Chapter 9
Layla didn’t consider herself a glutton for punishment, but her actions over the past month would say otherwise.
Why else would she agree to babysit Sabrina while Elijah got to test the theory of whether he was ready to date or not?
Why else would she have told this man that he was only interested in her because she was in close proximity instead of jumping his bones immediately as she’d always fantasized doing.
Even though some wouldn’t understand her decision—hell at times she didn’t—Layla couldn’t say she regretted the decision and not just because Elijah’s dates hadn’t gone well.
She didn’t regret her decision because she understood his reasoning.
She’d taken her time getting back into the dating pool after her divorce, and in doing so, she learned what she did and didn’t want to deal with in a new relationship.
She was more confident speaking up and saying what she wanted.
She was able to be honest about what she may not be receiving in a relationship.
Something she’d had to learn after putting herself second for a husband who didn’t care about her and then later letting desire convince her to stay too long in a relationship with another man who didn’t appreciate her.
Elijah had gone from putting so many rules and boundaries around what he believed a relationship should look like that he needed the space to figure out what would and wouldn’t work for him.
She wanted him, but she wasn’t about to step into whatever his idea of a perfect partner was if he wasn’t even sure what he wanted in a partner.
Maybe he still wanted a wife who would only be devoted to being a wife and mother without a life for herself.
If that were the case, then they were better off remaining friends.
She didn’t want to give up her career or stop taking time for herself.
She’d had to work hard to provide for her and Jasmine, and she never wanted to be totally dependent on someone. She wanted a true partner.
The sound of a car door closing outside snapped her out of her thoughts.
She checked her watch. Ten minutes to ten.
He said he’d be back by eleven and had kept his word.
He was doing better after she’d called him out.
In the past few weeks he also hadn’t forgotten when it was his day for pick up or asked her to switch because of work.
She would give him an A for not just listening, but actively trying to do better.
She opened the door before he could ring the bell. Both Layla and Sabrina had fallen asleep early after they’d filled up on pizza and popcorn and watched a movie.
“You’re here early,” she said.
He nodded as he came into the house. He looked good dressed casually in an off-white shirt and camel-colored pants. “I said I’d be here before eleven and I meant it.”
She breathed in the woodsy scent of his cologne as he slid past her. The man smelled good too. She moved to follow him into the living area, but he stopped in the entryway and turned back to face her. “What are your thoughts on monogamy?”
The question caught her off guard. “Um…I don’t think I’ve ever had any thoughts on it.”
He nodded slowly and his brows drew together. “Do you want a monogamous relationship, or are you into polyamory?”
She had no idea where this line of questioning was coming from, but she was invested in learning where this was going.
She tugged on the edge of the red tank top she wore and shrugged.
“I’ve never tried polyamory. It seems like it takes a lot of trust and communication to make it work.
I have a hard enough time doing that with one person.
I think I’d have to get that down before I invite others in. ”
His gaze dropped to the neckline of her tank before he rubbed his chin and nodded. “Hmm.” He turned and continued towards the living area.
Layla quickly followed. “Is there a reason you’re asking?”
He tossed his keys on the couch. He pushed his sleeves up to his elbows and crossed his arms. “My date. She asked me to come over. I think she wanted to have sex.”
Layla swallowed hard. Definitely not what she wanted to hear.
The last two dates he’d had hadn’t come close to sex.
Honestly, she wasn’t expecting Elijah to go jump in bed with every woman he’d met online, but she also hadn’t ignored the possibility that might happen.
Another reason why babysitting while he tested the dating waters was not a good idea.
She scratched the back of her head and cleared her throat. “So…what did you say?”
He looked up at her his brows drawn together. “I told her I had to get back and check on Sabrina.”
She let out a sigh. “Thank God,” she muttered.
“What?”
She waved a hand. “Nothing. Nothing. You know if you needed Sabrina to spend the night you could have called.”
He shrugged. “It was a first date. Things were going really well and everything. She’s attractive. But…”
She waited but the man seemed to still be considering what to say next. Layla fought the urge to tap her toe. “But what?”
“I wasn’t interested in sex with her.”
She suppressed a smile. “Did she take that well?”
The corner of his lips lifted in a half smile. “Better than I expected. She took a call from another guy and made plans to go have sex with him.”
Layla stepped back and held up a hand. “Wait? She did what now?”
“You heard me,” he said chuckling. “Some guy named Carlos. She says they meet up routinely. Something she wouldn’t stop if we started seeing each other. Which is why I’m asking you if you’re interested in polyamory?”
“Are you suddenly interested?” After years of being single was he about to try and date multiple people now?
He shook his head. “I’m not, but I realize I never asked you about that. I think it’s something I need to know.”
“Why would you need to know that?”
Elijah took a few slow steps toward her. His dark gaze intense and direct. “Because, I’m done testing the waters. I want you.”
Her heart had the nerve to skip a beat. His confident claim sent heat pooling through her veins. “It’s only been three dates?” Why in the hell was she saying that?
He held up a three fingers and took several more steps in her direction. “Three strikes, and I’m out.”
His slow approach and deep voice made her feel hunted in the best way. “But you wanted to try this.”
He nodded. “I did, but that was only because you thought I wasn’t really interested in you. Now I know without a doubt that I don’t want anyone else.” He pointed at her chest. “I want you.”
His words stole the breath from her lungs.
No, not his words, it was the way he looked at her as he said the words.
With eyes blazing with barely concealed desire and certainty.
Delicious tingles sprang across her skin, intensifying at the peaks of her breasts and between her thighs.
Damn this man and the way he turned her into a woman in heat with just a glance.
“You’re no longer worried about your rule against us dating,” she asked.
He closed the distance between them. His voice lowered as his gaze ran over her face with the intimacy of an actual touch. “You have to know and understand the rules before you can break them?”
If he lowered his head right now and kiss her she’d spontaneously combust. Maybe he realized that because his head dipped lower. Her heart jumped nearly to her throat. Not just with desire, but with a trace of unease. She could lose herself in this man. Her reaction to him was so quick and intense.
She turned away as the rush of multiple emotions washed over her.
“Elijah, I don’t know what to do with you.
Early on you said that you never wanted things to turn weird between us.
Then you say you want me. Then you decide you need to go out and meet other women. Now I’m supposed to believe that you—”
His fingers wrapped around her wrist and he spun her to face him.
The momentum pushed her against his chest. His other arm wrapped around her waist. He held her close against the hardness of his body.
His fingers firm around her wrist and his touch confident on her waist. “Yes, Layla, believe me when I say that I want to break my own damn rule and be with you.” He lowered his head and brushed his lips at the corner of her mouth.
The sensation rippled through her as the steady heat of his body held her up.
“I only went on those dates to prove what I already knew was true. You are the person I want. I haven’t dated in years and I may have handled this whole thing in a fucked up way, and I take responsibility for that.
But what I will tell you is that I’ve fought back not holding you like this.
” He pressed her tighter against him. “Not kissing you.” He brushed his lips across hers.
“Not thinking about how much I want to make love to you from the moment you said hello while wearing that sexy as fuck yellow sundress.”
She sucked in a breath and his fingers flexed at her waist. Elijah pressed his forehead against hers.
“Tell me to let you go. Tell me that you don’t want me, too.
” His thumb brushed over the pulse pounding at her wrist and her eyes fluttered closed.
“Or do you want me just as much as I want you? So we can finally stop tap dancing around this?”