Chapter 44
CHAPTER 44
PEN
T he past two weeks have been crazy. Elijah and I have spent every waking moment together, sneaking around like two lust-filled teenagers.
It’s like I’ve reverted to my teenage years, or at least the teenage years I should have lived. When instead of being free and easy, I was an angry, rebellious teen with an enormous chip on my shoulder. I pushed everyone away. It was Mum and me against the world in my eyes. It was only when I met The Frazer family my barriers began to crumble. Franny, Robert, Elijah, and his siblings took my prickly exterior and chipped away at it bit by bit until it came crashing down, revealing the real me. And while I was there, vulnerable, they didn’t take advantage. Instead, they built me up, showed me all I could be. Something I embraced with both hands.
It’s been hard to watch Elijah over the years and be unable to do anything to help him. But in the past two weeks, I have seen a difference. Elijah is different. It’s like he’s untethered the man I first knew all those years ago. The one who had the whole world ahead of him. A man whose glass was always half full and looked on the bright side of everything.
“Go and pack a bag,” Elijah says as I walk through my front door.
“Lovely to see you too,” I say, walking up to him and wrapping my arms around his neck.
He drops a kiss on my nose, and I frown. I pull back. That was not what I was expecting.
Last night, he walked in, and we had sex on the stairs. It’s a good thing my mother didn’t let herself in. She’d have got quite a shock had she been faced with Elijah’s naked ass. Toned and gorgeous though it is.
“Pack a bag. No distractions. I’m taking you away for the weekend.”
I lean back in his arms and stare up at him.
“Isn’t that risky? People might see us.”
The sneaking around has been fun. Added to the excitement, making us act like teenagers trying not to be caught by their parents. But in reality, it’s more serious. He’s come out of a marriage, and I’ve got a broken engagement under my belt. Although neither is related. The press, with our known history, would have a field day, and neither of us is ready for that.
I have too much respect for Kris to drag him into this, especially when he and Elijah are competitors. The last thing he needs is for me to be photographed with another man two weeks before our wedding was due to take place. It would be completely tasteless.
For now, Elijah and I need to keep our relationship on the down low, even from Elijah’s family. I swore my mother to secrecy after she caught Elijah in the kitchen in his boxers. With Lottie out of the country and with Darra, it is even more important.
“It’s all taken care of,” he says, grinning. He taps the end of my nose. “Trust me.”
It’s strange. We may have only just reconnected, but it’s like we’ve never been apart. I know it can’t be the same in my heart; we’re different people now, but that feeling I always had around Elijah is still there. The one where I trust him implicitly and know he will keep me safe. Not something I ever allowed myself to feel around anyone else, apart from Kris.
“I’m trusting you,” I say, scowling, although it soon gives way to a grin. My stomach bubbles with the thought of what’s to come. A weekend away, just the two of us.
I pull out of his arms and race upstairs, stopping abruptly on the landing.
“What do I need?” I shout, only to have strong arms snake around my waist. “Ahh,” I squeal.
“Sorry, but I forgot something,” he says, spinning me in his arms, his mouth closing over mine.
The kiss takes my breath away. When Elijah pulls away, my body is feverish, my pussy throbbing—she’s become insatiable since she first had Elijah’s cock!
“Just warming you up,” Elijah says, his hands cupping my ass.
I resist the urge to rub myself against him, so instead, I pull back and put my hands on my hips.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Xander’s island, so bring swimwear and shorts. No one will spot us.” He waggles his brows. “Or you can go skinny dipping, whatever takes your fancy.”
I love this new and mischievous Elijah.
The thought of skinny dipping has me breaking out in a hot sweat. Not something I’ve wanted to try before, but then the thought of Elijah—shit, I need to get my thoughts in gear.
I turn and head towards my wardrobe.
“We’ll take the plane down and then a speedboat across from Xander’s private jetty.”
“I can’t believe you managed to get him to agree to let us use it.”
Xander’s Island is supposed to be out-of-this-world. The waiting list is long and exclusive. He’s very particular about who he lets stay there. He may be a close friend of Caleb’s but to have availability at this short notice.
“It’s who you know.”
Elijah chuckles.
I relax, unable to keep the smile from my face.
“A whole weekend away?”
The twinkle in his eye lets me know exactly where his mind has gone. My nerves tingle with anticipation.
“An entire weekend. But only if you get your ass in gear. If not, we’ll miss our flight slot.”
We make it to the Frazer plane. Claudia is waiting to greet us.
“Lovely to see you again, Claudia.”
“You too, Ms Dawson.”
“Pen,” I correct her. I hate formality. Everyone in my office is on a first-name basis. I ask for respect. I don’t demand it. Calling me by my surname does not command respect. It simply makes me feel old.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“Champagne?” Elijah drops in.
I nod.
Why not? We’re going away for the weekend, just the two of us.
“Certainly. I’ll get it now,” Claudia says before leaving us.
Elijah and I take our seats, his hand finding mine, interlocking our fingers.
“I can’t believe you organised this,” I say, my heart racing as if I’m going on my first holiday ever. “What on earth did you say to Xander? Did you tell him about us?”
“No. I simply said I wanted to get away, he was more than happy to oblige,” he says, before turning to stare at me. “I want to spend time with you, just the two of us. Lottie comes back next week.”
He doesn’t say it, but I know things will change.
He has a daughter who lives with him. I know Lottie well. I’m her godmother, after all. I’ve been helping with her homework for years, but what will she think about her dad and I being together. Elijah and I haven’t discussed it yet, but in reality, her parents have only just got divorced, and I’m not sure how she’ll take it if she finds out about us. Teenagers and parental relationships are a big ew, and ours is more complex than most .
I squeeze his fingers, letting him know I understand, and I do. Lottie will always come first.
Elijah and I are friends. We just need to enjoy each other while and when we can. Leave the future to sort itself out.
“Next Saturday?” I ask.
“Yes, her flights have been confirmed.”
“So we have a week. Then we can slow things down,” I say, trying to keep my voice matter of fact.
“It’s not what I want,” he tells me truthfully.
“I know. You like the sex,” I say, shoulder-bumping him, trying to lighten the mood. “We’ll make it work. I’m not ready to give up on all these orgasms yet.”
Elijah frowns, but Claudia reappears with our champagne before he can say whatever he was about to say. She pours us both a glass.
She leaves instantly, and I clink my glass to Elijah’s.
“To a fun and a wonderful sex-filled weekend,” I say, grinning.
“It will definitely be that.”