Chapter 16
“And people claim I’m the stubborn one. They obviously haven’t met Eli.” ~ Paisley
Paisley
I slump into Eli and he wraps his arms around me. I’m completely sated.
Usually, I need more time to orgasm. And I definitely don’t ever orgasm twice in one session. But not with Eli. He touches me and every nerve ending in my body comes alive.
Eli brushes his fingers through my hair. My ponytail didn’t survive. My hair is probably sticking up in all directions. For the first time in my life, I don’t care how my hair looks. No one’s here to see it.
Besides Eli. I should probably extract myself from him. The desire to burrow myself into his chest is strong. But I don’t want to give him the wrong idea. I count to five before pushing away and standing.
“We should get back to work. I need to check on several items.”
Eli frowns. “Are you trying to put distance between us? ”
Obviously. Sex is sex. But feelings are different. I know myself well enough to realize I could very easily become attached to Eli. I don’t want to have my heart broken again. Once was enough for me.
I snatch my jeans and panties from the floor and sit on the coffee table to put them on. I scowl. My thighs are covered in red dye.
Eli laughs. “Your prank came back to bite you on the ass.”
I glare at him. “Never mind. The dye isn’t permanent.”
He stands and pulls up his pants and buttons them. “Come on.” He holds out his hand to me. “You can wash off in my private bathroom.”
I will not be the one opening the door to his private bathroom.
He drops his hand. “What did you do to my bathroom?”
“Nothing. As long as you don’t open the door.”
“So, basically, I can never open my closet or bathroom door again?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’ve learned my lesson. Never piss you off.”
“Good.”
“If you can’t use my bathroom, you can use the ladies room.”
I’m shaking my head before he can finish. “I’m not traipsing through the building with sex hair.”
He smirks. “I happen to like your sex hair.”
I roll my eyes. “You would. You’re a male. You’re reveling in our sexual encounter.”
“Not any sexual encounter. A sexual encounter with you. ”
I ignore the implication. “I’ll drive home and clean up. I shouldn’t be long.”
I start toward my desk to grab my keys but Eli stops me. “I’ll drive you.”
“No thank you. I’m perfectly capable of driving myself.”
“My house is closer than yours. We’ll be there and back faster than if you drive to your house.”
“This is Smuggler’s Hideaway. Nothing is far.”
His eyes narrow on me. “Are you afraid of being seen with me?”
I wish I could lie and say I’m not. But I’m not one for lying. Lying causes miscommunication and there’s been enough miscommunication between the two of us.
“I prefer not to be seen with you in this condition. People will conclude we’ve had sex and before you know it everyone on the island – especially my friends – will be hounding us to begin a relationship.”
He scowls. “And you don’t want to be in a relationship with me?”
I wave a hand in dismissal. “I’m fine on my own.”
“I apologized for what I did in high school. I was a dumbass. Please don’t hold my idiocy against me.”
“I’m not. If anything, I should apologize to you for being a bitch. I should have confronted you and asked you why you didn’t show up. Instead, I assumed you stood me up.”
He steps closer. “You’re not a bitch.”
“I’m not but I did act bitchy toward you. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize. ”
“Nonetheless. My apology has been said.”
“Thank you. Can we now get going? I need to be back for an investor meeting in an hour.”
“You go ahead. There’s no need for us to go together.”
“I thought you were going to stop holding what I did in high school against me.”
“I’m not holding it against you.” I’m also not planning on getting involved with Eli. I had a weak moment and we had sex. Nothing more. Nothing less.
He blows out a breath before sitting on the sofa.
“What are you doing? You have an investor meeting to attend.”
“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what this is about.”
I fist my hands on my hips. “What right do you have to demand answers from me?”
He unfurls from the sofa and prowls toward me. I am not his prey. I refuse to move. I will hold my ground.
He crowds me until I can feel his heat, smell his scent. I shove my hands in my pockets before I reach for him and demand a second round. There will be no second rounds with Eli.
I have nothing against casual sex. But sex with him is anything but emotionless. I can’t afford to go down that road. It ends in heartbreak.
“I’ve been inside you. I’ve felt you come on my cock and on my fingers. I plan to do it again, Lace.”
“Lace?” I grab the chance to derail the conversation. “My name is Paisley. Not Lace. ”
He skims a finger down my arm. I lock my muscles but I can’t help the goosebumps from forming at his touch.
