C9 Chapter 9

Nicholas

Eliana sat on a white wooden bench in their backyard, chewing while staring into space. Despite the beauty of the garden with perennial beds and a short meandering walk, her mood remained sour. I approached slowly, pocketing my hands in my slacks. Somehow I knew she wasn't going to lash out at me.

"Have you thought about what she went through after her husband of more than 20 years was murdered, leaving her with her only child in search of his killer?" I started sitting beside her. I left a small space between us, not wanting to get any ideas. Ever since I saw her the first day I went to meet her mom, she intrigued me. Her natural beauty had me hooked, and despite reminders to myself of her young age, I couldn't stop wanting her.

"You're ruining my appetite," she mumbled, taking another bite of my food. I couldn't help but feel good that she liked my food. That hadn't been the reason I followed her outside, so I continued.

"Yes, he was your father, but they had a bond—a connection that was broken suddenly," I continued when she sighed, lowering her eyes to her lap. I took a deep breath when a picture of her whispering my name as she rubbed herself invaded my mind.

"I want to be left alone," she stated in a barely audible voice, followed by a loud swallowing of saliva. She then placed the plate on the ground.

"She lost him too, and she's trying to move on the best way she knows how," I spoke anyway, ignoring her.

"Healing requires a person to accept and let go, and that is what Nora is doing right now. You don't have to agree with her ways right now, but you have to try and put yourself in her shoes." As I spoke, I noticed her breathing beginning to get shallow.

"I heard her scream his name days ago at night. When I went to check up on her in her room, she was writhing on the bed, with tears flowing on either side of her eyes." Her voice broke as she remembered and explained. Even though I didn't like it when she was crying, I was glad she was considering her mom's feelings.

"I didn't think about it until now, but she is having nightmares too." She buried her face in her hands, sniffing.

"So sit down and talk like two adults. Sort this out because the more you stay harsh to her, the faster you two will drift apart." I stood to leave because the urge to pull her into a comforting, tight embrace was taking over. I didn't trust myself to touch her and not fuck her into oblivion. She was taboo and young for me, something that she didn't seem to think about.

"Don't go," she begged, her hand shooting to grasp my arm when I stood. I pulled away instantly and took a step back to put some distance between us. A look of confusion and then hurt crossed her face.

"Eliana your mother is about to get married to my brother. This," I gestured with my hand, pointing at her then at myself. "It can't happen."

"You didn't say that when you trapped me in the kitchen the other night or a few minutes ago when you ordered me to push my pants down." She defiantly stood, making me pinch my nose between my index finger and thumb.

"You are still young—way too young for me. How old are you even? 17?" I raised a brow.

"I am twenty; I am an adult, Nicholas, an adult, not a fucking child!" She gritted her teeth, staring at me.

"I am too old for you," I calmly replied, even though I was anything but calm.

"Did you tell me that when you guided my hand to my pussy?" she yelled, raising her eyebrows.

"Lower your voice." I indicated with my hand, looking at the backdoor to make sure Nora and Robert weren't there.

"Oh so now you are afraid that someone's going to overhear? Weren't you the one who told me to pinch my clit? Didn't you tell me to touch myself for you?" Her questions made me realise how much I had messed up in such a short period of time. How had I allowed myself to even go near her, let alone allow myself to desire her? I face-palmed.

"Eliana stop," I ordered, a strain in my voice.

"Why should I?" She craned her neck to look at me. She was much shorter, petite, and just perfect for my hands to carry her and touch her to my liking. I loved thicker, taller women with big asses, but Elianna looked nothing like that, yet I couldn't get her out of my system. If Robert found out, he would be highly disappointed in me. Her mother, on the other hand, I didn't want to imagine what she would do.

"I am fifteen years older than you, a whole fucking decade plus five years on top. You should be eyeing boys your age in your school, not a man like me." My voice rose a little, making her hang her head. It was for the best; after all, I didn't want her to feel used later. I didn't want to ruin things for Robert either, so the best thing was to stay away from her.

"No, age means nothing. I know we barely know each other, but I can't stop thinking about you. Nicholas, you can't put a stop to something that hasn't even begun." For a twenty year-old, she sure knew how to speak. She was knowledgeable and different from her peers, that was for sure.

"Let me be clear about something here; it seems you misunderstood my actions." I cleared my throat. I knew what I was about to say would hurt her, but it had to be done. I couldn't just take her innocence because I couldn't keep it in my pants.

"I may have hinted that I wanted you, asked you to touch yourself for me even. But that shouldn't make you think that I want you. To fuck you? Maybe, but to have something serious with you? Naah, you are not my type; you are so naive to the point of believing a grown man like me could want anything serious with you." I briefly looked at her, regretting doing so at that moment.

She was trying so hard to blink back her tears and to stop her lips from trembling. I felt a weird pang in my chest just looking at her, but it had to be done. I couldn't ruin her future because of something that I could put a stop to.

"You are a monster," she whispered, then sat back down on the bench.

"I'm sorry, Eliana; you are not just a woman enough for me." The ache in my chest intensified as I uttered the words. It had been so long since I felt that way, and it certainly scared me. With one final look at her as she buried her face in her hands, I went back into the house. The faster I could get out of there, the sooner I could work out how to get rid of her from my system.

"Is she okay?" Robert asked as I lied that something came up in one of my clubs and that I had to leave.

"She will be okay." I kept it brief, masking my emotions with a stern nod.

"I'll go check on her." Nora excused herself, leaving just Robert and me.

"Do you think I'm making a mistake?" my brother suddenly asked, keeping his voice low.

"I believe you know what you're doing." I kept it precise.

"That's not helping." He sighed, pinching his nose, something that he did when his frustrations were getting the best of him.

"Look, Robert," I started, praying that Ellie wouldn't walk in.

"You have always been good at trusting your gut. Deep down, you know what you want, and if it's making Nora your wife, then why not?" I shrugged, tapping my foot on the floor.

"Alright, I guess I'm just not okay with how all this is making Eliana feel. I wish she'd understand that I just want what's best for her mother." His face contorted into a scowl after he spoke.

"She will come around. I really have to go now; we'll talk." I left, an idea about how I was going to forget Eliana forming as soon as I entered my car. As I drove out of their driveway, I picked up my phone with my free hand and dialled a familiar contact.

"Hello sexy," Lilith, my longtime fuck mate, rasped on the other side of the call, her breathy voice making me smirk.

"Our usual place; be there in 30." I didn't have time for pleasantries, just business. I could hear a sigh of disappointment on the other side of the phone, but I simply didn't care. I hung up, dropping the phone on the passenger seat. It was time to get Eliana out of my thoughts for good. Oh, how I was going to fuck Lilith with all my pent-up frustration.