Page 25 of Forever Mine
“I did. I didn’t go.”
An opportunity for an evening alone with him opened, and I wasnotgoing to miss it. Jay said he’d be at the boxing gym, and Ryder was meeting up with Fallon. They wouldn’t be back for hours.
Elijah kicks off his shoes and slides them over to the baseboard. “Why not?”
I hold my hand out to him, but I may as well be offering him my beating heart. “I miss you.”
It doesn’t matter if we sleep in the same bed every night or if I wake up with him every morning. I fuckingmisshim.
Since pre-season began a few weeks ago, my day-to-day has been a whirlwind of practices and team outings. Time when it’s just the two of us without anyone else around is seldom and far between. And once classes start, things will only get crazier.
His lips curve in that sexy way I adore. “You saw me this morning.”
With playful exasperation, I gesture around at everything that he is apparently oblivious to. “You’re making it very difficult to romance you.”
Finally noticing the rose petals scattered along the floor, Elijah’s beautiful hazels widen with surprise, then his expression goes dreamy.
“Is that what’s happening?” he says, messing with me.
“I sure as hell hope so.”
The cutest blush tints his cheeks. “Well, then, romance away, Mr. Jameson.”
When he slips his hand into mine, I roughly yank him to me, then back him up against the coat closet. His steady breaths turn into shallow pants when I graze my lips up the column of his neck, placing soft kisses as I go. He smells incredible.
“Are we alone?” His fingertips convulse on my hips, digging in and pulling me flush with his body.
“We are.” I lick along the shell of his ear and feel the shiver that overtakes him when I gently nip the lobe with my teeth.
“I can’t think straight when you do that.”
I love hearing that tiny hitch in his voice, so I do it again.
“I know.”
I know every inch of his magnificent body. What he likes. What makes him moan. What makes him scream my name—which he’ll be doing very soon.
He punches his hips forward, grinding his erection against mine. “I want you,” he entreats.
God, how I want him, too. After years of dating, I still can’t get enough. When we make love, it’s like the first time all over again.
Our kiss turns sloppy, full of tongue and passion and need. I want nothing more than to strip his clothes off and fuck him right here, right now, but tonight isn’t about that.
I place a tender kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Come with me.”
With our hands entwined, I lead him down the hallway and into the bedroom. Sandalwood-scented candles cast shadows along the walls and dance with the umber-hued silhouettes created by the setting sun. Music from a mixtape he made for me in eleventh grade plays at low volume from the wireless speaker I keep on the dresser.
Elijah walks over to the bed and picks up one of the rose petals that I had strewn across the duvet cover. “This is just like Valentine’s. It’s beautiful, Julien.”
My pride does a celebratory fist pump. He noticed.
“I’m glad you like it.”
He pivots around, eyes glossy with brimming tears. “What did I do to deserve all this?”
I despise those tiny whispers his mother planted in his subconscious that tell him he’s undeserving of love. Elijah is emotionally the strongest he’s ever been. More self-assured. Mentally strong. He has worked so damn hard to get to that place, but those invasive thoughts still remain like a dormant virus ready to unleash itself and wreak havoc at any given moment.
Taking him in my arms, I press my cheek to his as I lead us in a slow dance.
