Текст книги "Traded"

Автор книги: Rebecca Brooke

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Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

CHAPTER 25

Elena

“What?”

My voice came out all breathy, so much so that I questioned whether or not it was audible. Did Ashton just say he loved me? Pieces of the conversation I had with Miller a few weeks ago came back to me.

“He was already falling for you.”

“I am completely in love with you, Elena,” he said, his gaze never leaving mine.

The words both scared and excited me. They were the ones I’d longed to hear from Ashton’s lips, but I knew I couldn’t return them. Even though he’d never shown me anything but care and compassion, the fear of rejection still festered, buried deep within me. As much as I willed them to come, no words would leave my mouth. I didn’t know what to say.

Did I want to stay with Ashton? More than anything. But would he still want me if I couldn’t utter those three little words? There was only one way to find out. I was tired of living in fear.

“I want to stay with you, more than you can even imagine . . . but I need more time—”

His fingers covered my lips.

“You don’t have to say it back. Take all the time you need.”

Cupping my face in his hands, he slanted his lips over mine in a passionate kiss. The soft, slow movements were more about sharing ourselves than lust. When his tongue slid across my lips, tasting every inch, I groaned. There, on the ledge of the fountain, I ignored the world around us. The only thing that mattered was Ashton, and the happiness he’d brought to my life.

Our lips parted, the corners of his mouth pulling up into a smile. He stood and reached a hand out to me. “Come on. I believe I owe you a celebration dinner.”

“You do.” I winked and placed my hand in his.

On the way back to the car, I noticed Ashton’s shoulders had relaxed. Even his breathing seemed lighter.

I glanced over at him as he pulled the car out onto the road. “Ashton?”

He took hold of my hand and linked our fingers together, bringing my hand up to his lips. “Yes?”

“Were you afraid to ask me to stay? I noticed you seem more relaxed now that it’s out in the open.”

He smirked. “A little. I didn’t think you’d tell me no, but with everything you’ve been through I wasn’t sure. Plus, I wanted to find the perfect time to tell you.”

“I didn’t need the perfect time. I just need you.”

“You may not have needed the perfect time, but you deserved it.”

“Thank you. And I—”

Once again he cut me off. “Not until you’re ready. I can wait.”

We pulled up outside La Tratoria. Every time I saw the place, it always amazed me with it elegance. “A special dinner for two?”

“Something like that.”

He hopped out of the car and opened my door before I had a chance to unbuckle myself. We walked into the restaurant hand in hand and it felt nice to be on the arm of a man who cherished me—who loved me. I felt strange just thinking it. The man holding my hand was in love . . . with me. The feeling of pride that swelled in my chest was like nothing I’d ever felt. It was a delicious sensation; one I knew I’d never tire of.

Bypassing the main dining room, I was confused. We’d eaten at the same table each time we’d dined there so, naturally, I assumed we’d be sitting there. I didn’t question him, just went where he led. When we came to a door in the back, Ashton opened it with a flourish. We stepped into the room and I froze.

My parents.

My parents.

Oh my God.

The air left my lungs in a whoosh, the hand not in Ashton’s now clasped over my mouth. My knees began to buckle and I felt him slide closer, knowing that if he hadn’t been holding me, there was no way I would still be on my feet. I hadn’t seen them in so long, yet it felt like yesterday. Mom’s hair was shorter, her eyes more tired, but she was still the same woman who’d blown on my cuts and grazes, talked to me about boys, and helped me curl my hair for prom. Dad was slightly grayer, but it suited him. He’d filled out a bit too. But his smile was exactly the same. I loved that smile nearly as much as I loved my dad.

Mom ran up to me crying, wrapping me in the tightest hug imaginable. The back of my throat burned as I tried to hold onto my emotions, but it was impossible and the tears fell down my cheeks. Ashton quietly stepped away, giving me a few minutes alone with my mother and father.

Mom leaned back to look me in the eye. “You were amazing tonight, Laney. We are so very proud of you.”

She pulled me in close again, her face tucked into my neck, and her arms around me were joined by Dad’s. “I’m so happy we got to see your first performance.”

