Chapter 8 #2
She’s lying. I see it in the tiny tremor in her hands clenched at her sides. And by the way she can’t hold my gaze.
Lying 101: Never break eye contact.
“Hmm.” I reach out and touch a lock of her dark hair, twirling it around my finger. “So you don’t mind if I take her to dinner then?”
She audibly swallows. “Not one bit.”
“Good to know.” I drop her hair, tracing my index finger along the collar of her dress. “There’s a new Italian restaurant that just opened in the city. Maybe I’ll take her there.”
“Maybe you should.”
“And maybe if all goes well, I’ll take her home after.” Her whole body suddenly tenses beneath my touch. “You wouldn’t mind, right?” I ask, feeling her pulse accelerate beneath the pad of my finger.
She shakes her head with too much force. “Of course not.”
I nod, grazing her collarbone before dragging my finger leisurely upward, my hand cradling her neck as my thumb brushes against her plush bottom lip. A low gasp escapes her.
“I wonder how she likes it,” I say, leaning forward, allowing my lips to hover over her ear as I soften my voice. “Fast? Rough? Gentle? Maybe a mixture of all three? What do you think?”
“A-all three, I mean…” She clears her throat. “How would I know? What happens between you two is none of my business.”
She pushes against my chest, but I don’t budge. Not one centimeter. Her half-hearted effort would usually make me laugh, but not right now, not when I’m this close to her for the first time in too long.
I can’t help myself as I abruptly grip her wrists and place them against the wall above her head. She seems ready to protest, to argue, but the moment I tilt my head forward, my lips just inches from hers, she does something that takes me by surprise.
She melts.
Slowly.
Softly.
Almost unnoticeably.
So much so that I don’t even think she’s aware of what she’s doing. But as her wrists go slack in my grip and her body loses all trace of a fight, I realize something that ignites a fire within me.
She wants this.
She wants me.
And she can pretend all that she wants, that she doesn’t.
She can lie to my damn face for all I care.
Because the proof is right before me.
The subtle, rosy flush on her cheeks.
The dilation in her bright blue eyes.
The speed of every warm breath she takes.
She wants me as much as I want her.
I glide my nose across her cheek, inhaling her heavenly floral scent. “The best part is the anticipation, don’t you think? The buildup for the inevitable that’s about to occur.”
“Y-yes,” she breathes, her eyes closing.
My lips skim across her neck, and she tips her chin up, exposing more of her bare skin for me to taste.
“Should I start slow, savoring every inch of her body?”
Her pulse beats frantically beneath my lips, where I press a tender kiss. “Yes.”
Taking one last step, I fill the space between us, pressing my body against hers, my hard cock shifting over her stomach. I place my left knee between her legs, opening her stance as her dress bunches around her hips. My thigh meets her center, and her eyes open, securing onto mine.
I don’t move.
I’m letting her decide for us.
Letting her choose whether she wants to admit to wanting this.
Confusion flashes over her irises as she waits for me to make the next move.
But instead, I shake my head, grazing my lips over her ear. “It’s your move, Princess.”
Honestly, I’m not sure how this will play out.
If she pushes me off her, I’ll move.
I’ll give her the space she wants.
But if—
Gradually, she rocks her hips forward.
I look down to where my leg meets her pussy and watch as she finds a slow, sensual rhythm. A soft moan breaks free from between her lips, and when I look up, I freeze.
Because the look she’s giving me is the same beautiful, vulnerable expression I haven’t seen on her face in over a year.
The one that said everything to me that she was thinking without using any words—I trust you, I miss you… I need you.
Dropping one of her wrists, I cup her cheek, running my thumb over her smooth skin. Her body continues moving against mine, seeking pleasure, as she bites her bottom lip, her eyes never leaving mine.
Not even for one second.
God, I’ve missed this.
I’ve missed her.
Leaning forward, I watch as she closes her eyes, waiting for our lips to meet in what I know will be a kiss that brings her back to me.
That makes her mine again.
And fuck, I feel like I’ve waited so long for this moment.
Knock. Knock. “Hi, I have everything wrapped up front whenever you’re ready!”
Lisa’s voice sends a large bucket of ice water over Madeleine as, within only seconds, she completely removes herself from me, quickly smoothing out her dress and hair.
