Because You're Mine (The Gallaghers)

by Layla Hagen

  “What are you doing this afternoon?” he asked.

  “I’m planning a coding session but won’t stay too long.” I liked leaving early on Fridays. It was past lunchtime, so I didn’t have much of the afternoon left, but I still could get in a few hours. Many business partners were surprised that Dylan and I still wrote our own code, but I enjoyed it. Sometimes it didn’t even feel like work.

  I went straight to my office, sitting in my chair, lifting the armrests to a comfortable height for typing hours on end. It was a chair that gamers usually used, but it did the job.

  I’d barely opened my laptop when the screen of my phone lit up with an incoming call. It was from my sister. She rarely called during working hours because she knew I frequently turned the phone off, and reaching my voicemail exasperated her. I assumed she wanted to talk about our parents’ upcoming visit.

  “Hey, Isabelle,” I said.

  “Ian, are you busy?” Her frantic voice set me on edge. I sat up straighter in the chair.

  “What’s wrong?”

  "Ellie just texted me that she had an accident at work and she's at the hospital. The doctor advised her to call someone to take her home, but I have a client coming in, and I can’t just leave."

  "Fuck. Tell me the address, and I'll get her."

  I rose to my feet, jotting down the address on a Post-it. Why hadn't she come to me first?

  “I’ve got it. I’m going there now. Do you know what happened?”

  “No. I don’t think it was anything too serious. She called herself, and she seemed fine.”

  Then why would Ellie need someone to take her home?

  As soon as I hung up, I left my office, ordering an Uber before I got in an elevator. When I stepped out of the building, I groaned. It was stuck in traffic, so the trip was canceled. I ordered a new one.

  Dylan had a driver during the day, and it always seemed pointless to me, but I was starting to change my mind.

  Ten minutes later, I was in my Uber, heading to the hospital. Isabelle was right. If Ellie had called her and not some hospital staff, it couldn’t be too bad. But I wouldn’t calm down until I saw her with my own eyes.

  When I arrived, I just followed the instructions Isabelle texted me. It looked as if she’d forwarded me the message she got from Ellie. I found her in a small room by herself on the eleventh floor. She was lying down on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. I scanned her body. She was in her chef uniform—long white pants and a white coat buttoned up in the middle. Nothing seemed wrong at first glance, but my nerves were still on edge.

  "Ellie, hey," I said, walking up next to the bed. She looked at me with a bright smile.

  "Hey. Thanks for coming.”

  “What happened to you?" I asked.

  "Kitchen accident. It happens all the time. I slipped and hit my head. They sent me here to get checked. The doctor says I have a minor concussion. I’m just a bit dizzy. Otherwise, I feel fine.”

  “Shouldn’t they keep you here for observation?” My tone was harsh, but Ellie just chuckled.

  “I’ve already been here a couple of hours. I just called Isabelle once they gave me the all clear to go home.”

  I sat at the edge of the bed, taking one of her hands in mine. They were cold.

  “Wait, how long have you been here?”

  “Umm, I slipped right after I started my shift, so five hours, I think.”

  “Why didn’t you call me when they brought you in?”

  “What for?” she asked as if this was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard.

  “To wait with you.”

  Ellie laughed, waving her hand. “If I had a penny every time I got an injury in the kitchen, I’d be a millionaire right now. I’m used to this.”

  “What, being in the hospital on your own?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, while you’re in New York, get used to me waiting with you. Next time something like this happens, call me right away.”

  She opened her mouth in protest. I silenced her, putting a finger against her lips.

  “Don’t fight me on this, or I’ll kiss you right here.”

  Her breath caught. A doctor joined us just then.

  “Ah, Ms. Cavanaugh, how are you? I just signed your discharge, but I want to ask how you are before you leave.”

  “I’m good.”

  He looked at me. “I want a few moments alone with the patient.”

  “Sure.”

  I stepped outside, looking for something to cheer up Ellie. There were just a few vending machines with food and drinks. No, wait, there was also a small gift cart by the elevators. It was meant for children, but I was sure Ellie was going to laugh her ass off, which was the whole point.

