Cruelty Read online

  I nodded and took his hand. I didn’t let go as we walked, allowing myself to feel the comfort he was trying to offer me. I laid my head on his shoulder and repeated my promise over and over. We needed a plan, and one was already forming in my head.

  I would just have to convince the others.

  When we got back to the apartment, the guys still hadn’t made it over yet and Zoe was still at work. Feeling emotionally drained, I decided I would just lie down for a bit.

  I helped Theo set Pretty and the pups up in our double door closet that we rarely used for anything except coats. Pretty seemed content with the spot and immediately fell fast asleep when Theo set her down gently. I laid her puppies with her and closed the doors. Gus whined, obviously wanting to get a look at the pups. I picked him up and put him down by his bowls, filling them with food and water.

  “I’m going to go lie down. Will you wake me when everyone gets here?” I asked Theo.

  “You sure you want to be alone? I don’t mind staying with you while you fall asleep.”

  I almost turned down his offer, a small part of me wanting to be alone. But at the same time, maybe it was time I stopped wanting to be alone all the time.

  “Okay. That would be nice,” I ended up answering.

  Theo grasped my hand and walked me to my room. We both kicked off our shoes and crawled into the comfort of my overly soft bed. He sat up against the headboard and opened his arms to me. I willingly fell into them, laying my head on his chest and snuggling into his side. It was as if we’d done this a thousand times, we fit so well like this. His hand came up and he tangled his fingers into my hair, gently gliding them through the fine tresses.

  It was so nice and soothing, but I still felt the pain of losing that puppy biting into my heart. The tears came once again, but Theo only held me tighter and let me cry. I appreciated him for that more than I could explain.

  As I lay on his chest crying, I found myself drifting off to sleep safely in his warm embrace. I’d let this be the last time I cried. Because as soon as the others got here, it was time to plan payback.

  When I woke up, I was alone in my bed, but I could hear voices in the living room. A glance at the clock revealed I’d slept for almost three hours, way longer than I had intended. I quickly changed clothes and straightened my hair, noticing it had turned into a god awful mess atop my head.

  Theo, Zoe, and the Baden brothers were all gathered in the living room watching as Luca and Theo went head to head on some racing game on the Playstation 4. I shook my head and coughed as I entered the room, interrupting the litany of shouts and curses coming from both guys as they fought for first place.

  Four heads turned my way.

  “Was anyone planning to wake me anytime soon?” I asked, raising a brow in challenge and staring each of them down.

  “We thought you needed the rest. After what you just went through, you probably needed it,” Rollins answered for everyone, not at all intimidated by my stare down. Let’s be honest, no one intimidated Rollins.

  I shrugged. “Fair enough. But I’m rested and ready to go over how we’re going to take down the Darlings once and for all.”

  “She sure is vengeful after a nap. You sure she didn’t need longer?” Luca joked, having forgotten his and Theo’s game the moment I’d interrupted.

  “Ha ha, very funny. I’m serious,” I stated as I sat down on the couch next to Zoe, who seemed to be the only one convinced I was in fact not joking.

  “What’s the plan?” my best friend asked, smiling in a way that said she was in no matter what the plan was.

  “We need indisputable proof that the Darlings are up to something. Enough that we can take them down for good no matter how much money they have. We can’t go to the police with theories or suspicions. So…” I knew they weren’t going to like this next bit. “I think I should volunteer at their shelter and dig around.”

  Just as expected, immediate shouts of disapproval filled the room from everyone except Zoe. She simply nodded her head, agreeing it was the best move we could make.

  “It’s too dangerous,” Rollins argued angrily. “Sure, they have no proof that you had anything to do with the theft, but if a search warrant gets acquired for the truck, you’re toast. We have no idea what those people would do to you.”

  “It’s all we’ve got! Zoe is too busy working on a case, you guys have a huge responsibility with the ranch, and Theo has appointments out the ass. I’m the only one with the time!” They weren’t going to talk me out of this. It was a solid plan that I had every intention of going through with, with or without their help.

