A Soldier For Bella (Love Conquers Life #4)

by Alison Mello

  “Please tell me you know that I don’t want you just because you’re a model?” I can feel him staring at me, waiting for an answer, so I finally look up to see a confused look on his face, like he’d never thought this was an issue.

  “I know,” I say in barely a whisper.

  Our waitress arrives, and I instantly order a glass of white wine and Derek orders a scotch on the rocks. When she disappears, I flip open my menu and decide to order something different. I was originally going to order the Asian grilled chicken salad, but I’m not in the mood for a salad. Since I’m going to burn some calories dancing with Derek, I opt for shrimp scampi. I bite my lip and close my menu. When I look up, Derek is still looking the menu over, but he quickly closes it.

  “That didn’t sound too convincing,” he says, bringing our conversation back up.

  “I’m sorry.” I take a deep breath. “I used to date a guy named Brock, and he messed me up kind of bad emotionally. It turns out he was only dating me to try and advance his own modeling career, and I was too blind to see it.” I close my eyes, trying to compose myself. It still stings a bit. “I had finally trusted him, thinking what we had was the real deal, but when he realized he wasn’t going to get any further dating me, he left, taking everything with him.” I glance up to see a look of fury on Derek’s face. I sigh. “Derek, he not only took the furniture, but my entire bank account too. The furniture wasn’t even his. It was all my stuff. He moved in with me because he needed a place to stay.”

  He slips out of the booth and sits beside me. He takes my hand in his, brings it to his lips, and gives me a soft, gentle kiss.

  I look him dead in the eye. “I swore to myself I would never allow a man close enough to hurt me or leave me in a situation like that again.”

  “I’m so sorry that happened to you baby, but I’m not Brock.” The waitress interrupts our conversation. He looks over his shoulder, extremely unhappy with her timing.

  “A medium rare steak, baked potato, and glazed carrots,” he says to her.

  He looks back to me, so I order as well. “I’ll have the shrimp scampi.”

  “Be sure you put his order on my tab.” He uses his chin to point toward Jordan. The waitress nods and walks away.

  “Where were we?” He pauses. “I love you, Bella, and I know I have to figure out how to show you that, but you need to try and trust me a little too.”

  I nod, not quite ready to admit that I love him too. “Please just give me a little more time. I’m not going to run off, but I need to think about what you said and my feelings for you. They scare me.” He rubs his knuckle over my cheek and leans in to kiss me.

  “I’ll be here when you’re ready. Now let’s change the subject,” he says, and I swear all the tension leaves my body. “You have a meeting with your agent this week, right?”

  “Yeah. She says she has a new contract for me to sign but hasn’t told me what it is yet.”

  “Well, that’s exciting, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, I just hate reading through them. Usually the agent reads through and gives you the gist of the contract, but my last agent tried to screw me over so now I trust no one.” I flinch as I say that.

  He grins. “Well, I’m glad it’s not just me.”

  I slap him playfully. “I feel like I’m ruining our night.” I look down at the table.

  “You’re fine, relax. Besides, it’s smart to read the contract through. You never know what they’ll try to sneak into it, and you don’t want to end up in some nude photos, do you?”

  “Hell no. The bikini is as nude as I get, and those suck sometimes. I spend all that time at the salon preparing. The waxing is torture but necessary.”

  “Can I admit that I love it?” he says with a devilish grin.

  “I’m sure you do,” I say as I recall his reaction the first time he saw me waxed.

  The waitress brings our food to the table, so Derek quickly moves back to the other side of our small booth. As we enjoy our dinner, we joke and laugh about everyday life. I fill him in on how Sid kicked his boyfriend out and suddenly decided their chemistry was no good. Derek laughed as he impersonated Sid. It was so funny the day Sid met Derek. Sid purposely hit on him just to see how Derek would react. Derek handled him like a pro, and they became friends.

