Chapter 3
3
NORA
“ Y ou’re home late,” my mother called as I shut the front door behind me.
Unfortunately, my parents’ disapproval of my job didn’t stop them from always sticking their nose into my business. More like the opposite since they didn’t want me to mess up even more than I’d already done, as far as they were concerned.
My life would probably be much less stressful if I moved out, but I worried that it would ruin my relationship with them. Staying in my childhood home was just about the only decision I’d made since I turned eighteen that they actually agreed with. I wasn’t quite ready to burn that bridge yet, but if they reacted negatively to Eli being in my life, that might be what pushed me to find a place of my own. We were just starting to get to know each other, but based on my strong reaction to him, I could easily see him quickly becoming an important part of my life.
Bracing myself for her reaction, I replied, “I went on a date after work.“
“A date?” Mom shrieked.
I hadn’t even finished hanging my bag in the front closet before she came running from the kitchen on the other side of the house, a miraculous feat considering the height of her heels. Even while home alone, she was dressed to the nines. Like always.
As she slid to a stop, I shook my head with a laugh. “Yes, Mom. A date… you know, the thing you’ve been trying to talk me into doing for years?”
“Only with someone eligible.” She pressed her hand over her heart with an exaggerated gasp. “Preferably with a nice young gentleman who I set you up with. So many of my friends have sons who would be your perfect match. Unlike whomever you met while at that job of yours, I’m sure.”
“I did meet Eli a couple of weeks ago while on a call,” I conceded.
“Eli?” she echoed, tilting her head to the side. “That’s actually quite a lovely name.”
“It’s short for Elias.”
She gave a little shudder. “Nicknames are so passé.”
If she knew what everyone else called him, she would be horrified, so I kept his road name—and his connection to a motorcycle club—to myself. “Well, his full name is quite a mouthful. Elias Prescott III.”
Her eyes widened, and her gasp of delight was genuine this time. “Elias Prescott III…the senator’s son who was in the news a couple of weeks ago because he’d disappeared from his social circle and popped back up again? And then promptly got shot by that awful woman before dropping out of sight again?”
“The one and only.” I rolled my eyes. “With a name like that, who else could it be?”
“Who knew your job would actually land such a fantastic opportunity right in your lap?” She closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me for the first hug she’d given me in years. “My precious girl, I never should’ve doubted you. Well done.”
If my mother knew me at all, she’d never think that I went out with Eli because of his family connections. But I had given up on her understanding how different we were long ago.
“Thanks, Mom,” I whispered before stepping out of her embrace to head upstairs to my room. She’d normally have more questions about my day—which really were just how she made little digs at what I’d chosen to do with my life—but the news of me dating a senator’s son had thrown her off track.
As I padded into my bedroom and shut the door behind me, I couldn’t help but wish that I had a different kind of relationship with my mother. One where I could tell her all about my first real date ever and have her gush over something besides Eli‘s parents. Unfortunately, that was never going to happen because we were too different.
She was the debutante who happily went along with my grandparents’ plan to marry her off to my father while I balked over the slightest suggestion of her setting me up with one of her friend’s sons.
With the exception of my own “coming out party” when I turned sixteen, I had also gotten out of attending any of the debutante balls by threatening to embarrass her in front of all of her hoity-toity friends. That was around the same time I signed up for the EMT track at my high school, so I told her I would wear blood-soaked scrubs to every event. Even if I had to fake the stains to make it happen.
Luckily, my father thought those parties were all nonsense, so he took my side, much to my mother’s chagrin. Otherwise, he would have put his foot down, and I wouldn’t have gotten out of them since his word ruled our house. Same with my grandfather and probably all of my great and great-greats, too.
I’d pushed against my father’s rules as far back as I could remember. One of my mother’s favorite stories to tell from my childhood was when I was two and planted my little hands on my hips while chanting “no” at him when he wanted me to eat broccoli with dinner.
She’d found it adorable, him not so much. What neither of them had bargained for was that my stubbornness would grow during my teenage years. Which was why I was so surprised by my reaction to the sexy threats Eli had sent me when I stopped taking his calls after our missed date.
I should’ve found them irritating. Or even infuriating. Instead, they sparked filthy fantasies about Eli every time I went to sleep.
After going on an actual date with him, I had a feeling they’d be more intense tonight. Especially after that kiss.
My lips curved into a dreamy smile as I headed into the bathroom to get ready for bed. When I finished up, I climbed on the mattress and clicked on my phone’s screen to pull up the message thread with Eli and scrolled to when I first started to ignore his calls.
Eli
Pick up, baby girl. I get that you’re pissed I had to cancel our date, but that doesn’t mean we’re over.
I had wanted to fire back with a text about how that was exactly what him backing out on our first date at the last minute meant, but I held off. It only got harder to stop myself from there.
The most recent messages had been the most difficult to ignore.
Eli
If you won’t answer my calls, at least reply to one of my texts.
Eli
I’m not going to give up, baby girl. So you might as well talk to me before you’ve racked up so many spankings that you’re perfect little ass will wear my handprint for days.
The thought of a guy giving me a spanking should’ve turned me all the way off…to the point where I blocked his number. But Eli’s sexy threats only made me want to find out what his palm felt like against my butt.
As I stared down at the screen, contemplating how to reply without mentioning that particular topic when those messages were right there, three little dots appeared on the thread.
“Fiddlesticks,” I breathed, hoping he hadn’t seen the same thing when I accidentally hit the spacebar before scrolling up. That had been minutes ago, which meant he’d easily be able to guess how long I was obsessing over his darn threats.
I breathed a deep sigh of relief when his message came through.
Eli
Thanks for finally going out with me, baby girl. Meant it when I said I’d pick you up tomorrow.
My lips curved into a satisfied grin as my fingertips flew over the keyboard on my screen.
Me
Looking forward to it.
Eli
You like Italian? If so, I know the perfect place. Not fancy but fucking fantastic food.
I loved all kinds of pasta, so I licked my lips in anticipation.
Me
Sounds amazing! Now I’m even more excited for tomorrow night.
Eli
Is dinner all you’re looking forward to?
I bit my bottom lip as I wondered how forward I should be. Deciding that my father was right about fortune favoring the bold, I went for it.
Me
And maybe some more of your kisses.
I waited with bated breath as those three little dots popped up, the eagerness building until his next message finally came through.
Eli
How about getting another date closer to me doling out the sweet punishment you earned for ignoring me?
My eyes widened at the question. I should’ve known Eli wasn’t the kind of guy who’d let those sensual threats drop just because I’d accepted his apology for having to cancel our first date at the last minute. His boldness was probably a trait that made him a good lawyer…and was also one I found incredibly attractive. Even when I was angry with him.
But that didn’t stop me from sending him a sassy reply.
Me
Too bad none of the etiquette classes my mom forced on me had any rules about when that would be appropriate. You might be stuck waiting a lot longer than you think.
Eli
Adding that to your tab, baby girl. Sweet dreams.
Another message popped up only a moment later.
Eli
Of me.
Once again, my thoughts were all about Eli as I drifted off. But this time, I was filled with anticipation instead of frustration.