Forever Yours

by Nikki J Summers

  I was just getting into my car after a long and gruelling day at work when my mobile rang. I locked the door and fished my phone out of my handbag. Joe’s name or rather ‘sexy’ came up on the screen. That was what I’d saved his number under recently. He hated it but it always made me smile when he rang.

  “Hey sexy! What’s up?” I sang down the phone.

  “Where are you?” He barked sharply down the phone at me.

  “I’m in my car on the car park at the back of the office, I’ve only just left work and I’m on my way to yours. Is everything okay?”

  “Don’t drive off, stay in the car and keep the doors locked, I’m on my way to get you.”

  “Why do you have to pick me up Joe, what’s going on?” I was getting worried now.

  “It’s just a precaution, nothing to worry about. Just lock your car, I’m on my way, I’ll explain when I get there. Don’t open the door to anyone okay?”

  “My car is locked chill out, I’m fine.”

  I said my goodbyes and hung up the phone. My stomach was in knots. What the hell was going on now?

  I sat in the car listening to music but my mind was whirling with all the possibilities of what was going on. Had my brakes been cut? Did someone tamper with my car in another way? I glanced around the car park but there was no one around, it was always deserted at the back of our office, the car park was all that existed back here. Definitely no stalkers on the prowl as far as I could see.

  What seemed like mere minutes later Joe pulled up in his Mercedes with the blacked out windows. Hmm it all looked very James Bond at the moment. I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him get out of his car looking totally fuckable in a black suit with a grey shirt and black tie, his hair all mussed up but perfect all the same.

  I smiled at him through my window but kept the doors locked. He tapped on my window and called out, “you can open up now.” I knew I was being difficult for the sake of it, but I couldn’t stop myself. I did petty really well at times.

  “How do I know it’s safe? You sure there’s no sniper on that roof over there?” I was pushing my luck now.

  “Get out of the fucking car Ella.” He wasn’t in the mood for banter today.

  I opened the door and muttered ‘sorry’ putting a remorseful look on my face. He sighed and grabbed me into his chest to give me a massive hug and kiss the top of my head, showing no sign that he was letting go any time soon.

  “You okay champ? You’re starting to scare me right now. What’s happened?”

  He looked down at me but his face gave nothing away.

  “Let’s get you home, I’ll explain everything there.”

  “What about my car, I can’t just leave it here.” I moaned.

  “I’ll have someone collect it for you, its fine for now.” He led me over to his car, his hand protectively on the small of my back, and opened the door to settle me in. When he got into the driver’s seat I glared over at him.

  “Why can’t you tell me now? I don’t want to wait until we get to yours.”

  “It’s our place Ella, and yes it can wait.” He was tense and even though I could see he was being stubborn I was just as stubborn as he was.

  “No, you can tell me now or I’m getting right out of this car and going back to my own.”

  “The hell you will.” He snapped irritated but I was on a roll.

  “You can’t ring and scare the shit out of me like that then expect me to just wait until you’re ready to tell me. Were my brakes cut or something? Come on tell me!” I’d started to raise my voice now. He sighed and rubbed his free hand over his face.

  “Fine. I got an email just before I rang you. I’ll show you when we get home.” If he thought that was going to placate me he had another thing coming.

  “No you can tell me now and then show me when we’re home.” I was proud of myself for not backing down.

  “There were pictures of you in the email.” He was clenching his jaw and the pulse in his neck was throbbing now.

  “What kind of pictures exactly? Come on spill it Madden, I’ve sat in that car having a near heart attack just now. You owe me an explanation.”

  “Pictures of you leaving work, getting into your car. Pictures taken minutes before I rang you. Whoever sent them was looking at you as I was talking to you.” I gasped.

  “You get it now? I was shit scared Ella, I needed to get to you to make sure you were safe.” He grabbed my hand and put it into his lap, his fingers laced with mine.

  “That’s…freaky. Did they say anything?” I glanced sideways at him.

  “Only that you wouldn’t be mine for much longer. We need to rethink security around you Ella. I can’t let anything happen to you.” He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it before laying it down in his lap again.

  “That’s all well and good Joe but what about you. You’re the one who’s nearly been killed, what extra security have you got?” I knew the answer was zero but I wanted to try and make my point.

  “I’m fine, I can look after myself. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

  “So I just have to suck it up if something happens to you. You know it would destroy me just as much if anything did happened to you Joe. I don’t know how I’d carry on.” The thought made my voice break just talking about it.

  “You’ll be fine, I’ve made arrangements to make sure you’re always taken care of, you’re the sole heir in my will Ella.”

  “Jesus Joe, I couldn’t care less about money, that’s not what I’m talking about. I wouldn’t get over losing you. It was bad enough being apart from you when we broke up but it helped knowing you were still out there somewhere, but if you were…gone…I couldn’t cope. Please…at least tell the police or do something to put my mind at rest okay?”

  “Okay princess, I’ll reassess my security.” He said squeezing my hand. “I promise you it’s all going to be over soon though. We are so close to catching him. Please don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”

  “I always feel safe with you.” I smiled and I meant it. Nobody had ever made me feel so safe and loved ever.

