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A flood of arousal saturated my bloodstream and my panties.
“But for now, I came because Kip invited me, and likely to invite some of your ire because he’s a troublemaker, and he likes to watch shit happen. But I’m guessing also because he cares about you.”
“What does him caring about me have to do with him inviting you?” I was genuinely confused.
He smiled. “Because he may have the distinct impression that I’m good for you. Or that you deserve the goodness that this promises.” He grasped my chin tighter.
My entire body trembled under his touch, at his words. Not because of my libido—which was crackling—but due to the emotional fucking earthquake he’d unleashed.
I felt my fucking lip trembling as we stood there, him grasping on to me, the ocean crashing behind us.
I couldn’t go into yet another debate about how I wasn’t good, couldn’t spew another warning he’d ignore. Honestly, I was tired. It felt too much like a soap opera.
“I’m going to fight for this, Calliope,” he continued. “For you.”
“You don’t know me well enough to want to fight for me,” I groaned. “And you certainly don’t know me well enough if you think you can go up against me in any kind of fight and win.”
I was trying to inject my words with the trademark snark and confidence that was second nature to me, but the waves seemed to swallow all of that.
Elliot flashed me that damn smile again. “You obviously don’t know me well enough if you think that I’m gonna give up easily.” He leaned forward, so our lips almost brushed. My body ached for it. “And maybe I don’t know you as well as I’d like to—something we’ll rectify soon—but I know myself. And no woman has made me feel like you do. Not a feeling that comes around often, so I think I’ll follow my bliss for a while.” The grin widened. “Fight for my bliss, if need be. Even though I don’t like conflict, fighting with you has quickly become my favorite pastime.” His eyes dipped to my chest, down my body, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.
“Second favorite pastime.” Sexual hunger dripped from the words.
My body screamed with need as my head shrieked with logic.
Unable to handle the noise anymore, I grabbed the back of Elliot’s head and crashed our lips together.
I caught the slight widening of surprise in his eyes the second before our lips brushed. He met my assault with his own kiss, tongue exploring my mouth, hands settling on my hips, bringing our bodies fully flush together.
The clamor in my head, all of it quieted with Elliot’s mouth on mine, his body pressed against my torso, his scent enveloping me.
The kiss lasted longer than it should’ve, considering it should’ve never even happened at all.
Worse than that, Elliot was the one who broke it. Without him, I might’ve just stood there, making out with him like a fucking teenager.
He kept a firm hold of me, smiling against my mouth.
“Missed that.” His eyes explored my face. “Missed you.”
My insides contracted. “I’m not yours to miss.”
“I don’t have to call you mine to miss you, Calliope.” He caressed my cheek with his knuckles. “And judging by that kiss, you missed me too.”
The cockiness in his tone irritated me.
And the fact that he was right.
Looking into the eyes of this handsome fisherman under the glow of his carefree smile, I got the impression that my life had gotten infinitely more complicated.
“You’re right.” With great effort, I pulled myself from his arms, and he let me.
Elliot’s eyes widened in surprise as he folded his arms. “I’m right?”
I nodded. “I missed you. Or more accurately your cock, since you’re the first man I’ve discovered in Jupiter who knows how to use it.”
It was best left out that he was the only man in Jupiter whose cock I had been exposed to, which was entirely the point. I was trying to insinuate that I’d slept around. Which was well within my rights to do. I could sleep with a different man every night should I want to. But I didn’t want to. Too much work, and truly, not enough men knew the intricacies of female pleasure. Vibrators were the safer and more efficient bet.
Elliot, instead of looking possessive or revolted, threw his head back and laughed.