Page 19 of Revived (Lucky Ones #1)

Chapter twelve

Sullivan Byrne

I 'm already in a pissed off mood because Elle has been avoiding me like I have a contagious disease for the past week.

I've got eyes on her in the form of our friends and the tracking device I had Mac put on her phone when we were in college, but she's specifically avoiding me .

She told Flynn that it's because she's pretty sure us kissing brought her stalker back.

I've been as patient as I can be this week, but walking into The Den and seeing Steel fucking Brasher's hand on her body sends my blood boiling, and the mafioso that I keep so well hidden surges to the front.

I've given her the illusion of space for six days, and I'm done with that shit starting right now.

I know what's going on in that pretty head of hers.

Not only have I known her my entire life, but I also took a couple of psych classes in college.

Elle is the poster child for OCD, and not the 'I have to keep everything clean' OCD that everyone says they have.

No, the true 'terror grips at me anytime something changes in my schedule, because something bad may happen' OCD.

She is bound to her routine. So much so that I'm actually shocked to find her here.

It isn't until I see the other two gymnasts trailing behind her that I realize it's girl’s night.

A tradition that they've had for years at this point.

One night a month they all get together.

They cycle through the girls on who chooses what they do.

If I had to guess, tonight was Addy's turn.

She's all about the bar scene. My feet move without me telling them to.

I'm stalking across the bar like a manic asshole, and I know it.

But I'll be damned if I sit here and watch another man's hand on her.

As soon as I'm close enough, I throw his hand off of her and wrap her up in my arms from behind.

I hear her deep exhale as she melts into me, like she's been holding it in all week, but now she's safe again. Because she is safe with me, always.

"You been avoiding me, baby girl?" I whisper in her ear. The way her body squirms in my hold tells me my words had their desired effect.

"I guess we've just been missing each other." She half whispers, half pants. She's putty in my hands, good.

"Yeah, something like that." My grip on her tightens, and I notice my buddies from the station watch us with curiosity.

They know she's mine. It's been a long running joke since I joined the firehouse, but I don't think they realized that she's mine.

I mean, to be fair I didn't either until the day of Flynn's game.

However, standing here right now, knowing my lips haven't touched hers in six days?

I need to kiss her more than my next breath.

Without thinking much of it, I spin her in my arms until she's facing me and back us up until we're on the dance floor.

There's not many people dancing yet. The night's still early, but I don't care.

One of her favorite songs comes through the speakers, and I move her around the dance floor the way we've done so many times.

She told me when we were in second grade that when she grew up, her husband was going to dance with her everywhere.

He wouldn't care who was watching or what people said.

All he'd care about was twirling her around and watching her smile…

I started dance lessons the very next week.

My Ma actually loved it so much that she made us all take them, even Rowan, who was almost eighteen.

So I know exactly what I'm do ing when I twirl her around on this dance floor, just like I will on our wedding day.

Her smile is bright and genuine as we dance and listen to Niall Horan sing of putting on a show to go out and hating the weekend because the love of your life isn't calling. She's loved this song since it first came out, and I can't tell you the number of times we've belted it out in my Bronco.

The song comes to an end as I dip her, just like every time. Only this time, when I pull her back up, I seal my lips over hers. She doesn't hesitate, immediately wrapping her arms around my neck and deepening the kiss. My tongue fights hers for dominance until I hear the whistles from my guys.

Shit. I forgot where we were.

I pull away slightly until my forehead is resting on hers. "I don't want to miss each other anymore."

"I don't think I do either." She smiles shyly.

"So we're doing this? Like completely doing this?"

"I want to."

Those three words are like a sucker punch to the solar plexus in the best way.

I can't help the way my body lights up at the thought of her being totally mine.

I'm going to love this woman better than she's ever been loved before.

She thinks she knows me, but just wait until she meets the boyfriend version of me.

By the time we make it back to the table, Steel has a beer waiting for me and a glass of wine waiting for Elle.

Addy and Kenz are talking to Sadie and her wife, engulfed in some conversation that I'm not privy to.

I tip my chin to Steel in a silent thanks before taking a seat beside Hal.

Gently I grab Elle's hips and guide her until she's sitting on my lap.

Once she's comfortable, I drape one arm around her waist and watch as she launches into the conversation with the girls .

Hal, whose name is not Hal but actually Hudson, subtly knocks his arm into mine, drawing my attention.

"It's a good look on you, Lieu."

"What's that?" I ask, confused.

"Getting the girl after all this time."

***

I absolutely despised leaving Elena last night.

Rules are rules though, which means she went to Addy's in an Uber where I'm sure they all passed out as soon as they walked in the door.

