Page 61 of Life

“I give you life?” I gasp and pull back the couple inches he’ll allow until our gazes meet.

“Look at me.” Eli’s words are fierce, territorial, his clutch on my hair tight and unyielding.

“I am.” I set my hand against his cheek.

“Do you see it?”

“See what?”

“Our lives reflecting back at you. Yours, mine, the family we’ll make. It’s inevitable.” His words pierce my heart and burrow straight into my soul.

I caress his face and focus on his strong brow, the small creases at the corners of his eyes, the straight nose, the strong, proud chin and his smooth, kissable lips. There’s a tiny scar on the bottom one that’s hidden when he smiles. I learn forward and kiss the flaw, knowing the tiny imperfection makes this man more perfect. Special. Mine.

Tears fill my eyes as I lock my gaze with his. How can this be happening? Falling hard and fast for a man I barely know, but feel like I’ve known my entire life?

Eli holds me close, flattens his chest to mine, and forces me to focus on him. Only him. As though I could tear my eyes away.

“It was always going to be me, Maria. Tommy brought us together, but it was me you were meant for.”

On shaky breath, I see the truth swarming around our little huddle as if the entire beach slips away, and visions of the two of us slam against the recesses of my mind. Visions of Eli and me tumbling in bed together, eating dinner, seeing movies, hanging out with friends, getting married, having a child, growing old together. A whole lifetime of…living.

“I see it, Eli. Life. My life with you…andDios mio, it’s beautiful.” My words are a prayer against his lips.

He grins and kisses me as if the world could end any moment. Every swipe of his tongue is a pledge. Every growl, a promise. And each gasp, a commitment—one I would spend the rest of my life cherishing. Whatever else comes, we’ll figure out, together.

Chapter Fifteen

Elijah walkedwith me hand-in-hand through Capitola. The sun kissed our skin, and the worries about Antonio, our relationship, and everything in between fell away while we lived in the moment. Every second, just letting ourselves be present.

He took me to dinner at a somewhat fancy place called Shadowbrook in Santa Cruz. We were totally underdressed in jeans, but Eli didn’t care. He pulled out my chair, ordered a fancy bottle of wine, and we drank and ate forty-dollar steaks until we had our fill. When we were done, he hustled me to the beach house where we stripped our clothes, shed our misgivings, and fucked on the sand as the waves tickled our naked skin.

Sure, we got sand in places no one would ever want to have sand, but after we showered, we hit the hot tub where he gave me the best shoulder massage known to man.

It was the best day of my life. Every chance he got, he kissed me, showed his affection, and for the first time in years, I allowed the public displays. I was proud to be on his arm, and he felt the same about me.

After the intense discussion we’d had earlier in the day, it was as though we’d come to an understanding. We were going to be together—whatever that means. We’d allow it to grow and change as we did. Of course, there is still the issue of his parents, but he promised me he’d handle it, even though I offered to go with him to their house to explain. He said it was on him, especially since he’d been outside of the normal family day-to-day.

I asked him why he’d kept his distance, and instead of answering, he distracted me with his body and his hard cock. I’m a sucker for a pretty, ready, and willing dick, but I planned to go back to the question, and soon. If this—whatever it is—was going to work between us, we would have to open the closet doors and let all the skeletons blow in the breeze.

Which brings me to now, us heading back to San Francisco. Apparently, his IT kid, Scooter, who I found out had graduated from high school this past June, has some information for us. Plus, Gigi has texted me a million times. Until she can see me live in the flesh, she’s not going to stop.

“You never told me what the last text said.” I split the comfortable silence and imply what I’ve been wondering since the new phone showed up.

Eli frowns and rubs at his chin. “Does it matter? It wasn’t pretty. That’s all you need to know.”

I cringe. “Cazador, I need to be kept in the loop. Remember, no secrets. That’s your rule, in fact.”

He locks his jaw, and a tiny muscle in his unshaven cheek tics. Reminds me of Chase. He always has that muscle tic. Maybe it’s Gigi that brings it to life? I’ll have to compare notes with my girl.

Eli inhales loudly and exhales out his mouth. “The text said,‘Mi reina, I will get you. I will pull you under and you’ll never see the light again.’Happy?” Eli adds roughly, the tone tinged with disgust.

I push back the flashback of being held underwater that wants so badly to rush to the surface. Instead, I grip Eli’s hand and breathe through it. Without thinking, I make him promise me something I should never, ever make him promise.

“Promise me you won’t let him get me,” I say, the fear reflected in every word.

He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses each finger and then the center of my palm. “I promise. You are mine now. Not his queen. You’re my fucking woman. Period.” Disgust laces each syllable. “I take care of what’s mine.”

I nod, unbuckle my seat belt, and scooch against his side, needing the close proximity to his warmth and bulk. I pull his arm up and hold it between my breasts, his fingers at my lips.

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