The tension in the room escalated as Damon and Elena locked eyes in a silent battle of wills. The weight of their shared history, filled with betrayal and manipulation, hung heavy in the air.Damon's jaw clenched as he struggled to maintain his composure under Elena's unwavering gaze. He knew she was right about the project, but he refused to concede defeat so easily. After all, losing control was not in his nature.Elena, on the other hand, remained composed, her demeanor unwavering despite the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. She had spent years under Damon's thumb, and now that she was finally free, she refused to back down.The lawyer, sensing the mounting tension, cleared his throat nervously. "Well, if there are no further objections, I believe we have reached an agreement," he interjected, attempting to diffuse the palpable animosity in the room. "Proceeds from the project will go to Miss RoseFord."But Damon and Elena remained locked in a silent standoff, each refusing to
However, her expectant eyes are still on me. I lift the horrible cookie to my mouth. On one hand, I feel my stomach protest, threatening to give back everything I ate for breakfast. On the other side, I see Elena smiling and clapping her hands. Shit. My gut health or your happiness? What a fucking difficult decision. I bite into another piece, holding my breath to avoid the taste of death. For God's sake, it looks like the devil himself cooked this with his feet. I swallow before I can even chew properly. It's a good thing I don't have neighbors, otherwise prosecution for attempted intoxication would be a certainty. "I'm sure it's just missing sugar. Otherwise, it's great.” "Unbelievable!" she claps more “I’m a cook.” Elena throws her oven mitts on the counter and runs over to me. She throws herself into my lap, and I, fortunately, have to throw the cookie on the floor to catch her. Maybe the radiation will make my entire kitchen uninhabitable. Elena hugs my torso with her legs
The woman removed her silk gloves, which reached above her elbows, and washed her hands. Nothing could really prepare her for the moment when she would have to talk to Aaron, but she liked to think that she could put it off.The grand hall was alive with the harmonious strains of the violin, the music cascading gracefully through the air like a gentle breeze. Amidst the elegant ambiance, Elena remained ensconced in her thoughts, her nerves fluttering like delicate butterflies in her stomach.She finally returned to the salon when the last melancholic note had faded into silence, her steps measured and deliberate. As she settled into the plush seat beside Gordon, her father, his concerned gaze immediately caught her pallor."Elena, my dear, you seem a bit pale," Gordon observed, his voice laced with paternal concern."Just a touch of nerves," she replied with a forced smile, though the weight of her apprehension lay heavy upon her.Gordon, ever perceptive, opted not to delve further,
Elena's pupils instantly dilated. She didn't know what to say, or didn't want to say what she had in mind. All words seemed to be insufficient.However, the woman dared to continue looking into Granger's eyes, seeing the tourmaline tone darken with a clear mixture of bad feelings.Anger was present between green and blue. The contempt, the breach of trust, the regret.Aaron leaned toward Elena. In that position, she could see his eyes reflecting a sliver of light that infiltrated the car. The blue almost looked red with so much anger it contained."I want to know what they said about me" his tone was almost ironic, as if she already knew the answer and was testing how willing she was to tell the truth."Horrible things" Elena limited herself to saying."And you believed it, I suppose" despite his serious tone, he didn't seem to be upset, as his excellent self-control still allowed him to be focused. Aaron was clearly disappointed, but not to the point of letting it show."What could I
"Elena's story isn't pretty, Aaron," Carter began, his voice laced with the gravity of the truth. "After her mother died, she was subjected to unspeakable abuse by her father. It was relentless. Gordon would drown his sorrows in alcohol, leaving Elena alone at home, hungry and vulnerable. His rage knew no bounds; he would strike her without provocation, using her as a vessel to release his pent-up anger and grief." Aaron listened in silence, his features etched with a mixture of anguish and disbelief. "To him, Elena was a painful reminder of the wife he had lost, and in his agony, he inflicted upon her the same suffering he endured. Then, things got a little better when he remarried and had another daughter, Kesha. But then, Elena became this odd piece that didn't fit into the family. The child from another marriage. Once again, she was mistreated by her sister and stepmother, and Gordon... he was too busy with his new fucking perfect life to help his own daughter.""Who told you th
It was almost as if the ground had disappeared from beneath Elena's feet. She remembered all the moments she had with Gordon, her troubled childhood, the attacks, the way she lost her mother. But she also remembered what he was after that: a good man.And suddenly, the past stopped being important. All the pain she felt would be buried with Gordon the next morning."I forgive you, daddy" Elena confessed.She walked away from the coffin slowly, hesitating because she thought this would be her last opportunity to say how sorry she was. The people around waited patiently, as everyone knew how difficult the moment was.And as soon as Elena turned around, her eyes found Aaron standing in front of the white tent. He was outside, holding an umbrella to protect himself from the drizzle.The man's eyes were glued to her, trying to understand how sad Elena could be.Aaron looked dapper yet suited to the occasion. With black tailored pants, a button-down shirt in the same color and a dark brown
Elena shivers in my lap. My fingers skate over her breasts. I want it to be slow in a way she can't handle.With my left hand on her breast, I play with it while I capture the other with my mouth. With my thumb I circle her nipple, my right finger mirrors the action on her clitoris. It's perfect synchrony, even more so when she starts to conflict with herself; wanting and not being able to moan.Some people stayed here after the wake, which means the house is partially full. At least the rooms are.I continue to tease the other nipple with my tongue, sucking and pinching. She moans softly, it's all she can do at this point.I twist and pinch the nipple between my thumb and index finger, and pull the other between my lips. Her skin in this area is soft and delicate, it makes me want to spend days like this.My eyes are fixed on her face, but she tilts her head and closes her eyes, trying to absorb all the sensation I give her."Eyes open, my love. I want to see you" I murmur hoarsely.
