Elisa Read online

  “Please sleep with me,” she begged.

  “Of course.” I moved beside her then wrapped my arms around her.

  “I need you to do something for me.”

  “Anything, Ellie.”

  “I want you to get me a gun.”

  The request made me flinch. “You don’t need one.”

  “Please.”

  “Nothing is going to happen to you, okay? I’m here. I will never let anything happen to you. I promise.”

  “But you aren’t here anymore,” she whispered.

  I sighed. “I am now.”

  “But you’ll leave tomorrow or the next day. Please do this for me. The man has my address and my keys.”

  “Ethan changed the locks.”

  “That still doesn’t make me feel better.”

  “He would have to get through me and Ethan, who already has a gun, to get to you. Those are slim odds.”

  “My babies.”

  I grabbed her face. “Ellie, you are safe with me. I will give my life to protect all of you. Please go to sleep. I won’t sleep if you want. I’ll stay awake and listen to the house.”

  “No, you don’t need to do that.”

  “Then go to sleep.”

  She sighed. “Please get me something, Jared.”

  “I’ll get you a tazer and pepper spray.”

  “I need something stronger than that.”

  “You have me.”

  “Do I?”

  I climbed on top of her. “I want you for the rest of my life, Ellie.”

  Her eyes softened as she stared at me. “What about everything I did to you?”

  “Forget about it. I was being stupid. I forgive you. Now please be mine.”

  She started to cry. “You want to be with me?”

  “More than anything. I can’t be away from you anymore. I have to be with you for always. I have to know you’re safe. What’s the point in trying to move on when I only want one person? That will never change, baby.”

  “I’m so happy—as happy as I can be at the moment.”

  I kissed her forehead. “Just don’t hurt me again.”

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  “I believe you.”

  She sighed deeply.

  “And I’ll get a gun and put it in the nightstand, but I don’t want you to touch it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Okay. I’ll get one tomorrow.”

  “Will you move in with us?”

  I rubbed my nose against hers. “Are you asking me?”

  “No. I’m begging.”

  “Yes. I would love to live with you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You don’t need to thank me. I’m not doing you a favor. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Jared.”

  “Now go to sleep. I’ll protect you.”

  “I don’t want to sleep,” she said as she ran her hands up my chest.

  “No. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Please? You won’t hurt me. It will have the opposite effect.”

  “I can’t. I will when you’re feeling better.”

  “I won’t feel better until you make love to me,” she said as she gripped my back. “Please. I feel safe, happy, and whole when I’m with you. I know you won’t sleep with me unless you want to stay with me forever. Please.”

  “I do want to stay with you forever.”

  “Then make love to me.” She wrapped her legs around my waist. “Don’t make me beg.”

  “I like it when you beg,” I said with a smile.

  “Please, babe. Please.”

  “It has to be gentle.”

  “That fine,” she said happily.

  “And let me know if it hurts.”

  “Come on.”

  I leaned over her then pressed my forehead against hers. I wrapped my arm around her upper thigh then held it back while I moved in front of her. She ran her hands through my hair then down my back. With my other hand, I rubbed her clitoris gently. I knew she wanted to make love, but I also understood that her mind was thinking of other things.

  She gripped my back as she felt me.

  I pressed my lips against hers and kissed her gently. My heart throbbed as I felt her embrace. I had never loved anyone in the way that I loved her. It was special and unique. She was the only woman who had my heart—the only one who ever would. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

  “Stop.”

  “I missed you so much,” I said in between kisses.

  “I missed you too, Jared. You have no idea how much.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I’m sorry about everything.”

  “You are forgiven.” I rubbed her harder until her legs were shaking. I knew she wasn’t thinking about the hospital, the bruises covering her body, or the night she was mugged. She was just thinking about me—only me.

  I inserted myself within her in one fluid motion.

  “Jared,” she said with a gasp. “I miss this.”

  “I miss this too,” I said as I moved inside her. She was soaked like she normally was. She was tight and warm. With every thrust, I felt my body shake. She was the best sex I’ve ever had. We weren’t kinky but our lovemaking was perfect. It didn’t bother me that we didn’t fuck. I loved staring into her eyes while I moved within her. I saw the same love in her gaze that I knew was in my own.

  She grabbed my lower back and guided me inside her. “Harder.”

  I increased the pace. I started off slower than normal so I wouldn’t hurt her. “How’s that?”

  “Oh.”

  “There’s nothing I enjoy more than making love to you.”

  She was losing control. I had her where I wanted her. “Yeah.”

  I moved quicker. “Come on.”

  She scratched my back. “Oh god, Jared. Jared, Jared.”

  “Ellie.”

  Her cries turned to quiet moans. “Jared, Jared.”

  “My turn,” I said as I moved in her. “Make me come, baby.”

