Played by Love (New Adult Romance): A #Played Novella

by Ayala, Rachelle

  “Ella, sweetheart.” He gripped the side of the tub. “If I’d been here, this wouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry I had to wait forever in the emergency room.”

  “No, no, no. It’s not your fault. You’ve been so good to me. You gifted me the spa treatments, this room, and treated me like a princess.”

  “I said some mean things this morning.”

  “I shouldn’t have presumed more. You were right. We were only acting in character. I was stupid.” She spoke hastily, mechanically, almost as if she couldn’t trust herself to finish. “You never promised me anything beyond this weekend.”

  True, although having her around had made his life fun and interesting. He swirled the water around the large marble enclosed tub. “I missed you all day, even though I knew you were being pampered, I wish I could have been the one to give you the massages and treat you special.”

  She put a finger on his lips. “You don’t have to say anything. Truly. If you don’t want to see me after this weekend it’s okay.”

  He swallowed the urge to lick her finger, taste it and suck on it. Instead he ran his teeth over his bottom lip. A dull ache pounded between his ribs. “Is that what you want? To break up after tomorrow?”

  She nodded, and grief lanced his heart. How could he have made her feel he was only playing with her? If he said anything to contradict, she’d only think he was trying to make her feel better.

  Last night, she’d made him feel loved and cherished. Special. He wanted to return that favor, put her on a pedestal and show her how unique she was. If only she’d let him.

  “How about tonight?” he whispered, dreading her answer. His pulse galloped and the seconds of silence stretched, excruciating.

  She trembled, still shaken up from her encounter with the douchebags. Sex was off the table, but he could pamper her, order room service and they could hang out, listen to music, drink wine and talk.

  “I’d love one more night before it’s over.” She inched closer. Beads of water trickled down her face, her hair wet, damp with bubbles. “Promise not to bug me after we get back.”

  He wasn’t promising anything, not until he figured out what she meant to him.

  Jaden kissed her forehead, caressing the back of her neck and shoulders, felt the tension in her spine. Gently, he placed her head on the bath pillow and wiped the water from her face with his thumbs.

  Taking a long match, he lit the candles stuck on ornate candleholders around the bathroom as well as the ones floating in bowls on the wide surround.

  She was more beautiful under the lambent lighting, exquisite as fine porcelain. Her blue eyes shone like deep ocean waters, and a pink flush brushed her skin with color.

  He spread liquid soap over a washcloth and slid it lovingly around her neck, over her shoulders, easing the tension. Taking her hand, he kissed each finger and rubbed her palm against his face. He smoothed the washcloth around her forearms, working his way past her elbows.

  She sucked in a sizzling breath when he grazed the side of her breast and he froze, worried he’d triggered a bad memory. But she placed her hand on his and guided the cloth up to her chest.

  Emboldened, he played the washcloth around the globes of her breasts and teased her nipples, pretty as pink rose petals. He couldn’t help kissing them when she arched her back, lifting them above the surface of the water.

  “That feels so good,” she moaned, her fingers tickling the back of his neck.

  He lapped lightly at her soft dewy skin as the washcloth traveled underwater to her waist, across her belly, and around her hips. She opened her legs, relaxed, inviting. Dropping the cloth he stroked her inner thighs, heartened at the gasps playing on her lips.

  He dragged his lips from her breasts and found her mouth at the same time his fingers dipped between her legs. Rubbing her with light flickers, he circled her clit while his tongue danced around hers.

  She clutched the back of his neck, her fingers digging into him, begging, entreating him to penetrate her. He waited until her hips were flailing before inserting two fingers into her.

  “Jaden, Jaden,” she breathed into his mouth, accompanied by tiny, cute squeaks in her throat. He tickled her, his fingers curving inside of her and when he latched onto her nipple, laving it with his tongue, she moaned, her breath urgent and rasping. He set her hips in motion, churning water over the edge of the tub. Pinching her behind with his other hand, he increased the pressure inside her and brought her to a screaming climax.

  She clutched him tightly, shuddering off her release. Gently, he raised her from the tub, her arms around his neck, and wrapped a fluffy towel around her.

