by Rhonda Lott
“You already know what to do woman.” She stated in her school teacher voice. The one she used to chastise misbehaving children. “You mean the world to us and to Elliot, obviously. He’s going back on his vow to keep you safe. He could walk away easily and leave you high and fucking dry in this nightmare. He’s not even considering that.”
“But why can’t he…”
“Stop that right now. Are you angry that Dean Killed that piece of shit Jonas? The half dead baster tried to kill me and Chris. Dean saved us. Exactly the way Elliot is trying to save you. I need you to live. I need my home safe. Now, get the fuck off your moral high horse and go work this shit out with that man.” Brook took hold of the tree and tugged it towards the bikes.
Gabby stared slack jawed for half a second, then jumped up to help tie the tree on the back of her bike.
The ride back was a silent affair, but not uncomfortable. Brook didn’t need to say anything more. Her friend was right as usual.
Gabby was raised to believe that taking a life was the ultimate sin. But, that was a load of crap and she had to admit it. Who was she to judge the man who was putting aside his vow for her? Well, he did cause the problem in the first place, but she didn’t run from him when he told her the truth. In fact, she promised him to give them a chance.
Elliot was now alone grappling with his horrendous decision. He didn’t run from this. No, he wasn’t a runner, he was a protector and this was his way of protecting her, eliminating the threat entirely. In truth, Gabby wanted to protect him from putting another death on his long list of kills. He knew Night Corp and she didn’t.
She was relieved when Dean killed Jonas. Dean did what needed to be done to protect them all and here she was condemning Elliot for trying to do the same thing. Shit, she was such an idiot. Elliot needed her support and all he got was a judgmental bitch.
As the ranch came into view, a smile bubbled up from her heart. Elliot was her protector, her warrior. Fuck it, morality didn’t keep your bed warm at night. She needed her El.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Enough was enough. Elliot closed his office door with a resounding bang and violently twisted the key in the lock. He refused to wait another agonizing second for Gabby to give him another chance. He missed her like a part of him was lost and nowhere to be found. He was smaller without her smile, bent and broken without her presence in his life.
Steadily, over the years a bond had formed between them. His days began with thoughts of her and his nights ended with her in his dreams. Without her, his days merged into one continual rewind of memories. Memories of Gabby’s contagious laughter, the soft touch of her hand on his body, the natural, sexy sway of her hips, and the sound of her breathing while she slept in his arms.
Waiting had never been his thing. Two days of waiting for nothing, because he knew in his heart that Gabby wasn’t crossing Main Street. She’d given up on his crazy ass. His heart wanted her to come to him, but his mind screamed at him to go over to the bar and get his woman.
She might not understand him or his motives, and hated what he was planning to do, but Elliot could handle that. He could handle anything to be with Gabby, make a life with Gabby. He was going to kill Pierce regardless. After the deed was done, he would work on her forgiving him.
The snow crunched under his feet as fat flakes fell in a constant swirling showers, cocooning him in white. Elliot pushed through the wind and cold, across the parking lot. Even Mother Nature was giving him a hard time. Fuck the bitch, he had to get to his Gabby.
Elliot swung open the door of the bar, brushed snow off his jacket and searched the room. Only a hand full of people had braved the elements this evening. The usual lively atmosphere was more subdued. Everyone in town had the explosions on their minds. West Haven’s population was caught in a state of shock and bewilderment.
If only he could assure them that the danger was past. He couldn’t without implicating his role in the annihilation of part of the town. He felt like shit about that, but he would help rebuild and protect this town from here on out.
Gabby wasn’t out in the bar and he could only assume she was in the back. Jamison was at his post, leaning with is elbows on the bar, frowning in Elliot’s direction. The old bartender had, biker dude, written all over him, from his leather vest to his ass kicker boots.
He was a friendly type of character, always with a jovial light in his Smokey gray eyes. This evening, however, those eyes were stormy and glared at Elliot like he wanted to slit him from ear to ear and spit down his throat. Jamison loved Gabby. She’d mentioned he had worked here at the bar since she was a baby. The man was like an uncle to her. No wonder Jamison had a problem with him, Elliot hurt his girl.
