Guarding Hearts (Living Again #3)

by L. L. Collins

  As the elevator doors closed, he talked into the hidden mic that he wore at all times when they were in public. “I’ve got her inside. Heading up the elevator now. Have you secured the fifth floor? Are her parents here yet?” He paused. “The room has been checked thoroughly?”

  Seemingly satisfied with the answers, he led her off the elevator and to the door of their room. Their room. She halfway wondered why her parents weren’t insistent on staying with her in the suite, but she was thankful that they were letting her be an adult.

  “Where are my parents?”

  “Next door,” Ellis smirked. “Guess you better not make much noise.”

  Her mouth dropped open. She had never known him to be so flirtatious, so forward. She liked it. A whole lot. He laughed, ushering her into the room. She decided that his laugh was one of the best sounds she had ever heard.

  “Who are you and what happened to Ellis?” she teased, removing her boots and throwing them in the closet of the suite. It was a stunning room, with a living area, kitchen, bedroom, and deluxe bathroom. She’d like to stay here in this room with him for a few days.

  Before she could register what was happening, Ellis crossed the room to her and pushed her gently against the wall, lifting her so she had no choice but to wrap her legs around his waist. She gasped at his quick motion, but he silenced her by covering her lips with his. She felt his evening stubble as he kissed her forcefully, his tongue mingling with hers as he took every remaining breath out of her. She moved her hands through his hair as he continued devouring her mouth, sucking, biting, and licking as she tried to keep some semblance of control. She had no idea what had gotten into him, but she hoped that this wasn’t something he would regret doing later and push her away. She wasn’t sure she could handle that, not again.

  She felt his hand as it moved up her bare leg, and she couldn’t stop the whimper from escaping into his mouth. He was driving her crazy with need as he rubbed himself against her right where she was aching for him.

  Breaking away from her lips, his mouth traveled down the side of her face, her neck, then to her shoulder. He moved her dress off her shoulder with his teeth, then kissed her skin. His fingers found her soft spot, and she shuddered as he moved her panties aside and entered one finger inside her.

  “Ellis,” she breathed as he moved inside her. His rough stubble was burning her skin in the most delicious way as he kissed down the front of her chest. “I-I want to touch you.”

  “I’m going to touch every single part of you, all night long,” Ellis groaned. She shook her head, not able to believe that he really meant that. She arched her back as he continued touching her, adding another finger as he really got her worked up.

  She couldn’t reach him, he had her pinned against the wall so tightly. But the way he was rubbing against her with his fingers inside her meant she wasn’t going to make it long. “Oh…”

  “You like that? Baby, you’re the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.” Stepping back slightly, he eased her down until her feet were touching the floor. He removed his fingers from her and she almost cried at the loss. He smirked. “Oh, I’m not done with you. Not by a long shot.” He took her hand and led her into the bedroom. “You have too many clothes on.”

  “No, you have too many clothes on,” Sam said, pushing him until he fell backwards on the bed. She removed his shoes and socks, then leaned over so her hair was shielding her face as she unbuttoned his pants. He reached forward and held her hair back so he could see her face. Helping her, she got the pants to the floor, then climbed up on him to help him remove the shirt.

  Once she had him in just his tight, black boxer briefs, she stopped, looking him up and down. “Hot. Damn.”

  Ellis laughed, his abs contracting with the motion. She ran her hands along the perfection that was his body, in awe that she was here, with him.

  “Are you sure?” The last thing she wanted to be was a regret. “I-I’m on the pill, Ellis. I’m safe.”

  “I’m safe, too, Sammi,” he grunted, rolling her over so he was pinning her to the bed. He closed his mouth over hers, silencing her.

  Before she knew it, they had both shed the last remaining pieces that separated them from each other, and Ellis was hovered over her, looking into her eyes. She met his gaze, and what she saw there she didn’t think she would ever forget. His eyes were molten, desire rolling off of him in waves. She had never felt so wanted in all of her life. He wanted her. She nodded her head, giving him permission.

  When he entered her, she gasped. It had been so long, but that wasn’t even it. He was hard as steel but soft, filling her completely. He swore as he began moving inside her, caging his arms around her so he wasn’t putting his entire weight on her. She closed her eyes at the myriad of sensations that came over her. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them come. While she had only known him a very short time, nothing had ever felt so right. To her, it felt like they were doing a lot more than just having sex. He had finally let go with her, and it felt like the greatest victory of her life, even over the amazing career she had always wanted.

  Leaning back off his forearms, Ellis grabbed her leg and lifted it, causing her to cry out at the depth change. He moved in and out of her, then took his fingers and rubbed her at the same time. She never wanted it to end, but it was coming, and quickly.

  “Sammi,” he said again, his voice tight. He let go of her leg as he felt her getting close, lowering his mouth to hers again. Gripping her hips, he pushed her to the brink and fell over with her, both of them panting and gasping into each other’s mouth as they came down. He leaned his forehead against hers, and she tried to memorize everything about this moment. The way he felt inside her, his body overtop hers, the delicious feeling of his hands on her body, his lips on hers.

