Chapter Twenty-Eight - Elise
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Elise
“That’s not fair! I called dibs on playing with Elli next round,” Alec says, pointing an accusing finger at Donovan, who smiles like he’s won the lottery and not a game of cards.
“No way. We’re on a winning streak.”
I roll my eyes, but a flattered blush rises in my cheeks. “Don, we’ve won four games in a row. I think your ego can handle playing with another partner.”
He frowns, surveying his options around the table—Kade, Ryder, and Jay.
We’re playing Kemps—a personal favorite of mine that I’ve always had a particular knack for.
Jay raises his whiskey glass. “I’ll be your partner if I don’t have to play with Kade again. He never wins.”
Kade flips him off. “I don’t want to play with a drunk anyway. What’s that, your third glass in the last hour?”
“And I still played better than you,” Jay mutters.
Today has been exactly what I needed to get out of my self-pity.
Jay made potato soup for dinner, which I had intended on taking to my room, but the guys insisted that I join them. It was awkward at first since I didn’t fit into their conversations, but once Jay served the second round of drinks, we all started to loosen up.
After dinner, Kade suggested we play cards, which is how we’ve spent most of the night. Their first choice had been poker, but I convinced them to try Kemps, though none of them had played it before. Of course, they all picked up on it ridiculously fast.
I finish off my drink and raise the empty glass. “Maybe you should all team up, then you might actually have a chance at beating me.”
“Woah!”
“Uncalled for!”
“She’s not wrong…”
Their laughter is contagious, and I can’t help but join in.
Suddenly, all laughter and taunting are silenced.
I open my mouth to ask what’s happening but close it when I follow their gazes to the door behind me.
A figure stands in the open doorway to the porch.
Joshua.
I sit up, anticipation coursing through me at just the sight of him. I knew that I missed him, but now that he stands in front of me, I feel the weight of just how strong that longing was as it slides off my shoulders. It should scare me just how much my body reacts to being near him.
Of course, that’s when I notice his expression and why everyone else went dead silent.
He’s livid. Even with the minimal light from the dim bulbs, I can see his lips are pressed in a hard line.
“Joshua, you’re back early,” I say, stating the obvious just to break the silence.
Raising his chin, he meets my eyes, and I’m relieved to see that his expression softens.
So, he’s not mad at me then.
“Ryder, Elise.” Though all he says are our names, we get the message.
Clearing his throat, Ryder smiles tightly at the men around the table and stands.
I follow suit, and we make our way toward Joshua, who curtly steps aside to let us by.
As we go into the house, I hear the guys behind us packing up the cards for the night, and I hate that the light-heartedness is gone.
Ryder and I follow Joshua past the kitchen and to the steps.
Joshua faces me. “Go upstairs. I’ll be up in a minute.”
“What? Why?”
“Just go. I’ll be there after I talk to Ryder.”
I scoff, not moving an inch. “I’m not some toddler you’re about to tuck in for bed. What’s going on?”
Joshua closes his eyes and takes a deep breath as though he’s counting to ten in an attempt to calm himself.
That’s when I finally put it together.
“Is this about me hanging out with the guys? That’s not Ryder’s fault. I—”
His narrowed eyes snap open. “Elise, do not push me right now.”
“You’re acting insane.”
“Do not make me ask you again.”
I take a daring step forward. “Or what?”
Joshua glares at me with enough fury to send an army running, but before he can say anything, Ryder steps forward, effectively shifting my attention to him.
“Elli, it’s okay. Just go, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” His damned soothing tone eases the frustration growing from Joshua’s demands.
As much as I want to defend Ryder, I know he’s fully capable of handling himself. I nod and turn to go, glancing at Joshua’s expression as I do.
He looks murderously at Ryder.
I begin to ascend the staircase, and when I’m halfway up, the two men walk silently down the hall to Joshua’s office.
On a dangerous whim, I walk back down, tiptoeing after them. I stand sideways at the double doors, allowing my ear to pick up the conversation.
“What the hell were you thinking?” The deadly words come from Joshua.