Elliot swallowed back the lump in his throat. Him a deadly assassin, nervous about talking to the man who was like a father to the woman he loved.
“Evening Jamison, is Gabby around?”
The man gave him the longest squint eyed death glare Elliot had ever received.
“That depends. You gonna make her cry again?” He asked, his voice sounding like the crackling of autumn leaves under your feet.
“No. I’ve come to apologize.” Elliot said.
“Hump, she’s in her office.” Jamison gestured to the back with his thumb. “But get one thing clear young buck, I’m not too old to black an eye or two. So, watch yourself with her.”
Elliot didn’t doubt the man could still handle himself. “I got it, thanks.”
He was so intent on getting to Gabby’s small office off the kitchen, he collided with a female barreling his way. Allison threw herself into him. Her slender arms wrapping around his neck.
Fuck. This he didn’t need right now.
Allison, his ex, smiled up at him. Elliot felt his already spiked irritation rise another degree. He tried to pull out of her death grip without hurting her, but she grabbed him tighter.
“Let me go Allison.” He demanded, nearly choking on the overpowering sweet smell of her perfume. He’d gotten accustom to Gabby’s natural lemon fresh aroma that the lanky woman’s sent made his stomach turn.
Alison was pretty in an all too manufactured way. She pressed her enhanced boobs into his chest, a pout on her overly glossed lips, and a frown on her heavily made up face.
What the hell did I ever see in this woman?
Elliot picked her up by the waist and deposited her away from him.
“Come on baby, don’t be mean. I’ve missed you. What does a girl have to do to get you back in her bed Mr. Fuller?” She asked, batting fake lashes. Her baby blue eyes going soft and what she must believe to be alluring.
Elliot cringed and took a step away, she stalked closer. A growl came from behind them.
“I’ll tell you what you can do,” Gabby stalked from the back, eyes boring into Allison, “You can get your hands off my man.”
Allison whipped around. Elliot stepped between the women. He’d never seen Gabby so pissed before and he feared for Allison’s safety. At the same time his heart soared at her, claiming him as hers.
“You heard her. You better make a run for it. I might not be able to hold her back.” Elliot nodded to the door.
Allison spun away. Her long dyed red ponytail slapped him across the face.
“Sorry, didn’t know you were into chubby girls now.” She spat out.
Gabby laughed. “Yep, skinny bitch, he loves these curves, now get your narrow ass out of my bar.”
Elliot could feel the grin splitting across his face, he turned to Gabby.
“Your man, am I still your man Gabs?” Elliot asked.
“Hell yes, without any doubt.” Gabby tilted her head and gave him a toe curling smile.
He picked her up and headed for her office. The windowless room was no bigger than a closet with a small desk, a short gray file cabinet and a rusty old lamp on top of it for lighting, but he didn’t give a shit. Before the door could close behind them, he pulled her up and latched onto her lips. Gabby was in his arms and she
tasted even better than he remembered. His heart, that dead organ in his chest, kicked back to life, blood pulsed once more through his veins. In her arms, he wasn’t lost anymore, he wasn’t adrift, and he was found.
Elliot grabbed the back of her head and drank in her sweetness, her warmth, and the little moans that came from deep within her. His body on fire, he pulled her hips forward to meet the hard thrust of his. There it was again, that pleading moan she did when she was as crazy with need for him as he was for her.
He broke contact. “I’m sorry I disappointed you. Sorry I let you down, forgive me sweetheart.”
“I judged you without trying to see your side.” Gabby ran her hand up and down his chest. “This has to be hell on you. I hate that you have to make this sacrifice and I was wrong to have lashed out at you when all you wanted to do was keep me safe.”
“This was my fuck up. I have to clean it up.” He said, guiding her back to her small desk. “But know this, I’m never letting you come to any harm and I’m never letting you go. So reconcile this however you have to in that beautiful head of yours. I’m your man and you are my woman. I’m willing to compromise and talk to Pierce, but if that doesn’t work out, I will finish him.” Elliot said, pausing to let his words sink in.
