Escaping the Contract Marriage

Ground Rules

Ella's Pov

I woke the next morning to the sound of my nephew running into the living room. "Aunt Ella", he screamed, before taking a running dive for me on the couch. "Ugh!", I grunted, as he made contact with me. "Hey Code, I missed you", I said, as I hugged him tightly. "Cody! I told you to be gentle", Jill scolded, as she walked into the room. "But mom, I haven't seen Aunt El in forever", he whined. "Hey buddy. Your Aunt Ella is hurt. Why don't you come here", Darian said, reaching out for Cody in my arms. Cody climbed up Darian's arms to rest. "Why are you hurt?", Cody asked me with a sad face. "I just had a little accident, is all. I'm okay buddy", I told him, while giving Darian a pouty face. Darian gave me a contemplative look, but Cody seemed satisfied with my answer. He climbed out of Darian's arms and ran towards the kitchen. I started to attempt to stand up off the couch but was unsuccessful. "Need help?" Darian asked, as he outstretched his hand towards me. I grabbed ahold of it, "Only to stand", I said. He helped me stand up. I wobbled a little and he wrapped his arm around my waist to steady me, his eyes fixed on my lips the whole time. "How do you feel?" he asked, his eyes slowly leaving my lips and meeting mine. "Uh, like I got shot in the leg with a 9mm", I answered with a hollow laugh. Darian smiled and shook his head, his eyes going back to my mouth. "I think I got it from here", I told him, as I tested some weight on my leg. He nodded and slowly let me go. I, then, began my journey to the bathroom. There were a few times that I had to stop and regain my composure, between the bathroom and the kitchen. But, I did eventually make it to the kitchen where everyone else was. "Look who's walking", Colin commented, as I limped in. "Good morning, Auntie", Raine said from the kitchen table, where her and Cody were seated having breakfast. "Good morning, butterfly", I said with a soft smile. Then I turned toward Colin, "I don't think hopping on one foot qualifies as walking, but yes, I am up and about", I joked. "Well, you aren't crawling, so you have that going for you", he said, gesturing toward me with his hand. "True. Touche", I said, with my hands up in mock surrender. Jill handed me a cup of coffee. "Thanks, sis", I said, taking a sip of the hot liquid, relishing the warmth as it travelled down my esophagus to my stomach. "I have your plate. Come sit", Darian said, as he walked past me to the kitchen table with two plates. I smiled and followed him, and sat between him and Cody at the table. "Aunt Ella? Where is Uncle Micheal?" Cody asked, as he looked up at me. I noticed every adult in the room, tense. "He couldn't make it this time buddy. He had to work", I answered, sounding more confident than I felt. I released a breath that I didn't know I was holding until Cody nodded and continued to eat.

I looked over at Darian to find him already staring at me with a sad expression. Like he understood why I had to lie but wished I didn't have to. I looked back at my food and started picking at it. "Ella, I have a few men from the company coming out today. They will take shifts guarding the perimeter", Colin informed me, to which I nodded. "We will discuss it further in my office, after breakfast. There's some ground rules we need to go over, that I expect you to follow", Colin added. That caught my attention. My head snapped up to face him, my eyes a little wide. He was munching on his food, nonchantly, completely unbothered by the words that had just left his mouth. Does he really think that he is going to control me? After I had just escaped a man that spent the past three years trying to control me? Is this where the dominant Colin, rears his ugly head? I mean, I understand certain rules that are put in place for my safety, like not leaving the house without an escort. But he said rules; more than one. I looked back down at my plate and pushed the food around. Darian leaned close to me. "Eat, Ella. You need your strength and the nutrients", he said sweetly. I nodded and attempted to eat a little. I could feel Darian watching me and making sure that I was eating.

Darian's POV

I'm sitting in Colin's office with him and Ella. Jill is with the kids. Colin's been going over the rotation shifts, who would be here and when. How they won't enter the house unless certain circumstances arrive. I haven't really been paying much attention to what he is saying. Mainly because I already know the routines of our men. Hell, I helped put the rules and guidelines in place for our men to follow.

