Page 15 of Had To Be You

Shaking my head at her, I walk inside, subtly adjusting the semi I’ve been sporting for most of the afternoon. I search the fridge for what I need, thankful for Bernadette who stocks it for me twice a week. I pull out two chicken breasts, a head of romaine lettuce, a lemon, mayo and parmesan cheese. I season the chicken, then make my way outside to fire up the grill. Ellie is happy with Murphy, so I go back inside and grab us two bottles of water. When I return, I find Ellie on her back laughing, laying in the grass with Murphy on top of her. Everything suddenly feels different. And right. And something in me wants more. More of Ellie and more of whatever is happening here.

I get to grilling the chicken, while Ellie goes back and forth from lounging by the pool to entertaining Murphy. Every now and then, she lies back against the pool chair, stretching her legs out in front of her, and my pulse hammers though my veins at the sight. If only she knew that I’m envisioning my hands on the curve of her hips, my mouth on the sensitive skin behind her ear. My body flush with hers. I need to stop this, maybe douse myself with this bottle of cold water.

After I’ve fixed the salad, we sit at the table on the veranda overlooking the pool, where I’ve laid out our lunch along with two glasses of wine. Red for me and rosé for her. Murphy has chosen to sit at Ellie’s feet. That dog is as loyal as they come, but he hasn’t left her side since she walked in the door. Ellie not only has a way with people but seems to be a dog whisperer too.

“Liam, this looks really good. I love Caesar salad,” she says, picking up her fork and stabbing at a piece of romaine. “Mmmm, it tastes as good as it looks.” The “mmmm” sound she makes with her lips goes straight to my dick. Fuck. This would be a lot easier if she wasn’t so damn sexy. If her jeans didn’t hug her perfect heart-shaped ass just right or her tank didn’t show off the freckle right below her collarbone that’s quickly become my favorite. If she didn’t smell like sugar and lemons. Dammit.

I keep shovelling chicken into my mouth because my brain seems to have short-circuited and stringing words together feels impossible. How could I ever have thought bringing her here was a good idea? I’ve told myself before I can’t be alone with her. I should have known better. I did know better, I just figured I could control myself. I may have been wrong. I spend the rest of lunch with a raging hard on, going out of my mind wanting her.

“Done,” she says, setting her knife and fork across her plate. “Incredible, Liam. Thank you.”

I shrug. “It was just a chicken salad.”

“It was one of the best I’ve had, and I appreciate that you took the time to cook for me. It’s been a while since anyone has done that.” The compliment is nice, but I need sassy Ellie back. I know what to do with that version of her. I’m also sensing there’s something more behind that comment, but I won’t press her today.

“You always look so serious, Liam. You should smile more. I love it when you smile.” Her cheeks flush a pale shade of pink. She looks beautiful sitting under the sun, a light breeze moving through her long hair. I can’t help myself. I reach for her, brushing a few loose strands from her face, tucking them behind her ear. She slowly closes her eyes, enjoying my touch. She blinks back at me with her deep, blue goddess eyes. Those fucking eyes. Heat charges down my spine.

“I smile, Ellie,” I say, pushing back in my chair, gaining some distance. “I smile when I win a case. Believe me, that happens often.”

“That’s not enough,” she says with a hint of sadness.

“It might be for me,” I reply, struggling to resist her. Fighting the urge to keep my hands to myself.

“I don’t believe you.”

“You should believe me when I tell you something. I don’t just speak to hear my own voice.”

She takes a deep breath and then exhales, her chest rising and falling with it. My gaze dips to her collarbone and my favorite freckle. The one I’ve been dying to touch. I flick my gaze back to her eyes because dammit, I’m not sure how much longer I can resist her.

“I know how to have fun,” I tell her again. “Maybe you’d believe me if I threw you in that pool. Would that meet your criteria of fun?”

“On any other day, it would make my list. But today, not so much. Can’t get my hair wet. I have a date tonight, remember?” A wicked grin flashes over her face. She stares into my eyes - it’s reckless. It’s her try me, Liam face. And just like that, any control I thought I had is gone.

I want to kiss her.

Kiss her senseless.

I want to touch her.

No, I need to touch her. Kiss her. Give her pleasure.

I want her so fucking bad.

I push back my chair, the metal legs screeching across the stone deck. I stand and with two long strides I’m standing in front of her chair. I lean over her, resting my hands on the arms of her chair, caging her in, hovering over her sugary lemon scent. There is only a hair’s distance between us.

“Cancel the damn dinner with Logan, Ellie. Now,” I growl. Her breath hitches. Her blue eyes peer up at me, never breaking eye contact. She sucks her bottom lip under her teeth. My dick is now a steel rod in my pants. I’ve never been harder.

She narrows her eyes at me. “Why would I do that? Answer me, Liam. Why would I cancel a date with a handsome man that-“

Her eyes on mine, challenging me, is all it takes. My pulse races. I shut her up with a kiss, owning her mouth. I kiss her like I can never get enough and it’s the last time I’ll ever have my mouth on hers. Her lips part and my tongue takes full advantage, sweeping in to find hers. I deepen the kiss as her warm hands grip my hips. I want her so bad I can barely think. This is so far beyond anything I’ve ever felt. My need for this girl is so strong I’m helpless to stop it.

I press her back against the chair with my mouth, kissing her harder, causing her head to fall back against the cushion from the force. My tongue slips deeper into her mouth and she moans. The sultry sound is enough to make my mind go hazy. The kiss is intoxicating. It’s enough to make me want all of her. I need to be inside her once. Just once, to get her out of my system.

She rests a hand on my cheek, scratching my beard with her fingernails. Chills cover my skin and I smile against her lips, loving the feel of her fingertips on me.

But she breaks the kiss, pulling back, her eyes meeting mine, “What are we doing?”

“No more talking, Ellie,” I say, dropping my forehead to hers. “Why do we need to fucking talk so much?”

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