“Did I do something wrong?” Elle whispered.
Nero took a deep breath and pulled her into him closer. “No, baby, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Elle released her own breath and was able to sink into him, finally able to enjoy the warmth and feel of his body beneath her, making her own body melt next to his. Whatever it was that was bothering Nero, he didn’t want to talk about it, and since he didn’t, Elle would let it be.
“I had a nice time tonight, thank you.” She hadn’t even thanked Nero for saving her life.
Nero started moving his fingers up and down her back. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m glad you had a good time.”
“I did. I like your sister, hugs and all.” Elle really did enjoy Maria’s company. It was refreshing to find a wealthy, gorgeous girl who wasn’t mean to her.
Nero laughed. “I thought you would.”
Now that Nero was in a better mood, she thought she could ask a favor. “I especially liked her closet. She gave me some clothes she was throwing out, so her closet is getting pretty bare.”
Nero snickered. “Yeah, right, it is. What are you getting at?”
Elle really hoped this would work for her new friend. “Well, I thought Chloe and I could go shopping with Maria.”
“I see. Did she put you up to this?”
Elle sighed. “Nero, she’s dying to be around girls, not her brothers. You all don’t have to watch her twenty-four-seven. She’s an adult.” Elle didn’t understand because, from what Maria had told her, she was never left alone. Someone always watched over her, and frankly, that didn’t make any sense.
Nero didn’t say anything until minutes later. “You all can go under one condition.”
Elle didn’t like the sound of that. “Okay…?”
“You let me buy you clothes, and not from fucking Goodwill or anywhere else you get worn clothes. Brand new clothes from wherever the hell my sister buys hers.”
“There’s nothing wrong with buying clothes from Goodwill.” Elle was always judged by buying clothes from thrift shops, but the fact was, you could get hardly-worn clothes for cheap, and most of the time, stores mimicked old clothes for a ridiculous price when you could buy it right at Goodwill for nothing. She should have known Nero would judge her. I mean, look at this house.
Elle tried to push off Nero, but yet again, he held firm.
Nero pushed her back into his body. “I didn’t mean it like that, baby. I don’t care that you wear worn clothes, but I think you should have some new clothes, also. You deserve clothes that are yours and have only been yours. There’s nothing wrong with buying brand new clothes, either.”
Damn. Nero had completely turned that around on her. Not to mention, that was possibly the sweetest thing he had said to her.
Elle kissed his chest. “Fine.”
Nero kissed the top of her head and then leaned over to his nightstand to turn the lamp off.
For once, Elle was at peace, not having to think about how she was going to survive another day at Legacy Prep. She felt safe as she started to drift off to sleep.
“Oh, and I forgot to mention; you have to spend the same amount as Maria.”
* * *
Three Weeks Later
Elle started gluing on the pieces of paper filled with her words to her poster board. She couldn’t stop smiling, thinking about the last three weeks with Nero. Ever since the night she’d slept over at his house, her life had turned a complete one-eighty. Honestly, Elle didn’t even know where to start.
Maria had become another good friend of hers and Chloe’s. All three had clicked the day they first went shopping, and yes, Nero had made sure she spent the same amount of money as Maria did because he was there. Nero, Amo, and Vincent had taken them, staying in the background and just keeping an eye on them. Elle didn’t understand why there was insistent monitoring of Maria, but every time Elle saw her flip her golden hair behind her shoulder, she began to understand.
Nero spending money on her didn’t end there. The day after they made up, Nero told the lunch lady to take Elle’s lunch out on his account. Elle had tried to protest, but the lunch lady had taken it before Elle could get a word out. She found that pretty strange that she didn’t even have something to say about it, considering she was the one who had thrown away her tray. The next day, Elle thought she would be smart and not eat at all, but that really didn’t work because Nero set a tray down in front of him and her.
