Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Oh, this woman .
So much heartache hidden under layers of laughter. And yet, she revealed herself to him. Stripped herself of her defenses. Trusted Elias not to hurt her when she was most vulnerable.
So brave .
Elias gave Wren his sexiest smile as he dipped his head and brushed his lips across hers. “Mmm.” He brushed her lips again. On the third brush, he licked her bottom lip and she made the sexiest sound as Elias felt his heart speed up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and found his nape. Wren parted her lips against his, letting him enter her mouth and explore. He groaned and pulled her closer, then broke off their kiss, savoring her sounds of protest.
“Right now, I’m going to show you just how many benefits you have.”
And with that, he slid his hands down her body and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his torso and giggled all the way down the hall as he carried her to his bedroom.
“Hey! It’s your hostages,” she joked when she saw her panties and bra on his dresser. Now that he understood her, Elias didn’t have to question if she was joking because she was anxious. When she got anxious, she sucked her cheeks in. Right now, her other tell was right there—that gorgeous sparkle in her eyes whenever something made her happy.
“We’ll discuss the hostages later. Right now, I need you too much to stop and let you put those on.” Elias laid her down on his bed then covered her with his body. He leaned down and growled, “I’d only rip them right back off of you.”
Wren moaned and arched up, pressing her body against his erection. He straddled her and pulled his shirt off over his head and tossed it into the corner as she watched. God, he loved being watched by her. Loved seeing the raw, naked desire in her hazel eyes. Her salty-peach scent rose up, tantalizing him.
Her hands went to his waist and she began undoing his pants. Her fingers brushed him—sheer torture as his cock strained against his boxer briefs. He moved off the bed then pulled off his jeans and boxer briefs, revealing his weeping cock. Wren sat up and pulled off her V-neck tee, revealing a pink silk bra with dark gray lace and trim. Elias could see her dark nipples—hard little pebbles under the thin fabric.
“Take your jeans off for me right now,” he growled. “Make it fast.”
Wren got to her knees and undid her jeans. But instead of pulling them off, she ran her hand down her belly until her fingers disappeared into her jeans. Elias groaned as he watched her hand move, imagining her fingers gliding over the silk barely covering her sweet pussy. Her eyes twinkled, full of equal parts of joy, mischief, and lust as she teased him.
“Do you trust me to make you feel good?” he asked.
“Always,” she answered in a throaty voice.
“Then stop. That’s mine to play with right now. Jeans off.”
Her half-masted eyes widened as she licked her lips. “The panties too?”
“Not yet.”
She kicked off her heels and peeled off her jeans and Elias got to see exactly what he’d hoped for. She’d soaked her panties for him.
“Oh, yeah, baby. That’s what I wanted.”
When he reached toward his nightstand to get a condom, Wren grabbed his wrist.
“No. I want you inside me without one.”
Elias froze. “I’ve never done that.”
“Never?”
“No. Not with anyone.”
Her entire chest blushed red as she let go of his wrist. “Then we don’t hav?—”
“Not until now.”
“Oh,” she breathed.
“I never trusted anyone enough.”
“I’m on birth control, and I’m clean.”
Elias gave her a rueful smile. “Not that kind of trust. I never trusted a woman not to break my heart.”
She blinked rapidly. “I won’t break your heart.”
“I know.” He pulled his hand away from the nightstand. Then he covered her body with his. “I trust you completely.” He dipped down and kissed her—another soft brush of his lips against hers. “My heart is completely at your mercy.”
“I won’t,” she repeated.
He nodded. Then he kissed and nuzzled her neck and throat.
“God, I missed you,” she whispered.
“Missed me?” he breathed into her ear, and felt her shiver.
“Yes. Not just the past few days but all my life. I didn’t know you, but I missed you. Does that sound crazy?”
“Not at all. I’m here now, Wren. And I’m not going anywhere.”
She gripped him as if a giant eagle was about to swoop down and carry him off.
“It’s over now, baby. All that waiting for something good.”
“Nothing good ever lasts for me.” The sadness in her voice cracked his heart open. Elias lifted his head and looked deeply into her eyes.
“That changes right now. Wren, I don’t care that we just met. Like you said, I’ve been waiting for you, too, I just didn’t know it. I love you.”
