Annabella's Oblivion (Hard World Tour #1) (23 page)

Annabella

After my session with Drake, I had an appointment with Dr. Parker, who checked my recent blood samples and provided updates regarding my health. All was well with me. He kept reminding me to take my vitamins and workout; finally, I had the green light to go to the gym. I was used to an active life, and this whole sitting at home wasn’t working out for me that well.

Although I’d been naturally fit my whole life, I still had to work to have a good body.. I was used to working out and walking everywhere. Here, all I did was rest and eat tons of food to get better, so I wanted to workout for a change. Plus, it always helped me clear my mind.

“
Thanks, Doc. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.” He gave me a smile and just shook his head.

“
Just don’t overdo it, okay?” He looked stern and wiggled his index finger at me. I had to roll my eyes at that.

“
Sure, Doc, but as you said, my health is back to normal. At least physically.”

“
Yes.” He gathered his papers and everything else, and with one last warning, left the room as I lay down on the bed.

I was getting back to normal. At least I started to recognize myself in the mirror, and my hair had its shine back. My eyes weren’t like giants on my face anymore and my body was filling out nicely. I was still pale because I wasn’t exactly getting a lot of sun, but it wasn’t deathly pale as before.

I’d had lunch an hour ago, so I just put on my gym clothes, twisted my hair into a ponytail, and ran downstairs. I knew there was a gym somewhere on the ranch because I had once seen Nate leaving one of the rooms all sweaty in workout clothes.

I found the room; it was near the stairs to the studio.

Wow, it was huge and had almost every machine that was out there.

“
Sweet!” I’d had a special program designed for me back at home, by one of the best
—or should I say the ‘it’ trainer—for celebrities. I just needed something simple that would keep my body toned so I could do it three times a week, and thank God for that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to workout right now at all.

I hopped onto the treadmill and started with a slow walk, and I gradually increased the speed with each passing moment. Although, usually, I was all right running at full speed, today it was hard and I felt like my lungs were killing me. I slowed it down and kept on going, trying to catch my breath. It was damned hard, but I managed. Finally, when I was done with cardio, I moved to weights. Now that was difficult; my muscles were aching, and it was hard to even lift for five minutes when usually I’ve lasted longer. I kept on pushing myself. My body was covered in sweat, my clothes were glued to me, and the room felt too hot. The music was loud. I had my iPod on with my favorite songs. It was impossible to workout without it.

Finally, I collapsed on the floor, exhausted like never before. My body was hurting everywhere; my lungs were killing me, and filthy. But I felt incredibly happy. It made me feel alive.

I’d felt dead for such a long time that being able to handle the gym was an amazing feeling, and I didn’t want to let go of that.

Suddenly, Nate’s angry face appeared in front of me and he was saying something, but I didn’t hear a thing because of the headphones and music in my ears. He impatiently leaned down, took off my earphones, and started shouting again.

“
Are you out of your fucking mind? What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I blinked at him, confused, and stood up, slightly wincing because everything was aching.

“
What the hell is your problem?”

“
My problem is that you’ve worked yourself to exhaustion,” he said through his teeth.

“
I did no such thing, and my doctor allowed me to do it. It’s just I haven’t worked out for a long time, so I need time to adjust. I’m fine.” He had this look of disbelief on his face, which was transformed into an even angrier one.

“
You are finally on the right track with your health and you come to the gym and work yourself to death? That’s what you call fine?” This whole conversation was getting on my nerves.

“
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m telling you.” I raised my chin and put my hands on my hips. I wasn’t backing down from this. He had no right to yell at me when I felt good about myself.

He made a frustrated sound and put his hands on his neck, the muscles evident through his white shirt. Finally, he looked up at me and shook his head.

“
You know, I never thought you could be that stupid.”

Something inside me snapped. In all the months I had been here and even before, I had been called a lot of names, but somehow his calling me stupid when he was supposed to be my anchor, made me angry like never before. And hurt. But it was easier to focus on anger than on pain. I had learned that a long time ago. I took a deep breath and held his stare.

“
It’s my life and my decisions. I did nothing wrong, and I don’t feel like I should explain anything to you. I asked my doctor if it was okay and he said yes! I needed to workout to feel better. And guess what? I do feel better. Before you entered the room, I was lying here happy because it made me feel alive. Because my body hurt from working out and not from any drugs I had taken.” I took several steps closer and jabbed my finger at him. “How dare you come in here and ruin this moment for me with your nasty comments and attitude. You have no right.” I punched him in the chest, and although I knew it didn’t hurt him at all, I still got some satisfaction from it. “Screw you, Nate, and your fucking rules. I’m not stupid!” With those last words, I picked up my iPod and ran from the room. Even though my muscles were aching, I did it anyway.

I needed to get away from him and this stupid situation. I rushed to my room and stripped off all my clothes before stepping in the shower. The water was hot and felt like heaven, as it soothed my muscles, and I tried to concentrate on how good that felt.

I unexpectedly felt arms around me, pulling me back to a strong, muscular chest. I closed my eyes, unresisting. I didn’t have to turn to know who it was, and I had no desire to push him away. He turned me around and pressed my back against the cold tile, hugging me with all his might. He buried his face in my neck, and I noticed he still had his clothes on, which were now soaking wet. We stood there for a couple of seconds, the steam of the water hugging us like a cocoon, where the outside world didn’t exist. My hands were in his hair and I didn’t want to let go of him. Oddly enough, there was nothing sexual about it.