“How?—when? Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re here,” I squealed when I eventually moved out of their embrace, my head bouncing back and forth between the two of them.

Mom’s smile warmed me all the way to my toes. “Ashton called us and asked if we wanted to come.”

“But you guys can’t afford to come here for just a weekend. I’m thrilled you’re here, but you didn’t need to do that.”

“Don’t worry, babydoll, Ashton covered all our expenses.”

My hand flew to my chest. “He did?”

I searched the room for Ashton. I didn’t know if he’d come back, but I wanted him to know how thankful I was. Before my eyes could find him, Dad took hold of my shoulders and turned me to face him. “You’ve got yourself a good man there. I’m glad to see you so happy.”

“Ashton makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”

“That’s all we could ask for.”

A tap on my shoulder made me turn. “You were amazing,” Mrs. Hawes gushed.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Hawes.” She lifted her brows and waited. “Sorry, Faith.”

“That’s better.” She smiled. “I’m so excited to see it again next week.”

“You’re coming again?”

“Absolutely!”

Mr. Hawes stepped up behind his wife, resting his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t try and deter her. She wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He wrapped me in a hug of his own. “You were excellent.”

“She was, wasn’t she?” Ashton slid his arm around my waist, pulling me tight to him. “The kitchen should be ready with dinner, if we want to take our seats.”

Everyone moved toward the dining room, but I held back. Not wanting to hold up dinner I didn’t speak. I just placed a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth and said, “Thank you . . . so much.”

And then I went to eat dinner with my family.

* * *

Dinner passed in a blur of wonderful conversation and celebration. It was more than I could have ever asked for, and I told Ashton as much on the drive home.

“I still can’t believe you flew my parents all the way out here.”

He lifted our linked hands to his lips. “Haven’t you figured out yet that I’ll do anything to make you happy.”

“It’s occurred to me once or twice.” I laughed.

“Keep up your cheek and I promise you’ll pay for it.”

“Oh really,” I said, trying to egg him on. Like he’d actually have enough self-control to hold back long enough to make me pay.”

The second we parked in the garage Ashton was out of the car, ripping open my door, picking me up, and throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I squirmed, but nothing helped.

“Put me down, Ashton.” I tried to sound stern but my giggles were a dead giveaway.

Still trying to wriggle my way down, I let out a sharp yelp when his hand connected with my ass. Liquid heat pooled at my core. All I could think about was him, pressed between my thighs. Twice more on our way up the stairs his hand landed on my ass. By the third time, I let the moan escape—one hundred percent positive Ashton knew what he was doing to me.

When we made it to the bedroom. Ashton let me slide down his body, and immediately after my feet touched the floor he gripped the hem of my dress and pulled it up and over my head. My underwear followed right behind. Then Ashton’s mouth was on mine, as he lowered me to the bed and all conscious thought left me. His right hand caressed up and down my side, eventually gliding up my arm to my wrist, holding it in place until something cool and leather wrapped around it.

Swiftly, and before I spoke a word, Ashton had my other arm up and closed the leather cuff around my wrist. “I told you teasing me wouldn’t be a good thing,” he said as his fingers tickled down my side, caressing over my breast until he pinched my nipple between his fingers. Sensation shot through my body, my lower half squirming on the bed.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I think you can move too much,” he whispered in my ear.

I had no idea what he was talking about. The idea of begging crossed my mind for one brief moment but the reality was, I wanted to see how it would play out. His hands continued their path down my chest and through my core. God, I needed his fingers to stay there longer. But they moved slowly down my thighs, capturing one of my ankles, his thumbs digging into the arch of my foot.

“Ashton,” I sighed.

That’s when I felt the cool leather again and heard the click as my ankle was attached to the bed and just like with my wrists, Ashton wasted no time cuffing my other ankle. I looked up. His eyes were hooded, his pupils dilated so wide that I could barely see what color his eyes were.

Lust.

“Oh, Elena. How fucking sexy you look spread-eagle on my bed.” His hands grazed down my exposed stomach. “Now I want to see how much you can handle.”