  We finish our dinner and Derek takes care of the bill so we can go upstairs for some fun. Once we get up there, we glance around the room, trying to decide where to sit. Every table is small and round and surrounded four stools. We choose one that will make it easy for Jordan to keep an eye on us, and he takes his place at the door. The cocktail waitress comes over and Derek orders another glass of wine for me and water for himself. He never has more than one drink if he’s driving.

  “Thank you for agreeing to take me out to dinner and dancing. I know dancing isn’t your favorite thing to do.”

  “I don’t mind it as long as you’re having a good time,” he says as the DJ starts playing music. It’s only about eight o’clock so it’s early for a DJ, but it’s one of the things we like about this place. We don’t have to be out late to enjoy some dancing.

  The DJ throws it back and plays some Ginuwine. Derek takes my hand and pulls me toward the dance floor. He wraps his arms around me, and we start swaying to the music. We fit so well together. He looks into my eyes and starts singing along. My heart swells as he tells me how he feels about me through the song. As the song ends, the DJ picks up the beat with a faster song but to my surprise, we stay out on the dance floor. Derek usually only dances for so long. It’s really more of my thing than his.

  I turn so my back is to his front. While I grind my ass against him, he places his hands on my hips and sways with me to the music. He leans his head down as he kisses my neck, and I swear I hear him groan. I finally pull away to turn back toward him, but he pulls me from the dance floor and back to the table.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask with a knowing smile.

  “I need to hide the hard on you just gave me, thank you.” He laughs as he takes a seat, adjusting himself in his pants.

  We had just gotten comfortable when Kelly catches me off guard. She walks toward us. “Hey, girl. What are you doing here?”

  “Derek and I came out for some dinner and dancing. You’ve met Derek, right?”

  “Yeah, at one of your photo shoots. How’s it going?”

  “Good. Join us,” Derek says to her and her date.

  “Sure. This is my boyfriend, Todd.” Derek shakes Todd’s hand. They take the other two seats at our table, and the waitress takes their drink order. Kelly joins me with a glass of wine, and Todd orders a beer.

  “We just got here,” she says. “How’s it been?”

  “We came upstairs a few minutes ago. We had dinner downstairs first, but the music isn’t bad. It’s nice because it’s not too loud. You can actually have conversation and just enjoy if you don’t feel like dancing.”

  Kelly’s wine arrives, and she asks me if I found out about my next contract yet. I fill her in that I have a meeting with my agent this week. She nods, and we turn our attention to Derek and Todd, who are talking to each other about what they do for work. Todd apparently is an accountant, and that just shocks me. To be honest, I hear accountant and I think geek, but he’s not geeky at all.

  Kelly pulls me to the dance floor, and we shake our thing and have a good time. She pulls me close to her and says, “Todd told me he loves me today.”

  “No way! What did you say?”

  She smiles at me. “I told him I loved him.”

  “Good for you.”

  “Derek said the same tonight. How funny is that?” She stops dancing because she knows I’ve been panicking.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing. I didn’t need to. I told him what happened with Brock and he understands.”

  She hugs me, and we start dancing again. A few songs later, we walk off the dance floor thirsty and a bit sweaty. When we arrive back at the table, we find two fresh gl
asses of wine waiting for us. We both take our seats as the guys continue their conversation about baseball and the local team. Derek likes sports, but he isn’t glued to the TV, which is a good thing because I’m not really much into sports. Clearly neither is Todd, because their conversation switches to something Todd had heard about in the news. I smile as I watch the two of them getting along.

  While they continue their conversation, Kelly and I talk about the shoot she has with me next week. I’m modeling some summer dresses for an upcoming catalog.

  “Be prepared because they have about five different dresses they’re preparing for you to wear. From what I heard on the set yesterday, they’re planning on changing your hair and makeup for some of them, so it’ll probably be a long day.”

  “Days like that are so exhausting. I wish they would give me two shoot days if they were going to do that. They don’t realize how hot it is under those lights, and then to add all the changes to it.” I shake my head. “Whatever. If that’s what they want, then fine, I’ll figure it out. I just hope that this next contract my agent has is a really good one.”

