by Leah Holt
"If it meant I wouldn't have to see or hear any of his horrible, asshole jokes, I'd be fine with that."
"Just give him a chance, El. Do it for me, don't think about him, just think about how much your best friend loves that asshole." Kayla gave me sad, pleading eyes, pouting her lower lip.
Letting out a deep breath, I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Fine, but you can't expect me to just sit back and let him be a jerk."
"I'm not asking you to change who you are, I just want you to try is all. And stop giving him a reaction, it's like once he knows he's getting to you, it makes him worse. Please, just ignore him." Thinning her lips, they quickly shifted into a big grin. "Besides, I'm here packing your ass up to move you into the home of some rich, handsome, god-like man you just met so you can have his baby. I think that basically makes us level now, don't you think?"
"Mm, it looks like you found a loop hole here. All of that sounded way better in my head." Giggling, I nodded. "I guess we can call it even for right now."
"Call what even?" Justin asked as he walked into the almost empty apartment. Glancing between us, he rested his hands on his hips and stared at us. "What are you two talking about?"
"I'm pretty sure our periods—" I started to say, but Justin cut me off, making a gagging noise.
Holding up his hand, he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "That shit is disgusting, no one wants to hear that."
"Well, next time don't ask then. We weren't talking to you anyway."
Cocking his head, he grunted. "Whatever." Picking up two boxes, he quietly left and headed back downstairs to put the boxes into the car August had sent.
He had offered to send movers, but I refused to take all of his help. It didn't matter to me how much money he had, I wasn't suddenly an invalid who couldn't do anything for themselves.
Kayla and I busted out laughing. "That's one way to get rid of him, I'll make a note of that." Licking my finger, I jotted down the mental note in the air.
"El, I think we're done here," she said, walking in a large circle as she followed the seams of the apartment.
Standing up, I took a final walk around, double checking to make sure I hadn't left anything behind. Opening up my closet, I ran my hand across the top of the shelf, and felt a crumpled piece of paper.
Unfolding the paper, I read the messy words and smiled. It was the address for Julliard I had written the same day I moved to New York City.
The taxi was driving past it so I scrambled to write it all down. The letters were all jittery and squiggly from trying to pen them in the back of a cab that kept stopping and going without notice.
Smiling to myself, I actually felt a little lighter. I was making a huge change in my life and I couldn't help but feel that this was what I needed. Looking at the address now, I felt different, as if this step was the catalyst to making my dreams come true.
I wasn't sure how or why, because in reality, this change was about to create a whole new set of challenges.
But I was at ease with the idea of change, well aware that I was ready regardless. I had been living this way for far too long, it was time.
Stuffing the paper into my pocket, I followed Kayla into the hall and closed the door, locking it behind me. Plopping the keys into an envelope, I slid them under Frank's door before we walked outside, and said goodbye.
A sliver of sadness snuck into my heart making me feel a little down about leaving. The apartment wasn't nice, it wasn't in some fancy highrise, but it had been mine for the last year and a half.
It was my place, and deep down I was going to miss it. Even with the cracked ceiling tiles and broken porcelain sink, despite the old windows that didn't insulate well in the cold weather, and walls that were so thin I could hear the guy fart in the apartment two floors down; none of that mattered right then, because I was leaving the only home I had known in this city.
Some people move regularly, sometimes even once a year. They can't sit in one place for too long or they begin to feel like a rat in a cage. I was the rat who chose to stay inside their cage, only venturing out when it was necessary. For me, this was home number two, and the emotional baggage I felt was alright to carry.
Blowing a kiss to the dirty, red brick man I had come to know and love, maybe even a little unhealthy at times, I climbed into the cab and laid my cheek against the glass. I was going to miss my apartment, but I was definitely excited for the challenge ahead.
"Holy shit, El, here we are." Kay tipped her head back, looking straight up to try and see the top of the building. "My father wanted me to get a place here, but there hasn't been any openings in ages."
