Cherished (Adam & Ella) (3 page)

In an unexpected way, the thought calmed her. Okay, she knew where she stood. It was time to take more aggressive action. She’d talk to Adam and come up with a plan. From what she had learned over drinks earlier in the day, it was clear that Adam had been scouring for information about Claudio’s illegal activities. He probably knew more than he’d told her. Together, they could figure it out. She was tired of being on the defensive. It was time to fight back.

On the ride home, Adam looked straight ahead, holding Ella’s hand. She peered out the back window of the car into blackness decorated with city lights. When she glanced over at Adam again, she couldn’t decipher the emotion she witnessed. His handsome face, in shadow, looked strong and determined.

What she saw there, Ella wasn’t sure. Looking off in the distance, seeing nothing, the distress of being followed continued to unsettle her. It wasn’t that she was afraid, exactly, although that was part of it. The continual harassment was the worst part. Claudio and his associates were like ghosts constantly terrorizing them, and destroying any peace in life they hoped for.

The unsavory tactics wore at them, effectively causing harm like slow erosion. Ella hated most that it was an enemy she couldn’t see. If only Claudio would come out in the open, face them, and attack directly. Then Ella could deal with it. She could fight. But the constant, hidden threat was too much. It was all too much.

She looked at Adam again. He hadn’t moved. This time she didn’t avert her eyes, wanting to look into his heart, know what was in his mind. Squeezing her hand tighter, he turned to look at her. The flame she saw there was not one of attack, not a thought about enemies. His dark amber eyes glowed with lust, a look she recognized. His look undressed her, making her feel naked in the back of the car, though she was fully clothed.

Ella was the first to look away, noticing that the garage door had opened and Nico was pulling in. Adam was out of the car, almost before it stopped, saying nothing, just pulling Ella out and into his arms. Pressed against him, need and urgency radiated through her. Through the fabric of their clothing, she felt his hardness. Silently, he put his arm around her and swiftly guided her into the house.

Slamming the door behind him, Adam leaned into her with her back against the wall of the entryway. His lips, soft and tender, closed over hers in a deep kiss. Wasting no time, he began to undress her, still kissing her hard. Deftly he undid her blouse, pulling it off; her pants next. Stopping only to slide off her shoes and rip her pants down to her ankles and off, he returned to kissing fervently.

With his fist clenched in her hair, Adam groaned and plunged his tongue beside hers, rubbing and caressing. Ella reached under his shirt, running her hands over the bare skin underneath. In response, he grabbed the hem and yanked the shirt off over his head. Ella kissed across the firm muscles covered with soft, golden hair. Impatiently, Adam undid his pants and slid them off.

Ella cupped the bulge in his shorts, squeezing, and he palmed her buttock with one hand, the other on the back of her head, pushing her to him. Grinding his pelvis against her, Adam grazed her with warm kisses, under her jaw, down her neck and over the tops of her breasts. She melted into his arms, panting with excitement.

Reaching behind, he undid her bra and pulled it away. The assault of cold air to her skin made her nipples pucker and her sex tighten. Leaning down, he touched the tips of her breasts with his tongue. Just the light touch was thrilling. Ella’s breathing quickened. She arched her spine, and he took a nipple into his mouth, biting gently.

Holding her by the waist, Adam suckled at her breasts, driving her arousal higher and higher. The crotch of her panties was soaked and Ella felt the moisture between her legs, unsure how much longer she could hold out. With a last flick of his tongue over her hard nipples, he leaned away, removing his shorts, baring his erection.

Adam’s breath was heavy and ragged, and he fisted his cock with several strong strokes. His face was flushed and his eyes glowed ferociously. The erotic sight heated the blood in Ella’s veins and she moaned softly. He released his heavy member from his hand; it swayed seductively, and Ella reached out.

Gripping his cock, she relished the feel of hard steel under the soft skin. Sliding her hand up, she witnessed a gush of pre-cum spurt out the top. With her finger, she smeared it around the
bulbous head and Adam groaned. He cupped her breasts in his hands, lifting and letting go, watching the bounce. Dropping to his knees, he reached up, raking his palms over her distended nipples.

Kneeling in front of her, Adam ripped the lace panties off her in one motion, and pressed his lips to her pussy, making her quiver. With flat palms, he felt her taut belly and over her hips. Ella’s ragged breathing sped up. Pressed against the wall, she felt Adam’s palms on her inner thighs. Pressing against her flesh, forcing her to stand with her legs spread wider, he cupped her sex.

