Page 51 of The Heartbreak Hotel

“You’re not. The medic said you shouldn’t do anything strenuous.”

“But—”

“Just…let me take care of you. What do you need?”

She acquiesced, softening under Ella’s gaze. “Just some water, please. Thank you.”

Ella filled a glass with water in the kitchen and returned to her, waiting until she took a few gulps before placing it on the wooden bedside table. She rejoined her on the bed, leaning on one elbow, the other hand draped over Riley’s torso.

The cool liquid soothed Riley’s throat. “Thank you.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me.” Ella traced the geometric pattern on Riley’s T-shirt, moving dangerously close to her hip bone. “I…like taking care of you.”

Jesus. Ella’s fingertips running over her made her swallow. How could such an innocent movement send shivers down Riley’s spine? Her breathing quickened, but Ella continued, unaware. Gentle. Soft. Teasing.

Riley’s breathing hitched when she grazed the bare skin where the cotton had ridden up.

Ella glanced up at her. “Are you okay?”

Dammit. Her mouth was dry again. Her focus dropped to Ella’s fingers, now still on her skin.

Ella suddenly burst into a grin. “Wait. Is this tickling you? I knew it!”

Riley chewed at her lip. “Sorry to disappoint. It’s quite the opposite.” Her heart thumped loudly against her ribcage, making her unsure how to articulate the feeling curling in her belly. “It’s…nice.”

Ella raised an eyebrow. “Nice? Oh…” A mischievous look sparkled in her eyes, and her fingers started tracing over her abdomen again. “Nice, huh?”

Tingles spread over Riley’s arms, and when Ella eyed her, searching for permission to continue higher, she nodded, her chest pulling tight.

“You know…” Ella began, lifting Riley’s T-shirt to expose her belly button. Her warm fingers grazed just above the top of her boxer briefs, and Riley sucked in a breath. “I’d like to take care of you in other ways too.”

A deep ache rolled through Riley’s stomach, heat slipping between her thighs.

Ella’s eyes held hers. “And you can just…lie right there.”

“Mmm.” The idea of Ella touching her made all the blood rush to her clit, and she couldn’t form anything cohesive.

Ella hooked her finger underneath the waistband of her boxer briefs, her eyes glancing back at hers. “Keep talking to me. Tell me anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“I trust you.” The words rushed from Riley’s lips. But before she had time to overthink their meaning, something flickered across Ella’s features, locking them both in a swirl of energy, and any anxiety melted away.

Keeping eye contact, Ella moved her hands along Riley’s navel, drawing goosebumps over her arms. She smiled, confidence sparkling, and craned her head to kiss Riley’s stomach. The soft press of her mouth seared her, the heat leaving her skin tingling. Then she lifted Riley’s leg and adjusted herself so that her pretty face nestled between her thighs. Riley couldn’t tear her eyes away.

Ella caressed her thighs before squeezing. Riley let out a small groan, and a wave of arousal rolled through her, pulling her into deeper depths.

“I love how strong your legs are,” Ella said. Her fingers dipped under Riley’s T-shirt, lifting it higher and exposing her abs. “And your stomach.” She traced over the muscles, her tongue flicking out, wetting her lips.

Then she pressed a kiss to Riley’s belly. And another. And another.

God. Riley tensed underneath her touch, her chest tightening. It’d been so long, she was hypersensitive.

Or maybe it was because it was Ella touching her.

Ella pulled a hairband from her wrist and scooped her red hair into a bun. Their eyes connected, and the corners of her mouth curved into a seductive smile, sending a jolt straight into Riley’s clit.

Is this really happening?

The shot of panic wasn’t enough to overpower the throbbing between her legs. Sure, Riley wasn’t the type to just “fool around”, but if she admitted it to herself, she did miss romantic connection. It was a side of herself that had lain dormant for so long now, she wasn’t sure it was still there. But she used to love the push and pull of control, the way two bodies connected and spoke to one another through touch. The possessiveness.