  I chose a green teddy bear and paid quickly by card. I kept an eye on Ellie’s room and saw the doctor leave. As soon as I grabbed the green toy, I headed back to her room, holding it behind my back.

  “What are you hiding?” she asked.

  I took the teddy bear out in a somewhat theatrical move, and Ellie’s face exploded in a grin.

  “That’s for me?”

  “Yes.”

  Walking up to her, I handed her the toy. She squeezed it against her chest like it was some prized possession.

  “Thank you. I love it. I can’t believe it.”

  To my surprise, there was genuine emotion in her eyes. I mean, it was just a green kids’ toy meant to cheer her up, but it seemed to mean more to her. She attempted to push herself up from the bed, and I immediately splayed my palm on her back, helping her into a seated position, then putting the jacket that lay at the foot of the bed on her shoulders.

  “Ian, what are you doing?” she asked.

  “Helping you.”

  The corners of her mouth twitched. “I don’t think I can injure myself by getting up. But thanks for having my back. Literally.”

  “Is this amusing to you? You scared years off my life.” Although I said this a little lightheartedly, the meaning was still the same.

  “Oh!” Her smile faded as if only realizing what I was saying. Wasn’t she used to anyone caring? I knew Henry did, but then again, they’d always lived in different cities, so maybe that made things different.

  “Do you need to fill any prescriptions?” I asked.

  “No, I’m just supposed to take Tylenol if I need it, and I have some at home.”

  "Then let’s go.”

  When she rose to her feet, I put an arm around her waist, guiding her down the hall to the elevator. I ordered an Uber just before we went into the elevator, which was crammed, and I kept her tightly against me. The ride down to the main floor seemed like it took forever.

  By the time we stepped out of the hospital building, the car was already there. I helped Ellie in and then went on the other side, climbing in.

  "I'm fine. Don't fuss about me. I feel so silly," she whispered as the car lunged forward.

  "You're not silly. Ellie, tell me if you need anything, okay? It doesn’t matter if it’s during the day or in the middle of the night. I. Want. To. Know.”

  She exhaled sharply, nodding.

  We were silent for the rest of the drive, but I kept looking at her from time to time. She rested her forehead against the window, smiling whenever she caught me looking at her. She was carefully holding the teddy bear in her lap like it was something special.

  I touched the back of her hand with my fingers until I heard her breath quicken. I wasn’t used to getting so uptight about anyone I wasn’t related to. I could pretend I cared because Ellie was Henry’s sister, but it went beyond that. Whenever I saw, texted, or spoke to her, my whole demeanor changed. Even if I was stressed because of a client, I felt better just by being around her.

  Her apartment was empty when we went inside.

  “Tell me you’re not working tomorrow,” I said.

  She shrugged off her jacket, grinning. “I’m tempted to tell you I am just to see what you’ll do.”

  “Ellie!”
<
br />   “I’m not. I never work weekends, okay? And anyway, the manager forbids me to come back until I’m in top shape. She said I could take off next week if I want to, but I won’t do that."

  “Why not?”

  “Because I want to make a good impression. I’m not going to miss work unless it’s necessary.”

  “Ellie! You have a concussion.”

  “A mild one. Barely even that, really.” She put her hands on her hips, looking me straight in the eyes. “What are you going to do? Show up on my doorstep Monday morning to police me?”

  I stepped closer, tilting my head, looking her straight in the eyes. “Not even close to what I’m thinking. You don’t want to know what’s on my mind.”

  Ellie blushed and didn’t press the issue. I was so close that I could smell her perfume again. It was driving me crazy. I wanted to taste her so bad.

  She slipped past me, walking to her bedroom. I followed her, leaning against the doorway, watching as she sat on her bed and placed the teddy bear on the shelf just above the headboard.

  "When is Harper coming home?" I asked. She pulled her brown hair behind her back, running her hand through it. It was thick and silky, and I wanted to thread my fingers through it before wrapping my hand around the strands, pulling her to me, claiming her lips.

