Chapter Sixteen

The Deadly Present

Ella

Ella’s heart raced with excitement as the buzzer chimed throughout the apartment, indicating that someone was waiting at the door downstairs.

Tucker’s brow creased. “Who the hell is that?”

He’d been in a constant state of anxiety about their welfare since the break-in, and whatever she did, it never seemed to quell his fears. That was why she’d ordered him the gift in the first place.

“It’s for me, sir.” She rushed to her feet, dodging his hand and sprinting from the rug to the hallway.

“What do you mean, it’s for you ?” Inevitably, he was right behind her, his long strides closing the space between them as she fled to the elevator.

“I mean, I ordered something for you.” She spun to face him as the elevator whirred to life behind her.

It had been quite a challenge finding one of his security guys who was prepared to invite his wrath by accepting the delivery on her behalf. She’d also had to persuade him to override Tucker’s personal veto on the elevators and ensure the gift was brought personally to the apartment. She’d managed to convince Harris, though. Apparently, certain men were still prepared to do her bidding if her smile was sweet enough.

“What the fuck is going on here?” He folded his arms across his strapping chest as his dark eyebrow cocked at her. “How is the elevator working without my say-so?”

“I had a little help, sir.” She blushed as he edged closer, aware of how much trouble both she and Harris could be in if Tucker’s mood didn’t improve.

“Is that right?” He sounded unimpressed, but as the silver doors slid open, he moved to stand protectively in front of her.

“Harris?” Skepticism dripped from his voice as his security guard stepped out of the mirrored cubicle. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Bowman.” Harris’ gaze glided between her and Tucker. “Miss Bennett asked if I’d take in this on her behalf.”

He motioned to the plant she’d managed to order on one of the rare occasions Tucker had let her out of his sight so she could use her phone in the bathroom. She’d ordered the gift with an existing credit account, having it delivered to his home.

“What is it?” Tucker hissed, his attention flitting between his lover and his employee.

“Miss Bennett?” Harris practically trembled as he shoved the plant in her direction.

“It’s for you.” She grabbed the ceramic pot and thrust it at Tucker. “I hope you like it.”

“Thank you, Harris.” Tucker’s glower inspired a chill to race along her spine. “We’ll speak about this later.”

The sound of Tucker’s deep inhalation echoed in the entranceway as the elevator slid closed and liberated Harris. He’d played his part and would forever have Ella’s gratitude.

“Little girl.” Tucker’s lower timbre resonated over her as he took the plant from her hands. “Why has Harris delivered a plant?”

“It’s from me, sir.” Christ, hadn’t she told him this already? “You’ve been so worried since the break-in, I wanted to get you a gift.”

His gaze darted to the plant before rising back to Ella.

“How did you get it delivered?” His inquiring tone barely disguised his anger.

“I… I asked the store to bring it…”

“How did you know where to get it delivered to?” His stare pierced her. “I never told you this address.”

“Oh.” Heat erupted on her cheeks as she realized the origins of his concerns. “I asked Harris for it, but please don’t be upset with him, sir. He was only trying to help me.”

“Right.” His jaw flexed. “So, you went behind my back, spoke to my security team, and asked for this address?”

Shit, it didn’t sound good when he put it like that.

“Yes.” There was no point lying about it. Ella had done all of those things, but she’d done them with the best of intentions. “I did those things, sir.”

“When did you reach out to Harris?” His gaze bored into her.

“The day after the break-in,” she confessed. “I waited until you were asleep, then contacted your team.”

“How?” He closed his eyes as though he couldn’t bear to look at her.

“I used your phone.” She cringed with the admission, knowing he’d likely never leave it unlocked again. “I’m not proud of it, but I did it, sir. I’m sorry.”

She wasn’t apologizing for buying him the plant but was sorry to have stirred the distrust between them. They’d discovered such a sexy equilibrium since they’d arrived at the apartment.

“And you did all of this to buy me what?” His concentration landed back on the shrub. “Is this a nightshade, little girl?”

“Yes, sir.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she awaited his verdict. She wanted to offer him a fragment of consolation in light of everything he’d lost. “I thought you’d find it soothing, what with having to leave the cabin and the flowers reminding you of your mum.” She only wanted to do something special for him. Surely, he wasn’t so blinkered by past trauma and mistrust that he couldn’t see that.

His lips twitched. “That’s a lovely thought, little girl.”

“So, you’re not angry?” Her tone was hopeful.

“Not angry,” he reiterated. “But I’m not happy about you hiding this from me, Ella.”

“I understand.” Nervous butterflies flitted around her belly. “I just wanted it to be a surprise, sir.”

“Consider me surprised.” He beckoned her forward, reaching out a hand in her direction. “Thank you, little girl.”

