His free hand grips my waist as he propels his hips back and forth with bruising force.
And then it happens, the burning that spreads through me seems to spiral backwards, gathering in the pit of my stomach before finally unleashing in torrents of waves through my body. Delirium hits and my vision blurs as tears pool in my eyes. It’s too much.
Isaac continues to slam in and out, his grunts only fuelling my pleasure. “Moan for me,” he begs, his cheek against mine. “Let me hear how good I’m making you feel.”
I can only shudder. I have no words, no sound. I can’t even breathe, let alone say anything.
My chest allows me to release a sigh, but it’s pathetic.
He growls, pumping harder and harder until finally his entire body becomes stone and his length throbs and pulses inside.
Then he collapses, crushing me under his weight.
We both come down from the high but neither of us move. It’s okay, though. Even though he’s crushing me, I’m too satiated to move, too languid, happy and lazily satisfied.
“Christ,” he murmurs and nuzzles my neck. “I love you, Elle.”
“Hm. Me too.”
The sound of ringing startles me. I flip onto my back and my hair falls over my face and tangles. Some of it seems to be stuck to the drying drool coming from the corner of my mouth.
Gross.
I try to see through my hair as my hand scrambles around the bed to find the source of the ringing.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this groggy.
Shit, it’s almost twelve. “Hello?”
A deep laugh echoes into my ear from the phone. “Are you still sleeping?”
I finally push the hair from my face and wipe my mouth on my wrist. “No, I was… umm…”
Isaac laughs harder. “Seriously? Since when did you get so lazy?”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You looked so sweet, all curled up, blanket tucked between your legs, drool seeping from your mouth.”
“Ugh, you’re an arse. You should have woken me.”
“I must have really tired you out.” He sounds far too proud of himself.
“What are you doing?” I ask, sitting up slowly and surveying the room. “Is work okay?”
“It’s fine. I’ll be late tonight, but it’s my last day until the twenty sixth.”
“I remember.” I yawn loudly and stretch my body.
Stretching after being cramped in one position for so long can sometimes feel better than sex. “What are you doing?”
“Stretching.”
“Sounds pleasurable.”
“Oh, it is.”
“I wish I could come home and join you.”
I sigh a solemn breath. I wish he could too. “The silver lining is that we can spend all day in bed together tomorrow instead.”
“Actually we can’t.”
I frown. “Why the hell not?”
“Because I have a surprise for you.”
My frown quickly flips up. “What is it?”
“Find the definition of the word surprise.” His chuckle is deep and so fucking sexy and enticing. I want to kiss him, but first I want to squeeze my surprise out of him.
What could it be, I wonder?
He said we couldn’t stay in bed so I have to be dressed for it, which means it’s not hidden somewhere at home. He must be taking me somewhere, but where?
“Please tell me?” I beg, my tone whiney and high.
“No.” Somebody calls his name in the background. “Break’s over. I’ll see you tonight.”
“I love you,” I tell him, giddy with excitement.
“Have a good day, Sweet.”
I hang up and dive out of bed faster than if the hounds of hell were snapping at my bare arse.
After throwing on clothes and fresh makeup, I check myself in the mirror, making sure to smooth my dark top down. I really should invest in an iron but I hate ironing.
I send Hayley a text, asking if she wants to go for lunch. She agrees, so I grab a twenty out of my purse, stuff it into my jeggings pocket and race out of the house.
I miss my friend.
Isaac
“I fucking hate that guy.” Tony spits on the ground by the mop bucket and wipes his brow on his wrist.
“What guy?”
“The painter guy.” He pats the wall. “Now these are all restored, it’s time to call in the decorators.”
“Who?”
He gives me a look that says, ‘are you stupid?’ “Us. He’ll design; we’ll paint.”
“Who?” And then it clicks. “Let me guess, young kid, some kind of artistic prodigy?”
“Justin Fletcher.”
“When’s he due to arrive?”
Tony shrugs. “After the break, I assume. The boss man wants to get the ice skating rink up and running as soon as possible, but the place needs to be finished first. I think he thinks it’ll get his girl back to him.”
In a way I actually feel sorry for Darren. I hate him, seriously, but he really does love Eloise and I can only imagine how it feels to have a child who will never speak to you.
Why do I suddenly want to hold up to my end of the deal and get her speaking to him again?
“The guys think he’s great. He always brings grub and always keeps them laughing.”
I give him a sideways glance. “And you don’t like him because…?”
“Because he thinks he’s better than everybody. They’re too thick to see how patronising he is.”
“Let them have him.” As long as he stays away from my Elle.
Chapter Twelve
Eloise
I can’t believe it’s Christmas tomorrow. This week has gone too quickly and it’s safe to say not only am I glowing, but I’m also very sore, all over.
The letterbox clatters loudly as the mail is shoved through it, startling me so badly I spill my coffee on my wrist.
As I run it under the cool tap, I admiring the fixed wall. There used to be a hole there, but now, thanks to my superman, there is a flat and solid wall ready for paint. I pad quietly into the hallway and scoop the mail from the ground.