Naked and at his mercy, Ella whimpered when he claimed her with his tongue. Tasting her cream, he slid his tongue over her slit and across her clit, massaging her inner thighs with his hands. On shaky legs, she pressed harder against the wall to stay upright. Adam ran his thumbs over her outer lips, and she shivered in exquisite anticipation.

Opening her tender folds with his fingers, Ella felt the cool air tantalize her, making her vagina tingle. The touch of Adam’s tongue to her clit turned it into a tight pebble. Swirling around it with his tongue, he caressed her expertly, leaving her no escape from the intense sensation.

Reaching behind her, Adam cupped her ass in his hands, holding her up. His tongue never stopped moving, caressing her sopping slit and teasing her rock-hard clit. Ella’s moans were louder, her breathing heavy and fast. Relaxing into his hands, supporting her, she tensed with pleasure.

Kneading her buttocks possessively, Adam bit lightly over the smooth, bare skin of her vulva. She fingered his hair, encouraging his loving of her. His mouth dropped to her sex, his hot breath against her sensitized skin. Kissing at the apex of her thighs—over and over—he drove her crazy.

If only he would touch her where she needed it most. The teasing kissing sent her to the limit of her endurance and she spread her legs wider in a begging motion. Lifting her slightly in his hands, Adam flicked his tongue over her clit in rapid, delicate motions. Ella cried out, her stomach tightened, and her red nipples hardened. The direct stimulation of her clit, fast and precise, made her come undone.

Convulsing against Adam’s lips, she let the sweet orgasm ravage her. Once her pussy began to pulse, Adam’s tongue circled her clit, never touching the tip. It was wildly exciting to feel his lips on her throughout her orgasm. It was as if he shared it, tasted it with her. Collapsing against the pressure of his hands underneath her, Ella floated in soft relaxation as she came down from her peak.

Adam stood and pulled her into his arms, holding her head against his chest and wrapping his other arm around her waist. Waiting for her breathing to slow, he held her in his secure embrace, her body gleaming with moisture and tingling with delight. She rubbed her hands over his back and his hard, tight ass.

Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the other room and sat on the sofa, leaning back with her head still against his chest. His body felt hard and strong against hers. Reaching for his cock, pressed between his abdomen and the side of her ribs, she ran her fingers along the shaft. Looking up at his perfect mouth, she leaned in to kiss him, and he leaned toward her at the same time.

The kiss was hot and needy, heating her arousal. Sliding off his lap, she knelt between his thighs and gripped his swollen cock. Adam moaned, reaching out to place his hand over hers, rubbing with her along his erection. Leaning lower, Ella took his balls in her mouth, covering her teeth with her lips, and softly sucked, massaging him.

Placing his palms on her cheeks, he watched Ella suck and play with him, his eyes glazed over. When he could take no more, he pulled her away and lifted her to a standing position. Still seated, his gaze slid over her, causing her nipples to peak and her sex to tingle. The look in his eyes made her feel beautiful and deliciously vulnerable.

Adam drank in her naked form, in no rush to look away. He turned her so she faced away from him, and ran his fingers over her lower spine and bare ass. Ella thought of the first time they’d been together, when he’d asked her to strip bare for him so he could see her. A similar escalating excitement radiated through her.

Moving around her, Adam slid down to the rug in front of the sofa. He pulled her on top of him, and kissed her firmly, claiming her. His hot cock pressed against her belly with her weight on him. The feeling was sexy beyond belief. Her breasts pressed against his chest, her lips swollen from the lip-bruising kiss. She straddled him and pressed her pussy into his hardness, wanting and needing him.

With a growl, Adam rolled over, pulling Ella underneath him, never releasing her from the kiss. His tongue lashed against hers, dipping and rubbing. As he ground his hips against her, she felt a swell of emotion that needed release. Breaking free of the kiss, Adam looked into her eyes, and Ella’s pulse quickened.

With wild abandon, he nipped her jaw and kissed around her breasts, painfully avoiding her nipples. Lifting her arms over her head, he held them in one hand, and gripped the base of his cock with the other. Hovering above her, Adam rolled the tip of his cock along her dripping slit. Ella’s breathing came in ragged gasps.

Letting her thighs fall open, she beckoned him to fuck her. Sliding his thick knob between her wet folds, he dipped inside. Instinctively, Ella raised her hips, forcing him deeper. The sound he emitted was like an animal in heat. His eyes closed for a moment before he pressed into her.