With a heavy heart, she resumed her work, the rhythmic snips of the shears punctuating the solemn silence. "When my mother passed away, it felt as though a part of me perished with her. The pain was unbearable, knowing I would be left to navigate the world without her by my side. I clung to life only because of the promise I made to her... to care for our family," she rose from her knees, crossing to the opposite side of the garden where the wilted leaves awaited her attention. "She was everything to me. Beautiful, kind, and endlessly loving. I yearned for her presence every day, for the love that only she could bestow upon me."Aaron remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed upon her with unwavering empathy."But with Gordon..." Elena's voice wavered, laden with the weight of sorrow. "He was hardly the father figure I needed most of the time. And by the time he attempted to mend his ways, I had already outgrown the need for his guidance. I mean..." she paused, the weight of her wor
"It's okay" He whispered to reassure his daughter, gently rocking the baby in his arms.The girl had an inexplicable connection with her father. Every time he heard the man's voice, he stopped crying, and had been doing so since he was born. In some cases, she even attempted a smile, which always made Aaron melt.A few minutes after changing his daughter's diaper, Aaron was sitting on the armchair next to her crib. He told a story to get the girl to go back to sleep."The princess was the most beautiful girl in the kingdom, and she had never found a prince to marry..." he told her in a low voice while she looked at him with large blue halos. "The princes tried hard to get her attention, but she didn't want them" Aaron paused briefly to observe his daughter's expression, who was welcomed into her father's arms. "There was also a... a toad. Yes, a toad" he tested the term on his lips.While Aaron was presenting a story to his daughter, Elena was in the doorway, leaning against the doorf
"He is sure?" This question, coming from Aaron, actually surprises me."All the certainty in the world" I guarantee.Aaron pulls me onto his lap and his hands rest on my ass as we find ourselves again in an intense kiss.He goes down and runs his nose along the length of my neck, then places a tender kiss on the spot. All the blood in my body ignites and I see my inner goddess more than connected. Aaron trails his kisses down my lap, until he reaches my breasts. I grab his hair and pull him against me. His hot breath hitting my skin wreaks havoc on my self control.I move my hips in slow circles over his considerably large erection. Aaron lets out a muffled moan above me."Elena" my name is a prayer on your lips. Completely dominated by repressed desire, I move my hands down until I find the edge of my pajamas. His hands squeeze my ass tighter as I try to lower the fabric.We remained staring at each other for a few minutes. I rest my forehead against his when I finally pull down his
"Good morning" I respond with a smile.I do not know how to deal with this phase of ours. It feels strange to go back to the way we were, and it also feels wrong to walk away.I get up, even though I want to spend the rest of the day in bed, and walk to the living room.Aaron is sitting on the floor on the shag rug while typing something on his Mac. He appears to be very focused despite the casual setting and sweatpants."Hi" greeting.He stops for a moment and takes me in completely, letting his eyes roam from my feet to my eyes. "Did you sleep well?" It's your first concern."I tried" I shrug. I approach him slowly, not wanting to force our shaken intimacy."Hungry?" He asks. I think the last reasonably acceptable food I ate was yesterday's lunch, still at home."A lot" I answer sincerely. I sit on the sofa, very close to him."I didn't order breakfast before because I thought I would wake up late" he smiles sideways, a little embarrassed. I could say it's almost cute to see him lik
"Elena" Aaron calls. He lifts my chin with his fingertips, analyzing every detail of my face. We both know our situation as a couple, but this moment seems beyond normal. Looking at him after thinking I would be killed is like balm for my scars."I've had all the shit I could handle for one day and now I am in a hospital. When I stop and think about everything that happened, I feel so confused. I just need to rest and maybe forget… everything" I mutter quietly, letting it out.I let the tears flow down my eyes. It's a very heavy load that I've borne alone since I woke up today. I tried to be strong and push through, but with him here, I want to share. I want to forget everything, I feel ready for that.He closes his eyes, as if my pain consumes him."I am sorry" he asks in a whisper. I shake my head positively, several times. "It was my fault, the fault of the enemies I made. You shouldn't be here. I failed to protect you." Aaron says without looking me in the eye.I look for his face
