Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Emily
I’m surprised by a knock on my door the next morning, just as I’m gathering my things to head off to work. I frown, until I remember I am expecting a couple of packages. The postman must be early.
But when I open my front door, it’s not the postman.
It’s Eli. My boyfriend. And he looks gorgeous.
I swear leather jackets were made with him in mind, and his butt looks totally edible in dark grey, slightly ripped jeans.
“Hi,” I breathe, devouring him with my eyes.
His hair is in its usual knot, but the sea breeze has fluffed it up a little, and a couple of dark strands have escaped.
I know he’ll redo it when we get to Wishbone, but right now my fingers itch to play with it, to tuck them behind his ear, twirl them around my fingers.
It occurs to me that I’m allowed to do that, being his girlfriend and all, and I can’t help smiling.
Nobody pinch me; I’ve decided I don’t want to wake up if this is a dream.
His eyes widen and his grin is gratifyingly quick as he looks me up and down, taking in the new hair and the different clothes.
It’s truly amazing just how invigorating it is to wear clothes that you chose.
I feel like a new woman in my black leather pencil skirt, and a scoop necked maroon bodysuit with a black skull pattern down the spine.
The cleavage it gives me is awesome. And I’m loving my fishnet tights and DMs. They make me feel like me.
“Wow,” he rumbles low in his throat, and it goes straight to my clit, “you look amazing…”
“Thank - ” I am interrupted by his lips covering mine, and I giggle as he smiles against my mouth, pulling me a little closer with his hands on my hips. “Thank you,” I finish softly.
He lifts a hand and runs it gently through my hair, tugging it in a way that is so sexy and so achingly hot, and I shiver a tiny bit. He notices, of course he does, and his lips gently brush mine, soft as thistledown, electric as a live wire, and I’m hard pushed not to swoon.
Confession time: I was actually having serious doubts about us this morning, and second guessing my decision to give us a try.
I nearly convinced myself that seeing him was going to be super awkward and uncomfortable, and that he needs more than I am able to give.
But right now, in his arms, being kissed in a way that makes my knees tremble, all my fears go away.
That sense of bone deep relief at being with him is back in full force, and it feels like heaven.
“It’s like I’m meeting you for the first time,” he murmurs, and I blink, surprised again by how perceptive he is.
“You kind of are,” I reply, getting lost in his eyes. God, they really are stunning.
He smiles, running his thumb along my jaw. “Don’t get me wrong, since the moment we met you have always been the most gorgeous woman in the world to me, but...damn, baby,” he chuckles, “you look even more fantastic.”
I melt at his words. “Really?” I ask shyly.
“Really,” he says firmly, and starts to run gentle kisses along my jawline, to that patch of skin under my ear that he mentioned in that super hot text he sent me.
That reminds me…
“So, did you have a nice shower yesterday?” I ask mischievously. He chuckles against my neck, his breath tickling my skin in the most delicious way.
“I sure did,” he whispers into my ear, and I giggle again, blushing at the very thought of what he did to himself and biting my lip in a state of pure want. God, I wish I’d been there.
When he laughs, I realise I spoke that last part aloud, and I feel myself going pink. But screw it: like the hair touching, I have his approval to do this. “Me too, chere,” he replies, dropping a kiss on my forehead, “me too.”
I smile up at him. “So, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
He smiles back, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Thought I’d surprise you. I’d like to walk you to and from work from now on, if that’s cool?”
My stomach flutters. He is so cute. “Yeah, sure,” I assure him. “That sounds...well, absolutely great.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” he says, holding up a white plastic bag that he’d left at his feet. “I’m not sure if you’ve had breakfast, but I picked up some bacon, ah, sarnies, apparently, on the way.” His face when he says ‘sarnies’ in that New Orleans twang makes me laugh. “British words are so weird.”
We head down my steps. “Hey, sweetie, you have po’boys, we have sarnies.”
He grins at my use of ‘sweetie’ and slings an arm around my shoulders.
“Baby, a po’boy will kick a sarnie’s ass any day of the week, and I’m gonna make you one someday.
You ain’t never gonna wanna go back. It's all in the way you fry the shrimp...” I reach up to my shoulder and take his hand, and we wander along chatting easily in a way I haven’t experienced in a very long time. Perhaps never.
Eli
I love having my arm around her as we’re walking down the street to work. I love that it’s allowed. I love that she likes it.
This is already the best morning I can remember for a long while, and we haven’t even gotten to work yet.
I dig out my keys as we approach Wishbone. “So, uh,” I mumble as I open up, “I told Dean. I hope that’s OK?”
She gives me a reassuring smile. “Totally. And I told Sadie.” She shrugs.
“Well, I mentioned in passing that you’re my boyfriend now, and she frog marched me to the nearest pub and pulled out every last detail…
” She giggles, and I grin in return, kissing the top of her head because I’m having the worst trouble keeping my lips off her.
