C H A P T E R 2 7 : B R E A T H L E S S
E L L A S T A N F O R D
Ella closed her door, searched through her purse to make sure she had her key, trying to stop the aching in the pit of her stomach as Javier took her arm and she felt the power of those strong fingers around her. They were walking in silence and after she could make sure that her heartbeat was steady and she was no longer out of breath, Ella pointed it out again, “You said you brought me to Sicily to help you persuade him to join us.”
Close to her ear, Javier said softly, “I want to sign him up, not strangle him, love.”
She felt a confused sensation of excitement and alarm, her ears drumming. Somehow she walked along the corridor beside him to the lift, trying to force her breathing to slow. In the lift she stood a foot away from him, her eyes lowered. They walked through the foyer to the car park in silence. J
C H A P T E R 2 8 : H I S J E A L O U S Y E L L A S T A N F O R D Giving him a little smile, she discreetly moved his hand back to his lap. “None, unfortunately. I do not have any.” “No way, I do not believe that.” He narrowed his eyes, giving it a thought, then his lips formed a mischiveous smile. “How about modeling? Could you strike a pose?” “Not really though,” Ella giggled as she suddenly remembered what Damon had always made her do whenever they had done shopping. “My friend, Damon, he always asks me to try out the clothes we bought and pose.” “Then I am sure he sees your talent there.” His green eyes danced. “Are you free tomorrow?” Ella glanced at Javier for one split second before answering, “I am sorry but my schedule depends on my boss.” “Would you come over and pose for me
C H A P T E R 2 9 : W H E N T H E I R R E S I S T I B L E H A P P E N S E L L A S T A N F O R D “You have no idea how I have been waiting all evening for this.” They kissed desperately, her arms closing around the back of his head to pull him nearer. Her half-naked body was trembling in his arms. It had been so long, the kisses were a hot rush across her flesh, an overload to her senses that woke up all those lonely places inside her that she had ignored for god knows how long. He touched his tongue to the seam of her lips, and her chest got tight and achy and her knees threatened to buckle. She raised her hands to his shoulders to keep from falling and tilted her head to the side. Her lips parted, and the slick touch and warm glide of his tongue was like dropping a lit match on a pool of gasoline and she went up in flames. She wanted to burn and make him burn along with her. He tasted like beer and liquid sex and she wanted to eat him up. A low moan escaped her chest, her brea
C H A P T E R 3 0 : H I S P R I N C I P L E E L L A S T A N F O R D “I want you, Ella. Damn.” She heard the hoarse sound he made. He pulled her head back and lowered his own, their mouths clinging, filled with a driving physical need that beat through her veins like fire, turning her body into helpless fluidity. Javier held her body between his roving hands and she made no effort to stop him, shuddering with pleasure under the kiss which seemed to last endlessly, as though in itself it were an act of possession. And that was when she realized in the distant recess of her mind that she was in love with him. That she had always been. She had always been more aware of his presence in a room than she had dared admit. He had gradually filled every corner of her heart without her either being able to stop it or admit it. Her driving need to give herself to him, to throw away years of firm principle, was the ultimate expression of a love which, like an unwanted weed, had thrived on
C H A P T E R 3 1 : H E R F I R S T M E E T I N G E L L A S T A N F O R D The correct word to decribe it was ‘strange’, Ella decided. It was strange to fall into a deep slumber when her mind was so disturbed, but her mental and physical exhaustion was such that she fell soon afterwards into bottomless sleep, her body curled on its side, one hand beneath her cheek, in the attitude of a weary child. Perhaps her mind was not completely asleep because she could feel him. She was not sure what the time was and whether she was imagining things or it was truly happening. But she felt his hand touching her face, caressing her cheek, and then she felt his lips on her forehead, giving her a light goodnight kiss someone would give a child. Ella wanted to open her eyes so badly to see whether it was merely a fickle of her imagination or if it was
C H A P T E R 3 2 : W A S T E D T I M E A N D A N E A R M I S S J A V I E R S U M M E R S After finishing his whiskey, Javier placed the empty crystal glass on the counter and walked towards the balcony. He spent a few hours sitting on the balcony, watching the lights of the houses below and the moving waves far ahead. It was around midnight when he finally got back inside. He prompted himself as he passed the bathroom door. He wondered if she had fallen asleep and furthermore, he wondered if she was okay. Walking through the joint bathroom, he slowly opened her door and went inside her room. Everything looked exactly like how he had left it a few hours earlier. Carefully, without making any sound, he walked in further into the room. He found her on the bed, curling on its side with one hand beneath her cheek. She looked angelic but he knew she was tired. Today h