  She was afraid to say anything for fear of him jumping up and running away at what they had just done, so she lay still, listening to their breathing calm back to normal. He rolled over to her side, pulling her so she was facing him.

  “What are you thinking?” Sam wanted to kick herself immediately for saying it. What man wanted to talk after that, especially him? “I mean, I just… never mind.”

  “You’re cute when you’re flustered,” Ellis answered. “If you are asking me if I regret it, then the answer is no.”

  Sam breathed out, tracing his muscles with her fingers. “Thank goodness.”

  “Did you really think you were just a conquest to me? That I wasn’t thinking rationally about you?”

  “Well…”

  “Sammi, I’ve wanted you since before I ever met you.”

  She furrowed her brow, dread settling in her stomach. “What?”

  “What I mean is, before I took the job with you, I watched a video of you singing online. I had no idea why I felt the way I did, but I was pulled to you like a magnet. Even before I actually laid eyes on you in person, I knew that there was something about you I wanted to get to know better.”

  “But you have done nothing but push me away.”

  Ellis sighed. “I know. I’ve never been good at being in relationships. I don’t open up. Even my friends don’t know the things I’ve been through in my life. I have some things in my past…”

  “We all do,” Sam interrupted. “Do you think you could try to talk to me about them?”

  He closed his eyes, and Sam watched the struggle that was happening inside him. “I want to,” he said. “I’ve told myself for years to talk to Devin. I never have. I just don’t think I can.”

  Sam nestled her head into the crook of his arm, choosing not to respond to that. Whatever it was, Ellis needed to feel that she was there before he opened up, and she was determined to be that person for him, no matter how long it took.

  Ellis opened his eyes, wondering what had woken him up. Turning his head, he saw that the bedside clock said it was three o’clock in the morning. Then he felt her. Sam. She was asleep curled up next to him, both of them still naked. He could
just barely make out her shapely figure, her brown hair fanned out behind her.

  A cold, clenching feeling settled in his stomach, and he closed his eyes. No. What the fuck did he do? She had gotten to him, broken his resolve. He couldn’t even remember the last time someone had gotten to him the way she had. He knew that getting involved with her would only hurt her in the long run. She was in the public eye, and being with him wouldn’t help her at all.

  As if she could sense the fear taking control of him, she shifted, putting her head on his chest. He could smell the shampoo in her hair and the fresh smell that was just her, and he relaxed. He would be okay, right? He didn’t have to fall in love with her. So he liked her. He really liked her. She made him feel things he hadn’t felt in so long, it felt foreign. But, while he was lying in the dark with her on his chest, he could admit to himself that he was scared shitless.

  They had to be up before too long anyway to load up by six, so he knew he wouldn’t sleep another wink. He thought of his mother, gone now twelve years. The things he had seen and had to endure as a child would make any sane person cringe. The day she died was his freedom day. He hadn’t let himself think often about the man that fathered him, but every once and a while he wondered if the guy even knew he existed. Would he have wanted him? And Mason. What was he doing, where was he? Did he wonder why his dad wasn’t a part of his life? Who was he kidding, of course he did. Just like Ellis wondered now, as an adult, about his father, Mason would spend his life thinking he wasn’t wanted. If only he could tell him, that wasn’t further from the truth. On the other hand, he never wanted him to know what the circumstances were why he couldn’t be around him. He wondered what Mandy said when Mason asked about him. Ellis remembered being thirteen and full of questions about who he was.

  He was a different person than he was then. He had been a kid, a kid so messed up by the circumstances of his life that he didn’t know whether he was coming or going. He had made stupid choice after stupid choice that had ended him in juvie. In retrospect, he knew that he had been crying out for help. He hadn’t wanted to take care of his mother anymore, or live the way he had been forced to for so many years. He knew the easiest way to get out of there was to do something and get locked up. At least while he was there he got three meals a day and a bed to sleep in. That was more than he had had for most of his life. After getting Mason taken away from him, he knew he really had nothing left.

  When he had gotten out of juvie, he had been put on probation and had to complete community service. Since Officer Richards had taken a liking to him, he took him in once he was released. This had been the turning point of his life. Eighteen years old, not a person in the world to help guide him to the right path, and Carl insisted on him living with him. Ellis knew that if it wasn’t for him, he’d more than likely be in prison or dead right now.

  He had gotten him a position for his volunteer hours at the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters organization in Miami. He was required to go there twice a week for a year and mentor other kids whose paths were at risk like his was. At first, he wanted nothing to do with it. He had never been a talker, and didn’t think that he had anything to offer a child that could help them. But Carl had changed all of that. For the first several sessions, he had sat with Ellis at the center, talking to some of the kids with him and urging his conversation. By the second month, Ellis knew that he could save another child from the type of life that he had endured, so he started putting himself completely into his community service, going every day instead of just twice a week. Carl came with him when he could, but he didn’t even need him anymore.

  He had met a five year old little boy named Jaden. He came to the center for after school care because he lived in a high risk neighborhood known for drug deals and prostitution. It was rumored that his mother was the most popular prostitute, and his dad, the head drug lord. Ellis knew where his future lied if someone didn’t get to him the way Carl had to him.

