Chapter 6

6

OLIVER

Ella throws her hands up and cheers with the stadium. I don’t even glance at the field. Who cares who’s winning when Ella’s here in tight jeans and a silky top? I can see her nipple piercings pushing against the fabric in the right light.

Can’t believe she’s actually here. With me. Turning to me and grinning when our team scores a try, and pouting at me when they’re intercepted.

I get her reactions.

I get her body pressed against mine when a cool breeze races through the balcony.

I get her ass sitting on my lap?

Wait. She’s sitting on my lap.

Distracted by her sitting on me, it takes a second for my arm to wrap around her waist, to haul her closer and tuck her properly against me to shield her from the wind.

Still hard to believe she’s here. That she agreed and then showed up. Maddy texted me after she dropped everything off and it worried me. Worried me that Ella didn’t think I wanted her number, that I wouldn’t follow through. But I’m going to prove her wrong. Gonna prove to her I don’t want anyone but her. Convince her to travel with me and move in together.

Now that I’ve spoken to her outside of her shop, I’m less anxious, less worried about her not wanting me, about screwing it all up. Seeing Ella reassured me. We were both as worried as each other, but none of that matters anymore. Now we’re both as invested as each other and nothing will tear us apart.

Except when our team scores another try. Ella launches off me and cheers with Charlotte. Damn it, can’t they stop being good at their jobs for a minute so I can enjoy Ella cuddled with me?

Maybe I should’ve taken her somewhere with only us. I probably should have. Away from my team and the alcohol.

I glance at some of the guys and frown at their drunken singing. Josh is looking worse for wear. But I figured she might enjoy it—and by the way she’s wriggling her hips to the victory music she is—and it would be more neutral with other people around us. Although she doesn’t know any of them, so maybe it’s making her uncomfortable?

Ella bumps hips with Charlotte and collapses onto me again. Or maybe I’m getting in my head and everything’s fine, and she’s happy here with me.

I set my drink down, wrap both arms low on her stomach, and pull her against my chest. It’s half-time now, and I refuse to let her up when there’s no one to cheer for. Now it’s just us.

“Ella, how long have you had your store?” Daniel asks.

And the rest of the people in the suite. I drop my head to the crook of her neck and brush my nose against her skin. She shivers and I grin, hiding it in her skin before lifting my head and kissing her cheek.

“A few years.”

“And it’s beside Maddy’s place?”

“It is. And I learned they were related today when she showed up demanding I come here.” She turns her head and smirks at me.

“Sounds like Maddy.” Daniel sighs. Why does he sound wistful?

“Why piercings?” Charlotte asks, and I stop running circles on Ella’s stomach to hear the answer.

Ella’s hand drops to mine and strokes me, and I flip my hand to lace them together.

Ella shrugs. “I always loved jewellery. Getting my first cartilage done was a rush. I wanted more. I loved the way it made me feel and love the confidence it gives you. You can change the jewellery to match your mood or outfit. One day, I’d love to design the jewellery we sell, but at the moment I’m focused on our clients.”

“You want to design as well?” I ask.

“One day.” She lowers her voice. “As much as I love piercing you”—her eyes flick to my crotch—“I want to grow my skills for other things too.”

“Do you pierce other guys…” I trail off and raise my eyebrows. Somehow, with my obsession of seeing her and getting pierced as my only idea to see her, I hadn’t considered her piercing other guys’ dicks.

She grins. “Jealous?”

“Yes.” At least being upfront about it is honest.

She tilts her head until our foreheads press together. “Not since I met you. I hired someone who specialises in it. It’s not exactly my favourite thing to pierce. Especially not after meeting you.”

“That shouldn’t please me as much as it does.”

“I’m glad it does.” Her arm wraps around my shoulders.

“You need to show me your jewellery designs.”

“You want to see them?”

“I demand to see them,” I say, squeezing her hand.

“I’ve got photos on my phone I can show you later.”

“Good.”

Charlotte pops our bubble. “Do you only pierce ears?”

Ella pulls away from me to answer Charlotte and I only curse her a little. “We pierce anything and everything. Some staff specialise in one thing.”

“So, did you pierce those, or did someone do it for you?” Josh enters our little circle, and his eyes flick to her nipple piercings and stay there.

Silence falls at the comment, everyone turning to stare at him in disbelief, or in my case, glare holes in him. It’s his first time at the suite, and from one comment—and the way he’s drinking—I’ve learned a lot about him.

Ella clenches my hand. “Be a bit hard to pierce my own nipples, don’t you think?”

“Yeah but?—”

Charlotte interrupts loudly, “What I was going to ask, was if you think I should get some piercings?”

Ella breathes deeply. “I always think people should get more piercings. What do you have at the moment?”

“My lobes.”

“Not even a helix?” Charlotte shakes her head and Ella’s eyes widen. “You need to come in so I can curate something for you.”

“Is that all you do? Pierce people? Is that a real job people have?” Josh scoffs. He turns to me and I narrow my eyes. “And you’re with her when you’ve got all this.”

Ella freezes on my lap, her body going taunt and her face tight. She blinks a few times at Josh, and I’m waiting for the reprimand I’m sure she’s about to give, but she doesn’t.

She turns to me and whispers, “I’m gonna freshen up.” She stands and heads into the room, leaving the balcony silent and my lap cold.

That’s fine. If she doesn’t feel up to defending herself, I’ll do it for her.

“What did you say, Josh?” I ask in a quiet voice.

“I asked if it’s a real job and why you’re with her. I get the appeal with the nipples and being wild but?—”

“That’s enough.” How dare he talk about her like that? About any woman? Charlotte must agree with my sentiment by the disgusted look on her face while she edges closer to Daniel. “Firstly, you never speak about women like that. Ever.” He inhales, but I cut him off. “Secondly, you know nothing about me or Ella, so keep your fucking mouth shut. Piercings are an expression of who a person is. And guess what? She pierces me. Every. Year.”

Josh’s eyes scan my face and ears, not finding the metal he’s looking for. Glazed eyes scan down my chest and settle on my crotch.

“Yep. There’s metal in my dick. You gonna sexualize me, Josh? In my corporate suite in front of your colleagues?” He shakes his head. “Didn’t think so. Go home and sleep it off, and you better re-evaluate how you treat people before you come back to my office.”

Josh weaves towards the exit, and my shoulders don’t relax until the door slams behind him.

I turn to Charlotte. “Put a warning on his file for harassment.”

“You got it.” She sips her wine.

“Your office?” Daniel asks, eyebrow raised with an amused smirk on his face. “Thought we went in together? I’m hurt. And you didn’t tell me you had penis piercings. We could have got matching ones.” He pouts.

“Yep, my office. Just like Ella’s mine. And if you go anywhere near her asking to get your dick pierced, you better believe I’ll buy you out. She has other staff if you want one.” Daniel salutes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere else I need to be.”

And with that, I stand and exit the balcony, closing the glass door behind me to drown out the stadium noise, and aim for the bathroom.

She better still be here.

But it won’t matter if she left. I wouldn’t stop until I found her.

Nothing would stop me.