last night and be so callous this morning?
I steeled my spine, sucking in a breath of courage before I slammed the coffee down on his desk, splashing it over the edge, as I spun to leave the room. He roared after me, but the slamming of the door muffled his curse words.
“I hope you stay locked up in here forever,” I grit through my teeth as I went back to the circulation desk, my nerves too wound to drink my own coffee. “Bastard.” I pushed a hand through my hair before glancing at the clock and seeing it was two minutes past nine. We were late to open. Good, I hoped it pissed him off even more. Working side by side with this jerk felt like it might turn into another form of Hell today.
Twenty-Two
Maxwell
I prowled out of the back office just before noon, feeling more frustrated than ever. My mind had spun itself out all morning with the implications of what I’d done—gotten rid of her problem, sure, but stepped into a giant pile of shit of my own. That sleazy fucker now knew where I lived, where she was, and could come back again and again. Maybe we should have told the cop last night about him, but at the time, I’d only wanted to do what was best for her, and no one else could do it better than I could. But maybe she’d taken me for a fool all along.
Who was this girl anyway? Where did she come from? I’d had her in my bed, tasted her cunt, and forced her to clean the floor naked, and I didn’t even know a damn thing about her.
I stalked down the short hallway until my eyes landed on her curvy form, just sliding the lock on the old door and closing us to the outside world for the next hour for lunch.
“In a hurry?” I said when she spun to find me waiting for her. Her sweet little brown eyes scrunched, her face falling in a quick frown before her eyes averted. Ouch. That hurt.
“I was going to go out for lunch,” she uttered and grabbed for her purse at the counter.
“We need to talk.” I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but thinking this felt too undone, too much left unsaid. Now was the time to make it right, tell her exactly how I felt, and tell her I couldn’t let her go. Not now. Not ever. “I have questions that need answering.” I saw her melt under my gaze. Like a shrinking violet, her shoulders hunched and her chin dipped, causing the self-loathing asshole within me to rage.
Without waiting for her answer, I pulled her down the nearest aisle and watched as she twisted her fingers together, the soft fabric of her shirt falling over her shoulder and caressing one full breast.
She was so beautiful. A sexy siren chasing my own lonely heart. Suddenly, I couldn’t keep my hands off her, her sweet doe eyes looking up at me, the wispy curls around her cheeks, the way her hips swung when she walked across the room. She’d driven me nearly insane watching her wash this floor yesterday like my own good little princess, and now here she was, pissing me off and turning me on at the same time.
“I don’t know what you do to me, but I don’t recognize the man I am when I’m with you,” I said with a serrated edge to my voice and spun her around in the stacks of books, her cheek pushed up against the musty spines, her fingertips grasping at the old wood that held the lengthy volumes. I needed her. I needed her before my mind exploded with all the pressing anxiety of her lying, her leaving, her loving. Her. Her. Her. Her.
Everything about her consumed me with all-encompassing madness.
My hands slid down her curves and up the soft slope of her ass before I thrust a hand down her pants and pushed the denim down her thighs. Her breathing picked up as my lips trailed across her neck and I dug my nose into the sweet strawberry scent of her hair. Jesus, I’d missed being close to her. Maybe I was punishing myself more than her when I’d pushed her over the edge last night. I didn’t know anymore; she had me so fucked up and inside my own head, and soothed in every other moment of her presence, it left me reeling. So I would fuck my energy away. It seemed the only thing that scratched the itch since she’d shown up on my doorstep like a drowned kitten, pleading for this job.
“You walk around so innocent. You don't know what you do to men like me.” I pushed my hands up her torso, pulling the shirt from her head and throwing it on the floor before my hands made quick work of her bra. “Driving me nuts. Making me think I can have you, filling my head with noise,” I ground, my thoughts running wild. “I won’t let you take advantage of me. I may have fixed your little problem,” I grit, thinking I was releasing more than just sexual energy on her, I was releasing everything. “Not anymore, beautiful,” I hummed.
“Either you’re mine, or you’re not, but you will not fuck with me.” I gave a soft yank on her hair before I pulled her hips to meet mine, and with one swift zip, my trousers were below my waist and my cock was lined up with her silky hot entrance.
“Do you want my cock?” I uttered, unsure why I needed her permission now when I’d taken it so forcefully the night before. But I wanted her to give it to me. I wanted to know she still needed me like I needed her. She stood silent, the quick twitch of her jaw and the slow rocking of her hips my only response. “Tell me. Be upfront with me, no more games, no more agendas,” I husked as the tip of my cock made contact with her sweet pussy. “I want you. All of you. Do,” I pushed in, “you,” another inch further, “want me?” With barely harnessed restraint, I waited in silent desperation.