“Thank you, Lisa. We’ll be right there. Just wrapping up!” she tells her.
“Great,” Lisa replies, her heels clacking against the floor as she walks away.
Madeleine turns her back to me, hiding her face in her hands. “Fuck,” she breathes, the regret in her voice punching me right in the center of my chest.
“Madeleine—”
“No.” She shakes her head, her black hair dancing across her shoulders.
“We shouldn’t have done that. I…” She clears her throat, straightening her shoulders.
“I won’t be making that mistake again.” Without looking back, she unlocks the door and exits the dressing room, swiftly getting as far away from me as she possibly can.
It takes five salespeople to help us carry all the bags to the Escalade, where we manage to fill every last inch of trunk space.
Absolutely daft, if you ask me.
I slide onto the seat next to Madeleine. She tucks her phone into her purse and scoots a bit closer forward toward Reginald.
“We’ll be doing a drop-off today before heading home,” she tells him.
“Of course,” he answers.
She sits back beside me, folding her hands on her lap, and looks straight ahead. I check the time on my watch, noting I still have an hour before my call.
“A drop-off where?” I ask.
She turns to look out her window, giving me the silent treatment.
I clench my jaw. “As your bodyguard, it’s my job to know where we’re going.”
“And if we were going somewhere dangerous, I would inform you.”
I roll my neck, my muscles bunching with tension. “I think we should talk about what happened back there.”
“Nothing happened.”
“Really? Because the way you moaned makes me think—”
She spins in her seat, clasping her hands over my mouth. Her eyes dart to Reginald, panic on her face at the thought that he might have heard me, and it almost makes me laugh. She reaches over me and presses a button, causing the privacy screen between us and Reginald to lift into place.
Once it’s sealed, she drops her hands and turns in her seat, sitting forward. She reaches up, pressing her fingers into her temple. “Let’s get something straight. The only thing that happened was a lapse of judgment on my part. And it won’t happen again.”
I lean closer to her. “Tell me you weren’t wet.”
A flush spreads up her neck, providing the only answer I need. “I wasn’t wet.”
“You’re a bad liar. Your body gives away every secret.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not lying.”
“So, if I check now, I’d find you as dry as the Sahara Desert?”
She quickly crosses her legs. “Even drier.”
I laugh, slapping my leg.
“What’s so funny?”
“You.” I shake my head. “You’re too damn stubborn to admit you want me.”
“I do not—”
“And there you go, lying again.”
She scoffs as she looks me up and down. “You think you’re so damn special, don’t you?”
I wink. “I know I am.”
A mocking laugh bursts from between her lips. “You are nothing to me, Eli Lyon. Nothing. In fact, you are the most selfish, self-centered, bloody wan—”
I clasp a hand over her lips, pressing her into the leather seat.
“Most people would take what you’re saying to heart because they think that’s who you are—a spoiled, self-entitled brat.
But I know you’re not. You’re not even close to being one, for that matter.
You put on this act when you’re cornered and scared of showing your true feelings.
You lash out, fight back, and hit them where it hurts because you want to remind them who you are.
But I know who you are. Always have.” She drops her gaze, her features softening.
“So, I will do us both a favor and stop you before you say something you’ll regret.
You don’t want to admit you want me. But I’ll admit it.
I’ll tell you to your face how fucking badly I want you.
And when you’re ready to tell me you need me, you know where to find me. ”
Dropping my hand, I sit back in my seat and face forward.
“Miss Alarie?” Reginald’s voice comes through the speaker beside our heads.
She takes a steady breath, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Yes?”
“We’re here.”
“Great. Thank you.”
The car comes to a stop, and I look out the window beside me, instantly recognizing the building as I made frequent visits here with Scarlett while I was her bodyguard.
“Why are we here?”
She sighs, her hand gripping the handle.
“Because it helps me.” She steps out of the car, and I quickly follow her to the trunk, where she begins unloading bags.
“Well, don’t just stand there.” She gives me a pointed glare.
“Take a bag or two. Put those muscles to actual use.” She walks around me, heading toward the door where a welcome sign for the St. Elizabeth Jean’s Center for Women and Children is displayed.
And as I look back at the trunk filled with winter coats, mittens, scarves, and socks, it dawns on me…
Fuck…I am a bloody wanker.
