Page 46 of Stolen Voices

Eli flashes me that sexy, smoldering smirk of his and escorts me to his waiting car. Once I’m settled in the front seat and buckled in, Eli closes the door. I stare ahead as the back door opens and closes before Eli slides in beside me. His clean, woodsy scent fills the cabin, and my head spins.

I watch him unbutton the cuff of his sleeves and roll the fabric up, revealing his toned forearms. My mouth waters, and I can practically feel myself drooling. My core clenches air, and my breaths are choppy.

He has got to stop doing that in front of me.

“So, what are you hungry for?”

I drag my gaze from his arms to his face. “Um, what?”

“To eat. You know, for dinner?” he muses, tapping the steering wheel.

“Oh, yeah, duh,” I mumble. “Um, I don’t know.”

“Is there anything else you’re allergic to that I should know about?”

“No.”

“Do you eat meat?” he asks.

Your meat,my lust-addled brain screams. Grateful Eli doesn’t have the power to mind read, I pull my thoughts out of the gutter and reframe his question because he should never say “eat” and “meat” in the same sentence around me.

“Are you asking if I’m a vegetarian?” I know that’s exactly what he meant, but I’m tired of the distance he keeps. I need answers. Is this electricity between us all in my head, or is this real?

His unexpected double entendre lands, and realization finally dawns on Eli. His jaw ticks, and his eyes widen before he clears his throat. “Yes.”

“Then, no, I’m not a vegetarian.”

Eli nods.

Because I can’t help myself, I add, “I like meat very much.” I need to know if he’s as affected by my presence as I am by his.

At my response, Eli’s face turns pink, and he chokes on nothing. Coughing uncontrollably, he places a hand on his chest and tries to catch his breath. “Good to know.”

Oh, he’s affected alright.I can’t help myself from grinning at him.

“So, what did you have in mind?” I ask, throwing Eli a bone.

“Do you trust me?”

His question is a slight dig at my refusal to let him in. If he only knew how badly I want to tell him everything. About my mom, my past, Silla.

A sharp pain in my ribs hits me below my heart. I hate the thought of keeping secrets from Eli.

Baby steps, and they start right here. “I trust you.”

Not sure why, but Eli provides me with this unexplainable sense of security whenever he’s around. Since he started shadowing me for the last few weeks, that perception has only grown.

Aside from my parents, no one else has ever made me feel safe in their presence. Even when he’s not around, I can sense his eyes on me, filling me with a sense of protection.

“Good.” Eli picks up his phone and sends a text before putting the car in reverse and exiting the studio parking lot.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He shoots me a flirty wink, ruining my panties.

“Alright. I trust you,” I repeat, leaning back into my seat and enjoying the view of the city passing us by.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse Eli adjusting himself in his seat, and something dangerously close to “fuck” leaves his lips.