His thick, heavy length stretched her, making her want more. Thrusting her hips up, she slid over him, taking him, needing all of him. With his forearms on the rug, against her shoulders, Adam supported his weight and shafted her pussy, slowly. Ella felt every tiny motion.
Undulating her hips in rhythm, she prodded him to go faster but he resisted. Looking into his eyes, filled with desire, she knew he wanted it to last.

She was utterly defenseless against the friction of his thick penis. With Adam inside her, everything was right. Ella was where she wanted to be. Her sex clenched against his penetration and she panted louder. Adam’s harsh exhalations told her that he was with her, propelled into an irresistible need for release. He ran the tip of his tongue over her lower lip, the last bit of control he exhibited.

With a moan and an agonized cry, Adam began rubbing faster inside her, his cock surging. The erotic sensation of his touch spread though her body, and she ached for him deep in her core. No matter that he speared her with his hot cock, filling her—she wanted more. She couldn’t get enough. Ella was insatiable. Crying out, she fucked Adam as hard as he fucked her.

Her nails raked his back, and she ground her hips in a circular motion, trying to get more of him. Adam crushed into her, their wet skin slapping together. Ella clenched hard around him, wanting him to spurt inside her; his pleasure as exciting to her as her own. When his cock pulsed strong and hard, deep inside her, all restraint was lost. Crying out, unable to hold back, Ella felt the tremors of orgasm take her.

Adam groaned through his loud, fast panting and came inside her, long and powerfully. She felt his body stiffen and with her hand on his ass, felt his muscle turn to rock. Pressing him into her, she wanted every pulse, every drop he had, and continued to rock against him long after his body relaxed. He pressed his lips to hers, tenderly, lovingly, still balanced above her.

She didn’t want him to pull out of her, nor did Adam want to. Locked together, minutes passed as they came down from the sensual height of their intimacy. Adam’s skin gleamed with sweat, his hair sexily tousled; he smelled like male sex. Ella felt the glow of sensual satisfaction, and love for Adam swelled in her heart. Together, they could not be torn apart. Savoring the magic of his touch, his closeness, his masculine scent, Ella closed her eyes, wanting the moment to last forever.

Ella had fallen asleep wrapped in Adam’s arms, snuggled into their cozy bed. Lovemaking had been raw and intimate. The ferociousness of their need touched her heart. Fueled by the scare earlier in the day, their desperate craving for each other exploded; their desire on fire. Adam had been so virile, so demanding, so devastatingly sexy. When Ella woke up, it was very early in the morning and still dark outside.

The rooms in the house were never really dark. The stark white walls reflected the moonlight and shimmering city lights, casting a glow throughout the night. Ella felt Adam, warm against her, and listened to his steady breathing. She loved him so much. All she wanted was for them to be left alone, to be happy together. Unable to go back to sleep, she slipped gently out of her love’s embrace and stood on the cool wood floor.

In the soft light, she found a robe and grabbed her bag, quietly tiptoeing out to the patio. Under the bright stars, she had a clear view of the shoreline, the city, and the mountains. Sugarloaf loomed high, now a reminder of an experience she’d rather forget. Pulling out her tablet, she thought about what she wanted to say in her diary. She needed to stay sane under rather trying circumstances, and writing to her diary had always helped.

Adam is sleeping, yet I can still feel his arms wrapped around me. He moves me, deep in my heart. He touches my soul. Sex is not just sex with Adam; it’s an explosion of all the emotions inside us. When we are pressed together, open and intimate with each other, I want nothing else.
Just Adam.

There remains this issue of his father. Today, he had one of his accomplices watch me. I felt violated. It’s not so much that I was afraid. Well, who wouldn’t be, considering they are criminals? But there’s more to it. It’s like his father is taking our life. We can’t just be together, plan for the future. No, we must be on constant alert.

It’s wrong, and I resent being a victim of this. And even more, I am angry that Adam has had to endure his father’s behavior for his entire life. I hurt inside when I think of Adam, pressed into the service of Claudio. It’s awful, unbearable. I have confidence that Adam will overcome the oppression. Already, he’s gained information that will help us.

Yet, we aren’t fighting on an even playing field. Claudio will use any means to coerce Adam, even violence. He has a history of violence, so what’s to stop him now? Adam’s approach will always be fair, and definitely, within the law. Will dirty fighting win? Will Claudio’s ruthlessness succeed? Or will Adam’s goodness overpower the evil?

I have to believe that it will. But I’m convinced I need to help. Writing my romance novel is easier than this. I always seem to come up with solutions, ways to resolve the plot twists and work out any crisis. But it’s not the same with real life. My real life with Adam has different confines. There are limits of what I can do, because of many factors, physical limitations being one.