  “Actually,” Theo piped in finally. “I could clear my schedule. I could say I’m needing to take photographs of animals for an upcoming calendar that’s being used for charity. Could easily play into their egos and talk about how amazing I’ve heard their establishment was. That way Ella isn’t alone.”

  I was a tad bit shocked Theo was so willing to help out with the plan after being one of the few shouting his lack of approval. But it was a much more sound idea. There was no telling if the Darlings would even let me volunteer anyway. This way, I could just be Theo’s assistant.

  “I like it. I’m in,” I said.

  “Samesies,” Zoe added, raising her hand.

  Luca and Rollins exchanged glances, with Luca shrugging and nodding his head, agreeing with the plan. Rollins finally sighed.

  “Fine. But she isn’t left alone for a single second,” he said to Theo, pointing at him in that demanding way he does.

  Theo just rolled his eyes. “I’m not an idiot.”

  “Play nice you two,” I chastised the men. “I need a word with Rollins and Luca.”

  Zoe jumped from her seat and grabbed Theo’s arm. “Sounds good! We’ll go get some pizza! Be back in a jiffy!” Poor Theo stood no chance of arguing as she dragged him out the front door, but I sent him a reassuring smile, letting him know there was a good reason for this.

  When the two of them were gone, I motioned for the guys to come sit on either side of me. They did without question.

  “What’s on your mind, beautiful?” Luca asked, snuggling cheerfully into my side.

  Figuring dancing around the subject wasn’t going to do me any good, I just spit it out. “What are we? Us?” I motioned between the three of us. “Is this going somewhere?”

  Rollins looked confused. “Do you not want it to?”

  Time to be honest and just do it. I deserved to be happy. I nodded. “Yeah, I do. I know there’s still some things we have to work through, but I don’t want to give up the possibility we can be more again.”

  Luca wrapped an arm around me and hugged me to him. “Then that’s what we want. The second you stepped back into our lives we agreed we’d do everything we could to get you back. You’re it for us, El.”

  And now the bomb drop. “The thing is, you two aren’t it for me. At least, you’re not the only ones for me…” I bit my lip and waited with bated breath as the two of them soaked in what I was saying.

  “You mean Theo, correct?” Rollins asked, giving away absolutely nothing on what he was feeling about what I’d said.

  I could only nod again.

  “Okay. Is that all?” Luca responded nonchalantly.

  I swung my gaze to him and gasped at him. “Is that all? That’s what you have to say?” I was stunned.

  “We kind of figured. It’s pretty obvious you love him. We already assumed when we began to pursue you that he’d be part of the package.”

  “Whoa! No one said anything about loving anyone.” My head ping ponged back and forth between them. Neither looked convinced.

  “Whatever you say, El.” Luca shook his head and laughed, kissing my temple. “We’re all in whether you include Theo or not.”

  My mouth dropped open, then closed, then opened again. I hadn’t expected this. Theo accepting it had been a shock. But this just took the cake.

  “Okay,” I finally replied. That was that. Okay. We
were doing this. Now I just had to speak with Theo.

  He and Zoe returned about fifteen minutes later with pizzas in hand, and almost immediately, Luca stood and shook Theo’s hand. Theo looked confused at that, until I heard Luca say something along the lines of ‘welcome to the family.’

  I dropped my face into my hands and groaned as Zoe burst into laughter at the look of awkwardness that crossed Theo’s face. He threw me a pleading glance, obviously not used to Luca’s very warm acceptance of this weird square relationship that had just formed between all of us.

  I simply smiled and shrugged. If this was happening, they’d all have to get to know each other better anyway. Better to start now than later.

  The guys ended up staying for a couple hours, eating pizza and returning to kicking each other’s asses on the racing game they’d been playing. It was humorous watching it all, but it made me happy to see everyone getting along.

