Page 21 of Defying Ella
Dangerously intoxicating.
He groaned, the sound vibrating against my lips while his fingers dug into my hips, directing me to grind my pussy against the hardness teasing my thigh.
Without thinking, I shifted, straddling him entirely before sinking down on him. I followed his lead and the begging of my body. His hand coasted down my back until he cupped my ass, urging me to go faster, harder.
At the first zing of intense pleasure, the fog fizzled away, leaving me with nothing but the burn of embarrassment.
Embarrassment quickly turned to anger.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I scrambled off him, almost falling over my feet to escape his immediate vicinity. “I tried to — What the fuck, Jared?” I dragged a shaky hand through my hair, backing away from him.
“I thought you wanted it. You had that look in your eyes.” He rushed to his feet, following me across the room, pointing at me with accusation painted across his features. “Don’t give me this affronted shit. You wanted me.” I stepped towards him, squaring up against his hard tough-guy stance. Staring up at him, matching him glare for glare, I crossed my arms. “Pigs will fly before I let your worn-out dick back inside of me. Clear?”
Stony silence was my only reply.
I shook my head, disbelief tightening my jaw. “I was handing you a book! What about that said yes, I want to make out with the asshole who’s made it his mission to hurt me for months?”
“Stop lying to yourself,” he growled. He stopped before me, glaring down at me like we hadn’t been minutes away from fucking on the sofa. “If you didn’t want it, then you need to stop broadcasting come get me vibes.”
“What happened to ‘I don’t double dip,’ you asshole?” I shouted, my voice shaking and the sound echoing off the high ceilings. I snorted. “You’re nothing but a sex addict, and being locked up, I was your only available outlet.”
“Will you let me finish?” He growled, shaking me slightly. “I needed a break from wanting you. Yes, sex helps calm me, but that wasn’t… that wasn’t why I kissed you.” His arms wrapped around me, pulling me tighter to his chest while he lowered his forehead to mine. He studied me, a vulnerable edge to his green gaze I barely believed existed. “I’m addicted to you, and I need to shake it.”
I stormed off, jogging down the stairs so fast it’s a miracle I didn’t fall.
Rescue couldn’t come soon enough.
CHAPTER SIX
I’m addicted to you.
No matter how much those words echoed in my mind, they didn’t make sense.
Avoidance worked until I ran out of snacks the next day. I climbed the stairs with stealth, making every attempt to avoid producing the smallest noise. I just wanted some food, no dodging verbal bullets or confusing looks. That wasn’t too much to ask, right?
I had no idea where Jared was. All the doors on the lower level were shut but that didn’t mean he’d be behind any of them. For all I knew, I’d find him sprawled out on the sofa, ready to get in my way. Despite the possibility, I didn’t pick up my speed—no need to tempt fate.
The main floor stood empty. Only a ticking clock mounted above the dining table broke the silence. I let out a deep breath and allowed the tension to drain from my stiff shoulders. The desire to celebrate the small win thrummed through me, no matter how ridiculous the urge.
My stomach rumbled before I could give in and I set to work, pulling ingredients from the pantry and fridge with care. I snagged a pot from the drawer beneath the hob and everysingle piece of metal in the drawer clattered.Fuck.My heart skipped a beat while my eyes fell shut and my body tensed up yet again.
No way he didn’t hear that.
A sense of inevitability swept in, smothering any hope I’d had for a quiet afternoon. Resigned, I continued making lunch. I could have grabbed something small from the pantry, but any more meals of protein bars to avoid Mr Loves-and-Leaves would make me weak and pathetic.
I would never let a man make me either of those things.
So I got on with it, prepping the meal I wanted to eat, throwing caution to the wind. If he appeared, I’d handle him. I’d been doing it for months, I could keep doing it until we got out of here.
I had all the necessary ingredients for a vegetable curry chopped and laid out on the breakfast bar when Jared appeared. His dirty blond hair stood on end and he had this dazed air about him.
Like he’d just woken up.
Musicians. Sleep the day away, party all night.I shook my head, resisting the urge to tut at the stereotypical behaviour and focused on throwing onions into the sizzling pan.
Keeping my eyes off him proved difficult. He’d forgotten to put on a t-shirt and his chiselled torso held my attention better than a red velvet cupcake. He helped himself to coffee while the aromas of caramelising onions filled the entire level, either oblivious to my not-so-subtle perusal or uncaring.
Get it together, Ella.
