Return to Grace Street
(Chapter 8, #2)
Return to Grace Street
(Chapter 8, #2)
Copyright © Ella Dominguez, 2014
All Right Reserved
Dedication
Hubs & Co.: My two most beloved people on this earth.
My mother for her support, confidence, and unconditional love.
Acknowledgements
A huge round of applause to my beta readers for their timeliness, honesty, and support.
Special thanks to Raegan and her Mister for detailed feedback. They made this book a better read for everyone.
A ginormous wet kiss (possibly with tongue) goes out to Mallory M. for her continued assistance and inspiration over the years. And also, for putting up with my less than tactful sense of humor. I love you!
To my loyal readers – THANK YOU! Your words keep me strong, happy and inspired.
www.GoononWrite.com – as always, for his patience and wonderful cover art.
A big thank you to the new readers for giving an unknown author a chance.
What a sociopath looks like by Sue Fitzmaurice, Author, paraphrased
Playlist
No Rest for the Wicked by Lykke Li: http://youtu.be/Hh-0y8Qe0Sw
Drowning by Banks: http://youtu.be/HzGHgQBPyV0
Flaws by Bastille: http://youtu.be/1E36WU9Wzf4
Your Surrender by Neon Trees: http://youtu.be/JcEuRT7rrP4
Undressed by Kim Cesarion: http://youtu.be/YPIbULzCcCg
Power of Love by Gabrielle Aplin: http://youtu.be/zNpeK7sDLzE
Beloved by Say Lou Lou: http://youtu.be/UOa3vAQUJSE
You Could be Happy by Snow Patrol: http://youtu.be/76Mbnuwk2d4
Embrace by Goldroom (MyKill Remix): http://youtu.be/r5Fj0ARh2l8
Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation: http://youtu.be/24ICmB1Mka8
Wherever You Go by Sleeperstar: http://youtu.be/hdGM4JUxpKA
The Power of Love by Gabrielle April: http://youtu.be/zNpeK7sDLzE
Hurricane by Thirty Seconds to Mars: http://youtu.be/3RLwuDQSkDI
My Heart is Open by Maroon 5: http://youtu.be/JccOEJurFGc
Down with the Sickness by Disturbed: http://youtu.be/HkhfL0pnMPQ
Nicotine Dreams by Laurel: http://youtu.be/LKiHhHxcM2I
Untitled Lyrics Quoted (No copyright infringement intended)
Salvation by Gabrielle Aplin: http://youtu.be/3IEMnWhT_7c
A Long Time Ago by First Aid Kit (http://www.thisisfirstaidkit.com): http://youtu.be/8znvmgi0pXc
For the full Return to Grace Street playlist, follow Ella Dominguez on Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/user/12146676013
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Playlist
Prologue
1: Interruption
2: Ultimatum
3: Game Plan
4: All In
5: Intermezzo
6: Terms & Conditions
7: Before Darkness
8: Q&A
9: Struggle & Regret
10: Ms. White
11: Pieces
12: A Gift
13: Accountable
14: Deliberate
15: Denial
16: Surrender
17: Refuge
18: Consistent
19: Enraptured
20: Killer Instincts
21: Uncertainty
22: Rise & Fall
23: Reality Check
24: Reunion
25: Stripped Away
26: Confronted
27: Show & Tell
28: Surreal
29: Fate Intervened
30: Destiny Revealed
31: Blackened Heart
Chapter 8: Closing Thoughts
More from Ella Dominguez
Prologue
Elsa’s full, crimson lips pressed against another man’s mouth. Victor cringed and took a drag off his cigarette. His eyes darted upward toward the gray, darkening sky in an attempt to focus on something other than the intimate scene that was playing out before him. He had seen it far too many times to count since she walked out on him, and yet it hadn’t become any easier to watch. If anything, in the past two weeks it had only become more painful each time.
The sun was nearly behind the horizon, and only the shadows on the street could be seen under the streetlights. Feeling as miserable as the cold, rainy weather outside, he cued the song No Rest for the Wicked by Lykki Li, and cracked open his window to let the smoke billow out. Irritated with himself and his predicament, he flung the butt out the window. There was no one to blame except for Mr. Black for the shit storm that had become his life.
Unable to resist, his gaze snapped back to Elsa again. Even in the darkness, his hawk-like eyes found her. She flicked the light switch on in the entryway of her new home, the light bathing her svelte body. From this distance, he could just make out her braless hardened nipples under the lace fabric of her snug-fitting, white dress. Was she without panties too and still following his rules like the good girl he had taught her to be?
Christ, she was beautiful. Every inch of her body spoke to him. With a clenched jaw, his cock stiffened in his worn jeans. If only he could taste her. Sink his tongue deep into her cunt. Feel the warm, tightness of her ass around his cock again. Run the tip of his tongue along the vines of the tattoo over her ribcage.
Her red hair shimmered under the fluorescence, and he tried to remember what it felt like to have her long, sweat dampened locks hanging in his face as he pumped into her. What he wouldn’t give to hear her moaning, panting and begging him for more…
A feminine laugh rang out and sliced through his psyche. His awareness sharpened as she threw her arms over the man’s shoulders and his vision blurred with anger and jealousy. Not once had she ever laughed like that with him and rarely was he graced with her smile. And whose fault was that? Fucking, Mr. Black.
Grinding his teeth, he cursed under his breath at the adoration she was showing the man in her arms. Never did he anticipate that things would go as far as they had or expect their interlude to turn into something long term. If he had, he would’ve stepped in much earlier. One taste of Elsa and the asshole smiling back at her was hooked. Could he blame the man for sticking around? Fuck no, he couldn’t.
After the first six months of hell, stalking and watching her every move as she tried to recover from the aftermath of the devastation he had wreaked on her life, he couldn’t take anymore. Relocating, selling his house and moving away were his ways of coping with everything. He had hoped that by putting distance between him and Elsa, he could move on, and she could do the same.
What a fucking joke. No amount of distance between them seemed far enough. Not even the other end of the country.
California: A colossal waste of fucking time.
Sunny weather, toned bodies and smiling, happy people… It was all just another cruel, Goddamn joke. All that bullshit only made his reality more unbearable. Not even the sex he had to try and forget about her was worth mentioning. Sure, the women were attractive, but they all looked the same with their perfectly straight teeth and fake tits. And every last one of them had a personality so dull it couldn’t have cut through fog. It made no difference how far they spread their legs, how good they sucked his dick or the fucked up things they let him do to them - they couldn’t hold a candle to Chapter Eight.