Still, I have a feeling something will occur to me. I can’t come up with a clear plan yet, but the more I know, the closer I get to figuring it out. Claudio may have brawn, but we have brains. We can outwit him. If there’s one thing Adam is, it’s brilliant. That’s the key. To use that brilliance as the powerful weapon it is.

After today, with that creep lurking, a shadow came over me. I was unsettled, a little lost and afraid. Okay, I admit it. I was afraid. Adam lets me know, with every word and action, that he will protect me. Tonight was an example. Any other man would have talked to me, told me everything was going to be okay. And I would have known those were just words, and seen that I wasn’t the only one who was afraid.

Not Adam. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t give me false assurances or empty words. He took me, held me in his strong arms, pressed me to his hard chest, and his love surrounded me. He made love to me with wild abandon, kissing hard, and fucking harder. In his strength, I find security, reassurance. Together as one, in the heat of passion, our strength is in unity. Our protection is the bond between us that no one can break. Only Adam’s touches, his fierce, virile
caresses give me the certainty that we are going to be okay. We will be free and have the life together that we want, that we deserve.

*****

Ella fell asleep on the chair, and woke to Adam’s fingers stroking her cheek. “You like this better than our bed, amore
mia?”

She stretched and yawned. “I woke up and it was still the middle of the night, so I came out here.”

Adam sat on the lounge chair next to her and leaned over to give her a soft kiss. “We are definitely going to have to get that outdoor bed. You better come in and get ready. Later this morning, we are meeting Adrian and Fiorella, remember?”

Ella did remember, and she was looking forward to it. “I need coffee first, though. Let me swing by the kitchen and see what Eli’s got.”

Sitting in the kitchen nook, Ella drank her coffee and handled her emails. She’d quickly uploaded the photos of Sugarloaf and sent them to Cameron with a few details about the ride in the cable car and the views. Maybe later she’d look at them with Adam. Some of the pictures turned out pretty well. Scrolling through her inbox, she saw a message from Julianna, who had been emailing more often, giving Ella hope that she would have a good relationship with her sister someday.

Kaiyla’s
email was chatty, all about moving in with Steve. He’d balked at installing all the security at his place, but Kaiyla had insisted. Although she hadn’t spotted anyone following them recently, it was smart to be cautious. Her mom was coming to visit soon, and she was excited about that.

In some ways, Ella missed home. She’d lived in California her entire life until recently. She loved Rio, and her home was where Adam was, but it would be good to spend time with
Kaiyla. Maybe she’d even go visit her sister when she went back—if she went back. The future wasn’t entirely predictable, in contrast with her formerly monotonous life. With Adam, there were always unexpected events.

On the way to the bedroom to get dressed, Ella passed the office, and saw Adam intent on his work. She liked to see him deep in thought, engrossed in some program he was creating. He looked so competent, and every bit as capable as he was. Even sitting at his desk, sweating over some software problem, in a plain cotton T-shirt, he was so masculine and sexy. She better quit staring or she’d give in to the urge to distract him, feeling a familiar pull to be physically close to him.

She thumbed through the clothes in her closet, trying to decide what to wear. After all the shopping sprees with Fiorella, she owned a lot of clothes, more than she ever thought she would. Dressing wasn’t a simple matter of grabbing a shirt and shorts anymore, or even a sweatshirt. Adam’s sister had been coaching her in the art of dressing well, something a true Italian took pride in. And Ella did consider that she was becoming Italian. At least she wanted to become Italian, loving everything, including the food, language, stylish clothes, and carefree personality. Little by little, she was transforming.

Dressed and ready to go, she looked in the mirror, approving of her outfit. Turning, she noticed the book on her dresser. It was a leather-bound copy of
Romeo and Juliet
, the book Adam had given to her. Treasuring it, she’d carried it all the way to Rio in her carry-on bag. Picking it up, she opened the cover and read Adam’s inscription.

Always, he’d had faith in her and knew that her inner passion would come through in the romances she wrote. Often, he was more confident than she was in her potential as an author. Hugging the book to her chest, she brushed away a tear. Maybe it was just that she loved him so much, or that he saw only good qualities in her, or that he cared enough to get her the prized gift. Whatever it was, it made her happy.

Adam was coming out of his office just as she walked by, on her way back to the kitchen. “Hey, you look sexy,” he said, pulling her to him. “I like you in short skirts.”

