But the blow never came.
A crash had me peeking open one eye to find Mr. Bennet on the floor, his nose bleeding. Judge stood over him, breathing hard as he stood like a wall between his father and me.
“Elli, go to your room,” Judge had commanded.
“But Lyla’s cookies,” I’d whispered, fighting tears. I was scared, but I knew Judge wouldn’t let anything hurt me. I was safe as long as he was there.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll take you and Lyla to the bakery.” His voice was calm, despite the tension in his shoulders. “For now, I need you to go. Okay, Elli?”
“O-okay.” I’d run as fast as I could up to my room and hid under my covers, trying not to cry.
Sometime later, Lyla came to get me, and Judge drove us to the bakery, where we picked out a dozen cookies and a cupcake each. No one ever mentioned what happened in the kitchen, and I’d pushed the bad memory as far down as I could until it didn’t even register in my mind.
I shook away the past. Whatever happened between Judge and me the day before, he had saved me from his father back then. Not only from being hit by the man, but potentially any other harm as well. Not only me, but Lyla too.
Maybe that didn’t excuse the way Judge had treated me the last few years, but it explained more than he probably wanted me to understand. He’d killed his father to protect us. I’d never known—never suspected.
The sound of rattling silverware drew my attention as the two flight attendants appeared, each of them pushing a small cart. The scents of the food became overwhelming, and my stomach growled in a combination of appreciation and protest.
All the dishes were arranged like Michelin-star-quality meals. The steak was in a pepper sauce that was served with asparagus mixed with artful slivers of carrots and perfectly crisp fries. There was also a cucumber and tomato salad and a decadent-looking dessert.
After arranging each cart in front of us as a table, one of the attendants produced a bottle of wine. Once our glasses were filled and we’d been asked if we needed anything else, they excused themselves.
I gazed down at my food, unsure where to start. It all looked delicious, but I wasn’t sure how well it would sit on my stomach. I was hungry, but so tired I felt nauseated.
“Just a few bites,” Judge urged, watching me shift my gaze from one plate to another without attempting to pick up his own utensils. “And then you can have the dessert.”
Sighing, I lifted my fork and stabbed at a tomato. Chewing, I lifted a brow at him in challenge. “Happy?”
He leaned his head back against the seat, continuing to watch me. “I’m not concerned about my happiness. It’s yours I worry about.”
I grabbed my wineglass to keep from calling him out on his bullshit. If he was so worried about my being happy, then why did he do nothing but break my heart?
Judge picked up his fork and knife, cutting into his steak. But instead of eating it himself, he lifted it to my lips. “Open.”
Without thinking, I did, accepting the bite. His eyes darkened as he waited for me to chew, his gaze glued to my mouth. When I licked my lips, he muttered something under his breath I didn’t hear and cut another piece of beef. He added a small piece of carrot to the next bite before picking up a fry with his fingers. I accepted both.
“Good girl.”
Silently, he continued to feed me until all the steak on his plate was gone, along with half the fries and a portion of the other vegetables. The food was amazing, but it was the approval in his eyes that fulfilled me the most. That was how it had always been with this man. Nothing had ever brought me more joy than when he was showering me with encouragement and appreciation. Nothing was more addictive than having Judge’s full attention on me.
Dessert was a dark chocolate torte over a spongy base with a dollop of mint sorbet on top. Judge scooped up a tiny bite on the dessert fork and lifted it to my mouth. He didn’t have to ask me to open. My lips were already parted in anticipation. Moaning, I dropped my head back against my seat. “That’s so good.”
A vein in his forehead began to pulse, but he fed me until every crumb of dessert was gone. The fork clattered onto the plate when he dropped it back onto the makeshift table, his breathing coming in heavy pants.
Licking away any lingering traces of chocolate and mint, I glanced down at the two carts. Other than the glass of wine and a single piece of tomato, my own dishes were untouched. But I’d eaten all of Judge’s food.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m starving,” he rasped, offering me his napkin.
Reaching forward, I went to grab my plate to offer it to him, but he used his foot to push both carts aside. “It’s really good. You should eat,” I urged.
“I’m going to.”
Chapter 20
Judge
Watching Ellianna eat each bite that I fed her was torturously satisfying. Every part of it was sensually gratifying. From the way her lips wrapped around the fork, to how she licked her lips after each bite, to the little noises of pleasure that I wasn’t even sure she realized she was making. Would she savor having my cock in her mouth the same way?
I could imagine how beautiful she would look, her lips stretched around my girth, her eyes glazed with arousal and the need to please me. She would want to rub her clit, but I wouldn’t allow her. Only I got to touch that sacred haven between her legs. If she wanted to come, she would have to wait until I spilled down her throat.
Each time she swallowed another bite, my cock got harder and harder until it was like a steel rod in my pants.
And then I’d eat her until she came, over and over and over again, stopping only when she begged for mercy.
All I could think about was kissing her again. Would she be as sweet as before, or would the food mask what I craved?
I needed to know or I was going to die.
“Judge?” She grasped my shoulders while I settled her in my lap. Her thin yoga pants didn’t hide the warm heat that radiated from between her thighs. If I slid my hand beneath the waistband, I had no doubt I would find her pussy drenched.
Her tongue snuck out, nervously licking her lush bottom lip. “W-what are you doing?”
“I need another taste.” Tangling my fingers in her hair, I gently tugged her head back. “Been aching since you ran away, baby.”
“You told me to go. You—”
I cut off whatever she was going to say by thrusting my tongue into her sweet mouth. A mixture of flavors greeted me, but none of them was strong enough to obscure the one I craved the most. Groaning, I tightened my fingers in her silky hair and deepened the kiss.
She had the power to make me crawl on my hands and knees, and she had no clue. Maybe…
Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if she knew.
Keeping her in place with my hand in her hair, I slipped my other hand up under her shirt. The cups of her bra did nothing to disguise how hard her nipples were. I pinched one through the material, making her whine.
My head shot up, my gaze going to where the flight attendants had retreated. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have cared if we had an audience. But this was my Elli. No one got to see or hear anything we did together.
Releasing her hair, I wrapped my hand around her throat. “Those little sounds are for my ears only, baby.”