I was surprised when her head whipped around and her eyes swam with something I couldn't quite place, before they narrowed and she slammed her hips back on my dick, seating me fully inside her body. “Take me,” she said in words that I’d never heard fall from her mouth. “Take me, Maxwell, but don’t be mistaken. You may think I’m sweet and innocent, but you don’t know what you’re dealing with. I
promise you that,” she spit before her hands clutched at the shelves. “Now take me.” She simpered, her eyes darting down to where we connected before she wiggled her ass and sent me over the edge of all sanity.
I lost it, right there in my own little library, amongst the old books I’d flipped through a hundred times each. I lost my mind buried inside Elle. She was every dream come true I’d never thought was possible, and I couldn’t fuck it up. I couldn’t let her walk another minute through this day without telling her that, but I’d never done this before. Never had to make a relationship work, and for the first time, I wanted one too.
I clutched at her soft hips as she moaned and rode my cock, thinking I needed to feel her, see her, touch her in every way, so I spun her in my arms and hitched her legs up over my hips and forced her to straddle me as I stood, planting her against the tomes and impaling her on my body again. “So fucking beautiful.” My hands dug into her hair and relished the strawberry scent filling my nostrils. “Your eyes, your body; so fucking perfect, it was made for me.”
Her head was tucked into my shoulder, so I couldn’t see her, but I could feel her. Everywhere. With her nails digging into the skin of my shoulders, I buried myself, chasing happiness with her I didn’t know was mine to have. “You’re mine. Do you hear me?” I pulled her chin up to meet my gaze. “Whatever happens. You. Are. Mine.” My orgasm burned low at my spine when her legs began to shake and her nails dug fiery scratches across my deltoids. I thrust my head back as she twisted her hips, fisting me like a glove, before my orgasm rocketed off through my body, tightening my muscles and stealing all the oxygen from the room.
Her legs slowly relaxed and I gently set her on the floor, making sure she was steady on her feet before I pulled her clothing from where I’d tossed it and helped her dress. And still, she didn't say a word. When she slipped the shirt over her head, covering the last bare flesh to my eyes, she turned away. Her hair fell in a dark curtain, hiding her from me.
Hiding her.
My gut twisted as I thought this was exactly what she did. Her coping mechanism; she was passive until…what? Would she blow up at me? Just leave? I couldn’t imagine that. This thing between us was too strong, wasn’t it?
I shoved a hand through my hair, wondering what the hell I was supposed to say or do, but feeling again like I’d just taken something from her that she wasn’t willing to give. That was me, pushing people around, taking what I wanted. This was why I didn’t have relationships and didn’t do well with people.
“I could order noodles?” I offered. When she didn’t answer, I turned to see her headed for the desk and her purse.
“I have a few things to pick up at the store. I’ll be back before one,” she said flatly before turning and unlocking the library door and walking straight down the steps and out of my life. Or at least the next twenty-six minutes.
I would count every single one until she returned.
Twenty-Three
Elle
I ran a hand through my dark hair, fingers shaking as I pounded down the steps and walked across Main Street, then turned a sharp right out of sight of Maxwell’s protective gaze. I had a feeling his eyes followed my every step. When I reached the opposite end of the block, I cut left and darted through an alley to come out on the back end of a building that faced Main Street. The same building I’d walked out of with only two duffels over my shoulder and a few thousand to my name.
The train station.
I darted up to the counter, thinking I didn't have a choice. I had to leave now. Not only had Tony found me and would undoubtedly be up to no good if I didn’t give him the money in the next week, but Maxwell… I didn’t want to leave him, and I didn’t want him to get hurt in the crossfire of my corrupt family. And then he’d very clearly seemed to use me. I’d seen it written all over his face and in the touch of his hands last night, and again less than ten minutes ago up against the stacks of books. My beast, taking me like a monster.
He couldn’t keep it caged. I was so foolish to think I could do it for him. The only thing was, he’d been gentle with me that first night. His hands soft and exploring my body like sand against silk. His every touch lighting me on fire and bringing me to soaring pleasure. I’d seen the world through different eyes, and sadly, I missed him already.
But apparently, he’d felt differently. Apparently, he’d heard “virgin,” wanted to take it from me, use and then leave me with angry grunts and condescending shakes of his head. I wouldn’t be under a man’s thumb; I’d been fighting my whole life to escape a father that’d used me and tossed me away on numerous occasions. I wouldn’t allow the man I loved to leave me feeling that way too.