“So, nobody’s told Leo…” We exchange a highly amused look.
“Gird your loins?” she suggests, and I chuckle, running my hand through her new, shorter hair again. I love her new look. It’s sexy; plus, she looks happier in her own skin, and that to me is a huge deal.
She pulls back, lifts on tiptoe, and kisses me full on the mouth. “Now, about these bacon sandwiches that are definitely the way to my heart…” She grins as she wanders over to the reception desk and begins to set up for the day.
“Sure,” I reply, unwrapping them. “I wasn’t sure if you’d already had breakfast, but, you know. Wanted to give you something.” I nod my head towards the kitchen. “If you want any sauce, there’s some in the kitchen.”
She shrugs. “As it comes,” she says, taking a healthy bite and giving soft moans of enjoyment. I never thought I’d ever get an erection from watching a woman eat a bacon sandwich, but here we are.
Once we’re done, I move so I’m standing behind her with my arms around her waist, because a) I can’t stop touching her, and b) I think it’s probably a good idea to provide constant reassurance of my affection for her. Woe is me, right?
I’m just putting her off her stride as she chats to me about how busy our afternoon is, by gently kissing the back of her neck, running my tongue up the delicate skin there, when Leo walks in.
He takes one look at the compromising position we are in, which I am smug to note leaves no room for any doubt, and dramatically collapses on the sofa with an elaborate sigh. Like a jackass.
“Thank fuuuuuuuuuuuuck,” he hoots, “you two finally got it together.” He lifts his head. “You did, right?”
“Ah...yes,” Emily giggles, turning and burrowing into my arms as she goes a very cute shade of pink.
“Christ on a bike, at last,” he sighs. “You guys had me worried.” He wanders over to us, wrapping us both in a growling bear hug that makes my girl giggle.
He kisses the top of her head, and then the side of mine, loudly and exuberantly.
This is the moment Dean walks in. He shakes his head in amusement at Leo’s antics.
“Deano, it finally happened,” Leo announces, “EmEli is officially a thing!”
“EmEli?” Emily and I both look a little confused.
“It’s our Brangelina name for the pair of you. I think it’s a pretty awesome one, though I do say so myself.”
I like it, Dean adds, and then he smiles at Em and crooks his finger to her, pulling her into a hug. She responds with surprise and laughs. Welcome to the family, he says to her, and I beam at him.
“Aww, thank you,” she replies, signing as she talks, and she looks so happy that I can’t resist giving her a little squeeze.
Nice hair, by the way, Dean adds.
“Yeah, was gonna say, your hair looks hot as fuck,” Leo pipes up, giving her a twirl and a wolf whistle. “Suits you, Pumpkin.”
The door goes again, and Sadie wanders in, scowling and preoccupied. Definitely not her usual self.
“Yo, Sades,” Leo says, clapping his hands once and raising them in triumph, “EmEli is a go!”
“Yeah, I heard,” she says, clapping her hands together quietly and smiling. “Congrats, guys, I’m really pleased for you.”
“Are you OK?” Leo asks, zoning in on her expression.
“Yeah,” she says, distracted, “Just...bit of a shit night last night.”
“What’s up?” Emily asks.
Sadie sighs. “It’s nothing, just...Peter stuff.
” She looks at Em. “Think some girl chat later would be good.” And then she points to the third finger of her left hand.
It’s currently bare, but then she adds, “I think he’s thinking of proposing,” she says quietly, “but, like, there’s some other stuff going on, and I’m pretty frickin’ confused, so… ” She trails off.
Emily’s eyes widen. “Whoah,” she says, and I catch her glancing briefly at Leo, who has gone very still. “Let’s...let’s have a quick chat now, while you set up for the day.”
Sadie looks at me and winks, more like her old self. “Glad you finally did it.” They both move through the door leading to our studios.
“Shit, man, I’m sorry,” I mutter, and Dean squeezes Leo’s elbow in sympathy. That seems to bring him back to the here and now.
“I’ve been wondering when this would happen,” he says, very quietly.
He sighs and squeezes the bridge of his nose briefly before rubbing his hand over his face.
"I kidded myself that he was taking too long, but.
..here we are at last, I guess." I've never seen that look on his face before.
Total desolation. "I'm not ready. I tried to prepare myself for it, but…
" he shakes his head, taking one deep breath.
“You gotta tell her,” I begin, but the look on his face stops me in my tracks.
“There’s no point,” he says firmly. “She doesn’t feel the same way.
She will never feel the same way. She just doesn’t see me like that, and she loves the prick.
” He huffs mirthlessly. “I hate him,” he mutters darkly.
“I fucking bloody hate him. If he loved her properly and appreciated her, it wouldn’t be half so bad and I could cope because I'd know at least she was loved, but he doesn’t.
” Leo slams his fist on the counter on the last word, and then he turns and walks to his studio, leaving me and Dean looking at each other uneasily.