"Your father wouldn't know good real estate if he shit it out." Justin laughed to himself, oblivious that neither of us were laughing with him.
"Kay—"
Holding up a finger she hushed me silent. "Shh, let's not ruin this moment. Just embrace the beauty, Ella, embrace it."
"I hope you realize this equal ground thing is only going to go so far."
The car pulled into the garage, driving to a set of glass doors. I could see August leaning against the wall beside the doors, with a smooth grin on his face. As the car slowed to a stop, August walked to the driver and leaned in, whispering to him.
I had no idea what he was saying, but the two men began to laugh as August slapped his shoulder and took a step back.
The driver got out and opened my door, stepping to the side. August gave me a big smile, holding out his hand for me to take. Hesitant, Kay gave me a light shove, whispering in my ear to stop being a bitch and just let him help me out.
Alright, alright, I'm going.
Gently I set my hand in his, completely aware of how much larger his hand was than mine. I felt so small, like he could cruch my hand into a million pieces if he decided to really squeeze.
Pulling me up out of the car, August wrapped my waist with his arm, pressing me into his chest. His lips grazed my ear as he spoke so only I could hear him. "Let's make this as believable as possible."
Make this believable? What does he expect me to do?
August's eyes lit like fire as he cupped my cheek with his palm. I was holding my breath, afraid to breathe, afraid to move, unsure what was happening. His hand was warm on my skin, his lips hovered dangerously close to mine, causing my mouth to tingle.
Digging the tips of his fingers into the back of my neck, my head fell back as he pressed his lips onto mine. Slipping his hand into my hair, he tugged my head back lightly, deepening the kiss.
I was frozen in place, these feelings of desire swept up and down my body, giving me permission to let the kiss happen. My hand fell against the firm muscle of his chest, touching him delicately. His large palm pressed the small of my back, moving us closer together.
His tongue slipped past my lips, gently swirling around mine. Closing my eyes, I fell under his spell, getting lost in his lips and touch and strength.
The way he cradled my body, I felt safe. The way his mouth worked mine, I felt every vein surge with heat. The way his fingertips softly pinned my back still, holding me so close, I felt like I was home. . .
And as quickly as the feelings flooded my body, my brain screamed to slow down, to get him off me, to put some space between us.
"Why don't you kiss me like that?" I heard Kayla ask Justin, his response a weak grunt and shrug.
Pushing my hands against his chest, I pulled back and took a big breath of air. "Woo," I said, exhaling loudly. Glancing at Kayla, she had a giddy smirk on her face.
"Welcome home," August said, biting on his bottom lip and tugging it in.
"Yeah, welcome home, Ella." Kayla pushed my thigh, moving slightly so she could finally climb out of the car. "Nice place, really, I'm slightly jealous."
Dragging my fingers through my hair, I fanned my face. "August, this is—"
"Kayla Stone," he said instantly. "How are you? How's the family?" August spoke smooth and clear, giving her a big smile. There wasn't one hitch or fumb
le, he held his command perfectly. "I was lucky enough to see your father recently. How's your mother?"
"She's good, same as usual." Kayla had this awkward pitch to her voice, like a nervous school girl. "I heard about your father, I'm so sorry."
His father? What happened to his father?
Maybe I should have done some research first.
Thinning his lips, August nodded. "Thank you, I appreciate that."
"I'm Justin, Kayla's boyfriend." Stepping between Kay and August, Justin puffed up his chest. He looked a little insecure, and that was a side I hadn't ever seen in Justin.
But it made me smile, watching him feel smaller than he normally held himself, to see him need reassurance from Kayla, grabbing her hand and braiding their fingers together. It was refreshing to know he wasn't a guy who always saw himself as being better than everyone else.
Holding out his hand, August waited for Justin to take it. "I've known Kayla for a long time, her father has been a big part of my father's life."
"Mm, she's never mentioned you before."
