Chapter Eleven

Blooms

Ella

“Welcome home, Miss Bennett.” Tucker’s lips grazed over her temple as the elevator chimed their arrival back at Tucker’s apartment. Their journey back to his place had been uneventful, and while she’d loved seeing her mum, she found she was glad to be back there.

“Thank you, sir.” Her eyes fluttered closed as his kisses trailed to her ear lobe. “I’m exhausted after my first jaunt from my new ‘home.’”

Tucker smirked. “I’m happy to take you to bed.”

“Definitely.” She couldn’t believe how well the meeting with her mum had gone, but the three hours they’d spent at Osbourne’s was probably the longest amount of time she and Tucker had gone without fucking since they’d arrived. Apart from when they’d slept, of course. “But I wish you hadn’t brought that thing in here with us.”

She motioned to the vile-looking weapon Tucker had insisted on bringing from the Lamborghini’s trunk. Slung over his right shoulder, it was no real threat to her, but her belly still lurched at its unwelcome proximity.

“I can’t leave it in the car indefinitely, little girl.” He ushered her out of the doors as they slid open. “It’s much safer to have it here with us.”

“Is it?” She frowned, recalling where the gun had come from as he locked the elevator unit with his fingerprint. “I’d be happier if we didn’t have it at all.”

“I understand.” He reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers gently. “And I promise to lock it away in my safe. It won’t hurt you, Ella.”

There was some solace in his vow. If they had to keep the thing, then she’d prefer it was secure and out of the way.

“Why don’t you grab us drinks, and I’ll take it to the safe.” He signaled for her to go ahead.

“Okay.”

She peered back at him as they started along the corridor, disconcerted by his suggestion. Tucker hardly let her out of her sight, so his abrupt desire for her to fetch refreshments alone was noteworthy.

“Is there a problem?” His tone was sardonic.

“No, sir. I’m just a little surprised that you’ve asked me to get the drinks, but I’m happy to help. What would you like?”

“Mineral water, please.” The dark twinkle in his eyes might have been unnerving had the look not excited her so much. “There should be fresh bottles in the refrigerator by now.”

“Sounds good.” Ella felt dehydrated from all that champagne at Osbourne’s, so the idea of water was alluring. “I’ll join you.”

“Good.” He nodded toward the kitchen. “I’ll meet you in there once this is stashed away.” He glanced back at the hideous-looking weapon trapped under his arm.

“Great.” She backed away reflexively, grateful to put distance between her and the gun. The sooner it was locked away, the more at ease she’d be. “See you in the kitchen.”

She paused in the doorway, watching Tucker disappear into his study at the end of the hall. After days of living in the luxury of his city home, she’d come to know the layout of the place well, and while it wasn’t her home, she was comfortable there.

Tucker had seemed happier since they’d arrived in the city as well. He was still the same dominant, older man she’d grown to love spending time with, but he seemed more relaxed now that someone else was providing their food and energy needs. He didn’t need to play the vigilant benefactor in the apartment’s sleek and sophisticated setup, so he’d been able to drop the punitive Neanderthal act.

She suspected they’d both been able to reveal more of themselves in the confines of his exclusive penthouse. It was as though they’d been able to shake off the shadows that had spread over them in the forest and find a new sense of freedom.

Freedom to really know one another.

That must be why I’m falling for him. The excited butterflies in her belly stretched their wings as the realization settled over her.

She was falling for him, and even though she knew he’d done horrendous things, she also trusted he’d never cause her any real harm. She pushed the memories of the guy he’d slain in the woods from her mind as she wandered into the kitchen. Tucker had done what he had to do to protect them both. He’d—

Her swirling thoughts were punctured by the unexpected scene that met her eyes. There, on the edge of the enormous, marbled island, was a vase of the largest bouquet of red roses she’d ever seen.

“Wow!” Her jaw fell open as she moved closer, her heart beating faster as she took in the sweet aroma of the fresh blooms. There must have been at least fifty of the flowers, each petal drenched in the deepest scarlet hue. “These are incredible.”

Her attention fell to the small white envelope perched at the bottom of the vase. Running her fingertips over the expensive paper, she noticed her name written on the front.

Ella.

Were the roses for her?

When did he have time to buy these?

