Breaker's Point Bad Boy Billionaires Boxset (14 page)

W
atching
the fallout that occurred between Ellie and Ricky made Stuart feel utterly helpless. He had no idea what he was supposed to do to help either of them.

However, the fact that Ricky had stormed off hadn’t been entirely wasted on him. Ricky wasn’t safe as long as Grey wanted him.

Stuart stood and watched as Ellie held her mother’s hand. She looked utterly lost and Stuart wished there was something he could do… In that moment he would have given anything to take away her pain.

Time passed slowly and Stuart stayed with Ellie until the nurses reappeared in the doorway.

“We need to prepare the body,” the nurse whispered to Stuart and he nodded before slowly pushing away from the wall.

Ellie sat staring off into space, her fingers still wrapped through her mother’s as Stuart crouched down next to her.

“Ellie, we need to go. I need to get you home.”

She turned her gaze to his, her blue eyes filled with unshed tears.

“Not yet. I can’t leave her yet.”

Stuart shook his head and took Ellie’s free hand in his own.

“You’ve done all you can for her. Now it’s time to let the nurses look after her.”

Stuart nodded towards the doorway where the nurse stood and Ellie glanced over her shoulder.

“But if I leave her then she’ll be alone… I don’t want her to be alone, Stuart. I failed her enough already.”

Ellie’s hushed tone lifted in panic and Stuart gathered her up into his arms, pulling her tightly against his chest.

“She won’t be alone, Ellie. I promise you that. They’ll look after her.”

Ellie stared up into his face and Stuart felt his heart break. To see such pain and anguish in her eyes, it was more than he could bear.

“You promise?”

Her voice was so small as she begged the childish promise from him, but it was one he would gladly give her.

“I promise, Ellie.”

She nodded and pulled out of his grip. Leaning down over the bed, he watched as she pressed her lips to Rosalind’s forehead. A goodbye kiss.

Ellie turned back to him and Stuart had just enough time to catch her as she collapsed towards the floor.

Panic washed over him as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her from the room. He paused in the hall, checking her pulse as she moaned in his arms.

“Ellie, can you hear me?”

She nodded before opening her eyes slowly.

“I’m sorry, Stuart.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“For dragging you into this mess.”

Stuart smiled and gathered her in against him.

“Let’s get you home.”

He carried her down the hall and out to the car. Ricky was nowhere to be seen and although Stuart was worried for his safety he was glad they didn’t run into him again. Ellie wasn’t fit for another slanging match and Ricky was fuelled by pure anger.

Stuart could only hope he didn’t do something stupid before he had the chance to get to him, and could talk some sense into him.

S
elena had already left
the hospital by the time Stuart got Ellie out to the car. The journey back to Ellie’s house was made in silence and as Stuart killed the engine outside he stared over at her. She hadn’t moved for the entire journey, he’d barely even known she was there.

Stepping out of the car, Stuart stared up at the dark house. He couldn’t imagine what it felt like to come home after a situation like the one Ellie had found herself in. The death of his parents hadn’t been as filled with grief and regret.

Of course he’d loved his parents in his own way but they’d never shared a real connection. His father’s preoccupation with money had ensured that Stuart went as far in the opposite direction as he could.

This was coupled with the fact that his parents had always seemed to view him with an air of disappointment. Stuart hadn’t been given leave from the army to attend their joint funeral and in a way he hadn’t minded.

He didn’t believe in grieving and dragging up painful memories for two people who didn’t really care if he left and never came back.

Stuart moved around the car and held the door open as Ellie pushed it wide and stepped out. He could see the tiny streaks of tears that covered her cheeks even in the half-light of the night.

He followed her as she walked up to the front door and slid the key into the lock.

Stuart watched as she hesitated on the threshold, her entire body trembling as she stared into the darkness that shrouded the house.

When she finally did step inside Stuart released the breath he hadn’t even realised he’d been holding.

Closing the door, Stuart put his arm across Ellie’s shoulders as she paused in the hall. She jumped and Stuart could suddenly feel her heartbeat hammering against her chest as she turned and pressed her body against his.

“You should get some rest,” he whispered against her hair but Ellie shook her head.

“I don’t think I can. There’s so much I have to do, so much to plan.”

Stuart gripped her shoulders and pushed her away until he was staring down into her face.

“Ellie, that can wait for the morning. You need to rest.”

“I’m afraid… I don’t want to be here alone…”

Stuart was suddenly aware of the fact that her hands were wrapped up in the front of his white shirt.

“You’re not alone, Ellie. I’m here with you.”

She nodded and smiled before moving to the stairs. Stuart followed her up to what he assumed was her bedroom. The room seemed a little old fashioned, as though she hadn’t had the time to decorate it for a very long time.