  She shrugs. “Has she given you any clue?”

  “No, just told me it’s huge and she can’t wait to show it to me.” I shake my head. I hate surprises and my agent knows it.

  Another slow song comes on and this time Todd and Kelly get up to dance, leaving Derek and I to hold our table. I get up from my seat and stand between Derek’s legs as he sits on the stool. I lean in to kiss him.

  “Are you having fun?” I ask him, worried because it was supposed to be the two of us.

  “Yeah, Todd’s actually a pretty cool guy.”

  “Good. I’m sorry they interrupted, but I’m glad you’re having fun because Kelly is a good friend of mine. We met through modeling, and we instantly clicked. We don’t hang out much, but I do like her.”

  He gives me one of his signature side smiles. “It’s fine, baby. I’m glad you’re having fun.” He leans in to kiss me, and as soon as his lips hit mine, I get lost in our kiss. He pulls away and licks his lips. “Do you want to call it a night or stay longer?”

  “I think it’s time we make this a private party at home.” I bite my lip as I grin.

  “Sounds good to me,” he says as he slips my coat over my shoulders. I get Kelly’s attention, and they come back over to say goodnight.

  Todd and Derek shake hands as Kelly and I hug. We make a promise to have them over for dinner and then we head out the door. I can’t wait to get home and show my man what I can’t bring myself to say.

  Chapter 4

  Derek

  I’m lying beside my beautiful Bella, watching her as she sleeps peacefully with her body curled in the fetal position facing me. My thoughts drift to last night and what she told me over dinner. I’m not lost to the fact she didn’t tell me she loved me back, but I’m not bothered by it either. When we got home last night, she showed me how she felt while we made love in the bath. She poured everything she had into our love making, and it was incredible. No one has ever showed me so much emotion, and to be honest, it meant way more than her actually saying the words.

  She rolls onto her back and her eyes flutter open.

  “Good morning, beautiful,” I say.

  She gives me a warm smile. “Good morning.”

  “Are you ready for a great day with our friends?”

  She shakes her head as she pushes me down on the bed and climbs on top of me.

  “Well, this looks like a promising start to the day,” I say as she lowers her lips to mine, but then quickly kisses her way down to my ear and gives it a quick nibble. She continues her way down my neck. I moan, feeling my dick stir. She grinds her hips, causing it to harden even further. “Bella, I need to be inside you.”

  She kisses her way across my chest. She licks my nipple and then bites down on it. I hiss as she licks a circle around it. She makes her way down my body until she finally gets to the top of my boxers, so I lift my hips so she can easily remove them.

  Once they’re off, she looks up at me. “Ready to be inside me?” I nod, but she shocks me when she lowers her mouth to the tip of my cock. It twitches as it enjoys the feeling of her warm, moist mouth.

  “Bella, that feels good, but that’s not what I meant.”

  She smiles with my cock still in her mouth, but she quickly goes back to sucking me in. The vibration of her moans is driving me fucking wild. “You’re going to make me come. You need to slow down.” But this just fuels her fire. She sucks me harder and deeper. Damn, this woman has no gag reflex. I can feel my cock hitting the back of her throat. “I can’t hold on anymore.”

  My hips shoot up, shoving my cock to the back of her throat as I empty everything I have into her beautiful mouth. She takes every last drop. When she pulls away, she licks her lips like it was the best feast she’s ever had.

  She starts to climb up me, but I want my feast. I quickly roll her over and hover over her. “My turn. I’m hungry too.” She giggles. I lower my lips to hers, and our tongues tangle in a heated kiss. I lift the tank top she was sleeping in to reveal her pebbled nipples. I waste no time lowering my mouth and sucking one in while I play with the other. I look up as I do, and I see her eyes are closed and she has a look of pure ecstasy on her face. She loves when I play with her nipples. I glide my hand over her perfect skin until I get to her panties, slipping my hand inside to find her soaked and ready for me.

