"Good, then I trust your judgment and I hope it never fails you." He reassuringly squeezed Ellie's hands. "Just as long as I continue to see that smile on your face, I'm happy that you're happy."
Ellie nodded. "Nicholas makes me happy."
"Then I'll try my very hardest to ease up on him and try to give him the benefit of the doubt."
"Thanks, Gabe, that's all I ask. He'll be here for dinner soon..." The doorbell rang and like magic, Ellie's smile was quick in making a comeback. Gabe watched in mild amusement as she practically tripped over her own feet in her haste to answer the door.
Despite his misgivings, Gabe was happy to see Ellie in such high spirits, even if the cause was a boy he didn't completely trust. At least, Nicholas was better than the sad excuse of human flesh, Carlyle.
"Hey man, can I talk to you for a sec?" Matt pulled the cigarette from his lips, flicked the ashes on the black and white veined floor and set aside his book to look up at Nicholas.
"What's up?" Nicholas’s somber expression gave him cause to worry. Matt scooted over, making room for Nicholas to sit. "Talk to me Grayson, we've been friends for a butt load of a long time. You know you can tell me shit---"
"I want to call off the bet."
"Th'fuck? Why?"
"It's just not my thing anymore."
Matt scoffed, taking a drag of his cigarette. "She's fucked with your mind, huh? Has you all domesticated, all happy with her baby and shit?"
Nicholas scowled. "Watch it, Matt."
"It's been fucking annoying watching you make a fool of yourself following her around like a lovesick puppy, while she carries your dick and balls in her messenger bag. It's not love Nicholas! It's called being fucked around with and you were the master of that! What the hell happened?" Matt blew the white smoke from his cigarette on Nicholas’ face in frustration.
In one swift move, Nicholas had the front of Matt's shirt bunched in his hands, Matt's face inches away from his own. "I grew up! Do the same and maybe I'll consider telling you about my relationship with Ellie," Nicholas released Matt from his hold and abruptly stood up. "The bet is off."
Matt watched as Nicholas walked away and angrily tried to smooth the wrinkles from his shirt.
"That's fucking courtesy for ya," he muttered bitterly to himself as he continued to fume. "Try to keep the guy from getting hurt again and he throws it back in my face! Well good fucking riddance to you, too, buddy!” he threw the nearest thing in his reach which happened to be his black and silver mobile phone. It crashed against the nearest wall, falling to the ground in pieces.
It really pissed him off that he still lusted after the lovelorn moron. With a heavy sigh Matt stood from the couch, picked up his book and made his way to his room.
More of a miniature apartment than bedroom, the grandiose décor of Matt's room was perfectly styled to his taste. From the dominating onyx hued four-poster bed that took up a great portion of the room, to the opaque burgundy curtains that hung from the arching windows and imported Persian carpet that was spread across the bedroom floor.
The latest technological gadgets were positioned in his 'play area' to the far right of the room adjacent to his bathroom. He tossed his book on the freshly made bed and headed to the ceiling high bookcase. With a small smile, he tugged the black Bible down and immediately the bookcase shifted to the right. Matte walked in and disappeared behind the bookcase.
He reappeared inside a dimly lit room, slightly modest in décor from his bedroom but not the least bit frumpy as it boasted three flat screen TV's strategically placed on the surrounding walls, monitoring cameras, and an expansive library of DVD's to the left of where Matt stood. He picked up one the remotes positioned on the small table in front of him and pointed it at the main television in front of him. Instantly, the screen flickered, displaying the contents of Nicholas' empty bedroom.
"Pity," Matt muttered, falling unceremoniously into the chair in front of the center flat screen. Pressing the Play button brought Nicholas's tattooed body into focus, beautiful and naked as the day he was born.
Riveted, Matt watched the man he had been in love for more than four years as he stood beneath the spraying jets of water.
The water glided down Nicholas's body in the ways Matt wished he could. Never had Matt envied water more, rivulets caressed Nicholas's chest, swept over his well-formed abdomen, down his corded back, over firm buttocks, and down muscular calves. Seduced by the image, Matt’s hand disappeared inside his pants.
