Aching for His Discretion (The Discretion Dynasty #1)

16. Teegan

Chapter sixteen

Teegan

E ntering my apartment, I let out a heavy sigh as I greeted my kitty and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Grayson was by my feet, most likely noticing I wasn’t myself, and even lay on the bathroom rug as I got undressed.

Stepping into the shower, tears fell down my eyes as my perfect day… was simply ruined by Alec. I was so glad that the other doctors were happy with me and that my work was paying off only to be called a slut .

Blaming my success on sexual things he assumes I may have probably done rather than my actual skills or value I bring to the hospital. Threatening me, violating me… The worst part about it is no one can stop him . His father basically runs the city’s hospitals and medical schools. His connections are endless. What’s my word going to be against his?

It was pointless.

Finishing my shower, I wiped my remaining tears as I entered my bedroom. Deciding to make dinner and spend the rest of the afternoon at the library, I grabbed a white knit sweater and its matching skirt and over-the-knee socks to make a quick and easy outfit.

After fixing my hair in a ponytail, I went over to the kitchen and began preparing some pasta. I stepped over my kitty, who decided the middle of the kitchen would be the best place to observe me, as I went over to the sink to wash a few veggies for the sauce while the pasta noodles were boiling.

Soon, I noticed his ears perk up, and he walked over to the door. Surely enough, a knock was heard.

I walked over to the door, only to hear hushed bickering back and forth on the other side. Opening it, I was surprised to see Micah, Nico, and Elliot standing outside.

“Oh… hi, guys,” I said softly, and Micah leaned down and gazed into my eyes.

“Teegan... you’ve been crying,” he muttered, and I shook my head, lying as I turned, letting them come in.

“No… just cutting up some onions for dinner.”

“You’re a terrible liar,” Nico replied, closing the door. Elliot remained silent as they followed me to the kitchen.

I smiled softly. “I promise, I’m okay… what brings you guys by?” I asked.

Nico spoke again. “Levi said he wanted us to come and see how you were doing... Said he didn’t have much time to talk to you today.”

I nodded my head.

“You wouldn’t, by chance, be making dinner for four people now, would you?” Micah asked.

Elliot rolled his eyes. “The both of you, out,” he ordered, and the boys both left, scowls coming to their faces at his abruptness.

“Teegan... what’s wrong?” he asked after we were left alone, and I bit my lip.

“It’s nothing, I swear.”

“Do you want me to ask again?” he said, leaning against the counter, and I sighed as I continued cutting the tomato.

“There’s just this… guy who is very vulgar and rude to me. Sometimes I’m able to hold him off, but I think after doing so well on my rotations, getting praised by other doctors, and being seen with Levi… he’s starting to come off a bit more aggressive.”

“Alec Harrington,” he muttered, and I looked over to him, my shoulders sagging in slight defeat.

“Did Micah tell you what happened at the party?” I asked, remembering the awful start to that night.

“Sure did. His father has more business and hospital connections than brain cells, and Alec thinks the fucking world revolves around him. He will be taken care of.”

He will be taken care of. Huh… Levi and Micah said the exact same words to me before about this situation. Coincidence ?

“Also, don’t overmake anything; these idiots aren’t that hungry,” he muttered, and I shook my head, already having decided to make enough for them all.

“It’s fine. I insist.”

He didn’t respond, and before he could leave, I looked over to him.

“Elliot, can I ask you something?”

He sighed. “I don’t particularly enjoy answering questions.”

“So you can ask, but you can’t reply?” I questioned, tilting my head.

“Spit it out,” he demanded, irritated with my antics, and I bit my lip again.

“I’m… sensing that you don’t really seem to like me.”

He remained silent as he looked at me for a moment before replying.

“You’re not wrong… but I neither like nor dislike you,” he clarified, and I nodded…

At least it’s a start.

“Would you like to know what I don’t like about you?” he asked me, and I pondered for a moment.

Do I really want to know what Elliot thinks of me? What if it’s something I am unable to change? What if I’m coming between his friendship with Levi?

“Yes, please,” I replied even as my overthinking advised me otherwise, and he clenched his jaw for a moment before speaking.

“You’re gullible, innocent, intelligent, attractive, and short,” he said as if he’d rehearsed it a million times in his head, and I was taken aback slightly.

I couldn’t tell if he was complimenting me or insulting me… Innocent, intelligent, attractive, and short, I can understand, and I even appreciate being called intelligent and attractive… but—

“How am I gullible?” I questioned him, tilting my head, and he stood to his full height as he approached me slowly. I played with my fingers for a moment as I suddenly began to feel nervous.

“You tell me what’s not naive about a five-foot little girl letting four dangerous and unknown men into her apartment as if, in any split second, they wouldn’t do anything and everything to her if they wanted to,” he said, his eyes silently taunting me, and my face went red as I turned away from him.

“Well, when you put it that way…” I whispered to myself as I finished chopping up the last of the veggies.

Elliot sighed after a few awkward seconds. “What I don’t like about you, Teegan… is also exactly what I do like about you, what I think would be good for Levi to have around him. But he… we may not be good for you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, and he shook his head.

“Some other time,” he muttered.

I didn’t say anything as I finished the sauce and stopped the pasta noodles from boiling. Setting out four plates and a bowl for leftovers, Elliot watched me as I prepared food for him and the boys rummaged through my drawers in the living room.

