Ceaseless Chains Copyright © 2020 xXMopelXx All Rights Reserved.

Chapter posted - September 17, 2020

I think CC thursdays are going to be a thing from now on! I still haven't fully answered comments from chapter 10 yet, but I will - just been in a mood, getting over my cold, and etc, but promise I'll get to it this this weekend <3 Be safe, guys, I've heard of Covid19 cases rising once again in Canada and elsewhere. Protect yourselves, please. xo

Playlist Song: Drake - Jaded

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C H A P T E R  12

Oliver

          The energy between us was shifting. I grappled with the pull that came along with Teagan being my tenant. But she was no longer just that – she was more. In the last days we've spent living together, the Teagan I grew up with resurfaced. The playfulness and banter were back. However, it was mixed with heady tension belonging to two full-fledged adults who were very aware of the effect they emitted on each other.

She pushed my buttons. She stared at me and waited for me to look away, drop her gaze first. I did the same to her, never backing down. Between the lines, it felt like we echoed end this now, before it gets any further.

Teagan and I were competitive since the beginning of time.

We fought and clawed to get what we wanted, even if that meant getting burned by fire along the way.

What simmered inside of me wasn't a mere flame anymore.

I was a grown man. A raging inferno.

And my little darling was tough, feisty, and could probably make any man her bitch.

But not me.

She may be leading this game with a dominant streak. But I was the game maker.

I always got what I wanted.

I just needed to figure it out if this were worth pursuing...worth risking what we'd just found in the darkness.

This game as children had been harmless. Now, it was just dangerous.

Teagan was ripping something old and glancing at the hollowness inside of my chest, filling it once more with her essence. Reminding me that I'm here, Oli. I've always been here. Telling me that my cover up, my mask of indifference all these months ago, had been shit. These feelings brewing inside of me? They didn't feel new, but they also didn't feel old. I chalked up my confused emotions towards her due to our close proximity.

Time was successful in proving to me that my link to Teagan mattered. It always has and always will. This girl – no, this woman – was a part of every fond memory I had growing up.

There was no childhood, teenagehood or adulthood without her.

Teagan Parisa Manning was etched in my mind, my heart, and my soul. She lived in the small cage where I kept close everyone dear to me.

In the confinements of my car, I'd seen her heart breaking through her eyes when she told me she needed a sense of belonging. That I ground her. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around her, cradle her to me and whisper that she belonged. She had a home. She had me. I wanted to hurt anyone who'd made this woman feel like she didn't have a permanent space in their hearts.

Didn't she see? My heart had ached as it moved and rearranged itself in a way where Teagan's print had more room. Didn't she know? My eyes had tried to convey what my words couldn't. You belong because you never left, Teagan. You're branded in me.

And this is why I'm screwed. This is why the women in my past needed to stay there.

They all had the ability to hurt me.

The elevator ride was quiet. Unaware to my inner turmoil, Teagan's eyes closed, and her head lolled against the black mirrored walls as she hummed a tune. She followed me quietly down the hallway before we reached our home. I resisted the urge to hold her hand during the journey.

Teagan sat down on the settee, taking off her heels. Moaning as she massaged her sore feet. Fuck, she was so beautiful, dampened by rain. Nothing could ever mar her beauty.

Her lipstick was a little smudged at the corners. I knew if I kissed her now – because fuck it, God knew that's what I wanted – she'd open wantonly and I'd taste the chocolate martini she'd sipped all night.

I chucked off my suspenders and undid the buttons at my collar, before offering her a hand. She took it, getting up. Her heels dangled from her fingertips as I walked her towards her bedroom. Just before she went in, I noticed the corset strings lacing the bodice of her satin gown... And I wondered how she would undo them.

I must be a masochist, because I opened my mouth and asked her, "Do you need help with your dress?"

Her door was ajar as she went inside. She glanced at me over her shoulder, chewing on her bottom lip. "Yes, please."

I backed her into the room with my muscle, without touching her. "Turn around." My voice was thick, coated with something I didn't dare deciphering.