Instead, I'm watching this beauty next to me, pretend she is interested, and also that she is not in excruciating pain. I see it, every time she shifts, or tries to move her leg, her face goes stone cold and her jaw clenches. I really have to give it to her. I've watched men on the battlefield get shot in the exact same place, then cry like bitches the next day. They would refuse to even try to move so that they could heal. But, not her. She knows every movement counts to a quicker recovery. Though, I have to say, she's borderline pushing it. She goes at her own pace, but she also refuses help past standing up. She uses what she can for support, such as walls, tables and chairs. But, she's determined to do it on her own. I've never met a woman quite like her before. But, not eating is going to have to stop. Even if I have to feed her myself. She really needs nutrients from the food and the energy boost.

Colin keeps rattling on and on about the men's procedures and s**t. But, I know what Ella is really waiting for. The same thing I am. The 'rules'. When Ella told me that her husband was mentally and physically abusing her, I was outraged. Yes. But, also outraged about the fact that she couldn't even tell Colin because he refuses to acknowledge verbal abuse as abuse. I have known Colin for about six years. I have been over to his house a few times for cookouts and card games. And every time he seemed like a happy go lucky guy. But, now that I think about it, Jill was barely ever around for those events and get-togethers.

"Okay. Now for the ground rules, I'd like to go over with you", Colin said. Here we go. "First thing first, no flirting with the guards. They are here for your protection. Nothing more", he said. "No worries", Ella said. Damn. Does that mean me too? "Second, you will not leave the house", he said. "At all?" Ella asked. That is a little extreme. She got here with nothing but the clothes on her back, and she can't even wear the pants anymore, since I ripped them. And, no offense to Jill, but Ella's ass and t**s are bigger than hers. She's got to be uncomfortable. "At all", Colin deadpanned. "I need clothes, Colin", she protested, with good point. "You can get whatever you need from Jill", he grunted. No, she can't. "No, I can't, Colin. This may be TMI, but, I can't f*****g breathe in your wife's bra. I need some clothes. f**k, take me to Walmart. I don't even care. I'm not asking to go out every day. I'm asking for one trip to the store to get what I need until all of this blows over", she said, trying very hard to control her temper. Her jaw is clenched and her nostrils flaring. It's actually kind of cute, deadly, but cute. "No", he stated. Oh, come on dude. Ella stood up and slapped both of her hands on his desk, and leaned forward. "Colin, so help me God, I will punch you in your f*****g throat", she hissed. Now that was sexy. "I'll take her, she will be safe with me", I spoke up. Both of them snapped their heads in my direction. Ella has a look of gratefulness, while Colin has one of disbelief. "She needs clothes, It's one trip. I can take her", I stated. Ella eases back into her seat. "Problem solved. Next rule", she said with conviction. I love it. She understands the importance of her safety, but also isn't going to be pushed around. Colin goes to open his mouth to say something, when his phone chimes. He picked it up and looked at it, then furrowed his eyebrows. "Robert is here. Please behave", Colin directed at Ella. "No promises", she retorted. Colin stands up to leave. Robert? Who's Robert? "Robert?" I asked, looking from Colin to Ella. "My sperm donor", Ella said sarcastically with a nod. "Ella!", Colin snapped."What? It's the truth. Sometimes, the truth hurts. But, I won't apologize for speaking the truth", she stated. f*****g perfectly said. God, this woman, she f*****g makes me feel a way I can't explain. I do know I'm looking at her with complete adoration right now. "Ella!", Colin snapped again. She raised her hands in mock surrender, before he walked out of the office.

Ella's demeanor had completely changed now. She has her elbow propped up on the arm rest of the chair with her head rested on her hand. Her good leg is bouncing up and down at a rapid pace. The vein in her neck was pulsing rapidly to the pace of her heart. "Are you okay?" I asked. She is obviously not, I can see that. Every since the mention of her father, everything has changed. I'm beginning to think that the way she originally spoke of him to Colin and I, is also a defense mechanism. The sarcasm, her anger and anxiety spike, are a result of Robert. "No", she whispered, so low I almost didn't catch it. "What is it about your father?" I asked. I know I'm probably pushing a little too much, but I need to know if I should be on guard around him, like a lot more than Colin is. I probably should, regardless of her answer. Okay, I will be. "He's not the type of man Colin thinks he is", she whispered. I didn't figure he was. "Colin doesn't know the full story of my 'marriage'. He knows what Robert wants him to know. Colin was fighting a war across seas when everything went to s**t", she whispered, refusing to look at me. "I was fighting that war with him", I whispered. She looked up at me and had a tear in her eye. "I'm sorry", she whispered. "But, um, I'm worried things will get ugly. He is probably going to want to see me alone. Please don't leave me with him", she said softly. Her eyes held worry, fear, and trust? Trust in me? I reached up and wiped the tears that had escaped her eyes, "I won't", I promised. She nodded her head as the office door opened. "There's the runaway bride", a man in his mid-late fifties said, as he and Colin walked in. He was about 6', had gray hair, and a gray week-old beard. He wore a black suit, and had a little gut that stuck out. He has what looks like a permanent scowl etched onto his face.