Elle had wished the money spending had stopped there; however, when she went to the office to pay a part of her tuition she had set up on a payment plan, it was already paid. When she had confronted Nero about it, he had done what he was getting too good at, telling her she deserved everything. Then he kissed her to make her give in. Finally, he told her the last request.
He had told her to cut back her hours since she was able to keep the money. Again, she’d protested, but Nero had found a way to persuade her, saying they could spend that time together, watching all the movies she wanted. However, Nero didn’t do much watching, and Elle was only able to attempt to.
Lastly, Elle and Chloe hadn’t been picked on the whole time. Everyone who had ever hurt her hadn’t talked, looked, or even came within five feet of her.
Elle looked up from her poster to see Stacy and Stephanie powdering their noses and under their eyes. Lately, Elle had noticed a lot of makeup caking and wearing sunglasses, and that was a hell of a lot to make it unusual. Yet, everyone kept saying a bug was going around. Elle looked at their dark, baggy eyes. I hope I don’t get it.
Elle managed to glue on the final piece before the bell rang.
Nero waited until everyone left before he maneuvered Elle up to sit on his lap. “What are you doing tonight?”
Elle wrapped her arms around Nero’s neck. “Something tells me you’ve made plans for me.”
Nero laughed. “I might have.”
“Well, are you going to tell me?”
“No, it’s a surprise.” Nero put his hands in Elle’s hair and brought her face toward his, giving her a firm kiss.
Elle kissed him back, her tongue flicking out to trace his mouth. Her hunger had risen to new heights. Nero hadn’t made a big move on her since that night three weeks ago when he had given her that orgasm, her first. He still kissed her relentlessly and touched her over her clothes, but he hadn’t tried anything like he had done that night.
At first, Elle had been grateful, but every day her body burned hotter and craved for Nero to do something, anything. She didn’t understand why he didn’t try something since he had been persistent in the beginning. When things would heat up between them, Nero would stop, making Elle think something was wrong with her.
“Are you two done sticking your tongues down each other’s throat? Because I would like to get the fuck out of here.”
Elle quickly pulled away and stood up at Vincent’s voice.
Nero sighed as he went to stand. “I’ll remember that.”
“I’m sure you will.” Vincent laughed.
Elle walked out of the classroom, trying not to blush when she saw Chloe and Amo talking to each other under their breath while trying not to laugh. Elle couldn’t believe the two had actually started getting along. Well, mostly.
She had noticed Chloe couldn’t even look at the guys the day after she spent the night with Nero, but then again, she didn’t even look at Elle much that day. She figured something must have happened at home that night because, every day after that, Chloe had become more and more comfortable.
Nero grabbed Elle’s hand and they started walking to the student parking lot. When they finally reached Chloe’s BMW, Nero opened the passenger’s door and Elle got in.
“I’ll call you.” Nero swiftly gave her a kiss before he shut the door.
“Does he know?”
Elle looked over at Chloe’s smiling face. “Know what?”
“That your birthday is tomorrow,” Chloe answered.
Elle raised her eyebr
ow. “Did you tell him?”
Chloe laughed. “No.”
“Then nope.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
A Work of Art
Nero sat on the hood of his car, surrounded by trees and a dirt road. The sun had gone down, and Nero knew it should be any minute now.
Twenty minutes passed before headlights lit up his surroundings. He heard the door open and slam with a loud noise.
Nero walked over to the car and another sound greeted him. The sound sang to his soul. Finally.
“Ready, brother?” Lucca appeared beside him.
Nero looked down at his hands and made two fists. “I can’t use my hands.”
“I was hoping you would say that.” Lucca opened the car’s back door then reached in his backseat and tossed a wooden bat to Nero.
Nero walked toward the trunk and the sound grew louder. He gripped the bat in his hands. “Now, I’m ready.”
Lucca opened the trunk and a crying Sebastian wailed for forgiveness.
Nero grabbed Sebastian’s shirt and pulled him out of the trunk before he pushed him to the ground.
