It was midnight by the time we got back to my apartment building. My current position was off the floor and in the embrace of the two bulky tattooed arms.
‘You didn’t have to carry me all the way back.’ I told Stone as I prodded his chest.
I tried to stop him back at the parlour from picking me up bridal style. His response was to send me a glare and tighten his hold on me.
If I was being honest with myself then I had no objections to getting transported in the large arms. However, I felt bad that he had carried me from the tattoo place to his bike and then from his bike to my floor in the apartment building
‘I promise that I’m okay now.’ I assured him while looking up at his ridiculously good-looking face that currently looked stressed.
He grumbled ‘Ella.’
‘There is nothing wrong with me.’ I tried to convince him ‘I only half fainted…twice.’
‘There is no such thing as half fainting.’ He said in the form of a deep noise as he frowned down at me.
Letting out a huff, I considered throwing myself over his shoulder and sticking my head down his t-shirt to see his tattoo.
He had still not told me what it was, and I was growing impatient.
Before I could weigh up the pros and cons of pouncing on him, he set me down gently on the floor in front of my apartment so I could open the door.
I fumbled with my keys and the lock meanwhile Stone kept ahold of my waist and made sure I did not fall over.
His voice was husky and strained as he admitted ‘You really scared me back there.’
I pushed open the door but I did not go in and instead, I turned around and faced him with a small smile.
‘I am fine, Lurch.’ I repeated to him for the millionth time ‘Did I not mention before that I don’t handle pain well and I usually faint?’
‘No,’ He growled, ‘You did not mention that.’
If he was on edge about the whole tattoo thing, then I was dreading seeing him when it was my time of the month, and I fainted a lot.
Stone followed me into the living room and sat on the sofa as he dragged me to also sit down.
My leg kept twitching. It was a weird sensation like pins and needles touching my skin. The jeans covering the area of my leg did not help.
Deciding that it did not look like the giant was going anywhere, I announced quickly before making my escape to my bedroom ‘I am going to go and get changed into my pyjamas.’
The deep voice called from afar ‘If you do not feel well then you shout me, Medusa.’
I wasted no time in getting rid of my jeans that were agitating the newly inked skin as soon as I closed the door to my room. I discarded my current wardrobe and changed into an oversized Metallica shirt. I thought about putting on some shorts but then decided against it as I did not want any material rubbing against the plastic-wrapped tattoo.
He was still on the sofa when I returned though to the living room. He faced me as soon I walked into the room.
Stone’s gaze travelled from my face and down to my bare legs. Then his darkened eyes slowly tailed back to meet my eyes.
I suddenly felt the urge to cover up. I felt exposed and it was just not due to what I was wearing.
‘Are you okay, Medusa?’ He asked.
I did feel okay. I was more than okay.
He was there with me.
I liked him with me. I liked him when he was not around. I liked him.
He was just sitting there and studying me and that was enough.
One thing that I was never good at was understanding other people. Science, maths and literacy techniques all came easy to me. What I struggled with was working out what people thought.
Stone was no exception to that.
He might have made fun of me more than anyone else and teased me to the point that I wanted to strangle him, but I had gathered that he cared for me a little.
It was not the first time that Stone had looked after me. He took me home when I was drunk. He helped me when I panicked after my run-in with my father. He helped me conquer my fear of the Ferris wheel and the situation with my mother and the ocean.
He made me laugh. He made me happy.
I stepped forward and chose not to overthink what I was about to do. I did not want to cower out of something that I wanted so badly.
His hands went up to my hips as I stood in front of him. His head reached my chest as he remained sitting down.
My palms rested on his shoulders and as I placed one knee on one side of him and the other knee on the other side so that I was straddling him.
To my delight, he quickly wrapped one arm around my waist to keep me in place on his lap and to bring my chest closer to his. The other large hand reached up and touched my cheek as the obsidian stare softened.
I moved my touch to his face and let my fingers gently touch the harsh features as I kissed his stubbled jaw.
When I pulled back, he grumbled unhappily.
‘What is it?’ I asked while motioning to his scowl.
He rumbled deeply again ‘I want another one.’
A small giggle escaped me as I leant closer once again to kiss the other side of his jaw.
His voice was gravelly, and he sounded mystified as he uttered ‘Are you feeling okay?’
I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and rested the side of my head on his shoulder. I took a deep breath and welcomed the smell of engine grease and leather. His warm touch went to the back of my neck as if he was making sure that I was going to stay against him.
As much as I loved his hugs, I did have an ulterior motive.