  "Harper is gone for the weekend. She's visiting her parents."

  I didn’t like that for one minute. She was going to be alone the whole weekend, and that was not good.

  “Didn’t the doctor say you shouldn’t be alone?”

  She waved her hand. This woman! “Doctors like to overreact. Besides, he said I shouldn’t go home alone, not that I needed someone to watch me.”

  I walked inside the bedroom, crouching in front of her.

  "Ellie, I want to be the first person you call, no matter what. Do you understand? Not Isabelle, not Josie. Me."

  She smiled faintly. "I know. I wanted to call you, but then I thought maybe... you know."

  I leaned in with a growl. "The first person you call, you understand?"

  "Why?" she whispered.

  "Because you're mine.”

  Chapter Seven

  Ian

  Her eyes widened. I cupped her cheek, running my thumb up and down her soft skin. I had no idea where the words came from, but they were true. They were so fucking true. I claimed her mouth, needing to kiss her. She tasted like mints and responded to my kiss with so much fervor that I instantly turned hard. She moaned against me when I deepened the kiss. Fuck, I was losing control already. I was desperate for more. She tugged at my shirt, sliding her hands underneath it and tracing my abs with the pads of her fingers.

  I skimmed my hand from her neck down to the side of her breasts and put it on her hip. Then I remembered what brought me here in the first place, and I pulled back.

  "Ellie, you're not feeling well."

  "Yes, I am," she whispered, but she sounded uncertain. She closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath before opening them. “There’s something you need to know. I... I’ve never done this before.”

  “What?”

  She bit her lower lip, looking uncomfortable. A moment of silence sat between us before she said, “Sex. I’m a virgin.”

  My brain froze. Several seconds passed until her words sank in. I pulled back a bit so I could look at her better. Her eyes were wary. She was biting her lower lip, obviously worried about what I was going to say next.

  “It’s not a big deal,” she said quickly, interrupting my thoughts as I considered how to respond. “It just never happened when I was younger, and then as I got older, it became a bit weird whenever I brought it up....”

  She sounded apologetic. Why the fuck would she think she needed to apologize?

  “Ellie, you don’t have to explain yourself.” I ran my fingers through her dark hair. It felt even smoother than I imagined.

  “I just thought you should know... before you get in there.” The corners of her mouth tilted up in a taunting smile, but her eyes were still wary. Some asshole made her feel bad about this, I was sure of it. I wanted to punch the nameless, faceless bastard. I cupped her cheek with one hand, resting the other one on her hip.

  “Ellie, let’s get a few things straight. First: you don’t have to feel ashamed about anything. Second: you’re not going to lose your virginity after you’ve had a concussion and the doctor told you to take it easy. I just got... carried away.”

  Her smile faded. “You don’t want this anymore.” Her hand motioned between us, then stopped. “Me?”

  She tried to crawl back further on the bed, but I caught her ankles. “Ellie, I want you so much that I can barely think straight. But your first time... it’s not gonna be like this. I’m going to take my time with you, and it’s going to be special. I’ll make it special.”

  “I wasn’t expecting this,” she murmured.

  I frowned. “What did you expect?”

  “Not sure. Doesn’t matter. I’m not a prude or anything. I have a vibrator, and—”

  I groaned, pulling her closer to me, until her mouth was almost level with mine. Grabbing her hand, I pressed it against my erection. She gasped.

  “Ellie, I’m hard as fuck. Talking about a vibrator will not make things better.”

  She giggled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”

  I kissed her hard. My cock pressed painfully against the zipper of the jeans. I needed to explore her body, feel her skin beneath my fingers. But I couldn’t do any of that tonight and not lose complete control. I’d meant what I told her. I wasn’t going to rush this. But I couldn’t help myself and kissed down the side of her neck. It was the only bit of skin not covered by her chef jacket. A light quiver took over her body as she dug her fingers in the mattress.

  I straightened up, looking her straight in the eyes. “I need to take a cold shower.”

