Page 14 of Forever Mine
“Quiet and broody. Got it.” I play my fingers through the wispy strands of the hair at his nape.
Elijah’s chuckle reverberates through his chest. “Pretty much.” His head angles back slightly. “How are you?”
“Got you in my arms, so I’m pretty damn good.”
His teeth nip my chin. “You know what I mean.”
I playfully pinch his ribcage in retaliation. “I know what you mean. I swear, I’m good.”
As good as I can be, considering. But I can’t let my worries over Liz start a runaway avalanche that will bury me alive. Been there, done that. I won’t put Elijah through that hell again. I won’t put myself through it.
He splays a hand across my pectoral, right above my heart. “I’m here… if you want to talk.”
“Elijah.” I wait for him to meet my gaze. When he does, I tell him, “I’m here, too.Foryou andwithyou. Not going anywhere.”
He seems to understand the deeper meaning behind my words, and his chest deflates as the breath he was holding rushes out.
A fast-moving trail of light catches my attention as it streaks across the sky.
“Shooting star.”
Elijah twists around. “Where?”
As quickly as it arrives, it burns itself out. “Just missed it.”
I show him its trajectory with the movement of a finger.
“Did you make a wish?” he asks.
“I did.” Cupping his cheek, I guide his face back around.
His stunning hazel eyes that are more green than brown under the sparse moonlight sucker punch me in the gut with the power they hold. But it’s the upturned curve to his lips that doesme in. Elijah’s smile makes me weak in the goddamn knees—has since the first time I saw him.
“What was it?” he whispers, like anything louder would break the wish’s magic.
“I’ll show you.”
Using the strength a lifetime of playing soccer has gifted me, I rise from the chair with him in my arms. With the added muscle mass he’s packed on, he’s a lot heavier than he used to be. Doesn’t stop me.
“Julien,” he protests. “I’m too heavy. Don’t hurt yourself.”
“Put your legs around me.”
Joining my hands under him, he wraps his legs around my waist and his arms around my neck. But it’s his effulgent laughter that has me grinning like a lovesick fool. I am so fucking gone for this man.
Needing to kiss him more than I need air, I push him against the stucco wall of the building and ravage his mouth. His lips eagerly part, and I taste his moan when our tongues touch. With teasing strokes, I build up our kiss, sinking into him and taking it deeper. A kiss is something so simple, yet it can be everything. A connection. A declaration. A promise. A claim.
Elijah fists the short strands of my hair, the slight sting of pain amping me up. I’m seconds away from saying “fuck it” and taking him out here on the balcony.
“Bedroom. Now,” he pants before latching on to the sensitive spot on my neck where it meets my shoulder.
My cock swells rapidly behind my basketball shorts. He knows all my erogenous zones and uses that knowledge masterfully. But I know his just as well. Thrusting my hips, I grind my erection against his turgid length. When I circle my hand around his neck, squeezing lightly, Elijah’s eyes fly open, his pupils contracted to pinpricks.
“God, yes. More.”
My sweet man loves to be dominated. It’s fun to discover his kinks, things I would never have guessed he’d be into. Things I never thought I’d be into either.
“Hold tight, baby,” is all the warning I give him as I readjust my grip and carry him inside.