I trembled at his words and watched to see what he would do. Somehow, without me seeing, Ashton had managed to get a vibrator out onto the bed. The sound alone made the anticipation grow. “Please,” I begged.

“Oh don’t worry, it’s all for you.” His voice was husky as he touched the vibrator to my clit.

I’d never felt anything like it. Desire poured through me like wildfire. Within minutes I was crashing over the edge. “Oh God, don’t . . . don’t stop,” I managed to pant out.

“I don’t plan on it.”

The speed increased, making the vibrations come quicker and long before I expected it, my body built up again to that peak where it’s a choice: let the torture continue or fall off the cliff. This time when the explosion came, my vision grayed out and my body tightened almost to the point of pain.

As my body started to come down, I noticed my muscles tightening up again. Ashton had left the vibrator in place, except this time, he plunged two fingers into my wet heat, letting my body ride and clench them.

“Again. I love watching you come. The way your back arches as your mouth drops open . . .” He made a noise and it was quite possibly the most erotic sound I’d ever heard. Unsure how much I could handle before my body became too sensitive, I braced, my core quivering in anticipation.

On and on it went.

I begged Ashton for relief, but I didn’t mean it. The combination of pleasure and pain was utterly overwhelming—and I loved every minute.

After my third or fourth orgasm—I’d lost count—my ankles were freed, followed by my wrists. Ashton took the slightly chafed skin in his hands, rubbing some of the feeling back into them.

“You did so well, babe, but now I need you.”

Somewhere in the midst of everything, Ashton had removed his clothes and glasses. He placed me over his lap, and I sank down, his swollen shaft sliding into me easily. The tiredness that had begun to claim me left hurriedly the minute he started to move inside me; my body and mind lost to the passion. Soon, I pushed everything aside and took over, riding him like I’d never get enough of being with him that way.

“Fuck, Elena, please tell me you’re close,” he pleaded, and I could feel his cock hardening, stretching my walls.

I dropped my head to his shoulder. “I can’t come again.”

“You can and you will.” The demand in his tone and his thumb on my clit forced my body into action, my body tightening around his, pulsing over and over again.

“Oh God!”

Ashton grabbed my hips, thrusting himself up into me until he shouted out his release. Exhausted, we both dropped to the bed and curled up in each other’s arms.

“I love you, Elena,” he whispered softly into my hair. “Welcome home.”

The three words were so poignant, they brought tears to my eyes. After many years, I’d finally found my place.

A place I could call home.

CHAPTER 26

Ashton

“I told you she was ready,” Miller said laughing, his ass on the couch on the other side of my office. “Did you two even leave the house this weekend?”

It was my turn to smirk at him. “Yes. She had a matinee yesterday. Then we went home and ate in.”

“Lucky bastard,” he muttered.

I finished scrolling through the email on my computer and leaned back in my chair. “I’m still not sure how she’ll deal with everything, after the last time we were there. She was scared. Things got a little violent.”

“Have you taken her since then like Dad suggested? She needs to see that’s not what happens every time.”

Rubbing the muscles in the back of my neck, I took my glasses off and dropped them on the desk. “No, I didn’t want to freak her out.”

“You need to take her.”

Everyone had the grand idea that I should take Elena with me to collect another debt. That it would show her what she needed to know and suddenly she’d understand what we did and why, and be able to accept it. Like it was the best thing for her.

But what if it wasn’t the best thing—for either of us?

“Ever considered not doing it?”

“Not doing what?”

“You know I never wanted this.”

Miller leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “It’s part of who we are,” he said simply.

Was it though? Maybe Miller and Dad were right. It might be in our blood—without it, I never would have been able to open one restaurant much less three—but there was this small part of me that just wished . . .

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. Embrace it. No one will ever fuck with Elena now. She’s yours, which means everyone will leave her alone so they don’t have to deal with us.”

He had a point. Elena would be safe from all of the bullshit she’d dealt with in the past. “You’re right. I have a drop on Tuesday. I’ll take her with me.”

Miller shrugged. “There’s got to be something to the theory. Mom’s kept Dad all these years without kicking his ass to the curb.”

My phone buzzed on the desk. “Speaking of Dad.”

