Page 20 of Leather & Lace

CHAPTER 11

BROOKLYN

As we lay cuddled into one another, I can’t help but stare at him while he sleeps. He looks so peaceful. I take my fingers and slowly trace along the back of his tatted spine. The moonlight glistens off his inked, toned back. The thoughts of intertwining for hours still lingers heavily on my mind.

It’s as if we could not get enough of one another. We have spent six blissful days together. Day and night, hardly ever leaving the bed, getting completely lost in one another. I learned he loves Chinese food. We ordered that for our first night together. He made a game of feeding me my Chow Mein with his chopsticks.

He loved when a few noodles missed my mouth and fell onto my breasts. He gladly sucked them up with his greedy mouth. The second night, we decided to have a Netflix and chill with some scary slasher movies. That only lasted maybe a few minutes because Eli couldn’t keep his hands or tongue off me.

The taste of the salty popcorn on his lips still has my center heating at the thought of it. Tonight was a bit more romantic.

He is making me steak and mashed potatoes for dinner tonight. Good lookingandthe man can cook. He went out earlier in the day as I napped. When I woke up, a single black box with a red ribbon and a single red rose was tied on it.

I scrambled over to it and gently untied it. When I opened the box, a letter laid on top of the glittery black tissue paper. Igrabbed the letter that was addressed asBaby girland opened the envelope. I started to read.

Baby girl,

I wanted to do something special for you tonight. Please wear this for dinner, then wear the other for dessert.

I bite my lower lip and lift the tissue paper. A beautiful black, short satin dress is nicely folded on top. I gawk at the fabric. This looks expensive! It’s breathtaking! Something shimmers in the light and catches my eye, lifting the dress, I see a delicate diamond bracelet.

Five small diamonds on either side with one dime-size black diamond in the middle. It’s displayed in an open, red velvet case. My eyes pop out of my skull. This can’t be real! My hands tremble as I hold the jewelry.

Underneath, where the dainty bracelet was, lays more tissue with red sparkling paper. I lift the paper out and see a matching black velvet bra and g string. A velvet short robe lays nicely folded under it. I sit back, mouth wide open not believing my eyes.

“You like it, baby girl?” I jump as I hear his voice come from behind me.

“Oh my god! Eli! It's stunning!” I jump off the bed and run over to him, his arms wrapped around me as I lean in and give him a soft kiss. “It’s too much though! That’s not real, right?” I say looking into his eye’s anxiety riddled within me.

He gives me a roguish smile, “Of course it’s real. Only the best for my baby girl.” He continues as I stare at him with my mouth ajar. “And it’s not enough.” My heart sinks at his words.

“Nothing in this world would be too much for you. I would spend every last penny on you and then when I had no more money, I would steal it all until the last piece of jewelry is all yours.”

My head is spinning. I know the man has money. I mean, he reeks of wealth. I just never thought he would spend anything on me. I mean, at least not this fast!

“Eli, I can’t.” He shushes me and places a finger to my parted lips.

“You can and you will. Now, get ready. Dinner will be ready in an hour.” He leans in and gives me a deep kiss. My hands wrap into his hair. The smell of cedar and smoke fills my senses, making me dizzy. Jenny and Dane are out for the evening. I believe he is taking her to dinner and a movie.

The two of them have been just as inseparable as Eli and me. I quickly make my way to the bathroom to curl my hair and put some makeup on. I decided to go for a dark smokey eye, strong winged liner and a crimson lip. I slid the velvet dress over my new bra and G-string.

The fabric feels like ecstasy against my skin. I clasp the delicate bracelet onto my right wrist, it glitters in the bright bathroom lights, taking my breath away. Taking one last look in the mirror, I make my way out of the bedroom and head down the long marble hallway towards the intoxicating smell of caramelized onions and garlic.

My stomach is rumbling from the delicious scent. When I make it to the large dining room, the area is filled with hundreds of burning, off-white candles. Rose petals line the floor all around the table and on top of it.

Classic Opera hums quietly in the background speakers. It is the most stunning sight I have ever witnessed, and it is all for me. Eli comes around the corner and I am shaken. He is dressed in an all-black tux, black dress shirt with one single redrose on his lapel, his bright beautiful smile beaming from ear to ear when he lays his eyes on me.

“You are a true work of art,” he says, walking up to the table and setting the merlot down. Then, turning towards me, his eyes travel up and down my body. “It was a bad idea getting you that dress and necklace. ‘Cause all I want is to rip that off of you, so you are in nothing but that pretty jewelry and the lingerie that I know is waiting for me to discover me under there.” I blush and feel my center heat from his words.

Giving him my best smile I replied, “And of course, you look better than any male model that hung on my walls as a girl.” He lets out a small laugh.

“I am glad I am pleasing you then.” He grabs my waist and pulls me in for a wet, deep kiss. My breath is taken away by the intensity of our tongues colliding. Pulling away slowly, he shows me to my chair, pulling it out for me and then scooting me in.

“What a true gentleman,” I say in a teasing tone. He gives me a side eye, then takes his seat sitting across from me. “So, you are not proposing right?” I tease. His eyes shoot up at me as his lip turns up at the sides.

“Would you like me to be proposing tonight?” He asks with a raised brow. I seriously cannot tell if he is joking or not. I just look down at my wine and swirl it around. “You know, I’ve never done anything like this before. I wanted to make you feel special. I wanted to make you feel how you make me feel every day.” His words shoot through my heart as I look up at him.

“Do you really mean that?” I ask in a puzzled voice. He looks at me like I have three heads.

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