August's back snapped square as he sensed the testosterone cloud building between them. The air thickened, growing so dense you could cut it with a knife. It was as if both men felt the need to protect their pride, but neither one knew what they were doing.
The male hormone that fed their brains suddenly seemed to open wide. I felt like I was watching two lions as they circled each other, weighing the danger and trying to figure out the other one's motives. It was all going to boil down to who was the alpha.
Standing taller, August looked down on Justin, giving him a half smile. "And her father's never mentioned you." Twisting to face me, August ran his thumb across the curve of my jaw. "Come on, let's head up stairs, see what the rest of your life looks like." Pinching my chin, he leaned in and kissed my forehead.
Oh my God! I'm melting everywhere!
August slipped his hand down my arm, curling his fingers around mine and leading me inside. Kayla and Justin followed behind us, and I could hear both of them whispering, their tones arguing. Justin wasn't happy and I didn't care. He deserved to feel a little humility, there was no way he would learn otherwise.
Call me cruel, but I liked that he was uncomfortable, I liked that he felt a twinge of discomfort and maybe a little uneasiness with August. Justin was being challenged by another man, a real man.
And that man wasn't even vying for his girlfriend's attention. But it didn't matter, August was competition in Justin's eyes, and that was enough to turn his face a light shade of red, and make his muscles flex for no reason.
Riding up in the elevator, August never let go of my hand. "We're on the top floor, it's an incredible view. You can see all the way out to the Hudson and everywhere in between. I really hope you like it."
The elevator doors slid open and my jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?" I asked, stepping out into a giant entryway, with marble tiles and a chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling.
There was exposed wood beams that framed the ceiling, with long dangling lights throughout the open floor plan. The windows were crystal clear and ran from floor to ceiling, with a perfect arch across the top.
The marble transformed into elegant wood perfectly, taking you from the kitchen into the living room. A deep blue couch was the centerpiece of the space, with its sleek angles and soft curves.
"Wow," Kayla said, her eyes huge as she walked around the pent house. "No wonder my father wanted me to get a place here."
"It's tough as shit to get in, I got lucky."
"Did you sleep with the owner?" Justin asked, chuckling to himself. All of us gave him a look, but he didn't care, continuing to laugh to himself. "I'm just saying, sometimes you have to go the extra mile to get what you want."
Ignoring the comment, August said, "Kayla, Justin, make yourself comfortable, I have something to show Ella." Twining his fingers around mine, he pulled me down the hall.
"What's down here?" I asked.
"You'll see," he said, smiling down at me. "It's right in here." Pushing the door open, he let go of my hand and spun around to face me.
"Is this my room?"
"It's our room." His smile grew wider, baring his teeth.
"What do you mean our room?"
"I mean—our room, what else could I mean?"
"Oh no, no way. I'm not sleeping with you, I want my own room."
"Ella," he said, walking forward and taking my hands. "We need this to look as real as possible, we can't be sleeping in separate rooms. Don't worry, I'll behave, I promise." Drawing an X across his chest, he dipped his head. "Cross my heart."
"Ella! Ella you got to see this!" Kayla yelled.
"We'll talk about this later." My face drew stern, eyes serious and determined to make sure shit gets my approval too.
He wanted to make it look real, but we still needed boundaries and rules, we needed a concrete set of guidelines to follow so that none of this got out of hand.
The last thing I wanted was for one of us to become emotionally invested in an unhealthy way. August was asking me to give him a child, but that didn't mean we would be an actual couple, it didn't give him permission to treat me like his wife.
I would feel much better once we were alone and we could discuss the fine details. It was the first thing I wanted to do once Kayla and Justin left. The sooner we set the ground rules, the easier it would be to move forward with any other expectations.
A baby, he's paying you for a baby.
The thought made it hard to breathe, it sucked the oxygen right out of the air. My lungs struggled to work, taking quick short breaths.
You agreed to this, there's no backing out now.
