16. Daphne
Daphne
I stare down at the plate I’m drying, but I’m not really seeing it.
I’m mostly reliving the day. Despite Dane and Serena causing issues, it turned out to be a really great one.
Mom left really early, but Dad is still in the family room, playing with Cammie.
For the first time in a long time, I’m content.
“Your mom left pretty quickly,” Eli points out, getting my attention. I smile over at him.
“She always does. Still, she tries in her own way. Her husband doesn’t really like her visiting what he refers to as her life before him,” I laugh dryly.
“Sounds like a prince of a guy,” Eli mutters.
“That’s one way to describe him. Still, he’s good to Mom. She’s changed a lot, though. So, I can’t be sure she’s happy. I think she’s busy trying to make herself be what she thinks Nathan expects from her.”
“That sounds like a miserable life,” Eli points out.
“Tell me about it. It’s one that I tried to live with Dane. I guess I have Serena to thank for yanking me out of that nightmare—” No matter how much it hurt at the time.
“You have jack-shit to thank that bitch for,” he grumbles.
“Be still my heart. Is there a man alive that didn’t fall for Serena Aden’s charms?” I fake gasp, holding my hand over my heart.
“If by charms you mean her tits she kept trying to shove against me, then definitely.”
I lean against the counter, turning to face Eli and stare at him for a minute. He really is a beautiful man. He also has no idea how truly special he is. “Thank you for today, Eli. You really made not only Cammie’s day, but mine as well.”
“I didn’t do anything,” he grumbles, not really looking at me.
“Bullshit,” I grumble, making him laugh.
“Little ears, Skittles. Little ears.”
I roll my eyes. “She can’t hear me over her Papaw’s heavy breathing as he tries to dance on that damn dance mat.” Eli starts laughing and I find myself giggling. “Did you buy it for that reason?”
“I didn’t buy it, your dad did,” he says, not meeting my eyes.
“Don’t lie. Dad will definitely pay you back, but he did not buy a gift.”
“Your dad …” He stops for a minute as if he’s trying to choose his words. “Something in him is broken. I recognize it in him, because I’ve been there. He was drowning and just needed someone to help pull him out of it.”
I study him for a minute. “I don’t know whether to hug you or be jealous of the woman that you loved so much that she deserved that kind of devotion,” I say quietly.
“Who says it was a woman?” he asks, looking at me funny.
“You did. You told me that she cheated on you with your friend. Remember?”
“That hurt,” he admits.
“Trust me I know,” I return, giving him a half smile.
He reaches out and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. Nora isn’t the one who broke me. This happened way before her, and maybe I ended up with Nora because I didn’t think I was worth anyone better than her,” he says so quietly that I have to strain to hear it.
“Well now you’re just talking bullshit. You’re an amazing man. Any woman would fall down on her knees and thank God you were hers, Eli.”
“You don’t know everything there is about me, Skittles. You can’t say that.” His head leans in closer to me. Our lips are just a breath away from one another. I moisten mine, practically tasting his kiss.
“I know enough. Are you going to warn me away from you some more, or are you going to kiss me?”
“Kissing you would be dangerous. A man could become addicted to your lips, Daphne,” his graveled voice purrs, and I feel it vibrate through me.
God, if he could get me this aroused just talking about a kiss, what could he do to me in bed?
I have no idea the answer, but I know that I want it to happen.
“I really, truly, hope so,” I admit, as my hand wraps against the side of his neck and I go up on the tips of my toes so that I can kiss him. It’s still not enough and Eli pulls back just enough so that he can look into my eyes.
“Do you want me addicted to you, Skittles?” he asks, questions swirling in his eyes that I don’t know if I have the answers to, but I want to find out.
“More than you could possibly imagine, Eli,” I answer truthfully.
“Fuck,” he hoarsely whispers. Then, he answers a prayer I didn’t even know I was praying and his lips come down on mine.
Rough. Hungry. Claiming.