  Finally around ten, the guys decided it was best they got back to the ranch. The drive would take a bit and they had an early morning at the ranch. They both hugged me bye, promising to come back after Theo and I did our recon of the Darling’s shelter. Zoe also ended up turning in for the night, stating she had a meeting tomorrow she couldn’t be late for. Though by the wink she sent me, I guessed it was a ruse just to give me and Theo alone time.

  A huge yawn overtook me the minute we were alone, and Theo chuckled softly at me. “Bed time?”

  “Yeah, probably. I haven’t been getting much sleep, and I’m still feeling a bit emotional after what happened.” My face fell at remembering the little pup we’d lost.

  Theo placed his finger beneath my chin and lifted my head to look at him. His blue eyes gazed at me softly, showing all the understanding in the world in them. “I’m so sorry, El. They will be made to pay for it. I promise you. I will stand by whatever you want to do to get back at these people.”

  My eyes flicked back and forth between his, and my heart filled with warmth at the tenderness of his promise. I couldn’t stop myself from lifting onto my toes and placing a gentle kiss on his parted lips. It was the first time I had taken the initiative and kissed him, and it felt amazing. The feeling of allowing myself to just let go and act on the emotions I felt for him was unbelievably freeing. He let me set the pace of the kiss, and offered me a beautiful smile in return when I pulled away.

  “Stay with me tonight?” I found myself asking him. I needed to be held. To know I was safe and cared for. Him napping with me earlier had been what I needed, and I wasn’t ready to give up what he’d offered just yet. Not tonight.

  “Of course.”

  A simple reply that set my heart alight. I grasped his hand in mine and led him to my room, wasting no time in stripping off my fluffy pajama pants and crawling under the sheets. He slipped out of his shirt and pants then crawled in after me in only his boxers, which was a fucking glorious sight. I’d seen him shirtless, but never in just his underwear.

  When I curled myself against his side, wrapping my leg around his muscular thigh and setting my hand on his bare chest, I expected it to feel maybe a slight bit awkward. But it felt like we’d done this a hundred times. I was immediately relaxed against him, just feeling his heated flesh and chest rising and falling with every breath he took.

  “Thank you, El,” he whispered to me in the dark.

  “For what?”

  “For this. For giving me a chance. I swear I won’t break your heart. You’re all I’ve ever wanted and needed in my life. I could never let you go now that I’ve got you.”

  Instead of inciting the sweet butterflies in my stomach like that statement normally would’ve, it awakened a much more violent warmth deep in my core. The words had been spoken softly and sweetly, but they were the sexiest words in the world in that moment.

  I was so tired of being extra careful with him. Of worrying about what anything would mean for us if we took the leap. I just wanted him in this moment.

  I moved then, pushing myself up and sliding my body over top his. He looked up at me in surprise as I sat up, straddling his waist with a look of seduction on my face.

  “Ella… we don’t have to do anything tonight,” he assured me, probably worried he’d somehow pressured me into this without knowing it. He was wrong.

  “I want to,” I replied back, choosing to show him how serious I was about that statement by grabbing the hem of my shirt and lifting it up and over my body. I hadn’t had a bra on underneath the shirt, so I was just as bare as he was now, with only our very thin underwear separating us completely.

  I leaned forward so slowly, it was as if I wasn’t moving at all. All the while, he watched me, barely breathing as I came down and placed another soft kiss to his lips. His hands inched cautiously up to my thighs, as if he wasn’t sure if that was okay.

  “Touch me. Please,” I pleaded against his lips. For a man who had been with many women, he was surprisingly hesitant with me. It was the sweetest thing, but it was hindering what I really wanted from him.

  Thankfully, that was all he needed. His hands clamped down harder on my thighs and his mouth moved more urgently against mine. His tongue darted into my mouth, thrusting against mine and tasting me with unguarded fervor.

  I pressed myself closer to him and nearly melted at the feeling of his naked, hot skin flush with mine. The kisses became faster. Needier. And I knew there was no turning back now. This man had plagued my fantasies for a long time, and I was ready to find out if the real thing was as good as I’d imagined.