This child would give me some stability, it would create free income, and I was securing a limitless future for the baby. I loved the idea that my child would never suffer, it would never hear the word no or be told that something was too expensive.
That meant a lot to me, it was like hitting the lottery at birth. This child would be lucky.
It would have everything I'd never be able to give it on my own, even with a decent teaching job. I was giving it a future with promise.
“Ella! Where the hell are you?” Kay asked, her heels echoing off the walls as she stomped down the hall.
“I'm right here,” I said, poking my head out of the room. “What is it?”
Snatching my wrist, she dragged me back down the hallway and into the living room. “Oh my God, you have to see this.”
“What?”
“Look,” she said, twisting me with one hard spin. “Look at that fucking view.”
The sky looked endless, the horizon a living painting. Standing in awe, August came up to my side and nudged me with his hip. “What do you think? Could you get use to waking up to this everyday?”
“It won't be easy, but I can try.” Smirking, I gave him a wink. “I bet you're used to it by now. You probably don't even bat an eye at it anymore.” Keeping my gaze on his, I couldn't stop my smile from spreading wider.
August was looking at me, his eyes growing darker, as if he was devouring me in his mind. My cheeks flushed as his gaze shifted around my face, dancing across my lips.
“I think I'm finally going to start enjoying it now.” Biting his bottom lip, his lids lowered halfway as he flashed a sexy grin.
My heart skipped a beat and a cold sweat dripped down my spine. He was the hottest guy I had ever seen, and that was dangerous. August Burke was a piece of irresistible man meat that I wasn't sure I'd be able to resist.
Do you really want to resist that?
Living in sin was going to be even harder than I thought.
Chapter Twelve
August
Fuck, I can't wait to get her alone.
The feel of her mouth on mine sat like honey on my brain. My mouth still buzzed where her lips had been, the taste of her tongue kept dripping down my throat as I swallowed.
I was screwed and I couldn't deny it.
&n
bsp; One kiss was all I needed to know. . .
She ruined me.
Sitting at the table in my dining room, I watched Ella tip her head back as she laughed at something Kayla had said. Her smile was glowing, her eyes sparkling, her body tight and alluring, making me want her.
It was a strange feeling, but this felt natural, as if she belonged here all along. I couldn't explain it in words, but I felt it. The room felt warmer, brighter. . . Complete.
Smiling, I acted like I was listening to the whole conversation, nodding along and laughing on cue. In reality, I couldn't take my eyes off of Ella. She was mesmerizing. Every little detail, the shape of her lips, the silky sheen of her hair, the softness of her skin.
Behind my smile I was nothing but a primal beast. I was imagining running my tongue down her throat, stroking my fingertips down her ribs, gently caressing her body until she melted into my hands.
I was trying like hell to be a gentleman, but it was hard as fuck. I wanted to kick her friends out, tear her clothes off and make her scream my name until she lost her voice and I had fucked her so many times there was no doubt she'd be pregnant.
But that's not how this was going to work, I knew that. I could only control so much of this relationship, partnership, whatever the hell you wanted to call it. Ella had her own power here, a certain speed I had no choice but to move with.
This will be a challenge worth the fight.
Taking a piece of pizza, Kayla brought it to her lips to take a bite. Justin reached up before the pizza hit her mouth and stole it from her hand. “I think you've had enough,” he said, tossing the pizza back into the box. “Your ass has already gotten a little bigger in the past few months, you don't need any more fat calories.”
Kayla sat still, her face shocked and embarrassed. Giggling nervously, she tried to smile. Her smile was fake as shit, her eyes glistening with tears she wasn't going to release.
I sat quietly, watching how this would play out. I wasn't sure if Kayla was going to punch him in the face, or if I was going to have to step in and do it for her.
What the hell is wrong with this guy?
Because it didn't matter what a women looked like, all women were beautiful. Ugly was in their actions, ugly came when they were shallow and self centered, only focusing on how they looked or how much they had, consumed by name brands and monetary value.