She obeyed without putting on a fight. I moved her long hair over one shoulder, baring her toned behind to me. Why did women put on such complicated things? The strings at her back were knotted. My fingers gently plucked and I undid them lightly. If I had it my way, I'd rip them out and let the fabric pool at her feet. But this was Teagan and she'd probably choke me if I handled this with less than care.

"Tara had to help me get in..." There was a shaky quality to her chuckle.

"I can see that," I hushed, my fingers grazing her back in the dark for a zipper. I found it and yanked it down gently, the sound of it dragging ricocheting in the walls of her room.

Something in me relished handling such a powerful woman. She may be the depiction of a femme fatale, especially when she sang in front of an audience, but it was me who ripped down her defenses at night. Underneath all the expensive fabric and jewelry, she was still ballsy, just without her armor. Completely genuine and wickedly raw. She would still dig her claws into me if I asked nicely, I just knew it.

My fingers followed the zipper, caressing her soft skin. Her dress gave away slowly, and Teagan clutched it against her chest, her body tight with the tension in the air. Because I couldn't control myself, my thumb grazed all the way down to her spine, until I touched something odd. I pushed aside the fabric near her hips, against my better judgement, to get a closer look.

Two twin diamonds glinted in the dark. Dermal piercings on the dimples of Venus at the bottom of her spine. I nearly groaned, my throat going dry at the hottest fucking thing I'd seen on a woman.

Teagan's breath caught. "Oli..."

No. She couldn't start uttering my name in that breathless, one sound shy of a moan, voice. I couldn't take it.

I closed my eyes, breathing a little harder than before. Getting a grip on myself, I took my hand away from my new discovery, swaying at all the X-rated thoughts popping in my head like bullets. Just her reaction to my touch – tits rising and falling faster, sharp intake of breath and fucking more – had me realizing her fire burned just as big as mine.

Instead of answering her, I unclipped the pearl choker at her neck and threw it recklessly on the bed, like a gauntlet. A white flag because I couldn't handle anymore of this game tonight.

Careful not to touch her anymore than I already did, I whispered at her ear, "Goodnight, Parisa."

I didn't wait for her reply. Like a coward, I escaped to my bedroom.

* * *

Sleep evaded me completely, no matter how much I tried. I gave up fighting with myself, with my lust. I wrestled away my sheets until they lay tangled at my feet and I was propped against the headboard. My cock sprung free from the confinements of my boxers and I clutched myself, squeezing hard, unable to stop the ragged groan from leaving my throat.

I knew I would feel like the scum of the earth a moment after this was done – after I'd fucked myself to thoughts of my ex-best friend. Yet she was the only thing in my fantasies and she would highjack them all until I rubbed this one off.

So, like a piece of shit, I started jerking my cock to the thought of her. Her wicked grin. The way she eyed me while singing dirty, suggestive words that carried through the speakeasy and grabbed me by the balls. The way she spoke to Wyatt but kept her hungry gaze trained on me.

I choked my cock faster, my fist practically a blur. Teagan flashing her thigh for the crowd, making me wonder if she moved it just that much, would I see the lace covering her pussy? Teagan palming her ribs and her chest as she sang, telling the world just how she'd like to be touched. Just how she'd fucking want me to touch her.

I bit my knuckles to muffle the sounds of my excitement. In the back of my head, I swore to God I heard a soft, feminine cry. I was blinded with pleasure as I pictured Teagan in my bed, bent over, my fingers pressing into those sexy piercings as I ate her pussy from behind.

I came so fucking hard from that thought that my orgasm hit me like a freight train as I pumped my fist, spilling all over my hand and abs. I breathed harsh, nearly gasping, coming down from my high. The breathy female sounds amplified as I fell back against my pillows. Two seconds later and I registered that those weren't in my head. I glanced towards the door of the bathroom. The moans were distant, but they pierced through the lust coated fog in my brain.

Holy fuck...If I found out that she pleasured herself in her room while I created a fucking mess all over me, at the same time, thinking of her? I'd be game over. For both of us.

This can't happen. This can't happen. She's my tenant and I'm her landlord. We need boundaries. No more flirtatious eyes. No more unnecessary touching. No more gazing at each other and no more fucking games.