Ellie climbed into the bed and Stuart sat in the wicker chair in the corner of the room. It was going to be one hell of a crap night’s sleep but if it helped Ellie rest a little easier, he would do it.

“What are you doing?” she said, sitting up and staring over at him.

“Getting comfortable, you should be doing the same.”

Ellie shot him an odd look and then climbed out of the bed and padded across the room. She paused in front of him and Stuart swallowed hard as she stared down at him with her wide blue eyes—blue eyes that he could drown in if he weren’t careful.

“I know this is probably something you don’t want to do, but…” She hesitated and closed her eyes. “Will you hold me?”

“What?”

“Please, Stuart. I know I’m not what you want but please, for tonight, I just need some human contact, someone to hold me…”

He stood and placed his hand on her cheek.

“What do you mean, not what I want?”

Ellie’s eyes opened, the blue glistening with tears that she struggled to hold in check.

“I’m not stupid, I know I’m not the type of woman you’d ever want to get into bed with… But for tonight…”

Without thinking, Stuart bent his head and crushed his lips against hers.

E
llie gasped
as Stuart’s lips pressed against hers. He was warm and firm, his hands sliding around her, one hand in her hair, drawing her in against him, deepening their embrace.

She knew she shouldn’t kiss him back. It seemed wrong somehow since her mother had just died. And yet in that moment it felt like exactly the right thing to do. She needed his touch, his embrace. It was the only thing anchoring her in the moment, the only thing stopping her from disappearing into her own grief.

Stuart was the one to pull away, his gaze searching as he stared down at her.

“Ellie, I’ve wanted you from the first moment I set eyes on you but after everything you’ve been through, I don’t want to take advantage.”

He was giving her a way out, a chance to turn away.

“I want this, I want you, please…”

The moment she opened her mouth the words tumbled out and Ellie knew they were true. She did want him, need him. And his desire for her had surprised her. Ellie wasn’t about to lose the opportunity to spend the night in the arms of someone who wanted her. Some people wouldn’t understand it but she didn’t care—they weren’t living her life, they didn’t have to suffer the crushing loneliness she had gone through.

Pushing up onto her toes, Ellie pressed her lips to his. Stuart didn’t hesitate and Ellie gasped as he kissed her with enough ferocity to steal her breath.

His hands worked on the dress she wore, working it up and over her head, exposing Ellie’s body to his gaze. She found herself blushing, the colour sweeping up into her face as she struggled to hide from him.

He deserved so much better than her and her wobbly body and Ellie decided it was a bad idea.

“What’s wrong?” Stuart drew away and stared down at her.

Ellie struggled to cover the worst of her imperfections with her hands but it was no use, there was no way to hide.

“I’m sorry, I can’t…”

Stuart nodded and wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m sorry, Ellie. I should have known better.”

He tried to hold her but Ellie’s arms blocked him.

“What are you doing?” he said, staring down at her as she struggled to pull the blanket from the bed. At least if she could wrap it around her body it would cover the bits she hated most.

Stuart caught her hand, his other hand on her face as he tilted her face up to his.

“Ellie, what is it? Why are you trying to hide from me?”

The look of confusion was enough to send Ellie over the edge but she had no tears left. The emotions within her had become numb and now she was left with nothing but a great empty ache in her chest.

“I don’t want you to see me… I’m sorry I’m not perfect, you deserve somebody like you.”

Pulling free of his arms Ellie grabbed the blanket finally and started to wrap it around her body but Stuart was there, his hands halting her movement.

“What do you mean, I deserve someone like me?”

“I mean look at me—we don’t match, Stuart. I’ll never be what you really want and I don’t think I can bear to see the look of disappointment in your eyes when you look at me… I couldn’t handle that.”

Stuart stared at her, shock sweeping across his expression.

“Ellie, you’re exactly what I want… Every inch of you. I think you’re beautiful.”

She shook her head. “Don’t just be nice to me, it only makes it worse. I’m not stupid, I already know what I am.”

Stuart laughed and Ellie could feel colour washing over her face again. It spread down her neck and she could feel the heat spreading across the top of her breasts.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I’ve never heard anything more ridiculous in my life. I’m more than aware of what you are, Ellie.”

She opened her mouth to disagree with him but he silenced her with his fingers pressed against her lips.

He worked the sheet free with his other hand, exposing the front of her body.

“Every inch of you is perfect.”

Ellie shivered and closed her eyes as he pressed his hand beneath the sheet, his fingers sliding against her waist as he dug his fingers into her flesh and pulled her tightly against him.

“There’s not one thing I would change… Not one thing I would wish different.”

