Page 140 of The Prayers We Pray (The Path of Temptation 5)

"No..."

Grunting at him, I pulled my disgusting shirt off, threw it to the side, and then headed to the closet. Going all the way to the back, I found exactly what I was looking for. The fabric shimmered in shades of black and the darkest purple I could imagine. It also looked like it was made of silk, but felt like something stronger. Not that I had any idea what.

I'd just pulled it down when I felt a pair of hands slide up my back. Big ones. Strong ones. Not feminine ones. The lace across my shoulder blades warmed pleasantly, so I relaxed my arms and let Ela keep exploring. His fingertips softened, following the lace down my spine, and then vanished.

"This one," I said, turning to face him with the suit in my hands.

He didn't even look at it. "Wraythe..."

I hung the suit in the closest spot, then cupped his cheek. "I was joking, Ela."

"I know," he promised, but standing there in the closet, our voices felt a little softer. A little more private. "I just... Thank you. I'm aware that you've been meeting me after class. I know you take amazing care of me. I truly believe you are the best guardian in this temple, and in my opinion, even better than Talin and Anver."

I felt a tentative smile trying to control my lips. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he said softly. "I like seeing my lace on your skin. I like that you're mine. You are my best friend, Wraythe, and fuck, but I don't deserve you. I also won't ever give you up, because I'm not sure I could do this on my own."

There was something on his face, lingering in his eyes. It was soft and nervous, maybe even timid. Without thinking, I stepped into him and pulled him against my chest, hugging him hard. Immediately, he relaxed into me and his arms went around my waist.

"I do love you, Ela," I swore. "Maybe not the right way, but I love you. I can't imagine my life without you in it. You - arrogant, beautiful, destructive, and terrifying you." Then I leaned back to look into his face. "And thank you for making them laugh again."

"I'll be excited," he promised, going back to what had started this entire conversation, "but on one condition. I want you to be excited too. Maybe not all the time, and I know we're all worried about Nari, but it's easier when you're with me. At a session, in a joke, or any way you can be with me. You are my rock, Wraythe, and I know I don't say it enough, but..." He leaned in, pressing his forehead against my chest. "I need you. It's so much easier when you're beside me."

This wasn't my normal Ela. This was deep, and not the way we usually joked around, but it also felt good. At the same time, I was overly aware that men didn't act like this outside of our temple, and for just a moment, I let myself enjoy the freedom of it. I wasn't scared of how he felt about me. No, I loved it. I treasured it. I also wanted him to know he could do this more often without feeling weird about it.

So I leaned down until my mouth was as close to his ear as I could get it and decided to lighten the mood. "I just like checking out your ass."

I felt his body shake against me before the laughter got loud enough for me to hear. "Fucking tease!" he gasped, slapping my chest. "Now show me what you want to see me in?"

I picked up the suit again. "This one. You looked good in it when you tried it on, but I was thinking that you should wear a black shirt and maybe that purple vest that's, I dunno, real purple?"

He pointed to the one I was talking about. "That?"

"Bad?" I asked, knowing that I did not have the best taste in clothes.

Ela just ran his tongue across his teeth behind his lips and pressed around me to reach deeper into the closet. "This shirt, because it's soft." He passed that to me. "And here's the vest." I hung that beside the suit. "And should I do a cravat or an ascot?"

"Cravat," I decided. "Makes you look more dangerous."

He glanced back to smile at me. "Ok, which one?"

"Black would be too much, right?" I asked.

Ela lifted a very fancy one. "Black and gold? I can match the pocket square so it won't look out of place."

I let my eyes run down his body, imagining him in that. "And do your hair messy, not swept back. Do that, and I'll cuddle with you that night. Might even kiss your shoulder if you're a very good boy."

"Make it neck and it's a deal," Ela teased.

"Ok, neck," I agreed. "But just one - and no grinding your ass against my dick."

"Fine!" Ela said, flicking the cravat's fabric into the air as he walked around me to hang it with the suit. "And you're escorting me down."

"Always," I promised.

He turned and left the closet, once again back to his normal self. "On your arm, Wraythe. I'm walking down to meet my lover onyourarm."

I just shook my head, watching as he headed out of the dressing room and towards the bedroom, most likely heading for the sitting room. "Just means this guy will know I can break him if he steps out of line," I muttered, adding the pocket square to the rest of the clothes Ela had set aside for tomorrow night. "And that includes for not wanting my best friend enough."

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