The image of Nicholas switched from the shower to his bedroom and this time he was with his latest conquest. Fatty Maddie. She was seated on the bed, partially naked, staring adoringly at Nicholas as though graced by the presence of a God.
"I think," Nicholas' back was to the camera as he stalked towards the wide-eyed Maddie. "That you're just little bit overdressed. Why don't you do me a favor and strip for me, hmm?" Matt's hand moved rhythmically up and down as he watched the scene unfolding.
He was beautiful, simply that, as he dropped to his knees, between her thighs and worshiped her with his mouth. She was a whimpering mass, pleading for Nicholas to continue.
The motion of Matt’s hand quickened as he imagined himself in Maddie’s place, receiving the pleasures of Nicholas’ mouth. With his imagination running wild, it didn’t take Matt long to find completion and once he was done he felt dismally empty.
He’d seen this video over fifty times now and each time he watched it, the reaction was the same. Matt wondered if Nicholas was really as good as he looked and fucked as well as those stupid bitches said he did. Grabbing the roll of hand towels he had for cases like this, he slowly cleaned himself as an idea quickly formed in his head.
He and Nicholas had shared so much. Matt wasn't wrong in assuming that he would one day end up in Nicholas's bed. It was all a matter of working the universe to his will.
Now, didn't Carlyle say he would be in town soon?
"Maybe I should give my beloved dealer a call."
Tony Carlyle was a complete mind-fuck. He'd worked out the semantics of screwing with people’s minds a very long time ago and so dealing with someone like Maddie Tate was a virtual cakewalk. It was so easy to play a hero to a downtrodden angst ridden teen who was so close to calling it quits that it was almost sad. He should've felt sorry for her, but Tony was beyond feeling remorse for anyone. This was about preservation and he was determined to get his-even if it meant using someone else to get it.
"Nicky…Nicky…" Tony looked into XTC glazed sea-green eyes. The stupid girl really was pathetic. It seemed her only driving force was that dark haired asshole Ellie had wrapped around her finger.
Hate couldn't come close to describing how Tony felt about that guy. He had been there, annoyingly intrusive when all Tony had wanted was to spend time with Ellie and their daughter, he'd been there! He was constantly stealing Tony's fucking thunder and throwing that cocky smirk his way as if saying that he was the top dog of his family!
What was most infuriating of all was the way Ellie looked at him, with those adoring eyes that should've been aimed Tony's way...not at the silver eyed bastard.
With his thrusts becoming increasingly erratic, Tony didn’t stop until he felt the urgent slap on his biceps. He looked down, frowning when he saw fear in tear filled eyes. He finished quick and smiled thinly when she retreated from him, curling her body in a fetal position.
"Don't worry, Maddie," he cooed against her cheek, "I'll help you get your precious Nicky back." He spit out the name as if it were the worst epithet in the English language.
"Really?" Hopeful eyes turned to him and Tony realized the E was wearing off.
He leaned over, capturing kissed bruised lips. "Of course, now sleep, we want that baby of yours to stay in perfect health. It's the only way we’re both going to get what we want.”
Maddie’s hand reached out for Tony's wrist when he was about to stand. "You---you won't hurt Ellie, will you?"
The slow smile he bestowed caused
Maddie to shudder. "Not more than I have to, but it will be for her own good, she'll see."
Maddie released his wrist and watched as Tony walked away, the daunting feeling of having just signed her life over to the devil himself would not cease. She huddled just a little deeper into the covers. When she had called the number on the card Tony had given her, Maddie had been filled with desperation. The thought of whether or not she was doing something stupid hadn't breached her mind until this very moment.
But Tony had promised that everything would be alright, she tried to tell herself. He'd promised that things would be different soon, had promised the impeding separation of Ellie and Nicholas. Tony had promised Maddie Nicholas and she'd believed. She still believed him.