They made it to the apartment safely; I know that for a fact because I followed the car to make sure.

I thought the girls wouldn't notice, but the way Kenz yelled "Bye Elle's boooyfrieeend" while the door to the complex was shutting told me that I was busted.

I sent coffee this morning and just heard back a second ago. That leads me to now. Standing dumbfounded in my bedroom, staring at this text from Elle.

Boo: You're a lifesaver. I'll do some pretty naughty things to keep the morning coffee a regular thing.

She's flirting. Okay, I can do this. I've got this. I've flirted before. As soon as I think it , I remind myself that I've never actually flirted like this with Elle before. Before I can overthink it, I shoot off a response.

Sully: Oh yeah? What kind of things ?

Immediately I regret it. What kind of lame ass response was that? Thank god she doesn't keep me waiting.

Boo: I'll show you if you come pick me up from Addy's ;)

Sully: Be there in ten.

I'm in front of Addy's in eight minutes and shoot off a text to let Elle know.

Less than a minute later she comes out of the front doors, and my mouth instantly waters while my cock hardens in my basketball shorts.

Elena fucking Rossi walks straight towards me in my Princeton track hoodie that has my last name across the back and what looks to be nothing else.

This spitfire is going to be the death of me.

Not a trace of makeup is on her flawless skin, and her hair is down in loose waves from last night.

She looks like the star of every fantasy I've ever had since I was old enough to have them. Which tracks, because she is.

She climbs into my Bronco with the most beautiful smile I've ever seen and a glint in her emerald eyes that tells me she's up to no good. She buckles her seatbelt before turning in her seat and smirking at me.

"So… You're my boyfriend now?" She asks almost shyly.

"I think that was the consensus last night." I smirk and reach across the console to take her hand in mine. She moves our hands to sit on her upper thigh, and my fingers flex slightly.

"Are you off today?"

"Yeah, for the next two days." I yawn involuntarily. “Where to, Boo?”

“Take me home, Monster. Take me home like you would any other woman who just got in your vehicle dripping for you in only your hoodie. And I do mean only. ”

When I hesitate, unsure if she’s serious or not, she inches our hands up until the back of my fingers brush against her bare pussy. She’s right. She’s soaked.

“Dammit Baby girl. I don’t know if I can wait that long.” I groan while my cock throbs and tents my shorts.

I don’t know what’s gotten into her, or if the ten years of sexual tension has gotten to her head, but regardless I need to taste her in the next three minutes or I just might die.

“Yes, you can.” She reaches over and grips the base of my dick on the outside of my shorts and begins caressing.

My head falls back and my eyes shut. Fuck, this feels amazing.

She stops suddenly, which causes my eyes to snap open and glare at her, “We’d already be halfway there by now, Sul.

Drive, or I stop.” She bites her bottom lip, and I throw the truck into drive.

I make it to my house in seven minutes. I make it approximately five seconds after opening the front door before I’m slamming it shut and pushing her up against the now closed wood.

My lips descend on hers, and she whimpers into my mouth.

Deepening the kiss, I run my hands up from her thighs, bringing the hoodie with me, only separating to pull it over her head and throw it across the room.

My heart stops beating, and my breath stutters in my chest.

This is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

Even first thing in the morning after a drunken night, she’s an angel disguised as a woman.

Her brown hair falls in soft waves attempting to cover the prettiest nipples I’ve ever seen, and suddenly I hate her hair for trying to hide what I’m desperate to have my mouth on.

She’s lean and muscular, but still has the soft curves of a grown woman.

She shuffles under my stare, and it’s then I realize that I’m outwardly gawking at her.

Her hands come up to my waist, and like she’s handling the most delicate glass, she slowly lifts my shirt up until I fist it at the back of my neck and yank it over.

Her eyes heat with unbridled desire as her hands roam every inch of my hard muscles.

My skin prickles under her soft touch until her hands stop at the sharp lines of my Adonis belt, and she looks up at me in question and uncertainty.

“Every part of me is yours, baby girl. You don’t have to ask for permission before touching.”

“What if I want to do more than touch?” She asks quietly.

“You can shoot me in my chest, and I’d thank you for using your bullet on me, Elle. This is your open invitation. It doesn’t matter when or where. I’m yours to do with as you please.”

I can see the moment that the fire and lust take over her senses.

She bites her bottom lip, and without another word, she drops to her knees and pulls down my basketball shorts.

She peers up at me from those thick eyelashes of hers, and I’m a fucking goner.

As if I ever had a choice before this moment.

Elena Rossi will be the death of me, but damn, what a way to go.