Page 60 of Tears of Glass

Running is second nature to me.

It’s what I do.

Someone hurts me, and I run. I never challenge the hurt. I never fight my corner and demand respect.

Jennifer Fairclough stood on that stage and told her loving audience her son was getting married. I saw him and her go up there and wave... I didn’t wait... I didn’t march up there and challenge what was happening.

I ran.

I can’t help but think of Dan and I on his sofa and how different that was. There was no passion. My body didn’t ignite.

My fingers trail along Elijah’s jaw.

There is no one like him. No one does what he can do. How can I teach myself not to run? Because if Elijah can’t make me stay and fight, then what the hell will?

“Why are you awake?” A slow smile curves his lips and then those blues shine on my face.

“Thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

I giggle but then lapse into silence. “Is this happening? I still can’t believe it.”

His lips straighten and that frown I want to erase with the pad of my thumb, etches between his brows. “It’s happening for me. And you agreed to my rules, so you’re doomed.”

“Doomed? How long for?” I stretch a smile into the darkness.

“Forever.”

My lips find his, warm and delectable. I tease my tongue along the length of his lower lip and he sighs gently, his hands finding me in the dark and pulling me in tight until we are nose to nose. “Are you ready to talk?”

I tense, my faulty fight-or-flight kicking into action until his hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin. I exhale a shuddering breath. “We can talk.”

He rolls back, linking his hands behind his head as he stares at the ceiling. “I know I messed up, Faith.”

“I think we both did. I shouldn’t have run like I did.”

Even in the dark of the room his gaze is heavy and intense. “That’s true.”

“Why didn’t you tell me what was happening? If you’d warned me about your mum and what she was going to do, I would have been prepared and I would have told you how I felt. I would have said I didn’t give a fuck about my career, or about meeting contacts, or about anything apart from you. You know in my adult life I’ve never told anyone I love them? Well excluding Dan, Abi, and Al. That’s it. It’s a small group I’ve let you into.”

His fingers grasp mine, but his face is still focused on the ceiling. “I know. It was a fuck-up of royal proportions.” He turns a little to face me. “But do you think it would have made any difference? You’re a very passionate woman. If I’d have told you that mum was going to try to reschedule the wedding, you would have run, you would never have made it to the ball and made the contacts you have.”

“You mean Angela?”

“Yes. She doesn’t want you on that show because of me or Bowsley. It was you who impressed her with your ‘Lady Balls’ as she called it. And also, I wanted Mum to announce the Fairclough Foundation.”

I squint my face up at him in confusion and he smiles and kisses the tip of my nose. “What are you talking about?”

“I knew you wouldn’t remember.”

“Remember what?”

“Come and find out.”

“Where on earth are we going, and why are we naked?”

Elijah holds my hand, leading me naked through his house. Butt naked. I’m not going to lie, my eyes are not on where my feet are walking. Fuck he’s gorgeous. His shoulders and back are beautifully carved with muscle, his neck strong, the short smattering of his hair covering the tanned skin. And his arse... well I don’t have words.