“I usually make a lot extra to eat during the next few days or so... just so I won’t be hungry. Maybe you could bring Levi a bowl if you happen to see him today or tomorrow?” I said suggestively.

Elliot contemplated his following few words before speaking. “You can bring it to him yourself... no need to go study in a boring library. You should study with him.”

“And I thought you said he, or rather all four of you, wouldn’t be good for me to have around?” I asked as I handed him a plate, and he looked me up and down for a moment before he shrugged.

“Just because I say you shouldn’t be around doesn’t necessarily mean that he… or I don’t want you around,” he muttered and took a seat at the island as he began eating.

Micah and Nico looked over, and Micah was the first to rush over and sit beside Elliot to start eating.

“Is there any particular reason that you have about forty candles in your living room drawers and closet?” Micah asked after taking his first four bites, finishing his sentence off with a bite of the garlic bread.

“Simple. She’s a hoarder,” Nico muttered as he brought over three of the same candles entitled Laundry Day . “Any sane person wouldn’t buy three of the same candles,” he said, and I huffed, placing his food in front of him as I crossed my arms defensively.

“Two of those are the backups for the regular backup to replace my current one I’m burning in my room.”

Nico took a seat on the island and shook his head as Micah spoke. “No wonder it constantly smells like laundry and flowers in here.”

Ignoring them, I grabbed the three candles and walked back over, sighing as I noticed about ten more candles with their lids open were scattered on the floor, most likely from their interest in smelling them.

Quickly putting them away and placing a sleepy Grayson on the couch to sleep, I went back over to the kitchen, only for the three of them to be staring at me angrily.

“Eat,” Elliot demanded, and only then did I notice my food was getting cold while they were almost done.

Standing on the other side of the kitchen bar counter, I took a bite as a sense of warmth filled my chest… one that was slightly the same as spending time with Levi, however, this didn’t feel romantic. It was almost brotherly... From making them food to cleaning after them, to being forced to eat, they reminded me of my own brothers. Only they didn’t make it their goal to tear me down and belittle me… well, Elliot didn’t tear me down, as much as they did.

“After you’re done, grab your things. We’re going to Levi’s,” Elliot muttered, and I nodded as I continued eating.

Once I was done, I grabbed my bags and books... well, picked them up and handed them to Nico and Micah to put in the car. Afterwards, I gave my sleepy kitty a kiss goodbye before exiting my apartment and closing the door behind me.

On the way to Levi’s apartment, I couldn’t help but think back to Elliot’s comment. How would these men be dangerous? They seemed as if they wouldn’t even be able to hurt a fly… Elliot and Levi maybe. But Micah and Nico seemed as if they wouldn’t be able to. And even if they aren’t good for me… would I have enough self-control to pull myself away from them, from Levi ? It was hard to say...

Eventually, we made it to his complex, and miraculously, Elliot had a key to the door. I heard something coming from his office down the hall, however, Micah told me to take a seat on the couch and get comfortable with my studying.

“What the hell do you idiots want?” Levi spoke in Italian from the other room.

Nico replied, “We brought you a surprise… just hope you were smart enough to wash off any trace of blood on you.”

I huffed internally as I tried to make sense of their language, but my efforts were futile.

“Of course I did,” he replied in English, his steps getting closer, and I looked over my shoulder to see him walking into the living room, dressed as if he was going somewhere.

He looked over at me for a moment before licking his lips and beckoning me over with two fingers. Hopping off of the couch, I padded my way over to him in my socks as he pulled me into his side.

He placed a kiss on my lips, and my face went red as his hand rested dangerously low on my back.

“Why is she here?” Levi asked them once again, focusing his attention on me.

Elliot responded, “We figured it would be better for her to come by for a few hours instead of staying at the library. You did just get cleaned up to go back out to kill another man… Maybe her being here will calm you down for the time being.”

Levi nodded and then motioned toward the door.

“Fine. Now get out, all of you,” he ordered.

Nico and Micah waved goodbye as Elliot nodded his head toward me while they made their way out of his penthouse. He walked out of the living room with my hand in his.

“That was a little mean,” I said with a slight pout, and he sighed as he sat on the couch in his office and pulled me down to his lap.

“I’m only nice to you, Tesoro,” he muttered, and I giggled softly as he ran his hand over my waist.

“It looks like you’re going somewhere. I hope I didn’t impose…” I said, feeling guilty, and he pushed a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Anything and everything can wait for you, Tesoro… no need to apologize. However, I am feeling a bit stressed,” he muttered, and I tilted my head as he stood, placing me on the couch before making his way over to his desk.

“Is everything okay?” I asked softly, and he shook his head.

“My businesses have been giving me a bit of stress. New deals, meetings, renovations…” he muttered, picking up a few files on his desk and throwing them on the ground to either be shredded or put back in their file cabinets.

He walked back over to me, and I looked up at him, feeling bad that I bothered him while he was busy.

“Is there anything I could do to help you feel better?” I asked, and he thought about it for a moment before his eyes darkened.

“There is… something you could do for me,” he muttered, and I looked up at him patiently as he caressed my face. His thumb slowly lowered to my lips and I watched his mouth move silently as he spoke.

“I want to try something, Tesoro. If you feel uncomfortable... stop me at any time,” he muttered, and I continued listening intently as his thumb smoothed over my bottom lip before he spoke his next few words, causing my heart rate to quicken.

“Get on your knees, baby...”