Page 10 of Dauntless

“The injury I told you about wasn’t physical,” he went on, his voice low. “It was to my soul. What I told you earlier about Dane’s dad screwing over my dad and getting away with it? That got to me. My mom died, and my dad, who’d been the best fucking dad ever, became a shell of himself. My little sister never had the chance to see him as he was back then….”

He sucked in air, and my heart expanded in my chest. I took his hand and squeezed it. The hero worship he had for his dad was something I had for mine.

“Dane helped us out by sending jobs my dad’s way and, in time, we recovered. I could have done anything with my life, but I wanted to go after assholes, like Dane’s father, Walter, that think they can do anything to people and get away with it.”

I warmed. I admired his determination. “Did you feel you accomplished what you set out to do. Why are you leaving now?”

He leaned back and sighed. “I believe in the work, but nothing is simple when it comes to law enforcement. You go in dreaming of making a difference, but it’s hard at times. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life answering to people. I want to answer to myself, run things my way, and that’s not much good for a team. I still believe in helping people so I’m doing what I can, the private way. It’s less danger and better hours too, once I get the team working together. I’ll be behind the desk with my feet up,” he teased and flashed a shy smile.

“I doubt it,” I replied, and we laughed.

“Seriously,” I added. “I think it’s great you’re going into business for yourself,” I said amicably. “I wanted to be my own boss, and that was one of the reasons I created Perfetto. I still must answer to shareholders and collaborate with my teams, but when I see something new come out that women love, I get goosebumps that I’m a part of it. It means a lot.”

“Are you feeling more relaxed now?” he asked although he already had the answer. I had my head on his shoulder. My hand was under his suit jacket holding on to his side, feeling the cut of his muscles outlined under the fabric. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Anytime you want a sad story, just look me up,” he said in a light tone.

I swiped at his chest playfully, and he caught my hand, his pale blue eyes bore into me. My pulse sped up as the air crackled between us. I leaned forward, and he turned his head, shutting me out.

I lowered my brows as uncertainty crept inside of me. “What’s up?”

“You’re just out of the hospital,” he said, though he still wouldn’t meet my eye. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

My jaw tightened. “Sex or getting too attached to you? You don’t want me, Elliott? I’m a big girl. You can tell me right now; I can take it.” My heart was beating so hard I could feel it pounding in my ears. I was lying to myself, I would be hurt, but better now before I got any more used to the idea of having Elliott in my life.

“Gia what do you think is going to happen here?” he asked. “Are you going to share me? If you’re fucking Dane, I don’t mind; it’s fine, but how would you feel if you have to share my bed with another woman too?” His phone beeped, but he ignored it.

“I don’t know,” I said and lifted my shoulders. “More than likely, I would be jealous, and I know that’s bullshit. It’s selfish and stupid, but nothing about this is easy. It’s hard, Elliott. The sex is amazing, but it’s not the only thing that comes to mind when I think of you. I like talking with you. Hell, I find every time were together I want to spend more time with you. I want to know everything about you.”

He met my eyes then, and we stared at each other until I turned away from him. His phone buzzed again, and I moved over giving him space before he answered it. He spoke softly to the caller while I stood and went over to the window and wiped the condensation off the panel to stare out. Was this how things would end? He was only asking me to be fair. He wasn’t asking me to give up Dane. If I did, would I be able to hold him alone? My heart hurt like I had already lost them both. Elliott ended his call and said my name. I shook my head. I didn’t trust myself to speak. He gave me a hard look and moved toward me.

I stepped back, and he followed me crossing over from the desk. For every step he took toward me I stepped away from him until my back was against the wall. He came closer still, his strong, power frame towering over me. Our breathing was the only sound in the room and became uneven being so close to each other. His sexual magnetism demanded attention and my body responded with eager focus. The heat from his strong body. The musk of his fragrant cedar scent. Every part of him appealed to me.

I closed my eyes to try to close off the feelings I had at that moment. They were mine alone. I wanted him, but more than that, I wanted him to want me just as much, but I didn’t trust that he did. My guard was down, and I needed some time away to build them back up. I didn’t want him to know just how much he affected me.

“You have to go,” I whispered.

“I do, and I know I should, but with you, I can’t.” He placed his hands on the waistband of my jeans and tugged me forward slowly. At any time, I could have stopped what was happening, but really, just what was happening between us?

I closed my eyes, I didn’t want to think about the feelings I had for him now. My pulse sped up, but my body tensed, bracing itself for Elliott to pull away. Waiting for him to bring up Dane to get him involved so that he could keep me at a distance from him.

He didn’t.

He undid the button front of my jeans and pulled them and my underwear down leaving me naked before him at the waist. The bruises were fading, but some were still there.

“I could kill Marco and Vincent,” Elliott whispered, and then I looked at him.

“I’m fine,” I told him. I wasn’t embarrassed.

He dropped to his knees. “I know you are,” he growled. Desire was in his gaze, but much more than that went through my mind as he ran his hands over the scars admiringly. He was on the same page about them as me. I wasn’t embarrassed by them. I’d been able to fight back, and I survived. He was as proud of that as much as I am.

His head went between my legs, and he took in a sharp breath taking me in. “You’re so fucking sexy,” he groaned appraisingly. My body shuddered as I grew wetter in his grasp.

I burned as his hot tongue dragged up my slit. He licked my pussy feverishly. His hands moved around me to grip my ass, digging his fingers into my flesh.

I ground my pussy into his face getting even more excited as I looked at him down on his knees rubbing the flat of his tongue through my slick folds, sucking on my swollen clit. I owned him like this. He owned me, too. The thought catapulted my pleasure to new heights as I moaned, shifting and rocking against his face.

His mouth closed over my entire pussy as he sucked on me. He slipped his finger inside of me and stroked that spot that sent me over, and I called out his name as I came apart.

Elliott commanded more as he pumped his finger inside me, my clit captured between his lips and the orgasm went on and on until I was wrung out. He lifted me up and took me to bed and placed me down on it. He stood at the end and we looked at each other.

“Sex is a big part of who I am, Gia,” he said. “Closed relationships haven’t worked with me. I don’t know if sharing you with Dane will work either, but I don’t want to hurt you. I’m not saying I’m ending things now but being with us would change who you are, and I don’t want to do that to you.”

He walked out the door, leaving my heart to ache knowing that soon he just may be gone from my life for good.

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