I wonder if she’s okay up there. Is she used to sleeping alone? Is there a boyfriend wondering where she is? I suppose I should have asked these questions, but I’m afraid I’ll lose my shit if I don’t get the correct answer. She didn’t call anyone at the hospital, which is a good sign that she doesn’t have a boyfriend. Well, she has a man now, and I’m going to do all I can to make sure she understands that I’m not above doing whatever I can to keep her with me. In a matter of half a day, I’ve officially become a stalker and maybe a kidnapper. We’ll have to see where it goes.
I lie down and cover my body, slamming my head back on the throw pillow, trying to get comfortable. It doesn’t work, so I turn sideways and adjust myself into almost a cradling position. I know that the only thing that’s going to make me fall asleep is coming deep inside of Ella, but it’s most definitely not in the cards tonight.
I pick up my tablet from my coffee table, open it to the latest thriller from the bestsellers’ list, and begin reading. Jack climbs up on the sofa like he’s a damn lap dog and snuggles down by my feet, using my calves as his own pillow, grumbling.
Ignoring him, I go back to the book, which sort of takes my mind off the beauty in my bed until I feel sleep calling me.
A loud thud wakes me up, and I fall off the sofa. A scream follows the fall, and I remember that Ella’s upstairs. Jack lifts his head, grunts, and then cuddles back into his position on the sofa. I wonder if I just dreamed it, but I still have to check. Taking the stairs two at a time, I open the door and see that she’s not on the bed. I call out her name with a true sense of panic.
Chapter 5
Ella
I wake up screaming. A nightmare causes me to roll and fall off the bed. Loud footsteps running up the stairs remind me that my nightmare is nothing compared to what my stepmother is going to do to me for waking her up in the middle of the night. I press my hands to the floor to help myself up, but the pain in my left arm shoots through my entire being and I fall back onto my side, lying there. The door slams open. "Princess, oh my God."
A man. Shit, the reality of yesterday floods through me and that not all of it was a dream. I'm not in my bedroom. Edward is around the bed and kneeling in front of me. I drop my head and confess, "I had a bad dream and fell off the bed."
"Let me help you back up." He lifts me onto the bed and then grabs my wrist, turning it to see the stitches. "Good. Doesn't look like you popped any of the stitches. How about I get you something to drink and then you can get some sleep.”
"I'll go with you."
"It's not a good idea."
“Why not?”
“I can see you’re tired. I don’t want you to hurt yourself again.” He cups my face, and I see the honesty in his eyes. He’s really worried about me.
“Is there something else wrong?”
“No.”
“It feels like you think I’m going to die or something.”
“Not at all. You have anemia, but that’s probably from not eating properly.”
“I know I’m kind of thin.”
“You’re perfect. I just don’t want you passing out on me.”
“Fine, Doctor.”
“Don’t be grumpy. If you really want to come downstairs, I’ll introduce you to my dog.”
“Dog?”
“Do you not like them?”
“Oh no. It’s just that I used to have a dog, but my dad took him fishing with him and they didn’t come back.”
“Oh, Princess. I’m so sorry.” He holds me as if I’m going to cry, but that would be silly since I haven’t cried since my father’s death. It was against the rules in the house. When he brushes his thumb over my cheek, swiping away the wetness from my eyes, I realize I’m crying.
“Are you okay, Princess?”
“Yes, I am.” I stare at him, lost in his eyes.
“I’m going to kiss you, Ella. Tell me to stop.”
“No. Please don’t stop.” His fingers slide into my hair, tilting my head up as he lowers his. Our mouths gently touch and then he continues, slipping his tongue into my mouth. A tiny moan escapes my lips, causing him to pull me into his body with a growl.
He suddenly lets go and steps back. “Oh no. Did I do something wrong?”
“No. God, no.” He looks down, and I see why he backed away. His cock, his extremely hard cock, is jutting outward, pressing hard against his pajama bottoms.
“Wow.” Without thinking, I reach out and grab it. It’s the first time I’ve ever touched a man, and my pussy likes it. Edward grunts, drags me in for another kiss, but he doesn’t stop my exploration. With my good arm between us, I rub his cock through the fabric, but it’s not enough for me. I want to feel it in my hands. I work it free from his boxers, and it’s a combination of smooth and hard that makes me stroke it faster. I moan as I get more excited. Before I know what’s happening, he scoops me up and carries me over to the bed.