Page 101 of Elusion

Her forehead wrinkles, a concerned look in her eye. “Were you always this neurotic?”

I chuckle. If she thinks a micro-ramble and a dozen trips across the room is bad, she really dodged a bullet with me.

“Probably. But I think I used to hide it better. She just brings it out at a higher caliber.”

“You really like Callie, huh?”

“I am in love with her beyond all reason,” I say. I instantly realize what the fuck I’ve just done. “Christ. I told you I love Callie before I’ve told Callie.” I bolt out, only making it halfway down the hall before I circle back. “We’re good though, right?”

Vanessa starts to nod, and I race out of the room. I tear down the stairs, across the living room, and burst into the kitchen. Four sets of shocked eyes snap to me, but I only care about the blue ones. Callie gasps when I pick her up, not slowing down on my way through. A door off the kitchen leads to a small laundry room, and my foot kicks it shut behind us. I let her down on top of the washing machine. A creepy-ass cartoon nightlight that no doubt belongs to Felicia lights her face.

“Jordan, what the hell are—”

“Don’t talk,” I say.

I rest my hands on each side of her and stand between her legs, blocking all potential exits. Anytime I come close to saying I love her, she shuts me down. This time, she will hear me out whether she wants to or not. Just as soon as I calm down enough to tell her anyway.

Deep breaths do nothing to help, forcing me to go another route. I kiss her. An irresistible mistake as always, but even more so, given the time away from her. The long-awaited confession slips to the back burner the second her tongue slips into my mouth.

God, I want her.

We’re frantic—her shoving the bottom of my shirt up, me reaching between my shoulders to yank it off. Our eyes meet as her top hits the floor, and I have to feel her. I slide her to the edge of the washer. She hooks her legs around me and drags my hips forward over and over. I press into her, her body moving against mine, desperate for the friction. The desire to be inside her builds until it becomes unmanageable. Somehow, I find the willpower to stop and grab a stool. I wedge it under the doorknob and rush back to her. My mouth latches on to her neck, tasting the skin I’ve been starving for. She unbuttons my jeans, and just before her hand dips in, it hits me.

“Damn it, Callie.” I jerk away, taking a step back from her so that I can focus. “You’re doing this to distract me.”

She bites her lip, tugging on my jeans to bring me closer. Her lips travel up my chest, the heat of her breath dancing over my bare flesh when she asks, “Do you want me to stop?”

Never. I never want her to stop—not challenging me or amazing me or frustrating me. But we’re doing things on my terms for once.

“I love you.”

And I spook the shit out of her. She straightens up, her eyes wide, and she jumps off the washing machine. At first, I think she might walk straight out the door without a shirt on, but she doubles back after slapping the light switch. And then she walks away again. Then reverses direction.

Holy shit, Callie’s pacing.

“Take it back,” she demands over her shoulder.

“I’m not taking it back.”

“Jordan”—she comes toward me—“I’m serious.”

“So am I. I love you.”

“Stop saying that.” Away she goes. “Why do you want to ruin everything between us?”

“Ruin?” I expected resistance, but suggesting I sabotaged our entire relationship seems a little extreme. “I told you I’m in love with you. Explain how it ruins anything.”

She stops in front of me and groans. “Just because we love each other doesn’t mean we won’t destroy each other. I mean, my genetics alone almost guarantee mutual destruction.”

Wait…

“Say that all one more time.”

Her eyes narrow. “And now you’re not listening?”

Oh, I’m listening. But I want her to repeat the part where she admitted she loves me. “Sorry, just say it again.”

“Graham and Lauren loved each other, too. Then they ended up hating each other and made everyone around them miserable. Fuck, they still do.”

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