I couldn't afford to think about Teagan any longer.

You won't survive her again, Oliver.

I should feel like shit for thinking of her the way I did. But I was elated that the sexy enchantress wrought out the most intense masturbation I'd ever had.

Ironically, the joke was on me. Of course, it had to be brought upon by the thought of the one woman who couldn't even scream my name after I'd made her cum for the first time.

Fuck this all to shit.

Boundaries. We needed them.

* * *

The next morning, I avoided going into the kitchen for as long as I could, knowing Teagan was there. She probably thought I was still sleeping, but I never slept a wink past 8 am, regardless of the day.

I could hear her singing softly.

Eventually, I gave into my hunger and padded down the hallway. Her face lit up as she saw me enter. "Good morning," she chirped. God, she was wearing one of those ugly virginal nightgowns yet again.

I had a hard time meeting her eye, considering what went down last night. Especially when I knew she fucking fingered her pussy to orgasm. I heard every moan reverberating in my brain like she was in my bed doing the deed.

A thought nearly bled me dry. What if... What if she was thinking of Wyatt? My fist tightened and I beelined it for the fridge, grunting a greeting.

Maybe she'd figure I wasn't in the mood to talk. Or that last night had been a tipping point for us and we needed to retreat behind our respective walls. That's where we were safe. Where carnal thoughts didn't threaten to break this new relationship. I couldn't afford to have shit get weird. She'd want to leave and I had to think of Grayson. This was all for Grayson.

"Woke up on the wrong side of the bed?" She chuckled a bit nervously.

"Didn't sleep well," was my curt reply. I poured myself a glass of OJ and began cooking some eggs. I'd offer her some, but I could see she was eating a bagel with a coffee.

"What are your plans today?" She tried again.

I gave my back to her. "Grayson wants to come over tonight."

"Cool. I'll cook us dinner."

Nor did I bother to thank her. Sundays were her night after all. I knew as soon as I had breakfast, I'd zoom out of here. Frankly, I needed distance from her to set the boundaries rule into motion.

I also needed some time today to investigate Ava's disappearance. As far as I knew, it could be nothing. But if it was something...

Clearly, Teagan was here to stay so I couldn't eat my meal in private. She had a happy smile on her face as she texted away on her phone. I sat across from her, digging into my breakfast, pausing occasionally to peer at her under my lashes.

She released a laugh-snort combo that piqued my curiosity. "What is it?"

Teagan shook her head. Fine. Not that it was any of my business. I devoured my food and got up to deposit everything in the sink.

"It's Wyatt," she said finally. "He was just cracking jokes."

"Oh." Don't think about it. Don't think about it.

She sighed loudly before nibbling on her bagel. The set of her shoulders told me something was bothering her. I shouldn't ask, but again, I couldn't resist. I sucked at this boundaries bullshit. "What's wrong?"

Teagan's brown eyes swirled with uncertainty. She shifted towards me in the kitchen stool. "Wyatt asked me on a date last night."

And why does that make me want to bash his head against a wall? And why the fuck is she telling me this? I'm not a chick. Sure we agreed we missed each other over four years, but I wasn't fit to give her this kind of advice. "Oh."

"You've said that already."

"I'm not sure what you want me to say, Teagan."

She sighed again. "I don't know either. He's persistent. He makes me laugh and well, Elsie thinks he likes me."

I wanted to say: fuck Wyatt in the ass with no lube. But then maybe she really was into him? She was flirting with him last night, while keeping her eyes on me. Women and their fucking mixed signals.

"Then go on a date with him," I informed her as casually as possible. I fished my keys, wallet and cellphone from the half-crescent table in the entrance.

I could feel Teagan's gaze burning into my back. I wouldn't meet it this time. Boundaries.

"You really think so?" she said, coming after me. "Isn't it weird because he's good friends with you guys?"

"He's close with Jared and Trent. Not me." It was true. He was a nice enough guy when he wasn't leering at Teagan's tits like they were being offered to him on a silver platter. "We get along but I'm not best buddies with him."

"You don't like him," she remarked with a funny expression.

I was putting on my shoes by the doorway. "I didn't say that, Teagan."

