Chapter 83 - Daddy Dominant's Good Girl

“Bennett?” I asked when he came to my side. I took another step away from Ellis, putting as much distance between us as I could.

Ellis still had a challenging smirk on his lips as he looked me up and down and then moved his eyes to Bennett.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. I chewed the inside of my cheek and shifted my weight from one foot to the other.

“I was at work and got an incoming report about a boy that was injured. There was talk of you being accused of attempted murder. I was worried,” Bennett said. He touched my shoulder comfortingly.

“Oh,” I groaned. “Yeah, that happened. It is all taken care of, though. You didn’t have to rush over.”

“Of course, I did,” he said, cupping my cheeks. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I assured. I covered his hands with mine.

Bennett raised an eyebrow. He didn’t look convinced. He stepped aside and pulled me along with him. He tilted my head from side to side, examining me closely. Then he ran his hands down my arms and took a half step back, studying me for any noticeable damage.

“Bennett, I’m fine. It was just a rumor that spun out of control by a desperate mother. She was really upset,” I explained.

“I’m not talking about that,” he said. He nodded toward Ellis.

I looked over at him and Ellis’ eyes continued to smolder into me. My cheeks heated and I looked away as quickly as possible. His kiss was permanently burned onto my lips and I couldn’t get the image of his arms encircling me out of my head.

He’d made me feel so safe and protected in his arms.

“I’m okay,” I assured, nodding.

Bennett sighed and shook his head. He took his hands in mine and squeezed them. “I should kill him,” he muttered, acting like a real boyfriend.

“That’s not necessary,” I said. “Thank you for coming to help me.”

I shifted my eyes to the side toward Ellis again and I could see the disappointment on his face. I wondered if he expected me to push Bennett away and tell him that I really loved Ellis and wanted to be with him.

We had shared an insanely passionate kiss.

I shook my head to keep from panting at the memory. It didn’t matter that we still had so much chemistry or that he made me feel safe. Ellis had hurt me beyond repair and I had to hold onto that. Bennett showing up at just the right time was the reminder I needed.

“You don’t always need to come to her rescue,” Ellis’ deep baritone burst through my thoughts.

He walked closer and put a firm hand on my shoulder. I winced but I didn’t pull away. His strong fingers gripped my shoulder, sending tingles down my arm.

“Let go of her!” Bennett snarled, gripping my hands tighter.

For a second, I thought the two of them would try to tear me in two. Ellis dropped his hand, though. He stayed very close to me. I could practically feel his body against mine every time he inhaled.

“Olivia is completely safe with me. I can take care of her. You’re unneeded, especially if you continue to show up after the danger has passed,” Ellis said.

“She’s safe with you?” Bennett asked. He pulled me closer to him and away from Ellis.

“Absolutely,” Ellis said, grinning. “Why don’t you tell him, Olivia? I came to your rescue twice today.”

I looked down at the dress I was wearing and rubbed my thighs. It was true. He’d given me the dress and helped defend me against Bethany and the rumors. He hadn’t done it for free, though.

“For a price,” I pointed out. I crossed my arms and glared at Ellis.

He sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly. “It was all in good humor. I didn’t hurt you,” he said.

“You didn’t hurt her?” Bennett asked, jumping in before I could speak.

“No. Nor have I ever,” Ellis continued, keeping his voice even and calm.

I tensed at his declaration that he’d never hurt me. My blood boiled and I clenched my fists. He really thought he never hurt me? I was about ready to pounce, but Bennett beat me to it.

“You’re deluded if you think you never hurt her. You’re the one who hurt Olivia years ago. That’s why she left, to get away from you,” he said, his voice sharp and accusing.

Ellis’ eyes widened for a moment and he shifted them to me. I could almost see gears turning behind his eyes as he tried to put the pieces together. Ellis wasn’t stupid, so I couldn’t figure out why he looked so dumbfounded.

“Is that so?” he asked, arching an eyebrow at me.

“It is,” I said, nodding before looking at my feet. My stomach rumbled uncomfortably.

If Ellis didn’t think he’d hurt me, then he was not the man I thought he was. He didn’t feel any remorse for what he did.

“I’ve told you again and again not to come near Olivia. You’re trying my patience,” Bennett said. He stepped between me and Ellis protectively.

“I can’t control when we are invited to the same events,” Ellis said, motioning to the chapel. His voice was still smooth and even. It was like Bennett’s threats were casual small talk that he didn’t have to get worked up over.

I was irritated by how suave and smooth he could be even when confronted with the truth. I didn’t want to get involved, though. I picked Ken up and stayed behind Bennett.

