Chapter 18 #3
“I don’t like this, honey,” my mom said, anxiety pitching her voice high.
This was why I’d been avoiding calling home. I hated worrying her. And for once, she wasn’t wrong to worry. “It’s going to be okay,” I said. “We made progress today tracking whoever is behind this. I’ll keep you posted.”
I spent another ten minutes reassuring her, then heard the creak of my dad’s recliner as he got up. A minute later, I realized he’d gone to his desk and opened the Sinclair Security website.
“Come in here, honey, and see who Sylvie got herself hooked up with,” he said. “She’s in good hands.”
At that, I made my escape, promising to keep them in the loop. I hung up just as Eli opened the door to the apartment, my mouth watering at the scent of curry and garlic.
His eyes narrowed in concern on the phone in my hand. “Everything okay?”
I set the phone down and went to grab silverware, dishes, and napkins. “I had to call my parents,” I said. “It’s been longer than usual, and they were starting to worry. My mom saw the post about me taking a break, so I’m glad I did.”
“What did you tell them?” he asked, not hiding the caution in his voice.
“Enough, but not close to everything,” I said. “My mom wants me to come home, and my dad checked out your website and is glad I’m exactly where I am.”
Eli’s eyes were heavy when he said, “Going to your parents would be a bad idea.”
“I know,” I said immediately. “My dad will calm her down.”
Eli dished out my order, and I pulled the bowl in front of me, reminded of how hungry I was.
We ate in silence, the rich spice and garlic naan satisfying something in my soul.
Butter chicken with naan was one of my favorite comfort foods.
When the gnawing in my stomach was gone, I slowed down, savoring every bite.
My bowl, almost empty, I looked up to see Eli staring at me, his eyes hot.
Need flared to life inside me, but I played it cool, swallowing and saying, “What?”
“Do you usually sound like that when you eat butter chicken? Your moaning has my dick rock hard.”
I grinned. “It’s really good butter chicken.” I took another bite and moaned in genuine appreciation.
Eli’s eyes lit. “I’m taking that as a challenge. I bet I can make you moan longer and louder than that chicken did,” he said, eying my bowl as if measuring how many bites were left.
Abruptly, I was finished, one appetite satisfied and another starving. I was done with food. Now I needed Eli.
“I’ll take that bet,” I said, pushing back my chair and lunging to my feet.
Eli chased me down the hall, catching me around the waist and sweeping me into his arms, turning for his room.
I landed on his bed with a bounce, laughing as I stripped my shirt over my head.
I lay back, propped up on my elbows, taking in the show of Eli tugging his shirt off and dropping his cargoes and boxers in one shove.
Naked Eli was far more mouthwatering than even the best butter chicken.
Then he was on me, unsnapping my jeans and getting me naked in seconds.
I wasn’t thinking about anything anymore.
Eli won the bet, though I was the real winner in the end.
After, I collapsed on top of him, every muscle in my body at ease, drifting on the edge of sleep with his fingers running up and down my spine in soothing strokes.
I let out a long sigh, trying to push away the realization that I was exactly where I wanted to be.
Maybe not with the rest of it—I could do without the exploded van, or the killer trying to shut down my life.
But here, cuddled up with Eli post several mind-blowing orgasms?
This was everything I hadn’t known I wanted, even if I couldn’t keep him.
The best I could hope for was a return to the life I’d had.
“Syl?” He tugged my hair and craned his neck to look at my face. “You okay?”
I didn’t know how to answer that. “What if I can’t go back? If we don’t find who’s behind this?—”
“We’ll find him, Sylvie,” Eli growled. “Trust me.”
I didn’t bother pointing out how absurd that statement was, considering how much he was keeping from me.
Instead, I rolled to my side and braced myself on one elbow, meeting his concerned eyes.
“Eli, think about what I do for a living. I’m very aware of how many crimes like this go unsolved.
I know you guys are the best, but sometimes that isn’t enough. Sometimes there aren’t any answers.”
“I’m not going to let that happen, Sylvie. We’re going to fix this and get your life back. I promise.”
I lay down, resting my cheek on his chest, sighing as the solid thump of his heart echoed in my ear. “Emmett was right. I know you’ll do everything you can, but you can’t promise me that.”
He stroked his hand down my hair. “I can. I am. You can trust me, Sylvie. Always.”
But we both knew that was a lie. I wanted to trust Eli, but whatever was going on was a lot bigger than just me and my exploded van. And when push came to shove, Eli’s loyalty was to his secrets, not me.
In the end, I was exactly where I’d started.
On my own.