Her jaw was set, her eyes bright and determined. She didn’t like talking about ending people that was clear.
“Thank you for trying. I’ll have your back whatever happens.” She promised.
Elliot’s breath stilled. He was humbled by her promise of loyalty. He was lost. Completely taken by this woman in every part of him, mind, and body, and heart.
An almost feline growl came from her as he explored her soft curves. He captured her lips and pulled her into his erection. Gabby wrapped her legs around his thighs, directing his cock to the heat of her core. Damn, he wanted them naked, to feel her wet heat on his flesh.
He peppered kisses across her cheek to bite gently on her earlobe. Gabby panted, tilting her head to give him better access. “I want you right this second, My Gabby Girl.”
Gabby pushed him away and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go. We got a lot of making up to do.”
Elliot followed his feisty girl out the bar into the snow. He couldn’t tell her they didn’t have all night. In a few short hours he was meeting Pierce. He would love her hard, then face his enemy. Reality sat like a stone in his chest. He had to face his two worst enemies, Pierce and the lurking darkness that lived within him.
**
They raced up the wooden stairs. Snow had settled on the steps and it made going slower than Gabby wanted. Elliot’s leather covered chest was smack up against her back blocking the artic wind. He held her hand tightly and for the first time in days Gabby felt her world was right.
She opened her door and looking over her shoulder at her big badass protector. Even now his eyes were roaming the room making sure it was safe.
Gabby chuckled under her breath, then promptly sucked in a lung full of air. El took hold of her hips and pressed her against the wall. She hit the wall with a thud, her thick jacket absorbing the impact.
Elliot took full possession of her lips in a kiss that could only be called ravenous. Gabby gasped as his tongue probed and stroked, sparking a mirrored desperation inside her.
Her hands traveled across his wide back, the leather, cold and soft across her fingers. She fisted the thick dark hair at his nape and gave herself, trembling and wanting into his hands.
Darkness was her enemy and her closest friend. It masked her lover in shadow when she craved to look into his smoldering dark eyes. Gabby wanted to see the reflection of his desire for her.
Darkness was generous, enhancing the feeling of his body rocking roughly against her. In the dark, she could feel his rough fingers more intensely. The hot slide of them beneath her sweater, rubbing across her belly, kindling butterflies in their wake. He pulled the sweater up and off.
He returned to her lips. In the dark his deep kiss tasted more erotic, wild and untamed. She pushed against him squirming as he released her breast from her bra and pinched a hard nipple.
Gabby was hot, not just excited, there was that, but she was burning up with a feverish yearning. She needed closer. He was lavishing kisses down her neck, his big hands on her ass pressing her against him, and still she needed closer. She wanted Elliot with a white hot desire that left her head spinning and air fighting to leave her lungs.
She reached between them, finding the bulge of his erection and rubbed it through his jeans. A groaned rattled in his throat. That one touch seemed to break something between them. The low burn was now a raging fire with a life of its own.
Gabby bit back a shout of surprise as Elliot ripped her pants from her body. His eyes locked onto hers, then with deliberate intent, traveled slowly down her naked form. A look of need, almost painful to behold, tightened his handsome features and caused her heart to throb rapidly in her chest. It was heart stopping, but she wanted to see him as well.
Cold air whispered across her bare skin, prompting a shiver as Elliot took a moment to strip and reach down, and gave his thick shaft a few long pulls. She didn’t stay cold for long. His body heat scorched her from breast to thigh. He placed his leg between hers and made a place for himself, as his hands brought both of her hands to rest high above her head, pinning them there with a look that told her not to move an inch.
A pulsing throb started in her center and spread throughout her stretched body. Elliot was back at her breast. His hands and lips, deliciously stroking her, pushing her closer to the edge. He took her hard nipple into his mouth, biting down gently. Gabby let out a loud gasp of pleasure, arching into his touch.