I stagger to my feet, moving away from him. I still think about running, but I wouldn't be faster running than him running. Damon tries to grab my arm once again, but I quickly move away from his touch."Your death won't be quick, I want to savor it" he says. "Don't be useless, Kisha" Damon now addresses the woman who is still on the ground.She looks at him with a bad expression, one of pure hatred and remorse. Kisha gets up and picks up the revolver she dropped on the floor."Build a fire, I need closure for this bitch” he mutters and turns his gaze to me. My stomach turns with the disgust I feel hearing him quote me like that."Stay away from me, you disgusting thing” I whisper.He leans down and grabs the lapels of my coat. My face is close to yours and I can feel your hot alcoholic breath hit my cheek.I turn my face to the side, avoiding his gaze."Look at me, RoseFord" he asks in a firm voice. I do not look at him and, in response, he pulls my coat tighter, bringing my body clo
Perhaps Damon Donovan's death was God's mercy, for if I had laid hands on him, I would have torn him apart, just like Kisha. Any insult seems little to such a son of a bitch.It doesn't take a genius to know that, after Damon's death and Elena's disappearance, Kisha is involved.I open the door and go out, I need air. Breathing is difficult knowing that I do not have my wife with me, that's why I say I prefer her to oxygen, I need her more.I walk back and forth on the sidewalk. When will this hell end? When will I hold my son in my arms and look at my beautiful wife at the same time, without worrying about some maniac after my happiness?I feel the cell phone vibrate again. I answer before I even look at the caller ID."Granger" I say between nervousness and impatience."Aaron" his sweet voice fills my ears.It's her.For a moment, I think it's a hallucination. Am I really hearing your voice? A tired, low and unwelcoming tone, but it's her voice."Elena" I call in a whisper. I hear t
AARON’ POVIn my office."Sir" Welch greets, asking for the floor. With a gesture of my hand, I ask him to continue. I am in my alert mode, any information that gives me the slightest hope is valid. "We still do not have concrete information. All we can do is wait"I walk to the edge of the table and lean over it, spreading my hands across the wood. When Damon Donovan manages to get to Elena all they ask me is to calm down?"Everything that could be done was done, sir. She left her cell phone at EP and we traced her last call, it was to Anastasia" Welch murmurs."And what can be done from this?" I ask. They look at each other for a second and I get my answer in the silence; anything. "Where is the son of a bitch?" I ask, to no one in specific.Wait… wait… to hell with waiting! How the fuck can I sit around and wait for news?"Tracking Damon Donovan's cell phone turned up nothing" Welch mutters. He is sitting in a chair in front of my desk. "But…" he pauses for a second, as if he's get
"You are lying!" I turn to him with all the conviction in the world to defend my friend. I walk a few steps towards him in a moment of shock. This bastard has to be lying. Anastasia would never do that to me… would she? "She’s not like you” I assure you."Ana, please come in" is all he says, sporting a horrifying smile.And then I watch the world fall at my feet as the door is unlocked and opened. Anastasia enters the office as if she were another person, someone completely unknown to me. His posture is low, his gaze is calm, his clothes are not very elaborate and his expression is dead."That look of yours is killing me, darling. No need to feel so bad, I am sure your pathetic marital problems were the height of Anastasia's days.""You son of a bitch! How could you do this to me?" I ask."He didn't do anything that you didn't allow, Elena. But I didn't come here to bring you another family problem, but a solution""Fuck you, Damon. Everything you've done has destabilized me enough. I
The comfortable fabric makes me live in a utopia for a few seconds, until I hear the sound of the doorknob being turned. Flashbacks run through my mind and my first concern is the dot.I position myself sitting, crossing my legs. I turn on the bedside lamp and wait until Aaron enters."Hi” he murmurs. I do not answer, because what I want to say goes far beyond two letters. "It’s okay with you…you two” his tone is low and almost melodic. Aaron walks over to the bed and sits on the edge of the mattress, relatively far away from me."What happened?" Whisper."You fainted and had a bleed, you need to do some tests to get a certain result, but the obstetrician believes that this has to do with everything that has been happening in your life"Your low posture says a lot about your mood. Aaron is extremely tired; sold off."You mean… all the shit I’ve been through” I correct."Elena, please""No, Aaron. Don't ask me please, do not ask me to calm down, do not ask me for time, do not ask me fo