"You didn't not say that either."

"Teagan." I seethed. I didn't have time for this.

"Sorry. Sorry. I know I should probably talk to one of the girls about this. I just don't know..."

I threw open the door, the smile plastered on my face more of a sneer. "You should go out with him. He's nice."

Boundaries. I fucking set them when I slammed the door close on my way out.

* * *

I read the address on my phone one more time. Last night at the speakeasy, before Mickey had gotten there, I'd riffled through employee documents in his office. I didn't feel guilty because the fucker had literally given me keys. I handled pretty much everything for him. It almost became my desk as much as his, based on the time I spent covering for his last minute I-can't-come-in-Oliver situations.

I'd found Ava's records and taken pictures. 341 Maple St. It was a small quaint townhouse vastly far from work, and in a slightly shady neighborhood, if I may add. I parallel parked my car along the curb and stepped out, her red cardigan in hand.

My plan was to knock and see if anyone was there. If I were lucky, it would be Ava. If not, someone from her family at the very least. That's what I'd hoped for anyway.

I walked the short pathway and knocked on the door. One beat. Two beats. Five beats. I knocked again. For a minute, I just stood there on the porch like a dumbass.

There were no cars in the driveway. Not even Ava's yellow beat up Volkswagen. I tried to peer around and noticed that even the house looked unkept. Dirty potted plants, half dead, sat lined against the dwindling pathway. The white fence was decayed, rusting in certain spots. Even the screen door had more holes than mesh.

Obviously, I wasn't going to get anywhere today. I turned around to walk away when someone called out to me.

An elderly couple sat on the front porch of the townhouse next door. They called out to me again and I slowly sauntered towards them.

I gave them my most polite, trust-worthy smile. "Hi, I'm looking for Ava. Ava Marino. I'm her co-worker. She left this at work and I just came to return it." I showed them her red cardigan.

They exchanged a confused look, before giving me a dubious laugh. The elder gent was the one to speak, "Son, you're about three months late. Ava hasn't been here in a long time."

"Oh. Do you know where she went..."

He shrugged, adjusting his straw fedora. "No clue. She left one night and never came back. We assumed she packed her bags and left like she said she would. To Vegas."

Vegas? I tried to wrack my brain for any moment that Ava might have mentioned Vegas, but I came short. She wasn't particularly chatty. If one person knew about this, it would be Alessandro. However, I didn't want to ask Alessandro anything. Something about this whole situation didn't settle well in my gut.

"Thank you," I told them honestly. "Do you know if her family is around? I could hand this to them."

They shook their heads. "No family here from what we know. Ava used to rent the townhouse with some roommates."

I nodded my head. After a few more pleasantries, I was back in my car. I took out my cellphone and opened my notepad, making note of a few things:

1. Ava left three months ago, around mid-February.

2. Ava rented this townhouse with other people. Who were they?

3. Ava was headed for Vegas.

4. Ava had parents. She talked about them from time. Vaguely. But I'd heard Alessandro asking her questions about them.

5. Ava, no matter her haste, would have never left Vancouver without her family heirloom. This damn cardigan meant the world to her.

The only thing on my list that was confirmed and made sense was point number 1. I got a lot of insight today even though most of it was tainted with confusion. Despite this, trepidation rumbled through my veins.

I was fucking excited; I knew I was going to get to the bottom of this and figure out what fuck really happened to Ava Marino.

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A/N: As always, thank you @captainhooked my baby for the Oliver aesthetic <33 I loved writing this chapter - sexual tension is my fav thing ever in books. Even more than the actual sex scenes smts lol. Do you guys feel that way too when reading books? I adore the anticipation. Questions: Damn, Oli jerking off to thoughts of Teagan and her piercings? Teagan going on a date with Wyatt? Oli establishing boundaries? Oli trying to uncover the Ava mystery??

September 16, 2020 was four years since I finished posting BT and started posting EB - thank you to everyone who's still around <3 Love you biggggg. xo

Twitter: MajestyMarzy

Instagram: queenmxrzy (should we start our own bookclub on IG?)

Chapter goal: 450? x