Chapter 25
Harmony
After we arrived at Elias’s house yesterday morning, I showered and brushed my teeth, hoping to feel a little more human and less icky.
I fell asleep soon after. Now angry sun rays poke in through the cracks in the blinds.
My head pounds like someone is hitting my skull with a sledgehammer.
Wham. Wham. Wham. I roll away from the window and bury myself under my pillow.
A gentle knock sounds at the door, and I groan. My cheeks burn at the thought of him carrying my unconscious body out of the club. I quickly grab a piece of gum and pop it into my mouth before running my fingers through my hair. Hopefully I don’t look like I just rolled around in trash.
“Can I come in?” Elias’s voice is thankfully soft. “I have some water for you, and if you’re up for it, breakfast.”
“Come in.” My still sleepy voice barely comes out above a whisper.
The door creaks open, and Elias carries a tray with water, a plethora of fruits, and plain scrambled eggs. As he comes closer, I get a whiff of the smell, and my stomach rumbles. He laughs—the noise a little more strained than usual. “I guess I’m right on time.”
I push myself into a seated position with my back against the headboard and cover myself with my blanket like it’s a shield.
He sits, and the bed creaks beneath his weight. I itch to touch him, but he stays just out of reach. My chest hitches. Maybe pretending to be my boyfriend for a few hours was crossing a line he hadn’t wanted to, but my insistence on going to The Garage forced him.
“Here.” He places the tray on the free side of the bed and scoots closer. “Drink some water before you eat.”
He places the glass to my mouth, and I reach to grab it. My throat tightens as I say, “You don’t have to feed me.”
His eyes stay on the water. “You’re in this position because of me. Just let me take care of you.”
I blink and blink again, my lashes fluttering. Elias’s words make zero sense. “That’s not true.”
“If only I wasn’t so distracted, this wouldn’t have—”
I press my lips to his before he can continue to say how this is all his fault, and he tenses. My heart cracks at his reaction. With burning cheeks, I pull away. “I’m so sorry. I know that was highly inappropriate. I’m not sure what came over me.”
He only stares at me and I avert my gaze. I can’t watch him when he tells me he’s over us. That all he’s been feeling is physical attraction.
He grabs my hand and says, “I’ve dreamt of your lips on mine since the last time our lips touched.
And after what you said to me last night …
” I look back at him and he shakes his head, dropping his gaze back to the cup.
“But you’re recovering from being roofied.
I can’t take advantage of you like this. ”
“What did I say last night?”
“It’s not important. I know now it wasn’t you talking.”
It did matter, but if I push him too much, I might scare him away.
I bite my lower lip. My heart somersaults at his admission. You don’t know how many countless nights I lay awake thinking of you. There were so many sleepless nights in my dorm room where I wished Elias had come with me. “I thought about you, too.”
His dark eyes glance at me, piercing straight into my soul. “You did?”
I nod. My mouth turns dry as his gaze moves to my lips. I push my thighs together to try release the ache deep in my core.
“You’re still recovering, and you need to eat.” He shakes his head. “You’re in this situation because of me.”
“Stop saying that.”
“Saying what?”
“That I’m in this situation because of you.
” I run my fingers up and down his lean muscles.
They flex under my touch. “Did you sign me up for Everlasting Love? Are you the person who hired someone to take me out just because I was going to marry Victor? Or because I wouldn’t say that Victor was funneling money when it isn’t true. ”
Elias’s jaw clenches at Victor’s name. Hmm, interesting. Is he jealous? Or maybe he’s just irritated at the situation.
“I know what you’re saying, but I allowed myself to get lost in you, in us. Not to mention—”
He cuts himself off as I inch closer again. I lean in and whisper in his ear, “Aren’t you tired of depriving yourself of what you want? Because I know I sure am.”
A growl vibrates out of his chest. He looks at my mouth again before pushing to his feet. “Eat. I’ll come back in a little bit to get the tray.”
***
I feel more human than I have since before the incident. Shower? Check. Brushed teeth? Check. Changed into some regular clothes? Check. Still horny for my ex-boyfriend turned bodyguard? Regrettably check.
Before my blackout, everything felt so right.
It almost seemed like he wanted me, too.
Not to mention when we almost kissed … But after how Elias reacted before my shower, maybe he wasn’t really flirting, and it’s all one-sided.
Perhaps the almost kiss was just an urge, and he didn’t have feelings for me anymore. My body suddenly feels heavier.
No. I’m allowing myself to get lost in the negative.
And no matter how hard he’s trying to act unbothered, I felt him while we danced.
But I can’t get rid of the unease that I said something wrong.
That’s the only part of getting drugged that still haunts me because I know for a fact that Elias protected me—probably even from myself.
I pad down the short hallway and head directly to the kitchen for another glass of water.
Elias’s fireplace warms me as I walk by, and the wood cracks as it burns.
Spot is lying on his little doggy bed, enjoying the heat.
This cabin is cozy and perfect for Elias.
I can’t help but wonder what his bedroom looks like.
But after he shut me down, I know I won’t ever find out.
It’s probably for the best anyway. If we have sex, it will make leaving harder.
As I reach for a glass, someone touches my arm. I crane my neck to look over my shoulder at Elias. Something like uncertainty flashes across his face.
“Is something wrong?”
He shakes his head and says, “Are you up to learning how to cook my aunt’s secret recipes?”
“Uhh—” I pause. I wasn’t expecting him to offer that right now. Not after, well, everything but it might be the perfect thing to get my mind off everything. His lips tug upward as he watches me struggle on what to say. His normally dark eyes appear to be a shade lighter. “Right now?”
“Well, I promised to teach you, and I think it’s best we stay in for a bit.” He lowers his voice and says, “Just promise not to tell my aunt.”
My mouth goes dry as I take him in. He’s wearing gray sweatpants and a fitted black t-shirt. His pants are definitely shaping him out in places that will be distracting. “It will be our secret.”
Elias nears me, and my heart goes into overdrive, but instead of stopping in front of me, he opens the refrigerator door behind me. I blow out a breath.
He turns to face me with a variety of vegetables in his hands right as I’m about to move and I almost topple over.
Grabbing onto his broad chest, I clench my fingers around his shirt, steadying myself.
For once, he doesn’t flinch away or tense.
No, instead, he drops everything in his hands, and grips me to him like I’m his lifeline.
All of the food tumbles to the floor, completely forgotten, and I sink into him.
His dark brown eyes search my gaze as if seeking permission.
And just like that, whatever we were about to make is no longer a concern.
His chest rises and falls rapidly, and he twirls me around so that my back is up against the counter. He places his hands on both sides of me, caging me in, and leans down to whisper in my ear, “I’m done fighting this pull between us.”
Then his mouth descends to mine.