  It didn’t take long for our breaths to become labored and both of us to begin grinding against each other, wanting to be closer. In a movement faster than I could comprehend, he grabbed my thighs hard and flipped us so he was now on top.

  He pulled his mouth from mine and began trailing kisses down my neck and along my collar bones, moving back and forth between them. His hands wandered aimlessly along my stomach and along the inside of my thigh. My skin jumped beneath his touch, the sensitive nerves tingling vigorously.

  “I’ve dreamed of touching you for so long. Nothing compares the softness of your gorgeous skin, beautiful,” he whispered huskily between kisses, lavishing my body with tiny bites here and there as he went.

  His wandering hand finally slid up and under my panties. He traced a finger lightly through the folds of my center, igniting every tiny nerve and making me even wetter with need.

  I moaned when his mouth moved to my breast as he did this, showing extra special attention to each nipple. But he never rushed. Every movement was languid, like he was savoring every second, showing precisely how much he really cared for me.

  “Oh god. Theo… please. More. I need more,” I told him breathily, shaking more and more the longer he touched and kissed me.

  “Whatever you need, Ella. Just know, I plan to take my sweet time with you tonight. You’re mine, and I’m yours. So I’m not going to fuck you. I’m going to make love to you until you can’t even move any longer, then I’m going to hold you in my arms as we sleep blissfully satisfied.”

  How could a girl argue with that? So I shut the fuck up and let him do as he pleased.

  He sat up and began to glide my underwear down, lifting each leg and placing a kiss against each calf as he did. When they were gone, he removed his own, then crawled up my body. His eyes stayed laser focused on mine as he did, promising me a night I would never forget as long as I lived.

  He kissed his way up my stomach, between my breasts and along the side of my neck. He reached over to my bedside table and slid open the drawer, pulling out one of the condoms I had tucked away. I thanked myself repeatedly in that moment for remembering to stock up. He ripped the paper with his teeth and slowly slid on the condom, which I watched every second of. There was something sexy about watching a man ready himself for you that ramped up the sexual tension.

  Once satisfied it was on, he once again returned to kissing his way across my collar bone and up my neck. When he finally got to my lips, teasing my
tongue with his rhythmically, he slid inside me. I drew in a sharp breath, feeling myself stretching to fit him. The moment he was all the way in, he did as promised and took his sweet time moving in and out. He hiked my leg up and pushed in harder, rocking his hips in circular motions that made him hit just the right spot. Over and over. Harder and harder.

  I came apart in his arms, grabbing around his neck to force his lips back to mine to swallow the screams of pleasure that escaped me. Wave after wave of euphoria crashed through my body, making me dizzy, stars flashing behind my closed eyes.

  It was so goddamn erotic and beautiful how he took me. I could barely breathe between orgasms as they came one after the other. He promised satisfaction, and I was undoubtedly that. It wasn’t until after an hour of making me feel every nerve in my body go up in flames that he finally found his own release.

  I was beyond exhausted as he fell to my side and pulled me back against his chest, spooning me as we calmed down.

  “I love you, Ella,” he breathed out, his breath fanning across the back of my neck. “I always have. You don’t have to say it back though. I just needed you to know.”

  I nodded, not sure if I was ready to say it just yet, but I sure as hell was pretty damn close. Maybe I was already there, but my sleep addled brain just couldn’t form the words. Instead, I cuddled into him closer, wrapping my arms tightly around his as they encircled my stomach.

  For now, this was perfect.

  It was pretty clear as Theo and I entered the Darlings’ shelter that they had spared no expense to make this place look immaculate and welcoming.

  Nita Darling had been all too happy to accept Theo coming in to take pictures of the animals for his calendar. She most likely hoped this would just prove to the masses that they were as upstanding in society as they had everyone fooled to believe. She even made sure she was readily available to take him on a tour of the facility and be there every step of the way as he took the photos.

  “Welcome! You must be Theodore!” The woman herself greeted him excitedly the moment we stepped in. “And you’re Elizabeth, right?” The smile she gave me wasn’t nearly as genuine as the one she aimed at Theo.