With my arms filled with bags, I take off after her. I watch as she enters the building, letting the door close behind her.
“She does this quite often,” Reginald comments, catching up to me, carrying more bags in his hands.
“She does?”
“Yes. Usually, when she’s stressed, but lately…well, let’s just say we’ve been making this a frequent stop.” A slight frown appears on his face as he walks ahead to open the door.
“Wait, are we allowed to go inside?” I ask, peering around. I’ve never entered the building before, in fear of intimidating any of the women who come here for help. A guy my size is probably the last thing they want to come face-to-face with.
Reginald nods. “We’ll be quick.”
As we enter, a woman with a friendly smile appears. “Well, if it isn’t our most loyal shopper.”
“Betty.” Madeleine grins. “It’s the least I can do. I heard we were expecting a big storm next week, and I just wanted to ensure there were plenty of coats to go around.”
“Well, judging by the number of bags in everyone’s hands, I’d say we have more than enough.” Betty’s eyes travel over to me. “And who do we have here?” She looks at Madeleine and waggles her brows. “Is this your handsome fiancé?”
“No!” Madeleine answers with force, aggressively shaking her head. “Definitely not.”
My chest tightens, feeling offended by her abrupt response. And before I take a second to stop myself and think, the question, “Would that be such a bad thing?” rushes out of my mouth, taking Madeleine by surprise.
Her lips part in shock, and it takes a moment before she mutters, “Well…it’s just…” She glances between me and Betty, completely dumbfounded.
I don’t know what I expected her to say, but her silence only adds to the growing ache across my chest.
“Where would you like everything?” Reginald asks, coming up around me, rescuing us from the escalating awkwardness.
Betty gestures a hand toward her side. “Follow me. We can bring them to my office to sort through.”
The two of them walk away, leaving Madeleine and me standing in silence.
She appears to be having an internal war in her head as she stares at the ground. “I didn’t mean for it to sound the way it did.”
“Yeah? And how did you mean it?”
“Eli…” Her eyes lift, meeting mine. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just—”
“Why would I be upset?” I lift a shoulder, trying to appear unbothered. “You’re right. We’re not engaged. It’s not my ring on your finger.”
She instantly covers her ring with her other hand, biting down on her bottom lip. “But you don’t understand. I didn’t have a—”
“I understand everything just fine.” I sidestep her and head down the hall, hearing her heels clack on the floor behind me, maintaining a safe distance between us.
Thirty minutes later, the three of us exit the building and make our way toward the car.
Tension hangs heavily between us, so just as Madeleine reaches for the door handle, I stop her, positioning myself between her and the car. She arches an eyebrow, waiting for me to speak.
“I wanted to apologize for thinking you were merely frivolously spending your money today. Not that I have any say or opinion on how you should spend your money, but I judged you, and I shouldn’t have.”
She lets out a sigh as she puts on her black leather gloves.
“I like to shop when I’m stressed. It gives me a dopamine hit and helps keep my mind off…
things. But recently, I don’t know, shopping for myself wasn’t doing anything for me, and I realized I felt a whole hell of a lot better when I was shopping for others who actually need these things.
It makes me feel like I’m doing something good in my life for once.
” She adjusts the beige scarf around her neck, her eyes meeting mine.
“In fairness, I didn’t exactly tell you what was going on, and I let you come to your own conclusions about me. ”
“Which was wrong of me.”
She shrugs. “It’s what everyone thinks of me. Why would you think any differently?”
“Because I know you and I shouldn’t have—”
“Correction.” She throws her gloved hand in the air, raising her index finger. “You knew me. Past tense.” Her eyes narrow in on me, a chill in the air spreading between us, not from the frigid temperatures surrounding us. “Now, can you please move to the side so I can get inside the warm car?”
Reluctantly, I move, opening the door for her. She slides across the smooth leather seats, quickly turning her attention to her phone.
Just as I take a step up, my phone rings.
Bollocks.
I lost track of time.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I see the name on the screen and know I can’t ignore this call.
“I have to take this. It’ll only be a moment,” I tell her.
Hitting the green circle, I press the phone to my ear. “Hey, Angel. I miss you.” I shut the door behind me, taking a few steps away from the vehicle, watching snow fall around me.