Page 14

14

Elias

I park my car outside my new place and practically run inside. No, it’s not because my new sofa has been delivered. It’s because I can’t wait to sprawl out on it with Taylor, or better yet, bend her over it. Honestly, I just can’t wait to see her, hold her, touch her and find out how her day has been.

Okay, sure, sex would be nice too.

It’s only noon, so her day hasn’t really begun, but we have plans for shopping and dinner later and I am so looking forward to spending time with her. We video chatted every night and while that was awesome, it’s not the same.

I hurry inside, and drop my bag. “Taylor?” I call out, and she comes running down the stairs, like she’s excited to see me, too. I pick her up and her legs go around me. Unable to help myself, I press my lips to hers, carrying her straight into the living room and set her on the sofa. I drop to my knees, and spread hers so I can get closer. Breaking the kiss, I inch back and even though there’s excitement in her eyes, there’s something else there. Something that looks like worry.

“Hey?” I ask, and cup her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

She opens her mouth, hesitates, and says, “I’m just worried about my exams.”

“T, come on. Are you forgetting who you’re talking to?” I put my hands on her thighs and she glances at the long L on the sofa, sex clearly on her mind. “Not right now,” I tell her.

She shakes her head, puts her hands on my shoulders, and plasters on a happy face. “You just got home. It’s time to unwind and relax.”

“I can’t unwind and relax if you have something on your mind.”

She nibbles her lip. “I don’t want to bring the mood down. I’m really happy to see you, Elias. I…missed you.”

“I missed you too, babe. But whatever you have on your mind is important, so spill.”

She briefly closes her eyes and when she opens them there’s a new kind of determination there. “I’m not sure we should continue with this charade.”

Okay, she might as well have kicked me in the teeth.

“If that’s what you really want, I’ll respect that.” As soon as those words leave my mouth, my heart pounds so hard against my ribcage I’m sure it’s going to leave bruises. “Did something happen when I was away?”

“I saw that woman you were with, and?—”

“I wasn’t with any woman,” I quickly correct her. “The whole time I was away I was playing hockey, or video chatting with you.”

“I mean the woman in the bar, the first night you were away.”

I frown, having no idea who she’s talking about. There are numerous women in the bars that come up to us.

She swallows. “You know, the one you took a selfie with.” I frown, and as I rack my brain she continues, “She’s a mortgage broker.”

My brain kicks in, and I sink back on my heels. “Yeah, I remember her. Her nephew is a fan. She wanted an autograph and I suggested the selfie.” That seems to upset her even more. “Nothing happened, Taylor.” I inch back further, troubled and a little offended at her unspoken accusations. “Do you really think I’d sleep with her when I’m with you? Do you really think I’m that guy?”

She shakes her head fast, and shifts on the sofa, moving closer to me. Her hand reaches for mine. “That’s not at all what I’m saying, Elias. I do not for one second think you’re that guy.” She blinks rapidly. “What I’m thinking is…as long as you’re with me, as long as we’re pretending, it’s preventing you from actually finding a woman, or getting to know her. I did a deep dive on that woman, and she really has it going on.” She shrugs, but there’s a pained look in her eyes. “She could have been the one, but you didn’t give her a chance.”

Ah, I get it.

Her concern touches me, and a measure of warmth wraps around my heart. I go up on my knees, and pull her to me. I kiss the top of her head and hug her tight. Her arms snake around my back.

“Babe, you have no idea how much I appreciate your concern. I really do. But that woman wasn’t for me. There was no spark, no connection.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive, and how about this?” I sit back, take in her big blue eyes. “If someone does come along before we end this charade, I’ll let you know.”

“Promise.”

“I promise. What about you, though? What if some guy comes around and I’m holding you back?”

Jesus, someone will have to hold me back—from taking him out of the picture.

She snorts out a laugh. “I’m so busy, I don’t have time for guys.”

“You have time for me.” I brush her hair back and place a soft kiss on her shoulder. A warm shiver goes through her and it reverberates through my body. God, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted her this badly before.

“I guess that’s true,” she responds, her voice low, sexy…full of want. For me.

I pat the sofa, which is actually pretty nice. She has great taste. “Time for me to lay you out right here, and show you I’m not interested in the mortgage broker?”

I grin as her mood goes from worried to playful. “I mean, if that’s what it’s going to take.” She runs her hands along the new fabric. “But it doesn’t have fabric protector on it yet.”

I’m pretty sure all new sofas are sprayed with fabric protector before being delivered, which means she’s up to something. But what?

With a devilish look in her eyes, she gives me a nudge to push me back and stands. I take in her sweet curves all wrapped up in her yoga pants. Jesus, I can’t wait to get them off her. She walks around the sofa.

“You want to take this upstairs?”

“Actually,” she coos playfully. “Upstairs is so far…” She stops behind the sofa and bends over it. “How about right here?”

Holy fucking yes. The woman is a damn mind reader.

I push to my feet and my button is undone and zipper down by the time I reach her, and her warm chuckle curls around me.

“I take it you like this idea.”

“Let me show you how much.” I put my hands on her hips, and lean over her, pressing her into the cushions as I press kisses to the back of her neck. I slide my hands up her shirt, and circle her body until I find her breasts. Taking them into my hands, beyond stoked that she’s not wearing a bra, I knead her in my palms and roll her nipples between my fingers.

“Mmm. They missed you,” she moans and moves her body, her sweet ass teasing my hard cock. “Looks like you missed them too. Honestly, Elias, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’ve been a hot, needy mess since you’ve been gone.”

“You haven’t touched yourself, babe.”

“My toys…they’re back in my bedroom at Kalen’s place.”