He watched her lips part in shock.
I shouldn’t have told her that. I messed up. I ? —
“I love you too, Elias.” She gave him the sweetest smile.
He shook his head in disbelief. “It’s a morning for firsts. That’s the first time I’ve ever told a woman I love you, and the first time I’ve heard it said to me.”
Her sweet smile turned sexy as hell. “Then let’s get to that other first. Now you’re the one who needs to hurry up.”
Elias threw his head back and laughed. Her body felt good as she laughed under him.
“All right. But you can’t stop me from doing one thing first.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
He moved down the length of her body, then gazed down at her panties. He wasn’t sure how it was possible, but they looked even wetter now. He bent his head and licked at the wet silk. He pressed his mouth against her, feeling her tight little clit under his lips, and growled. Wren moaned and gripped his hair, holding him in place.
“Let me up, baby,” he breathed against her, and she let go. Elias wrapped his arm under her sweet, tight ass and lifted her pelvis. He pulled her panties off with his other hand and let her back down gently. Then he lowered his head down between her legs, breathed in the essence of her, and ate. He licked, and sucked, and held her down as she writhed under him. He reached up to her bra and played with her nipple, squeezing it just as he felt her body tighten under him. She cried out his name—the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.
Elias didn’t hesitate. He covered her again until the head of his cock was aligned with her hot, soaking pussy. He thrust deep into her before her orgasm subsided. Nothing had ever felt this good as she pulsed and squeezed around his cock. He gritted his teeth against coming too soon and held still.
When she finished, he gave her long, gentle strokes at first, making sure to rub her clit with every thrust. Then as his pleasure built, he increased his speed until he was groaning, peaking, and she was right there with him, coming for him again.
Elias wrapped his arms around her and rolled until Wren lay on top of him.
“Was that good?” he asked.
“So good. The best.”
He kissed the top of her head as she relaxed into his body.
“I promise, it’s going to last.”
“So, tell me how you ended up in Colorado.” They were sitting across from each other at the breakfast table, eating pancakes Elias had warmed back up in the oven. Wren wore yet another shirt she’d swiped out of his closet—a dress shirt with the top buttons undone so that he had a lovely view of her cleavage.
Wren licked syrup off her finger. “Well, you know I grew up in Seattle. I went off to school in Los Angeles to get out of the rain.”
“Relatable.”
Wren grinned and cut another bite of pancake. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to see the world. Then I went to a lecture on travel photography and I was hooked. I declared my major and threw myself into learning everything I could about photography. My professor said I had a knack for photographing people and introduced me to a fashion designer who gave me a chance.”
She shrugged and popped the bite of pancake into her mouth. “I started working shows, then magazines. I ended up flying back and forth between LA and New York all the time, so there was my travel.” She rolled her eyes. “Then I got tired of living half my life in airports, and decided to come to Colorado.”
“Splitting the difference between the coasts.” Elias took a sip of coffee.
“Never thought of it that way. But, I liked Colorado. I’d done a few shoots here in Vail and Aspen. I couldn’t afford either place and realized it was the mountains and not the towns themselves that I loved, so I found Lyons. And apparently, a Lion as well,” she joked.
Elias cracked a grin. “And I’m glad you did.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it. “So tell me more. What was this project that you and Sandra worked on? She said it was a heartbreaker.” He laced his fingers with hers.
Wren nodded and lifted her mug for another drink before she spoke. “It was.” She sighed. “And I think it’s part of the reason why I’ve been so moody.”
Elias stroked his thumb over hers. “Babe, if you’re referring to this morning, that wasn’t moody. That was sharing a hard part of your life with me.” He brought her hand to his lips again, brushing them across her fingers and loving the way she reacted—goose bumps rose on her arms. “I love that you did.”
She ducked her head, smiling.
“So let me guess. It has something to do with losing a home.”
“It does. I’m working with a reporter from Mile High Marker . Kit Larson. She’s doing an exposé on people who have lost their homes due to medical debt. Not the same story as mine growing up, but close enough that I’ve let it bring up all my old insecurities.”
Elias nodded. “How are you doing now?” He watched for her to suck in her cheeks, telling him she was uncomfortable, even if she joked.