It’s only between my fingertips for a second before it’s snatched away and I’m being pressed against the front door, lips attacking my own.
“I’ll deal with that,” Isaac says against my mouth, his voice raspy as he lifts my leg and hooks it over his hip. His teeth nip at my jaw and sparks of lust trigger the primal urges in my body. Hunger and sex, or better yet, hunger for sex. “You go and frost yourself.”
“Frost myself?”
“As in makeup and jewellery.”
“I thought you said I look better without makeup?” I pull his head back by his hair and glare into his dilated pupils.
“Oh, you do, but I know you won’t leave the house without it on and I really, really, want to take you somewhere while it’s snowing.” He grins, pecks me on the lips, pushes me towards the stairs and slaps my arse when I ascend the first step. “Love you, Butthead.”
A startled laugh escapes me. “Butthead?”
“I’m trying out new terms of endearment.”
I laugh harder. “You’re so fucking weird.”
“Language, Eloise Price!”
I flip him off over my shoulder. “English, Mr Price Junior.”
His chuckle follows him into the kitchen and I hear the tell-tale sign of ripping paper before I enter our bedroom and do exactly as I’m told. I frost myself.
Then another thought enters my head, a sudden realisation of something Isaac just said.
“It’s snowing!” I throw my shit on and race from the house.
Isaac
“Elle?” She left the damn door open. It’s minus three outside. Is she insane?
I stare at the white layer on the ground and take a cautious step onto it, testing how slippery it is before making my way to the centre of the path. “Elle?”
I feel a cold smack of something soft and powdery
against my neck, the cold trickling down into the collar of my shirt.
“Holy shit that’s freezing!” I spin to face the driveway and see the top of Eloise’s red hair peeking over the bonnet of the car. “Elle, we don’t have…” I see her arm before another snowball hits me on the chest. “Do you have a robotic arm?” I rub the snow away and assess the damage. “Enough…” Another blur of red before another ball hits me, this time on the shoulder. “Elle.”
I only hear her giggle as another ball comes flying for my face. I duck and it smashes against the front door.
“That’s it.” I laugh and duck along the side of the car. All is silent and still, save for two cars that drive past.
My hands make quick work of the snow, forming it into tight, individual balls which I hold along my arm, ready to throw. It’s so fucking cold. Already my hands are white.
I wait to hear her move and sure enough the sound of her shuffling along the car sounds into the quiet. I stand and run around the front but she’s quick and moves to the side I just vacated, only giving me enough time to plant one at the base of her spine. My aim isn’t what it used to be.
She squeals and laughs; it’s childlike and cute. I notice she has no snow to throw, not unless she leaves her cover.
I lunge, letting loose another ball in the process. This one narrowly misses and the cheeky git sticks her tongue out at me.
“Having fun?” I turn at the sound of my father’s voice, shocked to see him out with my mother in a wheelchair. My mum looks so frail, yet very snug in a thick coat, fabric boots and a blanket draped over her lap. Her eyes are drawn and tired and she doesn’t even acknowledge me with a glance.
Thud.
I hiss when another ball hits me on the back of the head.
My father thinks this is hilarious and high fives Elle after she skips over to them.
I rub the spot she just hit, drop the snowballs to the ground and make my way over to the group.
“It’s great to see you both.” Elle beams as she picks up a corner of the blanket from the ground and tucks it under my mum’s foot. “How are you?”
I throw my arm around her shoulders when she stands and wait for my dad to explain his unusual visit. It’s not often that he comes to see us, especially not with Mum.
“Good. We couldn’t resist the snow.” He’s lying. He needs me for something. He catches my eye and I barely stifle a sigh as I wait for it. “Also, the car’s broken down. I know… I know you have plans, but I was wondering if you’d take it in to the garage for me, get it fixed before tomorrow.”
Eloise doesn’t seem phased at all. She nods, still smiling. “I’ll take it in for you. It’s no problem.”
“Will they be able to do it today?”
My dad rubs at the white stubble on his chin. “They’ve made it priority as they know I need it.”
I sigh long and deep. “I guess it won’t take long to drop it off. What’s wrong with it?”
“It keeps stalling. I think the clutch is going.”
“In that case I’ll be driving,” I say and snatch the keys from Eloise, who only just took them from my dad.
“There are so many of them, dear, so, so many, always playing. It’s lovely,” my mum says, though I have no idea what she’s talking about. I wonder if she even knows what she’s saying. The thought saddens me greatly.
“Why didn’t you just call?” I ask, slightly irritated even though I know it’s not my dad’s fault. He does need his car, especially since it’s Christmas tomorrow and taxis will hardly be available if anything does happen.
“Like I said, I couldn’t resist the snow. It makes even the crappiest of places look clean and beautiful.”
“Do you want to rest inside?” Eloise offers, double checking my mum’s blanket is tucked tight. Mum just sits quietly staring ahead, seemingly at nothing.