Ella smiled, pleased that he liked her new outfit. “Come,” she said, “we have a little time. Let me show you the pictures I took. Some might be pretty good. I didn’t have time to look at each one, but I sent them all to Cameron.”

Leading him to the kitchen nook, she sat in front of the laptop and Adam slid into the chair next to her. They looked at the photos one at a time, recalling views they’d seen the day before. In one photo, there was someone at a distance in the bottom right corner. Ella hadn’t been able to avoid getting some of the tourists in the shots. Then she froze.

She stared at the picture.

“What?”

“That’s the guy,” she said.

“The guy from yesterday that was watching you?”

“Yes, it’s him. Look.” Ella pointed to a tall man, dressed as she remembered. He was looking away from the camera, so she couldn’t see all of his face. “His face is disfigured on one side, like he’s been burned or something. I didn’t see that yesterday. He must have been turned the other way.”

Seeing him again made Ella’s heart pound. Something about him was horrifying.

“It has to be,” Adam said, peering at the screen.

“Who? You know him?”

Adam didn’t say anything, just looked. His eyes darkened and his jaw tensed.

Pulling back, Ella asked again, “Who is he, Adam? Tell me. Talk to me.”

“
Pietro Cesar. He’s still alive,” Adam said in disbelief.

“Who is
Pietro Cesar?” She watched Adam’s reaction, anxious to know who the man was.

“He’s worked with my father since I was very young. He was caught in a drug war, years ago. I heard he was burned with gasoline. Apparently, it didn’t kill him.”

Ella didn’t know what to say. The full impact of who exactly was threatening them began to sink in. Adam pulled the laptop over, in front of him, and clicked to open his email. “I’ll let Quinn know, more to follow up on. And we have this current photo. That’s helpful.”

Hitting send, he leaned back and ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t like it that he was watching you yesterday.” Adam pulled Ella to him, pressing her cheek to his chest. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. I won’t.”

Ella wrapped her arms around his waist, clinging to him. “You father just won’t stop, Adam. He never will.”

*****

The front of the building was beige stucco, and looked like many others on the street. It was nestled between a large hotel and a row of shops. But once inside, Ella could see renovations had begun. Across the room, she saw Adrian standing behind Fiorella with his arms around her. “Ciao,” she called.

Fiorella
slipped out of her sweetheart’s embrace, and walked toward Ella with her arms outstretched, “Ciao.” She gave her a big hug, and then opened her arms to her brother to hug him, too.

Adrian was just as effusive, hugging Ella and lifting her off her feet.
“Ciao, amica. Good to see you.” Wearing a casual linen shirt and tan slacks, Adrian looked as handsome and charming as ever.

Fiorella
swirled in a circle, her rose-colored skirt swishing around her. “This is the place. Our restaurant,” she said proudly. Her heels clicked on the concrete floor as she walked toward the kitchen area. “Here is where we have made the most progress. My kitchen.”

The cozy establishment was smaller than some in the district, or at least ones that Ella had seen, but it had a patio for additional seating. It was easy to imagine the place crowded with
customers, eating and talking. Adam and Ella followed Fiorella around with Adrian close by her side, looking the place over. Ceramic tile would cover the floors, and there would be a huge mural of a seascape on one wall. Colorful décor, including purple, orange, and green chairs for the patio, would create a lively atmosphere.

Practiced in various cuisines,
Fiorella planned to serve Brazilian/Italian dishes with the occasional German item added to the menu. The restaurant would be a casual place to hang out and have good food and beer. There was still a lot to be done before opening.

“And, before we can open to customers”—
Fiorella frowned before continuing—“we will need to resolve this issue with Claudio. I can’t even put the sign on the door until that’s over. If he found out, he would come after me with everything he could.”

“Why?” Ella still had trouble getting her head around a man that would randomly attack. “He wants something from Adam. How would ruining your business assist in that?”

Adam put his arm around her shoulders. “Claudio is a difficult man to understand. For most men, there are boundaries, moral limits that they do not cross. To deal with my father appropriately, you have to know that he will do anything to get what he wants. He has no heart. He never did.”

“That’s right,”
Fiorella agreed. “And I know what he is, deep in his soul. He is a cruel man who would use family if he had to, in order to get what he wants. He knows Adam would step in if I became a target. His hope would be for Adam to acquiesce to his demands, in exchange for leaving me alone.”

“And what does he want?”

“Money,” Fiorella said.

“But it wouldn’t end there.” Adam pinched the bridge of his nose, his endless patience clearly wearing thin. “It would never end. There is no amount I could pay him to make him go away. I’d consider it, if I thought we would all be safe.