Page 20

Chapter 19

W hat the hell did I just do?

This isn’t like me. I don’t act impulsively; I carefully plan everything. I’m cautious, meticulous to a fault. The last thing I need is to get involved with a local. I avoid attachments and steer clear of relationships. Whatever this is, I have to nip it in the bud before it goes any further.

But damn, he’s going to be hard to walk away from. He makes me feel things I shouldn’t feel, and don’t even get me started on what he just did to my body. Today’s events have left me buzzing with adrenaline, and my mind won’t settle down.

I grab my dripping clothes from the floor, hastily covering myself as I slip through the back door and race up the stairs to my bathroom.

After the quickest shower of my life, I brush through my tangled hair, throw on a pair of jeans and an old Jason Aldean concert t-shirt.

The faint hum of a drill can be heard as I descend the stairs to meet the guy changing my locks. Eli’s eyes—sharp and bright—connect with mine as I enter the foyer, and a slow blush creeps up my face. He’s talking to a short, stocky man, presumably Ed, who looks to be in his late forties or early fifties. He pretends not to notice our exchange.

“Tess, this is Ed. He’s the best locksmith around.”

Ed flashes a light, friendly smile my way. “I’m the only locksmith you’ll find in this area. But he’s right—I’m the best.”

“Thank you for coming so quickly.”

Eli coughs, trying to contain his laughter, and I nearly die, realizing the double entendre I accidentally uttered. Instant mortification fills me as I long for the floor to open up and swallow me whole.

“I was about to lock up and head home when Eli called. It’s impossible to refuse a Huntington,” Ed tells me, completely oblivious to our inside joke.

Eli looks a little embarrassed but quickly dismisses it. “I’m sure it’s got nothing to do with the amount of work I give you—or the six-pack of beer I promised.”

Ed chuckles. “You know I like a cold beer at the end of a long workday.”

Their easy comradery makes it clear they’ve known each other for ages. That’s how it is in small towns.

He finishes changing all my locks quickly, and I reach for my purse. “How much do I owe you?”

“Not a thing. We already have it worked out.” Ed smiles, glancing at Eli.

I shoot Eli a withering look. “I’m not letting you pay for me. This is my problem, not yours.”

“Calm down, Tess. It’s already taken care of. ”

With a huff, I fold my arms across my chest.

“Hey, if you want to make it up to me, we can figure something out,” he says, his eyes gleaming.

I throw up my hands in exasperation. “We’ll deal with this later.”

Turning to Ed, I say, “Thank you so much,” and wave goodbye as he leaves. Eli walks outside with him and returns moments later with my new set of house keys and a small duffle bag.

“What the hell is that?”

“A bag. I keep a clean change of clothes in my truck, just in case. I always like to be prepared,” he responds.

“So, you like to be the knight in shining armor, coming to the rescue of the damsel in distress?” I raise an eyebrow at him. “Do you always fuck them too?”

The flash of anger and hurt in his eyes triggers a sudden wave of guilt within me.

“Actually, this is the first time,” he replies sharply.

“I’m sorry. You’re here to check on me, and I’m being an asshole.” A frown mares my face. “I should have said thank you. I'm just really shaken up after the break-in.”

“Tessa, listen to me.” He gently places his hands on my shoulders. “Whoever did this could come back, and you shouldn’t be alone tonight. We can finish what we started, or I’ll crash on your couch, but I’m not going anywhere.”

“Do you think I can’t take care of myself?”

He takes hold of my chin, his gaze unwavering. “This isn’t up for debate. I’ m staying.”

I let out a disgruntled sigh. “Okay, just for tonight, but at least get into some dry clothes. You can shower in the guest bathroom upstairs, first door to your right.”

With a mock salute, he heads up the stairs, and I shake my head in disbelief. Making sure the doors are locked and the alarm is set, I reach for the TV remote and switch it on, craving the sound, some kind of distraction. Perhaps I should cook dinner for him, or maybe just order something in. After a quick peek into my empty pantry, it’s clear—food delivery it is. Reaching into the fridge, I take out a bottle of wine to pour myself a glass, when a news broadcast on the television interrupts my thoughts. The reporter is talking about an investigation underway in Baker County after a teacher was accused of taping a fourteen-year-old student to their desk. Following allegations—Ronald Tweed, age thirty-four—has been suspended without pay pending the investigation. His parents say they discovered a recording of their son, who has special needs, posted on social media. The parents' faces, filled with anguish, are displayed on the screen.

“We were horrified and sickened to learn our son, who is autistic and non-verbal, was being tied to his desk. He uses his hands to communicate. We don’t understand why this happened—” She breaks down in sobs, tears streaming down her face, and her husband finishes the interview.

Rage and heartache consume me. No child should be subjected to that kind of behavior.

“That's fucked up,” Eli remarks as he comes down the stairs, freshly showered and carrying the scent of soap and my strawberry shampoo. It smells even better on him. “There’s a special place in hell for sick people like that. ”

I nod somberly in agreement, a heavy sigh escaping my lips. Indeed, there is, and I look forward to speeding up the process by personally pushing them into the fiery pits of hell. I’m unsure what that means for me, I’ve never been particularly religious, and I doubt God would approve of my actions. I’ll probably end up in the same place as those evil bastards. If that’s the case, I look forward to terrorizing them even more.

“Want something to drink? I have water, wine, and beer.”

“A beer sounds perfect,” Eli replies. I grab a long-necked bottle from the fridge and hand it to him. The brush of his fingers sends a shiver down my spine, a thrilling heat spreading through me. Being around Eli awakens sensations within me I never knew existed.

“I’m ordering some food to be delivered. Do you have any requests?” I ask while navigating the app on my phone.