  “Jaden, thank you, thank you so much.” She clung to him, nuzzling her face in his chest. “I feel so much better.”

  “Great.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Ready to go downstairs? I want you to meet up with your friends, dance, pose, playact, and win the competition. You’re not missing any of it, not if I can help it.”

  Chapter 10

  Ella primped in front of the mirror, a smile brightening her face. Jaden had given her confidence back. He was right. There was no way she should miss the grand finale tonight.

  She’d spent too much time planning her costume, getting every detail perfect. Besides, if she didn’t show, Tricia, who decided to come as Yuffie, would kill her, and also win the contest. Ella put the finishing touches to her makeup and turned around, pulling Jaden into her arms.

  “I’ll never forget tonight as long as I live.” She stopped from saying more. She wouldn’t pull him into a commitment he wasn’t ready to make. Tonight would be bittersweet, a precious memory, but a constant reminder of what she’d lose when she let him go in the morning.

  “Neither will I.” Jaden looked especially dashing. The stitches on his face gave him a bad boy demeanor, and his attitude was brasher and more aggressive.

  He placed her hand in his and together, they braved the hallway.

  “We could take the stairs,” she glanced worriedly in the direction of the party suite.

  “No, we’re not going to let them win.” He led her firmly toward the direction of the party.

  They walked by without incident. Jaden shot the slobs a hard look, his arm possessively draped over her.

  She breathed a sigh of relief as they descended the elevator and closed her eyes, savoring every sweet moment with him.

  The elevator bumped to a stop on the second floor and the doors opened. Ella shrank against Jaden, her heart pounding in fear. A group of men in monster costumes surged into the elevator. One of them sneered at her, while his friend flapped his filmy wings.

  Ella turned away, breathing too fast to keep the memories at bay. They reminded her of the guys who had ripped her costume while their leader flashed his penis at her.

  The door closed and alcoholic fumes bombarded the tight closed space. Ella hid her face, hoping the Neanderthals wouldn’t recognize her. The monsters got off on the mezzanine, the same floor as the ballroom.

  “Let’s stay on.” Ella tugged Jaden.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t them them hurt you. Besides, we don’t want to go to the lower lobby or parking garage.” He took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly, and led her through the doors.

  Of course. Nothing could happen here. Not with Jaden around and tons of convention goers. She wasn’t going to be stupid and get caught in any dark corners or let anyone lure her outside the ballroom.

  Her fears dissipated when she spotted Tricia.

  “Oh, look, there’s Tricia and the rest of our friends,” Ella said. “I think she should win tonight.”

  Tricia’s costume and demeanor were a spitting image of Yuffie, complete with ninja-mesh mail and a protective gauntlet over her left shoulder.

  “What if I win?” Jaden smirked, flexing his shoulder plates. “Then it would still be a win for you since you designed and created my costume.”

  “You just might, Zack Fair. You’re especially sexy after a fight.” She
wiggled her hips and laid a kiss on his other cheek, the one without the stitches.

  “Hey, Jaden, Ella.” Tricia dragged several guys wearing superhero tights over. She hugged Ella. “Lightning, you look awesome. Love that cape. I can’t believe you let Jaden keep you from dinner.”

  Ella’s stomach growled at the reminder and she smiled sheepishly at Jaden. He tucked a kiss behind her ear and said, “I’ll go to the bar and get you some grub and a drink.”

  “You’re an angel.” She squeezed his fingers and let go.

  “Come on, let’s go to the pavilion and take pictures,” Tricia said.

  Ella happily joined in. She posed with Tricia and joined a group of Final Fantasy characters. Everyone talked in their character’s voice and demoed the special features of their costumes, except for weapons. They were forbidden since there had been a few accidents the year before.

  She flitted from one group to another, roleplaying and acting her part, before remembering Jaden hadn’t returned.

  “Jaden’s not back.” she said to Tricia. “Which direction did he go?”

  “The bar’s that way.” Tricia pointed to the corner of the ballroom. Just then, a Cyclops X-men character asked Tricia to dance.

