Chapter Twenty Five

Ella

 

I can’t describe how satisfying it was watching the police lead Marco Venetti out of his home and into a police cruiser. While they read him his rights he refused to say anything, shouting for one of his men to call his lawyer and send him immediately to the police station. As he passed me by, he gave me a searing glare that could melt ice. I stood my ground, the red marks around his neck mirroring my own. As much as that would have been a fitting way for him to die after what he tried to do to me, I was relieved Beckett had shown some restraint. I couldn’t imagine what he must be going through right now, but I couldn't go to him. Not yet.

After I was looked over and cleared by paramedics, I was brought to the precinct to give my statement. I told them everything; about the investigations I had been working on. About being invited to attend the event even though society events was not my beat. I listened as they played my entire tape. After taking down my statement and photos of my injuries, as well as taking my notes into evidence, I was free to go. Hours had passed, soon it would be morning, and instead of going home to bed there was only one place in this city that I wanted to be.

Beckett’s building was only a short taxi ride from the precinct. I twisted my dress in my hands the entire ride, nervous to see what kind of mood he would be in. Would he regret not killing Marco, and blame me? Would he be grateful? I had no way of knowing until I saw him.

In his lobby I approached the front desk. They did a double take when they saw the woman in a gown, her hair a mess and bruises around her neck.

“I’m here to see Beckett Carter,” I told them. It still hurt to speak, but I pushed through the pain. Reluctantly they picked up a phone and spoke into it, then nodded at me.

“You can go up Miss,” they said finally.

I walked past into the elevator, which started to move up and bring me to Beckett. When the doors opened he was standing there waiting for me. His jacket was off, his dress shirt open at the neck. I glanced past him, there was a bottle and a glass on top of the piano. He must have been playing before I arrived.

“Hi,” I said, not sure what else to say.

He stepped forward and pulled me into his arms, pressing his lips against my forehead. He kissed his way down and I finally broke, gasping as tears fell from my eyes. I had kept it together all night, but now I was unraveling in front of him. Beckett kissed my tears, moving to my lips. I tasted salt as he gently moved his mouth over mine, my body sagging into his. When he pulled away he held me close, whispering in my ear.

“Ella, I was so worried about you,” he softly kissed my bruised neck.

“I’m okay,” I told him, as much for myself as it was for him. “I gave my statement to the police. He’s there with his mob lawyer, but I don’t think he’ll be able to get out of this one.”

“Come,” he said, taking my hand and guiding me to the couch. I sat down and leaned on his strong shoulder as he stroked my hair. “Can I get you a drink?”

I nodded. “Something strong,” I told him.

He gave a faint smile then got up and walked away, down the hallway towards his bar. When he came back with two glasses, he handed one to me. I sipped it. It was strong, but also smoky and a bit sweet.

“What is it?” I asked, filling my mouth and feeling a pleasant burn.

“Manhattan” he told me, sipping his own. We sat side by side, worn out by the events of tonight but also changed. I looked over my shoulder and saw the sun starting to rise over the horizon, slowly chasing away the night. Reminding me that it only takes a little bit of light to chase away the darkness.

“Ella,” Beckett sighed, running his hand over his face. “When I got into that room and saw you lying there, I thought I lost you forever. I’ve been alone for so long, and then I found you. If I lose you… I would truly be a monster. There would be nothing good left in me.”

“That’s not true,” I touched his arm. “Beckett, you’re a good man. You had a chance to kill Marco Venetti tonight and you didn’t.”

His muscles tensed under my fingertips.

“I wanted to. You have no idea how much I wanted to Ella.”

“But you didn’t,” I reminded him. “You’re not a monster.”

He looked into my eyes, his gaze soft and vulnerable.

“You make me feel human,” he said finally.

“What you told me in the ballroom Beckett, before you walked away-”

He stood up and took a deep drink from his glass.

“If it was too soon Ella, I’m sorry. I-”

I stood up, cutting him off and turning him to face me.

“Beckett, you walked away before I had a chance to tell you that I’m falling in love with you too.”