He felt right. His body so hot and hard, moving against her with the urgent and steady pull and push of his hips. The rough grind of his cock against her clit shot bolts of heat through her. He felt like hers, fitting perfectly into vacant spaces of her heart, in tuned to her wants and needs, made to be her imperfect, perfect man.
The rough glide of Elliot’s fingers slid down the middle of her body, flames burned her skin as he pressed past the slightly rounded slope of her tummy, to the closely cropped v between her thighs, then slipping through her moist folds. Gabby gripped his neck and pushed into his touch.
He made a gruff noise into the flesh of her chest, then entered her with fingers that knew just the right spot to stroke and a thumb that knew just the right amount of pressure to place on her clit. Gabby closed her eyes tight and sparks danced behind her lids. If Elliot wasn’t holding her up with his body, she felt as if she might splinter into a million pieces. Her heart was pounding so hard and fast in time with the pounding of her greedy pussy.
He mastered her, played her like an instrument of his own design, there against her bedroom wall. Gabby felt the building pressure inside and knew she was about to explode, but she didn’t want to go alone. She wrapped her fingers around Elliot’s cock and pumped him with the same frantic strokes that he was giving her. He gritted his teeth and hissed. His body moving in time with her hand. The smell of sex filled the air along with the wet slapping sounds of their manipulations.
Elliot stiffened, “Baby I’m gonna come.” He moaned, biting down on her shoulder hard as hot jets of cum shot all over her hand.
His climax sparked her own. Gabby convulsed with wave after wave of thunderous rapture. She held on to Elliot as her body slowly came back to itself and her legs refused to hold her up. Elliot lifted her in his arms and carried her through the darkness to her bed. He kissed her gently before heading into the bathroom.
Gabby was drifting off when she felt Elliot, her gentle killer, cleaning her body, before climbing in bed beside her. Gabby snuggled in close to his warmth. Her world was complete again. He was a complicated, unfinished male. He wore darkness every day and held his head above the evil. He wasn’t perfect, but he was striving to be normal. Above all that he was her El. She claimed him three years ago and now he was fully embedded in her heart.
“Elliot, what’s going to happen now?”
“Now we sleep, then in the morning I have a date with Pierce.” He smoothed her hair away from her face and kissed her forehead.
Gabby pushed up, “The morning, it’s almost morning now.” Gabby heard the fear in her voice, but she couldn’t help it. She was afraid for him.
Elliot pulled her back to his chest. “I’m trying to compromise like you wanted. He’ll be here and I’ll do my best to convince the man to take what I’m offering and leave us alone, but I’m not making any promises.”
Gabby didn’t know what to say. She wanted Elliot to find an alternative to killing Pierce. She certainly didn’t want him to walk into another trap. If Pierce was as deadly as Elliot made him out to be then that was almost a forgone conclusion.
Dread filled her and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t see a good outcome to this meeting. But, Elliot was no slouch, he was a meticulous and focused man with highly tuned instincts. Gabby snuggled in closer. She would believe in him, trust him to keep himself safe.
“You had better come home to me, El.” Gabby demanded, giving his chest a firm poke for good measure.
Elliot grunted, “Always.”
As his lips found hers and his fingers skimmed her slick folds. The embers of her desire sparked back into flames, Gabby moaned into his mouth. Even as he worked her body, Gabby couldn’t stop thinking, I should have let him just kill the fucker.
Pierce was the end of things and Elliot was the beginning. To her he was everything and in a few short hours, he might be taken from her forever.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The emerging sun was a beautiful thing to behold, if you weren’t freezing your ass off in an abandoned junkyard in sub-freezing temperatures. Elliot stood next to Carter and watched the sun coming up behind snow covered mountain tops.
West Haven had spectacular sunrises and at any other time he would love to watch the sight, but today, waiting for Donovan Pierce to arrive, the sunrise brought no joy. Every bone in his body screamed that this was a mistake. Peirce wasn’t going to let him leave here alive, if he could help it. Elliot let his hands hang loose at his sides, keeping them moving and warm as he could. He had to be ready for anything.