“It doesn’t matter to me,” his voice is husky, he licks his lips, scanning me like I’m a whole snack. “I’d rather devour you, Little Killer.”

His words instantly spark a jolt of heat in my core, causing my thighs to clench involuntarily. Words fail me, and I find myself lost in the depths of his piercing eyes, my cell slips out of my hands clattering against the marble.

Eli inches closer, his body taut with tension, like a predator on the prowl. He corners me, pinning me against the cold, hard countertop. As he runs a hand up my arm, goosebumps rise in their path, like tiny beads of excitement.

Tracing my lower lip with his thumb, he whispers, “Would you like that? Me feasting on your pretty pink pussy?”

Letting out a soft moan, my tongue darts out to wet my parched lips, and he seizes the opportunity to slip his thumb into my mouth. “Suck,” he commands, his voice firm. Without hesitation I comply, savoring the taste of him as I lick and suck on it, eliciting a groan from him, and I can feel the hard, unyielding pressure of his erection against my body.

He removes his thumb and scoops me into his arms, hoisting me onto the counter. His hands, warm and assertive, slide under my shirt, tracing a path across my stomach. I help him pull my shirt off, and he eases my jeans to the floor, leaving me in just a thin scrap of fabric. Feeling his fingers cup me, I become acutely aware of the moisture seeping into my panties. He yanks them down, slowly lowers himself to his knees, and lifts my legs over his shoulders. My arms are braced against the counter and Eli’s gaze is molten with longing, his eyes burning with a fiery passion that catches my breath in my throat.

“You're so wet and ready for me,” he groans, before teasingly licking and kissing my outer lips. My hips involuntarily buck, desperate for more. When his mouth finally reaches my clit, I’m overwhelmed by a cascade of sensations. His firm attention on my clit nearly brings me to climax right away.

“Uh-uh. Not yet,” he murmurs before gently tracing his finger along my folds and sliding it inside me. He inserts another finger and moves them in and out slowly as he runs his tongue back across my clit.

“Please, don’t stop,” I whisper urgently.

As his fingers hit that special spot inside me, he increases the intensity of his thrusts. He devours me like a starving man, as if I’m his final meal.

“Oh, my god. Oh, Eli,” I gasp before reaching my peak. My muscles tighten around his fingers, and a wave of sensation engulfs me as I tumble over the edge. Gradually slowing his thrusts, he withdraws his fingers from me, taking a moment to lick off my sweet essence.

“Absolutely delectable, Tessa,” he says, his voice rich with satisfaction.

Eli helps me back down to the floor, my legs wobbly and unsteady. I cling to his shoulders for support, momentarily resting my forehead on his chest.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I smirk, letting a slow, sly smile play on my lips.

His eyes, filled with insatiable longing, meet mine. “We’re just getting started.”

I grab his shirt and begin to pull it off. My jaw drops as I really look at his chest for the first time, noticing his six-pack and the powerful muscles in his arms. I unbuckle his belt, unzip his jeans, and reach into his boxers to grasp his firm length. My body tingles with excitement, a thrill coursing through me like a jolt of electricity. His jeans fall as he steps out of them. His large, hard erection is impossible to ignore. Holy shit, he’s even more massive than I remember. A bead of precum glistens at the tip, signaling his arousal. He kisses me hard, his lips consuming mine, the taste of minty toothpaste mingling with my own juices. Huh, he must carry toothpaste around in his bag as well . The sensation of him unhooking my bra snaps me back to the present. My bra falls to the ground, and my nipples harden in response.

“You are fucking beautiful. These perfect tits fill my hands as if they were made just for me. I could spend hours worshiping every inch of your body,” he says softly as he cups my breast and toys with my nipple .

He moves his mouth to my other breast, sucking and nipping at my stiffened peak. A loud moan escapes my lips. As my hands roam over his body, they eventually find their way to his perfect cock, which is standing at full attention for me. I tightly grasp his firm shaft and begin to stroke it slowly, feeling the heat building between my legs. My pussy’s drenched, my release seeping down my thighs.

I kneel eagerly, itching to take his throbbing dick into my mouth, but he stops me. “No, not like that,” he growls. “I need to be back inside your perfect, tight cunt.”

He lifts me and flips me over onto the counter, face down. His hands reach down to my slit, rubbing over my clit. I feel his hard cock pushing against my entrance. As he thrusts deeply inside me, I release a moan of pleasure.

“That’s it, Tess. Take this dick like a good girl,” he praises.

The room is filled with the intense sound of skin slapping against skin as he pulls out and thrusts even harder. With my face pressed against the counter, his movements grow more rapid, and his skillful hand massages small circles around my clit.

“You like it rough, don’t you?”

Turns out, I have a praise kink. Who knew?

I curve my spine, allowing him to strike deeper.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Fucking. Girl.” Eli growls.

As the sensations grow stronger, I climax, screaming his name as I squirt onto his cock. I can feel his balls tightening as he grunts, spilling himself into me. Eli sinks against me, his weight a comforting pressure, and his lips brush softly against my shoulder. I’m breathless, my heart pounding like a drum, but my body has never felt so sated.

“That was... unbelievable,” I murmur, my body exhausted.

He gently pulls out, then grabs a rag from the hall bathroom. The damp cloth feels cool against my skin as he washes me up, then carries me to the couch. Pulling a throw blanket over us, he snuggles close, spooning me. His lips brush across my forehead. My eyelids grow heavy, and I can barely keep them open. As I drift off to sleep, his arms around me, all I can think of is how perfect this is. But it can’t last. As much as I crave it, crave him , I know this moment is fleeting, that it will end. I have to make sure it does.