“Please, don’t stop,” I murmur, gripping onto him tighter.
I moan as he repeats what he’s done. My mindless pleasure is building again, but I’m not ready for the fall. Not yet.
He’s leisurely working in and out of me at a steady pace. I’m lost to the all-consuming pressure that is building from deep within. I’ve no control over it as the fire spreads. I grab his face in my hands and his mouth crushes against mine as he continues to drive in and out at an accelerated pace, rolling his hips against me.
I’m struggling to hold it together.
My grip on his face tightens; a silent signal that I’m at that point of no return. He groans and bites on my lips, pushing himself forward as far as he can go. With one more rotation of his hips, we both cry out.
I let go, feeling him throb and then tense deep inside me.
Our deep and desperate kiss changes pace as our bodies relax. I might not understand all my feelings, but in this moment, I’m certain my feelings for Connor Andrews have changed yet again to something deeper than I thought possible. And as I kiss him slowly, I’m sure he knows the words I won’t yet bring myself to say.
He pulls back and the smile on his face is almost ridiculous as he watches me, and then he frowns. Yes, he knows the meaning behind my kiss. “What’s wrong?” I ask softly, my voice full of concern.
“Nothing, except I’m happy.” He pulls his body away from me reluctantly. “I also seem to have worked up an appetite.”
“I’m not surprised. Why don’t we go and have a relaxing bath and, if you’re good, I’ll cook.”
“That sounds like the best offer a man can get, although I wouldn’t hold much hope on getting a relaxing bath, because I already want you all over again.”
“Well, then I’m all yours for the taking.”
I’M SICK.
No, I feel as though I’m dying. Julie’s had the cold. Even Connor had a head cold over the weekend, and what do I get? Full on man flu, and I can really do without it. Aches and pains course through my body. What a way to start a new week. All I want to do is crawl into bed in a darkened room and sleep, but I can’t; I’m halfway through reading this new script Trevor has sent me.
Trevor is desperately waiting for my thoughts on this, and so far, so good. He’s excited about this one; he and my dad can’t stop talking about it. The Turning Point. It’s a romance about a young woman who has come to a crossroads in her life. She’s not sure what she should do for the best moving forward. She’s had a tough life, lived on the streets, been involved in all sorts, but ultimately, she wants something better. A better life for herself. A job. She’s not looking for much, just the basics.
It’s a great storyline. Maybe it’s because I’ve been there at the crossroads. Been unsure of what happens next, what path to follow. I really am getting sucked straight into the story and, when reading a script, that can make or break it for me.
“Ella, Julie is coming over. She’ll stay with you while I’m out.”
“Connor, I don’t need looking after. I have the flu, that’s all. Now go and look at apartments. I wish I was fit enough to make sure they’re all decent inside.” I have no idea what I’ll do when he moves out into his own place, but he’s right, he has to do it for himself. And I can’t expect him to stay here with me when another man has shared my home. It’s still early days in our relationship, so maybe this will work out well for us. We can do the whole dating thing, as opposed to living together.
“Just humour me, will you? Anyway, Julie wanted to see you. There’s soup in the fridge; Callum brought it around earlier. If you need me to bring anything in, drop me a text. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Okay. Go on and get out of here.”
He bends down and kisses my nose. “See you later,” he says before leaving me curled up on the couch watching TV. I hate daytime TV. I would hate to sit in the house day after day and have nothing to look forward to other than this drivel.
I was meant to be meeting up with Jess and Alex today to talk through some of our ideas. We want to raise awareness to women who are in domestic abuse situations that there are places for them to go. There are people who can help them. Jess and I discovered after doing some research that a small percentage of woman who have been victims find themselves living on the streets because they have no one to turn to. No one to help them through what is a very difficult and traumatic time. It makes me sad that in our day and age things like this are still happening.
Jess is passionate about helping women who find themselves in dire circumstances and I’m just as passionate about helping out the homeless, and I’m sure with Alex’s help, we can raise some much needed awareness for two great causes.
If I close my eyes and get some sleep, I might be able to do some research later and then reschedule my meeting with Jess and Alex later in the week. I know how busy they are. Alex has Libby, the kids, and an empire to run, and Jess has Fletcher, and a new baby, and her business, although she has said she doesn’t know which one causes her more trouble. I couldn’t help but laugh when she said that.
“I guess you couldn’t wait to jump into bed with my best friend,” Donovan slurs, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand after taking a drink from the bottle of beer in his hand.
“Oh, come on! Don’t you dare, especially after all these months of you being in L.A., staying in my house and having other women in my bed.”
He takes a step toward me and I step back. I don’t want him anywhere near me. He stinks of alcohol and he looks like shit.
“What’s wrong, Ella? Take a good look. You did this to me. You put me out on the streets. You took my job from me.”
“And you took nothing from me? Everything that has happened has all been your own doing. You walked away from me after telling me you loved me, knowing what I would be facing.”
He starts walking and I realise I have nowhere to go. “But I knew Daddy would help you. The guys I dealt with weren’t going to be so patient. I did what I did to protect you.”
“What do you mean?” I yell.
“What I mean, my gorgeous Ella . . .”
“I’m not yours.”
He shakes his head in frustration. “They were coming for you if I didn’t pay them what I owed. I was protecting you. I couldn’t let them harm you.” I’m gobsmacked by his revelation. The back of my legs hit the couch and I sink down, taking in what he’s just said. He was protecting me.
“Ella, babe, I love you. That hasn’t changed.”
“But I’ve changed.”
“Yes, you have. You’ve gone from my fun-loving, gorgeous girl to a slut. What is it? Do you think sleeping with Connor will get you something that I couldn’t give you? Sleeping your way to the top doesn’t suit you.”