I was naked in the shower, but it was about comfort.

“
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, honey,” he finally whispered. “I didn’t want to make you feel bad. I was just worried shitless.” He kissed me softly on the neck.

“
Worried about what?” I whispered back, and heard him take a deep breath.

“
You hurting yourself. I was worried when I saw you lying there.” The tight knot around my heart and the pit of my stomach started to slowly let go, and I tried to look at this situation from his point of view. I somewhat understood his reaction.

“
I should have told you before I did it.”

“
Yeah.” Another soft kiss. “And I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” His voice was gentle, yet troubled.

“
Yeah, you shouldn’t have.”

From the moment I came here, I’d felt this odd connection to Nate that I couldn’t explain, and I knew he felt the same, too. He awakened feelings in me that I thought no one would be able to.

I had no idea what we were to each other, what kind of relationship we had, and all those things that people loved to define. I just knew I needed him and he needed me. He felt familiar in this unfamiliar world, and I wanted to hold on to him for dear life.

It wasn’t desperation, but it was need.

I asked him to wait for me, when I was ready for physical relationship.

I knew I wasn’t going to be more ready than I was right now. I tugged on his hair and he leaned back. He was taller than me, so he had to look down to catch my eyes.

He must have recognized my intent because he shook his head.

“
No, baby. Too soon. I didn’t come here for this.” I took his face into my hands and stood up on my tiptoes to be on the same level with him. His hands, which circled my waist, provided security, and I knew no matter where I was, I would always be safe with him because that’s how he made me feel, and had ever since I’d met him.

“
I know you didn’t, but I want you. I need you. I’ve finally started to find myself again, and I know what I’m doing. Please let us have this.” I leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips, and they still touched his when I spoke. “I promise I won’t regret it. I know what I’m doing. I want this.” He was breathing hard before finally moving back.

I felt the pain of disappointment, but it was short-lived. He took off his wet shirt before quickly stripping off everything else he was wearing. As he stood gloriously naked in front of me, I couldn’t help but stare at him.

His body was perfection.

He had a lean, muscled body, broad shoulders, six-pack abs, and strong legs. His skin was slightly tanned. His shoulder-length, black hair was wet, and his blue eyes were filled with desire.

“
You are so beautiful.” He smiled and once again showed me those dimples of his. There was something oddly familiar about him, as though we’d stood together like that before. Like I knew him intimately and it wasn’t our first time.

As though I knew his body as well as my own. I felt like I’d come home at last.

“
Sweetheart, if there is anyone beautiful here, it’s you.” Without any warning, he put his hand into my hair and tugged my head back, giving me a deep kiss that made my toes curl. His other hand ended up on my ass as he lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he bruised my lips with his kisses, but I didn’t care. I opened my mouth wider to give him more access, and as his tongue found mine. He groaned and I moaned, but I needed to breathe, so I leaned back, resting my head on the cold tile.

Moving his lips down to my neck, he sucked on it, probably leaving a mark there. Then he licked my collarbone along with small, soft kisses, and finally found my breasts. He let go of my waist and his hands moved up to hold my breasts as he pushed them up and leaned down to suck on one, hard. I moaned louder while his hand was fondling my other nipple. I felt wetness inside me and a deep ache that had nothing to do with the running water in the shower or my gym activities earlier. I could come just from his sucking on my nipples alone. I pushed his face harder into my breast. His hands moved lower as he traced his finger down my ribs to my stomach, and with each touch, I felt electricity run through me. Then his lips followed the path of his hands and he ended up on his knees. He pushed my legs up over his shoulders and rested them there before looking up at me. All I could do was swallow in anticipation of what was about to come.

“
Watch me.”

Ryan

There was nothing in the world that could have stopped me now except her, but she’d started it all. I leaned down and inhaled her sweet but slightly musky scent---a scent better than any perfume out there. Her sex was red and glistening; my girl was ready for me, but I wasn’t done preparing her.

I wanted to take my time with her this time. I wanted to taste her everywhere before I entered her sweet, gorgeous body. I opened her up with my thumbs as I leaned forward to take the first taste and heard her moan; that was good.

My girl was about to find out what it really meant to be thoroughly tasted by a man.

Her man.

Because no matter what, I was and always would be her man.

God, she was divine. I ran my tongue along her opening and sucked on her clit. She moaned and grabbed my hair painfully, which brought sensations to my cock, making it harder, if it were possible. As I licked around her lips, her sweet taste on my tongue felt incredible, and I finally pushed it inside her. She cried out and shifted her hips to bring my face closer. I obliged with a smile.

My girl liked it.

I massaged her clit slowly with my thumb while my tongue continued to pleasure her, and I could feel by the spasm of her pussy that she was close.

“
Nate, please!” she cried out, but I wouldn’t give it to her, not yet. I then used two fingers, opening her up and getting her ready for my cock. “Please…”

“
What do you want, Bella?” I pushed my fingers deeper against her G-spot and she cried out again, this time louder. Still she tried to grab my face and pull it toward her sensitive, heated flesh, because she couldn’t come from my fingers alone. I didn’t put strong enough friction into it.

“
I want to come.” Leaning down again, I licked the excessive honey she was providing, causing her to groan, and fuck if it wasn’t making me harder.

“
How do you want to come? From my finger? From my mouth? From my cock?” She hissed a bit and shifted slightly on top of me. If anything, my girl wasn’t shy in expressing her wants.