  “I’ll catch you before the competition,” Tricia yelled as she bounced with the guy to the floor.

  Ella made her way toward the bar without spying Jaden. She’d left her cell phone upstairs and had no way to contact him. Everywhere she turned, men in capes blocked her way. She sidestepped them and decided to go out the door to the patio and circle around to reenter on the other side.

  Jaden shouldn’t have been gone this long. Could he have went back upstairs to confront the jocks? A warm shiver skittered down her spine at how protective Jaden was, an alpha male who refused to back down, even when the odds were stacked against him.

  “Well, look who’s here.” A wall of vampires emerged from the shadows. One spread his bat wings and swooped toward her, grappling her and twisting her arms behind her back.

  A sinister laugh froze the hairs on the back of her neck. “Your boyfriend couldn’t leave well alone. He got us kicked out of the suite.”

  “Where is he?” She struggled and kicked at the guy holding her.

  “He’s going to fight Rock there, in the desert.” He pointed her face at a solid hunk of a man dressed in black. He raised his bat wings and exposed bloody fangs.

  “No, let me go. He doesn’t want to fight.”

  The guy holding her picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

  She screamed, pounding his back. “Help, let me go, help.”

  A werewolf pulled out a camera phone and took pictures. “Awesome show. Hellsing Vampires against Final Fantasy.”

  A crowd gathered, laughing and pointing. “Go Hellsing. Boo for Final Fantasy.”

  “He’s not playing, let me go.” Ella pulled and twisted the guy’s hair.

  He threw her to the floor and she stumbled, hitting her side on a concrete garbage bin.

  “What happened to your gunblade, eh?” Another vampire jeered, ripping off her dark red cape.

  Another set of hands untied her sash and tore her coat open. “You little slut. Let’s see what you have underneath.”

  “Stop it, stop, please, this isn’t fun.” She chopped at him and tried crawling between his legs to escape.

  Muscular arms wrapped her in a black cape, rolling her up and someone tied a gag around her mouth.

  Panic clawed at Ella’s throat and adrenaline spiked through her blood as her heart dived to the ground. They were going to rape her this time, and no one was around to save her.

  Why was Jaden going to the desert to fight them? It made no sense. None at all.

  # # #

  Jaden grabbed a tray of snacks and sodas and surveyed the crowd for Ella. Hopefully she wasn’t upset he’d taken so long. When he’d gone back to the hotel room to get his wallet, he’d spied the drunken men harass another female cosplayer.

  A quick call to Security and a discreet video had been enough to convince the hotel staff to kick the guys out of their suite.

  He texted Ella: Where are you? I’m at the East side entrance near the photo booth.

  Strange, she didn’t seem to be with the Final Fantasy crowd. He spotted Tricia in line for the contest and rushed over.

  “Where’s Ella?” he asked.

  “She’s looking for you.”

  “I shouldn’t have let her out of my sight.” Jaden scanned the room frantically, panic rising in his chest.

  “She’s probably out front. I heard some playacting between a Final Fantasy character and some vampires from Hellsing.”

  “She’s in trouble.” Jaden dropped the food on a nearby table. He dived through the crowd, bumping people and asking, “Anyone seen a Lightning charcter? Where is she?”

  “The Hellsing guys are playing with her. I have it on video.” An Ewok showed him his phone.

  “Let me see, replay it again,” Jaden ordered.

  The guys on the tape told Ella they were taking her to the desert to see him fight. Dammit. They were serious about this. He’d thought it was an idle threat and had brushed them off.

  “Tricia, call my frat brothers.” Jaden dug a grimy piece of paper from his pocket where one of the thugs had drawn directions to the fight. “Take a picture of this and text it to Jax, Kolby, and Vincenzo.”

  “What’s going on?” Tricia gasped. “Is Ella in danger?”

  “They have her.” He spit out the address to a deserted warehouse in the western foothills.

  Around them, various partygoers received text messages and talked about placing bets for a fight in the desert, billing it as Zack Fair against Alucard.

  Fumbling with the keys to his rental car, Jaden ran to the parking garage and jumped in the car. He set the onboard GPS and once he cleared the city traffic, he sped toward the warehouse.

