Avowed (The Manipulation Trilogy Book 3)

by Taylor, Alicia

  Given a choice, I wouldn’t leave our bed.

  My eyes meet his, but he doesn't say anything. The atmosphere changes, the air is charged again. I need him. I need the connection I only get with him, the sense of completion I feel when he is inside me.

  “Are you finished?” he asks. I nod my head and he stands reaching for my hand, pulling me to my feet. Reaching into his pocket he pulls out two twenties and marches us to the bar to set them down in front of Joan.

  “Thanks Joan. It was great seeing you,” he says. She thanks him back and wishes us well as we take our leave. Damon tugs on my hand, pulling me out of the pub, and hopefully taking me back to our bed.

  ****

  We pull back up at the house about half an hour later, and the mood we were feeling at the pub has shifted again. The warmth of the car, and being full of food, has made me feel sleepy. Damon notices my mood change and stays silent. He climbs from the car and makes his way around to my side to open the door for me. He takes my hand and helps me out, before hooking his arms under my knees, lifting me into his arms.

  “Damon I can walk,” I mumble in protest, but I'm silenced when his lips meet mine in a gentle kiss.

  “I know you can Ella, but let me take care of you,” he requests. I don't have the energy to fight him. I don't want to fight him. It’s nice being taken care of.

  My eyes flutter shut as my head rests on his chest. The motion of Damon carrying me up the stairs is soothing, but he doesn't turn off into our room as expected. Instead he heads to the room I stayed in when I first came here. My eyes flicker open and I look up at his beautiful face.

  “I have a surprise for you beauty,” he whispers. I'm fully awake by the time he stops outside my old room. The tone of his voice has me curious. The door is closed but I can hear hushed whispers on the other side, piquing my interest immediately.

  Damon sets me down on my feet and turns me so I'm facing the door. He reaches for the handle and it swings open.

  I take a step inside not knowing what to expect. I'm greeted by the smiling faces of Spencer, Tom and Lacy, and I smile in return. What are they up to? The smell of fresh paint hits my nose and I look away from our three guests and take in the room around them. The warm sting of the tears tickles my eyes and nose as I take in our daughter’s nursery. I gasp at its beauty, covering my mouth with a hand.

  It's beautiful.

  White, pink, and gold accentuates the room. The walls are freshly painted in a pale pink and the furniture is all white. Golden picture frames hang on the walls, all with different types of fairies in them. Gold netting hangs above the crib, creating a soft touch. The bedding in the crib is pink and gold. A dresser drawer with changing station on the top is to the left of the crib, and a large lounge rocking chair sits in the corner so I can nurse our daughter.

  It’s stunning.

  Tears spill from my eyes, dripping down my cheeks. They’ve done all this for us?

  “Wow,” I breathe. “I... It’s stunning. I don’t know what to say. When did you arrange this? Did you know?” I ask Damon. My husband laughs and nods his head, pulling me into his arms.

  “I did, baby. I asked them to do it. I ordered everything and amassed the help of these three to pull off my surprise. Do you like it?” he asks.

  “I love it,” I say through my tears. “It’s perfect.”

  “Just like you,” Damon states. I place a quick kiss on his plump lips and move to hug our friends in thanks.

  This is the best day ever.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  December 9th 2014

  Ella

  “So what’s happening, Ella?” Sofia asks.

  “Erm, I just... erm. Huh, this was so much easier in my head,” I stammer, embarrassed. Why did I think I could do this? I’ve never had a real female friend before, so asking for help is out of my depths. I haven’t known Sofia longer than I’ve officially known Damon, but she’s always saying if I need her give her a call. So here I am, and now I’m not sure how to ask what I need.

  “Whatever it is, you can tell me,” Sofia says softly. I sigh. This is best to just get it out there.

  “Okay. I need to find a photographer that Damon wouldn’t know.” I wait, letting her digest what I’ve said. When she smiles I continue. “I’ve been trying to figure out what to get Damon for Christmas, but what do you get a man who has everything he could want? I decided I wanted it to be something personal and something to do with our baby. Damon likes to talk to my bump. He’s been fascinated with it ever since I started to show, and I’ve recently found some pictures Damon has taken of me without me knowing.” I ramble and blush as I reveal too much with my nerves running wild.

