The nurse wakes both of us when she comes to check Ella’s vitals in the morning. Ella sits up, glancing at me like she’s still a bit disoriented.
“You’re still here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
The nurse smiles at us and then checks Ella’s eyes and asks her to perform a series of tests. When she’s done, she types some notes into the computer.
“How are you feeling this morning? Any nausea, dizziness, pain?”
“I’m fine,” Ella answers. “Other than feeling a little hungover, I’m totally fine.”
“Good.” The nurse nods. “Dr. Hobbs is making his rounds now, so he should be here shortly.”
“Okay.” Ella smooths her finger over the Band-Aid on her hand. “Thank you.”
The nurse leaves, and Ella looks at me.
“Did you go somewhere last night, or did I dream that?”
“I had a few errands to run.” I keep my answer vague for now. “And I bought you some clothes to go home in today.”
“Home?” she murmurs.
“My home, Ella. Our home.”
“So you want to take me back to Norway,” she says. “And then what?”
“Well… the estate is ours, but we’ll need to move into the palace full time.”
“You want me to move into the palace?” Her eyes widen.
“Yes.”
“And what will I do there?”
“Whatever you want.” I offer her what I hope is a reassuring smile. “I thought maybe you’d like to do some charity work with animals since you’re fond of them. My secretary can give you some options closer to home.”
She’s quiet, and I think I know what’s holding her back. Olivia was waiting to tell her, but I think now is as good a time as any.
“Of course, we’ll have to come back to Cranbrook to visit regularly too.”
“We will?” She perks up.
“Considering we’re the proud new owners of Hilliard Sanctuary, it might look bad if we don’t.”
Ella shrieks, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so relieved. “Are you serious?”
“I already finalized the deal with Olivia. She’s still going to run it, and we can visit whenever you’d like.”
She stares at me with watery eyes. “I can’t believe you’re doing all of this for me.”
“I love you,” I tell her again. “You’ve given me something to fight for, and this is me fighting. Come home with me, Ella. Because I really don’t want to have to drug you again.”
She laughs, and I smile, and it feels so natural between us, I don’t know why I resisted it for so long. This woman gets me. We’re both fucked up, but together we work somehow. And in spite of everything, she still loves me. Miserable bastard and all.
“I’ll come home with you, Thorsen.” She leans over to graze my lips with hers. “But you have to promise me that you’ll keep fighting. Even on your darkest days. Promise me we’ll get through the hard times together. No more pushing me away.”
“I promise,” I growl into her lips and dig my fingers into her hair. I need to feel her. I need to get inside her again and fuck away the stress of the last two weeks. But before I can even try, the door opens, and Dr. Hobbs enters the room.
“Feeling better, I see?” He arches an eyebrow at us, and Ella blushes as we separate.
“Yes, I’m much better this morning. Thank you.”
He glances at her chart and props himself against the counter. “I spoke with Dr. Blom at length yesterday, and he assured me he feels you aren’t at risk. So I’m willing to release you on the condition that you meet with him as soon as you get back to Norway for follow up care.”
“I will,” Ella assures him. “We’ll contact him right away.”
He nods and scribbles his signature on some papers and sets them on the table beside Ella’s bed. “In that case, Miss Laurent, you are free to go. Please take care of yourself.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” I nod at him, and Ella repeats my sentiments before he leaves.
Once the door’s shut, she swings her legs over the bed, and I help her stand even though she looks like she’ll be just fine. “I need to call Olivia and Charlotte. And I need to take a shower before we leave.”
“I have some clothes for you in the bathroom,” I tell her. “Take a shower, and you can call your friends in the car and arrange a visit with them this afternoon.”
Her expression warms as she turns to me, and when she reaches up to touch my face, I fall into her lips all over again. But a taste isn’t enough, and soon, we’re pawing at each other, desperate for more. I’m groping at her tits beneath the gown and grinding my erection against her hip when she eyeballs the door like a little deviant.
“Do you think they’ll know?”
I take her by the hand and drag her to the bathroom, locking the door behind us.
“What if they catch us?” she whispers.
“You need assistance in the shower.” I turn on the water and help her out of her hospital gown before moving on to my own clothes, stripping them off as efficiently as possible.
Once we’re both naked, I haul her up into my arms and step inside the shower, pressing her back against the tile. She arches into me, whimpering as I suck her nipples and slide my cock against her wet pussy.
“Oh, God, Thorsen.” She wrecks my hair when I thrust inside her.
“You feel so fucking good,” I groan into her neck.
Her nails dig into my back, and I fuck her into the wall, my hands squeezing her ass to hold her up. It’s brutal and necessary, both of us racing toward release with a restlessness that betrays how much we need it.
“Oh, shit.” Her eyes fly open, and I freeze.
“What?”
“My patch. I haven’t worn it since the doctor took it off when he was cleaning my wounds back in Norway.”
My dick surges inside her with primal possession as my fingers dig into her body. “Min gudinne, I don’t care. I’m coming in you.”
Her mouth falls open, and I kiss her again, my teeth gnashing against hers as my cock swells within her. She comes around me first, milking my rigid flesh until I bury myself balls deep and flood her womb with my seed. The caveman in me is beating his chest. I don’t want to leave the warmth of her body, but more than anything, I want to get her back home, in our bed, where I can do this all over again. When I set her on her feet, Ella peeks down between her thighs, observing the come as it leaks out of her.
“Are you sure about this?” she asks.
I tilt her chin up and force her to look at me so there can be no misunderstanding between us. “More certain than I’ve ever been. Now, let’s get you cleaned up.”
35
Ella
“I want to see Narcissa and the girls while we’re in Cranbrook.”
Thorsen’s jaw works as he glances at me from the driver’s seat. “Why?”
“I have a few things I want to say to them before I leave.”