“And it is a good thing we were both here. Otherwise, Olivia would be dress-less and she’d been torn apart by an angry mob,” Ellis said. He looked around Bennett and winked at me.

I looked away quickly.

“Is that true?” Bennett asked, looking over his shoulder at me.

“Ellis was helpful today. But he expected favors in return,” I said, hugging Ken and continuing to avoid Ellis’ eyes.

“Everything has a price with you, doesn’t it, Mr. Peterson?” Bennett asked. He put his hands on his hips, threateningly.

I noticed the strange emphasis Bennett put on Ellis’ name, like he knew more about Ellis than he was letting on.

“I’m a businessman, as I explained to Olivia. I protect my investments and I expect a return,” he said, shrugging casually.

“Olivia is not an investment!” Bennett insisted firmly. He threw an arm out to the side.

I realized that Ellis was probably pretending to be so cool and calm just to get a rise out of Bennett. Scoffing, I set Ken down and I grabbed Bennett’s arm.

“He’s just trying to rile you up,” I said. “Don’t fall into his trap.”

Bennett glanced at me and then glared at Ellis. He looped his arm protectively around my shoulders.

“If you ever kiss Olivia again, I’m going to file a sexual assault claim against you,” Bennett warned.

“Did I assault you?” Ellis asked me.

I wrapped my arms around myself. I hadn’t pushed Ellis away like I should have. I hadn’t told him never to kiss me or touch me. I’d let him do it, a few times. I didn’t want him to get in trouble or have his reputation ruined over something like that. I needed to set clearer boundaries.

“No,” I admitted softly. “But I don’t want you kissing me or touching me anymore.”

“See?” Bennett asked. “If you violate her boundaries again, that is grounds to get law enforcement involved.”

“A slap on the wrist,” Ellis said, shaking his head.

He was right. It was an empty threat. I knew that he had enough connections to get out of something as flimsy as kissing me when I asked him not to.

“And if you keep showing up around Olivia or Ken, their home, Ken’s school, I will personally ensure that a restraining order is taken out against you,” Bennett continued, ignoring Ellis’ blasé attitude.

“You seem to forget that Miss Richardson and I are interconnected through our families. Taking out a restraining order against me would be just as harmful to her,” Ellis said, his lips twitching slightly.

Again, I realized he was right. If Ellis couldn’t come near me, the Richardson homes, or the offices, a lot of business deals would fall through. The Richardson company was already struggling with Bethany’s attack on us. I couldn’t risk losing more business if Ellis couldn’t work with me and my family.

“Bennett, it’s okay,” I said, shaking my head. “Ellis knows that I don’t want him touching me or kissing me. I trust him to respect that.” I fixed Ellis with a hard stare.

He continued to smile at me with that sarcastic, mocking, subtle smile. He nodded once, closing his eyes.

“If that is what you wish,” he agreed, chuckling darkly.

“That’s not good enough for me,” Bennett said.

“Please, I’d like to get Ken home. We had a rough day and could both use some rest,” I urged, trying to appeal to Bennett.

He was still worked up.

“No. I want a guarantee, from Ellis’ mouth, that he won’t kiss you or touch you again unless you clearly invite him,” Bennett said.

“That will never happen,” I assured.

“Exactly. So, if I ever catch the two of you in a situation like this again, I’ll know that he went back on his word,” Bennett said. He gave Ellis a challenging, daring look.

Ellis scoffed and tossed his head back. “Well, I didn’t make it this far in business by going back on my word. So, I give you my word that the next time Olivia and I find ourselves in a situation like this, she will have invited it,” he assured.

I swallowed. The way he worded that was far too vague with room for interpretation.

Bennett didn’t seem to notice, though. He nodded and let his arm fall from my shoulders. “Good. I’m going to hold you to that, Ellis Peterson,” he said, snarling Ellis’ name.

“Come on, Ken, we’re going to go home, now,” I said. I took his hand and began walking away.

Bennett hurried to catch up to me, looping his arm through mine.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, offering a light smile.

“Yes, I am. Thank you for taking this ‘boyfriend’ thing so seriously. It means a lot that you’re there when I need you,” I said.

“Ellis seems to think that I’m not there when you need me,” he said, scowling slightly.

“I need you most when he works his charm and makes my thoughts cloudy,” I said, laughing humorlessly.

“I see,” Bennett said, a shadow crossing his eyes.

“Either way, thank you for rushing in,” I said. I rested my head on his shoulder for a second and we headed to Bennett’s car.