  When we got back to Joe’s apartment he showed me the email and sure enough every photograph had been taken that day. From the angle of the photos I guessed whoever took them had been at the entrance to our car park. I couldn’t remember seeing anyone there though. Joe’s security staff were at the apartment and he explained he wanted to increase protection, but when I asked who they thought it might be and who they were closing in on they all shut down.

  “You don’t need to know that Ella, just try not to let it worry you.” Joe spoke like I was the little woman and it had me seriously riled.

  “I am capable of dealing with things you know, I’m not some fragile little woman.” I bit back, but he wasn’t budging on this one so I stomped off to the kitchen to pour myself a rather large glass of wine to settle my nerves and anger.

  I found myself grabbing a notebook from one of the kitchen drawers and making a list of possible suspects myself. Top of the list was Anna, she had that thirst for revenge and she was crazy enough, but then I remembered the brakes being cut and the fire, not to mention the person who’d done this had to have computer knowledge to disable the alarms in the apartment when they broke in and took that picture of me asleep on the couch. Anna wasn’t that intelligent she probably couldn’t even disable her own home alarm.

  So next on my list was this Rob character who Max had told me about. He was the guy who instigated the whole ‘homewrecker’ history Joe had always run away from. He was a guy with a grudge against Joe, maybe he felt like Joe owed him. Would he be capable of this level of stalking? I had no idea but he was a definite maybe. I made a mental note to myself to find out more about him.

  Then there was Joe’s family. Could his Father or brothers be harbouring a grudge from years ago? Maybe they felt entitled to a cut of Joe’s wealth. They also had a question mark next to them.

  I tapped the pen
against my bottom lip as I brainstormed all the avenues I could think of. A jealous wife or husband from his time back in the states? Maybe he’d left behind more wreckage than he realised. Could they be out to seek revenge? The idea of Joe’s wealth came into my head again and I wondered if the inheritance he’d received from this widow called Estelle wasn’t behind the stalking. Maybe Estelle had family who felt robbed of the money and were seeking retribution in their own way. Man I was good at this detective stuff, I was on a roll.

  Lastly I added an ex-employee or ex of any kind really who felt wronged in some way onto my list. I was no nearer to guessing the identity but I felt pleased that I’d made a start. I would have to grill Max and anyone else I could to find out more about some of the people on my list, and I wasn’t adverse to eaves dropping on conversations to get the heads up, but for now my list appeased my curiosity.

  Joe came into the kitchen to tell me everyone had left and he’d ordered in Chinese takeout. I jumped off the stool where I’d been strategizing and tucked the notebook into my handbag before throwing my arms around his waist and giving him a monster hug.

  We spent the rest of the night eating Chinese food out of the cartons and sitting on the floor together watching Netflix. When it got late and Joe wanted to take things into the bedroom he stood us both up and I jumped up to wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck, burying my head into him.

  “There aren’t any geese in the bedroom baby.” He joked.

  “Very funny.” I replied and kissed his neck as he stalked into the bedroom and slammed the door shut with his leg.

  He threw me down onto the bed and stood at the side looking down at me all brooding and delicious. I sat up on my knees and crawled over to him, pulling his belt open and then his trousers.

  “You look too delicious.” I purred pulling his trousers and boxers down.

  “You want to taste me beautiful, I’m not gonna stop you.” His eyes were already hooded and he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand before running his fingers across my bottom lip and pulling on it.

  “I love your mouth.” He growled low.

  “I love you being in my mouth.” I growled back. Then I licked around the head of his cock across the sensitive underside and up to where pre cum was gathering before taking the head into my mouth slowly and sucking and swirling my tongue. He held his head back on a moan before looking down at me again and stroking my hair, my cheek, my chin. I used my nails to tickle and stroke his balls and between his legs, he moved his legs further apart to give me better access and sighed out, “You’re so good at that baby. I love it.”

  I stroked, licked, teased him into a state of ecstasy then I took him into my mouth using my hand at the base of his cock to rub and bring him to where he needed to be, then I pushed him down deep into my throat, humming and sucking to push him over the edge. He grabbed my hair, twisting it around his hands then started to thrust his hips into me in time with my sucks. He was so close I could feel his cock growing, throbbing, he was totally losing himself to me.

  “I’m gonna come Ella.” He gasped as if to warn me, but I already knew and I kept my mouth on him as he reared back groaning, and the hot salty release spurted and filled my throat. I drew him out of my mouth to lick and suck at the head where I knew he’d feel sensitive after. All the while swallowing down everything he had to give.

  “I love you baby.” He said stroking my hair and face again, and I kissed the tip of his cock and smiled up at him.

  “And I love all of you.” I sighed sexily.

  He moaned again and pushed me back onto the bed as he crawled over me ready to return the favour.

  “You need to stop bouncing from one home to the other Ella, just move in here you know it makes sense.” He said out of nowhere.

  I didn’t need much persuading though, if having Joe at my beck and call was on offer.

  “Okay.” I sighed as he trailed kisses down my stomach.

  “That was easy!” He raised his eye brow at me.

  “What can I say, I’m totally easy when it comes to you!”