“His ears must be ringing. I’ve got a meeting with Max Taran. Fucker better have his shit together. I’m not helping his ass this time.”

It always amazed me how different Miller became when dealing with clients. He was cold, calculating. There were no second chances with Miller. Either you paid him the money or left with at least one broken bone, if not more. You’d never though that side existed when you spoke with him, but it was there, lingering just under the surface.

“We’ll talk later,” I said, picking up the phone.

Miller waved and closed the door behind him.

I swiped my finger across the screen. “Hello?”

“Ashton, have you seen your brother. He’s not answering his phone.”

I chuckled. “Idiot probably has it on silent again. He just left to deal with Max Taran.”

“Good. I wasn’t sure if he’d remember.” I heard yelling in the background. “Your mother wants me to tell you she can’t wait to see Elena again.”

“I saw the show again on Sunday. I had no idea she was that good.”

“You two looked awful cozy together on Saturday night,” he accused.

The thought of how she’d stayed by my side brought a smile to my face. “She’s moving in with me.”

Dad didn’t pull any punches. “Have you taken her on a collection or loan yet?”

“Dad, she’s already seen it. Hell, she’s been in the middle of it.”

“As a client—not from the other side of the fence.”

I sighed. “Miller said the same thing. That she needs to know because it’s part of who we are.”

“And he’s right. You can’t expect her to understand your life if you don’t show it to her.”

The question from earlier came smashing back into me.

Is this really my life?

“Why did you want me to do this?”

Silence.

I could picture him staring at the phone. His brows would be drawn down and a frown on his face. “Because I knew you could. Miller never wanted anything but to be part of the business and, call me selfish, but I wanted you to be there too. I knew you could do both. Now you have the restaurants on top of what you do for the family. Besides, you wouldn’t have met Elena if it weren’t for all of this.”

He had a point. Without any of this, Elena wouldn’t be sleeping in my bed every night, so I had something to be thankful for, besides the financial aspect.

Dad and I talked a little longer before he hung up. Our conversation gave me a lot to think about as I sat at my desk, going over the books.

How in the hell had I managed to get this far behind? Oh right—I’d been wining and dining Elena in the hope that if and when she left her husband she might want to stay with me. The books were up to date, and so were the orders. Mainly, it was a lot of calls to return for catering and the dreaded filling. Not to mention meeting with the new distributor. Damn, Joanne needed to come back from vacation before the paperwork got worse. Then I could go back to what I loved.

The last two nights I’d watched Elena up on that stage, a part of me was a little jealous. She was getting to be everything she always wanted to be. Not that I wasn’t successful, but over the years I’d found myself moving further and further from what I loved about running a restaurant. Spending all of my time collecting debts for my dad had got me to where I was, and now so much of the money loaned was my own that I knew I couldn’t really step away until I figured out a way to bring my dad back in to take over. Either way, I was going to start making being a chef and the other things I wanted to do in the restaurant a priority.

Picking up the phone, I began to dial the first number when a knock sounded on my door. Pierre opened it, followed by another man.

“Ben is here to meet with you about liquor distribution.”

I stood and reached out a hand, which he took in a polite handshake. “Nice to meet you, would you like to take a seat?”

“Thank you. I hope I have a quick solution to your problem.”

“I hope so.”

We took our seats and began to discuss his facilities and supplies when yelling and banging caught my attention. I dropped the pen in my hand and darted from the office toward the front, hoping no one was hurt. The second I stepped through the doors, a hand landed on my shoulder, twisting me and throwing me up against the wall.

“Ashton Hawes?”

A cop stood next to me, at least a dozen more throughout the restaurant, tearing the place up.

Just fucking great.

What in the hell were they looking for in the restaurant? Nothing here would be worth their time. I would never taint this business.

“That’s me.” My voice was muffled against the hard surface of the wall.

“Mr. Hawes, we’re bringing you in for questioning in the kidnapping of Mrs. Elena Tolley.”

I tried to swing around to get a good look at his face, but the officers held tight until the cuffs were snapped into place. It never occurred to me to ask about the cuffs if I was only being questioned.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Elena’s down at the theater practicing for the new Sondheim show.”