  She gripped my shoulders and rocked me from below, sheathing my cock repeatedly. “I want you for the rest of my life, Jared. I don’t want to live without you.”

  I thrust into her. “Ellie, don’t ever leave me.”

  “Never.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I can feel myself coming again,” she said as she gripped me again. “Please don’t come. Not yet.”

  I thrust into her hard. “I’m going to come with you. I can’t hold on much longer.” I pinned her legs farther back, pushing as far as I could go. “Oh god.”

  She breathed into my mouth. “I’m coming. God, I’m coming.”

  I felt myself explode inside her I continued to move into her as hard as I could to make her orgasm last while I felt myself shoot deep insider her. Releasing myself was such a turn on. I loved not using condoms, just feeling her wet pussy against my cock.

  She kissed me hard as she finished and I darted my tongue in her mouth.

  “God, Jared.”

  “Yeah.”

  She rubbed my back. “You’re so good at that.”

  “Thanks,” I said with a smile. “But I’m only that good because you’re so damn fine.”

  She smiled. “I think there’s more to it than that.”

  “Is it because I’m madly in love with you?”

  “That’s more likely.”

  I rubbed my nose against hers. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too.”

  “I’m not going anywhere unless you give me a reason to.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Promise me.”

  “I promise.”

  “Okay.” I pulled out of her then lay beside her. I cupped her cheek and stared into her face.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything, beautiful.”

  “Have you had sex with a lot of women?”

  I was not expecting that question. “Why are you asking?”

  “You just seem
really experienced.”

  “More than most—not a lot.” I stared at her expression. It didn’t change. “Does that change anything?”

  “No. I was just curious.”

  “Okay. Can I ask you the same question?”

  “Just you and my hu—Tom.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  She snuggled next to me and closed her eyes.

  “Good night,” I whispered.

  She was already asleep.

  20

  I made Elisa stay on bed rest even though she didn’t want to. I woke up early and made the kids breakfast then took them to the park for a few hours before I came home and bathed them. Before I left, I placed a stack of books on her bedside with an assortment of movies to watch so she wouldn’t be bored. I knew she needed to heal from the emotional trauma as well as the physical pain, so she needed to be away from the kids for a while. I didn’t mind. I loved spending time with them.

  I prepared lunch and brought it into her room. When I walked inside, she was asleep, much to my delight. I brought the tray back in the kitchen and saved it for later. The kids played with their blocks while they watched cartoons. I read a book on the couch while I watched them.

  When Ethan came home, he removed his tie and hung it on the rack. “When are you going back to work?”

  I looked at the kids. “Soon. I wanted to wait until Elisa gets over her cold.”

  Ethan glanced at the kids then returned his look to me. He moved to the couch beside me so we could whisper.

  Nothing had been the same since he punched me in that coffee shop. That was last straw for me. I had put up with Ethan’s bullshit too many times. I was sick of it. Sadie hadn’t talked to me about the letter but I hadn’t given her the opportunity. I avoided her, which was difficult since we were all in the same house.

  Ethan looked at me. “What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You and Elisa?”

  I put the book down. “I want to be in this relationship. She’s forgiven and I trust her. I just asked her not to lie to me again and not to hurt me.”

  “You mean that?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “So you’re serious about her?”

  I glared at him. “I’ve been serious since the first day. Maybe you should ask your sister that question.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come off that way.”

  “Well, you did.”

  “I take it back. You’re right, Jared. I’ve been an ass to you since the beginning. And I really mean it. I’m sorry.”

  “Okay.”

  “Do you accept my apology?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It doesn’t sound like it.”

  “I forgive you but I’m still resentful toward you. Hopefully it goes away soon.”

  He looked away. “Are you living here now?”

  I nodded. “She asked me to move in.”

  “Are you going to marry her?”

  “As soon as she’s ready.”

  “It’s getting cramped in here.”

  “Are you asking me to leave?”

  He laughed. “No. Not at all. I meant something else.”

  “What?”

  “Well, Sadie and I are getting married, and if you are here to stay then she, Koku, and I would like to get our own place—have our own space.”

  “You should. I think I can handle it.”

  “But I don’t want to move out unless I know for certain that you’re saying together.”

  “We are. I won’t hurt her and she won’t hurt me.”

  “I would still like to wait awhile. I’ll ask Elisa to tell me when she’s ready for that.”

  “Will you tell me?”

  “Yeah. I’m assuming that would also mean she’s ready to get married.”

  “Probably.”

  “So I’ll definitely let you know.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Yeah.”

  We were quiet for a moment.

  “I need your help with something,” I said.

  “What?”

  “I need to get a gun but I don’t know much about them. Can you help me decide?”

  “Only if you take shooting classes and gun safety curriculum.”

  “Of course.”

  “Then yes, I’ll help you.”

  “I want to teach Elisa too.”

  “Don’t bother. I went through the same thing with her. She won’t touch a gun.”