Is that really how he's going to address his daughter, after she barely escaped with her life? As the 'runaway bride'? What in the actual f**k? Now I'm pissed. f**k this dude. One wrong move on his part and I'm laying this old f**k out. "I'm talking to you young lady. What do you have to say for yourself?" Robert asked with venom, stepping closer to us. Ella stood up and turned to lean on the desk for support. I followed suit. She looked straight at Robert, "Go to Hell." Ha. I had to cover my snort with a cough.

"Really? Go to Hell? You runaway from your husband under false pretenses. And all you have to say is 'GO TO HELL'?", he bellowed. False pretenses? "False pretenses?" Ella snapped. Damn, she beat me to it. I think being shot for any reason by your spouse constitutes leaving. I watched the bullet being pulled from her leg, while I held her luscious body. That wasn't false. "How about, go f**k yourself? Is that better?" she asked sarcastically. God, I love how vicious she can be. Even if I know that she is only acting this way to keep from breaking down. That's okay, I'll more than gladly hold her when she is ready to let this out.

Robert tensed up and clenched his jaw. "Can I have a moment alone with my daughter? There is something we need to discuss", Robert said through clenched teeth. Ella tensed next to me and gripped the desk. I took a step closer to her, our bodies touching ever so slightly. "I don't think so", I said, crossing my arms across my chest. "Darian", Colin warned. "No. I'm here to help keep Ella safe and protect her from any threat. I will not leave her alone with him", I said with authority. I'm not budging on this. She wouldn't have asked me to stay if she didn't feel like she needed me too. So I'm staying and no one will change that. Even if I have to go toe to toe with Colin this evening. I hope it doesn't go that route. But, I'm ready if it does.

"And you are?", Robert sneered at me. "Darian Bladez, Retired Marine, and Ms. Ella's security detail until further notice. If you have anything you want to say to her, you can say it with me present", I said, standing straight and taking a protective step in front of Ella. She can trust me to keep her safe. Robert scowled at me. "I do not have to explain myself to the man that sold me to a ruthless, self-intitled, douche-bag. So, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I'm still very exhausted from my traumatizing experience with the man you claim is my husband. Please excuse us, I'm already done with this conversation", Ella announced, as she stood up straight and tapped my lower back. I almost lost my composure from her touch. It was different for me. I have never been this way with anyone. I stepped sideways, between her and Robert, allowing her to pass a safe distance from him. "We aren't done here, Ella", Robert snapped, trying to take a step forward. I put my hand up, with a stern 'try me motherfucker' look, effectively stopping him in his tracks. "We are for now", Ella deadpanned. I followed her to the door, standing between her and her father the whole time.

Colin had been quiet this whole time. When I glanced at him, he was pale, like he had just seen a ghost. I didn't know her father sold her to Micheal, either. I'm sorry, buddy. When we left the office and made it a safe distance down the hall, Ella stopped and leaned against the wall. Her head fell back, distorting with pain, before she took a few deep breaths. I closed the distance between us, our bodies extremely close together, as she leaned on the wall. I couldn't help myself, she looked so inviting. I reached up and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Itching for any type of contact with her body. "What can I do to help you? Where do you want to go?" I whispered. She grabbed my forearm and held on to it for support. "Outside", she rasped,"I need air". f**k, she's having a panic attack.