Nero stared into Sebastian’s crying, pleading eyes. He had waited three weeks for this moment, planning for this all to be perfect. He had started getting even with the kids at school who had made Elle’s life miserable, then the ones who had touched her. And, finally, the ones who had tortured her.
That had caused everyone who had ever hurt Elle to start to shit their pants, waiting and wondering if he was going to come for them. Sebastian had waited the longest, scared every fucking day for the last three weeks. This time, he’d told Amo and Vincent he needed to get even on his own.
“You fucking lied to me, Sebastian.”
Sebastian had blackmailed the quarterback to throw the milk carton at Elle. He had felt bad afterwards and that was why he had offered to get his team to guard Elle’s table. He confessed when Nero had sent out his first round of paybacks.
Sebastian went to his knees. “P-P-Please d-don—”
Nero swung the bat, crashing it against his arm. He didn’t fucking care how much he begged. He didn’t give a shit when Elle begged.
Nero took his time, slamming the bat against Sebastian’s body and keeping in mind every place he had ever touched Elle. The sound of sobbing combined with the sounds of bones breaking calmed his soul.
Nero leaned down and grabbed an almost-unconscious Sebastian’s face. He made sure he had broken every inch of his body but left his face untouched.
“I made you a fucking promise that you would be unrecognizable, and I keep my promises.”
Nero pushed back the mass of hair from his face. As he stood, he looked over at Lucca, leaning against the car, smoking a cigarette.
“Do I finally get a turn?”
Nero walked over to him. “What are you going to do with him when you’re done?”
Lucca flicked his cigarette toward Sebastian’s body. “I thought I’d give him a ride to the hospital.”
Nero strode back to his car, satisfied at giving him over to Lucca. Nero had just created a work of art, but Lucca, he made masterpieces.
Nero got in the car and pulled out his phone. Now that he had gotten even with everyone who’d ever hurt Elle, he could finally claim the prize he now felt deserving of.
Nero drove out onto the dirt road, smiling into the flicker of light off in the distance.
* * *
Elle watched Maria hold up a dress.
Maria shook her head. “Nope, I don’t like it.”
Elle laughed. “Are you planning on going somewhere?”
Nero had called and asked if she would spend the night with Maria, saying she looked like she needed some girl time. Elle, of course, had agreed and told her parents she was staying over at Chloe’s since her dad wouldn’t appreciate that she was going to stay at Nero’s house. Since it was a school night, too, she told them they had another project due—after all, it had worked well the first time.
Maria held up another one. “What do you think?”
Elle squished up her nose. “It’s awfully pink…”
Maria put it back. “You’re right.”
Elle shook her head, laughing. She watched Maria flip through some more before she stopped.
Maria sighed and mumbled something under her breath, then she went to the very back of her closet and pulled out a white dress.
Elle’s mouth dropped. “You own that?” The dress was plain white yet made from expensive-looking fabric. The thing that shocked Elle was it was extremely short and tight-looking.
Maria walked up to her. “Try it on.”
Elle shook her head no. There’s no way I could fit into that.
“Come on, Elle. I just want to see what it looks like on you. Please?” Maria gave Elle puppy eyes.
Ugh. “Fine, I’ll attempt to fit in it.” Elle snatched the dress from her.
Maria laughed and walked out of the closet to shut the door. “Oh, you can’t wear your bra and panties with that dress.”
What? I thought I was just trying it on. Elle threw off her clothes and, to appease Maria, she stripped all the way down. Elle stuck her legs in the dress and shimmied it up then put her arms through the straps.
She smoothed the dress down, noticing it wasn’t too short. Short enough. However, on Maria, it would have been lucky to cover her ass. Elle wondered how in the world she’d managed to keep the dress hidden from her brothers.
“Okay, come in.”
Maria opened the door a second later. “Oh, my God. It’s perfect!”
Maria ran over and took Elle’s hand then dragged her over to her vanity and sat her down.
Elle saw the glint in her eyes. Oh, Lord.
“What are you doing now?”
