Page 98 of Roses and Skulls

Elijah tips his head in question.

“This is all too much,” I whisper.

He closes the distance between us and stares down at me. “Nothing is too much for you.”

I place my hand against his chest, fighting tears that threaten to ruin all the hard work on my makeup.

“What is it?” he asks gently.

Gripping his jacket in my fists, I answer. “I prayed for this Elijah. All of this. Boys were so afraid of my dad, they never asked me to dance. No one had big enough balls.”

He tips my chin with his knuckle. “Are you saying my big balls are the answer to all your prayers?”

I bust out laughing. “I guess they are.” But then I turn serious. “The last time I danced was with my grandfather. It was the night of the accident.”

Elijah pulls me into his arms, finally understanding.

Slowly, he starts to move to the beat of the music, letting me savor the moment. Then he spins me away from him. “I’m sorry but you are so goddamn sexy in that dress,” he tells me, flashing me a toothy white smile.

“You aren’t so bad yourself.”

We dance the night away, stopping only to warm up the delicious meal my mom made for us.

I lie back on the blanket after we finish and stare up at the dark sky. “The stars are beautiful here,” I tell him. “Thank you for all of this. I don’t know when I’ve had this much fun.”

“This is just the beginning. Some day we will be bringing our kids out here.”

My head falls to the side. “Kids? You want to have children?”

“Don’t you?” he asks.

“Well, yeah.”

He gives me a panty melting smile. “I want to experience everything with you, Rosie.” Elijah pushes up on his elbow. “Do you remember when we would sneak out at night and sit on the beach and watch the waves roll in?”

“Yes. I loved it there. The water was so powerful, it scared me, but I always felt safe with you.” I run my fingertips over the tattoo on the side of his head. “I still do.”

A slow smile begins to form on his face. “Are you sure that’s wise?” he asks before running his tongue along my bottom lip, catching it between his teeth.

My hips rise from the ground. Elijah possesses some serious voodoo magic when it comes to the invisible string between us.

“I want to see you,” he growls into my mouth.

We’ve done a lot of petting and kissing since the day in the woods but tonight is the night I fully give myself to him. I’ve tried to prepare and it’s not that I’m scared, but I am anxious.

He helps me to my feet and spins me around, slowly unzipping my dress, his breath hot on my ear. “I’ve waited for this for so long, Billie Rose. But tell me if any of this makes you feel uncomfortable, and we’ll stop. Okay?”

“Okay,” I say, a bit breathless as my dress pools around my feet.

He makes quick work of unhooking my bra. The cool night air is such a contrast to the heat at my back. His heat. A shiver courses through me as his hands slide around to cup my breasts. The groan that he releases makes my stomach do a little flip.

“So, perfect,” he whispers, teasing my nipples between his thumb and fingers. My head falls back against his hard chest. Little ripples of pleasure course through my body. His hands are rough, and he is anything but gentle. He doesn’t handle me like a princess, no, he treats me like I’m his little slut. I love it.

One of his hands leaves my breast and slides down my stomach, dipping into my panties. His finger glides up and down, just like he did with a sucker that first night in the bar. Only this is so much better. Knowing who he is this time around makes it so damn good. He’s my Elijah.

“Who do you belong to, Billie Rose?”

“You,” I moan as he shoves two fingers roughly inside of me, making me rise up on my toes.

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