Fighter {Completed}

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Let's Take A Walk, Eleanor {Ellie}

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Let's Take A Walk, Eleanor {Ellie}

I wake up feeling warm, a little too warm.

Just as I begin to sit up, an iron band tightens around my waist, Cole's arm tugging me back into his embrace. The events of last night flood through my head, making my cheeks flush as I feel even hotter.

Turning over, I wince at the sudden soreness between my legs. Cole takes a deep breath, sitting up on his elbow and peering over me as I lie on my back.

"You okay?" he asks, his hand moving from my waist to smooth my tangled hair from my face. I nod, despite the ache still present. "Ellie," he demands, "tell me the truth."

"I'm sore," I admit. A flash of guilt slides into Cole's eyes, the steely orbs looking away from mine and toward my waist.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs. I shake my head, feeling my lips curl into a smile.

"I'm okay," I tell him. "I wouldn't change it for the world." Heat rushes to my cheeks once more as Cole's eyes meet mine, his eyes darkening slightly. Leaning over me, he places a kiss on my lips, hand gripping my hip softly as his thumb caresses my skin. He retreats to his previous spot, lying beside me with his arm across my belly, caging me to him.

As I stretch my leg, I brush up against his already-hard length, making me blush. I pull away from him slightly, my body hotter than ever before. Cole sits up again, raising a brow. He lies on his side now, holding himself up with his elbow as he gives me a questioning look. "You're still naked!" He smiles, eyes leaving mine and lighting a trail of fire down my chest. I yank the covers up to hide. I watch him chuckle, poking his tongue in his cheek.

"You weren't too mad about it last night, baby."

"Shh!" Rolling us both, I put a hand over his mouth, feeling his smile widen beneath my palm. Now, it's me that's propped up by an elbow, lying on my side. Cole lies flat, eyes staring up at me with a wicked gleam.

Quick as lightning, Cole rolls us, hovering over me so he lies half atop me. One of his knees rest between my legs, his torso touching mine as he grabs my wrist, pulling it from his mouth and holding it to the pillow beside my head. I raise my other hand, but he catches it, pining that one down as well.

"Now, what are you gonna do?" Cole grins, teasing me. I roll my eyes, his eyes still staring into mine playfully. He lowers his lips to mine, kissing me slowly, languidly like he's trying to memorize the taste of my lips. The feeling sends a tingle up my spine, my heart pounding hard against my rib cage. For a while, we kiss, lost in the feeling of being pressed chest to chest, woven together between the sheets.

Cole pulls away after a while, the sound of his stomach growling catching my attention. Mine repeats the gesture, as if calling out to answer his own. With a chuckle, Cole presses a quick, chaste kiss to my lips, rolling away. I avert my gaze as he stands from the bed, stark naked as the day he was born.

"What do you want for breakfast?"

"Mmm, some pancakes sound really good right now," I tell him, stretching my sore limbs. Cole remains silent, and when I open my eyes again, I find him staring at me, eyes dark and carnal. With a jolt, I realize I'm not as covered as I thought, the blanket's slipped down to my waist.

"I know something else that sounds really good right now," he remarks, eyes scaling down my body. Surprised and slightly aroused, I look away from his dark stare, away from those eyes of melted steel. Cole slips on his underwear and a clean pair of blue jeans.

He looks like a model like this, barefoot in some blue jeans that hang low on his hips, making anyone who looks want to imagine what's beneath them. Strong, muscular arms connect to a sexy torso, pecs leading down to a set of abs that I want to drag my tongue down.

"Ellie, if you keep looking at me like that, we won't leave this room today."

Oh my...

Slipping on a pair of shoes, he grins as he walks toward me, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine in a dizzying kiss.

"I'll be back, baby."

Cole leaves the room and I can't help but let out a squeal of excitement once he's out of earshot.

Cole and I finally made love!

I can't fight my smile the entire time I'm in the shower, nor when I'm getting dressed. Standing in the bathroom, I hear the door open, and I head out, preparing to feed my face and spend the day with Cole.

Instead, though, my blood runs ice cold and my heart stops beating.

It isn't Cole that's walked through the door.

"Did you miss me, Eleanor? We haven't talked much recently." With a knowing, evil grin, he takes swift steps toward me. I scream internally to move, grab something and hit him with it. Instead, I remain frozen.

Keenan's smile widens.

"Let's take a walk, Eleanor."

"No," I breathe, stepping back from him. He raises a brow.

"No?" His voice is strained, as if he's about to lose all patience and attack me right here.

"No." I try to make my voice more clear, but it comes out just as weak as before. "Cole will be back any second. I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Who do you think let me in, darling?"

I scoff.

"Cole would never. If he got his hands on you, he'd kill you. You know that," I practically spit. Keenan's face transforms into one of rage, and quicker than I can process, he's beside me, yanking my hair as he puts a hand on my throat.

"You're right. He would kill me, Eleanor. I'll admit it. That buffoon genuinely loves you... I wonder how heartbroken he'll be when he gets back and you're gone."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I tell him.

And then I'm on the floor, my face stinging as warm blood begins oozing down my lip. Keenan squats down next to me, sighing.

"I didn't want to do that, Eleanor. I really didn't. I always hated seeing your face all beat up, darling. But I won't ask you again. If you don't come with me right now, my uncle is going to put a bullet in your little boyfriend's head."

My stomach drops, and I stop fighting him, nodding.

I don't know if he has a gun or if his uncle is even here. Maybe he's bluffing.

But Cole's life isn't something I'm willing to risk.

"That's what I thought. Come on, darling."

As soon as he stands, I swipe Cole's phone from the nightstand, slipping it into my bra before Keenan can notice. He grabs my phone from the bed, throwing it to the floor and stomping it to pieces.

With a pounding heart, I follow Keenan through the door, into the elevator, through the garage, and into his car. I'm only seated for a few seconds before he places a hand behind my head.

The last thing I see is the dash as it rushes toward me, Keenan's hand slamming my head forward...and then darkness.

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