Prologue
Penelope
I've lived in a little nook at the end of Spring Grove my entire life. My family moved here before my mum even fell pregnant with me. Back then it was home to my mum, dad and older brother Julian. Now it's just my parents and me.
"Welcome home Cupcake" a familiar voice called to me as I turn the corner. Correction, there's also Him.
"Why are you stood in the middle of the road looking like a homeless man? And stop calling me that!" I snapped as I ignored the strong welcoming arms of the tall blonde-haired man. As usual he was wearing light-grey slippers, slightly darker joggers and a short-sleeved black cotton shirt. He's too casual. I continued walking towards my front door as he pouted at my rejection.
"They're not home" he replied arrogantly. I stopped dead in my tracks, sucking in my disappointment before I turned to face him. He grinned approvingly as he continued "your parents text me about a hour ago. Told me they'd be back late after having drinks with some friends..."
I cut him off before he could tell me what I already knew "and you've got the keys?" I asked rhetorically. He pulled out a set of keys from his back pocket and dangled them smugly in the air. He loved to rub it in my face that despite my age, my parents still didn't trust me to be home alone for even a couple of hours.
Most teenagers would think it's because they fear I'll throw a party or invite a boy over but that's not it at all. My parents are simply the overprotective type and for some reason, they trust this idiot more than me.
"You can come in whenever you're ready" he stated as he returned to the house opposite mine. I hate him. He's obnoxious, he's pretentious and he's immature. He's Ryan Elliot for gods sake; the famous novelist, that's had three bestsellers already. Of course he's all of those things and more.
I swallowed my pride as I walked through the front door. From the exterior our houses looked exactly alike, the inside was a different story though.
Ryan was a bachelor, a young twenty-seven-year-old who had way too much money to spend and he made it obvious. From the moment you stepped foot on the white marble floor in the entrance hall, it was like you'd entered into a different dimension. All the walls were crystal white and finished with sharp clean edges that mimicked the frames of art that adorned them. No matter how many times I came here it never felt like a home, more of a show home. It didnt match the man who welcomed me home everyday.
"So I was thinking pizza for dinner" Ryan's voice cut through my icy surroundings. I dropped my bag and took off my black trainers by the door before making my way to find him in the kitchen.
He smiled up at me from the other side of the island as I frowned in the doorway. The room was overflowing with the sweet smell of freshly baked cake.
"That's super unhealthy you know" I stated as he scooped up two fingers worth of chocolate icing and licked it. God, I hated how sexy he looked when he did that. Why did he always do that?
Ryan just chuckled lowly as he took another scoop on his fingers and began manoeuvring towards me "you're eighteen Penny, not thirty. You really should act your age more".
"Says you" I replied, rolling my eyes at him but his grin only widened as he cornered me in the archway. His right arm shadowed my escape while he towered over me in all his six-foot-five glory.
"Come on Cupcake, just a bite" he teased in a serious tone as his fingers stopped inches from my lips.
"I told you not to call me that" I growled up at him "and I don't want it. Let me go". I went to push him away but was met with the weight of his sturdy body. Shit. He might eat like a ten-year-old but he's built like a greek god.
Ryan lowered his head as he whispered sternly "just be a good girl and gracefully accept your treat" before bringing his fingers to graze my lower lip. Damn this man and his god complex. Why did he always have to win? I pressed my lips together more in defiance and he continued "or would you prefer a punishment instead?". That's right, it's because he never plays fair.
My mouth reluctantly fell open as I glared up at him. I began to do as I was told and instantly despised myself for relishing the extraordinary flavour that hit my tongue.
I hated junk food. It only made me gain weight in all the wrong places and hinder my running time. That was irrelevant to the great Mr. Elliott though, he always insists that I try the things he bakes for himself anyway. The issue is when I say 'insists' this is exactly what I mean.
I tasted the sweet chocolaty perfection while still despising the fact that I had given in to his whims again. Before I realised it all the icing was gone. Why did I always feel disappointed by that? I opened my eyes to the intensity of his sharp green one's observing me. He smirked with pride and I instinctively pulled away. "Well?" he asked in that seductive voice as his own tongue confirmed the lack of substance on his fingers. Wow.
"It's delicious" I responded coldly, trying to snap myself back to reality. He really didn't need me to tell him that, he knows exactly how good his skills are without me lifting up his ego.
"Good" he replied, leaving me alone in the doorway as he walked back over to the island. He continued decorating the last few miniature cupcakes. "So pizza, yeah?" he repeated as if what just happened was a perfectly normal interaction between neighbours. I'll never understand how this man thinks.
I answered him with a "sure" before walking away. I went to the study as I always do to do my homework in peace and quiet but as usual I found myself unable to ignore the half written scraps of paper that Ryan had left all over the floor. You'd think a world-renowned author would keep his place of work neater than this. Sometimes I think he does it on purpose to annoy me, like everything else he does.
I rolled my eyes as I started to clean up. I wouldn't be able to focus at all in this mess, I don't know how he could write a book in it. When I sat down at the desk after ten minutes, job complete, I heard a crumple under my foot. I picked up the piece of paper that had alluded me somehow, but just as I was about to throw it away, I stopped as I glimpsed the words written on it.
'Her soft lips wrapped firmly around him, her fingers rubbing up and down his shaft as she moaned on contact. "That's it" he spoke and firmly gripped her head. He guided her as her hands fell away, allowing her to engulf him. He started thrusting into her sharply, the urge to completely dominate her overwhelming him as she continued to try her best to take his ever enlarging cock in her mouth. Her moans got louder as she struggled but he didn't let up. "Such a good girl" he praised as she submitted entirely to her lust.'
Wait no! I screwed the paper up and threw it in the bin, my cheeks burning. What the fuck did I just read?