Maddie believed him because Tony assured her that no one would get hurt. He'd told her of his history with Ellie, and Maddie had sympathized. They'd shared stories. Bonded over a common cause. Tony wanted Ellie back; he was clean, sober and Maddie believed that they should be together. They were a family after all. Ellie, Tony and their daughter. Families were supposed to be together. Families were supposed to forgive each other. Tony belonged with his family and Nicholas---Nicholas belonged with her and their baby.
"It's going to be okay." She whispered not exactly sure who she was trying to reassure, herself or the child growing inside her.
"Don't peek."
"I'm not peeking."
"How many fingers do I have up?"
Ellie inwardly rolled her eyes and would've done so right at Nicholas had it not been for the blindfold hindering her vision. "How can I possibly tell you that when I just said I can't see a thing?"
Nicholas grinned at Ellie's indignant tone. He opened the door, ushering her inside.
"I like getting you flustered."
"I'm sure that you do," She tripped over something and was instantly captured by Nicholas' arms the second after. "Th---thanks," she said, thankful that the blindfold obscured her heated cheeks from Nicholas's view.
"Where are we?" she asked while Nicholas moved behind her to untie the blindfold.
"My home away from home." Nicholas said, watching her carefully, more than a little nervous.
Ellie gasped as she took in the scene set out before her. White Christmas lights combined with countless candles strategically placed around the room blanketed everything in a lush ambiance of glimmering gold. On the shiny oak floor, a blanket was laid out and on top of the blanket was a picnic basket, two champagne flutes and an assortment of Ellie's favorite flowers. Tulips.
Speechless, Ellie could only utter. "Oh Nicky..."
Pride bubbled in Nicholas's chest at Ellie's reaction to the place that truly was his home away from home. He was only too happy to finally be sharing a slice of his paradise with her. A little embarrassed at the glance she tossed his way, he shook his head and tugged her to the blanket.
"This is my tattoo shop," he extended his arms in show and grinned down at Ellie's curious face.
"It's amazing, Nicky...I don't know what to say."
"I don't think that's a bad thing." He chuckled as Ellie punched his shoulder. He sat down across from her, pulling the chilled bottle of sparkling cider from the small icebox.
"I thought we'd cap off our end of term celebration with some sparkling cider." He handed Ellie the first flute, pouring himself some in the second.
"This is to getting our college applications over and done with."
"Cheers!"
The cider tasted marvelously on Ellie's tongue as it fizzled, popped and slid down her throat. She held her flute out for more, which Nicholas filled with a smile.
"Don't fill up on that. I want us to eat something first." Taking her flute from her, he held a cheese topped cracker out or her. "Open." He ordered and when she hesitated, he said. "Trust me it tastes better when someone feeds it to you." He seemed so serious that Ellie couldn't help but laugh.
"Alright, Grayson, this had better be the best damn tasting cheese and cracker I've ever had."
"You won't know until you try it, Holbrook, now open up."
Leaning forward, Ellie parted her lips allowing Nicholas to gently slide the cracker in her mouth. His fingers coasted over her lips as he did so. "Crumbs." He muttered, watching her chew when all he wanted to do was plunder those ripened lips. "Good?"
"Don't look so cocky and yes, it was good."
"Want another one?"
She grinned. "I'll get it myself, thanks."
"Suit yourself." He said breezily.
"Won't you get in trouble for this?" she asked a few seconds later, munching on a cracker.
"Not if Liam wants me to switch business partners."
Ellie's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that this place is half mine..." He rubbed the back of his neck modestly.
"How is that possible? You're only seventeen---"
"Eighteen."
"Ok eighteen, but still, how does a barely legal teen own a tattoo shop?"
Nicholas shrugged. "I pilfered half my trust fund money over a year ago, was introduced to Liam by ways of a friend of my father's and the rest, as they say, is history. He handles the business part of it, while my area of expertise is slapping my artwork on people."
"Tell me more about it."
"Tattooing?" At Ellie's slight nod, Nicholas continued. "My parents weren't around much of the time when I was a kid." His resentment of the fact, Nicholas suddenly realized had ebbed considerably since meeting Ellie. "So I started to draw to distract myself. I spent hours on hundreds of sketch pads. Landscapes, portraits, anything I thought interesting, I sketched in my pad. It wasn't until I was abroad that I got into tattooing. A school friend of mine took me along to one of his sittings one night and I was instantly hooked. I got my first tattoo that night." Nicholas fondly smiled at the memory.