  He had dark hair and blue eyes, and loved anything having to do with police officers. Carl would tell Jaden all about being a police officer, and Ellis would draw pictures with him, play games with him, or go outside and play. Jaden would cry when it was time for them to leave, often hanging on to them and begging for them to take him home. For Ellis, it felt like Mason was crying for him, even though Mason was much younger than Jaden. He wanted nothing more than to right his wrongs by taking Jaden and making his life better, but he knew he never could.

  One day, right before his community service was up, Jaden didn’t come to the center. Ellis had known that he was there every day, and he had been worried. He and Carl had driven out to where they knew he lived to find out that he had been shot in a drive by shooting while out riding his bike. His own parents didn’t even know yet, as they had left him with a ‘roommate’ and were out on the streets. They probably wouldn’t even care. Ellis hadn’t even cried the day that his own mother died, but that day, he crumpled on the sidewalk and wept.

  That might’ve been the last time he cried. After that, Carl helped him get his GED and apply for the police academy. Thanks to a favor a judge owed him, Ellis’ juvenile record was expunged and he was able to join the police academy with Carl’s recommendation. He had decided that he needed to help kids like Jaden and himself, and being a police officer to try to get the bad guys off the streets was the only thing he could think of to make it right. To this day, he had a picture of Jaden tucked inside his wallet to remember what he was doing all of this for. Not only to make up for what he had done and lost, but to remember the little boy that changed the direction of his life.

  “Ellis?” Sam’s sleepy voice brought him back to the present.

  “Sammi,” he answered, kissing the top of her head. “You okay?”

  “Hmmm,” she murmured, rolling over so that her breasts were pressing into his chest. He immediately woke up in other places, and he wasn’t sure that was a good thing. “I’m wonderful. Are you okay?”

  He reached over and turned on the lamp at the side of the bed so he could see her. She blinked, then smiled at him. “I have to be honest with you,” he said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I had no intention of ever doing this with you,” he indicated them in the bed. He felt her stiffen, but he continued. “Not because of you, Sammi, because of me. I meant what I told you before. I don’t think that us being together is going to do anything good for you.”

  “Ellis…” she interrupted, but he put his finger over her lips, silencing her.

  “Let me finish.” He lifted his head and kissed her lips, almost groaning at the suppleness of them. “I can’t stay away from you, Sam. I told myself all along that I could make it one week and then go home. I knew that I had to get away from you if I had any chance of escaping the connection we have with each other. But now? Staying here with you, in your room, being with you twenty-four hours a day, and I just can’t deny it anymore. If you’re in, I’m in, too.”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she said nothing. He was worried he said too much too soon. Maybe she wasn’t ready. “I mean, you don’t know anything about me, not really, so I get it if you just want this to be casual.”

  “Ellis,” she said, putting her finger on his lips. “Shut up. Since the second I met you, I knew there was something about you that I was just naturally drawn to. I know we have a lot to get to know about each other, but if we are both in, that’s going to happen. I’m not perfect either, Ellis. You seem to think that I can’t handle whatever is in your past, but I have a past, too.”

  “What, smoking in the girls’ bathroom?” Ellis joked, but her face fell. “Sam, I’m sorry. Ugh, I should just shut up.”

  “I want to tell you everything,” she answered. “But, not tonight, okay? I don’t want you to think differently of me right now.”

  “Not going to happen, Sam.”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  Fear clenched in his stomach. He knew that he was going to have to talk to her eventually, but he didn’t
want to answer anything right now. “Sure.”

  “Can you stop calling me Sam?”

  “What?”

  “Ever since the first time you called me Sammi, that’s the only thing I want to hear out of your mouth. Every time you say that, it makes me tingle from head to toe.”

  “Is that right?” Ellis teased, running his hands along her bare backside.

  She giggled, putting her head on his chest “Why did I say that? You make me lose my mind.”

  “I like that,” he flirted, cupping her behind and pulling her on top of him. “Why are we still talking?” Ellis crushed his lips to hers. He knew he was avoiding her, and he would for as long as she would allow it. She began rubbing her body against him, and he lost all sense of thought, his body instantly reacting.

  The hotel phone rang, and she groaned into his mouth. “Seriously? Who the hell is calling here so early? We don’t have to leave for two hours.” As she leaned over to grab the phone, he took the opportunity to touch her supple breasts.

  “Hello?” he continued his perusal of her beautiful curvy body as she listened, not saying a word. “What? Is she okay?” She scooted off of him and sat up, and he sat up, too. Who was she talking to?

  “Okay, Dad. Yes, we’re up. Do you want to talk to Ellis? He’s right here.” She covered the phone and handed it to him. “Something happened to Brian’s wife.”

  Ellis took the phone from her, watching as she stood up off the bed and walked to the bathroom. “Samuel?”

  “Sorry to call so early, Ellis. Brian’s wife, Amelia, has been rushed to the hospital in Nashville. Brian is leaving Florida right now and heading home. There’s no information on the stalker there, anyway.”

  “What happened to her?”

  “The information that Brian is getting so far is that she was attacked in their home.”

  “Attacked? Like a robbery gone bad?”