He froze, watching me, and I stepped closer to him. Closing the distance between us.

“Even though you know what I am,” his voice was strained, I could see him gripping his glass tighter. “Even though you know what I’m capable of. Ella I’m not normal.”

I took the glass from his hand and placed it down on the table, walking into his arms and wrapping them around me. I reached up to kiss him, pressing my lips against his until I felt his body relax and his grip tighten on me.

“Neither of us are normal Beckett, but we found each other. I’m yours, you have all of me.”

He looked down at me, raising his hand to stroke along my cheek.

“I may never be able to give you a normal life Ella. I can’t stop being the Phantom, not now. Not yet.”

“I understand,” I told him. “I don’t want a normal life. I want a life with you.”

He scooped me up into his arms and cradled me, kissing me. The sun was rising higher through the windows as he walked away, carrying me down the hallway to his bedroom where he placed me down gently on the bed.

“You should get some sleep,” he sighed.

I pushed myself up and kneeled in front of him, reaching for the collar of his shirt then slipping open a button. Then another.

“I’m not tired Beckett,” I told him, continuing to unbutton his shirt until it hung open revealing his toned chest. I bent forward and kissed along his torso, running my lips over tight skin and muscle. When I moved back up to his throat and neck, he cradled my head and kissed me. It was gentle at first, worshiping, then it deepened as he pressed me down onto the bed.

Beckett pushed out of his shirt, then slowly peeled my dress down the length of my body. I lifted my hips, then let him slide the soft fabric down my legs then onto the floor. He undid his pants, shoving them down with his boxers then lying beside me, his lean body pressed against mine. He stroked my cheek, kissing me, as his hand travelled softly over my body. He cupped my breasts, trailing fingertips over my stomach and hips, goosebumps scattering over my skin. After everything I had been through tonight, his soft touch was erasing all of the evil I had faced.

When he reached between my legs I spread apart for him, giving him access to stroke me and bring my body to life in the way only he could. The only man to touch me, the only man to claim my body. I arched my back as he dipped a finger inside, growing wet with desire, until I reached for him. When he looked down at me I angled myself beneath him, pressing up. Pleading with my eyes for the kind of release only he could give me.

Understanding the question I hadn’t asked, Beckett pressed into me. Slowly, inch by inch, he filled me to the core with the thick length of him. I moaned as he stretched me, wrapping my legs around him. I felt him push in, deeper, until he filled me completely. I felt utterly claimed, and so close to being satisfied. As he moved his hips, pulling in and out, I rocked my body in the same rhythm as he did. Our bodies were in sync, moving together, while his fingertip traveled back to my throbbing clit.

As he traced small circles over the sensitive bundle of nerves he made love to me, slowly, looking down into my eyes. It was different this time, there was a gentleness to Beckett that I hadn’t seen before. A calm restraint that was unlike the rough domination I had come to know.

As he closed his lips over mine I shut my eyes and gave into the sensations of my body. The feeling of him hitting my core with each thrust, of his finger against the most sensitive part of me, my body blooming beneath him as he brought me to the edge. I gasped and bit my lip, arching my back as I felt myself so close. Beckett moved his hips faster, holding onto me, following me to the edge and as I cried out he groaned deep in his throat. When I opened my eyes, my mouth dropping open in ecstasy, I saw that he was right there with me. As my body clenched around his, he moaned and emptied into me.

Dropping his mouth to mine we kissed with fierce abandon as our bodies lost control, chasing away the pain of a tortuous day and dissolving it with pleasure. We climaxed together, falling back against the mattress in a tangle of damp skin and limbs as we tried to catch our breath.

I pressed my head to Beckett’s chest, running my hand over his torso gently, feeling calm and at peace. When I looked up he was watching me, I pressed myself onto my elbows and kissed his lips.

“Stay the night,” he asked me, winding his fingers with my own.

I nodded.

“Of course.”

My response made him smile and he pulled my body into his arms, cradling me against him. I rested against him, calm and content. We had both lost so much in our lives. Our families, our sense of self, but not the future. That we had finally found in each other.