  “Ella,” Sofia cuts me off. “Take a breath and calm down.” Sofia smiles at me with compassion. “What photographer do you want? Any specific style? Male, female?” Asking for help is harder than I thought it would be. I know my face is beet red, but Sofia’s words help to steady my nerves.

  “I want to take some pregnancy photos but they’re for Damon’s eyes only. I need a woman, and one who Damon doesn’t know. He can’t know about this.”

  She gives me a grin and winks before moving away. I sit in silence as she makes some phone calls, then hands me a piece of paper with directions of where I need to go, when and what time. I laugh when I realise who the photographer is and give Sofia more details to pass along. Hopefully saving myself some more embarrassment, if this conversation is anything to go by.

  ****

  My nerves begin to build as butterflies take flight in my stomach. Will Damon really like this? Is it a good idea? Before I can think too much about it, I step out the car and make my way to the heavy set, double wooden doors in front of the large warehouse.

  A note taped to the door asks me to come in and give a shout. Grabbing the handle, I push the door open and walk inside. This place is perfect for what I have in mind.

  Large open windows face towards the evening sun, casting shadows across the room. The windows are open, and a cold breeze blows through, making the sheer net curtains billow and wave. The walls are bare concrete, making some areas in the room look drab, but it’s warm.

  Removing my coat, I hang it on the hooks by the door and take in the rest of the room. A dark wooden double bed is in the corner of the room, white frilly covers dress the bed, with a huge pile of pillows as decoration. The same sheer curtains hang on the wall behind the bed, making it all appear light. A dress rack is against the wall to the left with an array of clothes and lingerie in a wide range of colours.

  A wooden chair sits in the centre of the room. White umbrellas are placed in strategic places around the room, for the photographer to capture the best image in the best light.

  “Faith,” I call, letting her know I’m here. She comes bustling through a door in the darkened part of the room. Her arms are full of clothing and she is taking a call, her phone held between her shoulder and ear as she speaks.

  “I have to go Spencer. I have a client... No, I already told you. I don’t want to hear what you have to say. We’ve said all there is to say. Goodbye.” Faith sighs as she reaches the bed and lets her phone and all the clothes in her arms drop to the bed. Taking a deep breath, she turns to face me and gives me a kind smile. “Ella, it’s nice to see you again. Sorry about that,” she says, and motions to her phone, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

  I laugh. “No worries. How are you?” I ask, knowing she was speaking to Spence. I don’t want to pry, but I know she knows I’m aware of whom she was talking to and I’m offering her a chance to vent if she needs to.

  I’ve grown great friendships with Sofia, Faith and Lacy in such a short amount of time. They always treat me as if we’ve been friends for years, and I’ve become more open with them, finally allowing people to know the real me after so long.

  “I’m good, thank you. You look well Ella. Sofia told me everything you’re wanting and I’ve had some ideas for what you’re looking for. If anything makes you fe
el uncomfortable then let me know and we can try some other things. I love what you want to do for Damon. It will be perfect. Nothing is more beautiful than to capture growing life in a photo. This is my favourite type of shoot. Thank you for trusting me to be part of this,” Faith says. I search her face when she chokes up. “Sorry,” she says embarrassed. “Sofia has wanted a baby for so long, so it’s always bittersweet for me to do a shoot like this because she has always said she’ll need me to be her personal photographer when she and Wes finally have a baby. It’s not happened yet and I know each month it breaks my sister a little more inside.”

  “I’m sorry, Faith,” I say, walking over to her to pull her into a hug. “It must be hard for you too to see your sister want something so much but not get it straight away.” I know how it feels to feel helpless when it comes to sibling love.

  Faith laughs when Jellybean moves and nudges against her as we embrace. She pulls back with a smile on her face, but I can see it’s a little strained. Her professional mask slips into place and she begins to tell me her ideas. I love them and we get to it.