  She smiled, shimmying against the mattress. “That bad, huh?”

  “Woman, stop teasing me.”

  She schooled her face in what she probably thought was a serious expression, but by the firm way she pressed her lips together, it was obvious she was holding back laughter.

  “It’s outside on the left,” she said.

  The bathroom was as tiny as the one in my dorm room when I was in college. You could practically sit on the toilet and wash your hands and hair at the same time. When I got inside the stall, I could barely move without hitting my elbows against tiles. Fucking hell. Ellie was a virgin. I didn’t see this coming at all. Grabbing my cock, I moved my fist up and down, imagining it was her hand and groaned. I immediately dropped my hand. No. If I rubbed one out, it wouldn’t calm me down. It would have the opposite effect. I turned the water as cold as possible, just standing under the spray.

  Afterward, I dried off and put my jeans back on, but I didn’t bother with the T-shirt since it was just the two of us.

  I found her in the kitchen, taking food out of the fridge. She was wearing black shorts and a pink tank top, looking so damn delicious that I just wanted to bend her over the kitchen counter. Damn it, no. I knew that I had to think about something else.

  "What are you doing?" I asked.

  "Emptying all the containers of takeout from this past week so that we can have dinner."

  "Ellie, get on the couch. I'll bring the food to you."

  She looked at me over her shoulder. "Why?"

  "You were in the hospital because of a concussion."

  "But I’m feeling better,” she said.

  "Go. Sit." My tone was stern and brooked no argument. She sighed, strolling to the couch, stretching out on it.

  She wasn't kidding when she said that she was emptying take-out containers. I put a sandwich and a slice of pizza on the platter and brought it to the couch. Fuck me! She was lying down on one side. Her breasts were squished together. Her upper thigh was slightly bent in front of the leg beneath. She looked like a goddess.

  "Oh, you're distracted already," she said. "I like where this is
going."

  I shook my head, looking her straight in the eyes. I sat down at her feet, holding the plate between us.

  She sat up. "I like this. Want to bring me breakfast tomorrow too?"

  "Yes. I want to stay here the whole weekend and take care of you."

  She looked up at me in surprise. I was shocked too, if I was honest. It wasn't my usual MO. But the instinct to make sure she was all right was stronger than anything else.

  A smiled inched on her face. "Oh, please do. I'm enjoying this immensely." We ate the pizza and the sandwiches—they didn't taste like much, but it was enough to stave off the hunger. After she pushed the empty plate to the coffee table, she lay back down. I took her feet in my lap, massaging her soles and her calves. She hummed, stretching into full relaxation.

  "Oh, I like this. My feet are always killing me."

  I laughed but then looked her straight in the eyes. "You scared me today, Ellie. Don't do it again."

  "Yes, sir."

  I growled. She looked at me intently, opening her mouth, then closing it again. Did she want to talk about earlier?

  “Ian... about earlier... do you want to talk about it?”

  “Only if you do. A word of warning. No mentioning vibrators.”

  She grinned. Good. I wanted her to feel at ease.

  “I didn’t mean to spring it on you. I just didn’t know how to bring it up before. Being a virgin at twenty-three is not something I intended. But when I dated in college, it never got that far, though I did other... things.”

  My mind went blank. No. Fucking. Way. I couldn’t picture Ellie doing anything with someone else or I’d go stir crazy. When did I become so damn possessive? It wasn’t like me.

  “And the older I got, the weirder it became when I brought it up on dates. It seemed to scare off guys, making them think that I was waiting for someone special. Maybe I was. I mean, I wasn’t going to sleep with just any guy off the street.”

  “Good to know I rank above that,” I said in a teasing tone.

  “You definitely do. I mean, you bought me a teddy bear and want to stay the weekend, even though you’ll probably have blue balls.”

  I growled again. “Another rule: I don’t want to hear the word ‘balls’ from you.” She smiled, mimicking a zipping gesture over her lips. "Now, I want to talk to you about something else. Tell me when you're sick or have an accident. Don't just stay in the hospital by yourself."