‘I have never been better.’ I replied to his question before pulling back the top of his shirt and sticking my head inside.
The large section of his upper back that had been inked was covered in a white bandage so I could not see it.
His grip on my waist tightened as if he knew I was going to pull back.
He whispered hoarsely in my ear ‘Are you trying to see my tattoo?’
‘Well, yes.’ I pulled back but did not remove myself from his lap ‘I also just wanted to hug you. Consider it a thank you.’
‘For what?’
My smile made him gawk at my lips as I spoke ‘For everything.’
‘It is not all selfless.’ He confessed while dragging his finger from my cheek to my lip ‘I look after you for my own sake and sanity too.’
A yawn escaped my mouth and stopped me from grinning. I rubbed my eyes as I asked, ‘What time is it?’
‘It is just after midnight.’ He answered while checking his phone.
‘Really?’ I asked in disbelief ‘I am going to be so tired at school tomorrow.’
None of us bothered to move. I knew that we both had to get up early tomorrow and I was really tired, but I did not want him to leave.
That was what made me whisper to him ‘Stay.’
‘I am not going anywhere, Medusa.’
He stood up with my body still wrapped around him. His hands remained on my back like he was being careful not to hurt or drop me while he walked us to the bedroom.
I was set on the bed carefully before Stone went back out to the hall.
As I got into the duvet and laid on my side while waiting for him, I wondered where he had gone to.
The sounds of large footsteps were followed by the bedroom lights being turned off. The room was in complete darkness as he neared.
The huge dark outline of the giant stood near his side of the bed as he removed his clothes.
Stone joined me in the covers which resulted in the bed sinking down and his wide shoulders taking up all of the space.
His hand found my hip instantly and he rolled me over to my side so that I was facing him. I complied and leant on my elbow so I could see him better. I adjusted to the position even though I was leaning on my tattoo.
‘Lurch?’ I said into the darkness.
‘Yeah?’ He replied and I could feel how close he was by his warm breath on my earlobe.
‘Tell me something about you that nobody knows.’
He chuckled and adjusted himself on the bed, so he was leaning on his side facing me too ‘Like what?’
‘Anything.’ I said back.
A comfortable silence filled the air between us. He seemed to be thinking as he caressed the side of my thigh.
Stone finally replied, ‘My favourite book as a kid was Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.’
My eyes felt heavy and started to close as I let out a small laugh ‘Really?’
I had not expected that book to be liked by Stone. It was whimsical and crazy and completely different from Stone.
‘I studied Alice in Wonderland last year when I wrote a paper about authors on drugs. It was crazy.’ I mentioned before asking curiously ‘Why did you like it?’
At my comment about the book, he let out a deep breath that sounded like a half-laugh ‘I do not know why I liked it. Strange kid I guess.’
‘You are still strange now.’ I deadpanned while laughing.
My comment earned a chuckle from him as he shook his head at me. I imagined him smiling a little in the dark.
I tried to be more serious as I said to him ‘You know I would say that you should let more people know that you are a nerd but I kind of like that it is our little secret.’
‘I am not a nerd.’ He argued.
‘Give it up.’ I said as I laughed ‘I already know you are.’
He gave in and lowly replied, ‘I do love the idea of having something we only know.’
‘Does Brennan not know about your obsession with books and your nerdiness?’
The outline of his head shook as his deep voice filled the darkness ‘He knows about the books in my room. I could not really keep that from him. Brennan does not know about the Wonderland thing. You are the first to know.’
I hummed as I moved closer to him on the bed.
The thought made me smile. I imagined the large intimidating man reading about mad hatters and tea parties as my lip moved into a smile.
We spoke further into the night. I asked him about his favourite books so I could make a list and read them all. We debated about literary characters until the noise of traffic on the street below stopped.
I had no idea that heated arguments about worlds among pages could make someone so tempted to kiss a person.
It was mad. Stone drove me to insanity. I was losing my mind.
‘Is it just me or is really cold in here?’ I questioned him as I cuddled into him for warmth.
He remained silent. He only brought me closer until my head was resting on his chest.
‘You still have not answered my question, Medusa.’ He spoke, ‘Why the dragon?’
‘Are you going to show me your tattoo?’ I countered back.
‘No.’
I stifled back a laugh and sternly told him ‘Then I am not telling you.’
He grunted in disapproval, but I could hear traces of amusement in it. Just as I could feel the smirk he wore on his mouth as his face was buried in my hair.
‘I answered your question.’ He referred back to the Alice In Wonderland conversation.