C H A P T E R 3 3 : H I S W A K E U P C A L L A N D W O R R I E S E L L A S T A N F O R D After her brief meeting with Joseph, she had picked up her book and beach towel and gone back to the hotel. Not surprisingly enough, there was no sign of Javier. Almost as soon as she laid her head on the pillow, she fell asleep. After what felt like a few hours later, she woke up and stretched her body. It seemed that the rest had swept away some of her tiredness. Fluttering her eyes opened, she saw him. Against the open french windows, his body taut, Javier was standing, staring at her. For a moment they looked at each other in silence. From complete relaxation Ella felt herself plunge into breathless awareness. His face was an expressionless mask. All traces of the desire, rage, and frustration he had shown last night were gone. “I was beginning t
C H A P T E R 3 4 : T H E A C C I D E N T I N T H E M I D S T O F S T O R M E L L A S T A N F O R D Ella opened her eyes to smile at him. “Just about. I must admit, this sunshine is soporific.” “Sop-what now?” he asked oddly. “What does it mean?” “It makes me feel sleepy,” she said, laughing. “Then it certainly a word that does not describe you,” he said, uncaring of Javier’s listening presence. “You do not affect me like that at all. In fact, you made me wide awake.” She wrinkled her nose at him. In the past such a remark from a young man might have irritated her, but she treated it lightly now. Her realisation that she loved Javier had given the world a new brightness, freeing her from many of her cherished inhibitions. She felt laughter bubbling inside her chest. Happiness see
C H A P T E R 3 5 : W H E N H E O P E N S U P A N D S H E G I V E S I N E L L A S T A N F O R D Javier shrugged. “At least we are alive,” he said. “All I hope is that we can start the car again. We are about a mile from my brother’s cottage and there is no village for hour miles back. The nearest garage is about seven miles off.” They got back into the car. “Okay, let’s try again.” he said, starting the ignition. Astonishingly, it sprang to life at the second attempt, and he carefully reversed back from the tree. They started to drive around the corner and emerged on to a flat narrow road bordered on one side by trees through which she could just see a river bank. On the other ran orchards whose blossom-covered branches tossed wildly to and fro in the wind. Javier sighed with relief, dr
“Did you perhaps get some pieces of your memory back?” asked Ella, sounding hopeful. She’d once been in Clarabelle’s position and she knew how frustrating it was not knowing the past, to have a few years stolen from her memory. Although in the end, Ella managed to gain her memories back. Clarabelle cleared her throat for no particular reason other than to delay answering her sister in law question for several seconds. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. There was no easy way to say this and she knew that keeping this act for so long wouldn’t benefit anyone either yet it was really hard to tell the truth. No one would understand. “Look, Clara,” Ella held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ella’s eyes were understanding and Clarabelle was suddenly filled with immense guilt. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. We’re just so happy you’re alright. Don’t force yourself to remember, it’ll come eventually. I know this from experience.” Ella’s smile was what broke Clarabelle’s
“Oh, don’t be so sure, Brother,” teased Clara with a wink. She turned to Ella and Damon who were on her left. “You know Ella, and you remember Damon, right?” “Yeah, sure.” Maxon nodded at Damon. “Hey, man.” But when his eyes moved to Ella, he gave her an awkward smile. “Ella.” He wasn’t usually this awkward around females especially one married to his brother. Hell, he wasn’t awkward with Ava, Thornton’s wife — maybe only for a few months after his brother told the family about Ava riding their neighbor Josh on the kitchen counter. Truth be told, the fact that he was slightly awkward with Ella was all his sister’s doing. Before Javier realized his feelings for Ella, Clarabelle had tried to set up a blind date between Ella and Maxon. Furthermore, Max had once said that Ella was hot to Clarabelle, and knowing his sister, she had indeed told Ella. Max didn’t have any feelings or crush on Ella, but still, it would take him a little while to not feel awkward. He wasn’t good around people
“Oh, don’t be so sure, Brother,” teased Clara with a wink. She turned to Ella and Damon who were on her left. “You know Ella, and you remember Damon, right?” “Yeah, sure.” Maxon nodded at Damon. “Hey, man.” But when his eyes moved to Ella, he gave her an awkward smile. “Ella.” He wasn’t usually this awkward around females especially one married to his brother. Hell, he wasn’t awkward with Ava, Thornton’s wife — maybe only for a few months after his brother told the family about Ava riding their neighbor Josh on the kitchen counter. Truth be told, the fact that he was slightly awkward with Ella was all his sister’s doing. Before Javier realized his feelings for Ella, Clarabelle had tried to set up a blind date between Ella and Maxon. Furthermore, Max had once said that Ella was hot to Clarabelle, and knowing his sister, she had indeed told Ella. Max didn’t have any feelings or crush on Ella, but still, it would take him a little while to not feel awkward. He wasn’t good around people