“I’m much better. Talking about it helped.” She gave him a wicked grin. “So did everything after.”
She’s not lying. My baby’s feeling good for real .
“Then I guess we’ll have to do a lot of that. I want you feeling good.” He nodded at her shoulder. “I noticed your shoulder’s not bothering you as much.”
She unlaced her hand from his and rubbed it. “It is better. I sneaked in a yoga class with Stephanie this week and she helped me with my posture. Plus, I laughed so hard, I think I loosened the rock.” Her expression turned soft. “And maybe talking got rid of most of it this morning.”
Warmth spread through Elias’ chest—a mix of tenderness and desire.
“I love you, babe.”
“I love you, too, Lion.” She grinned at his nickname. Then she blew out a breath. “Now, I do need to get some work done today. That’s the joy of owning your own business—it owns you.”
Elias grinned. “No worries, so long as I get to spend the whole day with you.” He stretched his arms over his head, loving the way Wren’s gaze went straight for his abs. “What kind of work?”
“I have to touch up some of the photos. I want to push the shadows a little more.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, here, I’ll show you. Where did I leave my tote?” She looked around and spotted it by the door where she’d dropped it when Elias took her into his arms. “Oh yeah, there it is. No idea how I could have lost track of it.” She giggled as she winked at him, and he loved the blush that crept into her cheeks. She got up and brought her tote back to the table. Elias cleared the plates in the meantime.
“I can do the dishes first if you want,” Wren said.
“Nope, they can wait.” Elias stacked their plates in the sink. “I have to unload the dishwasher first anyway.”
“I’m telling you, you’re making me feel guilty for not washing them. Whoever doesn’t cook, washes the dishes.” She took her laptop out of her tote and set it on the table.
“So you have said.” Elias grabbed his chair and came around the table with it. He kissed her temple, then they sat down in front of the laptop.
“Well, it’s the new rule here.” She stopped and covered her mouth.
Elias chuckled as he felt his heart swell.
“I mean, if you want. It’s your house.”
Elias draped his arm around her. Wren leaned into him and he kissed her temple again. “I’m glad you’re comfortable enough here to make rules. Only,” he nodded toward Penny in her doggie bed, “she has the final say around here.”
“Oh, of course.” Wren looked at Penny. “She says it’s fine so long as she gets to lick the plates first.”
“Ugh!” Elias grimaced and Wren burst out laughing. “I’m never eating off those plates again if that’s the case.”
“No problem. She’ll take the new plate budget out of your minion pay.”
“Great. How generous.”
Wren giggled as she clicked on an icon and opened a photo, but grew serious once it loaded. “This is Matthew and his son, Arthur.”
“Cute kid.” Elias studied the contrast between laughing son and somber father. “What’s their story?”
“Matthew lost his wife, Lena to a stroke. He was on top of the medical bills, then he wasn’t. It sounded hinky. The hospital where she passed away is called Milestone.” She made a disgusted sound. “The next guy I photographed was a sweetheart. He was a patient at Milestone, too. Same deal with the medical bills. He calls it Millstone.”
“As in a millstone tied around his neck.”
“Exactly.”
Wren closed the photo of Matthew and Arthur. She clicked on another file.
When it opened, Elias felt adrenaline hit his system the way it did every time he was part of a search. He was looking at a familiar face.
“Wait a minute. What’s his name?”
Wren looked at Elias. “Evan. Why?”
“Holy shit. Hang on.” Elias got up and found the paper Gabe had given him. He came back and smoothed it out on the table. “This is him, isn’t it? Evan Roy.”
Wren compared the photos. “Yes.” She looked at Elias in confusion, then tapped on the paper. “What is this? Why do you have a picture of Evan?” Her brow furrowed. “Wait, is that Stephanie with him?”
Elias beamed as he kissed Wren full on the lips. “This is the reason why we had that meeting at the rec center. Evan is friends with Stephanie and when he stopped showing up there, she asked us to find him.”
“Why all of you? Why not the authorities?”
“She tried going that route and got nowhere.” He paused. Wren had shared her secret with him. She was already friends with Ellie, April, Stephanie, Rochelle, and Sandra.