Ripping open the envelope, her gaze planted firmly on the garland, she tugged out the tiny card and read the accompanying lines.

Little girl.

Her heart skipped a beat as the name he’d given her resounded in her head.

Thank you for being mine.

Her gaze ran repeatedly over the last line.

Thank you for being mine.

Thank you for being mine.

Men with money had bought Ella floral sprays many times, but she couldn’t ever remember a gesture as grand or as beautiful as this one. Or maybe she just couldn’t remember any meaning so much to her before.

She was his now—just as he was hers—and even more bizarrely, she found she was happy to belong to him.

Suddenly, it wasn’t the alcohol making her head spin, but the sense of knowing she felt in her soul. Tucker’s presence was the thing that had been missing in her life. Yielding to him and letting him into her world had given her empty existence meaning.

She turned back to the doorway, expecting to see the brooding man of her dreams looming there, but to her surprise, the space was unoccupied. Spinning back to the flowers, she smiled. So much had happened in the relatively short period of time since she’d awoken in the woods, yet for all the trauma she’d experienced, Ella found herself calmer and more content.

Walking to the other side of the island, she opened the cupboard where he kept the glasses, determined not to be so consumed with her feelings that she didn’t fulfill the task he’d assigned to her. She chose two glasses, her attention returning to the gorgeous roses as she placed them down on the island.

He’d bought her flowers. It shouldn’t have been such a big deal, but as she turned to the refrigerator, she realized she was grinning again.

Ella had been a spoiled little rich girl. She’d lacked depth and clarity, but a few days with Tucker had changed all that. Through an amalgamation of her angsty resistance, their combined passion, and his ridiculous rules, she’d finally learned what life was about. She could feel herself blooming.

By the time she’d carried the chilled bottle of water to the marble island, she was lost to the reality of transformation. Against all odds, meeting the tall, tough brute in the woods had shifted her life for the better.

Tucker made her want to be a better woman.

“You look like you’re a million miles away, little girl.” Tucker’s voice cajoled her from the swelling bubble of contentment.

“Hi.” She blushed, conscious of the heat on her face, as though she’d just been caught doing something naughty. “I’m just getting the water.” She glanced down to find the two glasses filled already, although she didn’t remember pouring them.

His lips stretched into a smile. “You look a little dazed.”

“That’s the effect you have on me, sir.” She screwed the lid back onto the bottle, still bewildered at the way she’d lost time.

“I’m pleased to hear it.” His brow rose as he neared. “What do you think of the flowers?”

“They’re amazing.” She beamed. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

“I have.” He smoothed the loose strands of her hair from her face as he drew her closer. “You’re even more beautiful, little girl.”

“I mean it.” She shrugged him away playfully. “Thank you, sir. When did you get them?”

“I had a member of my staff bring them in with the groceries while we were at Osbourne’s.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I wanted to do something for you.”

“You do so much.” She motioned around at the expanse of his kitchen. “You’ve given me somewhere lovely to stay and lots of fabulous orgasms, but thank you.”

“I think it’s the least I can do in the circumstances. Do you still want to go back to bed?” His tone was salacious. “We could take our water with us.”

“Definitely, sir.” She rose to her tiptoes and skimmed her mouth over his stubble. “I’m all yours.”

“You’re so right.” He threw her a wink as he turned to collect the glasses of water. “You have one minute to get in the bedroom before your ass pays the price.”

***

Ella pressed her palm against the headboard as her crescendo approached. Straddling Tucker, she rode his hard length while he suckled her swollen nipples.

“Fuck!” She spluttered the word as the tsunami washed over her, her head clouding with pleasure as her sex contracted around his dick.

“Don’t stop.” His instruction was breathy as his hips ground relentlessly into her. “Don’t stop, little girl.”

Gripping his shoulder, she stared into his eyes as she thrust herself down onto him. “I won’t stop, sir.”

She might be the one using the honorific, but holding his pleasure in the palm of her hand meant she was the one with all the power.

His cry was guttural when he detonated inside of her, his tremors almost toppling her from his body altogether.

Folding over him, she brushed her lips over the soft hair on his chest, clinging to him as his orgasm peaked. Holding him, she’d never been more certain of anything.

Whatever this energy was between them and wherever the passion took them, she never wanted it to stop.