“It’s funny, I already thought I was at the top of my game. Can you leave?”
“I’m not going anywhere. You and I need to talk about us.”
“Donovan, there is no us. There hasn’t been for four months. Please, just go. I don’t have the energy for this today.”
“No.” He pushes me until my back is touching the fabric of the couch. Donovan sits down and puts his arm around my shoulders; I flinch under his touch. The smell of alcohol is so much stronger now he’s right beside me. It’s turning my stomach.
He puts his other hand on my knee. I look at his hand and then at his face. Whatever he thinks is going to happen here, I won’t let it.
I try to stand up but his grip on my shoulder tightens. His face closes in and . . .
In a blind panic, I open my eyes. My heart is racing and tears stream down my face. It wasn’t real, just a dream, I tell myself over and over. I can’t control my breathing. I try to take deep breaths but I can’t. I just end up gasping for air.
Everything in the room is blurry. I close my eyes and take several deep breaths, calming myself down. I reopen them and everything is as it should be. A dream. A stupid dream. I’ve not had one of those for weeks.
&n
bsp; I thought I was long past this stage, but obviously, I was wrong.
Picking up my phone, I look at the time. Twelve-forty-five, and Julie has texted
I’m running late. Something came up but I’ll see you soon.
I should text her back and tell her not to bother coming over, but there’s no point, she’ll come over anyway. My grumbling stomach tells me I should eat, although I’m not sure I can face it, but I could do with some water. I push the cover aside and stand up and walk through into the kitchen, my body shivering with cold.
Connor has me smiling and he’s not even home. Sitting on the work surface is a bottle of cough medicine, a packet of tissues, and some painkillers, along with a note and a bar of chocolate.
Just in case you fancy some chocolate. C xx
He thinks of everything. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take the painkillers followed by the cough medicine. Then I take the tissues and make my way back into my front room and get myself comfortable on the couch.
Flicking through the channels, I find there’s nothing worth watching. I almost jump from my seat hearing the front door close. The intercom didn’t buzz so it must be either my dad or Callum, or maybe both of them. It can’t be Julie; she always buzzes to get in. I really should give her a key for days like today when I can’t be bothered moving.
“If you don’t want to catch the flu, I would turn around and go home,” I call out with a laugh. It’s only one set of footsteps I hear crossing the floor. Maybe it’s Connor home earlier than he planned.
“After travelling all this way to come home to you?” My heart falters hearing his voice. I begin to shake. I stare at him with wide eyes in disbelief that he has the cheek and audacity to be standing in my home, in my living room with a case in his hands, as though it’s the most natural thing in the world.
I stare into his deep blue eyes and my chest aches, panic already setting in. My heart is racing. He puts his case down and takes a step toward me.
To be continued
xxx
THE CAPTURED SERIES
Family Ties a Captured Series Novella
He’s Captured my Heart Book 1
He’s Captured my Trust Book 2
He’s Captured my Soul Book 3
She’s Captured my Love Book 4
Captured by Our Addiction Book 5
A BEAUTIFUL GAME SERIES
Playing the Field, A Beautiful Game Novella
Playing the Game Book 1
Playing to Win Book 2
Saving the Game
Moving On a standalone
SCRIPTED SERIES
Scripted Reality Book 1
Scripted Love Book 2 Coming soon
KAREN FRANCES IS THE AUTHOR of ten romance novels and two novellas.
She currently lives just outside Glasgow, Scotland, with her husband, five children and two dogs, although she does dream of living somewhere warm and sunny. Her days are spent helping her husband run their busy family business. She spends some of her free time trying to keep fit and prepare healthy meals for her family, when their busy schedules allow them to sit down at meal times together. The rest of her free time she uses to plot and write and occasionally read.
Karen writes stories that are both believable and full of life. More often than not she loves sending her readers on an emotional journey alongside her characters.
Find out more about Karen Frances at www.karenfrancesauthor.co.uk or follow on Facebook or Twitter.
I ALWAYS STRUGGLE WHEN IT comes to this part because there are always so many people who help on all different levels. From my writing career to my personal life. Through good times and bad times.
Every day I count myself lucky to have an amazing family and incredible friends who support me. I also have the most amazing team that help me bring my stories to life.
To my dear husband Paul and my gorgeous kids- Yes, I know we all drive each other crazy but isn’t that what families do? I love you all unconditionally.
My gorgeous friends, we might not see or speak to each other every day, but that’s okay because we all know we are there for each other. I love you all.
Janet, you may or may not know this but you have kept me sane when life was getting out of hand. Yes, we’ve known each other for what seems like forever, but I can’t imagine not seeing or hearing your craziness every single day. You are a crazy c??? And yes I probably say that word more than you now.
Laura, Maxine and Suzie—You all help me on a daily basis, not just promoting me and my books but you are also there when I need advice or just someone to talk to. Thank you all for all your support.
Leah and April- Thank you once again for your feedback on the very first draft of Scripted Reality. And April thank you for helping me finally come up with a title.
Karen, my editor and friend- I love working with you and I love our whole crazy process of editing.
Kari, Kari March Designs- You rock. That’s all.
Christine, Type A Formatting—What can I say? I love what you do.
Margaret, thank you for giving Scripted Reality a final read through for me.
Krissy—The sea may separate us but I know you are always there. Love you lady.
Bloggers—I take my hat off to all the bloggers around the world. You are all amazing and do an incredible job of promoting authors.
My readers group- you are an amazing bunch of ladies.
To the authors in the support group—I don’t know what to say about you. You support, encourage, and offer advice and even listen to the odd moan. Thank you.
I know I’m bound to have missed someone out and for that I’m sorry, but I’d like to say I feel incredible fortunate to have made so many friends within the author community over the last few years.
Scripted Reality Page 21