  ****

  I remove the white lace babydoll I’m wearing and shiver as my back presses back against the bare brick wall. The room temperature is perfect but the bricks aren’t retaining much heat, making them cold to the touch.

  I’m wearing nothing but matching skin coloured knickers and a strapless bra. Faith has assured me that the setting sun’s rays will make me appear to be naked to the camera’s eye. We’re on the last photo for the shoot and it’s the one I think Damon will love the most. I wanted this on a canvas originally, but then decided he would want to display the canvas, so chose a more innocent shot of my expanded stomach.

  My body has become pliant in Faith’s hands. She’s moved, prodded, dressed and positioned me so many times in the last two hours that I’m like a doll positioned at her will. My mind has been drifting to all things Christmas as I’ve modeled.

  Christmas is two weeks away and this photo shoot is cutting it short for having the canvas made, but Faith has assured me she’ll make sure it’s here on time. We’re spending the night before Christmas at Flora and George’s house, having a family Christmas together.

  Damon and I are planning to enjoy breakfast with his family and then visit Pops’ grave before having a family Christmas dinner. A relaxing day is exactly what we all need.

  The click of the camera shutter is soothing, and I forget where I am and what I’m doing, getting lost in the peace I’m feeling.

  I’m hoping this will be the best gift Damon could receive. The photos on his work laptop gave me this idea and now I’m here, it reminds me to bring up the photos my husband already has.

  Faith is professional and fast at her job, getting all the pictures she needs quite quickly. After she takes all the shots she thinks she needs, I dress and head back home to my husband, excited to give him my surprises Christmas morning.

  ****

  “Damon,” I call when I enter our home. When I don’t hear a reply I go in search of him, finding him on the phone in his office.

  “Spencer,” he growls. “I don’t give a fuck. Find him,” he demands. Noticing me enter, he quickly changes his tone of voice. “I know you’re doing all you can but get your guy to double his efforts. I’ll pay for the extra work.”

  I cross the room when Damon beckons me to his lap and plop down, snuggling against him as he finishes his call with his brother.

  “Ella is home Spence so I’m going to go... yes... okay... okay.” He laughs at something Spencer says before passing the phone to me.

  “Spencer?”

  “Hey, Ellie Belly. How’s it going? How is my niece today?” he asks. I laugh at him and roll my eyes.

  “She’s still baking in my over, Spence, but she’s okay. She’s wanting some cherry pie at the moment, but will have to make do with chocolate and pickled onions,” I reply. Spencer’s bark of laugher rings down through the phone, making me smile.

  “Gross,” he replies. “Get that pussy-whipped husband of yours to ring mum up to bake you a pie. You know she will,” he suggests.

  “No, I’m good. I’ve arranged to pop over tomorrow whilst your brother does some work. I’ll pinch a slice then.”

  “You mean Damon actually plans on coming into the office tomorrow?” he asks. Instantly, guilt fills me. He’s been away from the office to stay with me long enough now. I’ve received no more letters that I know of, and I haven’t seen Simon for a while.

  “He will be there,” I reply, confidently. I’ll make sure he goes into work.

  “Okay, Sis. I’ll see you soon,” Spence answers. After a quick goodbye, we hang up. I place Damon’s phone on the desk and turn to kiss my husband, delighting in the groan he gives when my tongue slips in his mouth.

  Damon’s hand tangles into my hair, holding my head in place and he deepens the kiss. We’re both breathless when he pulls away.

  “Welcome home beauty,” he says softly.

  “Hi,” I reply, huskily.

  “Did you have fun with Sofia?” he asks.

  I went to visit Pops’ grave this morning and popped in to see Sofia to ask her about a photographer. When she gave me directions to Faith’s studio, just out past Flora and George’s home, I rang Damon and told him Sofia and I planned to have some girly time. Sofia assured me she’d stick to the story to help cover my secret gift to him if Damon asks.

  Damon wasn’t happy with me going out alone, and we had a little argument until I told him that I wouldn’t be locked up because of an ex. I didn’t want to feel like a prisoner. I know Damon is worried but I refuse to put our lives on hold.

