Page 81 of Becoming Selfish

“I’m going to the gym at eight tomorrow. Sorry if my alarm wakes you up.”

“Perfect. I have to go to the rink in the morning, I can walk you on my way.” Eli’s chiseled frame climbs into bed behind me, getting comfortable under my sheets.

“Are you boxing or lifting tomorrow?” he casually asks as I sit on the edge of my bed, messing with my phone.

I turn, snapping my head in his direction. “How did you know that I box?”

His cheek is pressed into my pillow, but I can see it turn pink as his eyes widen, realizing the words he let slip. Eli is not often embarrassed, but he is right now, and it’s adorable.

“I’ve seen you in the gym before. A couple of times,” he confesses shyly.

My mouth opens in mock shock. “Eli, were you creeping on me?” I tease, trying to hold back my amused grin.

“Maybe.” He shrugs. “I couldn’t help it. You looked so fucking sexy dripping sweat in your tiny little outfit. Also, remind me not to mess with you. Have you always been into boxing?” he asks as I climb into bed, under the sheets, facing him. His hand finds my hip, pulling me closer as our bare legs intertwine beneath the sheets.

“I started getting into it when my mom was sick. It was kind of my only outlet. It was my one hour a day to myself, and I just fell in love with it. It helped clear my head.”

He nods understandingly. “I get that. That’s how I feel when I have the ice to myself.”

Leaning across the small gap between us, Eli places his lips on mine and leaves them lingering for a moment before lifting his arm up and around my shoulders, silently ushering me to lay my head on his bare chest. His masculine scent fills my nostrils as I place my cheek on him. He’s warm and safe, and I don’t ever want to leave this spot. Judging by the tight grip he has on me, I don’t think Eli is going to let me.

My heart rate calms as my breathing slows. I’m moments away from sleep when Eli leans his soft lips onto my forehand, his warm breath tickling my skin as he speaks.

“Logan?” He whispers.

“Mmm-hmm,” I hum as I keep my eyes closed, ready to drift off to sleep.

“Please don’t leave before I wake up tomorrow. I hate it when you’re gone in the morning.” There’s an edge of desperation in his voice.

I don’t respond with words, but instead, I wrap my arms as tightly around his waist as his arms are around me, knowing he needs the reassurance. I didn’t think about the fact that it might bother him if I was gone in the morning, but it makes my heart flutter that he needs me here. I think I need him just as much, though, and that scares me a bit.

“Morning, baby,” Eli murmurs in my ear.

Keeping my eyes closed, I recall that I got to have Eli in my bed with me last night. My back is against his bare chest, and his arm is wrapped around me, under my shirt, gripping me firmly to him. Our legs are still tangled around one another, as Eli slides his bare foot against my smooth leg.

“Morning,” I say in a raspy voice. God, it feels good waking up to this man wrapped around me. “My alarm didn’t go off?”

“It did about five minutes ago, but you didn’t wake up, and I just wanted to hold you for a few minutes longer.” He leans down and gently kisses the back of my neck. The sensation makes me tingle as I squirm and back my ass into his morning bulge.

“Fuck,” he groans in a low, raspy voice, resting his head against the back of my neck. “You can’t do that. I have to be at the rink in twenty minutes, and you’re going to cause me to miss morning skate if you do that again,” he warns, even though he’s gripping my hip and pressing my ass firmly into him.

Giggling, I turn around to face him, running my hands through his shaggy hair.

“Hi,” he softly says as his warm eyes pour into mine.

“Hi.” I lean up and press my lips to his and leave them lingering against him.

“Mmm, I like waking up to you,” he tells me as his mouth grazes mine, his fingertips stroking my lower back, under my shirt.

“Me too,” I tell him before quickly kissing him one last time and slipping out of bed.

Eli lets out a frustrated groan from my absence.

“You’re going to be late,” I remind him. “I’m gonna brush my teeth real quick, then we gotta go.” I grab my toiletry bag and head off towards the bathroom, leaving a mostly naked Eli in my bed.

Now that I’m alone for the first time since yesterday afternoon, I can finally take a moment to think and clear my head. But when I try, all I can do is smile at myself in the mirror as I brush my teeth. I don’t think I’m going to be able to wipe this stupid grin off my face for a while. Last night was amazing. Eli was amazing. I never expected him to accept me the way he did, especially with his reputation around campus. But that’s not Eli. They don’t know him.

I don’t want to leave him right now, and that makes me nervous. I’ve never been clingy or dependent on someone, and I don’t want to start now. As much as I want to be around Eli all the time, I need to make sure I keep my independence, because with how I feel about that boy already, I can easily see myself thinking about him and his needs and not about my own.

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