‘Fine.’ I gave in and tried to find the words to explain my reasoning behind wanting the tattoo ‘It is something unfairytale like. That conversation we had about the ugly stepsister had me thinking. I wanted to embrace my stupid name. A dragon in a fairytale usually represents some kind of obstacle. It is unique looking and sometimes scary. It is something that stands in the way of getting the fairytale.’
‘The tattoo suits you.’ He said deeply and lowly, still against my head.
I could not take it much longer. I had my legs draped across Stone and I still felt so cold. I had to wrap my arms around him also.
Eventually, I huffed and stood up from the bed which made the giant let out a rough dissatisfied noise.
‘Where are you going?’ He called, sounding as if he was minutes away from carrying me back to bed.
‘I could have sworn I switched the central heating on.’ I said more to myself as I checked the small closet in the hallway.
The switch was not on, and the radiators were cold.
I marched through to my room with my hands on my hips ‘Did you put the heating off?’
Silence graced the room.
I moved closer to interrogate him, but he only used my nearness to his advantage. He pulled my knees until I fell on top of him with a thud.
‘Stone—ahh.’ I let out as I was crushed to his chest.
He grumbled under his breath as his large, muscled arms enveloped me and trapped my body to his.
I looked up in the direction of his face “Did you switch off the central heating?’
There was no reply from him.
‘Why did you do that, Lurch?’
‘If you are cold then you have to cuddle into me.’ He mumbled, determined to keep my small body on top of his large one.
‘That is… evil and slightly genius.’ I admitted while throwing my head back and laughing ‘I can’t even be mad at you for that.’
My finger roamed to his chest as I moved on to my stomach. He watched as I traced his tattoos. The darkness meant that I could see nothing, but I knew the black lines from memory.
Even though I was tired, and I could feel sleep taking over, I could not drift off. There was something I had to do first.
Something that I could blame on the symptoms of sleepiness if it went wrong.
To make sure he was not sleeping, I quietly called out ‘Stone?’
‘Ella.’ He replied.
Whatever I wanted to say got lost in the air. I closed my mouth and rested my head back on the large chest.
He spoke instead and he asked me ‘Why do you act oblivious to us?’
I knew what he meant. He meant oblivious to him and his touch. To his stares and actions overall.
‘Who says I’m acting?’ I deadpanned.
Stone grumbled ‘I know you.’
I quietly admitted to the shadow of the man underneath me ‘I’m scared of getting hurt.’
‘Ella.’ He said deeply and lowly, his voice full of determination ‘I would never dream of hurting you.’
I believed him wholeheartedly.
A sense of relief washed over me when I opened my mouth. I was expecting to find it hard to admit something so massive to him, but it was surprisingly easy how the words poured out of me.
‘What if I told you that I really liked you?’ I uttered into the darkness.
The deep voice spoke back ‘I would say it is about time.’
‘I think I liked you from the start.’ I said aloud but more to myself.
Then I felt it. The overpowering sense of enlightenment. I had been running from the realisation for too long. I did not want to develop a connection and I did not want to grow attached.
It was too late. Far too late.
It was pitch black in the room, but I swore I could see him smiling and maybe I was imagining it, but it was the truest and most handsome smile I had seen.
I had fallen down the rabbit hole and there was no return.
Alice in Wonderland. I did remember reading it. In the book, Alice lists six impossible things before breakfast. I recalled the information as I planned to also list six impossible things of my own.
I listed the most preposterous statements.
It was impossible to find true randomness in nature, everything is meant for a reason. It was impossible for humans to beat the speed of light, no matter how great the invention helping them is. It was impossible also for humans to breathe on Mars. It was impossible to read with your eyes shut. It was impossible to teach a goldfish algebra.
My sixth and final impossible fact lingered in my mind.
What was unimaginable was hating Valentine Stone.
Even just liking him was unthinkable. What I felt for him was a lot stronger.
Stone pulled the covers up the bed until I was covered completely. He kissed my head before he said ‘Go to sleep. Dream yourself up a fairytale.’
I relaxed into him and closed my eyes but even then, all I could see was him. I spoke aloud before sleep took over ‘I might already have it here awake with you.’
The room went silent. It stayed that way for a good few minutes. In that time, a large rough hand made its way onto my bare thigh and started to rub circles on the skin.
I was no longer tired.
He stopped rubbing circles on my thigh because he pulled his hand back. He then snaked his muscular arm around my waist and pulled me onto him.
My legs planted on the mattress at either side of him. He was so well-built that I had to open my legs wider to accommodate him between them.