“No thank you, we’ll walk back now. I want to stop at the shop on my way home.” He smiles and dips his head. “I’ll catch you both later.”
Eloise kisses me on the cheek and heads back towards the house as I wave my dad off and warm my hands up by rubbing them together. They’re so cold I can barely bend my fingers.
My dad was right, though. As I look around I realise just how pretty the snow makes everything look.
As we drive back to my parents’ house, the house where I was raised, Eloise is silent. Her hand holds mine over the console as she nods her head to the music on the radio. I love moments like this, moments where I can relax completely in her presence without a thought for anything else.
I can admire her beauty, her grace and everything there is to love about her, which is everything. How did I get so lucky as to be able to share my life with such an amazing woman?
“I love you, Elle,” I say softly as we pull up to a red light.
Her eyes become soft and warm, sparkling with the same amount of love I’m feeling for her right now. She doesn’t say anything; she doesn’t have to. She just returns her eyes forward and continues nodding along to the music, a sweet smile on her face.
Eloise
I make it to the garage about five minutes ahead of Isaac. He stalled twice and I could hear him cursing in my mind, even though I couldn’t see him. I could definitely imagine him cussing the hell out of his dad’s car. This amused me greatly as I drove around him and merrily made my way to the garage.
I wait in the reception with an old magazine in my hands, looking up whenever I hear voices outside, hoping to hear Isaac. I know he’s definitely here but will probably be speaking to the mechanic before coming to find me.
The bell above the door jingles as it is opened, but it’s not Isaac I see, it’s Garret.
I smile and give him a little wave. He returns it, but is too deep in conversation with his boss to stop and chat for even a moment. They disappear behind the counter where a young woman taps away at a computer and through a door.
I almost forgot he works here. It seems a lifetime ago that we hung out together and kissed on occasion. I used to fancy him so badly. He was, and still is, extremely cute, but now I can’t even imagine us together at all.
I suddenly feel so much older than I am. I guess I have to; I am married to a man twelve years older than myself. If I acted my age, I doubt he’d be interested.
The thought scares me a little, because even though I am older in maturity at times, I’m still only eighteen and there are a lot of things I want to do and experience. Will they push Isaac away? If I party, get too drunk, hang with my friends too much, will he lose interest or decide he doesn’t want to be married to a girl my age anymore?
On the flip side, if I don’t enjoy myself and fulfil all that life has to offer me, will I resent him for it?
Before I can finish the thought, Isaac walks in and shakes the white snow from his shoulders. I didn’t realise it had started fluttering from the sky again.
“Let’s go; it’s done.”
“Yay,” I say but it’s half-hearted, my mind now burdened with the thought that I could lose the man I love if I’m not careful.
He should understand though, right?
I’ve been putting it off. I haven’t been to one party or gathering since I started university in September. People seem to avoid me. I’ve even been called stuck up once or twice by people I don’t even know. They think that I think I’m too good for their outings. That’s not it at all. I just didn’t want to upset Isaac and now I see how foolish I’ve been.
Isaac has me for the rest of my life. I only get to be young once. As long as I’m careful and I look after myself, I don’t see why it should ever be an issue.
With that thought in mind I text Kira.
Eloise: I’m up for it, first Friday back. Show me what I’ve been missing.
To which she swiftly responds as I’m climbing into the passenger seat in Isaac’s car…
Kira: Finally! Still married, right?
Eloise: Happily. :-D
“Who’s that?” Isaac asks and m
oves his hand to my leg.
“Kira.” He waits for me to continue. “She’s taking me out, first Friday back in school.”
He nods and squeezes my thigh. “Anywhere fun?”
“Either a party or out on the town.”
“To paint it red as they say.” He’s smiling, which means he’s not totally against the idea. I feel a weight lift from my chest. “Want me to join you?”
Do I?
Is it wrong that I don’t?
I shrug. “You can come if you want to.”
He smiles wider and shakes his head. “I’ll leave the dancing to you younger folk. My hips couldn’t handle it.”
“Your hips handled it just fine last night.”
He chuckles and leans sideways so I can kiss him on the cheek. I do so swiftly, as he is driving after all.
“Thank you.”
He looks at me quizzically. “For what?”
“For not turning it into a big deal.”
His face drops and I see the wheels turning in his head. We pull up to a red light and he turns towards me before hooking his hand around the back of my neck and pulling me in to him for a kiss that takes my breath away. He says nothing after this and instead takes us towards the edge of town, no doubt taking us to my surprise.
Garrett: Did I just see you get in the car with Mr Price? I’d heard rumours but didn’t think they were true. What the fuck, Eloise? He’s antient.
Eloise: Antient isn’t a word, butthead.
I turn my phone off and sink my teeth into my lower lip. Fuck.
Isaac, sensing a change in my mood, squeezes my thigh again. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lie and put on a brave smile. I won’t let anything ruin our day. “Nothing at all.”
Isaac
Destruction: The Distraction Trilogy #2 Page 16