I swiftly lifted her into my arms and made my way outside. I sat on the garden wall just outside the back door and cradled her in my arms. I positioned us so that I could use one of my hands to make her look at me. As I did, I stroked her chin lightly with my thumb. "Breathe for me, sweet", I said softly. Taking a deep breath, holding it, then letting it go, demonstrating to her what to do. She tried but struggled. "Try again. Deep breath in", I said gently, as I stroked her cheek, along her sinus cavity. My goal here is to stimulate her mind to breathe, while also calming her down. She tried to breathe deeply again, but struggled with getting a full breath. I nodded my head, "Again", I said, demonstrating the breathing technique while stroking her cheek. We repeated this two more times before she was able to get her breathing under control. I pushed the hair that had fallen on her face slightly, behind her ear. "There we go. All better?" I asked gently. She nodded her head and scooted off my lap to sit next to me. Her ass rubbed against my d**k in the process, making it stand at attention immediately. No girl has ever affected me like this.

"Thank you", Ella said, her face slightly red. "You don't have to thank me. I want to help you in any way I can", I said, honestly. "I do though. No one has ever been able to help me come back from a panic attack. I usually have to ride them out", she whispered. Wow, really? So does that mean that I am also affecting her in ways no one has before. Because when she touches me, or I touch her, I'm lost. Nothing else matters. It's just her and I. I'm drawn to her. I want to be with her. Love her, care for her, protect her. Which is weird for me, because I have never felt this way towards any woman before, ever. "I'm glad I could help you, then." I said softly. She smiled softly at me. She looked out to the back-yard and saw Jill sitting at the patio table and the kids out on the swingset playing. She looked back at me with a pleading look. She wanted to go sit with her sister.

I stood and outstretched my arm to her for support, like you would when you escort someone. She looked at my arm and back at my face with a contemplative look in her eyes. "Sometimes, it's okay to have some support." I said, giving her a 'try denying me' look. I was challenging her on this. She smiled, and shook her head. Then she stood and took my arm. She placed one hand inside my bicep and the other onto my forearm. "You can add more weight to my arm, you won't pull me over", I laughed. She chuckled, stopping my world in it's tracks. Wow, how beautiful. I could feel her adding more pressure with each step she took, until she was comfortable. "Better?" I whispered. I know she wanted to do it on her own, so I figured this way she'd get support for her leg, but the independence she craves. "Yes. Thank you", she exhaled. "Why do you pretend you aren't in pain?" I blurted out. I had to. I have to f*****g know. I couldn't hold the question in any longer. "I don't pretend", she said with furrowed eyebrows, "I just push it down, fight through it. Physical pain usually works itself out. Besides, what could really be done about my pain? I'm not a 'sit on my ass' type of person", she explained. "I can definitely see that. But I could get you some pain meds. Or you could take a hot bath", I suggested, with a slight shoulder shrug. "First, I can't soak in a bath until my wound heals", she said with a bit of sadness in her voice. She's got me there. "And second, I don't like pain meds. Not unless it's unbearable. This is only 'almost' unbearable", she said with a cheeky grin. I chuckled "I hate to ask. But do you have a thing for pain?" I asked with an arched eyebrow. She chuckled then sighed, "No, I don't. However, I do believe pain builds character. So, whereas I prefer not to be in pain, I'll endure it if I'm in it. Does that make sense?" she asked, her eyebrows were furrowed and her bottom lip poked out a little. She looked like she was questioning herself, but it was so damn precious. "Yes it does", I said, she smiled at me. "Good, I honestly felt like it didn't for a second and I was just rambling", she said, laughing lightly and blushing. f*****g adorable. I laughed and shook my head, "Made sense to me."

As we approached Jill at the patio table, I noticed she had a deep scowl on her face. Ella looked up at me with a questioning look. She noticed as well. I gently eased Ella into one of the patio chairs, then sat in the one next to her. Ella looked at Jill, who hadn't even acknowledged that we had sat down yet, then out to the kids. "They are getting big. You've done a marvelous job raising them, Jill", she said, still looking out at the kids playing on the swingset. I couldn't take my eyes off Ella. With her head turned, her neck was bared to me, exposing her skin. I'd love to feel her soft skin of her neck against my lips. I can see the erratic pulse of her heart beating, through the vein in her neck. A side effect of her panic attack, her heart is still beating super fast.

