Page 168 of Dare To Fall

“When his insomnia kicks in.” My mom leans into him, laying her head on his shoulder. “One of our little rituals.”

I let go of Eli’s hand and move toward the kitchen counter. “He’s hungry, so I was going to make him something to eat.”

Elena gestures at the boy beside me. “Come and join us.”

Tongue snaking out, he flicks his lip ring before taking a seat across from them. “Ari told me you guys know about us.”

“Elena worked it out before I did,” Elliot replies. “I honestly didn’t think you were getting along.”

I concentrate on gathering eggs, butter, milk, and all the ingredients I need for an omelet, while I half listen to the conversation.

“We weren’t,” Eli is saying to his dad. “But things changed.”

I place everything on the counter, and cross the kitchen to where Eli is sitting, cup his jaw and drop a kiss on his lips. “For the better.”

When I turn to leave, he grabs my wrist and hauls me back into his lap, capturing my mouth with an intensity that leaves me breathless.

“Enough.” I gasp when he finally frees me. “Let me cook.”

“It’s nice to see you two together.” Elena is holding Elliot’s hand on the tabletop. “We never expected this to happen.”

“And that’s our cue to go back up to bed.” Elliot chuckles. “It’s late, and we can talk more in the morning. Come on, darling, let’s give them some space.”

“See you in the morning.”

Humming softly to myself, I crack eggs, whisk ingredients together and add everything to the frying pan. Hands find my waist pulling me back into a hard-muscled body.

“I missed this.”

“What?”

“You cooking for me.”

I smile, waving the spatula at the stove in front of me. “I’ll cook for you anytime you want.”

Eli kisses my neck, nipping at my skin. “Sounds good to me.”

“Go sit down, or you’ll never get fed.”

“Is that an order?”

“Don’t make me spank you.” I threaten with a mock growl.

His hand moves to my ass and squeezes it gently. “You shouldn’t give me ideas, Kitten.”

“Last time you did that, it hurt.” In the classroom, in front of everyone. The memory dims my mood a little.

“I can make it pleasurable for you. Done right, you’d be thanking me and begging for more.”

When his hands slide around my thighs, I sigh. “Eli.”

“Okay, okay.” He kisses me a second time and smiles against the curve of my neck. “I’m going.”

I plate up the omelets, and carry them to the table, where he’s laid out silverware. We eat quietly together, and when I try to wash up, he insists I leave it for the kitchen staff in the morning. Giving in to the heated look in his eyes, we sneak back up to his bedroom hand in hand.

“I need to use the bathroom, then you can ravage me,” he announces once we are inside.

He vanishes into the bathroom and closes the door. I take the opportunity to check my cell for messages.

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