So I summoned a deep breath and stepped up to the counter at the train station and smiled weakly at the ticket agent. “Philadelphia, please.” I chose the next city west I could get lost in.
Her dark eyes flicked down to her screen after assessing me for long moments. “Didn’t I just see you in here a few weeks ago?”
I averted my gaze, nodding. “Just a quick trip,” I offered, shuffling a bag on my shoulder.
“I thought you came in on the Boston train,” she murmured. I stood silent, not offering her an answer. Were all people nosy in this damn town? Maybe this had been the thing to chase Maxwell into his well-read fortress. “Looks like the train doesn’t leave 'til eleven tonight.” A few more keystrokes and then her eyes found mine.
“Nothing sooner? That’s too late.” I frowned, thinking that was more than enough time for Maxwell to find me. He’d be letting loose the dogs at five minutes after one when I didn’t return for the rest of my shift. “I can’t wait that long.”
“Well…” She trailed off. Click, click, click. “Syracuse at five?” she offered, sending me in the exact opposite direction of Philly.
“Nothing sooner?” My muscles began to tense, thinking if I couldn’t be out of here in the next hour, Maxwell would find me and haul me back to his apartment for more rough fucking and callous treatment. He obviously didn’t like me. I wasn't only doing him the favor of leaving. I wouldn’t be put out on the street like a dog. I knew how to take a hint.
“No to Syracuse…” Click, click, click. “Scranton at four-forty-five, but you could drive there faster than waiting for the train. It’s only a few hours.” She looked at me pointedly.
I sighed. “Fine. Syracuse at five is fine; maybe I can pick something else up there.” I rummaged through my purse, anxious to pay and get a ticket in my hands. At least this gave me enough time to run back to my apartment and grab the few things I cared about. I could buy new clothes and I really just needed my little black lock box with spare cash stashed inside. I’d hidden it well, in the top of the ceiling of the bathroom and thankfully it hadn’t been found when my apartment was ransacked.
I purchased the ticket and stuffed it in my bag, smiling at the ticket agent and telling her I would be back shortly to wait for the five o’clock train. And from there, who knows where.
I opened the door into the warm afternoon light and ran smack into a wall of a body, blocking my exit.
Damn. My time had run out already.
“Going somewhere, Sweetie?” His shiny eyes licked up and down my neck before landing on the vee at my cleavage.
“No.” I bumped into his shoulder as I made my exit, my heart thudding uncontrollably in my chest.
“Not so fast.” His uncomfortably tight grip dug into my elbow and caused a small squeak to release from my throat. “Let’s take a walk.”
“I don’t have it. I don’t have any money,” I insisted, Tony Scardelli’s leering gaze eating up the air between us.
“Oh, don’t I know that,” he grit as he hauled me around the corner of the building and to what I knew to be his car.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I shrugged out of his grip, my thoughts immediately wishing for a rewind. I should have avoided the train station, never left the library without Maxwell, just like he’d asked. Damn.
> “I want to talk to your boyfriend.” He removed one hand from his pocket and flashed the edge of a small knife.
“Boyfriend?” I shook my head, my eyes only seeing the knife. The silvery glint. The promise of pain and mutilation. Would Tony go that far? Anything for my dad, he’d proven that time and time again. He only had loyalty to my father, and right now, my father wanted something I didn’t have.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Elle. He already paid the debt, but dear old Dad sent me back for more.” His hand snaked around my neck and gripped at the base of my hair while he leaned in, vile breath washing across my skin.
“He wants another one fifty,” he seethed. “And you and I are going to discuss how to go about getting that. Isn’t that why you went after the filthy rich librarian? Thought his bank account could help you out of a jam? Little gold-digger.” His mouth turned up and my stomach twisted. Wait a minute. What was he talking about? And how did he know so much about Maxwell? “Get in the car and don’t make a scene.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, thinking I could talk my way out of this just like I’d done every other time with Tony and my father. He knew me; I’d practically grown up with him. But a sickening feeling down deep in my gut told me I wouldn’t be talking my way out of this one.
Twenty-Four
Maxwell
My heart thundered an unnerving rhythm in my chest as my fists clenched at my sides.
Her with him.
What the fuck? I turned, thinking better of it—of her. Thinking they’d used me, con artists, the both of them, and I’d fallen into their perfectly set net. Maxwell Black, manipulated by love and left the victim again.
I took two steps around the corner of the train station before my conscience stopped me cold.