"Can I see it?" Curiosity would ultimately be the death of her, Ellie was sure.
Nicholas however obliged her. He rose to his knees while he tugged up his shirt. Running lengthwise down his ribcage was an image of a black gun. Ellie raised a hand, fascination urging her to touch. Her fingers skimmed the protruding image as she silently wondered what provoked him to get a tattoo of such a dangerous weapon.
"I was angry at the world when I got it done.” He confessed, answering her unspoken question.
Sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear, Ellie peered at Nicholas through a sooty veil of his lashes. "Did it hurt?"
"Like hell. But it was cathartic."
Compassion lit her eyes, feeling his pain as if it were her own. Impulse compelled her close and without thought, she pressed her lips to the barrel of the gun. “Let me share your pain, Nicky.” She said looking up at him. “I want you to give me a tattoo.”
Their gazes locked and the significance of what she asked, resonated.
"You trust me enough to let me brand you?" His surprise shown on his face.
"Yes. What’s a little tattoo between friends?” she quipped, smiling when he reached over to tug on one her pigtails.
Nicholas stood, walked away, returning seconds later with a book in hand. "Here, this is my portfolio. Take a look."
Ellie took the book from Nicholas' hands and settled it on her lap. Wordlessly, she flipped through the pages in awe at the artwork. Each style showcased his talent, from the traditionally classic, to beautiful tribal designs and even still, to the Asians astounding use of colors in the Koi fishes and dragons.
Ellie turned to the next page, the image there instantly catching her attention. She reverently ran her fingers across the image. "Nicky..." Ellie breathed as she took in the replica of Sophie's laughing face from a picture they had taken during their day at the park weeks ago. The dimples, the innocent gleam of childish mirth, the tawny curls---Nicholas had captured the essence of Ellie's daughter in nostalgic sepia tones and it was breathtaking.
"Nicholas..." Ellie whispered again, tearing her gaze away from the image she glanced at Nicholas, who was trying to vanq
uish the ruddiness from his cheeks. "This is---you’re amazing!" it was all she could say.
"Thanks," he said abashed.
Ellie set the portfolio aside and tentatively reached for him, praying she didn’t swallow her tongue, she brushed his fringe back. Within kissing distance now, Ellie licked her lips. "Kiss me?"
Had this question been asked weeks ago, Nicholas would not have hesitated with jumping on her request. But he did so now because he knew she wasn’t ready. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and smiled. “When you’re ready, Ellie, you won’t need to ask.”
She was falling hard with such velocity that she knew the impact would leave a crater sized hole. Her mind warned her to take caution all the while berating her on her naivety. But her heart squealed with glee, enthused at the prospect of being with this man.
"Thank you." Her heart was the fool and Ellie knew it too, but the optimist in her wanted what she’d denied herself for so long. Her heart wanted Nicholas and she wasn’t too sure she could deny it for much longer.
Nicholas only nodded as he popped a grape in his mouth.
"So, will you give me a tattoo?"
"Whenever you're ready."
"How about now?"
"Now?"
"Yeah, now; I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Ellie smiled just to show Nicholas her enthusiasm.
"Okay.” He helped her to her feet, led her to his station and waited as she got comfortable on the bed before he prepped his instruments.
"Have an idea of what you want?" Nicholas asked taking a seat across from Ellie.
Ellie caught his gaze. "Surprise me...I trust you." It wasn't lost on Nicholas that they had just stepped over another obstacle. Gaining Ellie's trust was a major step into something more---something profound.
He nodded at Ellie's words, an image already formulating in his mind as he gripped the silver gun. Unbuttoning the first three buttons on her sweater, Ellie pulled the sleeve down her left shoulder. Nicholas took a moment to admire flawless skin. "I'm just going to freehand the image with the marker first before I start." He said gruffly.
Beautiful Disaster (The Bet) Page 12