  35

  Saturday morning and I woke up feeling rebellious, I wanted to do something crazy and so not Ella-like. It wasn’t often I felt like throwing caution to the wind like this so I always grabbed the opportunity with both hands when it happened. I grabbed my mobile phone from the night stand and dialled Robyn’s number.

  “Hey I’m feeling wild today, fancy causing some trouble with me?” I grinned.

  “Hell yeah dude, just tell me where and when and I’m there. We can ring Chris to bail us out of jail later.” She cackled. “What you got in mind?”

  “I don’t know, I’ll go with the flow today.”

  “Good answer, I love it when you go all bad ass on us Ella. Do you want me to come pick you up?”

  “Yeah is that ok? My car is out of action at the moment.”

  Joe wasn’t letting me go anywhere without him or some kind of security just lately, so my car was hidden away somewhere. I didn’t want anyone around today to kill my naughty mood, so the idea of sneaking out with Robyn was highly appealing.

  An hour later we were driving through the streets in Robyn’s little Volkswagen, the guy Joe had trusted to ‘watch’ me was probably still sitting in the living room watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix and eating his weight in the popcorn I’d made him. Guy was so easily distracted it wasn’t even funny. How he could call himself security was beyond me, I wasn’t complaining today though.

  Robyn parked up and we headed to the high street to start our adventure. In the vintage second hand shop we caused mayhem for the assistants by trying on the most hideous things we could find. We had the guy in the mobile phone shop tied up in knots with our outrageous flirting. Poor lad couldn’t have been older than twenty and he was dying trying to cope with the both of us. Then we headed to the pub on the corner to take a pit stop and decide what real hell we could raise in the afternoon.

  “Maybe I should get a haircut?” I mused.

  “Didn’t Joe tell you not to cut it? I thought he liked it long?”

  “He does. Okay what else? Maybe get my nails done in some garish pattern?”

  “Why does it have to be a bodily change?” Robyn asked and a light bulb went off in my mind.

  “A tattoo!”

  “Oh hell no, Ella you are the last person I’d expect to get a tattoo. Don’t do it, you’ll regret it tomorrow.” She begged.

  “Not if it’s something I like. Something I’ll want to keep forever.” Forever, I daydreamed, just like my Joe. I thought the alcohol was going to my head but I’d only had half a gin and tonic. Then it made sense.

  “I’ll get Joe’s name tattooed on me. He has my name on his chest.”

  Robyn started to giggle.

  “Ella, you can’t get Joe’s name tattooed on your chest. That would be a step too far for anyone even you on your crazy spree. If you want to have his name on you put it somewhere only he will see.”

  A huge smile spread over my face, “Good idea, let’s go find somewhere to do it.”

  “Ella, if you’re serious about this I’m not just taking you to any old place. We’ll go to my mate Pete he does mine and he’s the best I know.”

  “Okay.” I shrugged.

  We sat waiting in the small reception area, if two deckchairs could be called a reception. I couldn’t let the choice or rather lack of furniture put me off though, Pete had given me his portfolio and his work was impressive. I’d decided I wanted Joe’s name in English, not some undecipherable Latin or hieroglyphics, and I wanted it on my hip, just inside my underwear so only he would ever see it. I chose an elegant looking script and once we were called through and all the paperwork and discussion was complete I showed him what I wanted and where.

  “You know this is gonna hurt don’t you?” Robyn said and Pete smiled but tried to hide it. He did a terrible job.

  “I’m no wuss I know it’ll hurt. Bring it on Pete.” I
said confidently.

  “It’s a sensitive place to have your first tattoo, you sure you don’t want to go home and sleep on it?” Pete asked.

  “No, get on with it.” I urged and he shrugged as Robyn huffed her disapproval.

  “It’s not like you to be disapproving Hun.” I glared over at her.

  “I’m not, but you are different Ella, you don’t suit tattoos and I’m worried you’ll regret this, not to mention what Joe will say. For the record, if he asks, I told you not to, okay?”

  I nodded as the sound of the tattoo needle buzzed and I gripped the arms of the chair in anticipation of what was to come.

  “Jesus that fucking hurts.” I shouted and they both laughed. “Okay I admit it I’m a wuss. Just hurry up and get it over with.” I gritted my teeth as my skin was ripped to shreds and my body sweat buckets.

  Then it was over and I opened my eyes to have a look. It was perfect. “I love it!” I exclaimed and lay my head back on the head rest of the chair. “I feel utterly exhausted though, I didn’t realise being tense and in pain could knock you about so much. I think my crazy spree may be coming to an end.”

  “Thank God for that!” Robyn cried. “Next time you get a wild idea ring Chris to help you okay? I’m gonna lay low for the next few months until Joe calms down after seeing what you’ve done.”

  “He’ll love it.” I said with zero conviction. In truth I had no idea how he’d react but I seemed to remember somewhere in the recess of my mind he told me never to touch my skin or my hair. Oh well, too late now.

  I picked up my mobile as we headed out to the front of the shop to pay. I had a ton of missed calls and various texts from Joe. ‘Where the hell are you’, ‘answer your phone before I call the police’ and other messages in a similar vein. I dialled his number figuring he wouldn’t appreciate a text.