  His cell phone beeped with a message: We have the girl. She says to hurry. She’s one hot chick. Be there if you want to see her before you die.

  Another message followed: No police or we kill her. Fighting is your only chance of saving her.

  # # #

  Tears blinded Ella. She struggled to free her hands and feel for the trunk release mechanism, but the bonds were too tight and her shoulder joints were twisted and aching. Every bump and turn threw her against sharp, hard objects. Without the use of her hands, she couldn’t even protect her face.

  After miles of jostling and bumpy roads, the car screeched to a halt. The doors slammed and someone popped the trunk. Rough hands hoisted Ella up and dragged her to a chain linked fence where they tied her.

  “Let him go,” she mumbled through the dirty gag. “It’s not his fight. Take me, but let him go.”

  The men laughed. “Don’t worry. We’ll have fun with you later and let him watch. Teach him a lesson not to be such a tattler.”

  “You’re not going to get away with this.” She bit the gag, almost choking on her spit, hoping like hell someone had called the cops

  A slap stung her cheek and pain exploded in one eye, stunning her. “Shut it, bitch.”

  They left her whimpering against the fence. More cars lined up, leaving their headlights on to light an elevated loading platform. Ella watched in horror as Jaden stepped from one of the cars. He was still wearing the Zack Fair outfit, including his metal shoulder armor, not that aluminum would afford him much protection.

  “Where’s Ella? Where is she?” He rushed the team of vampires. “I want to see her or I won’t fight.”

  “You don’t have much choice, nerd boy,” the guy with the megaphone said. “Fellas, place your bets. Zack Fairy against Count Alucard.”

  The vampire shook his fists above his head. He stripped off his cape, exposing his muscular build to the gathering audience. The guy had to be over two-hundred-fifty pounds and was built like a truck with stout arms and legs.

  “I’m going to kill you,” he growled, loud enough to be heard
without the mic. “Bet on me, Count Rockular, boys and girls. Zack Fairybutt’s going to be dead.”

  Jaden strutted toward the announcer and grabbed the megaphone. “Listen here everyone. I’m Jaden, and if I win, they free the girl. I don’t want any of your money. Ask the organizer to pay it back to you when I kick his sorry ass.”

  “Win it man, fight for your girl.” A line of Mexicans patted Jaden and rushed to bet on him. “We’re for you, vato loco.”

  “Fight’s starting,” the organizer’s voice boomed. “No stopping until one of them’s knocked out, dead, or dying.”

  “Whoohoo!” The crowd stomped their feet and screamed. “Hit it, kung fu man, show them your stuff.”

  “Rock, Rock, Rock,” the other side chanted. “Cut him up. Pound him. Send him back where he came from.”

  Jaden threw the first punch. It went wide, missing and putting him off balance. Rock took advantage and punched him in the gut. A fireball of pain clutched his belly and he almost threw up. Crazed, he bent forward and slammed his head on Rock’s jaw, knocking him down.

  The vampire’s friends picked him up and pushed him at Jaden. He charged, his arms out to tackle Jaden, who leaped forward as if blocking a kick. They crashed in midair and both tumbled to the ground.

  Arms and legs tangled, as the men grunted and huffed, punching and twisting.

  Onlookers jumped onto the loading dock and pulled them apart.

  “Fist fight and kicks only,” the announcer said. “We want to see a knock out.”

  Jaden circled the muscular Rock in fighting stance. He punched, Rock blocked, then spun around and landed a kick in Jaden’s face. Blood splattered in bright red droplets all over the concrete.

  Ella screamed through the gag. “Stop the fight. Stop. I’ll pay whatever you want.”

  No one heard her over the din. Jaden fell forward, holding his cheek, his hands on his knees.

  “Get up and fight like man,” the announcer jeered. “There’s no forfeit here. Come on, put your dukes up.”

  Rock locked onto Jaden’s head, turning his face toward Ella and said, “Maybe you need some motivation.”

  Two of Rock’s friends approached Ella and untied her. “Bitch, you’re getting a front row seat. Watch him die.”