She grasped his long fingers, allowing him to pull her toward him for an impromptu embrace.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, sir.”

“I know.” His arm tightened around her waist. “But you know I’m going to punish you, don’t you?”

“Yes, sir.” Her pulse leapt at the intoxicating idea. She supposed, aside from gifting him the plant that reminded him of his mother, the prospect of a Tucker punishment was the main reason she’d gone behind his back. She couldn’t wait to see what devilish predicament he’d have her in, and if she knew him as well as she hoped, she wouldn’t have to wait long for his decision.

“Good.” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s put my nightshade with your remaining rose, shall we? Then I’m going to need my footrest.”

***

Head clouded, she blinked at the rug nestling between her fingers. It wasn’t the first time she’d found herself there—on all fours in front of the sofa—but she couldn’t recall feeling so dazed before.

“How’s my footrest doing?”

His voice echoed from somewhere to her right, but she couldn’t summon the energy to lift her head and acknowledge him. Naturally, the gag he’d shoved between her lips meant she couldn’t have replied even if she’d wanted to.

“I said.” He sent the riding crop whacking against her prone backside, provoking a shrill cry from her. “How are you, little girl?”

“Hmpf.” A hoarse grunt escaped from her throat as she processed the sudden hurt. He’d already spent half an hour tanning her ass with his brutal palm, and the sting caught her off guard.

“Good.” He tapped her cheeks as he settled back in his place, shifting his ankles on the small of her back. The extra-long riding crop made it easy for him to sit in comfort while still keeping her in her place. Her sex clenched at her tantalizing treatment. “I think we both know why you’re there on the floor.”

Heat bloomed on her cheeks and lowering her face, she wondered if it matched the color of her bottom. As she pondered the humiliating idea, a line of drool escaped the confines of her gag and stretched down to the rug below.

“I love my gift, little girl.” He pressed the head of the crop against her heated skin, angling it so it slipped between her cheeks. She gasped as it lowered to her pussy before resuming its rhythmic tap, tap, tapping on her labia. “But I can’t have you rushing off to commune with my staff the moment you think I’m asleep.”

You were asleep.

Goodness knows, she’d checked numerous times before she slipped away, but even without the gag, the point was moot. Ella understood Tucker’s concerns. Sure, he had an unruly possessive streak, but there was also a psychotic criminal on the loose who was prepared to break into his palatial surroundings and intimidate the usually unshakable man she’d fallen in love with.

In love with.

Her heart accelerated at the once alarming thought. As scary as the thought was, there was no doubt in her mind that her feelings matched the shiny mantle. She was in love with him, and while she hadn’t yet plucked up the confidence to tell him how she felt, the sentiment only grew as the hours passed.

“I love you, little girl.” The tapping at her pussy intensified, fogging her thoughts. “You know that, and I won’t risk your welfare.”

“Mmmm.” It was all she could manage.

“You need to understand that your wellbeing is everything to me, Ella.”

She was grateful for his desire to protect her. Ella had never had a man in her life who gave a damn, so living with Tucker was an eye-opening shock to her system. It was hard to concentrate on remorse, though, when the insistent tapping dragged her mind constantly back to the gutter.

There, gagged and spanked, she was naked on her knees and ‘his’ entirely. If he genuinely wanted repentance, Tucker would have to mention her sins when she wasn’t brimming with such base needs.

She closed her eyes as the tapping sped up, pushing her hips back an inch to receive its praise, but a sharp smack soon put pay to her self-indulgence.

“Enough!” he snapped, ceasing the appealing drumming. “This is not about your pleasure.”

Her eyes fluttered open at the reprimand, her gaze traveling to him for the first time since he’d ushered her from his lap to the floor.

“Don’t look at me with that expression.” The rebuke had a playful edge to it, but she hung her head regardless, not wanting to displease him any further. “You know why I’m not permitting you an orgasm.”

She nodded in recognition, inadvertently sending another pool of saliva south by her knees.

“Settle down.” The crop appeared in her peripheral vision as he switched it to his right hand and laid it on the couch beside him. “I want to rest for a while.”

That would be nice.

The begrudged thought flitted through her head as she inhaled. Ella would have liked to curl up at his side and relax with him, but she knew that wasn’t what this penance was about. She was there to be useful to him, as atonement for her deception, and she accepted that, even if her knees ached with complaint.

She settled into silence as he picked up his phone and started to read. Her eyes fell closed again as she leaned into acceptance. However long he wanted to use her as a footrest was okay with her. She’d managed to give him the gift he needed, and she was prepared to take the punishment that followed. The fact that she relished every moment of the subjugation was only a happy coincidence.