“And you’re married,” reminded Ella, shaking her head. “True. But I’m not blind.” “How’re you, um,” he scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably, then cleared his throat before adding a soft and barely a whisper, “Princess.” With three sets of eyes watching him in curiosity mixed with surprise, Macon Summers had a faint blush on his high cheekbones. He cleared his throat one more time and focused his eyes on his little sister. “Sister?” Clarabelle let out a small giggle. “Sorry, guys, I made him call me that because he was the only one who only visited me once since I got admitted in this hospital.” There was a glint of mischief in her green eyes. After all, one of the reasons little sisters were born was to annoy their brothers. It was a birthright as much as it was an assignment. Maxon heaved an exasperated sigh. “I’ve apologized a dozen times, Clara.” He made his way to the empty spot on the right side of her bed. “I’m not going to make the same mistake of asking ‘what else
“Did you perhaps get some pieces of your memory back?” asked Ella, sounding hopeful. She’d once been in Clarabelle’s position and she knew how frustrating it was not knowing the past, to have a few years stolen from her memory. Although in the end, Ella managed to gain her memories back. Clarabelle cleared her throat for no particular reason other than to delay answering her sister in law question for several seconds. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. There was no easy way to say this and she knew that keeping this act for so long wouldn’t benefit anyone either yet it was really hard to tell the truth. No one would understand. “Look, Clara,” Ella held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ella’s eyes were understanding and Clarabelle was suddenly filled with immense guilt. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. We’re just so happy you’re alright. Don’t force yourself to remember, it’ll come eventually. I know this from experience.” Ella’s smile was what broke Clarabelle’s l
Dear Gentle Readers, Life has been hectic for this author and he apologizes for making everyone wait on updates. This author also apologizes for the broken chapters with duplicates content. He has informed the editor previously. Since it’s not fixed, this author will double update 2 chapters into 1 on the next one before adjusting the one you have paid. Daily updates will start again in May, so pls be patient. Thank you all sm for your support and love. It has never gone unnoticed. Much love,Yours truly,P.S. this author will only be updating this story for May, Lone Wolf will have to wait until June. It’s very hard to find time these days, unfortunately.
“What about the cake?” Ella eagerly asked as she grabbed an album filled with photos of wedding cakes that she’d asked from the bakery who’d made her wedding cake. “Which one do you want? And how many tiers do you want it to be?” Clarabelle moved the magazine aside so Ella could place the album on her lap. She began checking each cake and reading the label placed next to each photo. “Earl grey sounds lovely,” said Ella, pointing out a cake on the right side of the page. “Or maybe chocolate fudge. That sounds lovely too. We can perhaps have it with white frosting or pale blue to match your dress.” “Darlings.” Damon dramatically sighed. “This is an easy question. You should stick to the most delicious cake in existence. Coffee and cognac. Keep it elegant, keep it tasty.” He stuck his forefinger and thumb together then kissed them like a chef. “No, thank you. I think I’ll stick to my favorite cake. Red velvet,” said Clara with a frown. “I’ve tasted coffee and cognac during Ella’s wed
“Remember that it’s all about you, Darling,” said Damon with an exaggerating wave of his hand that made both Clara and Ella giggle. “You are the center of everything that day. Everything else should be a blur but you should be the only thing that’s crystal clear in everyone’s mind.” Clara shook her head, covering her face with both hands. “Gosh, you’re being way too much.” “It wouldn’t be Dee if he isn’t being too much,” commented Ella with a grin, teasing her best friend. She moved her gaze back to Clara and smiled. “But I have to say that he’s right, Clara. You should be the center of the event. So have you decided on your wedding theme yet?” “You guys are killing me,” said Clarabelle with a loud sigh. She brought her hands down and stared at the wedding magazines on her lap. Even though every girl had a vision of their wedding and how they wanted it to be, Clara had forgotten all about hers when she’d started her company. She’d thought of her company as her baby and that she was
Hélène d’aureville had turned Draven Summers into a softie and he didn’t like it. Not even one bit. “Yes, I am fine, Mum.” He glanced at the door and frowned. Suddenly he felt annoyed that his sister’s boyfriend had not come out of there and it had been more than twenty minutes. “Let me knock on the door.” With determination, he approached the door, and then without even knocking on the door or giving any warning, he swung that door open. “Sister!” Draven greeted the two lovebirds loud enough for the neighboring rooms to hear. “Mum and Dad are here to see you. And of course, your fiancé.” He opened the door wider and held it so both of their parents could walk inside. Much to Draven’s dismay, his sister and her lover weren’t making out. They were at a polite distance. She was on the bed while he was sitting on the chair next to her bed. The atmosphere was different too, it was not as hot and bothered as it had been about half an hour ago. It seemed that they had been having a convers