  Pulling away from her nipples, I lift her hips off the bed with one arm and use the other to slip her panties over her hips. I smile as I toss them to the side, ready for my feast. I lower my lips to her bare, pretty pussy and start with gentle kisses. She flinches as I touch her sensitive skin. I had planned to tease her more, but I’m too greedy. I want to taste her now, so my tongue quickly finds my way through her folds. As soon as it hits her clit, she moans at the sensation.

  I waste no time attacking her clit with my tongue. She grinds her hips against my face. I can tell she’s getting close, so I quickly rub her clit with my thumb as I fuck her with my tongue.

  “Derek…” she says. It’s the only word she can get out as an orgasm rips through her body and she explodes all over my tongue. I love hearing my name roll off her tongue as I lap up her juices but I want more, so I continue to lick and suck on her hardened nub.

  “Please,” she says. I pull away and look up at her.

  “Please what? You want another?”

  “Yes, but I want you inside of me.”

  “Oh and you shall get that, but I’m not done yet.”

  I don’t give her time to respond. My tongue is back on her clit. She whimpers from the sensitivity, but I’m not letting up. I want another orgasm from her. I pull away and gently blow on her clit. She’s panting, and I love it. I use my hands to spread her wide open and lick from her ass up to her clit. I do it a second time but this time I stay on her clit, licking her hard and fast. She moans out my name just before she bursts into another orgasm. Her entire body is shaking as I lap up every drop of her release.

  I pull away and look into her eyes, “You taste delicious.” She blushes at me as I lick my lips.

  I place my hands behind her knees and press them into her chest, slipping the tip of my cock into her soaking wet pussy. She bites her lip and moans in anticipation.

  “You want this, baby?”

  She nods at me as I slip it a bit deeper inside of her. “Don’t be a tease,” she whines. I give her a small side smile as I slam my cock balls deep inside of her. She whimpers as I leave it buried inside of her. “Fuck me, Derek,” she commands, so I start pounding my cock in and out of her tight pussy. I’m so worked up I have no idea how long I’m going to last, but I don’t let up. I press her legs farther into her chest and continue my assault on her pussy.

  “Come on, Bella.” I groan through clenched teeth. I’m holding on for dear life, but I swear I can’t hold out much longer.

  “Go,” she yells. I’m about to let go when a third orgasm
shatters her body. Her muscles tighten around me, milking me. I let go and empty everything I’ve got inside of her sweet little pussy. I’m panting as I lie beside her on the bed.

  She smiles at me. “That was a great way to start the morning.”

  I look at her as I slow my breathing. “It was the perfect way to start the day. Now are you ready to get up and get ready for our friends to come over?”

  She laughs. “Sure. Do you want to take a shower with me?”

  “I’d love to. Can you behave yourself?” I ask her with a smirk on my face.

  “Me? Can you behave?” she says, laughing.

  “I’ll try,” I say with laughter. “Come on.”

  We both climb out of bed, and Bella runs naked to the bathroom. “Last one in the bathroom has to cook breakfast,” she says.

  I pretend to run after her, but I let her win since I was planning on cooking anyway. When I get into the bathroom, she’s just getting the shower going. We both climb in, and although we wash each other and it’s intimate, we keep it PG-13 so we can hurry out and have some brunch.

  I’m in the kitchen cutting potatoes to put into the oven when Bella walks into the kitchen looking cute, as always.

  “What are you making, babe?” she asks as she goes into the fridge for a bottle of water.

  “Omelets with potatoes and turkey bacon,” I say, putting the potatoes into a pan with some seasoning. I cover the pan and place it in the oven, and then I move on to cutting veggies for our omelets.

  “I love that you can cook. I don’t mind doing it, but it’s nice to have someone do it for me too.”

  “Baby, I told you a long time ago that I don’t mind cooking. My mama taught me how to cook. She always said a man needs to be able to take care of himself. He shouldn’t have to rely on his woman for a meal.”

  “Have you told your mama about us?”

  He smiles. “I have. She says she thinks it’s time they come home and spend a little time up here so they can meet you.”