Page 64 of Tears of Glass

“What?” His smile presses against my mouth.

“No one has ever said that to me before.”

“Well clearly everyone is dumb.”

I smile, but I know it’s not the case. No one has said it before because I’ve never allowed anyone this close to me before.

I shut my mind to Dan and the argument we had earlier. The disappointment in his eyes... I’ll sort it out with him. We are best friends.

His eyes hold mine. “Are you scared?” He slides on top of me and my body ignites.

“Of letting you in?” I clarify. “Petrified.” My hands run along his back, cupping his arse. “Three weeks ago, I promised I’d never let anyone hurt me the way you did. Now I’m back here with you. I don’t know if I’m dumb or a fool.”

His lips catch mine, kissing me hard, determined. “I will never hurt you again, not ever. They’re the rules. But I will protect you from anyone who tries to hurt you.”

I nod, swallowing a tight lump of emotion. The damn tears can fuck off though. I’m done crying.

He protected me from his mother. He made sure I got the money I deserved. That I met the people who could give me the career I want.

What I don’t think he will ever understand is that I would have lived without all those things just for him.

Money is nothing.

My career? I’d work in a laundrette if it meant I was safe with him at the end of every day.

“I think you and I have different ideas on what’s important.” I shrug a little. This conversation can only go one way. And it will end with him being pissed off that I don’t want him protecting me. “Although you can protect me from your mother any day of the week.” I change the subject—it’s safer that way.

“She’ll come around.” He doesn’t sound overly sure and it makes me giggle.

“Ooh, not in this lifetime. I don’t plan to ever see the bitch again.”

He doesn’t say anything. That’s a worry. But before I can question his silence, he rolls off the hotel bed and stands next to it, his erection huge and proud, and standing to attention. “Faith Hitchin. Will you do me the honour of going on a date with me?”

I snort a laugh. “I think we are past dates. We made rules that can’t be broken, that’s almost marriage.” What the actual fuck? I can’t believe I’ve just said that.

His eyes widen a fraction, but he shakes his head and reaches for me, sweeping me into his arms. “I’m ticking all the boxes. I don’t want you complaining when we are old that I missed something out.”

I stare at him in shock. He expects to be an old person with me? That is marriage... and babies and all the things I’ve never allowed myself to think of.

I’ve never seen the future further than a week away. It’s all I know.

“Jeez, Faith, stop overanalysing everything. Let’s go and grab some food and I can show you the sights.”

“Have you been here before?”

He smiles and it’s all knowing. “You’ll see.”

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WE ARE USHERED TO A small wooden table. The restaurant is rustic, and that’s giving it some credit. “This isn’t The Ritz is it?” I tease. “But it is one step up on McDonalds.”

Elijah shushes me with his hand. “It’s much, much better than both of those.” He turns to the waiter and rambles something off in rapid French while I sit with my mouth hanging wide open, swooning into a puddle of my own drool.

When he raises his eyes and the blues meet mine across the table, he smirks.

“Fluent French?” I ask.

He rolls his eyes which is downright adorable. He looks scrumptious. This is how I like him best, casual, relaxed. He’s wearing a button up black shirt, open at the neck, allowing me to see the tanned skin of his throat. The shirt is untucked and paired with distressed jeans and converse. Fucking gorgeous.