"He wants to invite a few of his buddies over tonight", Jill mumbled. Both Ella and I looked at her. Who? Colin? Really? Like, now is a good time for company. "I hate it when he drinks, Ella", she whispered. "I know, Jill. I'll see what I can do to curve that", Ella said, reaching over and taking her sister's hand. "I just hate how he acts when he over does it", Jill sniffled. "You know what? I'll solve this issue. Where's the closest smoke shop?" Ella asked, clapping her hands together. s**t, my kind of girl. "Right next to Walmart", I answered her, with a mischievous grin. "Perfect. We need to make a stop then. That will mellow out the party", Ella said.

"Ella, let's talk", Robert said, as he walked down the pathway towards us. "Grandpa, come push us", Cody called from the swings. "Yeah, go spend time with your grandkids. I don't have anything to say to you." Ella said, with a flat tone. She appeared calm and collected, but I could see her clenched jaw and her nostrils flaring up. Her heartbeat picked up, making the veins in her neck pulse quicker. God, I want to run my tongue up her neck while it is beating that fast. Expect I want to be the reason her heart rate is erractic. Snap out of it. "In a bit, kids", Robert called out to Raine and Cody. "I've spoken to Micheal", he informed Ella. I sat straight up, my whole body tensed, as I awaited his next words. He had better not have informed that d**k where Ella is located. I will kill them both. "Did you?" Ella asked, completely unsurprised. Robert took a seat across from her and next to me. Colin walked up and had Jill sit in his lap. Damn, I wish Ella was sitting in my lap. I'd hold her perfect hips and grind her against my- "Yes, I did", Robert said, interrupting my thoughts. "He said that it was just a misunderstanding, that he is sorry and wants you to come home immediately", Robert said. What the f**k? "Misunderstanding? He's sorry?" Ella all but shrieked, losing the fight with her temper quickly. "How about you keep your nose out of business, that doesn't really f*****g concern you? You don't care about me, you never have. I've only ever been your bastard child, whom you needed to rid yourself of. Nothing more. So, don't concern yourself with me now", Ella said. I know inside she is probably screaming and crying that her own father is a complete piece of s**t. But she is not showing it right now. She is radiating strength and beauty. I'm completely blown away by her. "Your marriage does concern me", he sneered, leaning forward. "Why? Because you signed a contract? I'm not too concerned about that, since the marriage was never consummated. I'm free to file a dissolution of marriage under the circumstances that my husband committed adultery", Ella said, dropping a f*****g bombshell. My head snapped towards her. Am I hearing that right? They never consummated their marriage? Three years of marriage and they never had s*x once? Robert's face turned deadly, "You haven't consummated your marriage yet?", he asked slowly. Oh, daddy isn't happy. "Nope." she deadpanned. "Why not?", he seethed through clenched teeth. "Because I'm not going to have s*x with someone I don't want to. That's called rape." she informed him. Quite correctly, I might add. "He's your husband", Robert sneered. "Says you" Ella snapped. "And what about you? You expect me to believe you abstained this entire time?" he asked her with venom. That's a good question. Has someone been tending to your needs? "Yes," she stated with conviction. Oh, so she has been tending to herself. That is such a turn on. Robert scoffed, stood up and stormed off back into the house. Ella leaned back in her chair. Propping her elbow on the arm rest, she played with her bottom lip, as she stared at the table in front of us. I wanted to reach over and replace her fingers with my lips, so bad.

I noticed Jill hadn't spoken at all, she showed no emotion on the subject either. At least Colin and I have reacted to the new information in some way. But not her. She stood staring at the table the whole time. "You're very quiet", Colin said, tapping the side of Jill's leg. I want to do that to Ella and feel her ass jiggle in my lap. Ugh, what's wrong with me? Ella pulled her good leg into the chair so that she could hug it and lay her head on her knee. Not without some hisses and whimpers though. I wish I could take her pain away from her. Jill didn't get a chance to answer Colin before Robert came back out and slammed himself into the empty chair. He scowled at Ella, who refused to look at him. "You think you're slick, huh?" Robert sneered. "Determined", Ella mumbled against her leg. "Ella Rose", he snapped. "Don't you dare! You have no right to use my full name. You don't even deserve to be a father," Ella snapped. Then she turned towards me, "Can we go now? I need to leave", she asked, her voice cracking a bit, once her eyes met mine. I nodded and stood from my chair. I reached out and helped her up, then inside.