  “But it might help her sleep at night if she knows she can defend herself.” I grabbed the book and rubbed my fingertips across the edges. The kids played on the floor without noticing us.

  Ethan watched them. “You’re good with them.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m glad.”

  I nodded.

  “So, when are you going to talk to Sadie?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “She cried the entire time you were gone. That letter broke her heart.”

  “Well, she broke mine.”

  “Talk to her—please.”

  “I will when I’m ready.”

  He stared at me. “I don’t like it when my fiancée is upset. You better talk to her soon.”

  “It’s our relationship—butt out of it.”

  “And she’s my girl—don’t make her cry.”

  I shook my head and ignored him.

  “You have no idea how pissed she was at me every time I snapped at you. She always defended you, Jared. I just have too much of a temper when it comes to my sister’s well-being. I’m the same way with Sadie. But she did tell me off for it.”

  “She did?”

  “Yeah. You only saw the surface. She understood why I was upset but she said I was never allowed to hit you. If I did, she would leave me.”

  “Then why is she still around?”

  He was quiet for a moment. “Because I haven’t told her.”

  I stared at him for a moment. “Are you going to?”

  “I don’t want to. She said she would leave me. I think she meant it. But when I saw you with that whore—”

  “Friend.”

  “I couldn’t stop myself. You just broke my sister’s heart. I—I snapped.”

  “What did she say about your bloody lip?”

  “I told her you punched me.”

  “And was she mad?”

  “No. She favors you, Jared.”

  That surprised me. Perhaps I got all of this wrong. “I won’t tell her if you don’t.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

  I nodded. “I don’t want you to break up because of that.”

  “Thanks,” he said quietly.

  “Besides, it did look like I was being a huge jackass.”

  He laughed. “I’m glad you realize it.”

  “But I didn’t sleep with her—or anyone.”

  “I believe you.”

  My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out. Elisa texted me. “My baby needs lunch.”

  He laughed. “Don’t keep her waiting.”

  I went into the kitchen and reheated the soup and pulled the sandwich from the fridge. I carried it into her room and placed it on the bed. “How are you feeling?”

  She smiled at me. “Good.”

  I noticed the open book on the bed. “What are you reading?”

  “Only For You.”

  “Any good?”

  “I think so.”

  “You hungry?”

  “Yes.”

  I scooted the tray closer to her.

  “Babe, I can eat in the kitchen at the table.”

  “No. Lean back.”

  She sighed and leaned against the pillows. “I appreciate it but I’m fine.”

  I grabbed her face and kissed her. She melted at my touch. “Shut up and start eating this wonderful lunch I made you.”

  She smiled at me. “Okay.”

  She ate her soup while I watched her. I felt awkward just starin
g at her like an obsessive stalker so I looked away.

  “What did you do today?”

  “I took the kids to the park.”

  “You bathed them, right?”

  “Oh, yeah. Tommy decided it would be fun to dig for earthworms.”

  “Yuck.”

  “And Becky thought it would be fun to eat the worms.”

  “Oh my god.”

  “Your kids are so classy.”

  She laughed. “My kids are going to grow up to be white trash, aren’t they?”

  “It seems pre-ordained.”

  She sighed. “They are something else…”

  “I like them. I think they are adorable.”

  “I’m glad one of us thinks so.”

  I laughed. “Isn’t it nice having a break from them?”

  “I guess,” she said. “But I do miss them.”

  “They don’t miss you.”

  “I’m not surprised. I would never let them dig in the dirt like homeless people.”

  “And then I took them to McDonalds.”

  “You did not!”

  I nodded.

  “Please tell me they washed their hands.”

  “Of course. I admit that I’m new at this, but I’m not completely handicapped.”

  “Well, you wouldn’t know that it’s unacceptable to take them for fast food.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I cook for them. I don’t let them eat garbage.”

  “Well, it’s too late.”

  “They are going to have the shits.”

  “I’ll let you take care of that,” I said as I patted her leg.

  She rolled her eyes. “So much for having bed rest.”

  When she was done with her tray, I moved it out of the way. “Is there anything else I can get you, Ellie?”

  She pulled the covers down and revealed her legs. She was just wearing her panties and one of my shirts. “Yes.”

  I stared at her.

  “I didn’t get my morning sex.”

  “I want you to get better.”

  “It didn’t hurt last night so it won’t hurt today.”

  “I still want you to rest.”

  “Shut up and fuck me.”

  I moaned. “You can’t talk to me like that.”

  “Fuck me, Jared. Take off your pants and do it.”

  My skin prickled. “It’s the middle of the day. Someone will hear us or wonder where we are.”

  “Then make it quick. Consider it a challenge.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “No.”

  She sat up and turned over, showing me her ass. “Come on,” she said as she took off her shirt then removed her thong. She started to rub her clit. “I’m starting without you,” she said with a moan.