His facial expression never gave anything away. However, his eyes dilated, and his jaw clenched when he looked down at my body. I was straddling his boxers when I was only in an oversized t-shirt.
Everything happened so quickly. His hands found my back and he slammed me down closer to his body. His mouth found mine which was already parted in anticipation.
Stone dominated the kiss. His mouth was warm and demanding as he dragged his tongue across my bottom lip. I opened my mouth wider and let him taste me better. Over and over again, he devoured me.
He was crushing me to his body as our kisses got deeper. It was rough and almost bruising.
The hands planted on my lower back moved in rush. One hand combed through my hair and the other held my jaw in a tight cradle. He kept me close while his greedy tongue continued to rule over my mouth.
A groan made its way out of his large chest.
It was relentless how his tongue stroked over mine in a needy manner.
For a few seconds, I entertained the idea of moving against him and dulling the ache between my legs.
The giant used his strong arms to hold me to him. His grip was demanding and desperate. Almost like he wanted to chain me to him.
Something colossal and hard brushed against my thigh.
My eyes widened as I pulled back and looked down.
There was a wet patch on the black boxers, and I knew it had come from me. All I had on under my shirt was a bra and a thong. The wetness between my thighs had leaked onto him and gave him indication of my arousal.
‘I am really sorry. Really, really sorry.’ I panted out while jumping off Stone and the bed like they were both made of fire.
I heard the gruff voice call my name, but I ignored it and ran out the room through the hallway and into the kitchen.
Never in my life I had ever wanted to disappear more than right this moment.
My body was small, but I did not know if it was small enough to fit in the fridge. There was only one way to find out. I needed to cool down and be able to hide so it was a win-win situation.
I had one foot in the fridge when Stone walked into the kitchen.
He never said a word as he stormed towards me. His large steps were full of intent. He only had one thing on his mind and that was to capture me.
His hands found my hips and he bounced me upwards until I landed at eye level with my legs wrapped around him. His lips connected with mine once again while my hands went to his tattooed chest.
It felt like a firework had gone off in every single pleasure point in my body. My erogenous zones were pretty much calling out to him.
My ass landed on the kitchen counter as Stone pulled back to look at me. His eyes went even darker as I opened my legs wide and gave him a full view of my panties.
He let out a rough sounding noise before burying his face in my neck. His stubble tickled my jugular as he left soft kisses on the skin.
I tipped my head back and mewled his name.
‘I know, baby.’ He rasped out, not leaving his position against my neck ‘Can I take your shirt off?’
I managed to nod my head.
‘Ella.’
‘Yes.’ I breathily answered ‘Yes. Please.’
The huge hands moved faster than lightning. He took a hold of my butt firmly and drew my body forward until I was on the edge of the counter. The marble dug into the back of my legs as he gripped the material and tugged.
I was too busy watching him that I forgot to lift my arms.
Stone could not get the shirt off my body normally, so he became frustrated. With a deep grumble, he ripped the t-shirt with one hand. He chucked the useless fabric away with a savage gnarl.
‘Hey!’ I scolded before asking ‘What am I going to wear to bed now?’
‘You can wear my shirt.’ He growled.
His eyes went black with hunger as he let his gaze travel across my figure. He let his attention roam from my pouty lips to my cleavage to my thighs. His traversing of my body stopped momentarily at the flimsy laced underwear that showed off a lot of skin.
I looked down at where he was eyeing. My nipples were hard against the black lace.
‘I am cold.’ I lied, motioning down to my pointed nipples against the flimsy black material “Someone turned off the heating.’
A hoarse chuckle left him before he attacked my mouth in kisses again. While he tortured my mouth with tantalising kisses, his busy hands massaged, squeezed and nipped at every part of my body.
The oxygen got knocked out of my lungs and I panted into his mouth.
‘Please,’ I begged him.
He slowly moved one long rough finger to the waistband of my panties. He tugged teasingly before slipping the lone finger inside.
I was a wiggling mess against him, and he had barely even touched me yet.
My legs opened wider, and my back ached back against the kitchen counter as Stone tugged my black laced panties to the side.
A low growl made its way out of his chest as his dark eyes set on the space between my legs.
I could have come right then and there at the sight of him. I could have come at the sound that left his throat. I could come from how intensely he was looking at the small wet hole between my legs.
‘Fuck. Medusa.’ He rasped out ‘You are so beautiful that it physically hurts to look at you.’
My knees buckled and my legs widened further.
‘I need to touch you.’ He released gutturally like the desire was eating him alive.