“To everyone else, you’re Paisley. To me, you’re Lace. A beautiful, intricate, and complicated pattern.”
“I’m not beautiful.”
“You are. But I’m not letting you change the topic.” I open my mouth to snark at him but he places a finger on my lips. “And you know exactly what topic I’m referring to. Why won’t you give this – us – a chance?”
“You never asked for a chance.”
“You’re right. I didn’t. My apologies. Lace, will you give this relationship a chance?”
I don’t hesitate. “No, thank you.”
He rears back. “What? Why not?”
“Do I have to give reasons?”
“Yes, you do.” He nods. “It’s obvious you want me. You light up whenever I touch you. Your pulse is beating erratically at how near I am now.”
I raise my foot intent on stepping back. Hold on. I don’t retreat. I don’t give up. I set my foot back down.
“My body may want you but good sex isn’t a foundation to begin a relationship.”
“Good sex,” he grumbles. “We had phenomenal sex.”
“Whatever. Sex isn’t a foundation.”
“Forget the sex.”
I wish I could but I won’t forget our little foray on the sofa for a long time. I’ll probably dream of it every night for years to come .
“Sex is off the table.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Sex is off the table?”
“Trust me. I don’t want sex off of the table. But if abstaining will convince you to give us a try, I’m willing to abstain.”
Damn it. He’s pushing me into a corner. I don’t want to tell him why I’m not interested in a relationship but I have no choice. I recognize a man who won’t give up.
“There’s more to the story.”
“Of course, there is. My Paisley is complicated.” He grasps my hand and leads me to the sofa.
“I’m not your Paisley.”
“Not yet.” He winks. “First, I have to dispel whatever bullshit is up here.” He taps my temple.
“It’s not bullshit.”
“Prove it.”
“I will.”
He motions for me to proceed. “I’m listening.”
“I had a serious relationship in college with Ryan.”
He growls and I glare. “Sorry. I’ll be quiet.”
“I thought we would get married. But he dumped me senior year.”
He squeezes my thigh. “I’m sorry. Getting your heart broken is no fun. But it’s no reason to hide away and never get involved in a relationship again.”
“There’s more.” I inhale a deep breath before confessing the rest of the story. “He got engaged to Darcy the next week. They’re married now and have two children. ”
He growls. “Darcy? Your stepsister?” I nod. “Your stepsister was fooling around with your boyfriend?”
“He visited me during the summer break and met Darcy. Apparently, they fell in love at first sight.”
“Ryan should have broken up with you then. Not continued to lead you on.”
I swallow. “He should have. But being cheated on isn’t the worst of the story.”
He blows out a breath. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“Then, don’t ask.” I try to stand but he squeezes my hip to stop me.
“What is the worst part of the story, Lace?”
“He’s also part of the whole let’s make fun of Paisley thing my family does.”
“Asshole,” he mutters.
“I overheard him telling Darcy he was never attracted to me. He could never be attracted to a woman who wears glasses.”
“You should probably stop eavesdropping on people.”
I slap his shoulder. “I can’t help it if I always happen to be in the right place at the right time.”
“I’d argue you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Of course, you would. You love to argue.”
“Only with you, Lace. Only with you.”
“You argue with your brothers all the time.”
He groans. “My brothers are the bane of my existence.”
“And yet you built this company for them so you can spend time with them.”
“I’m sorry, Lace. I wish you had the family you deserve but your family being a den of assholes doesn’t mean you should avoid relationships.”
I disagree. I’ve tried enough relationships in my thirty years. I have my friends. I’m perfectly happy to spend the rest of my life being the fun aunt.
My heart clenches at the thought of always being alone. Attending every event by myself. Never having a partner who understands me.
Fine. I’m lying to myself. I’m not perfectly happy being alone. But I don’t want to have my heart broken either.
“I’m not interested in a relationship.”
Eli smirks. “I’ll change your mind.”
“You can try.”
“And I’ll succeed.” His phone rings and he swears under his breath. He digs it out and reads the display. “I need to answer this but this discussion isn’t over.”
“You can’t have a discussion by yourself.”
He kisses my nose. “Which is why we’ll be having the discussion together.” He opens the door and saunters away.
I glare at his backside as he hurries down the hallway. He reaches the door to the offices and glances over his shoulder at me. He winks before disappearing.
Eli thinks he’s won this round. He has no idea how stubborn I can be.