“That she’d be more comfortable getting to know the strangers surrounding her, and I was right.” Ryder sounds as level-headed as ever.
“That wasn’t your call to make. She was perfectly fine,” Joshua snaps.
“Perfectly fine? She hadn’t moved from that couch or eaten in days until I stepped in. She was not perfectly fine.”
“I know she was struggling, but that’s why I came back early. Imagine my surprise when I come home to see that she’s out there with the capos when I specifically told you to keep them away from her.”
“Have you seen her laugh like that before? Because I haven’t. All I ever see her do is cry or yell at you.” Ryder’s voice climbs to a shout, and it’s the first time I’ve heard him yell at anyone.
When Joshua speaks, the words are ice cold. “You’ll leave first thing in the morning for the base. You can stop to see Lyla on your way back to L.A., but you’re not staying here.”
Ryder laughs, but the sound is far from humored. “Are you going to take away everything that makes her happy aside from you? That’ll only make her resent you, Joshua.”
The words hang in the air, and both Joshua and I realize the weight of their truth.
“I should’ve called to ask you,” Ryder says, tone softened. “I was just worried you’d react… like this.”
“Yes, you should’ve called. And, Elli?”
“A harmless nickname. She’s never had one. Are you seriously jealous right now?”
“I’m pissed that my second in command is blatantly disregarding my orders and acting overly friendly with my girl.”
“I won’t go behind your back again—”
“Damn straight you won’t. Just because I’ve known you forever doesn’t mean you get to disrespect me.” Joshua takes a deep breath. “I don’t want her around the others without one of us. I will not put her in danger again.”
“Yes, sir.”
I decide now is a good time to leave so neither man walks out and sees me.
I’ve taken a total of two steps before I hear my name. “Elise, come in. I know you’re listening.” Joshua sounds more tired than frustrated.
I guess I wasn’t as stealthy as I thought.
I enter the room with flushed cheeks and find Joshua standing behind his desk, arms folded. Ryder stands similarly, and neither of them looks happy with the other.
Ryder gives me a forced smile before nodding to Joshua, and leaving the office.
The door shuts, and thankfully, the tension leaves with Ryder.
I open my mouth to break the silence, but before I can say anything, he’s making his way around the desk.
Every nerve in my body senses his presence, longing for the electricity his touch brings.
I don’t have to wait very long because, within seconds, he’s cupping my face, bringing his lips to mine.
The moment is wordless, but we’re communicating perfectly.
The tenderness of his touch says I missed you. The parting of my lips says, welcome home.
I revel in this kiss, forgetting his anger and my annoyance, focusing only on how our bodies react to each other.
We’re both panting by the time he pulls away. “That’s how I should’ve greeted you tonight.”
“I would have preferred that,” I say breathlessly. “How did you know I was listening?”
He smiles, turning the computer monitor so I can see it. The screen shows the feed from surveillance cameras that seem to cover the whole property. He points to the small box that shows the outside of his office.
I was impossible to miss.
“After you overheard the call with your father, I decided it would be best to watch the feed.”
I’m not surprised that Joshua has cameras around the house, but I feel silly for never noticing them before.
“I should’ve known you’d be curious,” he says as he wraps an arm around my waist and tugs me to his side. “Come on, let’s get you ready for bed.”
I let Joshua lead me upstairs, loving how he keeps a possessive hold on me the whole way. I remember how he did this back at the base and how it felt like I was doing something wrong by letting him touch me.
It doesn’t feel wrong now.
He stops us at the threshold of my door. “Are you still wearing bandages?”
“No, Ryder’s just been putting some cream on the scars.”
“I’ll go get it.”
By the time he returns, I’ve set up the chairs and am sitting shirtless, covering my chest with the large button-up I’ve chosen to wear to sleep.
With my arms crossed over the back of the chair, I lay my head on them and close my eyes. After days of nothing but watching TV, hanging out with the capos tonight has drained my energy.
“Tired?” Joshua asks, closing the door and walking to the chair behind me.
“Mmm.”