Ellie melted in against him as his lips found hers once more. The blanket slipped to the floor, forgotten as his hands moved across her flesh, awakening a desire within her she thought only existed in books.

He swung her up into his arms and carried her to the bed, his mouth moving down over her neck as his hands cupped her breasts through the bra she wore.

Ellie threw her head back as Stuart slipped the bra off and buried his face in against her chest. Pleasure lanced through her as his tongue laved across her nipples and Ellie cried out as he sucked the sensitive bud into a peak.

Ellie’s hands fumbled against his shirt, the buttons proving almost impossible as wave after wave of intensity rolled through her body from Stuart’s touch.

“Wait…” she panted, her breath coming in small gasps.

“I want to feel your skin against me, I don’t want anything between us…”

Stuart’s gaze darkened, his eyes filling with desire as Ellie spoke. The look he gave her as he pushed up onto his knees and started to unbutton his shirt made her shiver with need.

She watched him undress, his muscles rippling as he stood and unbuttoned his trousers. She sat up, her hands helping as he pushed them down, letting them drop to the floor with a thud.

An ache started low in Ellie’s belly as she stared at his hard shaft and without thinking about it she reached out, running one finger down along its length.

Stuart physically shivered, his entire body trembling as she touched him. Ellie stared up at him as he closed his eyes and let his head sink back. It felt powerful and right to know she had such an intense effect on him.

He growled, a sound low and deep within his chest as he crawled up onto the bed between her legs, pushing her down beneath him.

Stuart’s fingers pressed against the entrance to her body and Ellie gasped, pleasure spiking inside as the ache increased. He worked his hand against her, through her knickers, and Ellie ground her body down on him.

The second he slipped one finger inside her Ellie sighed, a long breath of satisfaction that slipped past her lips. Stuart found a rhythm that had Ellie writhing beneath him, the ripples of pleasure within her gradually growing closer and closer together until she couldn’t even catch her breath.

“Ellie…” Stuart whispered her name as he slipped his fingers from her body. With one strong tug he ripped her panties and threw them from the bed.

He slid his hands beneath her hips, lifting her ass from the bed as he moved down over her, his face just above her own as he thrust into her.

Ellie felt her eyes go wide as he filled her. She had thought it was pleasurable to feel his fingers inside her body.

But the way Stuart buried himself in her left Ellie reeling.

There was only one thought in her mind as he moved inside her, his rhythm slow and languorous.

A pressure built in Ellie’s head as the ache in her belly increased. She wanted more, she needed him deeper and with each stroke of his shaft inside her it only sent Ellie spiralling further down into the haze that filled her mind.

The numbness she had felt earlier disappeared, leaving Ellie with the feeling of being completely out of control.

Every emotion that she had been through for the past year washed over and Ellie clung to Stuart.

His mouth found hers, the kiss long and deep as he moved in and out of her. The pressure spiralled, building until Ellie was sure she would break apart if she didn’t find a way to release it.

Stuart shifted, his rhythm changing suddenly and Ellie found the pleasure intensified in a way she didn’t think possible.

Her mind switched off, leaving her with just the sensations and feelings within her body.

“Stuart!” She cried his name aloud as the white heat of pleasure boiled over her skin, stealing the air from her lungs. Every muscle in her body clenched down as though it understood that she needed him buried as deeply within her as possible in order to achieve the maximum pleasure.

Stuart groaned above her and Ellie felt him stiffen inside her, his thickness filling her in a way it hadn’t before.

It was then the pressure released, the wave of pleasure that had been building inside crashing down over Ellie, and her cries mingled with Stuart’s.

Warmth spread through her, the ache low in her belly suddenly satisfied by the ripples of bliss that spread outward from her core.

Ellie gasped as Stuart rolled from her, taking her body in his arms as he pulled her in against him.

Ellie pressed her ear to his chest, the steady sound of his heartbeat softening the choking tears that clogged in the back of her throat.

She was alive. For the past year her life had been filled with constant pain, suffering and of course grief. Even though it had been her father who had passed, part of Ellie had always felt that he had taken Rosalind with him. And now she was gone too…

Ellie felt relief for her mother, relief that she was released from the hell she had suffered through for a year. But that wasn’t what made Ellie cry. The sudden knowledge that she wouldn’t be able to talk to her mom anymore, that she wouldn’t be able to share the ups and downs or the simple things in life. Heartache that she had met a man who had the power to make her heart skip a beat and her stomach fill with butterflies and yet she wouldn’t be able to share that joy with her.

Grief mingled with happiness and Ellie sobbed against Stuart. He held her without words, his arms tight around her as though he understood that she needed to let go.