Page 114 of Ruling Scar
Tomorrow I’ll get up and go to work. I’ve done it before, but starting the week off at Elijah’s is different. It reinforces the idea I’m making this my home base, instead of my parent’s house.
That night, Elijah holds me against his chest, his hands wrapping around me tight. I snuggle into him as he places a kiss to my throat.
Light from outside casts silver rays throughout the room. I blink into the dark, tired but unable to fall asleep.
Rolling, I face Elijah, who plucks a piece of hair out of my face.
“You used to stare at me all the time,” I whisper. He still does. I’ll look up from my book and blush at how he blatantly watches me.
He nods.
“And when you went away to Oxford you sent me a postcard.” I thought he wanted to annoy my mom.
“I didn’t want you to forget about me.”
“Elijah,” I say softly. “I want you to know this isn’t just a fling.”
He says nothing, his gray eyes silver in the dim light. He twirls a piece of my hair, the movement gentle.
Nat and Ads are kind enough not to say don’t go head over heels. But they’re watching me with cautious eyes. Dad too. And Mom well. . .
Elijah is my first boyfriend, my first everything.
The talk, the gossip. I’m the girl throwing her family away for a boy.
But that’s not it. That’s never been it.
“I just wanted you to know.” I roll back, snuggling against him.
His voice is sleepy, his fingers lazily tracing my back. “Do you love me, Leonora?”
“We should get a cat.” Albert’s chill enough that he’d get along with a kitten sibling.
He breathes heavily, and I hear the smug smirk in his tone. “We can get one in every color, the minute you admit you’re in love with me.”
CHAPTER 26
Lennie
Every day for a week, I expect a phone call from my mom. The days go by fast, a blur of work and social events like never before. There’s eating dinner with Ren and Isolde. Making fun of Ben and Abe.
I asked if they’d be interested in creating a book club.
“Books with smut?” Ren asked.
“Yes,” I answered unapologetically.
She shrugged. “Yeah, I’m in.”
I picked a monster romance and get constant text updates from Isolde which make me grin.
Isolde: I’m sorry but his cock is how big?
The chilly spring weather turns to summer. The city heats up and swells with even more tourists. Elijah and I take Albert out for walks, holding hands.
Adeline calls me frequently to discuss Nat’s baby shower which is still months away but our family can never do anything half-assed. I think it’s also the one bright spot we can all agree on.
Nat explained everything to Dad and Mom about Peter. They had lots of questions that they desperately wanted answers to but were ultimately too scared to ask.