His low chuckle fills the room as he gets to work, and the sound, mixed with his delicate touch, makes the pull of sleep even stronger.
I fight against my exhaustion and ask, “Joshua?”
“Yes, Princess?”
“Are you really making Ryder leave?”
“No, I’m not, Elli,” he says slowly, testing the nickname on his lips.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not?”
I turn my head until I find his mesmerizing eyes that look down on me with all the care in the world. “I like my name on your lips.”
His dashing smile sends my heart racing, and I have trouble remembering what we’d been talking about.
“How come Ryder called you Joshua? I’ve only ever heard him call you ‘Mr. Moreno’.”
“It’s a respect thing. He’ll only call me by my first name if we’re in private. Someone’s inquisitive tonight.”
“A little,” I admit. “I have one more question.”
“And what’s that?” He puts the supplies away, and I button up my shirt.
“Is he right? Are you jealous?”
Joshua freezes, and I can’t see his face to read if it’s due to anger or surprise.
After a long moment, he places the first aid kit down and turns to face me.
When his searing eyes meet mine, I’m only partially relieved to find that there’s no anger there, but the look of pure, dominant possession scares me just as much.
Slowly—too slowly—he lowers himself to his knees until we’re face to face.
“Do I strike you as the type of man that likes to share?” The huskiness of his voice causes my heart to flutter.
“No,” I whisper.
“I don’t want anyone to touch what’s mine, and you, Elise, are mine.”
I should tell him he’s wrong. I don’t belong to him. I don’t belong to anyone.
But I’m not so sure that’s true.
Our lips meet, and the familiar energy sparks to life, igniting an all-consuming desire for him.
I lean forward in the chair, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close to me. He keeps a firm hold on me as he rises, and I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. With one hand circled beneath my bottom and the other weaved into my hair, Joshua carries me to the bed.
He turns before laying us down so his back is against the bed, and I’m flush against his hard chest. Deepening the kiss, I gasp as he takes my bottom lip in his mouth, tugging deliciously on it.
I move one hand down to his waist, splaying my fingers beneath his shirt and slowly trailing my hand up. His skin is warm, and every ridge of his stomach and chest is meticulously defined muscle.
Joshua groans, pulling away just enough to say, “You’re going to kill me, you know that?”
“Sounds like I should’ve tried this method weeks ago,” I murmur against his lips.
His soft laugh is addictive. “If kissing you is what finally takes me out, I’ll die a very happy man.”
I hum against his mouth. “I’ll just have to keep trying, then.”
His response is to nip at my ear, tugging lightly as I laugh. After another quick kiss, he sits up, pulling me with him.
“How have you been sleeping?” he asks, stroking my cheek affectionately.
I almost tell him I haven’t been sleeping well but pause when I remember the night he slept beside me—the only night when there were no nightmares at all.
“What?” he asks.
I bite my lip absentmindedly and scold myself. I really need to get a handle on my facial expressions around him. Joshua doesn’t miss a thing.
“It’s nothing.”
“Elise, tell me.”
“No, I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“And?”
Blood rushes to my cheeks. “There was one night that I didn’t have any nightmares…”
“When?”
I avert my eyes, sure he’s already guessed the answer.
“Elise.” My name is a command on his lips.
My voice is barely a whisper. “The night you slept with me, back at the base.”
A gentle finger raises my chin until I stare into his adoring eyes. An intensity burns there that would bring me to my knees if I wasn’t already sitting.
“Then I’ll sleep beside you,” he says simply.
I’m speechless, which is okay because he doesn’t give me the chance to say anything. Pressing a short but sweet kiss to my lips, Joshua stands and takes off his shirt and shoes.
He’s stunning, muscles flexing across his tanned and toned body. If I didn’t know that he spends most of his time locked away in his office, I’d think all he does is work out and sunbathe.
Joshua turns the lights off and climbs into bed behind me.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Anything for you, Princess,” he says, kissing my temple. “You should sleep. You have a big day tomorrow.”
“I do?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Raising his head, Joshua glances at the clock that reads midnight. “Happy birthday, Elise.”