The flimsy material of my black bra moved up and down with my chest as I let out a whimper ‘What is stopping you?’
His fingertip swept over the wetness, and I released a light noise from my throat.
‘You are soaked, Drizella.’ He rumbled while moving his finger to a crease between my cleft and my thigh ‘Is this for me?’
I could not even deny it, so I nodded my head. I was lost for words.
His desire was like a wave, flowing from him and wrapping around me. It made me feel safe and protected. It made me feel cherished and worshiped and wanted and needed.
‘You want my finger inside your perfect little pussy?’ He asked in a low harsh grumble.
The words alone could have tipped me over the edge. A mixture of the sensual words and his gruff voice could have sent me to a place full of pleasure.
One of his fingers was equal to two of mine in width. I was going to die and what a wonderful death it would be.
My eyes fluttered shut and I panted the word ‘Yes.’
Stone’s finger slipped into me. He moved so slowly that I thought I was going to faint from the mere pleasure.
I had never felt so full or so complete.
Moan after moan left my mouth. I started rolling my hips involuntary as his pace increased. His free arm wrapped around my low back and stopped me from moving as he pulled my body closer towards him.
Our mouths found each other. His movements became faster, harsher and more demanding as my walls squeezed his finger. He rocked against me slightly as he continued to hit the one perfect spot of mine over and over again.
I could not believe I was doing this with him.
He began to leave soft kisses along my jawline. He left no skin untouched as he trailed the wet kisses all the way to my ear.
The kiss is hard and punishing just like he is. His tongue pushes right into my mouth without teasing or tentative asking. He was taking what he wants, and he was claiming me as his as he fucked with me with his hand.
I slid my hands up his chest and into his hair as I grab hold of him. I climb his body as my legs go around his waist, wanting to be closer to him as the heat takes over my body.
I pull back moan into his mouth as the raw passion hits through him. I have never had feelings like the ones he ignites inside me.
His lone thick finger speeds up and I begin to whine his name.
My impending toe-curling orgasm was so close. I was slightly embarrassed that the best feeling that I have ever felt was caused by one finger, but I was too dazed in my lust-state to care.
‘You belong to me.’ He whispered harshly against my earlobe as his finger slid up against my clit.
The words tipped me over the edge.
I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and held on tight as my whole body began to shake. I muffled my mouth with his chest so that the scream would drown out against his bare skin.
Stone held me tightly and not once did he let go. He kissed me everywhere as the pleasure rolled through me.
He kept the finger pressed on my spot for the full twenty seconds of my high and commanded ‘Keep your eyes on me, Medusa.’
Pulling his hand back, he inspected the mess I had made on his finger.
Black irises zoned in on my face and never left my gaze as the man against me popped the wet digit into his mouth.
My chest heaved up and down as I let my forehead fall onto his chest ‘That was…’
Mind-blowing. Earth-shattering. Phenomenal.
There was no word to describe it.
The deep voice shattered the silence ‘I am not done.’
I pulled back and peered up at him ‘W-what?’
‘I want you all over my hand.’ He whispered, a dark promise to his eyes ‘I will not stop until you have covered it.’
The wet sound of him moving in and out of me filled the kitchen again and again. He began to move his finger even faster while his thumb moved to circle my clit. The euphoric feeling built up at the centre of my body countless times in repeat.
My chest moved up and down erratically while I tipped my head back and mewled his name.
I came and came and came and came.
My eyes were closed when I collapsed against his chest and snuggled into the warmth his bare chest had to offer.
Stone kissed my forehead and wrapped his large arms around me.
I looked up and rested my chin against his skin when I spoke ‘What about you?’
It was hard to ignore the Brobdingnagian monster pulsating against my inner thigh. The long hard length was jutted against the material of his boxers.
‘I want you to feel good too.’ I whispered to him shyly ‘I want to touch you.’
The obsidian orbs softened but he shook his head ‘You are tired, and you are going to bed.’
‘But…But…’ I tried to get the words out, but I was still tongue-tied from the euphoric tingling feeling of pleasure between my legs.
His tattooed hands cupped my face, and he left a soft kiss on my nose.
‘That was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.’ He rasped out ‘The greatest pleasure I could feel is by seeing you in pleasure.’
Embarrassed, I covered my face with my palms and forced out quickly ‘I need to clean myself up.’
‘That is my job.’ He grumbled out while picking me up by the hips and carrying me through to the bathroom.
I yawned my question ‘Then can we go and cuddle?’
His chuckle filled my ear as he buried his face in my neck. He never gave me a vocal answer but his grip on me tightened.
