Page 55 of Cuffed By Your Love
I hovered, heart thudding, not trying to be messy, but… unable to stop myself.
Jason sighed. “Look, bruh. I clown a lot, but real talk… I ain’t never liked Kam. Not once. He ain’t ever been good for my baby sister. She’s different now. Lighter. And that’s ’cause of you. So if you serious, and I can tell you are, you definitely got my respect. Welcome to the family, bruh.”
There was a beat of silence, then Elias’s voice, calm and strong with no hesitation. “I’m dead serious. Ain’t no games with me. Jonay’s safe with me. Always. On me, I’ll protect her mind, body, and heart. You don’t ever have to question that.”
There was the scrape of chairs, then the sound of a firm handshake.
“Bet,” Jason said. “That’s all I needed.”
I pressed a hand over my mouth, smiling so wide it hurt. My chest swelled, warmth spilling through me like sunlight in the middle of the night.
When I finally walked into the kitchen, Elias glanced at me immediately, eyes softening like he knew I’d caught more than I was supposed to. He didn’t call me out, though, just reached for me, his thumb brushing my arm in those slow, little circles that calmed my whole soul.
Jonell popped her head back in, ruining the moment, like always. “Alright, lovebirds, I’m out. Got an early flight in the morning. But y’all better FaceTime me tomorrow at lunch with EJ ’cause I need proof this family extension is official.”
Leila kissed my cheek, Jason gave me a squeeze, and soon enough, it was just Elias and me left in the quiet house.
He leaned down, kissing my temple, his voice low and steady. “Told your brother already, but I’ll tell you again. You got nothing to worry about while I’m around.”
And the way he said it, I believed him.
The door shut behind Jonell, her laughter still echoing in the driveway, and for the first time all night, the house settled into silence. No Jason cracking jokes, no Leila giggling, no Jonell stirring the pot; it was just me, the soft hum of the fridge, and Elias still leaning against my counter like he’d always belonged there.
I exhaled, half-laughing, half-exhausted. “Well,… that was chaos.”
Elias pushed off the counter, a smirk playing at his mouth. “That was family.” He came over and plucked a glass from my hand before I could load it into the dishwasher. “Let me help before you wear yourself out.”
I raised a brow. “Detective washing dishes? This, I gotta see.”
“Don’t get it twisted,” he said, rinsing a plate with easy efficiency. “I’m nice with it. I got years of practice. EJ thinks every night’s a buffet, so I’m always cleaning up after him.”
That made me laugh, shoulders loosening. I leaned against the counter, watching him roll his sleeves up, the muscles in his forearms flexing as he wiped down the sink.
“Alright,” I teased. “You pass. No dish soap crimes committed.”
He shot me a look over his shoulder, smile slow. “You really just called it ‘dish soap crimes’?”
“What? I work in law enforcement too. Everything’s a case.”
That earned me a deep chuckle, one that vibrated low in his chest and tugged something deep inside me. He finished up, dried his hands, and before I could crack another joke, he stepped in closely, crowding my space in that way he did that felt like safety instead of pressure.
His hand slid to the small of my back, thumb brushing lazy little circles against my skin through my shirt. “House feels different when it’s just us,” he murmured.
My heart stuttered. “Different how?”
“Quieter. Calmer.” He tilted his head, eyes soft but steady. “Better.”
I swallowed, caught in that gaze, unable to pretend I wasn’t affected. “You always know exactly what to say, don’t you?”
“Nah,” he said, leaning closer, his voice dropping lower. “I just don’t waste time saying shit I don’t mean.”
Before I could respond, his lips found mine, slow and sure, carrying the taste of everything he hadn’t put into words. I melted into him, my hands sliding up his chest, holding on like I’d found the center of gravity. His kiss lingered, unhurried, like he was memorizing the way I tasted.
When he pulled back, he pressed his forehead to mine, his breath warm. “I gotta head out. I’ma pick EJ up from Jazz’s before he talks her ear off all night.”
I smiled, still a little breathless. “He gets that from you.”
“Damn right,” Elias said, smirking. He kissed my temple, lingering there, then pulled back just enough to look me in the eye. “Tomorrow. Lunch. Don’t forget.”
