Page 35 of Rough Love

Holy shit. Talk about post-nut clarity.

Eli’s brows furrow in confusion, or concern, I’m not sure. I smile. Happiness, excitement, anticipation at what the future holds, the possibilities, rapidly fill me.

“Yes,” I sigh happily, still floating in my orgasmic bliss. “I want to get to know you.”

He says nothing, just captures my mouth with his. This kiss is slow, lazy, gentle, and filled with so many unspoken words. With this kiss I hear him say,thank you for giving me a chance.In response, I suck his tongue into my mouth, relishing the combined flavor of the two of us.

When we finally separate, I add, “Don’t fuck this up, Eli. I want this, whatever this is, but I need honesty. If we’re going to get to know each other, then I want it to be real.”

He pauses and his face takes on a look of concern like he’s not sure that’s possible. I don’t waiver or back down. This is a hard limit for me, which is something he should know all about. He grits his teeth, his jaw working back and forth with the movement. Finally, he nods.

“Okay,” he mumbles, “okay.” Grabbing my hands, he pulls me up to sit and helps me off the car. “But if we’re doing this, we’ll need somewhere other than a freezing cold, empty parking lot to talk. Your house?”

Now my brows are the ones to furrow as my gaze snaps to him. Even with his sweet words, his declaration, I had expected Eli to walk away. To say he’d meet up with me another day but to never actually see him again. I wasn’t expecting him to follow through. He must see those thoughts, and feelings, all over my face because seconds later, he has me wrapped in his arms and the overwhelming emotion that fills me with that small move, is shocking.

He's never hugged me before.

None of them have.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Violet. I can’t say that enough. I’m not walking away, and I will tell you what I can, I swear. I’m sorry I made you expect the worst when you deserve the best.” Snuggling my face into his shirt, I slide my arms beneath his jacket and squeeze, enjoying this rare moment of comfort. We stand there, enveloped in each other for a few minutes before he squeezes me and steeps away, guiding me to the driver’s side door. “Come on, Little Flower, let’s get you warmed up.”

Before I even realize what’s happening, Eli has me bundled into my car. He buckles me in, presses a kiss to my nose, and softly closes my door before jogging around the hood and opening the passenger side. When I recover, I’m confused and a little disoriented, but watching Eli take in the tiny seats and non-existent leg room, snaps me out of it.

“Where is your car?” I ask as my eyes scan the parking lot again. The SUV, as well as Kevin’s car, are gone. My face flushes at the realization that at least two people, if not more, walked out and saw what Eli was doing to me. Heard it. But then, a surprising wave of desire washes over me and my already exhausted and sated pussy finds the energy to throb in need.

Calm down, bitch. No more.

Eli ignores my question and folds his body in half, contorting in ways a man of his size shouldn’t be able to until he can fit into my Mini Coop. It’s a ridiculous sight to behold, really, but it’s also incredibly hilarious. The more he grunts and groans as he fumbles with the door, the seatbelt, the more the urge to laugh and point consumes me. I can feel my cheeks burning hot and my lips are practically numb from how hard I’ve got them tucked into my mouth.

When he finally has his massive frame settled into the passenger seat, he looks at me. If my face is red from holding in laughter, his is red from barely contained rage. I begin to worry that he’s only seconds from hulking out and punching my dash.

He takes in my expression, the way I’m holding my breath, and growls, “Have something to say?”

I shake my head rapidly; my long purple braids whip back and forth with the movement. A snort escapes me. He arches a disbelieving brow, and I can’t hold it in any longer. Reaching my hands up, I cover my face in an attempt to muffle the sounds of my laughter. When the beautiful, melodic sound of Eli’s laughter echoes mine, I peel my hands from my face to peer at him.

When Eli is being sinful and devious, he’s sexy beyond words. When he’s in the midst of pleasure, his head thrown back as he moans; he’s downright edible. But when Eli is smiling and filled with honest-to-God happiness, he’sstunning. Like a take your breath away and make you fall in love level of stunning.

After minutes, we’re both calm and regain the ability to speak. His smile doesn’t leave his face, nor does mine, and I’m once again surprised with how easy it is between us. When there is no pressure, no demands, or secrets, we blend together like raindrops colliding with the ocean. The impact is hard, forceful, and energetic, but when combined, it’s effortless and beautiful.

Eli looks at me, his neck kinked at an odd angle since he doesn’t fit properly and is too tall for my car. “I had my driver drop me off,” he says, finally answering my question from before. My head cocks to the side as I take in his words.

“A foregone conclusion, was I?” I murmur.

He grins and shrugs, not at all bothered by the way his assumption looks. “If you weren’t willing to talk to me, to hang out, I would have just called a cab.” He shrugs again, his grin turning slightly evil. “Or, I could have just forced your friend to take me home. What was his name?Kevin?” He says the last word in a feminine purr, clearly mocking me.

Reaching out, I punch his stupidly strong bicep. “I was going to offer to put the top down so you wouldn’t have to crouch but fuck that. You can suffer.” He gapes at me, placing a hand to his heart in mock offense.

Starting the car, I turn the radio on full blast and mime that I can’t hear him as I peel off out of the parking lot. His laughter bounces off the interior of the car, barely drowned out byM83’s Midnight City.

I have chill’s the entire way home and it’snotfrom the music.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Iamgoingtobe in so much trouble when I get home.

I’m not sure who is going to punish me worse, Zac or Renz. Renz will likely have my head, but Zac will have my balls, and I don’t mean metaphorically. He’s always been one for inflicting a borderline sadist level of pain.Good thing I’m into it.

Judging by the way Zac has been blowing up my phone for the last few hours, my money is on him. All of his calls and texts have gone unanswered, except for one. When it was clear his panic was more about my safety than the woman I’d spent the day chasing, I responded by telling him I was fine and with Violet. He didn’t respond, not that I thought he would.

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