“Elle, I have been dying to dress a girl up. Just let me have my fun.”
Elle looked at Maria’s puppy-dog eyes again. There was no way she could say no, and as a result, Elle decided to be a life-size Barbie for Maria to play with.
She sat in the chair for what seemed like hours while Maria curled her hair and did her makeup. When that was finished, Maria made her put on some white, strappy heels. Elle then stood up so Maria could see her creation.
Maria clapped her hands, giggling. “He is going to love me for this.”
“What?” Who’s he?
Maria took Elle’s hand and pushed her in front of the mirror for the first time—she had been careful not to let Elle see—so she could appreciate the final product.
Elle gasped at her reflection. Her hair was curled in almost-messy waves, giving her hair a lift. Her makeup was perfectly done with a bold, winged eye and pink lip gloss. Maria couldn’t resist. The dress was it, though.
Seeing it now for the first time, the scoop neck revealed the tops of her breasts, held up nicely with the thick straps. Elle understood now why she couldn’t wear anything underneath; the dress was a second skin. Although the material wasn’t see-through, you could see the outlines to anything underneath it. Elle had never looked or felt this beautiful in her whole life.
“You look gorgeous, Elle,” Maria complimented.
“Thanks to you and the time you spent to do so. Well, time to pull it off—”
“Wait, what time is it?” Maria looked over at the clock. “Eleven forty-five!” Maria grabbed Elle’s hand and dragged her to stand in the middle of her bedroom. “Wait right here.” Then Maria disappeared.
Um, okay…
* * *
Nero opened his bedroom door. “What the fuck, Maria?”
“Sorry, Nero. I needed her for something,” Maria tried to calm him.
“I told you to distract her for thirty fucking minutes, not the whole damn night. We just told her you wanted her here to fucking get her here.”
Maria rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, you can thank me later.”
“For what? Fucking stealing her from me?”
Maria started laughing, “All right, I’m leaving with Luc
ca. Elle’s in my room.” Maria started walking down the hall. “Oh, don’t be mad at me for the dress. I never actually got to wear it.”
What?
Chapter Thirty-Six
How Does It Taste?
Eleven forty-five? Elle hadn’t even realized how late it was, though she had known it was late when she had come over. Yeah, but dang, time flew.
Elle looked around Maria’s bedroom, wondering how long she was going to take. She tried waiting right where she’d told her to, but she spun around the room, bored, until she heard the bedroom door fly open.
Elle turned back around to face the door. “Final—” Her mouth stopped forming the words when she saw Nero standing in the doorway. She thought he looked just as stunned to see her as she did him.
Nero slowly started covering the distance between them, and Elle tried to move back. She thought Nero looked too much like a wolf trying to stalk his prey right now, and she started to feel uncomfortable with the way she was dressed.
I’m going to kill Maria. “Uh-uh, what are you doing here?”
Nero stood right in front of her. “I live here, remember?”
Right. Elle wondered where Nero had gone to tonight. He looked a bit sexier than he usually did with his buttoned up shirt that was a dark gray this time. It made his emerald eyes dance and gave him a more deadly and sexy appearance. Elle licked her lips from them suddenly starting to feel dry.
Nero reached out and took her hand, pulling her toward him. “You look fucking beautiful.”
Elle’s heart started beating as Nero leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips. When he pulled away, he started pulling her out of the bedroom.
“Um, where’s Maria?”
“She left. Remind me later to thank her and kill her for that dress.”
Left? Elle’s heart began to race as he headed toward his bedroom. She suddenly felt like this whole thing might have been planned.
Nero smiled as he opened his bedroom door for her.
Elle looked into his room and saw a small table and two chairs had been placed by his balcony door. He did this for me?
Nero’s hand came to the small of her back and he gently pushed her into the bedroom before shutting the door. Then he guided her toward the table and pulled out a seat for her. Elle stared at the pink cupcake and strawberries on the plate in front of her as Nero sat down beside her.
Nero (Made Men #1) Page 23