  He relented and agreed as long as I called him when I arrived at Sofia’s, and when I was planning on leaving. Obviously I couldn’t ring on the way back. He would have been suspicious with the time difference from where I’d been and where I should have been.

  “I did. She’s great. I really like both her and Wesley.” Damon reaches forward to shut his laptop down, and seeing his desktop background reminds me of his secret photos again. “Damon,” I say, hesitantly. “When we were at Hunter Enterprises the other week, I noticed your photos on your laptop. I’ve never seen you taking pictures of me before, and some are beautiful, but can you keep them private please? Anyone could have seen your background and I don’t want people seeing things so private.” Damon is stunned silent a moment before he laughs out loud, his whole body vibrating.

  “Beauty, do you think I would let anyone see you in less than full dress? I’d cut their fucking eyes out before that happened. My laptop has a password and no one can access it. You have nothing to worry about.” I frown at his words. Is he kidding me?

  “Damon,” I sigh with little patience. “I saw them. There was no password. What about when you’re in a meeting and your office is left unlocked? Your laptop wasn’t in lock mode and I didn’t have to enter a password.”

  “That’s because I left it unlocked for you. I didn’t want you to be bored whilst waiting for me. I assure you that no one, bar me, will ever see those photos. They’re mine, and mine only.”

  “Oh,” I reply. I don’t really know what to say to that. I didn’t really think about it, but his words make sense.

  “Exactly. Now that you’ve mentioned it, would you mind if I get a few new pictures?” he asks.

  “It’s not like I knew you’d been taking photos anyway Damon, so why are you now asking?” I question with a frown.

  “Well, baby, I’m asking because it means you have to be in the mood to get naked with your eager husband and let him do unimaginable things to your delectable body. Are you up for that?” he asks. Damon’s eyes sparkle with mischief and I leap from his lap, my heart pounding, and take off. My husband’s laugh and footsteps follow behind me as I run up the stairs to our bedroom, stripping my clothes along the way.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  December 24th 2014

  Ella

  It’s Christmas Eve and I’m on
my way to fetch Damon’s surprise gifts from Faith. It took some convincing to get away from Damon. He wanted to come with me, but I needed to visit Pops’ grave alone before going to visit together tomorrow. My husband wasn’t very happy but he begrudgingly agreed.

  I can’t wait to see the canvas and photo albums. Faith told me they have turned out beautifully and I’m excited to see her artistic ability. I wanted elegant, sexy pictures and Faith said they’re some of the best she’s ever done.

  Pulling up to her studio, I quickly exit my car and make my way to the heavy wooden doors. I try the handle but they’re locked. I frown and knock as loudly as I can. When I spoke briefly to Faith earlier she told me she’d leave the doors open for me again.

  Receiving no answer, I pull my phone out and give her a quick call. When the call goes to voicemail after ringing several times I’m at a loss as to what to do. Thinking she might be a little late, I make my way back to my car and unlock it. I go to climb in, throwing my purse in the passenger seat, but a voice freezes me in place.

  “Oh thank God. Ella, I’ve been waiting for you. We need to leave,” Simon says from behind me. My heart tries to take flight, pounding forcefully in my chest. Blood whooshes in my ears, creating a white noise. Fear holds me in place.

  Simon moves closer to me and reaches out a hand to touch me. I flinch from the contact and he pulls back like I’ve burned him.

  “Ella,” he chokes. “I won’t… I’m not here to hurt you. I’m going to save you. You have to come with me. I need to take you somewhere safe. Your husband can’t look after you like I can.” Simon spits the word husband like it’s a snake ready to strike. “Let me care for you,” he pleads.

  “Simon, I… What are you doing here?” I ask in a shaky voice.

  “I want to help you,” he replies, stepping closer again. I turn to face him fully and press my back against the car when I discover Simon holding a gun loosely in his hand.

  Oh fuck.

  “Please don’t hurt me,” I beg. Simon’s eyes widen when he registers my words, and he looks shocked.