“What are you doing? Come on, we’ve got to get on the road if we’re going to make it to the lake before dark,” I yell to Elenore, who seems to be taking her sweet time in the bedroom. I drop the bags I was holding and head for the room.
As I walk through the doorway, Elenore stands there, rifling through her drawers. “What are you searching for?”
“I’m after another set of swimmers.”
I laugh. “Baby, you already packed three of them, and we’re only going for a week. Come on.” I stride to her and wrap my arms around her perfect body from behind, although she wouldn’t agree with me on the perfect part, but to me, it’s perfection. “We need to go or I’m going to take advantage of you.” I nib on her earlobe. She giggles, and it causes a stir within me. I spin her around and claim her delicious lips. Her kiss is equally as hungry as my own.
Elenore giggles and places her hands on my chest, and gently pushes me away. I lean in to taste her again. “No… we have to go now,” she says between kisses.
“Oh, so now you’ve got me raging in my pants, it’s time to go.”
“Yep,” she responds cheerfully.
I shake my head and step away from her.
“You love me.” She gives me a sexy wink, and if we weren’t running so behind on time I’d demand her to finish what was just started.
In the last few months, we’ve come so far. I’ve met her family and I’m so happy she’s been able to get to know them. The dark urges I had for such a long time have dissipated.
When Elenore first left me, I just wanted to pick up where I left off, but I couldn’t. She still held a part of me, as if she’d left some light behind. I sought help to fight the demons I had. Sometimes, they try and creep back in, and at those times, Elenore always seems to notice the change in me.
She has a heart of gold. Elenore will sit and talk with me about happy times so I can work past what I need to. I love her so much and want to protect her from everything. I’ll never let anything happen to her again, not by my hands or the hands of anyone else.
“I do love you,” I respond. “Now, let’s go before I throw you down on that bed and take advantage of every inch of that sexy body of yours.” I slap her ass as she walks away from me.
Finally, we get on the road. A comfortable silence fills the car. I take a peek at Elenore. Her eyes are focused outside the car, watching the scenery flash past us. “A penny for your thoughts,” I say.
She sighs, and with another glace, I see a smile on her face. “Just thinking about how I love everything about you. What I love most is how strong you are. Your strength amazes me.”
Her words make my chest soar.
“I’m glad we have this time together now with nothing standing in our way,” she says.
“I agree.” I reach over, taking her hand in mine. Every passing day with Elenore in my life is a day I celebrate. I came so close to losing her, once at my hand, and then at Pierce’s. We enjoy life, and have so much to live for. One day, I’ll make her my wife.
This past week at the lake has been the amazing rejuvenation time that I’ve needed. Spending this time with my family and Roman is all I could ask for. Daisy’s bright attitude and troublesome fun has been a blast. Her happy mood is contagious.
We’ve been swimming and spending lots of time hanging by the pool. Roman has been amazing, and I’m so glad he decided to come when I invited him. After we met up again, things heated up pretty quickly. When you become so hungry for something, you just have to devour it when you finally get it. We are like animals.
Everything is perfect. Sitting in the lawn chair, I watch Roman and Daisy playing a game of volleyball; they are arguing over who is the winner.
“Ellie, come and settle this for us?” Daisy asks.
I shake my head. “Nope, I’m not coming in on that.”
Roman laughs and Daisy rolls her eyes at me, like any sister would. She doesn’t hold back with anything. If she has something she wants to know, she asks.
When we first arrived, I was prepared to hide the scars I have on my stomach. I didn’t want the questions. Roman was lying on the bed, his eyes on me, as I went through the clothes I’d packed.
“Babe, wear what you feel comfortable with,” he assures me.
“I worry people are starring at the ugly things,” I gestured to my body. His smile that was there moments ago is now gone. Rising off the bed, he comes to me, pulling me into his embrace. “I know this is hard for you. I blame myself for what happened.” He whispers, he’s told me previously how much he hates himself over every bit of pain that was inflicted on me.
“Don’t, please. I came here to have a good time, not to dwell on the past.” I bring my arms up around his neck, pulling him into me for a kiss.
A moment later, Roman gifts me with a beaming smile. “Well pretty lady, you put on one of those bathers you packed and let’s go have a good time.”
Daisy decided then to stick her head in. “Ellie, who cares what others think? Listen to Mr. Hot Stuff.” She gave me a wink and left as quickly as she came. I was cursing her for being a sticky beak, but in hindsight, I knew I needed to hear her words.
My scars are my battle wounds. They show I survived, and now I wouldn’t hide or erase them for anything. Roman loves me for who I am and doesn’t care how I look. I have him, even after everything we went through. I also have my family, and having those people in my life is what matters most.
I am Elenore Burrows, a survivor of another person’s demons, and I’ve received a second chance in the arms of my captor.