I’m safe telling her .
“Steph asked us because we…help people out. People who can’t get justice any other way.”
“People who can’t get justice?”
He nodded. “We just helped out a little girl who had to testify against her abuser. We came to the courtroom, told her to look at us, not at him. Then his family wouldn’t leave her alone and the police couldn’t keep up. So we helped with that, too.”
“People who fall through the cracks. Who can’t defend themselves.”
“Yeah. Sometimes, restraining orders don’t mean anything to a predator. We make sure they stop, by any means necessary.” He searched her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction, his pulse quickening. “Do you know what I’m saying?”
She nodded slowly.
“Are you good with that?”
Wren took his hand in both of hers. “No.”
This is it. I’ve lost her . The fleeting thought whipped through his heart, leaving scars in its wake.
“Nope. I’m great with that, Elias.”
He closed his eyes in relief. He felt Wren scootch forward, then her lips met his. A soft promise that said she accepted who he was and what he needed to do.
Elias opened his eyes and laid his hand against her cheek. Her soft skin grounded him.
She covered his hand with hers. “But you’d better promise me you’ll always be careful.”
He gave her a soft smile. “I can’t promise you that, baby. But I will promise I won’t hide what I’m doing from you. And I’ll always come home to you.”
“If you can’t promise you’ll be careful, then how can you promise me that?”
“Because my brothers always have my back.”
He watched her consider that, his heart beating just a little faster as he waited for her response.
“Ellie and Rochelle know, too?”
“Of course. T-Wolf and Bear would never keep what they do a secret from them.”
“Then, the next time you…do what you do, I’ll have them over to my home. We can support each other, you know?”
“That sounds great, baby.”
And if I have my way, your home will be here, with me .
Elias tapped her screen. “Do you or Kit know how to get a hold of him?”
“Yeah. He’s got a room at the Y in Denver, where I took the photos.”
Elias stood up. “I gotta call Gabe. Let everyone know he’s been located.” He planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Steph’s gonna be so relieved.” Elias started for the kitchen where he’d left his phone.
“Elias, wait. He doesn’t want to be found.”
Elias stopped and turned. “He doesn’t?”
“No.” She ran a hand through her long, chestnut hair. “He feels ashamed.” She chewed on her lower lip. “He doesn’t want to face the nurses who saved his life. He wishes they hadn’t.”
Elias clenched his jaw and looked away. He didn’t want Wren to see the rage in his eyes, or hear his voice raised in fury. With a few deep breaths, he got himself under control. Centered, he said, “No one should ever be made to feel that way. And for such a stupid reason.” He pulled at the hair on top of his head in frustration. “I was one of the EMTs who was there that day. Waylon, too. We didn’t think he’d make it. We were so relieved when we got the news that he lived.” He took another deep breath. “You can’t take your patients home with you up here.” He tapped his temple. “But some you never forget.”
“Maybe I can talk to him,” Wren said quietly. “Please. Otherwise, I feel like I’ve betrayed his confidence.”
“It’s not your fault. You had no way of knowing.”
“No,” she said half to herself as she looked at Evan’s face on the screen, then back down at the photo on the table. “He looks so happy there. Must have been before the bills.” She clenched her fist. “It’s not right. He shouldn’t be going through this alone.”
She looked back up at Elias, fierce determination in her eyes. “Yeah. Let me talk to him. Maybe I can convince him to let his friends back into his life. Go ahead and let everyone know he’s found and he’s in a safe place. But maybe you could also explain the situation? Tell them to give me a chance to warm him up to the idea?”
“Of course, baby.” He paused. “What do you think he’ll say?”
“Well, he is going public in the article. So, I think there’s a part of him who wants to be found, whether he admits it or not. I’ll approach him that way. Speak to that part of him.”
Up until that moment, Elias didn’t think he could love or have more admiration for Wren. But seeing her look so determined made his heart overflow. He was only beginning to know her, and everything he learned made him love her more. His woman was strong, with a big heart.
If anyone can reach Evan, it’s her .
“You’ll convince him,” Elias told Wren.
She stood and crossed the room until she was standing right in front of him.
“You believe in me.”
He took her hands. “I do. Always.”