“Aww, babe, I’m sorry to leave you in such a mess. Your fingers didn’t work?”

“I can’t seem to get off with my fingers.”

I fucking love her honesty. “You don’t seem to have any problem getting off with mine.”

Her body quakes. “Why don’t you show me how you do that again.”

“Lessons?” I tease.

“Lessons…”

The need in her voice prompts me into action and I move my hands to the band on her yoga pants. I tug, and follow them down, until I’m kneeling on the floor. I tap her leg and she lifts it. I pull her pants free, and tap her other leg, repeating the process.

Grazing the strap on her thong panties, I stand back up and tug on them until they’re pressing against her clit. She moans and wiggles and I pull my cock free, trapping it between her sweet ass cheeks.

I slide my hand between her legs and pull the material to the side to give me access to her wet pussy. “You just roll your fingers around your clit like this, sweet girl.” I play with her clit, teasing it until it’s swollen and my mouth waters for a taste. “Then with your other hand, you can slide a finger in just like this.” She moans louder as I dip a thick finger inside her, drenching my finger. Jesus. Her walls close around me and when I pump in and out, circling the sensitive bundle of nerves inside, she begins to ripple.

“Oh yes, just like that.”

“But don’t worry, next time I’m away, I’ll make sure your nightstand here is well stocked, and maybe we can even have a video sex chat.”

She laughs. “Yes, I’d like that.” A beat and then, “But I really liked just talking this week too. It was really nice.”

My heart swells because she’s right. It really was nice. The sex is great—fantastic, actually. But the quiet times as we’re both drifting off to sleep, being able to hear her soft voice when I’m miles away—might even be better than sex.

“Me too, babe. Me too.” As her body begins to shake, I pump a little faster, wanting her sweet juices dripping down my arm. I apply pressure to her clit and play with the sensitive bundle of nerves inside until she’s chanting my name and her body is breaking around my finger.

“Yeah, that’s it, sweet girl. Come for me, just like that.”

Her heat floods from her body and she doesn’t disappoint as it drips down my forearm. She’s such perfection it boggles my fucking mind. I keep my finger inside her until her tremors slow and once they do, I grip my dick, spread her sweet cheeks to spread her pussy wide and power into her hot wet center.

“Ohmigod,” she cries out, and I give her a second to catch her breath. The second she does she pushes back, encouraging me to continue and continue I do. I fuck her, giving her every inch until my crown hits her cervix, but yet I still can’t get deep enough.

“Elias,” she cries out as she comes, and hearing my name on her tongue, hearing the need and warmth as she says it, brings on my orgasm. With one hand still between her legs, I press the other to her back and release high inside her, so thankful we don’t have to use condoms anymore.

We pant together and after a long moment a chuckle rumbles in her throat. I smile, loving how happy she is. Sliding my arm around her I lift her until her back is pressed against my chest. “You are amazing, sweet girl,” I whisper into her ear.

She wiggles. “You’re not so bad yourself, sweet boy.”

I laugh. “No one has ever called me that before.”

She turns and taps my nose. “Well, that’s what you are.”

“Tell no one.”

She laughs and presses a kiss to my mouth. “All the secrets. Let’s just hope we don’t implode.”

I can’t deny that I am worried about that, but for now, I have other things on my mind. “How about a shower and we go shopping.”

She squeals. “Yes, I’ve been excited to get out of the house. All I’ve been doing is going to school and studying.”

“And thinking of me,” I tease.

She smiles. “And thinking of you.”

We make our way upstairs, and shower quickly. Once we’re dressed, we head outside and Taylor zips her coat up to her chin as a cool breeze races down the street. “Why again did you ever leave California? You could have had a great political career there.”

“Hockey…I had to follow my dreams.”

She frowns, her gaze dropping. Clearly something about my words have hit a nerve, but before I can ask, she brightens up and changes the subject. “What color is your suit for the wedding? I think we should match.”

“Dark blue.”

“Perfect.”

I open her door for her and she slides in. Once I’m behind the wheel, I ask, “Where to?”

She scrunches her nose thoughtfully before suggesting, “The mall.”

“No.” I start the car and put it in reverse.

“Why not?”

I throw my arm over the seat and back onto the road. “You’re getting something stunning, Taylor. A one-of-a-kind dress.”

“But—”

“No buts. You’re doing me a favour and there’s no budget. Now tell me where I can find the best dresses in town.” She hesitates. “Tell me, or I’ll call Sahara and ask.”

“Fine. There’s actually a really cute new boutique down by the library. I saw it the other day, and there was this dress in the window that?—”

“Say no more.”

She grins and sits back in her seat but I feel her eyes on me. I also know she’s grinning without ever having to turn her way. By the time we reach downtown and find a parking spot, the late fall sun is low on the horizon, and the air feels cooler. I kill the ignition and circle the car to help Taylor over a snowbank.

“Maybe you were right about staying in California,” I tease.

She chuckles, her breath puffing out in the cold, but as we walk, her steps slow when we reach a small shop. Thinking it’s the boutique, I glance in the window, but instead of dresses, I see small children in tutus twirling clumsily across the room.

“You’re right, they are adorable,” I tell her and pull her close as I follow her gaze. She doesn’t respond, instead she keeps her gaze focused on the children, a quiet faraway look softening her face.

“Does this make you want to have kids?” I ask as I consider that dreamy look.

“No,” she blurts out so quickly it catches me off guard. She laughs, to play off the outburst. “That was abrupt, wasn’t it?” I nod. “I’m just not ready. Down the road, sure, but not right now.”

Okay, so I read that all wrong. But what is it about seeing all these kids in tutus? Why does it fill her gaze with something quiet and heavy?