“We’ll send a car over.”

It took two of them but eventually they had me moving, marching me across the restaurant, toward the door. Most of my staff had looks of disbelief on their faces: mouths open, eyes rounded. Fuck, I’d have to come up with an explanation for them and hoped they didn’t run for the hills. And the customers. This shit could ruin my business. I needed to get it cleared up—fast.

“Dustin, call my father and tell him what happened.”

“You got it, Ashton,” he answered and I was extremely grateful he didn’t have some ridiculous remark to go with it.

The cops pushed through the front door and helped me into the backseat; not easy with my hands locked behind my back. One reason I never used metal cuffs in all of my games, they were way too uncomfortable. Although, I tried to get more information out of the officers, none of them were budging. It wasn’t until we walked through the front doors of the station that so much became clear.

Tolley.

The lousy piece of shit sat at one of the desks. When he looked up, his eyes still black and blue, he gave me a cold smirk. The bastard had orchestrated all of this. Would Elena take his side? A small part of me worried that might be the case, except the rest of my brain pushed it away. Not the new Elena. That worthless son of a bitch was in for a rude awakening when she got here.

Tolley jumped from his chair, playing the victim so well. “That bastard stole my wife.” Two of the cops restrained him, offering him comfort. Thoughts of shaking off the cops’ grip and finishing what I’d started a few weeks ago was more than a little appealing but, unfortunately, if I wanted to walk out of there sooner rather than later, I needed to keep my hands to myself and be on my best behavior.

Grinding my teeth, I didn’t fight the officers as they led me into an interview room, closing the door behind me, two cops still inside. On the far wall, I could see myself in the two-way mirror. They sat me down in the chair and moved the cuffs from the back to the front. A few minutes later the door opened and in walked another cop, dressed in a suit. He took the seat across from me as the other two left.

“Mr. Hawes,” he said opening the folder in front of him. “Where is Mrs. Tolley?”

My natural instinct was to tell this guy to shove it up his ass and get me a phone to call my lawyer. It was what Dad had drilled into our heads from the time we were little.

Not this time.

I hadn’t kidnapped anyone, and the sooner they found Elena, the sooner they would let my ass go.

“Like I told the gentlemen who brought me in, Elena’s at the Canterbury Theater downtown. She’s got a part in the one of the new productions.”

“Damn, you’re making my life easy.” He shook his head, a shit-eating grin on his face.

Arrogant bastard thought he had me. I leaned back in the chair and waited for all of it to play out in front of me. As long as the idiot didn’t figure out the real reason why Elena was currently in my care, I would be walking out of there in no time.

“Want to tell me why you kidnapped Mrs. Tolley in the first place?” he asked, not looking up from his paper, waiting to write down whatever I said for later.

“I didn’t.” It happened to be the only answer he would get out of me, until either Elena or my lawyer showed up.

“You told us exactly where to find her, and yet you say you didn’t kidnap her.”

“Exactly.”

The door swung opened and Arthur, my father’s lawyer, stepped through. “That’s enough of the questions. I’m Mr. Colburn, Mr. Hawes’s attorney. From what I understand, he’s given you the information to prove he is innocent. At this time, he will not answer any more questions until you stop treating him like the accused and instead realize that he’s actually the victim.”

The detective clenched his jaw, but made no attempt to correct Arthur, instead, leaving the room, the door crashing into its frame as he slammed it behind him.

Arthur took the chair next to me. “What the fuck happened, Ashton? Your father is ready to storm the place.”

“I take it Dad’s here?”

“You could say that. I’m not the only lawyer he brought. Now do you want to tell me what the fuck happened so I can go out there and calm him down, before he makes any of this worse on either of you?”

“The soon-to-be ex-husband of the woman I’m seeing claims I kidnapped her.”

“Elena?”

I nodded, curious as to how Arthur knew that.

“Don’t look surprised. Your father told me all about her. Now let me go out there and calm him down.”

Before he had a chance to stand, screaming could be heard from the main lobby and it happened to be the only voice I wanted to hear.