“No, stop!” She manages to yell during her fit of laughter. “I won’t laugh anymore,” she is still giggling, and she crouches to protect herself from my skillful fingers. In an instant, I lose my balance, and we both fall to the floor—she on her back, and I on top of her. We’re both laughing out loud, until she realizes the position we’re in. Her face straightens, and we just stare at each other, our faces inches apart.
“God, I love the sound of your laughter,” I say. I’m still lying on top of her, watching her. I can feel my cock jerk in my pants, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who notices. Her hands are on my chest. I want to kiss her so badly, to mark her, to make her mine. She’s the first to break the gaze, gently pushes me off her, and gets off the floor. She fixes her robe, and tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
“Are you hungry? I was just about to make breakfast for Sophie and me. I can make something for you, too, if you want.” I nod. I’m not hungry, but if that means I get to spend some more time with her, I’ll take it. I rearrange my cock that’s arching painfully against my pants, and sit by the table. It takes a while for Ella to relax again, and for the tension in the air to dissipate. Sophie hasn’t come yet. Ella told me punctuality is not Sophie’s best suit. She goes to the bedroom to change out of her pajamas, and I take this moment to look around. Her kitchen is black and white. Above the kitchen counter tops, there’s a beautiful glass splash back. The table and the chairs are white and the floor is parquet. I notice two framed pictures on a shelf by the fridge. In one, there’s a man who looks like he could be my age, and in the other, Ella is with him. I take the second one in my hand to take a closer look. They are smiling, his arm is around her shoulders, and she’s leaning into him. They look happy. In the next moment, Ella snatches the picture out of my hands. She stares at it for a second, when a doorbell rings. Ella sets the picture back in its place, and goes to the door. Putting my hands in my pockets, I glance at the photo once again, and wait for them to come into the kitchen. I can hear them whispering about something, before Sophie rushes into the kitchen.
“Hey, Jake! It’s nice to see you again.” I nod at her.
“You, too. How’s Matt?”
“Still excited as a little boy for having met you. Just this morning I heard him talking on the phone, telling one of his friends that he went to a party with you. I’ll probably have to listen to him going on and on about ‘Jake this, Jake that’ for a long time. I think you’re currently his favorite person in the world,” she laughs. “Good thing I’m not the jealous type,” she jokes. Meanwhile, Ella is cooking breakfast, and every once in a while I steal glances at her. She’s dancing around the kitchen with such lightness. She’s currently turned away from me, and my eyes land on her butt. What man wouldn’t look at her butt? Her tight black yoga pants are hugging her perfect ass and toned legs. She’s also wearing a baggy T-shirt that reaches to her hips. It’s gray, and it has the number nine printed on the back. It’s falling off one shoulder, and I can see the strap of her bra. Sexy.
“She likes you,” Sophie says quietly, and I wince. She noticed me checking out Ella. I look at her, and nod to encourage her to continue. “Give her time. She’s been through a lot, so don’t be mad she’s so closed off.
“What happened to her?” I ask immediately. Sophie shakes her head.
“It’s not my story to tell. She has to tell you herself, when she’s ready. She just needs a little more time. She’ll soften. Just don’t give up.”
We’re slowly sipping coffee, and I cannot help myself to ask her another question that’s been bugging me.
“Does it have something to do with the guy in the picture?” I point my head to the picture I was looking at earlier. She glances the way I pointed, and I see sadness fill her eyes. She shifts on the chair. Before I get my answer, Ella brings the food. I don’t need her confirmation, I already got it in her eyes. Who is he, and what has he done to her?
“Anyone wants ketchup with that?” Ella asks, before she sits down. Sophie and I shake our heads and grab our forks. “I hope it’s good. I’m not exactly a great cook, but Sophie knows that already,” she says, and looks at Sophie. They laugh, and we eat our breakfast while conversing pleasantly. After I help her clean up, I say goodbye to the girls so they can have their privacy.
Chapter Nine
Ella
Jake: Whatcha doin’?